Little Ol’ Me: Tampa’s Best Local Parent Blog

So I suppose it’s fairly obvious that I’ve needed some time off from blogging recently. Not because I don’t want to write – but because I can’t seem to get organized enough to do it. Simply getting my life together seems to be an enormous task. The little stuff has been overwhelming, I feel like a first grader attempting (unsuccessfully) to tie her shoes in the morning, just making dinner for my children pushes all my cylinders into overdrive, multi-tasking eludes me, I forget everything, I remember nothing, I loose things, what do we need to get done today, I have no idea.

Did you know today was my three year old’s first day of school? Did you know I figured this out YESTERDAY?

*banging head on desk*

So grief apparently makes one stupid. And slow. And traps you in a strange “what just happened” haze.

But life works it’s own magic, sensing when to over-ride our systems and kick us back into gear when the time is right. A couple days ago, I found out that I had been voted as Tampa’s Best Local Parent Blog on Nick Jr’s Parent’s Connect website.

For Local Blog
in Tampa

Huh. I won? Wow. I still kind of can’t believe it. (Remember that “what just happened” feeling?) My competition was fierce. And I mean that in the Christian Siriano from Project Runway kind of “fierce”. They are amazing bloggers and women. If you aren’t already reading them, start now. So, come on, to win? In such amazing company? Well. Let’s just say it’s enough to inspire my ass to get out of my funk and get back to what I do: write, blog, and be Morningside Mom.

Thank you to Parent’s Connect. But most importantly, thank you a million times over to everyone who voted. I know many of you voted almost everyday and I can’t tell you how much your faith in me means.

I also know my mom voted everyday. In fact, this is one of her last Facebook status updates:

“I vote faithfully for Morningside Mom in the Tampa blog contest.”

Love it.

So even IF I won this thing thanks to every single one of my relatives voting for me religiously, everyday, on every computer they had access to – I know my family has my back. I certainly know my mom did. So this win is for her. Thanks for every vote, mom. I love you, I miss you, I wish you were here to make a much bigger deal than really should be made over this.

Oh, and by the way? My sweet little three year old did fantastically today. He marched into his classroom with his enormous backpack on. He beamed up at his teacher. While his big brother hung his backpack on the hook, he successfully sought out and used the potty. And then, with all of us watching, he sat down next to a shy, pig-tailed girl to play with some puzzles. When I said good-bye, he said “bye mom” back – but I’m not even sure he looked up.

My baby. At school? I suppose it’s no surprise I am overwhelmed by that “what just happened” feeling yet again.