Muffins with Mom – Labor Day with family

Photo Credit: Tooele City

Historically, Labor Day has been recognized as a celebration of working men and women. It has also become known as the beginning of the fall season and back to school. Many families make this a time of relaxation and enjoyment of each other’s company. A time to rest from labor.

This year my uncle offered to host a Pre-Labor Day Barbecue. My youngest son was away at college, so my plan was to pick up my mom and ride together to my uncle’s house. That plan was slightly altered.

The day before our family barbecue mom and I spent time together shopping, visiting the library and more shopping. By the time I drove the 30 minutes back to my house, I fell into bed and was sound asleep. I don’t think I was asleep long enough to reach a state of dreaming. However, I heard a voice say, “Ma.”

The voice said something else to me, I opened one eye and screamed. My son who was supposed to be away at school six hours away, was standing in my bedroom. All I could say was, “What are you doing here?” I continued sleeping.

The next day, my son showed me the video he recorded of my surprise reaction to his visit. Loosely fitted upon my head was a bonnet like the one Grandmother wore in the story of Little Red Riding Hood. I opened one eye and started kicking the covers like I was in a fight or swimming.

Although, I was happy to see my son, I’ve decided I need to take away his house keys.

My son rode with me to my mom’s house and the three of us drove to the barbecue together. But not before he entered my mom’s house and yelled “surprise.”

Wishing you an enjoyable Labor Day filled with family, friends and fun.

Muffins with Mom –A chronicle of Pre-Labor Day festivities

How do you celebrate Labor Day?  For me it’s friends, family, fellowship AND time to myself.

“Let’s have our Labor Day get together before Labor Day,” my brother said.

“Sounds good to me.”

I hung up the phone ecstatic because now I could spend time with my family and friends, AND have time to myself the day before going back to work.

The pre Labor Day celebration began Friday morning with breakfast with friends, then a journey with mom. I say journey because we can’t spend time together without something happening. Maybe it’s me, the oddness of a situation seems to be drawn to me.

Mom and I were driving to the library to work on a couple of projects. While we were stopped at a red light I looked over at a message on her dash board. It instructed us not to read the message while driving (photo below). It’s a good thing I wasn’t the one driving.

Fortunately, mom and I arrived at the library safe and sound. Before we made it through the doors of the library, we were drawn to the life like sculptures at the entrance. We could not resist a photo opportunity.

After the photo shoot, we went inside the library and searched for a spot we could sit and distract each further from beginning our individual projects. Mission accomplished. We sat at a large table where we could spread out our materials. I set up my laptop, then mom showed me photos on her phone. Distraction completed.

We finally, worked about an hour on our projects then stopped for an early dinner before I had to rush off to my son’s football game. It was a day well spent, doing a little of everything and nothing at the same time.

Off to my brother’s house to enjoy everything grilled and more adventures with mom.

As you read this post, I will be spending the day at home, opening all of my windows, letting the breeze blow through the house. Time to enjoy the simple things in life. Wishing you a Labor Day filled with everything you want to do. Make it a great day.

Muffins with Mom – Labor Day and the lighter side of parenting

photo credit

It’s Labor Day, the holiday day established to honor and recognize contributions of the hard working people of the United States. Labor Day also celebrates the American Labor Movement. For many people, Labor Day is a day off from work.

Parenting is one job where you do not receive the day off for Labor Day. So, take a break from your parenting duties and check out a couple of stories.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

My mother spent a day with me just hanging out after my son’s football game. As we sat at the dining room table chatting, Mama remembered that she wanted to show me something. Her voice went up an octave as she said, “I got a sweatshirt for a bargain at Dollar General.”

Mama pulled the sweatshirt from her bag. It was a warm soothing pink color. “See, I can wear this when I work out.”

I tightened my lips together and said, “It looks like Pepto Bismal, the upset stomach medicine.”

Not wanting me to have the last laugh my mother said, “Maybe its Milk of Magnesia.”

“No Ma, that’s a different color antacid."

We both laughed as the sweatshirt was returned to its resting place in the Dollar General bag…until time for a visit to the gym. Watch out Powerhouse Gym, my Mama will be there soon styling in her beautiful Pepto Bismal pink. 

Red Light, Green Light

When I was a child we played a game we called, Red Light, Green Light. One person was “It” and stood with his back to the rest of the kids. When the “it” person said green light, everyone would tip-toe up to him and had to stop when he called Red Light. The object was to be the first one to touch the “it” person without getting caught moving.

While at a traffic light the other day, I had a different kind of Red Light Green Light experience. It was an indecisive moment. If you are familiar with the characteristics of some of the zodiac signs, you may know, indecisiveness is a characteristic of a Pisces. My birthday falls under the sign of Pisces (February 19 –March 19).

I don’t typically put much belief in the zodiac signs, but on this occasion, my actions held true to a Pisces characteristic. As I approached the traffic light, I realized that I was flashing green…and red at the same time. I eased my car up to the four way intersection with jumbled thoughts bouncing through my head – Do I stop, do I yield, who was here first? Grrr!

Red Light, Green Light. If I stopped and the person behind me didn’t realize I was stopping, I could be tagged “it” by her car.

I stopped, treated the intersection as a four ways stop and waited my turn to proceed, without incident. This Pisces had defeated the characteristic of indecisiveness and made a decision.

What stories have you experienced as a parent in your daily walk?

 

 

 

The History of Labor Day

Photo credit: www.happylaborday2013.com

Video credit: Youtube


How will you spend your day? Have a great Labor Day!