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Theta Mom®

Redefining Motherhood

You’ve Got a Friend

I was putting in a load of laundry when my son came over toward me with a small shoebox. Apparently, he was digging through one of our closets in the basement and he found a bunch of my old cassette tapes.

We’re talking old school. Remember this one ladies? A time in your life when all you could do was sing, “I think we’re alone now???”

Well, considering my son’s world consists currently of Wii games, DS cartridges and DVD’s, looking at a cassette tape kind of puzzled him. “What is this thing Mommy?” he kept asking. Yes, it totally made me feel like a fossil.

After a short explanation, laundry went into the washer, my son went upstairs and I started to put the shoebox back in the closest when one of the cassette tapes fell out. As I bent down to pick it up, a flood of memories came rushing back…

And I paused for a moment.

I don’t blog about my dad all too often (although I should probably change that since he is one of the greatest men that walks this earth),  I can’t but help to share this small piece of my life with you.

At age 18, I packed my belongings into my little Volkswagen Cabriolet (just a kid out of high school about to go off to college) when my dad stood beside me in the driveway and we shared a few words – an exchange I can remember as vividly as if it happened yesterday.

He told me he couldn’t believe his little girl was going off to college; that he was so proud of me but more importantly, if there was ever a time I needed someone to talk to, even in the middle of the night, to just call him – because he would be there. And with that, he handed me a James Taylor cassette tape and whispered, “You’ve got a friend.”

“When your down and troubled, and you need a helping hand
And nothing, no nothing is going right…
Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest nights…
You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am
I’ll come running, to see you again.
Winter, Spring , Summer, or Fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there…You’ve got a friend.”

Today, as I hold tightly onto that cassette tape listening to the drum of the washing machine behind me and the pitter patter of my son’s feet upstairs, my heart is full.

Because even after all these years, I know I’ve always got a friend.

Featured TMC Blogger: Old Tweener

TMC welcomes Sherri, author of the blog Old Tweener. She’s one of those bloggers that when you tweet with her or read one of her posts, it feels as if you’ve known her for years. She is so welcoming, supportive and certainly one who loves to write! Here is how she describes her blogging journey in her own words:

“My name is Sherri and I started my blog Old Tweener a little over a year ago as a way to push myself to write the stories that were constantly bumping around in my head. I had no idea that in creating a place for my stories to take root I would find such a supportive community of women who also loved to write.

I graduated from college in 1986 with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, and spent the first eight years out of college working my way through various finance jobs after earning my CPA certificate.

I married my high school/college sweetheart one year after college graduation.  After seven years of marriage we welcomed our son home and I said goodbye to the corporate world. Staying home with him, and subsequently with his sister, was the most wonderful experience for me as a mother.

When my youngest entered third grade, I stumbled into a job at her elementary school that I absolutely love. I work with at-risk students either one-on-one or in small social skills groups. The past five school years that I have had this job have really opened my eyes to the trials that some children have in their daily lives outside of school.

Old Tweener is a place that’s sometimes funny, often sarcastic, and once in a while you may need a tissue. I try to blog about the years I seem to be occupying right now: between changing diapers and wearing them. I have a son who is graduating from high school (next week!) and a daughter who will turn 13 just as my son leaves home. Throw in a crazy dog, an aging body, and wistfulness for the babies I used to hold and I almost always have something to write about. I’d love for you to visit!”

Be sure to check out the blog and follow her on Twitter! New to TMC? Join us! We LOVE new members! *To be considered as a Featured TMC Blogger, be sure to comment on this week’s feature! Have a great weekend ladies!

Announcing the Project Marriage Brand Partnership

When two of my favorite bloggy friends get together and collaborate it sure does make the blogosphere a better place! The fabulous Tina and Lori recently launched a new series called the Project Marriage Challenge, where the goal is to get reacquainted with your significant other – you know, like the way it was before you had the kids? Bloggers have the opportunity to write posts, link up and converge on a whole new bloggy level – a wonderfully, brilliant idea launched by two bloggers I adore.

So when I saw the tweets went out about this new blog series last week, of course I supported this project! I mean, it’s a fantastic idea! But guess what? This whole #ProjectMarriage deal just got even sweeter.

Many of you know I own my own company and one of my clients, Bellflower Books has an amazing mission about supporting one another and providing someone with a meaningful gift – so what better way than to partner this brand with Tina and Lori’s Project Marriage?

So, I think you’re catching on…Bellflower Books is a proud sponsor of Project Marriage! And here’s what’s in it for YOU bloggers:

Beginning this summer, Bellflower Books will be sponsoring $75 giveaways which will give winning bloggers the chance to create his/her own custom Bellflower Book! You can give it to your husband as a gift or create one for your kids, the possibilities are endless! You can read my full review of the company and see for yourself how great this small business is. Tina and Lori will be sharing full deets on their own blogs about this sponsorship including how the giveaways will be incorporated into this project soon.

I am so honored to announce this partnership – an amazing small business run by two women partnering up with two fabulous bloggers: a total win/win.

If you are looking for my post for this month’s Project Marriage Challenge, you can find it right here, since I met my husband in a bar: I Met Him at a Hoboken Bar and be sure to follow the hosts @lifewithoutpink @mommyfriend as well as the sponsor @BellflowerBooks  and the #ProjectMarriage hashtag. I look forward to seeing you participate in this challenge!

Introducing Theta Mom Media

Since publishing my very first post here at Theta Mom, this blogging journey has really been one amazing experience for me. Never did I ever think that my passion for writing and desire to connect with other mothers would have lead me to this point so quickly – smack in the center of an industry that doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.

I recently wrote a post about the amount of time and hard work that goes into establishing and maintaining a successful blog. I reiterated the fact that there are no free handouts out in the blogosphere, that any fabulous opportunity which comes along to another blogger is certainly something that has to be earned.

And I am living proof of that.

Especially today.

You see, for almost a year, in addition to running this blog and managing the Community and The Marketplace, I have also added social media consultant to my resume. I have been working “behind the scenes” helping clients and their own brands reach their full potential through the social media space. So with the tremendous growth of my own brand and working with more and more clients, I knew it was time to chase another dream and start my very own company.

So along with the brilliant mind of my designer Lauren from Restored 316 who always knows how to take my vision and turn it into reality, I finally have the proper space to call my business home – a business that I’ve been actively working at for quite some time now.

Introducing my company, Theta Mom Media, a business I am so committed to and proud of, one that would not have been possible if I never published my first post right here at Theta Mom.

So, perhaps my time has come.

Yet, it’s only just begun.

WooHoo and Lame: The Pre-Summer Edition

I can actually get the kids ready for school without putting on their coats, gloves, hats and the whole bit. #woohoo

In two weeks, pre-school is finished for the summer. #lame

Finally, the weather has cooperated and it’s wonderful to finally get outside again. #woohoo

But it has been like 90 degrees and so damn hot, I’m stuck back in the freakin house. #lame

With the kids. #doublelame

I can’t wait to get some color on my face and sport some killer tan lines. #woohoo

I’m not all that excited about slipping into that bathing suit. #lame

Thinking about back-to-school shopping gets me all excited. #woohoo

But then I realize it’s a whopping three months away. #lame

Can’t wait to hit the beach! #woohoo

Then I think about how much work it is with the kids before we actually have our toes in the sand. #lame

Can’t wait to jump in our pool! #woohoo

Then I remember that I *STILL* have to potty train my youngest. #lame

And she must be trained before September in order for her to attend this new pre-school. #doublelame               

Time to break out the margarita mix and start enjoying the summer! #woohoo

Time to think about how I still have to lose those unwanted pounds. #lame

BlogHer11’ is only about two months away! #woohoo

At the moment, I am still not planning on going. #lame

Excited about some fun roadtrips ahead with the family this summer. #woohoo

But then I remember all the drama that my kids can bring on a vacation – I mean, kidcation. #lame

Do you have any woohoo and lame moments when you think about the upcoming summer?