Where I showcase a GOOD Mom.

Part of my desire to fix my food/diet/exercise/health/bullcrap problem is grounded in the fact that it has kept me thinking about ME for my whole life.  It's the most cyclical, self-centered, self-loathing, and basically a self self self self selfish kind of problem...and I've had it since the third grade.  So, today (and maybe as a regular blog feature), I'm going to think about someone else.

LINDSAY.  Where do I begin?

Let me preface my description of Lindsay by creating a sharp contrast for you.  For ME, summer is the least favorite season of all.  Or, at least it has been since we've had kids.  Summer is hard.  Summer is hot.  Summer is long days filled with nothingness.  Summer is hundreds of trips to the pool where you'll have to wear your Momkini and do your best to prevent tiny people from drowning while simultaneously doing your best to be invisible.  (The full coverage skirt and tankini top with spanx built in is never full coverage enough when you know EVERYONE. AT. THE. POOL.)

The emptiness of the days is tough for me.  I've never been the kind of mom that embraces an empty calendar, imagining the impromptu craft sessions, the flour-covered baking parties, the picnics in the park.  I like structure.  Plans.  Activities.  I like NOT having to play in the pool with my kids.

This is the polar opposite of my friend Lindsay.  She plans weeks of the summer with her boys around themes.  It's amazing.  She picks a theme (like, say, "RAINBOWS") and each day has a different activity that revolves around rainbows.  One day it's a rainbow craft, one day they get rainbow books from the library, and so on.  She does this for a WHOLE summer.  And she does it enthusiastically, while remaining ridiculously gorgeous and thin.  I'm willing to bet she'd proudly wear a string bikini and play a game of tackle football with her boys at the pool.

You might be saying, WHY are you friends with such an irritatingly perfect being?  Well, first, it's because she's awesome.  She let's me tell her she's perfect and irritating and she laughs at me for it.  She's creative and artistic and we come up with wild and fun projects together!  She's fun and funny.  We go to the same church.  We love Nordstrom Rack.  We're both high maintenance (me a teeny bit more so, but who's counting).  We're both perfectionists (she a little bit more so, but who's counting).  We can talk about shopping or Jesus or nothing.  I can let a four-letter-word fly and she doesn't judge me.  She has three delightful boys that love to play with my kids and my kids love to play with them.  And she also has a giant ridiculous dog that comes to play with my dogs and THEY love each other, too.

Today I will be inspired to come up with an activity to do with my kids.  A fun activity that's centered around them.  In honor of what I've learned from my friend, Lindsay.

Hmmm.  I'm already tired.