Don't forget!

Remember, I am participating in the MOAB contest sponsored by Momlogic and Mom Bloggers Club....see that button to the right? Yeah, that's the contest.

I am one of 32 moms who are all hoping to be given the "Mother of All Bloggers" title.

To read all about MY mom logic (my entry for the contest), click here.

On April 30th, the 10 finalists will be announced and that is when you can start showing YOUR support by voting for me! The grand prize winner will be announced on May 7th during Momlogic's Moms Nite Out event.

My Mom Logic

Dictionary.com defines logic as “a particular method of reasoning or argumentation”…

There are times when I feel that there seems to be NO logic at all to my parenting style; however, I am reminded - time & time again - that when it comes to MY mom logic, well, I must be doing something right. Sure, there are a gazillion and one books out there on how to raise your child, what to feed them, what they should do, what you should do...blah, blah, blah...but when it comes down to it, YOU are your own expert – no matter how experienced or inexperienced you are.

I once read that simply having a child doesn’t make you a mother…and I truly believe that it doesn’t. If you ask me, common sense would tell you that. Growing up, I didn't have a nurturing bone in my body. I was terrified of newborns. My daughter was the first newborn I ever held. I remember that first night in the hospital after giving birth to my daughter...I cried and cried and cried. What was I supposed to do? There I was with this precious newborn and now I was considered a mother, but did I feel like one? No. All of my insecurities and doubts about my capabilities as a mother flooded my mind. I was a nervous wreck, but I pushed aside those fears and met the challenges of motherhood head on. Now, here I am, a little more than eight years later, the mother of two wonderful children who certainly have not suffered any ill side-effects due to my apprehensions and lack of confidence just years prior.

I think a lot of my success (thus far) as a mother can be attributed to my twisted sense of logic...my mom logic. It's all about the reasoning...your method of using it and why you're using it. When I was a freshman in college, I took a mathematics course that was heavily based in logic (shows how much I paid attention because I can't even remember the name of the course). Three times a week I sat in that 50 minute long class and listened to my Russian professor drone on and on about truths and fallacies...logic, logic, logic. I did not have a clue back then, but I do now. Motherhood is all about truths & fallacies...the logical and the illogical....reasoning & arguing. The bottom line is -- my mom logic is all about knowing how to pick & choose my battles.

Contrary to popular belief, knowing how to pick & choose your battles with a child is not something that comes easily. As an adult, you are used to having things one particular way -- how you want them, why you want them, when you want them -- especially when you are a bossy, semi-control freak like me (I can't help it...I have anal retentive tendencies thanks to my Virgo status!). When you throw a child into the mix, all sense of order and rational thought goes out the window (sometimes). It's really HARD to relinquish whatever sense of control you once had over a situation. As the mother of two children, I've learned quickly, MOSTLY through trial & error, that it is KEY to know when to stand your ground and when to give in. And, for the record, I'd just like to state that I'm not one to dismiss bribing as a way to coerce my children into submission (admit it...neither are you!).

So, this form of logic - that "particular method of reasoning or argumentation" - is most certainly MY mom logic. I rely upon my savvy persuasion skills and my love for discussion (I should have been a lawyer) to get me through. My mom logic is a jumbled mix of reverse psychology, tough (yet unconditional) love and Bill Cosby meets Judge Judy. My mom logic teeters on the verge of fantasy -- did I really think that the laundry was going to fold itself and the house will just instantly appear clean -- but can snap back into reality at a moments notice (yep, the laundry's still not washed and there is a layer of dust on everything). My mom logic fails from time to time - especially when Daddy (a.k.a. The Pushover) gives in - but continues to reign supreme when it comes to what matters most (everything else...ha!). My mom logic might show a hardened exterior, but there is a big softy hidden inside. Most importantly, my mom logic has taught me that I have become the mother that I was meant to be for my children...I didn't know this eight years ago...but I've evolved, I've grown...I am a mother.

So this is what I feel that my mom logic is. Hopefully, some others will agree with me and maybe, just maybe, I'll be chosen as one of the 10 finalists for the Mother of All Bloggers contest sponsored by Momlogic and Mom Bloggers Club. Stay tuned to see if I've been chosen and, if so, get ready to VOTE, VOTE, VOTE for me!

THE MOTHER OF ALL BLOGGERS

Nominate me...seriously. I'm asking, begging, pleading...PLEASE just nominate me, will ya?? This is a contest with Momlogic and Mom Bloggers Club and the prize is HUGE, but it's the recognition that's even better.

I need 10 nominations by April 19th...just 10...that's all! Here's how to nominate me:

• Go to my page over at Momlogic and leave me a comment on my page that simply says, "I nominate you." (http://community.momlogic.com/profile/Michelle43) -- and, YES, you have to be a member of Momlogic to leave a comment on my profile page. It's free, fun and for anyone to join so don't be scurred!!!

See?! It's that easy! Now, go tell everyone to nominate me. Remember, ten nominations gets the ball rolling and I know there are at least 10 of you who follow me on the regular (*hint, hint*)!

And, before you head over to my page at Momlogic, read this important bit of info first:
If you are a member of Momlogic and you've already nominated someone, then get your sister, mother, aunt, cousin, husband, best friend, etc. to nominate me. And, remember that you MUST nominate me on my page at Momlogic, not here in my comments (although this shouldn't stop you from leaving me a fabu comment anyway...).

Thanks!!!

ALMOST FAMOUS

Guess who is on the homepage for Momlogic?

Yep, that's right. ME!

(and, no, I'm not talking about the stripper story...sheesh!)

I'm with some good company, too...I mean, Momlogic has the best members (so you really SHOULD join to see what the fuss is all about!!). Moms, dads, those with kids, those without kids, those having kids...it's all for you! Just think, you could see your smiling mug on the homepage of Momlogic, too (that's me in the bottom right-hand corner!!).

For a direct link to the featured article:
Momlogic's Best Kept Secret: FREE STUFF!

WIN IT!

Spring is in the air and the gals over at Momlogic want to give you a chance to capture all of your favorite spring moments...



But don't wait -- this is a weekend-only contest and the winner will be chosen on Monday!

Attention all GIRLIE GIRLS!

If you have a stash of beauty goods like I do, then you might want to read closely and do as I say...

HEAD ON OVER TO MOMLOGIC (via the link below) AND ENTER YOURSELF TO WIN $500 WORTH OF BEAUTY SUPPLIES!

All you gotta do is join Momlogic's Beauty Logic group and share your beauty tip and you're instantly entered to win! Easy peasy!

http://community.momlogic.com/profiles/blogs/400-best-of-beauty-giveaway

Big Pimpin'

As you all know, I heart all things Momlogic. And, after chatting with a super cool gal named Jenny who works for Momlogic, I think they kinda heart me, too! :)

Anyway...I just wanted to share with you all one of their latest and greatest groups and want all of my fellow Virginia parents out there to consider this an open invitation to join the Virginia Momlogic group:

http://community.momlogic.com/group/virginiamomlogic

Got coffee?

OK all of you coffee-aholics out there, you know you cannot pass up the opportunity to...

WIN A KEURIG!

(you know you want one!)

Want to know how? It's really simple:

• First, head on over to MomLogic and join the MomLogic Coffee Club group (it costs absolutely nada to join MomLogic...free, free, free!)


• Next, check out the Coffee Club's featured blog post for Thursday 2/26, Somebody Call The Plumber!, written by yours truly and show me the love...you know, leave me a comment


• Then, show me even more love by leaving a comment on my profile page at MomLogic(remember to use the same name on my blog & on my profile page at MomLogic...that way they can keep the entries straight!)

Could it be any easier than that? No! So, whaddya say? Read my blog entry, comment me on my blog & show me some love over at MomLogic and get entered to win quite possibly the coolest coffee maker ever?! Yeah...you gotta do it!

And, definitely consider hanging around MomLogic, too, to mingle and get to know the other moms (and dads, too) that hang out there. You won't be disappointed!

Ack, again!

OK, so I'm really nervous. Flattered, but nervous. I have been asked by Jenny over at
MomLogic to be one of their featured bloggers over at the MomLogic Coffee Club.

Whoa.

Seriously, people...up until a week ago this blog was just another blog lost in the land of blogs. I wasn't doing it for recognition. I wasn't doing it for a few minutes of fame. I was just doing it because I felt I had to. This mind of mine was going to explode back in 2007 if I didn't start getting stuff out of it and that was really what started my blogging journey. I'm not a writer by any stretch of the imagination and I think that sometimes I write about some meaningless stuff. But, I suppose if I'm putting it all out there then I am a writer of some sort and I'm not as meaningless as I think I am.

Anyway...

To me, this is huge. Yes, I put my blog out there on a few networks -- mostly in hopes of increasing my blog traffic and "meeting" other blogging mommas out there. I'm not gonna lie -- the buttons & widgets are cool too. But, wow, to have someone actually recognize my blog and ask me to choose a post that I would like to share with a gazillion other mommies (and daddies...yes, there are some daddies over at MomLogic)....ack!

I'm not going to turn away this opportunity...no sir. I think the hardest part is just accepting that someone likes what I'm doing and I should be recognized for it. That's pretty damn cool. Oh, but the stress of choosing a blog entry! There are so many...and so many seem so lame to me! I know, I know...I'm probably being too modest and I'm just stressing myself out over nothing.

1-2-3...BREATHE

So...what have I go to lose? NOTHING! What do I have to gain? EVERYTHING! Wish me luck as I scour the "SS" for the perfect blog entry to share with my fellow mommas over at the coffee club.