Modern Mommies discussion

For all the newcomers,(and even for members who maybe haven't had a chance to tell us a little about yourselfs)please feel free to introduce yourselves here.

Hi! I'm Michelle.
I'm 23, living in MN. Mommy to three beastie boys (ages 3, 2, and 7 weeks) and girlfriend to a strange guy. I'm working at becoming a professional photographer, I'm not there yet.

I read when I can. It's not as often as I would like.

I'm Suzanne and I live in southern Ontario. I have 4 boys. My oldest just graduated from high school in June and the youngest starts grade one September. I'm a stay at home mom and I am really looking forward to September when I can read with fewer disruptions. LOL! My husband is a doctor of natural medicine so we try to do healthy things like regular exercise and eat organic when we can.

I'm really excited to be part of MM and I feel like I've made some really great friends just by reading posts. Thanks for letting be a part of something so good!

I don't think I ever introduced myself properly, even though I joined several weeks ago. I'm Vanessa, 42-yr-old mom to a 7-yr-old son and an almost 5-yr-old (in 3 weeks!) daughter. I am currently a stay-at-home mommy who writes the occassional freelance article for pocket change, but during my 16 years of working before my current stay-at-home status I earned my crust in a variety of ways - geologist, librarian, actor/director, grant writer to name a few. MY worst job ever was a brief stint as Bimbo the Clown - where I had to dress up in a mini-skirted clown costume and serve coffee to slimy businessmen at a baby gear expo.

I live in the California wine country with my scientist hubby and beautiful kiddos. We have been here since 1999. Originally I'm from St. Louis, Missouri but have hopped around a bit - Oregon, Washington, 12 years in England, Colorado, Atlanta and now here. When I'm not focusing on the offspring I like to knit, sew, make jam, grow vegetables, and read. I am a Taurus and like the color yellow and hate goat's cheese.

Hello! My name is Beth and I am a 40 year old stay-at-home mom to a 10 year old daughter and 5 year old son. I live in PA with my husband of 14 years - we have our own business. I am very busy with life in general, but that does not stop me from reading, reading, reading. I usually get about a book a week read and sometimes, I am reading 2 at once if I'm trying to fit in a non-fiction, study-type book. I am looking forward to participating in this group!

Hello and a warm welcome to all the newcomers.I'm looking forward to getting to know you better through your posts.It really is a wonderful little group of ladies and a nice place to visit.

I myself am a mother of three,the youngest soon to turn 18,and I do work at home on my husband's books for his business.I just celebrated my 28th wedding anniversary with my hubbie this week-end.We've been together since I was 17.

I love to read,read,read but since coming onto GRs I seem to be reading less and on my computer more. :)

OK. I have been on here awhile, but here is me.

I am a 33-year-old graduate student mother of a 5-ear-old who is starting kindergarten in 9 days. I am also a tutor in the writing center on campus and am teaching 2 freshman composition classes in the fall (my second time teaching).

I have been lucky enough to pretty much stay home with Sunshine for most of her life...with a few stints in daycare while in class. However, I have always known that I would be mom that needed to have something separate from her child. I often say that I am a better mom to Sunshine because I am not with her all the time.

I moved to CA from MN (wondering where you are living Michelle) a little over 9 years ago.

My husband and I are going to be celebrating our 10-year anniversary in a month, but have been together for nearly 17 years (we too got together when I was 17...he was a bit older).

Sherry, 28 years is amazing! Happy anniversary!

My passions are reading and running. I once said in a conference bio that if there was a way to run and hold a book, I would be the first to try it...I don't like audiobooks. :)

Hi, my name is actually Victoria, and I live in New Hope, PA. I am in week 14 of my first pregnancy, and I just turned 41. I'm freaking out a little, but thank God for my mother, my husband and my friends who have all been wonderful.

I've been married for almost 8 years, and I can only dream that it will continue as long as yours has, Sherry. I work full-time as a corporate lawyer so the balance between work and family will become more challenging. I'm just trying to take it one day at a time and to pray for the best.

I try to read a book a week, but my reading has slowed down a little with the pregnancy. I enjoy reading both fiction and non-fiction alike - usually heavier reads with a little fluff in between to mix it up.

As I've said previously, this club has already been a big help to me so I look forward to all of your words of wisdom and experience.

Hmm... Reading and running. I haven't tried that but I have been known to walk home from the library reading as I'm walking (and falling off the sidewalk, tripping over cracks, etc.).

Oh. I read and walk all the time! I even mark passages while walk-reading.

*LOL* I love to work out on a stationary bike or the treadmill I got for Christmas because it allows me to read and exercise at the same time.The only sensible way to work out if you ask me.

I guess I should add my own little blurb as well.

I'm 30, and I refuse to have any more birthdays, 30 works just fine for me, although technically I'll be 31 next month.

I have a 7-year-old daughter, who will be 8 next month. I live in Vancouver with my hubby and daughter, but I am from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and I miss home in a terrible way.

I just found out a few weeks ago that I'm pregnant again (surprise), but I'm thrilled.

I still haven't found a career...lol...soon I want to go back to school, but I just haven't been able to decide what I want to do. I currently work as an admin assistant and I hate it, I think that's why I haven't gone back to school yet. Other than being a park ranger, mail carrier or dog walker, I can't imagine anything that'll keep me out of a desk, that I am willing to go back to school for.

I'm what people like to call "messed up"...lol.

My mother is half black, my father is French (didn't meet him until I was 27), my grandfather was white, he was disowned by his family for marrying my grandmother, I was raised totally by my black family. I look white, but I think I'm black...lol.

My daughter is the product of me and my husband who is African by birth, but his father was born in Indian, his mother in Zanzibar, but both are Syrian by ancestry. He's Muslim, I'm everything, if one can be that, and we're complete opposites in everyway.

People laugh at my stories, and when they see pictures of my family they are reminded of the United Nations…haha. I love the texture of life so much; I can't imagine ever having anything just "normal"

So that's me in a nutshell.

Also, I love this group, when I started it I was hoping to have a great group of wonderful women to chat with and YAY...that's exactly what

Wow Santina,what a rich and wonderful heritage for you and your daughter!Complicated but rich! :)

Yeah, complicated is right, I gave up trying to make a family tree. Especially since my grandmother has kid with 3 men, possibly 4 and I have a different father than my sister and brother, but we were all raised by someone else...lol. It's all fun...someday I'll figure out how to put it on paper for my children.

Families can get really complicated.Mine was like the Brady Bunch and then there was a pretty bad divorce.I've counted 5 families within the main core of siblings,before considering the siblings own families as well.Sometimes I get a headache just thinking about it.

Wow...but life would be boring if everything was simple and normal.

Too true.

Wow Santina! Your daughter is lucky girl! Forget the family tree- do a family map!

That might be a fun addition to this thread - i.e. if your child were a cake, what are the ingredients in that cake?

VANESSA'S KIDS
1 tbsp Welsh
1 tbsp Cornish
1 tsp French
1 tsp Spanish
1/8 cup Irish
1/8 cup Norwegian
1/4 cup Russian Jewish
1/4 Cup English
A pinch of "goodness only knows what"

What's your recipe?

Hey Stacie! I was born in St. Paul and I'm still here!

Cool idea Vanessa, I never thought of that. Your kids have a pretty cool background as well.

I introduced myself a little when I joined but figured I would put it in here to:

Vitals
Name: Shea
Age: 35 (hard to believe but that's what the calendar says)
Married 12 years (with my husband since I was 16 and he was 17)
Children: Two boys
Children's Ages: Eight (9 in Nov) and Five (6 in Jan)
Pets: Rabbits and frogs
Home: Born, raised and still live in Michigan. I grew up on the west side of the state and now live in Southeast Michigan
Profession: Pharmacist. I work full time at a small hospital and my husband is a stay at home dad.
Hobbies: Reading (of course), scrapbooking, hanging out with friends and family, watching chick flicks.
Favorite Color: Indigo

Wow, that's lovely Shea. Highschool sweethearts.

LOL...Rabbits and frogs...is that a boy thing or the pets you wanted?

Shea- I liked how you set this up so I did one for me too! :)

Name: Mona
Age: 33
Married: celebrated our 8th anniversary this summer
Children: 3, Isabella, Lucas and Sophia
Children's Ages: Bella, will be 6 in about 2 weeks, Lucas is 4, Sophia is 21 months old
Pets: Our loyal and faithful dog, Chessa
Home: Born, raised and still live Rochester, NY
Profession: I work part-time at a private school that specializes in students who have learning difficulties. I teach reading and language arts to students ranging from 3rd to 9th grade. This year I think I am going to be with the 4th-8th graders. I only work 3 hours a day and then come home to be with my kids. I have been teaching for 10 years now.
Hobbies: Reading, writing in my journal, listening to music, spending time with family and friends, photography, volunteering with my Mom and me group, projects for teaching
Favorite Color: All shades of purple

Mona, my favorite color is all things purple as well!

Yeah! I just love lilac, deep purple, violet, they are all pretty to me! :)

Thought the format was great so I used it as well

Name: Rosa
Age: 33
Married 7 years in Sept
Children: a boy
Children's Ages: 3 - will be 4 in oct
Home: Lived in NJ my whole life
Profession: Planning manager for a retail company
Hobbies: Reading, hanging out with friends and family, watching tv
Favorite Color: green and yellow (reminds me of summer)

Welcome Rosa, nice to have you here.

Name: Maria
Age: 43
Married 21 years
Children: 2 boys, 1 girl
Children's Ages: Lucas 5, Austen 7,Olivia 15
Home: Southwestern Ontario
Profession: College/University Library Technician
Hobbies: Reading, hanging out with friends and family, watching movies, reality tv, and travel.
Favorite Color: green, pink, brown

Hi Michelle. I was born in St. Paul at St. Joseph's Hospital and was raised in Lino Lakes. Went to high school in Forest Lake. And lived in Mpls. until I left MN. Just in case you were wondering...I know you were. :)

Welcome ladies.

Maria,

My little boy's name is Lucas too! :) Haven't found many people who have children that name! :) Welcome!

Name: Mandy
Age: 29
Married 3 years
Children: 6...1 mine, 2 ours, 3 stepkids
Children's Ages: Mikey 5, Max almost 3, Alex 1...stepkids--->Olivia 5, Emily 8, Robbie almost 11.
Home: New Jersey
Profession: Director of Home Affairs (AKA Mom)and I work part time at Tiffany & Co.
Hobbies: Reading, journaling, exercising, brain teasers, the arts, cafemom
Favorite Color: Pink

Mandy, I love your job title! I should put that on my resume!

haha Thanks. It sounds better than housewife. LOL

LOL...That's cute...I'm aspiring to become a Director of Home Affairs. Now when people ask me what my long term goal is, I'll have a good answer.

Wow Mandy,you must be one very busy lady!A warm welcome to our lovely little group here.

Sherry ~ Only my three live with us. I wish we had all 6 but not at this time. My hubby actually leaves Thursday to go visit them. They live in Georgia and we live in NJ.

Oh that must be tough.I grew up in a blended family and though confusing my step sister was my best friend.

My name is Jessica and I'm not a mommy. But... my "mommy" is on here and I thought since I'm living far away (or at least seems like it), I'd get involved in good reads and her groups just to have that added connection. Not really sure what to say... I'll be 26 next month... Originally from Edmonton, AB and recently moved to Winnipeg, MB. It's hard adjusting to a new city and a new office (transferred so I'm still at the same job) with a new manager who's a bit of a jerk. I do however live in a nice area of the city and I love the old buildings and the people here are very friendly.

Though I don't have kids I'd love to have them one day and even have names picked out. Right now I think I'd rather have a dog.

Yay!!!!Jessie's here!Jessica is my daughter and though she's not a mommy she joined to be "near" hers.

Welcome Jessica! I am sure you already know this, but your mom is awesome!

I know, I know she's the best. I used to beat kids up when I was younger for calling her mom. Most of my friends are pretty jealous of me! I see most of my friends moms are old hags and it's just sad. lol

Hello! My name is Anne and I'm 25 years old. I have one son, Jonah, who is almost 3 years old. I have a wonderful husband, Joe, to whom I've been married to for about a year and a half now. I live in the heart of Kentucky and work full-time doing sales/marketing. I love to read and do so any spare time I can find (which isn't much). :) I was so excited when I found this website today!

Welcome Anne!
I am just going to jump right in and pick your brain. I am doing a conference in Louisville in November...I won't have a car, but am staying downtown at the Marriott. Any recommendations for places to eat or things to see?

Thanks!

Welcome Marjorie! It is nice to hear that my husband is not the only one that does this. Now I don't feel so alone.

Hello Stacie! There are TONS of things to do in Louisville, and downtown is the best place to stay because you can walk and not have to worry about parking.

Kentucky Center for the Arts
501 West Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202
www.kentuckycenter.org

Fourth Street Live
www.4thstlive.com

Check out www.louisville.com as well for TONS of stuff to see and do.

Hope you enjoy your stay! :)

Anne

Thank you Anne!

Hi my name is Jane and I am mom/stepmom of Alex (23), Weslie (20), Valerie (19) and little Eli (5).
I have been married 16 years and I am currently going through the odd emotional upheaval of feeling the sting of the empty nest as the older kids all go off to college and the anxiety of the youngest one starting kindergarten. I live in Florida and am the Assistant Director of a Library System.

I am a working mom in Gilbert, AZ (Nicholas,4 and Alyssa, 1), married 5 years. These days I "read" most of my books on CD during my commute. I also love reading books to my kids.

Hello to all the new folks. Sorry I haven't been here in a while. I haven't been feeling up to par these days and with all the things going on at home, I haven't found a minute to myself. Thankfully some deadlines at work are over and I will have a few extra minutes here each day to check in. Welcome to all and I hope you're all well.

Santina