Happy Halloween

Having an excuse to dress up in costume is always a blast. The best excuse is dressing up because your toddler is trick-or-treating for the first time. What's really great is a munchkin trick-or-treater to take to the office, as part of your costume prop, making a guest appearance to seal the deal for the costume contest victory! And yes. My husband will use all the leverage he can get!

In the weeks prior, my husband and I discussed that our first real Halloween with Layla is going to be fun, yet also a bummer because we turned down some of the year's most talked about Halloween parties. But as we put on our family costume and couldn't keep from laughing, we realized that no party could be as much fun as starting a family tradition. I'd have to say our daughter truly views us as "Heroes in a half shell," at least that's what I'd like to think.

Parents and and families be safe tonight. Have fun. And Happy Halloween.

-Leslie Osmond

Please visit our website ozzybaby.com.

No Pain, No Gain

As I put my daughter to bed and finally got a chance to relax yesterday, I said to myself (something I never thought I'd say, or get accustomed to), "I can get used to this stay-at-home mom gig."

It takes a while, particularly for working women, to ease into being mommy when you've always been used to being independent. Having and making my own money was always of the utmost importance to me, and giving that up and that feeling of dependence is quite the change. Feeling as though you don't contribute enough financially, wears heavy on a woman that's never depended on another for things. And despite the reassurance from my husband that a woman's contribution in the household and most importantly, raising a child is of the utmost importance. But the truth of the matter is that when you're in a solid relationship and you have that influence and drive that complements your partner, then you're both winning, and your drive as an independent woman will hopefully push and motivate your partner in a positive direction.

I firmly believe a woman can either be a man's driving force, or she can hold him back. The saying "Behind every successful man is a great woman" holds true. It's important to encourage your partner to reach for the stars, especially when the financial burden now rests solely on one. And while I assure you readers that it would be much, much easier for me to return work than deal with the never-ending laundry, dirty diapers, crying, and sheer busy boredom, as the months from being in a traditional workforce pass by, I am beginning to be further removed from feeling guilty for not contributing financially, because as a family we are doing fantastic, and without the learning and growing pains, comes no gain.

I've talked about it before, but in a day and age when daycare costs are more than an average middle class salary, it's not worth it. The heart of the matter is that it can be rough not being able to return to work in the field you love. You miss the thrill, the people, the interaction. It's actually much easier to go back to work, yet the path I'm on and that many others have experienced is fruitful. Be happy with the cards you're dealt. Use your knowledge and skill to give ideas to your partner who is working his butt off to provide for the family. Your ideas and skill can encourage and uplift them and their career. You will find solace and feel a sense of achievement as your partner achieves success. Don't be the wife that hinders your spouse's (and ultimately the family's) success. Be a driving force of inspiration and encouragement. When you find happiness, everyone is happy. And a happy home is a home built with love and dreams that come true.

-Leslie Osmond

Please visit our website ozzybaby.com

World Series of Parenting

As the Kansas City Royals compete in game two of the World-Series against the New York Mets, I think about baseball's meaning behind the event. As Merriam-Webster dictionary defines: the annual championship of the major leagues; a contest or event that is the most important one of its kind. I find this definition synonymous to parenting. We frequently go to bat for our children. Sometimes we're lucky and hit a home run. Occasionally we are on base with how we want to raise them. Or we strike out. The part of the dictionary definition that resonated most with me is that this event -- this struggle for victory -- is the most important one of its kind.

Raising my daughter Layla, to be smart, outgoing, and successful, brings me great joy, and makes me feel I've done my job. Nothing makes me appreciate motherhood more than picking her up from a morning of "school" aka daycare, and she greets me with a full-on sprint, yelling "Mommy" with such excitement, that you'd think she doesn't spend 99% of her time with me. That sheer feeling of a little person wrapping their arms around your neck as you steal the little kisses from her tiny face, and that proud moment as the teachers advise that Layla had a busy and fun day, makes me very proud to be a mommy. I never thought I could love someone so much. As she climbs into her car seat and we get back into routine, I'm overjoyed as she tells me in her Minnie Mouse voice how her day went. Today is a really special day, as daddy scored a ticket to the World Series game this evening, so us girls have to plan something extra special.

Not that we don't get enough girl time, this evening is special because we are home alone without dad, so we have to plan a girls night of course. We're going to stay up late (for Layla that's 8:30), binge watching Little Einsteins, munching snacks in mommy and daddy's bed, and I've even allowed her to drink some caffeine free soda as a treat while. As Layla stood up proudly on the bed, bouncing around,  and singing and following along with the Little Einstein's instructions, I'm filled with such happiness.

As she finishes singing and dancing, she sits down and pulls the blanket up to cover her toes. As she starts to get comfortable, Layla quickly leaps up and in embarrassed and almost whispering fashion says, "Momma I potty." My poor little angel who is about 75% potty trained, had an accident in her undies. It's just my luck that it happened in my bed. But it's okay, and I reassure her it's okay, yet my heart goes out to that little voice, as she repeatedly said, "Sorry mommy. Sorry mommy." She's saying it as though she's in trouble, but more so doesn't want to go to bed. It's as if she knows she's up way too late and blew her chances of staying up longer. It's moments like this that make me appreciate my family. I love the joy that they bring. My little Layla fills me up with such happiness, joy, and love that words cannot describe how elated I feel that God blessed my husband and I with such a perfect child. World-Series? I would agree that parenting can be compared to the definition of baseball's World-Series, because it's an event that is the most important of its kind, and we intend to win.

-Leslie Osmond

Please visit our website ozzybaby.com

But My Baby Doll Did It!

Just when I think I have peace and quiet, and my daughter finally gave up fighting her nap, I hear, "MOMMMYYYYYYYYY!!!" I sprint upstairs, open her room door to be hit with a stench so strong it almost knocked me over. Why is this girl standing up, diaper half off with the most serious look on her face? Baby droppings are scattered around the room; poop streaked sheets and crib, and she has the nerve to hold up her poop smeared baby doll telling me with such conviction, "Baby pooped. Baby NO poop in potty" as though she's actually scolding her baby doll, then snitching on her for not using the potty and crapping everywhere! All I can think is, "FML!" Two loads of laundry later, (both) babies clean, and a good smelling munchkin back in bed, I think I need a drink!

Hey. It's happy hour somewhere in the world!

-Leslie Osmond

Please visit our website ozzybaby.com.


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Makeup Mama

That awkward moment when you hear "Look Mommy!" only to see your child smiling ear to ear wearing your SuperStay 24-hour bright red lipstick. How am I supposed to get that off of her face, especially when I struggle to remove it from my lips at the end of an evening?!! Better yet, we have errands to run today. What kind of mom strolls down the grocery aisles with a not even two year old that looks like she's ready for a night on the town, wearing her evening face?!!

Between holding back laughter and disbelief, and having to tackle her as she sprinted off so that I couldn't take it away, I managed to prevent her from touching the walls with those little red fingers. The next task is figuring out its removal, especially since I don't wear a lot of make-up, therefore don't carry make-up remover. Fortunately, I live for home remedies, and a little warm olive oil and brown sugar works like a charm. It's an excellent exfoliator as well. Happy Monday!

-Leslie Osmond

Please visit our website ozzybaby.com