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Beyond the Arch of Swords: Making Military Marriage Last
Melissa Wallace of Camp Pendleton, California is a tall, wispy woman, with a soft voice and gentle smile. The wife of 25-years to a Sgt. Maj. in the Marine Corps, Melissa and her husband John talk wistfully about the life that is soon to be behind...
"Dating After Divorce: Things To Think About Regarding Dating After Divorce"
Dating after divorce is a much debated topic due to the psychological and emotional impact it can have on people. Dating after divorce can be complex, too often divorcees don't consider the ramifications of dating after divorce before they jump into...
How to Stop the Media Attack on Your Body
I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the ongoing message that the natural, curvy, womanly body I was born into is unacceptable. I'm tired of being horrified when I hear that five-year old girls already criticize their bodies and think they need...
Quick Fixes: Happiness in a Bottle
This is the age of the Quick Fix - the magic bullets that claim to take away our sorrows, our tiredness, our sadness.
You need look no farther than your mailbox to see the range of remedies - prescription drugs and supplements - being plugged...
The Beauty and Meaning of Birthstones
Birthstones have been around since ancient times, and in those days were believed to possess some magical force that could protect the owner or wearer of the stone. These birthstones were traditionally linked to the Zodiac. However, modern...
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Mom's Car Stereo
Do you remember the car stereo days of youth - windows down, hair wildly blowing and the radio blaring the latest and greatest musical hit? Depending on which friend was with me at the time, my in-dash could be playing dance, hip hop or even heavy metal. But no matter which music was selected, the purpose of volume was to drown out your own exuberant impressions of the coolest music sensations. With all the pleasure that my melodic actions used to bring me, I have to wonder what has happened to my car stereo.
In my transition to motherhood my stereo has also taken on a new life. I find myself usually working with two options, the first of which is talk radio. Now, I need to tell you that I have never intentionally strived to be an intellect. I did what I needed to get by, but generally to me, ignorance was bliss and anything that required a logical conversation seemed boring and stifling to my spirit. Then I had kids and took on the career of a full-time, at-home mom. When you go from constant adult interaction to negotiating and teaching your children, it is no longer impressive and a sign of intelligence to use ‘big words’ or rational reasoning. In fact, a simple four to five word sentence is typical protocol for conversing with a baby, and toddler-hood only merits a few more jabs in your vocabulary’s database. And in conversing with either, you must speak slowly, purposefully and with wide-eyed emphasis. This is why I absorb talk radio – reaching back toward adult discussion. Sure, I get together with other moms here and again, but even that is not necessarily the appropriate place to hear views on politics, social issues or even current headline news. After all, a difference of opinion could make the rest of the playdate a little awkward, even well after changing the subject. Talk radio, on the other hand, offers complex viewpoints and even the opportunity to phone in and recapture some of that assertive argument skill that put you at the head of your debate class. Radio option number one is the chance to use perception and feel adult in dialogue again.
Now option number two was not initially so much my idea. Cutesy, bouncy rhythms and rhymes, clever lyrics about cake and bubbles, pirates and fish are actually the forte of my children. When I was first introduced to this music, I mentally tuned it out. It rated right up there with the whining and bickering
between the two little brothers that ride in the back of my car. I made sure songs like “Hip Hip Hippopotamus” were turned completely off when my cell phone rang, out of the embarrassment that it could bestow upon me. I also postponed using the strategy of playing these children cassettes until my kids had reached their threshold of unpleasantness, and then I would allow myself sufferance through another chorus of “Happiness Cake”. But…and this is really odd…somewhere along the line I began to sing along! This option of music not only soothed my crying toddler and amused my kindergartner, but it also entertained their once rigid and narrow-minded mother. I began to listen for the slapstick background sound effects and even sang on key with fervent interest about a ‘barnacle on my toe’. It took me awhile, but now we all sing along to the same music, over and over…and over again. (Even more funny is hearing my husband at his computer belting out a line or two of “Ach-oooo!” followed by obscenities for the powers that be to get it out of his head.) And after about the 400th time of listening pleasure, I may even break down and buy yet another amusing children’s CD or cassette.
The truth is that I must face the fact that music is also an area of compromise when you have little ones. Baby proofing the house, eating well balanced meals, purchasing shirts and pants for little ones before my self and even choosing the right pets are the basics, but details such as a mom’s stereo also slowly progress to fill in the cracks of what used to be. And sure, someday I will be riding in my car by myself again and at that time maybe I can pump up the volume for old time’s sake. Maybe I’ll even choose the raucous sound of electric guitars, and if someone would like to object to the ‘middle-aged’ crazy lady for doing that, well I’ll just temporarily adopt that rebellious teenage attitude as well and shout “whatever!” as I drive off into the warm sunny day.
About the Author
Sherri Dodd is the creator and author of Mom Looks Great - The Fitness Program for Moms. She is also an ACE-certified Personal Trainer and Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant with over fifteen years of exercise experience. She has lectured to groups of 100+ people on her fitness plan and is a freelance writer on the topics of fitness and general nutrition as well as the humorous side of motherhood.
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| Happiness (1998) |
| Happiness on IMDb: Movies, TV, Celebs, and more... |
| www.imdb.com |
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| Happiness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
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| en.wikipedia.org |
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| World Database of Happiness |
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| Happiness Magazine |
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| The Way to Happiness |
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| Happiness |
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| CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Happiness |
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| TIME Magazine: Mind & Body: Happiness |
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| Happiness |
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| Reflective Happiness |
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