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Can’t We All Just Get Along…

15 months ago I scored a job I half wanted but was on the fence about. Once I walked in I thought I would work there forever. Hired to assist an attorney in the trusts and estates dept. Along with the job came a very naive paralegal just this side of a shiny certificate from community college. Yes, she had the paperwork but lacked more common sense, drive and raw talent than anyone I had ever met. Many say she is part of the “everyone gets a trophy” generation, couple that with the inability to speak knowledgeably and the fact that she probably never took a ball of any kind to the shin or chin. Then along came Sandi….

The young lady had more dizzy days and magical migraines than a housewife on crack. Her passion included free donuts and coffee in large mugs. Her duties slowing became my duties, all of them. Including speaking to all clients, attorneys, actually anyone that needed to be part of the work process. She threw it in my face over and over “well you are just the assistant”. Now the so called assistant became the legal expert upon the only attorney in the department jumping to the competition and leaving the paralegal without a leg to stand on.

I lasted almost a year. It was a hard job to quit. I was “in”. People loved me and I loved them back. I could come and go, not fill out paperwork for days off or early release. I write that because I once worked in a public school and time off consisted on paperwork and forms being signed. Seriously people… They left a crap load of responsibility up to the girl with the high school education….shhhhhh I always had every tiny step reviewed by an attorney. Generally I was told “go ahead, you got this.” But I wasn’t going to practice law. God only knows how much liability insurance they held.

So I gave the notice and took the heat. People cried, threw chairs, and tried holding my notice longer in hopes I would change my mind. I walked out knowing I gave them my all. They let me walk knowing I could always return on a moments notice. I miss my job, not the headaches, Saturday hours and surely not that know it all child in her bathroom stall sized office. I tried helping her the best I knew how. My job here was done.

Life is too short to drink burnt coffee or eat burnt toast. Throw that shit in the trash and make more, recreate yourself and move on.

It was fun while it lasted my corner office friends. Maybe we will see each other again. Hell, I’ll bring the donuts!!

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Dixie Joy

There is nothing like a puppy to throw your routine into a complete wind tunnel.  Sure everyone is on board when you actually put a deposit on the little bundle of energy.  Anticipation is perhaps even better than Christmas morning.  The new bowl, a bed and even a sweater for the colder weather is ready and waiting.  Let me tell you…. the first few hours are amazing.  Puppy kisses their new puppy breath on your face is awesome.  Come night fall every one is ready to go back to their corners of solitude and cellphone usage.  While they are thrilled to have her they miss their quiet life.  By now they have gone a few hours without looking at the deal of the day on Craigslist or marveling at what their friends have been doing.  Someone has to take Dixie outside, run around the yard and try to get her to go pee.  All the while coming inside and having her pee on the rug.  Not the hardwood flooring which covers 90% of the surface of the house.  The sun sets and everyone in the house is sleeping or on their way.  Everyone that is except Dixie.  She is scared and lonely for the comfy companionship she is accustomed to.

Never fear, momma is here.  Once a momma to two kiddos under 2 yrs old all while a mom to our first fur ball Katie.  Times were busy then.  Dixie is our fourth lab.  Katie, Daisy and Lily all set the standard for the family.  After a tragic summer and losing our fur family in one short months time, Dixie is the Joy we have been missing.  The Joy our household has never gone without.

So if you think you want a puppy think real hard.  There has to be at least one adult in the family that wants its more than all the rest.  One adult who will go without sleep, food and spend countless hours at the vet questioning while Dixie has a cough.  Not a constant or persistent cough, just one that comes when your rushing off to work or thinking you might get more than 3 hours of sleep that night.

It’s what we mommas do.  We care for those we love and when we forget… we look extra hard to find the Joy.  xo

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Last School Bus

Yes, I was that momma… living a mere 4 miles from the school but insisted on driving every single bloody lovin’ day to the elementary school just to end up being stuck behind the vehicle I dreaded the most.  I stood patiently with all the other crazies, including the ones with cute travel mugs filled with a mystery potion all waiting for the ringing of the school bells.  I finally gave in to my kids cries and anguish.  They boarded the bus with excitement and against my better judgement (ie my life as i knew it was over)….FAST FORWARD NINE YEARS…

There are no more early runs to the “stop” or strange neighborhood kids back flipping off the old oak tree.  Some of our best morning conversations came from the minutes to the bus.  A short chat and usually ended in a great life lesson.  Ultimately they survived that bus ride along with hot lunch, staying after school for some “important” meeting, eventually driving themselves and all unscathed.  SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION… 

Please remember as you jet off to your important 9 to 5 job, all ironed polished in your clean SUV that although the sleeve of Ritz are no longer visible, children are everywhere.  Don’t scurry around the slow moving yellow submarine carrying precious cargo.  Do remember that behind every overfilled pencil box of dull crayons, handmade lunch or snackables purchased at the local convenience,  there is a momma attached.  A momma that loses sleep even now, all knowing that she has raised decent, happy, law abiding young adults.  This is the same momma that will still, to this day, blame herself first before all others should anything great or small hurt her babies.  Mommaland is the most valuable, ongoing profession that one will never receive enough credit for but will always take the heat should their kid make a lousy decision.

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Hello world!

Welcome to my comfy couch, taco Tuesday lunches with old friends, headstrong teenagers, aging parents, office personalities real life story I’ve named – Beyondmommaland.com!

This is where an everyday momma who was once knee deep in diapers and sippy cups who then worried about lunch money and healthy snacks is now re-creating, finding, changing, growing, being brave, crying, blinking away the tears and enjoying her true self.  Not everyone is going to enjoy the process we go through.  It’s okay… the days of putting ourselves last and making everyone else happy is over.  I’m at the point of my life where if I have to fake smile just to make you feel better I’m not interested.  Fully smiling from the joy interesting people, things and life has to offer is where it’s at.  All of this is exciting, scary and sarcastic all day long.