Should you save that paper?

I have a penchant for organization (ok it is an obsession). So I was giddy when I stumbled upon this amazing organization site tonight.  Working Mom's drown in papers.  Permission forms, medical forms, school day photo forms, etc.  This site has lots of great ideas to help with the avalanche of papers we deal with every day.

  Kudos to the author for this simple, valuable, free guide!

Article can be found here.

New Years Resolutions

I stumbled upon this blog tippytoesandtantrums tonight and loved it!  Mostly I could relate to the week leading up to New Years Eve.  Thinking about what could be accomplished, what should be accomplished, and what will be accomplished.

As many working mothers I am always trying to balance the need to relax with the inability to relax do to the never-ending to do list!  Sort of a paradox of the career parent.

I checked in on my facebook friends today.  A day I slated to be "board game blitz day" with my son.  All the games I never have time to play with him - all in one afternoon.  It was a blast.   That said, I did find myself feeling pangs of being "behind already in 2012" as I read all of the posts about "christmas trees" down and Christmas packed away for next year.   I am typically slow to let go of my Christmas decorations.  Early January has so little going for it some extra lights seem to allow it some more sparkle.  I am to be Christmas free by January 10th each year.

Anyone who gets to Valentine's Day with their Christmas lights up...well that is a home decor violation.  Those who keep them up year round...safe to say they are not reading my neurotic blog.

Scheduling time to relax and catch up at the end of the year might be the only resolution I stick to in 2012.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all, but especially the working mothers!  This past week I have found myself really struggling to find time to 'do it all'.  Working, preparing for travel, all of that 'elf' work and forced socializing!  I have no magic solution other than to try to keep a good attitude.  Remember this is supposed to be FUN!

To all I wish a happy healthy holiday season and peaceful new year!

Snowtober and other oddities

The last six weeks was full of ups and downs.

- A trip to a new part of the world opened my eyes and rekindled my interest in other cultures

- Nothing gets you over being a novice like repetition.  I finally got better at packing because I took so many personal an professional trips in 45 days

- Literally two weddings and a funeral, all three were celebrations of life

- I found myself questioning who I am when the little people who used to depend on me were adults and getting married and the adults I depended on when I was little passing on from this world

- Snowstorm in October and many trees down in the yard (AGAIN).  I found serenity in clearing the brush with my husband and son in our yard.  Sort of a cathartic clearing of the cobwebs in my head as I cleared the brush from the yard (both venues still need a bunch of work)

- I was infuriated by co-workers dumping their work on me and then taking credit for the finished product

- As much as I complain about not losing weight, I still love my aerobics classes

- I was made whole today watching my son sing in a delayed, off key performance of a Halloween song with his class today.  It was delightfully done in kids in costume who have no need of perfection - having fun is the goal.  They have it right and he one of the very very few things that matter.

End of Rant.

APJ trip

I have been traveling on a business trip through APJ the last 10 days. This marks the longest trip I have ever taken since my son was born and my first trip to China. I had been to Tokyo previously, but this is my first trip to Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore. Somewhere between checking in and out of hotels, filling out customs forms, and changing currencies every three days I became a traveler. I have always dreaded traveling because I had not ever been skilled at it. I have found that nothing brings on mastery like practice. I am getting better at quick packing, best order of operations, and ways to make it all work. I have even started reading the blog "road warriorette".

I am a working Mom and being away from my son has been made much easier with the evolution of Skype and FaceTime applications. I have been able to interact with my family almost every day I have been gone. As a Mother and currently in APJ made me sad to see the 2 year old who was hit in China traffic who is now in critical condition, Hit by not one, but two cars and passed by 19 people before someone helped her made my heart ache. I feel for the Mother of that child and have no idea how one moves on from such a tragedy.

Wishing Yueyue health and happiness as she struggles to survive. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/7619282.html