I’m Karen, a North Carolina mom of two really great kids who test me at every level. As I tell them often, it’s a good thing they’re cute. Like many moms, I spend my days cleaning, cooking, working, and trying to raise decent humans. Some days I get it right. I plan fun activities or adventures and manage to get a great dinner on the table. That’s what I call success. Most days, I muddle through. I’m not prepared for what life is going to throw at me or what the kids are dishing out that day. Spending time with them doesn’t go quite like I had hoped, and dinner is an afterthought. Sometimes it works out; sometimes it’s horrendous. I just hope the kids don’t notice. I keep my sanity by trying to keep the humor. If you can’t laugh at life, it’s going to be awfully long.
Mom in the Muddle 
Tag!! You’re it!!
http://thelifeofjwo.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/tag-may-have-been-banned-but-im-not-it-anymore/
As a Grandma turned Mom again unexpectedly I can sure identify with all you are “about” !!! I have a 24 year old who had a little boy but was not READY to have one due to many issues. Like so many today my husband and I stepped up and even legally adopted him. At 49 this second time arounder certainly wades through many a long day with our little four year old ! He’s been here with us since birth and the bond was immediate and substains us through the tired, the frustrated, and the overwhelmed days you describe ! We are lifted up by the days when it all flows smoothly! I loved your description of daily life. Identification is a beautiful thing, Karen ! If you’re ever having “one of those” just give me a buzz on my blog ! Hahaha!
Love and Laughter—alwayssssss laughter !
jenni
i simply love your “about” page. very honest and straightforward.
though, i don’t know you personally, just simply by reading this i can say that you must be a one cool mom! 🙂
Ha ha! You’ll have to ask my kids that one! Honestly, I’m really just a boring, average mom making it through life. And I like to write and have fun with my family. Pretty much taking advantage of this whole second childhood thing! Thanks!
I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Congrats!
http://housewifedownunder.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/versatile-blogger-award/
Thank you! It’s great to be nominated!
Hey Karen! I see you’ve been nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award. Consider yourself also nominated for the Kreativ Blogger Award. You deserve it! Such thought and love put into every post…keep up the fabulous work. I’ll be around. 🙂
http://dirtnkids.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/blogger-awards/
Thanks! You’re so sweet! Congrats to you as well. Very deserving of two awards!
I just discovered your blog and love your honesty and humour. Definitely worth following!
I am pretty much in the same situation. I love how you put it all so eloquently.
I recognized you in my blog!! http://motherhoodisanart.com/2012/08/25/and-the-nominees-are/
Hi Karen —
I have nominated you for an Award! You can check it out at
http://wanderingvoiceless.com/2012/08/30/and-the-next-award-up-is-another-reader-appreciation-award/
Feel free to do nothing with it but bask in the glory of how much I love your stuff.
:>
Thank you! You are so kind.
I’m very excited about having stumbled upon your blog. Love your voice.
Oh thank you! I’m so happy you like it.
I am also a mom from NC who tries not to take herself so seriously… most of the time. “trying to raise decent humans” made me laugh. Love it. 🙂
Yep. Decent, not perfect. 😉
I stumbled upon your blog. I enjoy your writing and the gentle humor you work into your glimpses of life. With so much to take seriously on a daily basis, I appreciate opportunities to laugh.
http://tracicarver.com/2012/09/20/the-maine-attraction-part-v-of-vii/
Thank you so much for taking the time to tell me that, Traci. A bright spot in my busy day. 🙂
I nominated your blog for The One Lovely Blog Award. I spent a lot of time going through many blogs and I really liked yours. To learn more go here:
http://lusays.com/2012/11/13/the-one-lovely-blog-award-nomination/
Best wishes to you!
Hi! I just thought I would let you know that I have awarded you with The Liebster Award! Its a fun award among fellow bloggers. You can check out the link at http://ana74x.com/2012/12/10/i-would-like-to-thank-the-academy/ and whether you choose to play along is totally up to you. Cheers, Ana.
I’m sharing the love this morning and have nominated you for an award. Follow the link below and keep the loving feeling alive.
http://freelittlewords.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/i-love-bloggers-awards/
Thanks! So very nice.
Pingback: I Love Bloggers’ Awards | Free Little Words
Hi, Karen! Just wanted to let you know that I nominated your blog for a few awards. http://tracicarver.com/2013/03/18/and-the-winner-is/
Congrats and keep writing!
Thanks, Traci! That’s great! Loved your post.
Thanks, Traci!
very good blog. i will follow you!!
Hi, although I am not a mother, I love reading your posts. You give the impression of being a great mom and your posts are creative, incredibly engaging and humorous. Hope to see more.
Thank you! That’s a great compliment for a mom blogger. 😉
Nothing funnier than a mix of honesty and humour, looking forward to following your blog.
Jo 🙂
Great! Thank you!
I love your blog you are so refreshing and humorist when it comes to your daily life. Thanks so much for sharing and I look forward to following your posts. Allie
Hi Karen,
I’m so pleased with myself that I have come across your blog… Nah, I’m pleased with you for writing such great stuff. Like you, I have two kids that I’m managing to keep alive. That’s how I measure success!
Some days, with some of the choices they make, I’d say that’s definitely the sign of a good day. Thanks for stopping by! You had some funny posts that caught my eye.
Wow! You sound just like me! 🙂
Love your blog!!!! I nominated you for the Liebster Blogging Award You deserve it. Check the link: http://healthylivinghealthyus.com/2013/09/14/liebster-award-2/
Thanks!
I love your writing! Thanks for the inspiration!!!
You have a great “About” page. And I love the photo you use to introduce your blog! —Jadi
Thanks! My kids just packed up those toys this weekend. How can they possibly be too old to play with them already?
Just wanted to say Hello Karen. I am looking forward to reading your post. After reading your introduction I am convienced you and I share the same mind. haha! 🙂
Hi, Karen! I love your blog. I relate so much to the “muddling through” as a mother of twins. I can’t wait to take a look around at everything you’ve built here!
Johanna
Thanks! After nearly eleven years as a mom, I still feel like I muddle through my days. I fear I won’t feel like I know anything until my kids fly the coop! But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award.
You can check out the award and the rules in the blog post below: http://donnasfamilylife.wordpress.com/2013/12/10/25-days-of-christmas-day-10-versatile-blog-award
Thank you for writing such a great blog!
Thanks, I’m so glad you enjoy it! Thanks for the honor.
I need to gain more humor so I’ll follow your blog 😉
My son says I’m getting better though. He’s 15…so that means a lot!!
With you as their role model, your children are destined to grow into wonderfully warm human beings. You care enough to know all is not perfect and you’re intelligent enough to keep an endless stock of humor in your pantry. Your blog gives comfort like the chocolate we moms keep hidden in a shoebox.
Thank you for sharing your stories.
AnnMarie
newbie blogger and mom of 2 teens I still like
That’s awesome, “mom of 2 teens I still like.” Isn’t that what all parents strive for? Thanks. Humor definitely has a place in parenting. Checking out your blog.
I have recently fell head over heels for your blog and have nominated you for a Liebster. Hope you like it! http://whyistherebreadinmykoolaid.wordpress.com/2014/03/17/hooray-for-me-a-liebster-award/
Thanks! Loved the questions you had to answer! (Sorry I just found this. There a few messages in here that I never approved. It must have been an “off” day. My apologies.)
Hey, am new and have just discovered your blog. I love it and I identify completely with everything you say above. I have two girls (aged 3 and 1) and spend most days wondering how we’ve survived and how others cope…the only way I can do either is with humour….and I just hope that no matter how terrible my parenting is, they will at least eventually see the funny side. Looking forward to reading more of your posts 😉
Thank you! Humor definitely gets you through! My husband and I can look back at some pretty rough days and laugh at them pretty quickly, thank goodness. And I think knowing that you’ll be able to laugh at something later helps. Those early years can be rough. You’re not alone! I was always so glad my kids wouldn’t remember the mistakes I made at that age. 😉 But they do at ages 11 and 8, so good to practice now.
LOVE your blog!!! I have nominated you for the Liebster Award! 🙂 Feel free to check it out and see what you think. If you aren’t interested or don’t have time to complete it, that is ok, too! 🙂
http://coffeemugsandsippycups.com/2014/05/19/the-liebster-award/
Yup – I’m a convert too – I just love your ‘voice’. Do you write children’s books yet? You should, I know they’d be fantastic 🙂
Ha, you are kind. Thanks! Work keeps me busy right now but I still write all kinds of things when I have the time.
I see you have already been nominated for all sorts of bloggy awards, but I thought I would add one more to the list, just to let you know how much I heart this blog!! I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award!http://mysupercrazylife.com/2014/11/10/one-lovely-blog-award/
Thanks, glad to know I am connecting with others. It means a lot!
Hi, this is a great blog! We’ve just started one that we think parents will enjoy. It’s a place for people to send in funny comments from their old school reports. Would be brilliant if you could tell your followers about it – if you enjoy it, of course. . .
http://oldschoolreports.wordpress.com/
@OldReports
I absolutely love your messages. I got so caught up in your posts – I am a mother of two sons 24 and 27. I continue to embarrass them but they just take it all in stride. I am saving my Winnie the Pooh Jammies to present to them when they have children of their own – many Friday nights I would get in my car and take a drive to make sure that they were really where they said they were! Keep up the great writing. I will follow your blog.
That is great. I haven’t hit that point yet and I’m not sure what I’ll do. Maybe send the husband out to do it! 😉 Thanks for the sweet note.
Oh! I second O2BHuman comment above. Mine are now all in the thirty-something category. I’m emailing your site to my daughter with her new baby (the most beautiful grandchild in the universe, naturally). God bless you!
Thank you for the kind words! All grandchildren are the most beautiful, of course! Congratulations to you and your daughter–good times ahead!
You seem like a great person and Mom. Keep the posts coming, they are absolutely amazing and humorous All the very best 🙂
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this is a great blog! Keep up the great work! please Visit http://www.helloworldmagazine.com sometime, too. Thanks!
Let’s have a mom giggle together 😉 We need it…
You seem so calm in this crazy world and I hope your words inspire many others.
I chanced upon your blog and am having a blast reading all of your posts!
Moms need to air their true feelings so we can love those little monkeys all day, every day. Whew. They do tire us out…
https://micbab.wordpress.com/