I get the comment often “I don’t know how you do it all!”  Well, let’s be totally honest – I don’t – at least not “all” and rarely do I get to the “most” level.  I am a mom of 2 beautiful boys ages almost 5 and a 6 year old.  They are just over 12 months apart.  Because they hear me say on a daily basis “I wish I were an octopus!” Jace now tells me at least once a day  “Mom, I wish you were an octopus” – and so the story goes.

I am a wife, a mother, a business owner, a woman in her 40’s dealing with things that all 40+ year olds have to deal with.  I have friends and family – and on a daily basis…. I CHOOSE MY BATTLES.  Although it is mostly a saying, every day I need to choose what I need to spend my energy and efforts on – and anything that requires work I label my battles.  Really it’s not because any one thing is bad, and I guess a more appropriate word would choosing my tasks… but with two ninja children around me BATTLES sounds much more exciting – doesn’t it?

~I work every day.  I say I take Mondays off… but honestly – I don’t.

~I love my children every day.  But honestly… sometimes they drive me up the wall (ok, every day at least once a day).

~My house is a series of piles – then I straighten up the piles and then they grow back.

~I am thankful for my Facebook friends, because with having little or no time to “live” outside my routine at this stage in my life. It allows me the “catch up” if only for a “like” or a quick message… at least we know we are thinking of each other.

~I DREAM HUGE.  While I wish to accomplish everything I set my mind to.  I don’t.  But that doesn’t stop me from dreaming because that is the part that is the most fun anyway.

~I’m about as imperfect as they come.  With life & family… most days I am a firefighter. I have to deal with the most pressing thing or the hottest “fire” on my list.

In my life.  200% effort means I get 80% positive results, and that’s still above a C average on the report card in my head – and that has to be good enough.

It’s an exhausting life.  It is a life filled with anxiety and stress.  It is a life filled with high-highs and low lows.

MOST IMPORTANTLY.  I never get bored, and I have an exciting and event-filled life.  So I claim a successful life.  Besides… when I fight to get my kids to bed at night, and I wake up in the morning to hugs and kisses – It it the best part of my day.  And so the cycle starts over every day going faster and faster.