A Mommy Thanksgiving

This year, in an attempt to teach my daughter about the reason for the day we overdose on tryptophan, I started a thankful wall in our kitchen. Every day during the month of November she listed one thing she was thankful for, we wrote it on a die cut leaf and added it to the wall. It was funny to see the random, although, important (to a 3 year old) things she listed as being thankful for. Her list included things as silly as trees, her goldfish, Santa, and pierogies, just to name a few. So it kind of got me to thinking.... What are some of the silly things I am thankful for. You know, aside from the family, friends, gainful employment, health, love, faith, and all of the other "typical" things that get tossed around this time of year.

So here is my list. The things that I, as a mother of two, am most thankful for this year:

1. Chicken nuggets. Because I'm fairly certain that at least one, if not both, of my children would starve without them.

2. Push up bras. Heaven knows, after carrying two babies and nursing for 30 months of my life, I need it.

3. "Because I said so." "I'm telling Santa." "Because I'm the boss." "Caillou is broken." In short, I' m thankful for my three year old believing nearly every word I say still.

4. The words "Mommy, I really love your hairy hiney" have been said, LOUDLY, numerous times while visiting public restrooms with my three year old. I'm thankful we have also been alone in those restrooms every time she decided to make such proclamations.

5. "Go ask your Daddy." Because, every once and awhile, he should be the bad guy too.

6. While I have mixed emotions about being a working mother... plus side... only having to change 50% of Mason's yucky diapers. Thanks Heather!

7. Magic erasers. If you are a mom, you know why.

8. Wine.

9. The fact that I haven't had to clean poop out of the bathtub for the past 4 months.

10. My dogs. They make clean-up from meals, in which 50% of the food ends up on the floor, that much easier.

11. WINE!!!.

12. Disney movies = Automatic tired toddler coma. For those days when she will fight to the death against taking a nap.

13. Green smoothies. The only green thing my children will eat. Except their boogers.

14. Toddler proof door handles. Because I'm certain the dogs mentioned in #10 would no longer be living in the house if the 3 year old had a means of setting them free to play with the deer in the back yard.

15. The power of mommy kisses on boo-boo's.

16. The fact that bribery currently works with things as simple as gummy bears, a television show, or a horsey ride. Some day that will change to much more expensive things.

17. The rare occasion when I get a load of laundry done on the first try. I have had to wash the same load 3 or 4 times on more occasions than I would like to admit.

18. A husband who likes to cook. Who am I to get in his way and take something away from him that he enjoys? Bless.his.heart.

19. A few very special mom friends who get me. Who I can text daily about the mundane parenting things I am dealing with. Misery loves company.

20. Sam's club. Not many places can you strap both of your kids into a single cart and not have to wrangle a loose kid.

21. Sam's club. For economy size bags of Chicken nuggets. Recall #1?

22. My blog. For written documented proof of all the crazy shenanigans and crap (literally) that my kids have put me through.

23. I am thankful for the 90 year olds at work that insist I'm too young looking to have two children. Remember when we were 8 and thought 50 was so old... apparently that works in reverse too!

24. I'm thankful for cover-up. For the raging post-baby hormones taking over my face, for the lack of sleep that has accumulated under my eyes over the past 3 years, and for making the 90 year olds think I'm not 30.

25. Coffee.

26. Smart phones. Tablets. You-tube on the go. Because my life would not be complete without listening to "What does the fox say?","I'm going on a bear hunt", "The gummy bear song" Or Ginger the talking Cat sing the most annoying rendition of "Happy Birthday" Every.Single.Day.

27. Showers that occur without your three year old either opening the curtain 40 times, sitting on the toilet farting the entire time, or throwing things into the toilet/sink/shower. Sounds heavenly, no?

28. The 10-15 minutes of kid free time in my car waiting to pick my oldest up from preschool. The only quiet "me" time I get every day. Except on the rare occasion I get a shower without a child intruding. Or serenading me with farts.

So. There you have it. One thing for every day in November leading up to Thanksgiving that I am thankful for as a mother. These may not be the status quo or the things you will be listing around the dining table tomorrow, but I assure you, most mothers are thankful for these very same things.