I wanted validation.

In fact, many of the posts I write, I seek validation.  The sense of community I feel when I read your comments is one of the reasons I try to write everyday. 

When I first discovered blogs, I remember sitting at my computer with my mouth open in stunned expression, reading the truth about motherhood.  I wasn’t alone!  I wasn’t the only one who felt like this!  Other people’s babies cried, too!  You have no idea what you’re doing either!   Validation!

My favorite posts to read are still those that leave me in awe.  Those posts, so eloquently written, that describe a facet of my life that I still relish in realizing I’m not alone in feeling.   I think that nobody, except another mother, can truly grasp and reconcile those difficult range of feelings we experience everyday…intense love, followed by flashes of white hot anger, followed by doubling over guilt, the floundering…

Sarah at Semi-Desperate Housewife wrote a post that so perfectly described all of these feelings.

Pendulum.  This post truly made me feel validated for the ups and downs we all experience in our sometimes blind journey through motherhood.    For that, I awarded her the Perfect Post Award.

Go read it.  And wish her congratulations on her Perfect Post. 

More perfect posts at Petroville and Suburban Turmoil.

©2012 Playgroups are No Place For Children. All Rights Reserved.

Swistle described the build up of anger, the outburst itself, and the remorseful aftermath in such a way, that I wondered if she lived in my brain.

“It was an ugly, ugly temper tantrum. Part of me was watching it happening, eating popcorn and saying, “Oh, girl, you are not going to say THAT. Oh you DIDN’T! Oh, girrrrrrrrl.” The rest of me was like a tower of flame. There is nothing like rage for feeling SO GOOD and SO HORRIBLE at the same time. Sickeningly exhilarating.”

I nodded my head in agreement and understanding so often while reading her post. Her words helped me realize that I am not the only one.

Lightning is a perfect post.

For more Perfect Posts visit Petroville and Suburban Turmoil.

©2012 Playgroups are No Place For Children. All Rights Reserved.

1. I’ve been busy
2. I keep meaning to
3. My dog ate it
4. I’ve been watching too much Family Guy
5. My brain has slowly been leaking out of my boobs
6. I don’t own an IPod
7. My expertise with html is limited
8. I am unable to drink hard liquor without severe consequences
9. Rome wasn’t built in a day
10. If you ask me anything I don’t know, I’m not going to answer.

This post is a loooooong time coming. To those of you who’ve bestowed awards upon me, I thank you and beg your forgiveness for being so remiss in my acceptance. Choose from the above list an excuse that will serve as my absolution.

I certainly don’t deserve 2 awards from Nap Warden, but I’m definitely appreciative.

I’d like to pass this award onto MamaDB who had some issues adjusting to the time change. Her blog is Out of this World.

For this award, I’m passing it along to the Milk Maid. Her quotes at the end of her posts make me chuckle.

Heidi from Hydes Like Us gave me this:

I shall pass this one along to Mandie at Quintessential Quentin.

I got this one from Magnolia Mama:

I love the comments AndreAnna from Diary of a Diapering Madwoman leaves. She makes me smile.

Kara from You Can’t Reason with Crazy thinks this blog kicks [donkey] butt.

This award goes to Miss from Rura and Miss. I love her feistiness.

And finally…VDog and Anglophile Football Fanatic gave me the Egel’s Nest Award.

I shall pass this award onto SJSFalter!

©2012 Playgroups are No Place For Children. All Rights Reserved.

Karen at Pediascribe gave me this gem:

And Jean at Working Momma 24/7 gave me this:

Purdy ain’t they!?

To spread this love, I must tell you that I love all of your blogs and think you are all stars. If you’re reading this, please consider yourself awarded and display these proudly in your sidebar. Kisses to all of you, but I’m too lazy to link all 158 blogs to whom I subscribe.

I am going to highlight a few blogs that I’m new to reading that I love and think are stars!

Anglophile Football Fanatic
Hank & Willie
Moving Mama
No Mommy
Sensible Absurdity
Something Baby Blue
Nap Warden
Magnolia Mama
Not That I Don’t Love My Kids
Impostor Mom
The Milk Maid

Please spread the love!

I would also like to give a big wet kiss to Jenny at Absolutely Bananas for giving me the Absolutely Bananas Approved Blog Award. Thank you, Jenny!

If I had the Photoshopping skillz you possess, I’d make you a purdy button, too. It would say “This Blog Makes Me Laugh, Smile, and Wet My Pants Everyday!”

©2012 Playgroups are No Place For Children. All Rights Reserved.

Whenever I need a laugh, I go read this post by Brandy at It’s Like I’m….Mmmmagic. Since I’m often in need of a laugh, I’ve read it over and over. And it’s still funny, even after the 287,675th read.

There’s nothing funnier than the top ten reasons she should be the Pope. Trust me. Go read! Now!

For a list of all the ROFL Award Winners, go check out Chicky Chicky Baby and Metro Mama.

©2012 Playgroups are No Place For Children. All Rights Reserved.

Thank you Erin and Jessica for awarding me with the Nice Matters Award!

Thanks for thinking that I’m nice.

I shall bestow this award upon these NICE bloggers…

Mommy Daisy

Swistle

Devan (All D’s)

Shelly (Scenic Overlook)

VDog (VDog and Little Man)

Beth (Working it Out)

Tanya (The Dairy Wife)

Shaz (Adventures in Motherhood)

Marie Green

Phoenix

Laura (Synchronization of Us)

Tulip Mom

Christine (Watch me! No, Watch Me!)

Kelly (Assorted Nutz)

Annie (Blooming Marvelous)

Dawn (Coming to a Nursery Near You)

Blue Momma (Life in a Fish Bowl)

Smiling Mom

Shauna (Pass the Chocolate)

Shauna (Up in the Night)

Jean (Working Momma 24/7)

Mamma (Mamma Loves)

Canape (Don’t Take the Repeats)

Her Grace

Karen (PediaScribe)

Dana (Life Turned Upside Down!!!!!!)

Go forth and bestow…

©2012 Playgroups are No Place For Children. All Rights Reserved.

As parents, we have all had those days where we’ve reached our breaking point. One more hassle, one more tantrum, one more problem will surely send us over the edge. I believe, though, that children do in fact have some sort of sense when our limit has been reached.

Tulip Mom wrote this post that captured a day where her son somehow knew that she needed a break. With many errands to run, including a trip to the dreaded ENT, Sweet Boy was able to keep it together for his Mom. This is remarkable as her son has autism and counts on structure to function well each day. In her letter to Sweet Boy, she reminds us all that “Motherhood really is one of life’s greatest joys”.

Congratulations Tulip Mom on your Perfect Post!

Please go check out the best of the best from the month of July at Petroville and Suburban Turmoil!

©2012 Playgroups are No Place For Children. All Rights Reserved.

That’s right, I’m AWESOME!

Here’s why…

Dawn from Coming to a Nursery Near You awarded me with the Schmoozer Award.

“As it goes, schmoozing is the natural ability “to converse casually, especially in order to gain an advantage or make a social connection.” Good schmoozers effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello – all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.”

Funny, in real life I’m a DORK. In the blogosphere, I can schmooze with the best of them! Thanks, Dawn! The award means a lot to me!

Time for me to spread the schmooze and there are many of you who do your schmoozing quite well.

Shauna at Pass the Chocolate…I see your comments everywhere I go!

Who Cries Over Spilled Milk…I also see your comments everywhere I go!

Kara at You Can’t reason with Crazy…Ditto. See above.

Karly at Wiping Up Snot…She’s having a great week, getting such a good review and all! I wanted her to feel like she’s on a roll!

JJ at Gaining Balance…I think you were already awarded, but how could I not award you! You are such a faithful commenter and I also see your comments ALL OVER the blogosphere!

*******

I’m not EVEN done! Check this out….

Ladylike4 at The Life of a School Bus Driver awarded me the Creative Blogger Award!

Thank you so much for thinking that I’m creative. Most days I feel dull and boring and uninspired, so your awarding me for being creative is spectacular!

Here’s who I award…

Nell at meanwhile…I love her posts and her writing style. EVERYONE should check her out. Right. NOW.

Cris at June Cleaver After a Six Pack…Great writer! Great posts! We have lots in common!

Casey at Moosh in Indy…She had an orgasm on the treadmill. Her ability to write about it makes her pretty dern creative if you ask me.

Mrs. Flinger…she makes me giggle. I love her. Please don’t get a restraining order.

And last but MOST DEFINITELY NOT LEAST…

Andi from Poot and Cubby…She my new bestest blogging best friend who may very well somehow be related to me or may be a clone, like Dolly the Sheep. She’s creative and funny and pretty and I love her, too.

Go forth to schmooze and spread your creative love!!!!

©2012 Playgroups are No Place For Children. All Rights Reserved.

After reading this post, beautifully written by Bon from crib chronicles, I wept. I wept for the loss of her son, Finn, for the loss of Liam, whose death this post was in response to. I wept because I’ve been the person who did not know what to say, so I said nothing. Nothing at all.

Bon gives us a starting point to begin a conversation with her post. She tells us not to forget or pretend to forget those children. We can ask about their lives. We can say that we’re sorry.

There is nothing that I can say in this post that could match the eloquence in which Bon wrote. Hers was a Perfect Post.

Thank you, Bon, for giving us the words.

************

You can find all of the other Perfect Post recipients at Suburban Turmoil and Petroville.

©2012 Playgroups are No Place For Children. All Rights Reserved.

I’m just a leetle beet excited! Thank you!

There are lots of Rockin Girl Bloggers out there. Here are a just a few very deserving women.

Sarah at In The Trenches of Mommyhood. My New England gal pal. So witty and clever. I love hearing about her boyz and their neverending adventures!

Mamma at Mamma Loves. I’m fairly new to her blog, but I love her. Her recent post about her adventures in a port-a-potty sealed my devotion to her blog!

Erika at Plain Jane Mom. I just know we’d be friends in real life if she didn’t live all the way in California, that is if she’d have time for me! She’s quite busy with all her blog reading and different websites!

Poot and Cubby. I am a very new reader to her blog and I love all her posts. We have loads in common and similar senses of humor.

Megan at Velveteen Mind. Amazing writer. A-MAZ-ING. I’ve met her in real life, so hopefully her smarts will rub off on me!

Heather at The Queen of Shake-Shake. Her posts give me blog envy. Thank goodness I know her in real life, or she might think I’m stalking her!

©2012 Playgroups are No Place For Children. All Rights Reserved.