New KidScents Kit and Products!

September 16, 2020September 16, 2020Posted in Young LivingTagged Essential Oils, Family, kids, Natural Living, Young Living Starter KitLeave a comment

Are you ready for a huge announcement?! Young Living is bringing us new KidScents products today and I cannot contain my excitement! 🎉

First, we have the Litter Oilers Premium Starter Kit. With this collection you’ll find everything you need to surround little ones with the sweet scents of pure essential oils. With two AromaGlide Roller Fitments, kids of any age can snap on a fitment for a quick, mess-free application or they can inhale the appealing aromas of KidScents oils directly from the bottle.

🎉 Little Oilers Premium Starter Kit Item no.: 30525 WHS: $135 PV: 100

New enrollments only
Limit 1 per account; Shop and ER
BONUS: When you enroll with this kit before September 30, you’ll receive a FREE KidScents KidPower.

Next, we have the KidScents Roll-On collection. The collection includes six roll-ons—the new KidScents KidPower included—in a handy, flip-top case, so you can care for your little ones’ needs wherever life takes you! Whether you’re having fun on family adventures or simply want no-fuss EO application at home or school, your little ones will reach for KidScents Roll-Ons no matter what the day holds.

KidScents Roll-On collection Item no.: 35169 WHS: $195 PV: 195

Limit 1 per account; Shop only
BONUS: When you purchase this collection, you’ll receive a FREE one-of-a-kind kiddo cape. Gift your children a hero’s imagination with this double-sided gold and navy cape while supplies last.

Last, you can get a bottle of the new KidScents KidPower. Diffuse this blend of magical scents as you try to put a smile on your child’s face. Rub KidScents KidPower onto your little one’s wrists or back of neck while you help to make every day their best one yet!

KidScents KidPower essential oil blend Item no.: 33179 WHS: $38 PV: 38

Limit 1 per account; Shop only

Ready to purchase? Click HERE

Road Trip to South Dakota/Wyoming Part 1

July 2, 2020July 9, 2020Posted in TravelTagged Camping, Glamping, kids, mt. rushmore, roadtrip, south dakota, TravelLeave a comment

When we moved to Northeast Iowa last year I knew an epic roadtrip was in our future. This New Jersey girl had never lived so far west before and when I saw that we were only 12 hours from Mt. Rushmore I was in! The plan was to see the top attractions in the area – Mt. Rushmore, Badlands, Custer State Park and Devils Tower in Wyoming.

So once January hit I planned our trip. I knew that we were about a 6 hour drive from Sioux Falls, roughly half way to Mt. Rushmore. So I decided we would spend one night there and then hit the Badlands National Park the next day on the way to Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills.

Stopping in Sioux Falls ended up being a great idea. We had gotten a late start on the road and by the time we rolled into town we only had time to see the city’s namesake attraction – a beautiful waterfall that runs through the middle of town. Bryce was able to run and stretch his legs which also made it a great kids stop!

We stayed at a Residence Inn. Which thank goodness we had a small kitchen there since the hotel wasn’t serving breakfast due to COVID. So we stopped at a grocery store and picked up some things to eat and had a relaxing night. Early the next day we got on the road to make it to the Badlands for our first western adventure.

The Badlands were amazing and we did get a chance to hike a little. But not nearly enough time was spent there. We definitely want to go back and spend the night so we can do more of the trails and explore the area more. It truly is beautiful. And after driving just endless highway roads a very welcome sight! Lol. Bryce also got a kick out of feeding some Prairie dogs at a roadside attraction by the park entrance.

By the time we left the badlands it was mid afternoon. We decided to stop at Wall Drug and it was every bit the touristy attraction I thought it would be. 😂 Good restroom break anyway. We got back onto the road and headed into the black hills. I had decided to book two nights at a glamping campground called Under Canvas. I had never been glamping before and the location is literally 5 minutes from Mt. Rushmore. A tent with a real bed and a bathroom is my type of “roughing it.” We loved the experience but I don’t think I will become a die hard tent 🏕 camper anytime soon. I didn’t realize how cold it can get at night there – 49 degrees in June! Needless to say we used the wood furnace both nights we were there! I highly recommend the place though if you have thought about trying “glamping.” The furniture in the tents made it feel like we were on Safari and the bathroom was very spacious with a barn door for privacy. We had a good location near the main reception tent so that is something to think about when you book if you are like me and need your caffeine to get going in the morning. They do provide complimentary coffee and tea, and they also provide s’mores at night which was nice. I did miss having our own campfire at the tent, but they did have a few campfires spread throughout the campground for people to use to make their s’mores and hang out.

Under Canvas Mt. Rushmore

We booked a Deluxe Tent with Hive. The main tent had a King Size Bed and we added a cot for Bryce. The 2nd tent was for Brian’s mom who came with us. But because it was so cold at night we ended up moving her bed into our tent and just all slept that way. It was amazing how big the tent was to fit so many of us but it definitely made the space cramped. So my suggestion to you if you book is to check the weather 😂 and bring extra blankets. One of the more surprising parts of this experience was the food! They have an actual trained chef running their onsite food truck and he supplied us with amazing breakfasts and dinners that we ate on our patio. Which I also loved by the way ❤️. Having coffee on the patio while staring at the forest is something I could do every day!

Since we were so close to Mt. Rushmore we were able to see the lighting ceremony the first night and then we went back the next morning to walk around and explore what we could. Unfortunately they were during construction while we were there so we couldn’t do the mountain trail. But it was amazing to see and experience. Highly recommend not rushing through this monument and taking some time to explore. There is a little museum onsite that explains the history of the build and there were National Park Rangers throughout that answered any questions we had.

That afternoon we spent some time in Keystone and did some gem mining there which Bryce loved. We also got to take him to Reptile Gardens which actually was very nice and Bryce loved getting to see snakes and other animals that he had never seen before. It is the largest reptile zoo in the nation. After two days there we checked out of Under Canvas and headed to Custer State Park, stopping at Crazy Horse Memorial on the way.

As you can see from our pictures we kept busy! Definitely you will not get bored. I am glad we stayed a full week in the area even if we didn’t get a chance to do everything we wanted! This wraps up Part 1 of our trip. Part 2 I will go into what we did at Custer State Park and show you the Cabin we rented for the week. Keep adventuring my friends!

Our Mount Mitchell Adventure

April 9, 2019Posted in Family, TravelTagged Boone, Highest Elevation, Hiking, kids, Mount Mitchell, Mountains, Nature, North Carolina, Trails, Travel, weekendLeave a comment

Last weekend we decided to drive to Mount Mitchell and do some hiking and exploring. Ever since I moved to Boone last summer I have been wanting to visit it. The North Carolina mountain holds the title of the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, measuring in at 6,684 feet above sea level!

No clue who the guy photobombing me in the background is. LOL

So Saturday morning we went. First tip – bring lunch. We didn’t because we thought the restaurant there would be open and surprise! it wasn’t. lol. It is only open seasonally. Thankfully we had snacks but there is literally nothing nearby as this is a remote area so bring all the food and drink you will need for the day. Little Switzerland is where we stopped at on the way home to eat and they have a nice lunch cafe. But it would have been better if we had packed a picnic lunch.

Being at such a high elevation the vegetation is vastly different from the rest of the area. It truly feels more like a Canadian forest both temperature and tree wise. So unique and makes for some great hikes. Bryce had a blast pointing out the different trees to us and unique rocks.

Since my mother-n-law was with us and Bryce we only tackled the .75 mile Balsam Nature Trail. But it was beautiful and a nice way to stretch the legs after the long car ride. We also went to the observation platform and was amazed at the 360 degree views offered there!

On the way home we stopped for lunch at Little Switzerland and then came across the cutest ice cream/pie mom and pop store! It is called Linville River Mercantile and Bakery. It is located in Crossnore, NC. Stop by on your way back to Boone for a treat!

Mount Mitchell is only a few miles off of the Blue Ridge Parkway so the drive there and back from Boone was also a treat. Add this to your bucket list for sure!

Atlantis Paradise Island Resort Review and Photo Diary

April 3, 2019April 7, 2019Posted in Family, TravelTagged atlantis, bahamas, beach, Birthday, caribbean, kids, Travel, vacationLeave a comment

In March, on the Friday before my 40th birthday my husband came home and said “Pack your bags we are going on vacation!” Like something out of a movie. And in true Hollywood plot form, he refused to tell me where we were going. Just that I needed to pack for “hot” weather and needed a swimsuit. So it was with no small miracle that we quickly packed the car and headed to the airport for a quick 3 day getaway!

Brian truly did not tell me where we were going till the taxi to the hotel. I had heard of Atlantis but seeing it with my own eyes as we drove up was surreal. The immense SIZE of the place was instantly the first thing that impressed me! Huge, with multiple hotels, a casino and even a marina village all part of the Atlantis property.

Our room was one of the upper level rooms with a stone balcony!

Our room was located in The Towers, which has a perfect central location to everything. And.the.room. Simply amazing. Suite actually, with a kitchenette, huge balcony and an incredibly large bathroom with his and hers showers! The suite had way more space than we needed, but I definitely wasn’t complaining. It had incredible views and it was very nice to come back to the suite and have room to spread out. I would describe it as being perfect for those planning a longer stay, traveling with children or bunking up for a group trip. Our son slept on a couch in the living room and it worked out perfect for each of us to have our own space.

Now The Atlantis isn’t your standard resort– there’s a reason they call it Paradise Island – because it’s like it’s own city! The property is massive and while you are free to roam as you please, every section of the hotel has it’s own easily-accessible pools and restaurants. We spent most of our time at the waterpark but it was nice to walk the aquariums everyday and we even spent some time at the beach one afternoon. I did get in a facial at the spa as a treat for my birthday, and I highly recommend you check that out if you get a chance. They offer free use of their facilities for the day if you get a treatment and it was very relaxing to enjoy their steam rooms, saunas and pools for a bit before my facial.

The water park area is huge and options from water playgrounds to lazy rivers

The open air and closed aquariums are amazing and a must see! Bryce had endless entertainment watching the animals and actually learned a lot about them while we were there. The property is simply breathtaking and themed perfectly. Just walking around felt like a vacation seeing all the marine life.

One of the aspects I like about The Atlantis is that it’s a destination for all ages. No matter if you’re traveling with family and children, a large group of friends or if you’re looking for a romantic getaway, the resort is so large that’s there’s a place and an activity for everyone.

Before we know it our trip was over. We hope to go back someday as there is still stuff we would like to see and do there! It is definitely a place you should add to your bucket list and I can’t recommend The Atlantis enough if you’re looking for an upbeat resort with endless activities. And for those of you who live in the south or on the east coast in the U.S. it’s an incredibly quick flight– it was just two hours for us from Charlotte. Easy enough to go for a long weekend!

Fruit and Veggie Soak

April 3, 2019May 11, 2020Posted in Cooking, Essential Oils, Young LivingTagged Cleaning, cooking, Family, Fruit, Health, kids, kitchen, natural, organic, Thieves, Vegetables, WellnessLeave a comment

Let’s be honest, here. When we buy produce from the store, do you wash it before using it? If so, how do you know you’re washing it in the best way you can?

Freshly bought produce (yes, even organic), is FILTHY. It may not look like it, but oh my – it needs a serious bath. Between the many hands of others that have touched it, to people breathing and coughing and sneezing on it, to being sprayed for preservation on the farms and in the warehouses, to being loaded and packed and shipped and coming in contact with all kinds of other invisible culprits, I’ll say it again – our store bought produce is filthy. The most contaminated fruits and vegetables are some of our favorites – peaches, strawberries, pears, lettuce, apples, cherries, bell peppers, spinach, nectarines, grapes, celery, and potatoes!

I bet that’ll make you think twice before you just do a quick rinse and take a bite out of your new apple, huh?

Look how dirty my water is after washing strawberries!

WHAT IS IT?

Young Living’s Fruit & Veggie Spray safely and effectively washes produce with the cleansing power of three exclusive essential oil blends—DiGize, Thieves, and Purification. When combined with the other naturally derived ingredients, produce is easily and conveniently cleaned.

Ingredients:
Water, Decyl glucoside, Glycerin, Citric acid, Sodium citrate, Artemisia dracunculus† (Tarragon) oil, Zingiber officinale† (Ginger) root oil, Mentha piperita† (Peppermint) oil, Juniperus osteosperma† oil, Foeniculum vulgare† (Fennel) oil, Cymbopogon flexuosus† (Lemongrass) oil, Syzygium aromaticum† (Clove) bud oil, Rosmarinus officinalis† (Rosemary) leaf oil, Cymbopogon nardus†(Citronella) oil, Pimpinella anisum† (Anise) seed oil, Citrus limon† (Lemon) peel oil, Pogostemon cablin† (Patchouli) oil, Cinnamomum zeylanicum† (Cinnamon) bark oil, Melaleuca alternifolia† (Tea tree) leaf oil, Lavandula hybrida† (Lavandin) oil, Eucalyptus radiata† oil, Myrtus communis† (Tunisian Myrtle) oil, Myrtus communis† (Moroccan Myrtle) oil
†100% pure, therapeutic-grade essential oil

WHAT DOES IT DO?

Considering all the horrific things that may be atop our produce that are grossing us out big time, wouldn’t you want to wash that off with the purest, most natural, healthy, safe, and effective product – especially one infused with powerful essential oils? YES. And that is exactly what this wash can do, and so much more. It is the best choice for you because it:-Utilizes plant based ingredients
-Cleanses produce back to the way nature intended them to be
-Naturally removes residue safely and powerfully with the help of concentrated and genuine essential oils
-Does not effect the taste of produce after soaking
…and so much more!

HOW DO I USE IT?

When using Thieves Fruit & Veggie Soak, it’s simple!

-Get a clean bowl or sink, and fill it up with clean water
-Add 1-2 capfuls of Thieves Fruit & Veggie Wash, and pour into the water (depending on how much produce you’re washing, the bottle will specify how much you should use)
-Put your fruits and veggies into the water
-Let them soak for 1-2 minutes (I let them soak for longer sometimes)
-Take them out and rinse under clean water
And, WHALLA! Perfectly clean produce, with no more residue, and without effecting the taste.

To purchase Thieves Fruit & Veggie Soak for 24% , click here

Young Living Starter Kit Updated!

January 19, 2019January 19, 2019Posted in Essential Oils, Young LivingTagged Chemical Free, Diffuser, Essential Oils, Health, kids, natural, new, Starter Kit, Young LivingLeave a comment

Young Living has launched a BRAND NEW starter kit! They have added Valor, Peace & Calming, Thieves Hand Purifier, and an extra fitment for only $5 more! The Desert Mist Diffuser kit is now only $165!

This kit still has all your favorites: Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Thieves, DiGize, Citrus Fresh, Raven, Frankincense, Stress Away, and PanAway. But now they have added Valor and Peace & Calming to the oil lineup. They are also throwing in a Thieves Hand Purifier to the bottom of the kit with your Thieves Household Cleaner sample and Ningxia Red samples. Oh and did I mention you get a diffuser too?!

Look what you will get when you join Young Living! Valor and Peace & Calming are back in the Starter Kit and everyone loves our chemical-free Hand Purifier!

Young Living PSKs are full of carefully selected products meant to provide a range of aromatic, topical, and dietary experiences for those who are new to essential oils. There’s a diffuser for every style in these PSKs, so getting started is fun and easy! The brand-new PSKs cost only $5 more than our traditional kits but have more value than ever with all the new updates.

Prices:

Desert Mist™ and Dewdrop™: $165
Rainstone™: $210
Aria™: $265

Purchase a Kit Here.

goo.gl/1onX2U

STARTER KIT OILS

Here is more information on the oils that come in the kit.

Lavender: Support healthy and glowing skin. I use it in my homemade facial serum as it is moisturizing. Also great for burns and cuts. Just apply a drop straight on it! A lot of ICUs use it to help with occasional anxiety with their patients before and after procedures.

Peppermint: Support and maintain a healthy digestive system and energy levels! Great to apply on your temples when you have a headache and this is my favorite to diffuse to help stay alert.

Thieves: Promote a healthy immune system. Replace: Emergen-c, household cleaner, hand soap, Orajel, bleach, etc. with this. University tested to actually kill airborne germs when diffused!

Citrus Fresh: Remove stinky odors and great refreshing smell! A blend of citrus oils along with spearmint.

Lemon: A powerful detoxifier & antiseptic. Great for alertness & mental clarity. Replace: products that support a healthy complexion, good cleanser for body and home, smells fresh, can help with occasional nausea, immune system support, appetite suppressant…add to water

PanAway: Add it to coconut oil to create a DIY post workout salve to help sore muscles. Replace your Icy Hot with this and don’t look back.

Stress Away: I love this one to wear as a perfume which plays double duty to help reduce daily stress

Frankincense: It promotes a sense of calm and security, Replace your expensive wrinkle serum. This is all you need! I rub a drop straight on my skin at night before moisturizer.

DiGize: It supports normal, healthy digestion! Also helps heartburn and stomach upset. Rub on your tummy or take via veggie capsule.

Raven: One of the best essential oils for decongesting the airways, total respiratory support. Diffuse or apply to your chest.

Valor: This blend was formulated to balance energies and instill courage, confidence and self-esteem. It helps the body self-correct it’s balance and alignment.

Peace & Calming: This blend promotes relaxation and a deep sense of peace and emotional well-being, helping to dampen tensions and uplift spirits.

My leap of Faith

June 13, 2017June 23, 2017Posted in Essential Oils, Young LivingTagged Convention, Essential Oils, Grief, healthyliving, kids, mom, Travel, utah, Wellness, Young LivingLeave a comment

Today I am flying to Salt Lake City, Utah for the first time to attend Young Living’s Convention. I will be with Young Living 2 years next month. I knew that the oils would be fun, but I truly didn’t know the full extent of how life changing they WOULD be and HAVE been!

There are no words that I could express just how grateful I am to the Lord for persisting in nudging my soul to purchase. I read and saw about Young Living oils FIVE TIMES over a span of FIVE MONTHS until I finally said YES, Yes, to better health and yes, to a better life! I want each of you to realize that I want that for you and your family. Where my family was 2 years ago, seems surreal to me. My mom had died unexpectedly. I had a chronically sick 6 month old baby that only slept 2-3 hours at a time and I was EXHAUSTED. My hormones and emotions were all over the place. I was barely hanging on. Seriously I look back at those first few weeks when I lost my mom and I honestly don’t know how I made it. But then a kit of oils arrived on my doorstep. I started diffusing and wearing them. I made rollerballs and creams. And I started to feel better! Still skeptical, I started reading into them and researching. Amazed at what I saw I decided I had to share. Adventure In Oils was born that day.

But you see, I didn’t start sharing Young Living with others with the mindset of doing this as a business. I simply shared something I was excited about. I joined Young Living for the sole purpose to support my family’s health. I was desperate as a mother, and willing to try anything, no matter how crazy it sounded. I took a leap of faith. Sometimes we must step out in faith and just move! So it was with this mindset that I started. Getting my oils paid for sounded nice but it was not my end game.

But now? Now I see the abundance and freedom that Young Living gives! Instead of having to use medicines with side effects I can try oils first. My now growing 3 year old has even started to ask for oils and it is part of our daily routine! And the business? Unlimited opportunity for those that want it. Whether it is just getting your oils paid for (which is where I am at currently) to making enough to retire now money, it is there if you want it.

So, why am I telling you all this? Because I know somewhere there is someone struggling. You have that thing that you are holding onto wondering if this is it. Maybe its money problems. Maybe you are facing some major health stuff for or your family and fear is trying to grip where you stare. Maybe you are kicking yourself for not fully embracing oils and even the business because you are still waiting for it all to be perfect.

Stop.
Lean into this.

What is it for you? Where are you staring? Come jump in this intentional faith thing with me, whatever that looks like, I promise it will be the best ride ever!!

Live without regrets

I will be visiting this farm Wednesday. So excited!

5 Diffuser Blend Recipes Using Your Premium Starter Kit Oils

January 27, 2017January 27, 2017Posted in Diffuser Blends, Young LivingTagged Chemical Free Living, Diffuser Blends, DIY, Essential Oils, Family, kids, Momlife, Recipes, Young Living Starter KitLeave a comment

Diffusing essential oils is one of my favorite ways to use them in our home every day. I reach for different oils depending on what’s going on in our lives. We diffuse in our kitchen to get rid of strong food odors. We diffuse at night to relax before bed. Our whole family loves trying new essential oils and finding combinations that make us feel wonderful and make our home smell amazing!

I hope these 5 starter kit diffuser recipes will inspire you to try your own combinations.

Lemon and Peppermint

This combination of is perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up. The bright fragrance is uplifting and energizing. I love this to give me a boost to get through those long hours after school and before dinner.

Lavender and Copaiba

I love this recipe for easing tension. If I’m a little stressed from the hustle and bustle of the day I diffuse floral Lavender and earthy Copaiba to give me some peace and dissolve all my cares away.

Frankincense and Lemon

Diffusing these two oils creates such an atmosphere of quiet reflections. The woodsy, warm, fresh aroma is an excellent choice for times of prayer, quiet, or meditation.

Purification and Lemon

Sometimes things just stink. That’s the way it is in my house anyway. When we need to eliminate odors and freshen the air we diffuse this combination. It has definitely helped us many times after a big gathering of teenage athletes or a dinner gone way wrong.

Stress Away and Lavender

For soothing and relaxing, my family’s #1 choice is this combination of Stress Away and Lavender. The vanilla and cedarwood in the Stress Away blend along with the classic, herbal peacefulness of Lavender are perfect for bedtime. Diffusing this before bed is a great way to wind down after a long day.

Get started diffusing essential oils today right from your Premium Starter Kit!

The Holiday Breakdown

December 8, 2016December 8, 2016Posted in Family, Grief, Kids, LifeTagged Family, Grief, Holidays, kids, Life, Memories2 Comments

I cried in the Dunkin Donuts drive thru line this morning.

It started innocent enough. A image of my dad holding his coffee mug while shuffling to his home office and my mom yelling at Cindy and I to run to the car as we will be late AGAIN for school ran through my mind as I waited for my coffee and bagel breakfast. But then I thought about Omi’s Christmas cookies, and how dad would hoard his cookie tin from all of us because he loved to drink his coffee while eating them. And how on Christmas Eve mom would make us take naps so “Santa” would come and when we woke up we would open presents before heading to church that evening. Santa always came on Christmas Eve at our household. Maybe because we had to drive two hours on Christmas Day to see dad’s relatives. Santa was on a timeline you know.

I miss them. My parents. My sister and I were talking over Thanksgiving how memories are growing thin, especially with dad. 18 years now since he died. He would have loved Bryce. Bryce loves trains just like he did. They would have bonded over that. The funny thing though is the year before his death was hard. We were not close as a family. Mom and dad had just moved us from South Jersey to North Jersey and the transition didn’t go well. Mom would spend all day in the bedroom depressed and dad would sit at night alone in the basement playing his old vinyls. And the fights. So intense between them. And then all of a sudden he died. Less than a year after we moved. Just like that. No nice ending, no goodbyes. No I am sorry and I love you please don’t leave me. It was bad and then it was over. And mom fell apart. Her depression, along with her injuries from the car accident left her unable to care for us emotionally. She never recovered. And with it our relationship with her never recovered. When she died in 2015 Cindy and I were only talking to her sporadically. When I got the call from the hospital at 1:00 AM saying she had passed I remember screaming in my head “NO! I never was able to fix us! It cannot end like this!” But it did. It ended messy, with no kodak moment goodbye like I had envisioned for us.

But oh do I miss them. Because before it was bad it was oh so good. My sister and I had a great childhood. Mom and dad loved us and provided for us. We lived in our little bubble in South Jersey where we had a pool and a dog and during the summers we would swim all day and play too many video games. And along with our other relatives, holidays, birthdays and vacations were amazing. We had fun as a family. So that is what I choose to remember. The good.

As Bryce gets older I am starting to incorporate family traditions from my childhood. This year we are doing one of those chocolate advent calendars with him. Last night while opening the little door and extracting the chocolate prize I clearly remember doing that with my sister and mom. I love that I am passing it down. Because in the end those family traditions are what you will remember when you start crying in the Dunkin Donuts drive thru at 7:30 AM on a Thursday.

Life is messy. We all will have regrets when it comes to our family and life choices. But you can’t let it consume you. I encourage all of you out there who are challenged by the holidays to just embrace the good. Hold on to those good memories. And create new ones where you can.

Toddler Antics

September 25, 2016September 25, 2016Posted in Kids, ParentingTagged kids, Parenting, toddlers, Working MomLeave a comment

Kids make you insane.

Not necessarily in that gibbering, banging-your-head-against-the-walls, strait-jacket kind of insane (well, maybe in small doses), but in the way that it warps the way you look at the world. The world a parent lives in is not the same world that a normal human lives in. We see things that are invisible to most people. We do things that make normal people scratch their heads in wonder. Our heads are constantly filled with bizarre fuzzy maths that would make the physics department at MIT weep. We tie ourselves in knots to make the world livable for ourselves and the future humans we are tasked with raising to adulthood.

Here are just a few of the strange behaviors that have become totally commonplace for my husband and myself since having a “tiny human.”

Normal people can drink out of cups, but we can’t. If we have a glass of some beverage, and we leave that beverage unattended for even fifteen seconds, then that beverage will end up spilled on the couch, the carpet, or possibly the ceiling. The fact that we have a cat plays in here, too, because our cat cannot abide an upright glass. So instead we drink out of bottles with lids, all the time, until the kid is asleep and the cat is preoccupied with grooming itself for the 10th time.
Normal people lock the bathroom door, but we don’t. I don’t even close the door all the way; I just rest it lightly against the frame. For some reason, the kid never wants my attention so much as when I’m trying to do my business. And here comes that mental math I mentioned: I can lock the door (which will keep him out) or simply close it, but then I have to suffer the slings and arrows of a tireless banging on the door to the chorus of “MAMA!? MAMA!?” Or, I can give him easy access, and put up with the lesser indignity of relieving myself in front of the tiny human while listening to him prattle on. (Generally, the prattle wins out over the banging on the door.)
Normal people can drive and listen to a song of their choosing, but we can’t. As soon as we put the car in reverse it starts. “oh oh” song. Or “Disney” music. If I don’t play it I deal with the endless whining. And when I do play it I have the battle of getting my sweet child to not ask to have the song repeated a gazillion times. EACH song that comes on the tiny human wants to hear again. And again. Such fun.
Normal people check the thermostat maybe once or twice a day, but I have to check it more often. This makes me crazy, because the thermostat is not a thing that changes on its own, and I feel like an insane person looking at it as often as I do. But little kids love pushing buttons, both the metaphorical and the literal. Seriously, he had somehow managed to turn on the heat while it was 95 degrees out the other day. Luckily, I caught it before the house or any of us combusted from the heat. Because I check the thermostat more often than your dad does. Every time I walk past the thing, I check it.
Normal people know what “no” means, but we don’t. The word “no” means nothing in our house. For two reasons. First of all, it obviously means nothing to our child. We both say it and say it, but the little human keeps asking or doing the thing that had us saying “no” in the first place, so we clearly haven’t taught the meaning of this simplest of words properly. Then, there’s that thing that happens, you know, where you say a word over and over and over in rapid succession and, like a soggy Cheerio, it just kind of disintegrates in your mind? Like the syllables and the letters come apart and the meaning just evaporates? Where do words come from, anyway? What’s a language, for that matter? How are we even able to communicate at all?

There are more, but I have to go check the thermostat.