Castro's Cravings @castroscravings - Tumblr Blog

50 books wrapped. Ready. Time for December to start! #adventcalendar #books #promotingreading

I need to be a more peaceful parent. I am not peaceful and I need help reminding me how to do it. Parenting is hard.

#needstotryharder #peaceful parenting #help please

Today became a tough day. I realized I needed to get outside and packed the kids in the stroller and went for an adventure. During my walk I was getting my butt kicked by the uphill climb and a mom coming down immediately started to cheer me on. I was taken aback by the sweet and simple gesture that really hit a spot for me. Then at the grocery store my kids started to WWE style fight in the stroller at checkout. I was livid! A mom quickly flagged me down to encourage me to cut in front of her in line. I was so thankful she saw my distress and tried to help in a small way. She sweetly told me her kid was at home with her husband, like she was trying to relate to me. I quickly told her my husband was on travel and she gave me a sympathetic look. Two kind acts made me appreciate my neighborhood and the village mentality I was coming across. As my next encounter was a mother with two Boy Scouts and the sweetest sales pitch I quickly felt inclined to give back. Did you know their popcorn is $25?!?!?? Well, I felt it was my turn to encourage a young salesman/fundraising/local kids to succeed at their jobs, so I bought stupidly overpriced popcorn. I eventually made it home with a stroller full of food, a bruised ego for a poorly planned adventure, but a reminder there are moms who see other moms who need help and give it out emotionally and physically when possible. I am eager to not give up on stupid adventures knowing there are others who will see me struggling by continuing to clap and cheer me on for my attempt and hope I succeed.

#momshelpingmoms #toddlers #toddlerlife #omgwhatwasithinking

When your toddler ask for yogurt and you feel a bit crafty :)

#toddlers #getting creative to get my kids to eat #working mom #make believe Martha Stewart #Easter themed

castroscravings

Last November my sister, mom, cousin, and I went out to New York to cheer on my aunt who was planning to run the marathon. Storm Sandy had other plans and the marathon got canceled after we got into town. Instead of moping around about the race, my sister and I went to volunteer in Coney Island, but we also did a day of “sight seeing” that weekend.

We went to visit the World Trade Center, which was closed due to the flooding, but the smaller museum around the corner was open. It was full of pictures, debris, a timeline of events from 9/11, but it also had quotes and stories of those who lost their lives.

On one wall there was the message a husband left his wife on her answering machine before his plane crashed. Reading this message made me well up, I actually could barely finish reading the heartbreaking message. I was overcome with emotion and weirdly didn’t want anyone to see me cry. I walked into another room to catch my breath, but thinking about how people knew their lives were coming to an end and how they had one last call to a loved one, the thought is unfathomable to me.

I immediately was missing my husband. I kept thinking about my growing baby. I looked over to my sister in the other room, as my tears continued to grow larger and I was no longer able to hide them. My heart kept pounding quickly and I believe I was having a mild anxiety attack.

I still remember where I was and what I was doing the morning of the attacks. Now twelve years later the footage of that day is almost unimaginable. As I finish watching the history channel about a man who saved hundreds that day, but lost his own life brings me back to the feelings I had at the museum. I’m overwhelmed with emotion, missing my husband, wanting to go give my daughter extra kisses as she sleeps, and saddened for those who lost their loved ones.

9/11 was a tragic event. It will continue to be emotional to many. And I hope there is never anything like it again.

castroscravings

Wrote this in 2013

#9/11 #alwaysremember #twin towers #never forget

nanu410-deactivated20230302

First Happy birthday To the sweetest little guy Russell Sern Castro

castroscravings

A sweet haiku from nana to the birthday boy 🎈🎂😍

Woohooo, I caught that punk who was eating all the fruit on my peach tree! Damn it, I have a rat in a cage in my backyard. And is anyone surprised my three-year-old wants me to keep it?

#sahm #home garden #rat problems #toddlers #todds

When your husband is on travel, your bathroom walls have been cut out due a leaky tub, and both your kids are diagnosed with ear infections, plus pink eye, you eat the whole bowl of guacamole. I would say the whole bottle of wine, but that might be frowned upon at 11am.

#sahm #toddlers #todds #is it friday yet?#pass the wine #guacomole

This has been a rough few days. My little guy has barfed twice in his car seat, twice in bed, and once on the floor (over a three day period). Lots of clean up. Then my toddler got diagnosed with pink eye - I cringe even saying it! I have never done more laundry in my entire life and I feel I am on edge watching what my toddler is touching, confusing her by yelling she can't share with her brother, and having to put gel "drops" in any child's eyes is like giving a cat a bath. I feel my house is a germ bath, we are all on edge, and no one is sleeping. Yet, I can't nap or go to bed early. I am officially a "mombie." I had to finally get over my pride and asked for help/a break. I got an opportunity to run an errand, eat lunch alone out on a gloriously sunny patio, and followed up by a spa pedicure. I even paid a tad extra to take care of my ugly heels and I hate paying for the extra stuff. Im feeling refreshed and ready to finish up all the laundry and sanitizing. I am also feeling the break was good for all of us. We can start recharged and ready for better days then the last few. If only I got more productive stuff done during my child free, non-sleeping moments, like thank you cards or updating baby books. Maybe next time.

#mombie #sahm #toddlers #when is my Vegas trip?

I can't sleep. Yet I'm tired. My brain is nonstop.

#can't sleep