Mother’s Day » Stop, Drop and Blog

Making the Most of Mother's Day (A Giveaway!)

May 042010

It’s no secret that Mother’s Day is a hard day for me. In fact, it’s no secret that Mother’s Day is difficult for many mothers (and non-mothers) for various reasons. I spent the weekend feeling grumpy about it. I decided to let that go today and make the most of the day itself. I’ve invited my mother-in-law over for the day. I plan on spending most of it outside, with my flowers.

And now I’m offering you, my readers, a chance to win five books on Mother’s Day! FIVE!

That’s right. Five books. For you. They include: Just Let Me Lie Down by Kristin van Ogtrop (which was reviewed by the SV Moms Group recently), God Never Blinks by Regina Brett, Heart of My Heart by Kristin Armstrong, The Cradle by Patrick Somerville and Roses by Leila Meacham.

I agreed to run this giveaway, partnering up with Hachette Book Group USA, because I love books. I think books can change things for people. I know that certain books, like the one we’re currently reading for the Open Adoption Book Tour, have changed how I view myself and my situation(s). As I said above, Mother’s Day is hard for me. I don’t know if that will ever change for me, though I assume some years might be easier than others. What I do know, however, is that I can make some other mom’s day by letting her know that she won five books! I’m a giver. When other people are happy, I’m happy. I could probably use some happiness on Sunday! So, here we go!

Mandatory Entry:

Comment on this post with a thought about mothering. It doesn’t have to be about Mother’s Day, just about mothering in general. The ups, the downs, the omgz!, the challenges, the triumphs. Hit me. Make me cry. Make me laugh. You may leave one comment of this nature.

After you complete the above mandatory entry, you can complete any of these additional entries. Please remember to leave a comment for each additional entry so that I may count them properly. Example: if you tweet, leave a comment elsewhere and write a blog post about it, you would leave me three separate comments (in addition to your one above) telling me about each step. Questions? Email me.

1. Follow me on twitter, @FireMom, and tweet: RT @FireMom Win 5 books for yourself this Mother’s Day! http://bit.ly/cdgq1x . If you’re already following me on twitter, keep on doing so and tweet the above message! It still counts!

2. Follow @HachetteBooks on twitter.

3. Blog about this giveaway on your public blog. Link to this blog post in your post.

4. Visit this BlogHer post and comment about which book was your favorite, thus donating a book to a child in need.

5. Share a link to this giveaway on any social networking site. Just let me know which ones in an individual comment for each separate site!

This giveaway is live through 7:30pm on Mother’s Day, May 9, 2010. At that point, I will hit random.org, pull a winner and contact that winner via email. The winner has 24 hours to reply with their shipping information or I will pull an alternate winner. Books will be shipped directly from Hachette Book Group USA (though it would help me greatly if you let me know when you receive your books!). If the winner is a blogger (she doesn’t have to be), I’ll make sure to link to her blog on the announcement post on Monday, May 10, 2010. Free books. Free links. Free awesomesauce.

Now get to commenting. And, really, please try to have a decent Mother’s Day. I’ll try if you do, okay?

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[Disclosure: I received a copy of the books in exchange for this giveaway. I received no other compensation, other than the joy of reading your mothering comments and knowing that someone else got to be happy on Mother's Day. That's all the compensation I needed!]

The Mother I am Today

Holidays 5 Responses »

May 102009

It’s no secret that Mother’s Day is hard for me. But today was an okay day in itself. Why?

I got to spend the day with these two guys.

Mother's Day 2009

(Who have grown considerably since last year. See?)

Mother's Day 2008

To boot, my husband got me a beautiful card, signed by both boys as well. D and the Munchkin called to wish me a Happy Mother’s Day. And BigBrother gave me the following gift, made at preschool.

BigBrother's Gift

And, on Saturday evening, after I cut up LittleBrother’s food at supper, he said the following, combining two separate thoughts for the first time.

“Tank oo, Mummy!”

No, thank you, Bubba.

I know that I am so very blessed. I have three living, breathing children who were all able to show me love in their own ways. I have a husband who values what I do for this family. I have a Mom who told me a few weeks ago that she thinks I’m an amazing mom. I have a mother-in-law who came over today to let me take a nap. And so, today, despite underlying issues, I am thankful for the highs and lows. They have made me who I am today.

They have made me the Mother that I am today.

Happy 'Nother Day

Holidays 2 Responses »

May 112008

I had a lovely day. It was emotional and draining but lovely at the same time. I am thankful for all of my children, my Husband, my amazing friends who are equally amazing Mothers and the Mothers in my life. I am also thankful for naps, books and cheesy Lifetime movies. Yes, I spent an incredibly lazy afternoon (after church) doing next to nothing “vital” other than playing hard with my children. Diaper laundry sits next to me, unfolded, and I don’t give a rip.

But BigBrother put it best. He said, and I quote, “Happy ‘Nother’s Day.” Yes, it was just another day. One that makes me smile. I did have a photo shoot with the boys. This sums up BigBrother’s attitude by the end of it. Which makes me smile even more. I love these two. (Of note: We chose this location so Munchkin’s photo on the table next to us could be included.) (Also? Spot the Redbook!)

If you’re wondering what my loving Husband and awesome boys got me for Mother’s Day, well, it’s the necklace I’ve been longing for since before BigBrother was even conceived. It’s the Lenox Mother’s Little Gems Pendant. I couldn’t get it until we completed our family as you can’t add more gems later. And, in case you didn’t know, no, we’re not having any more children. (Maybe more on that someday. Not today.) And so, I was finally able to ask for it for Mother’s Day. My Husband is Awesome, of course, and got it for me. He, of course, added all of my living children and so it features my birthstone on top (April) and one December (Munchkin) and two November (Big and Little Brothers). They are the contemporary birthstones, not traditional, so it may look confusing at first. But I think it looks lovely.

Isn’t it lovely? Yes. Yes it is. I am SO blessed to three amazing children. I have spent the entire day, despite some emotional issues, thanking God for the blessings in my life. No, things aren’t perfect. Did I mention that this past Friday BigBrother peed on my leg? But I’m learning, albeit rather slowly, that no family is perfect.

But sometimes, in those still small moments when I’m rocking LittleBrother to sleep or when BigBrother tells me to have a “Happy ‘Nother Day” or when the Munchkin calls to tell me that she loves me, well, it feels pretty darn close to perfect.

Happy Mother’s Day. Or, if you’d rather, “Happy ‘Nother Day.”

Mother's Day Photos, Stories & Another Winner!

Holidays, contests 2 Responses »

May 112008

Happy Mother’s Day! Let’s talk winners! We had about twenty great photo entries and it was hard for us to pick just one winner. But we did because we only had one more Cruzer Gator to give away! And so, let’s jump to the winner now!

The picture belongs to Ceece! We decided on this one because of the composition, the colors and, hey, those kids are flipping cute! Congratulations to Ceece. We’ll be mailing your pink Cruzer Gator tomorrow (with some Mother’s Day cards that I didn’t get sent off in time…).

The following pictures and stories are four (of each, so eight) of our favorites. We want to thank everyone for joining in the fun. I’ve decided to put a cut to save the entire length of my blog page. Please click below to read and view all of the Mother’s Day favorites that were entered into our contests!