The best part? When I subtract the refereeing, the negotiating, the juggling…I’m able to add more “Sure! Why not?” And suddenly the kid beside me, and the mother inside me, are completely and happily whole.

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Filed under: Oh Boy, Sibling Revelry ]]> http://peaceloveandguacamole.com/2013/06/19/divide-and-conquer/feed/ 1 Liz 2013.06.biking http://peaceloveandguacamole.com/2013/06/05/last-day/ http://peaceloveandguacamole.com/2013/06/05/last-day/#comments Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:45:06 +0000 PeaceLoveGuac http://peaceloveandguacamole.com/?p=5519 Continue reading →]]> In the weeks leading up to today…
I sketched out a summer mix of spontaneity and structure, forked over hundreds of dollars for camps, panicked that the schedule was too much, then panicked that it was not enough. Then panicked that I was panicking.

I blocked off vacation days, secured lodging, cashed in airline miles, and made plans for puppy camp. I rspv’d to four weddings, bought china, and found a perfect pair of dress shoes for my pickiest child. I purchased new swimsuits and fresh flip flops. Loaded up on sunscreen, hats and water guns.

I attended school parties, spelling bees and poetry readings. I navigated end-of-year nostalgia and tears…both theirs and mine. I hugged one child through a “I’m growing up too fast” breakdown and managed not to fall apart until I had left the room.

I made countless lists, crossed them off, then made even longer ones.

And tonight…
We unloaded the mountains of artwork, pencils, notebooks and report cards. We stashed the lunchboxes and hung the backpacks. Over french fries and salad, we toasted the day, then made a Summer of Fun list on scratch paper. On a whim, we climbed to the highest point in town and watched the sun fall on another school year.

I am mostly ready for this new season.

Yes, my “make it happen” list is still long. The closets are an unbearable mess. The artwork litters the house. The family photo albums remain unfinished. Several work projects linger.

I have no idea how or if my list will shrink during a season notorious for stealing my alone time. But I can’t argue with the calendar. The kids are ready for lazy days, late nights, fewer rules and more ice cream.

Summer is definitely here. And there is nothing left to do but dive in and play along.

Depending on the day, I find myself either madly cramming in every last project on my hefty To Do list, or paralyzed by those jobs that simply won’t get done before summer begins.

When I find myself overwhelmed, my first urge is always to freeze time. I’m a time junkie.
Just one more second…I swear that’s all I need.

So I do. I find my camera and I freeze time. And the results become a visual gratitude journal, complete with friends, family and the wondrous, inspiring place I call home.

When words fail me, my eyes save me. Every single time.

This time we’re discussing The worst meal I ever cooked and served to loved ones. I feel sure my funny friends will come up with compelling and hilarious stories, but I gotta be honest with you…this is a tough topic for me. Certainly not because I do or don’t cook terrible meals. But because it’s Thursday and hello I have hardly any remaining brain capacity to think about mealtime topics. I’m simply maxed out for the week. My weekly allotted Think About Food time was spent on panicked meal planning, high-speed grocery shopping, pre-dinner interrogations, dinnertime whining, and morning cajoling. There’s precious little energy remaining to wonder how the meal ranked on my family’s Yum Scale.

I am quite confident everyone has stirred around eaten what was on their plates and that what they avoided ate was as healthy as possible. But beyond that, I couldn’t possibly tell you how it falls on their radar.

Call me callous or lazy, but this is where things stand right now in our house. We are all about simplicity nowadays. In fact, I adopted a Family Mealtime Mantra just to keep us all on the same page. Thanks to inspiration from Michael Pollan’s famous quote I’ve come up with these words to live by:

“Cook food. Not too much. Mostly edible.”

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Read more about worst meals from my talented writer friends…

Ann’s Rants
Midlife Mixtape
The Flying Chalupa
Earth Mother just means I’m dusty

Between the monkeys and the puppy, it’s a miracle I’m getting anything done around here.

But somehow, things are all coming together. This year’s Listen to Your Mother show is happening in just a couple weeks and it’s going to be fantastic. We have a very talented cast of writers and performers, ready to blow you away with their heartache and hilarity. All in the name of motherhood. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Mother’s Day (a few days early!)

You can get to know the cast here. PLUS…you have a chance to win two free tickets to the show. Bring your best friend, your spouse, your mother…but take my advice and leave the monkeys and puppies at home.

Don’t miss out on the fun on May 9th at 7pm! Buy your tickets today!

In times of crisis, I always hit the road. Sometimes solo, sometimes surrounded by my familiar pack. The breathing, the rhythm, the simple act of propelling myself onward, is a form of prayer for me. Running is my sanctuary; the running community my tribe.

This week, the miles mean even more, and I’m offering them up to those who need healing and peace. May we all find it.

“One might say running is an absurd pastime. But if you can find meaning in the kind of running you must do…then you may find meaning in the other absurd pastime: Life.”
~Bill Bowerman

He’s fitting in just fine.

*        *        *

So tomorrow we are bringing home the newest member of Team McGuire.
We are SO EXCITED! We have been waiting for this guy for months, this adorable yet nameless creature.

When you have five opinionated voters, selecting a name can get a little complicated. Our process was nothing if not thorough and included the following steps:

Preliminary brainstorming
* Think of favorite literary references. “You’ll never guess why, but how about Albus, Lupin or Harry?”
* Research the meanings of names. “Mom, what’s the Greek word for awesome?”
* Consider a family name. “Let’s name him after ME! At least his middle name because I’m the middle child!”
* Honor our musical tastes. “How about Charlie Hodge? We can train him to bring me my scarves and my water.”

Straw voting
During a 6-hour road trip, narrow it down to three top names then realize that the youngest voter is swayed during each vote by the sibling he likes most at that very second. (Elder statesman kicks herself for not taking advantage of this.)

Lobbying
This phase may or may not include a certain voter suggesting that, “Seriously sweetie, it’s really going to come down to our votes because the guys don’t care nearly as much as us, right? What can I do to get you on my side?”

Real world testing
Insist that the youngest and most puppy-like voter crawl on the floor barking while the others call him by potential names. “See how easy it is to say, Sit ___! with this name?” “Sure, but he wagged his tail more with the other one.”

Final decision
The final vote is cast when we see his furry face again. I’d give you a hint, but who knows how many last-minute amendments and re-votes will appear before then. Wish us luck!

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If you liked this, you may like this one about naming some unconventional pets, or these two about our other dogs, who live in our hearts and are certainly watching over us right now. One is grinning and wagging her entire butt and the other is hogging all the balls thrown his way.

The secret to staying sane as a parent? Finding the om in omg.

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Life has been especially crazy around my house lately and most days I’m struggling mightily to find the om. In my free moments I’m sneaking away and working on a new photography project…capturing the witty and whimsical graffiti around Austin and turning it into sleek, modern works of art. Check it out at ewmcguirephoto.com!