I have three kids

[pretty cute]

Well, yesterday, today and tomorrow until 6:30.

A seven, ten and fourteen year old.
[kids of Bryan's boss that we are baby/house sitting for while they are out of town]

Here was my evening last night:

4:30pm: got off work

4:45pm: got home after driving through a hail storm [stressed me out]

5:30pm: drove the two younger kids to swim lessons

5:35pm: turning at a stop light I heard click click click in the back seat coming from the seven year old, turn to the ten year old and she says, "He's being a blinker."

6:30pm: come home from swim lessons

6:45pm: help youngest one with homework & make dinner
[chicken nuggets and fries]

7:00pm: collect dishes from dinner and put in dishwasher

7:30pm: relax with kids and remind them it's time to start winding down and that it will be time for them to go upstairs and read soon

8pm: remind kids again, it's really time to go upstairs this time

8:05pm: reminded youngest one again, he was pushing it

8:30pm: had both younger kids in bed and caught the last part of American Idol
9:00pm: exhausted. and that was only day one!

Oh, and did you know that the reason turtles smell bad is because they fart?

Yeah, I didn't either. But those are the kind of things you learn when you acquire three kids over night.

All you mama's out there,
I'm tipping my hat to you, fo sho.

So if I'm not around much today, it's because I'm busy bathing, bussing, or bossing the kiddos around. It's good practice for someday right?

Oy vey - say a little prayer for me ;)
PS - hope you all are well and having fabulous Thursdays!

Wordless Wednesday

[Must.Have.Golden.Grahams]

Happy Wednesday :)

PS - On a heavier note, click here to read my other post this morning.

Let's talk about sexual harassment...

There have been a couple of times I've mentioned my previous job - the one I had before the one I'm at now. However, I don't think I've ever gone into detail.

The summers of '06 and '07 I worked for my step-dad's construction company in their summer student internship program - aka - I became a construction worker laborer.

Everyone always asks what I could have done. I guess I shouldn't be too offended, I'm probably one of the girlyest girls you'll ever meet. But believe it or not, they had me tearing down drywall, pouring new cement, cleaning up after the carpenters - you name it, I did it. Basically I was their bitch.

The first summer was a pretty cushy job, I was inside most of the time working in air conditioned office buildings helping one carpenter. I learned a lot and worked hard. I learned how to 'demo' a room, lay rebar, and tear up carpet squares.

The second summer was a different. I had decided I wasn't going back to school and this was going to be an indefinite job since I didn't really have a plan. I was working for a different construction manager, in an outside facility, and it was hard. It felt more like 'real' construction work. We had our own trailer we ate lunch in every day and everyone kind of kept their heads down and did their job. That was fine with me, I just wanted to put in my hours and get home. Until about mid September, I started getting sexually harassed by one of the fore mans of another company. He was an older man, scraggly beard and smoked like a chimney, he was disgusting. But none the less, I feared walking by his trailer in the morning and lock myself in the porta potty after he would say lued things to me.

I first reported it to my foreman, then the project manager and then my own step-dad. I got the same response from all three, "That's just how he is, don't take it to heart." "Oh, you're gonna get that at any job you work at when you're the only female." "Don't worry about it." I was twenty years old at the time and knew that what was happening wasn't right. I wish I would have gone further to the top of the company with my complaints but I was scared. I thought making a bigger fuss would cause him to be more relentless with his sexual teasing and cornering me. I had finally had it one day, I called my mother in law during my lunch break, standing outside the gate of the construction site, crying. I felt like all my complaints were either falling on deaf ears or people just thought I was trying to make an excuse to not work there. I was lonely, ashamed and felt like I had no other option but to keep working at a place where nobody cared that this was happening to me.

Thankfully, that same day, Bryan's aunt contacted me and said she had a position opening in one of the clinics she manages and thought I would be an excellent candidate.

So, I gave my notice, said goodbyes to the few friends I had made, and kissed construction goodbye. I currently still work for the same company - that in my mind, saved me. I miss it sometimes, working in the sunshine, union laborer's wages, and getting off at 2:30 in the afternoon. But I know that I would have drowned if I had stayed.

In no situation is sexual harassment EVER tolerable.

There is nothing wrong with you, and you should go as high as you need to to get someone to listen to you.

I'm so sorry if this is something you've gone through or going through in your life. If you'd like to talk or need some advice, please email me at alhutson0513@gmail.com

This was a hard one, it definitely brought back tough memories, but I think it's important to talk about the painful stuff. Helps us heal.

Thanks for listening ladies <3

If you want to check out my other Let's talk about it posts please click HERE

Johnny Cash says...

You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line ♥


PS - If you missed yesterday's challenge, please see it here - I feel it's already been rewarding :)

PSS - See today's Tuesday letter here

PSSS(last one I promise) - I joined the Blog Guidebook! You should too! :)

Today's Letters Inspired Tuesday

Today's Letters: Dear sweet husband, this weekend you bowled in your first bowling tournament and it happened to be at Hooters. I thought I was in for a day full of busty women and rowdy bowling crowds. Instead I got to watch you work through your frustrations and end the first part of your brackets with pride. I know you weren't as happy as you could've been with your results, but you're still my favorite bowler [please see below]. Dear Best Ever Beef Brisket, at some point in the next couple weeks, I will conquer you. It makes my mouth water just thinking about you! Maybe it's because I've been feasting my eyes on too many episodes of Man vs. Food Carnivore Chronicles... Dear Hot Mama Handbags, I'm not yet a mama but I've had my eye on you for a looooong time. Seriously, this gal has a gift and I'm a tid bit jealous. Dear Bryan James (who always get's two letters)  thanks for letting me sleep a little extra on Saturday morning. I know when you wake up you just want to go, go, go but my eyes were not ready to be fully awake. I crawled into your side of the bed and it was nice and toasty. Reason #567 boy roommates are awesome!

Any Etsy items you've been spying on with your little eye lately?

PS - please see the inspiration for this post HERE - love this couple! & their letters!

Picture circa 2006 - my shirt says "Bryan's my favorite bowler"

still is true today :)