The Stay at Home Mother

Life is certainly funny the way it works. For years, you can be going along, with no changes, no bumps - and smooth sailing.

Routine is your middle name, and you know what to expect, and when to expect it.

Then WHAM.

Life gives you a wake up call and suddenly everything changes in a moment. 

Or at least, that's sometimes how it feels. ;)

For me, I've experienced a lot of changes over the past few months....

First, I sold my company, Enterprising Moms Network to Mom Ventures Media Inc. This was monumentous in my life, as it was a company that I started from nothing and grew it in to fourteen chapters across Canada for mom entrepreneurs. I was the first one to start a networking group specifically for mom entrepreneurs in Canada.

But there came a time when I knew that I couldn't take it to the next level on my own. And that I had given enough of myself and needed to pass it along to others to carry the vision forward. 

So I am thrilled that Mom Ventures Media (owners Christie Shultz and Carla Young) have taken the reigns.

Secondly, I am no longer a parenting columnist. After 5 1/2 years of writing for the newspaper on everything from pregnancy to breast feeding to schools to the tooth fairy, I knew that it was time to evolve from being a parenting writer. 

I took on a column as a travel/entertainment writer instead for the newspaper, and have called it "40 Under 40".  Which are 40 goals I plan to achieve over the next year.  I'm blogging about it here:  http://www.kelleyscarsbrook.blogspot.com/

That's a lot of change. And certainly a change in identity and how I see myself. I admit - it's a bit scary and uncomfortable.

Although I am no longer president of Enterprising Moms Network, and no longer a parenting columnist, I am still me.

And I am still a stay at home mom - and more than anything - that is the most important part of who I am.

I have a book that will be coming out this fall about being a stay at home mom - was there ever any doubt in that?! :)

So with that said, this website will remain, along with all my musings of being a stay at home mom. Please feel free to email me at info@thestayathomemother.com with any feedback or suggestions for the website. I welcome all contributors - both novice bloggers and professional writers to contribute your stories and thoughts on being a stay at home parent.

And here's to the next Chapter of my life............bring it.

So I finally took the "leap" - so to speak - at Sky Dive Vancouver yesterday afternoon. It was a perfect, sunny day for jumping.

I have to tell you that the people at Sky Dive Vancouver were absolutely amazing.  If I had any reservations beforehand, once I got there, it was complete excitement.

There for two other jumpers who took the plunge with me and they were both excited as well. People ask me what it felt like as I jumped from the plane and did a free fall at 125 miles per hour for almost a minute at 10,000 feet. 

All I can say it that it was exhilarating.

The sound of the wind was strong in my ears, and my stomach did do a bit of a flip-flop, but once I was out of the plane, it was pure adrenaline. I wasn't scared, I was pumped. :)

Once the chute kicked in, it was silence. And for the next eight minutes, I was able to appreciate where I was and all the beautiful sights around me.  It really felt like a dream. You know, the one we all have when we feel as though we are flying in our dreams. Magic.

And when I landed, I was a bit sad that it was over, but really happy that I did it.  It will be the first of my many adventures to come featured in the Now newspaper at the end of July. And if you want to know exactly what I saw and what it felt like, you can watch the video experience of my jump here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrInxWwWnvs

And visit my other new adventure blog here http://www.kelleyscarsbrook.blogspot.com/ for further adventures!

So today is Father's Day - a day to celebrate dads everywhere, and all that they do for us!

I think sometimes Dads get a bum rap, when it comes to the success of the family unit.  

Let's face it , moms are usually the ones who get the "kudos" for being the glue that holds a family together - but I beg to differ.....

I think that its BOTH the mother and the father who work hard as a team, to make a successful family.  Each brings something wonderful to their children that compliment the family dynamic to make it a solid foundation.

There are always things my children turn to my husband for help with, instead of me (and vice-versa)  and I love that.  I don't want to be the only one they turn to when they need help, have questions or want to be consoled. 

My husband and I both offer to "be there" whenever either of our children need us.  And its great that our children choose my husband and I, for different reasons, at different times.  

I am not solely the "glue" and neither is my husband. But I do appreciate that he makes up half of that glue necessary to run a happy household.

Also - just because I am the stay at home mom, doesn't necessarily mean that I'm expected to be 100% in charge of the chores.  My husband recognizes that my role goes far beyond just household duties. So he also pitches in, when I need help, to do dinners, laundry, ironing and vacuuming. 

You see, I also look after the children while he is at work, so sometimes not all the house chores get done each day. But that's ok - and he understands.  Which I love him for even more.

We are a team.

And so today, I want to celebrate my team-mate and thank him for the wonderful ways he helps our family.  He is an awesome dad.

To all the wonderful Dads out there - thank you for all that you do, and for being the other half of the important glue that binds each family!

Today is my husband's birthday. And like most birthdays, I know he will try to shrug it off, like it doesn't matter and not make a big deal over it at all.

I've known my husband for more than eighteen years, and in that time, have come to realize that birthdays to him, are simply just another day.

But I beg to differ......

Birthdays are a time to celebrate who we are, how far we have come and what lies in the year ahead.  It's also a time to allow those around us (both family and friends) to celebrate the specialness of you in their lives.

I don't know if it is a "girl" vs "guy" thing, but I do know I make a heck of a big deal over birthdays of everyone I know in my life (including my own) ;)

Today I want to celebrate my husband's birthday for the wonderful man that he is, for the amazing father that he is to his children, and caring and loving son. 

He is generous, he is kind - and he is the love of my life.  I am proud to be his wife and hope that he knows with out a doubt, that this is me, making a HUGE deal that today is his birthday and that I know my life would not have meant half as much, without him in it.

And here's the perfect song to celebrate it: CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

Now let's eat some cake! :) 

As of my 39^th birthday on June 11, 2011, I will begin my mission to accomplish the pinnacle of life’s goals for myself before I turn 40 on June 11, 2012.

Why 40?

The first part of my life has been about finding out who I am and discovering my passion.  Now that I have found these things, the next phase of my life should be about fulfilling what I know will bring me joy in my life..........

I want to be able to experience all the things that I’ve saved up for another day - and start making them happen today.  And also to show people that the impossible is possible – even for a stay at home mother like myself.  And I think 40 is a great age to pin point in time for me.

So how many do I want to fulfill?

How about 40?

To share my 40 dreams to come true before I turn 40, I have created another blog that will document the next year of my life.  I encourage readers to visit and see what I have been able to accomplish, and also to post their own goals that they have achieved. 

The next year is going to be an excithing one for sure! Who's with me? :)

To check out my new blog "Before I Turn 40" - visit http://kelleyscarsbrook.blogspot.com/