21st Century Mothers and more

Mother of five... have I mentioned this? There are some interesting logistics that come into play for my band (see previous post for more info about the band). I am trying to picture the amount of food and clothing that will need to be in my house at any given time. And there will be a time when I have 5 children in my home ranging in age from 11-17.

I think there will need to be a very closely observed effort to avoid letting the fridge get "empty". My choices would be to haul the band to the grocery store to stock up... resulting in multiple carts of groceries, or to take one or two helpers and hope the carts don't get so full they can't push them. Hey - you - yes you!! Have a little humor! Trust me I can figure out how to shop for my new family.

NOW the really good news, and Trent can attest to this, is that my mother and father taught me how to cook for an army. As kids we would bring home any and every friend we had (still do!) to eat with us. My mom and dad never knew how many friends or family might join, so there was always enough food for 15 people. There is a downside to cooking like this. First, if you don't bring home any friends you knew you would be eating the same meal for the next 5 days. So it was a bit of a cycle my mother created... if we didn't want to eat the some food for 5 days, you better bring home a lot of friends. The second problem with this kind of cooking is that when you get your first roommate (or in my case husband), that person thinks you are completely insane when you cook like this. The dilemma, he wasn't too sure about some of my cooking (chili with noodles apparently is not a world wide phenomenon)... and it wasn't that he had to suffer through one meal of this strange new food, but a full week. Yes, we did freeze some of it and eat it later, and yes, some of it went to waste (or waist), but mostly we tried to eat it. And the ability to cook like this must have some sort of genetic integration, because, how hard is it to follow a recipe for two? One would think, not so hard... but when you add a little of this and little of that, pretty soon you can feed the whole neighborhood. Anyway, I think it is a skill God has given me and it should fit in well with my new family!

On a side note our little Ethiopian SuperStar grew 4 inches in the past 5 months (sounds like someone must have been feeding him).

I think I have already mentioned my fears of laundry. Good think Trent is a superstar at laundry. And Angelisa is up next to learn to do laundry!

I am open to some tips on transporting this many people on a regular basis. Maybe I should get together with some bus drivers and get some tips... actually I just thought of an idea. I can have a Patrol. A Van Patrol (VP)... I'll get a reflective vest and each child can take turns enforcing the rules of the van(s).

Actually I like this idea more and more as I think of it. I can have designated helpers like in a classroom. I want one kid to check the weather each day and announce what kind of clothing is needed. I want another kid to be the line leader and round up everyone to get them to the front door for leaving. I need a classroom helper, the kid whose on point for the day to run the random errand ("Somebody let the dogs in!"). If any of you are reading this and think I am just thinking silly, ask anyone who knows me... this will be implemented in my home... I will try it.

I've also realized that mothers of the 21st Century have a new duty. We not only have to know how to cook and clean, and monitor food triangles and exercise routines for our children but we are also the HELP DESK... you know the people you call when the computer isn't working quite right, generally due to user error. Anyway, I am already getting Angelisa all trained in on this. Yesterday I received an email (on my BlackBerry) from her. The email asked if she should wear her scarf "like this" and attached to it was a photo she took and uploaded! (okay she is already my help desk, I will admit it). Anyway I'll need a technology helper.

So along those lines, I love that I can arrange doctor appointments on line, get groceries delivered and have free time to wonder why banks actually need a building (or at least why they are so extravagant... who goes there?). Google 411 can get me any name and address or business on my phone in seconds. I never have to drive to a store just "to see if they have it" - unless I decide it is a leisure activity. I can do my Christmas shopping on line (and yes I will be doing it again this year). I keep in touch with my friends through facebook, it's like a virtual coffee shop, I can just wave on my way through or stop and chat. I can share pictures and humor, or get advice whenever I need it (and sometimes when I don't). I can get my job done without leaving my house (some days)... if nothing else I can avoid rush hour most days! I am a technology nerd mom!

I wonder, if people who wonder how I do it, know the tools that are available? I have been working to implement Lean (wiki Lean - Toyota Production Systems), ROWE (wiki ROWE), Process Improvement, Quality Assurance, and Innovation where ever I can in my home. Not to mention all that psych training Trent and I have... and then last but certainly not least those very important Biblical principles. Yes, pray for my children we don't know how they will turn out. I am placing my bets on Nobel Peace Prizes and maybe an Emmy winner! Ha!

Wow, who gave me access to blogging today?