MAC AND CHEESE PLEASE?

High strung mothers rush around trying to be all and do all. Avoiding all trans fat. Omitting any products that contain even the smallest trace of MSG. Thriving on paying double for only organic foods. I often wonder if the added stress of watching over every small piece of food that enters into our children's diet is productive or counter productive. Maybe we spare ourselves clogged arteries by buying ultra lean beef but we stress our hearts by having to hit three grocery stores a week to fill our cupboards with the best products possible. I think this overstrung mother should put up her feet take a day off and cook up a batch of mac and cheese.

Daughter

WHERE'S MY BRA?

I have a son who is 25. He has twin sisters which are 15. Teenagers can be pretty embarrassed over any little thing because they want to make an impression on their peers. One evening my twin girls had guys over and they were enjoying video games in my family room. My older daughter who is 27 came to visit. She came up to me and whispered, "Mom I am missing a bra. I think when the twins came to visit me last week one of them borrowed it. It is my favorite. Do you know where it is?" I walked her back to the laundry room, hoping I had just washed it. Now you've got to understand my washroom is right off of my kitchen. The family room opens into the kitchen. My son got home from work and heard us in the laundry room. He wanted to know what we were doing and we told him. My son being blunt walked into the family room and announced, "We are missing a bra, does anyone know where it went?" One of my twins turned bright red, grabbed her brother, and pulled him into the laundry room. She said, "How could you? I am wearing it!" We couldn't help but laugh. The life of a Mother with older children.

Mom

MY GREEN BEAN SUMMER!

At fifteen I was in charge of my twin sisters, age two and a half, for part of a summer. I wasn't the best mother. I couldn't cook, so I gave them ramen with green beans every day for lunch. (The green beans were brought to us in black garbage bags. My aunt rescued them from the ground after a truck jack knifed on the freeway. Dinner vegetable? lunch vegetable? Snack? GREEN BEANS! It was the summer of the green beans!) We enjoyed this succulent feast while we watched whatever talk show was on. Titles ranging from "My gay lover is sleeping with my mother," to "I don't know who my baby's daddy is." Then I would rub there backs as they would fall asleep to E.T.. (Their favorite movie at the time.) Despite my ineptness at this critical time in their lives, they turned out to be FABULOUS WOMEN! Often when I have a low period in motherhood and want to throw in the towel I remember... despite small periods of too much MSG and trashy television kids can turn out okay.

Daughter

TYLER'S ANGELS

My grandson is 9 months old. A couple of weeks ago his mother and father went to the farm to camp out for the evening. They played, had a lot of fun, and arrived home the next morning pretty dirty. It was bath time for the children. Mother bathed them with bubbles and toys. Mom filled the tub to the top and they felt like they were in a miniature swimming pool. What fun? The fun became pretty crazy as they splashed and pretended to be somewhere else besides in their tub at home. It was finally time to get out. I can imagine it all. "No, Mom. We don't want to get out. We are little mermaids." Unfortunately the fun soon ended. They dressed and watched a Disney show. Mom went into her room to cut Dad's hair. Tyler couldn't take the Disney stuff anymore and the undrained tub looked more inviting. Little Tyler went head first into the tub when his little sister discovered him. She yelled, "Mom, Tyler is in the tub." Mom ran in panicked. Little Tyler was sitting up in the tub completely soaked. Mom was relieved. She got him out quickly. If I know my daughter, she probably cried a little realizing there were angels watching over her little boy. Tyler threw up some water but all in all came through with a big smile. Thank-you for the angels in our lives.

Mom