Pumpkin-Zucchini-Ricotta-Sausage-Pasta Sauce

Let me just take a moment for reflection-- yes, pun intended. There is now a building that stands where our former childhood home once stood. Looking at where our home was, there was a window that reflected the view of which we once saw from the living room...Terry's. It's funny that I don't know her last name but she lived across the street for all those years...regardless, yesterday was a little strange to be in a building (opposite site of this engineering building, is the Eureka, Math and Science Center) with our Colton where our childhood Cope household stood. My baby in my old stomping grounds. So weird and a little sad but we took a photo because I'm sure someday soon, Terry's house will yet be gone and a new build on its land, too. Documenting for the future.

At least this building is now centered on learning! Just like our home was! ❤️ Colton and I went for a birthday party and got to pet a bearded dragon from Australia and go into a "cave tunnel" and see glowing rocks, play in a water table, look at insects, a scorpion, a snake, fish, play in sand, and so much more! It was fun to have just some CAM time! I've always been the person to dislike the phrase "date your kids" but I have a better understanding now of what that means. It's taking time with them individually and I like the idea of it - just will not call it that! Let's call it what it is: a little one-on-one time. Another term that is not in my vocabulary is "play date"! I do not like it and do not use it. It's so annoying to me! I just say, "Want to get together?" Ugh. Sometimes the mom pretenses that are out there need to be debunked and those are a couple of them.

When society goes in one direction - I like to go in the other! Maybe it's because of the way I was raised. Why just be like everyone else when you were made to be different? I'm still discovering that role as a mother and re-defining it in my own world. Stop with the mom-plaining (complaining about mom life) - please! We don't need the negativity and we definitely don't need the competition (or shall I call it the mom-petition??!) for who had it worse. It's like women want to wallow in their hardships instead of thriving in their successes. Yes, motherhood can be challenging but billions of women have done it and I guarantee have had it a LOT worse than you (or me) and have prevailed! So, instead of complaining or being the martyr - just don't talk about it. Be about it! Motherhood comes but just once in life and I'm enjoying it and not wishing it away because it's hard. I'm loving it because it's making me work harder but making me stronger! 💪🏼❤️