Nicole’s Camp ← Mommy Warriors

The Best College Essay Ever

Apr

2013

While high school seniors (and their parents) across the country are finding out what colleges have accepted them, I thought I’d do a college themed post. Years ago I came across this. It is an actual essay that a prospective student had written on their college application to NYU. Besides making a mockery of the idea of young 18 year olds having enough accomplishments to actually list, it is also so clever that by the end, this essay itself proves to be an accomplishment. Enjoy… 3A. IN ORDER FOR THE ADMISSIONS STAFF OF OUR COLLEGE TO GET TO KNOW YOU, ...

Spring Break Your Back

Apr

2013

Who ever came up with the term “Spring Break” clearly wasn’t a mother. We are 1 week and 2 days into our Spring Break, and it’s anything but a break. In the past 10 days we’ve gone to the movies 3 times (nothing I particularly wanted to see), made 3 dozen cupcakes (of which I ate too many), played endless rounds of championship “Go Fish”, gone for 6 bike rides (up hill both ways), broken up a dozen sibling knock-down fights (got clipped in the jaw in the process), cleaned up after countless art projects, chased after a lost dog ...

Homework without Tears

Mar

2013

I used to think I was the anomaly, that some how my 9 year old was the only kid who cried over having to do homework. I used to think that I was doing something wrong, that I was somehow creating more stress for him or putting too much pressure on him. That all changed when I was reading the latest “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” to my daughter the other night and saw a blurb about how Gregory’s mom had a reward chart on the wall that was entitled “Homework without Tears”. What’s this? I’M NOT ALONE!!!! Okay, albeit I ...

MW Weekly Meal Planning – Saving Time While Making Better Dinners

Mar

2013

Like most moms, I have a very busy schedule, but I also like to make great dinners for my family. In order to do this, I have to plan. So every Sunday, I sit with my schedule and my cookbooks and figure out what days I’ll cook, what I’ll cook, and what I’ll need. I then do most of my shopping on Sunday so I’m set for the week. It saves me time and it means I don’t have to try and figure out what to make each night. I plan the whole week in one sitting. My friends are ...

When the Kids Don’t Want Family Time

Mar

2013

My husband and I woke up Sunday morning, after an evening of cooking and entertaining sixteen people and decided we wanted to go out for breakfast with the kids. I rolled out of bed and walked down the hall to the playroom where they were all hanging out playing video games. “Kids, Dad and I are taking you guys to breakfast. Can you all get dressed, make your beds, brush your teeth. We’ll leave as soon as you’re ready.” But as appealing as it sounded to my husband and me, it was the antithesis of appealing to the kids. “I ...

Trying to Stay Calm When Things Get Frightening

Feb

2013

I’ve always believed that my kids feed off of my energy. If I’m in a good mood, they feel loved. If I’m in bad mood, they think they did something wrong. And if I’m stressed over something, they get worried. So when we had a very frightening experience Monday on a flight home, I tried desperately not to show my terror. I’m not a great flier. People can try to convince me all they want how flying is the safest form of travel, but it still doesn’t change the fact the two best moments when I fly is when ...

Eventually, We All Become Our Mothers!

Feb

2013

It rears its head slowly at first. We might catch ourselves saying something our mothers used to say. Or we might experience déjà vu with our kids and realize we’ve acted the scene before, 25 years earlier, but we were the kid and now we are our mother. Eventually, no matter how hard we try to fight it, we all become our mothers. I remember when I was young and I’d borrow my mother’s jacket she’d always have wads and wads of tissue in her pockets. “Mom! Why do you always have so much Kleenex? That’s gross!” Flash forward…my pockets ...

Do We Compliment Our Kids Too Much?

Jan

2013

When I was growing up my mother was a big complimenter. “Honey, you did such a nice job. You did great. You’re so smart. You’re so amazing…” My dad, on the other hand, rarely complimented me. “93%? Why wasn’t it 100%? Are you satisfied with that? Is that really your best? Not bad. Now what are you going to do?” In the end, my dad’s reaction did a lot more to push me to try harder than my mother’s compliments. My husband’s boss is one of three brothers, all of whom are at the top of their field. One brother ...

Why God Created Parents – Reason #2

Jan

2013

Because who else would be masochistic enough to spend weeks shopping and then hours wrapping hundreds of Christmas presents that are opened and tossed aside in a matter of seconds, all in hopes of reaping a few moments of fleeting joy. And then happily clean it all up! www.mommywarriors.com

Why God Created Parents – Reason #1

Jan

2013

There is a reason why God created parents. Because if kids were left to their own devices, they’d never take a bath, brush their teeth, do their homework or eat a balanced meal. And I have scientific proof of this. Just take a look at the plate my son made for himself at a buffet dinner when we went to a friend’s house. Doritos, bread and chocolate. Need I say more? Stay tuned for more reasons. I know there’s going to be more! www.mommywarriors.com