Last night my son wanted to see the spoon I was holding. I handed it to him and he started walking away. I said, "Wait, momma needs that spoon. Give the spoon back to momma please." He looked at me and said, "no" and turned around and walked away. He's only 20 months, and while I didn't appreciate having to chase the spoon down, I thought it absolutely wonderful to see him realizing he has a mind of his own.

I love reading each comment and experience. Thanks for sharing!

Treemomma- we have biscuits and gravy a couple of times a month, in homage to my mom's "southern" (well, southern Illinois) upbringing. Delicious! And isn't it amazing how much mischief can happen in 5 minutes? Your poor house.

CLZurbriggen- you deserve a Lifetime Achievement Award. What important work you are doing. Don't ever forget that.

schnckstac1- how very gratifying to know that your children really are taking in important lessons. You're right: so often it seems they aren't listening. Good for you and your husband for parenting in such a thoughtful, deliberate way.

laughmoore- I think it helps us all to know we're not alone!

sahmama- the twos are a big challenge. They bring big rewards, too, though. For me, this was when I started to see my child's personality really taking shape. They start to become their own little people. Hang in there!

ncpanfan- I cannot imagine what you went through with your newborn. How devastating. Thank goodness for memories. Memories give us a way to hold on to the past at least a little.

marinewife- what you are doing is every bit as heroic as what your husband is doing, in my opinion. (And that is not to belittle his service one bit.) I sometimes take my husband for granted, but your experience reminds me to appreciate him every day. Oh my, you have to laugh at things like frozen-shut van doors, don't you? If we didn't, we would surely cry!

MAMAW???? I haven't heard that used since I was a kid. Our neighbors' parents were from the south (Virginia??) and they were Mamaw and Papaw. She would come to visit a few times a year and invite us kids over for homemade biscuits and gravy... YUM! Thanks for bringing back the absolutely WONDERFUL memory! ;)

I have been a SAHM most of the past 49 years. I stayed at home with my two children (until their high school years),with my grandson (that lived with us most of the first three years of his life), with my two grandaughters (while their mother worked full time),and now with my three great-grand children (ages 9,6 & 5 that have lived with us, along with their mother, while she finished her masters in teaching and because of health problems).
Many times when all four of my great-grand children (ages 9,6,5 & 3) are here together, it is definately a closed window time! But nothing makes me happier than a smile, a hug and kiss or especially an "I LOVE YOU, MAMAW!"

Hi all! I'm only a part time SAHM, but I know what its like to have closed window days. The first (and only) time I tried to take a shower without having my 2 year old in the bathroom with me was a disaster! I had him all set up with toys and a movie, I left the door open so I could hear screaming, and he promised to be good. So, 5 minutes later I emerge to find black magic marker and Elmer's glue all over our kitchen table that my husband made, and on our brand new hardwood floor and carpet.....I couldn't blame him too much, and I'm not sure how he got the drawer open with the child lock on it, but that was the start of a baaaaaad day at our house!
Looking forward to more blogs from both of you! :)

I was a SAHM for many years and recently rejoined the workforce. I have a 10 year old boy, 8 year old girl, and a 2 year old girl. We also have 2 dogs, 2 cats, and fish(I had to add because they have added to many closed window days). My husbnad and I did not come from the story book families, so trusting ourselves with parenting is sometimes a battle. We spend a lot of time discussing our direction and choices. We spend a lot of time talking to them about treating people the way you would want to be treated. About 6 months ago my 10 year old and I watched the movie Pay it Forward. In the beginning of the movie when the teacher talks of the assignment and says the relm of possibility lies within here, and points to his head, my 10 year old said AND within here mom, and pointed to his heart! My mouth dropped and tears began to roll as I told him VERY good!! I could not be more proud! Then at the end of the movie after the terrible death of the boy, my son had a lot of questions. We talked about helping others, and he said, "Mom, a good man stands for himself, but a better man stand for others". The tears of course rolled again, and I asked where he heard that, and he said,"the movie Barn Yard". I can not begin to explain how proud I am of my son. Recently there has been a bully at school and my son is determined to stop him from hurting his friends. We talked about how this could be dangerous, he then turned and said, "Mom, remember a great man stands for others". The best part about all of this is that all of those lessons you think are going in one ear and out the other are not. They do listen! After all my husband and I have gone through in life, we ARE doing great! This is what keeps me going during those closed window days!

What a great idea for a blog! This is the only one that I will read on a regular basis.

Sometimes you feel all alone as a SAHM, especially on those energy draining days. It's comforting to hear that other moms struggle too on 'off' days. So thanks for sharing your "closed-window" day with us! I can relate on so many levels.

I look forward to reading the next blog!

ALOT of days are closed window days.
I have a 2 yr old son and am also a SAHM.
When they say terrible twos they werent kidding.
If I left the windows open sometimes people might think im beating him even though he could just be crying over not getting a cookie.
But then watching his grow and become smarter each day its great knowing its because of me teaching him. I love it and wouldnt have it any other way!

the worst: my 3 week old daugter in intensive care for a week with RSV The best: hearing them say I love you mommy, mom, mama The worst: when they reach that age that they are to old do say that in front of their friends (my son) The best: when they reach that age that it doesn't matter and they say it in front of their friends So many memories... my children are adults now but they will always be my babies! :)

Hi! My name is Jennifer. I am not from Janesville, but my husband is. We currently live in Montello. I have a 9, 5, and 2 year old and am also a stay at home mom.

This past 6 months have been my most trying times as a mom. As a wife of a Marine deployed overseas, I find every day we overcome new challenges. While deployments are no new thing to us, each time is always different. More kids, new house, pet, etc. More responsibilities.

I like to look at being a mom as being a jack of all trades. Like you say, photographer, short order chef, dry cleaner, nurse, house keeper, lawn professional, dog groomer. The list goes on.

The biggest rewards are seeing my children smile, and knowing that I can make them smile. Their happiness is my happiness.

This morning as I got ready to take the kids to school I discovered the van doors were frozen shut. Putting all three children into the car through the passenger front door was a fun task. It's moments like those that I have to sit back and chuckle. Because little hinderances like that happen frequently through out the day here in the Royce household!