The Cat in the hAttic... #FunnyFriday February 2015

Today’s post is February’s Funny Friday, a regular feature published on the last Friday of every month. Funny Friday is a collaborative project. Each month one of the participants submits a picture, then we all write 5 captions or thoughts inspired by that month’s picture. Links to the other bloggers’ posts are below, click on them and see what they've come up with. I hope we bring a smile to your face as you start your weekend.

Here’s today’s picture. It was submitted by Sanity Waiting to Happen    http://www.angelaweight.com

1. Must stop accepting dares. Must stop accepting dares. Must stop... What was that?

2. Take the job as Mouse Hunter, they said. It will be a safe job, they said.

3. Atticus decided to take the stairs less traveled. He ventured out into the unknown, hoping this new territory included mice and pillows.

4. I bet the mother lode of goodness is up here. It must be. They keep it closed all the time, just like they keep the treat jar closed. All.The.Time.

5. To overcome my fears, I must face them. Please don't let the Boogeyman get me. Please don't let the.... What was that noise? It was the Boogeyman, wasn't it? Abort. Abort mission.

Thank you so much for spending some of your Friday with me! I hope you have a fabulous day and a spectacular weekend!

Now go forth and check out my friend's Funny Friday posts, and let them add some laughter into your day!

Follow me home (http://followmehome.shellybean.com)

Baking In A Tornado (http://www.BakingInATornado.com)

Someone Else’s Genius (http://www.someoneelsesgenius.com)

Confessions of a part-time working mom (http://thethreegerbers.blogspot.ch/)

The Momisodes (http://themomisodes.com)

Sanity Waiting to Happen (http://www.angelaweight.com)

Spatulas on Parade  (http://spatulasonparade.blogspot.com/)

Juicebox Confession  (http://www.JuiceboxConfession.com)

Cluttered Genius (http://www.clutteredgenius.com)

Stacy Sews and Schools (http://stacysewsandschools.blogspot.com)
People Don’t Eat Enough Fudge (http://peopledonteatenoughfudge.blogspot.co.uk)

I love coffee, do you?? #Giveaway

Happy Valentine's Day!!! It is my favorite day of the year!!! This has always been my favorite holiday. I think love is awesome, so a holiday that celebrates love is right up my alley. 

To me this day is about so much more than being in a relationship. It is about loving others and loving ourselves! I feel like people often get so hung up on being in a relationship, that it can ruin the holiday.

So, I decided that today would be the perfect day to do my FIRST GIVEAWAY!

Everyone is blessed with people to love and that love them. I hope, whether you are single or not, you can find joy today! Joy in loving others and yourself. 

I also hope you also find joy in the opportunity to win a $25 gift card to Starbucks!

Thank you all for supporting me and being loyal readers!

Things I Love:

1. God

2. Family

3. Friends

4. COFFEE

5. Freedom

6. Paying It Forward

7. Sunny days

8. COFFEE

9. Writing

10. Reading

11. Music

12. COFFEE

13. Soft pretzels without the salt

14. Giveaways

Best of luck to each of you! Thank you for being fabulous and loyal readers of my blog! 

Love, Jules

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kinship of Motherhood. #UseYourWords February 2015.

Today’s post is a writing challenge. This is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once and all the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the writer will take them. Until now.

My words are:

enterprise ~ peculiar ~ kinship ~ empathy

They were submitted by: http://eileensperpetuallybusy.blogspot.com

Thank you for such great words! 

I posted recently about the #Mommitment petition. I believe strongly in it. I found it at a time, when "Mom Wars" were the principal focus of my thoughts. To be very honest, I do not fully understand Mom Wars. I think maybe because I feel such a peculiar kinship with my fellow moms. Whether I agree with their parenting styles or not. I would be insane to expect every mom to parent their child exactly as I do. I am not sure if it is because I am able to agree to disagree, or if it is because I firmly believe in treating  others as I wish to be treated, or if it is because I have a strong ability to extend empathy to others. 

Regardless of the reason I am able to accept different parenting styles from other parents, all that matters is that I have noticed a huge problem. Far too often I see other moms and dads being ripped to shreds, simply because they state opinions on parenting that differ from the opinions of others. We are all different. We all have children that are different and unique in their own fabulous ways. We all love our children. That is what matters most. We are all in this parental enterprise together. We need to work harder at getting along and extending empathy rather than judgment. 

I do notice these Mom Wars in real life, but I witness them most frequently on Social Media. In my humble opinion, it is a form of cyber bullying. It needs to end. Who cares if a mom gives her kid baby carrots with ranch or organic carrots with homemade organic creamy balsamic dip. The child is being fed. Yes, we should all do our best to make the best choices for our children, including proper nutrition. It isn't up to us to criticize another parent's choices about what foods to provide for their children. 

Do what you feel is best for your children, and allow the other parents to do what they feel is best for their children. We are all apart of the amazing parental enterprise. We are all doing the best we can. We are all loving our children and providing for our children, to the best of our abilities. Some of us struggle more with more obstacles, and others have it easier with far fewer obstacles. That should not matter. We should all build each other up. Encourage one another. Help each other. Empathize. 

I have heard the "it takes a village" mantra for years. Back when I was a naive adult, that did not have children to raise, I remember thinking it was ridiculous. I remember thinking when I had children, I would do it all on my own. Raise them however I want. Instill in them the best attributes and bring them up to be amazing members of society. I remember thinking I would not need help. Did I mention I was naive? I totally understand it now. I get it. I wish I had a village to help me with Weewee. On days when I am sick and she is full of energy, a helping hand would be awesome. On days when I have a million things to do, and she wants to play and play and play some more, a helping hand would be awesome. Yes, I totally get it. 

We need to be each other's village. We need to be a positive impact not just on ourselves and our children, but on the parents and children around us. On those days I am sick, the last thing I need is another parent criticizing me because I am not able to be the best parent Weewee deserves that day. Trust me, being my own worst critic (as we all often are), I am already making myself feel horrible enough. What I do need is another parent to remind me I am doing my best, and maybe offer to be a member of my village. 

We need to stop destroying our villages with senseless Mom Wars. If you do not like another parent's parenting style, that is fine. Either agree to disagree, or join a different village than the one they belong to. We all have the ability to build our own village and choose who to include in our village. We do not have to include everyone in our village, just those that will help build the village we want for our families. 

Next time you witness a Mom War, please do not pour gas on it. Pour some water on it, or possibly walk away all together. The next time you disagree with another parent, rather than waging war or setting the stage for a war, agree to disagree or walk away or politely and respectfully speak your opinion. We don't want to be disrespected, and we should not disrespect others. Especially not other parents. We all know just how hard parenting is. The rewards are amazing, but we definitely earn them. 

Parenting can be scary. There is no need to make it scarier for other parents. 

So, please consider making a #Mommitment to help stop these Mom Wars that are running rampant over social media these days. Let's all work to be the best parents we can be, and remind other parents they are doing the best they can be. Let's put out into this parenting enterprise, what we would like to receive from it. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I do not mean to force my beliefs on anyone. I just wish we could all get along- live and let live. It really isn't that difficult. 

Links to the other “Use Your Words” posts:

http://www.BakingInATornado.com                                                         Baking In A Tornado

http://spatulasonparade.blogspot.com/                                                    Spatulas on Parade

http://stacysewsandschools.blogspot.com/                                        Stacy Sews and Schools

http://themomisodes.com                                                                               The Momisodes

http://batteredhope.blogspot.com                                                                    Battered Hope

http://eileensperpetuallybusy.blogspot.com/                                    Eileen’s Perpetually Busy

http://thethreegerbers.blogspot.ch/                        Confessions of a part-time working mom

http://www.someoneelsesgenius.com                                                  Someone Else’s Genius  

http://sparklyjenn.blogspot.com/                                                           Sparkly Poetic Weirdo 

http://www.southernbellecharm.com                                                      Southern Belle Charm

http://www.JuiceboxConfession.com                                                       Juicebox Confession   

Happy Friday the 13th!! I hope you have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend!!

If you feel so inclined, please visit my Facebook page and give it a like. (The Bergham's Facebook Page) I have some upcoming giveaways planned, the first of which will be a Starbucks giveaway!! I would like as many people as possible to be able to get involved! So, please spread the word to your friends! Thank you! 

If you want to join the #Mommitment and take a stand against Mom Wars, please feel free to click the picture below and sign the petition!

Clean Up on Aisle Unsolicited Parental Advice #Mommitment

I was shopping a few nights ago, and I had an interesting encounter in the produce department. I was stocking up on bananas. Weewee loves them as do I. Actually, Chad will even eat bananas. He isn't really into fruits and vegetables. As I was filling up my bag with bananas, a fellow mommy decided to give me some advice. 

She wanted to make sure that I knew that I really should not feed my child bananas. There are far better fruits available, and only "idiots" feed their children bananas, and I definitely "shouldn't be an idiot".

I smiled politely and went about my shopping, thanking her for the advice. 

A small part of me wanted to enlighten her. Tell her that she was probably the idiot. Inform her that bananas are just fine. Most things are just fine, in moderation. They personally help me with my leg cramps. 

I wanted to tell her to take her judgment somewhere else, that I was fully stocked, mostly with self-judgement. 

I wanted to tell her I would happily feed my child a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, if she would foot the bill. In the meantime I will do the best with what funds I have, even if that means giving my kid lots and lots of bananas. 

I said none of that. Life is too short. 

I know that I am doing the best I can. That is what matters.

Where was she when I was reading labels and finding the healthiest foods possible?

The thing is... that is how the world works. Parents are so quick to pass judgment and give unsolicited advice, and slow to give compliments. True, genuine compliments. 

I hope this changes. I hope a day comes when we shine spotlights on the good we see in other parents, and genuinely let them know that we see them doing their best.

That is all any of us can do. Our best. Some people have better bests than others, and that is okay.

I fully acknowledge I am not the best mom. I am not the most able mom.

I am doing my best though. I will strive forever to make my best better. 

So, to the mom that gave me advice over the bananas... Thank you. I promise not to judge you. I promise not to call you names. I promise to see that you are doing your best, even if your best is to give advice to other moms. 

If you happen to be reading this, and the encounter sounds familiar, and you are that mom that gave me advice, please know that I am genuinely thankful that you care enough to tell other moms what you feel is best. Please, just know your best may not be another mom's best, and that is okay. Also, what is your beef with bananas? They are delish! 

If you have come to a point, where you see the problem we moms face all too regularly, and you feel it is time for us moms to support one another, and not tear each other down, please click on the photo below and sign the petition! Make a Mommitment to end Mom Wars. We are all in this together, and we are all doing our best.

A Day In The Life of a Kid .... February 2015 #SecretSubjectSwap

Welcome to February's Secret Subject Swap. This week, 15 brave bloggers submitted a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. 

My “Secret Subject” is:

You wake up and discover you are your kid. Which kid are you and what do you do?

It was submitted by: http://themomisodes.com (Thank you for such a great subject! xoxo)

This subject was so thought provoking for me. I think the easiest answer would be Weewee. I would most likely spend the day eating all the COOKIES and playing with all my toys and watching all the ELMO. That is a typical day for her, minus eating all the cookies. I am not that cool of a mom. She is the energizer bunny. She plays and plays and plays and plays. Recently, she has taken a slightly bigger interest in TV, mostly Sesame Street (especially Elmo). She will wander around the living room playing with her toys and having tea parties with Mama (me). Now, more than ever, she takes longer TV breaks, and seems to particularly love it when Elmo's World is on.

Yes, that would really be the easiest answer. After some thought and internal debate, I decided not to take the easiest road this time. 

I would be Kateri. My sweet, precious angel baby. 

I really am not sure how this would work. It is my secret subject, and up to my interpretation. (I would LOVE to know how you would interpret this subject. Please feel free to tell me in the comments!) As I was pondering this, I was trying to decide if she would get to hang out with me, or if that would be impossible, since technically I am her. I decided that since I was waking up as her, I would not be available in my normal presence. This makes me sad, but it really seems the most logical conclusion.

If I were able to be myself and her, I would spend the entire day holding her and telling her I love her. Just for the record.

If I were able to be her, I would live life. In my mind, I wake up and I am her. I am not the tiny little baby that was born into this world. I would be the eleven year old girl, that she would be if she were here today. 

I would eat candy, ice cream, cake, cupcakes, cookies, etc, etc. I would experience as many of the foods and drinks that kids love, that I could fit into the day. I would swing on a swing, slide down a slide, and cross the monkey bars. 

I would watch The Little Mermaid and Dirty Dancing. I would listen to Bob Marley. 

I would sit in a photo booth and take pictures, to leave behind, so my mom (Me) would have something to cherish. 

I would visit my family. Let them hug me and meet me, since they were never able to do this previously. 

Since my existence, would be a miracle, I honestly feel anything would be possible and money would not be an obstacle. 

I would go visit Matt Damon and I would tell him about my mom (Me). I would tell him that she has loved him forever and a day. I would encourage him to visit her, but warn him that it would be at his own risk. I would tell him that she admires him and all the good he is doing, and thank him for all he has done and will do. I would know that is what my mom (I) would do if she (I) could. Then, I would add that he is an idiot for being a Patriots fan and should seriously consider becoming a Green Bay fan. Hey, I am my mom's child, after all.

I would go see the Eiffel Tower. I would take pictures with it, for my mom (Me) to cherish. 

I would swim with the Manatees. 

I would go to an Atlanta Braves game. I would go to a Boston Red Sox game. I would go to a Green Bay game. I would go to a Boston Celtics game. I would go to a Golden State Warriors game. I would watch Jimmie Johnson race. 

I would walk across the Golden Gate Bridge and visit the Grand Canyon.

I would visit Disney World, and ride all the rides. I would take pictures with Eeyore for my mom (me).

I would color some pictures for my mom to cherish forever.

I would make my mom an awesome coffee cup, so she would think of me every time she made coffee (which is often). I would also drink some coffee, just to see if all the hype my mom gives it is worth it. Of course it would be, because my mom is very wise, particularly when it comes to the greatness of coffee.

I would sit in on a class at Harvard Law school. My mom used to tell me, while I was growing in her tummy, that I could grow up to be ANYTHING I wanted to be, but that she would always secretly hope I ended up going to Harvard Law. She said that she would support me in ANYTHING (legal) I chose to do, but that if I could help defend justice, that would be extra cool.

I would visit my Dad. My mom does not talk to him anymore. Losing me was too much for them to bare, but I know she would want me to see him, even though I cannot see her.

I would hand out book bags filled with supplies to homeless people.

I would visit Washington D.C. and remind the politicians that HONESTY is important, as is doing the right thing. I would tell them they should be allied with the people, and not with any particular political parties or corporations. I would remind them that their goal should be to make this country a better place to live for everyone, not just people that fund them and share the same political party label they do.

I would jump on a trampoline.

I would go skydiving.

I would ride a bicycle.

I would visit my sister Weewee. I give her hugs and kisses. I would give her some cookies, my mom doesn't let her have nearly enough. 

I would visit Chad. I would tell him that my mom loves him lots and talks to me about him all the time. I would thank him for taking such good care of my Mommy. I would ask him to give my mom hugs and kisses from me every day, since I cannot do so myself.

I would visit Embee. I would tell her what a cool kid she is, and tell her that my mom talks about her a lot, and that my mom thinks that she and I would be BFFs, if I were here. I would let her know my mom loves her very much, and that she has always told me stories about her, saying that I would probably be doing the same things, since we are so close in age. 

I would take pictures with Chad, Weewee, and Embee, so that my mom can cherish them forever. 

I would hide a bag full of money, where I know my mom would find it, so she could do all the great things she wants in this world. (Hey, this is my interpretation!)

I would live.

Then I would go back to Heaven, and let my mom (me) come back. 

**A few side notes** For anyone that may not know... Kateri is my daughter that died in 2003, after I went into labor prematurely. 

If at all possible, I would happily stay her forever, and let her live, even if it meant I could no longer live. I am sure she would do this thing called life way better than I do it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post! 

Here are links to all the sites now featuring February's Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a drink, and check them all out. See you there:

http://www.BakingInATornado.com                          Baking In A Tornado

http://stacysewsandschools.blogspot.com/          Stacy Sews and Schools

http://spatulasonparade.blogspot.com                     Spatulas on Parade

http://dinoheromommy.com/                           Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

http://themomisodes.com                                          The Momisodes

http://climaxedtheblog.blogspot.com                              Climaxed

http://thethreegerbers.blogspot.ch/        Confessions of a part-time working mom

http://www.southernbellecharm.com                       Southern Belle Charm

http://thelieberfamily.com                                             The Lieber Family

http://www.someoneelsesgenius.com                      Someone Else’s Genius

http://www.eviljoyspeaks.wordpress.com                         Evil Joy Speaks

http://www.gndisney.wordpress.com                        Disneyland in Kentucky

http://sparklyjenn.blogspot.com/                               Sparkly Poetic Weirdo 

http://www.JuiceboxConfession.com                           Juicebox Confession