"Snickers Time"

Weather it's your favorite chocolate snack or not, you have to admit Snickers commercials have some humor and their slogans are catchy. I on the other hand have found a new respect for this chewy & nutty chocolate bar, I call it: Snicker time! It's that deep breathe get away from it all moment, you know that quiet time you look for when you come home after a hectic day of work or even the alone time you long for after dealing with the kids.

It started with a visit from one of my sister in laws, she came over to see the newborn with the "clan" as we call our family, to see my newborn. After hearing five kids playing, screaming and fighting and two husbands going at it with a competitive game of Madden, we decided to take a quick trip to the store. She had the great idea of getting a snickers bar. So we paid, got into the van, split the bar between us  and enjoyed it as if we were two kids who were doing something mischievous, laughing the whole time. We both knew what the other was thinking: no screaming kids, or loud husbands. Just two Mommies sitting there enjoying a piece of chocolate without having to share....aaaahhhhh, so delicious.

A few weeks later Jimmy, my husband and I were doing seperate errands and suddenly we came across the same path as we headed home. To my amazement, guess what I see him devouring??? Yes, a snickers bar! After my deed, I had mentioned my little secret to my husband as if admitting a crime I had committed. But as we walked in together, we both just laughed as he gave me my due half. I'm sure he needed that "snickers time" especially having being in a house surrounded by all females. I know I definitely look forward to some alone time with my snickers bar after dealing with three kids who are all under the age of five!

No, I do not have any endorsement deals with Snickers yet. But after all that is said and done, my true favorite venture with this delicious chocolate bar is sitting in the van with my two precious princesses asking for a piece of Mommy's favorite chocolate. There is nothing more satisfying than breaking one bar into four little pieces for my clan, aaaahhhhhh.

Julia S Gutierrez

"Confidence through Small Eyes"

While walking the Malls, I always wondered: "What the heck was that parent thinking, letting their kids walk out the house with that outfit on?" I was right in thinking that the parents obviously had no control with these kids, of course I didn't have kids at the time. But, NOW that I have two kids and one on the way I am ready to take on whatever outfit my kids feel confident with. Besides what else can I do, when we really have no control in what our kids say, do or wear, right? I hope you enjoy this story as much as I got to experience it.

It's Friday evening and we're ready to go for a walk at the mall. As we're walking out , Jazmine our 3 year old grabs her pigeon hat, Yes her pigeon hat and puts it on. At this moment, my Husband and I looked at each other and silently giggled, we were both thinking one thing and one thing only, "I hope she's not planning on wearing that in the mall." Yup, she was! So, I said, "Jazzy you can take it but we'll leave it in the car, ok?" She whines "No, I want to wear it, I made it in school" and Daddy says, "Jazzy you can leave it here and wear it when we get back." She didn't cry, she didn't whine but she gave the most unselfish response a kid could give "But Daddy it will make people Happy." We smiled and carried on to the car with the pigeon hat on.

I was taken back by her confidence, for the simple fact that as we start "maturing" we feel like we have to look and do things according to everyone else's standards.

As we walked the mall, she was mistaken for "angry birds," she was laughed at, stared at, questioned, and Jazmine walked around as if nobody existed except her and her hat. At one point she saw someone laughing and she said, "See, it makes them happy." She was focused on her idea of wearing that hat and she did it confidently. 


At the school she currently attends, they are reading stories from Mo Willems (http://www.mowillems.com). Please grab your child and enjoy the video below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V10jhsNIMI8


Julia S Gutierrez