Deploy Peace is a charity created by two military mothers to help support the families of wounded soldiers. Deploy Peace cut down decommissioned planes and form them into dogtags with quotes from inspirational leaders from John Lennon to Jimi Hendrix and John F Kennedy. The proceeds go to Fisher House Foundation. Much like Ronald McDonald House Charities help the families of sick Children Fisher House gives the families of wounded Soldiers a home away from home at no charge with them. This allows them to be close to Veteran's hospitals around the country so that they may support their loved ones wounded in battle.


A gentle reminder to keep your life in perspective whether you believe in the war or not.

When you meet one of our returning Soldiers,
please remember what they've been through and show them

Compassion and Tolerance.



Happy Birthday America, where every year we celebrate kicking someone's butt and gaining our Independence.

I was browsing around Facebook and came across the group that instanly made me nostalgic for the good ole days. Days when you took a plastic cartoon lunch box to school. When you remember the craze of and subsequent banning of slap bracelets and slam books. When you're best friends were marked by matching necklaces and home-made lanyards. When "NOT" was an acceptable answer to the end of every sentence. And when it was actually worth getting up to watch Saturday morning cartoons.

When "Whoa" and "How rude" were more than a response to someone's outlandish remarks. When you were not considered a dork for knowing the rap to "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." And, of course, we all know Kimberly and Tommy from the Power Rangers were made for each other.

Life is not so easy now. We must deal with bills, drama, and an economy that we as Americans are blamed as just our responsibility. Our biggest problems no longer include the newest Beanie Babies being sold out or nightmares from Goosebumps. We now have days when we must choose between groceries and gas. Rent or utilities.

I want the days when Slinkies and Razor Scooters were the shit. When light up sneakers were cool and Hide-n-Go Seek at dusk didn't involve worrying about which of your neighbors was a registered sex-offender.

Back before the Myspace and YouTube craze, before Blackberrys and I-pods, before the Wii and X-Box Live, Life was easy. Life was fun. When the only time we cried was because of scraped knees and when Mufasa died. Back When Captain Planet and Mutant Ninja Turtles saved the world, and every little girl was Barbie.  

Our decisions were made by "eenie-meenie-miney-mo" and our money problems were solved by the banker in 'Monopoly.' I long for the time when a chance to skate as a couple at SkateWorld was like winning the lottery back before we all knew this would disappear. At least I can still curl up in my bean bag with Nancy Drew and Chiclets and bring those days back, chapter by chapter.

While reading MrsProsa's defense I felt the need to defend motherhood itself from the same people who would belittle her for being a 'homemaker'. There seems to be a stigma attached to 'mother' that never escapes us. We are the working mom, the stay-at-home mom, step-mom, baby's momma, first time mom, teen mom, or the single mom. I have been all but one at some point in the short two years since I became pregnant and even tried my hand at the stepmom thing with my ex's nephews. But this isn't all that I am. Imagine a resume where instead of title it had your name and instead of places of employment you added every dimension of your personality. No-one would stop at mother, so why do we, in general, stop there when describing others?

I'm a parent, child, sister, friend, employee, leader, fighter, supporter, and it doesn't end there.I may be a mother but;

I still take care of business. And, everyone else's. I make sure my son is always on time as well as making sure his father has a ride to work. I take care of my ex's finances because he can't handle his finances. I call my mother and make sure she had a good day and I run interference between my best friend and her controlling ex-boyfriend. I get shit done.

My son's well being is my first and only real priority. This just so happens to be directly connected to my job. I do have to buy diapers, wipes, formula, food, and clothes. I also have to pay rent, utilities, car insurance, gas, and just about everything else.

I'm still a 'homemaker.' For the 8-12 hours a day I spend getting cursed at because the tax office screwed up someone's taxes is part of me creating a comfortable like for my son. And I still do laundry, cook dinner, make lunch for myself and roommates (I even cut the crust and do the little triangles), do the dishes, mop the floor, and vacuum. In heels.

I am not always the best at stress management. Everyone has bad days, even the superheroes (Try watching My Super Ex-Girlfriend). THAT chick was having a bad day! I'm not always going to baby talk, use the "Honey let's do this instead" "Uh-oh don't hit. That's not nice" and "How would you feel if the kitty pulled your tail?" At the ripe old age of 15 months my son has heard "Joseph Michael Norris" countless times and even had a swat on the behind for trying to put a spoon of Spaghetti O's in the electrical outlet. I have bad days, just like you, just like my baby, geez even Jesus had rough days and everyone loves him!

My house looks lived in. My furniture looks like hand-me-downs, because, well, it is. The reason? My son doesn't know the difference between a free couch and a $3,000 one. There's not enough cleaner to get out baby food stains and Crayola is only washable off of hands, not couches. Or tables. Or the cat. Mr.Clean may have the magic eraser but most kids are magic too and can make anything washable, permanent.

I am not a lazy mom. I have rug burns from rolling on the carpet, bite marks from a new set of teeth, and usually a few bruises from playing Space Monkeys. I feed and bathe my son. I play games, I read him stories that he just likes the pictures too. He falls asleep with me holding him every night just about the same time my arms do too.

I deserve 'me' time. Being at work does not count. I miss my son terribly and my cubicle wall splashed with his pictures can attest to that. My world may revolve around him but he's not the only thing in it. I need time to wind down. This is why my babysitter watches him longer than my usual 9-6. I have an hour to relax between work and play. All baby and no life makes one a dull girl.

I gave birth. Therefore, the placenta is no longer attached and my son doesn't have reason to be plastered to me 24/7. He doesn't even want to be and outrageous as it sounds, he does actually have a father who he sees once in a while. But this will never stop people from asking "Why don't you have your son?" "Where's the baby?" and every other thing that seems like plain curiosity to anyone who's never been asked. Didn't someone once say 'it takes a village"? Would anyone even ask my ex? The only time I really "need" the have my son every time I go is family functions because, it's a family function. Motherhood is not the end all kiss of death to Womanhood or individuality.

And most if not all of these points, work for every mother. Except doing it in heels which I may be the only woman that does so.

This is my rant, my son's bed-time, and your food for thought.