Yesterday the New York Times ran a grossly misplaced article in their “Fashion” section about mommy bloggers called Honey, Don’t Bother Mommy.  I’m Too Busy Building My Brand.  It seems the author – a mommy blogger herself – came to a small regional blogging conference under the guise of shooting the breeze, and ended up producing a condescending, one-note piece that basically skewered the women in attendance.

Tiffany and Heather, the women behind mega blog The Secret is in the Sauce and organizers of the referenced conference, posted their and others’ responses to the article.  As you can imagine, many bloggers are upset.  They’re upset at the implication that becoming a success in your chosen field necessarily requires ignoring your motherly duties.  They’re upset (and rightly so, I think) about the snarky tone of the article, the nose-in-the-air attitude that blogging in general requires more use of exclamation points and pithy taglines (yes, the author actually used the word “pithy”) than real thought and preparation.  And some are upset that a woman they considered one of “their own” instead unzipped the sheep’s disguise to reveal a much darker intention.

I get why everyone is upset, and I was certainly less than impressed with the article myself.  But you know what?  In the end, I just don’t care.  In fact, I almost feel like the uproar in the blogging community shows why others think we’re so self-absorbed.  We get into these circular, insular patterns of blogging about blogging, blogging about blogging conferences, blogging about what others are saying about blogging.  I’m doing it right now.  But only to say this:  ladies, we know what we’re doing and why.  We know we’re not always pithy, we know we add value, we know we matter.  AND we know we’re good mothers without someone from the New York Times vouching for us.

Take this as one more example of someone who just doesn’t “get it,” and let’s carry on.

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The night before Daylight Saving begins, my husband acts a bit like the town cryer.  “You know it’s really 10 o’clock, right?” he’ll say at 9pm.  He then repeats the time-related math the next hour…and the next.  It’s kind of annoying, because for a night owl like myself, the reminder hits me right in the gut.  I’m simply not ready to go to bed “early” because of the hour we lose in this widely-acknowledged raw deal.  You add two awesome late 80’s/early 90’s movies to the mix (Cutting Edge *and* Lost Boys both started at 11…er, I mean 12…o’clock last night!), and I’m just not gonna get a lot of sleep.

Our son Eli. I know how he feels.

Fortunately, today – Monday, March 15 – is National Napping Day!  Seriously!  And before you claw that into your calendar and hide away for your long siesta, I have some fun news.

To participate in the Twitter contest, first, follow @Protect_A_Bed on Twitter, then tweet out the funniest place you’ve ever taken a nap.  Make sure to include the hashtag #nappingday with your tweet!  Protect-A-Bed will be giving away sets of their Premium Pillow Protectors to winners.  Like all Protect-A-Bed products, the Premium Pillow Protectors offer a stainproof barrier, protection from dust mites and allergens, and are made to be cool and comfortable.

I think this qualifies as the strangest place I have ever taken a nap.

For the giveaway here at Tree, Root, and Twig, Protect-A-Bed is offering one Queen Size Protect-A-Bed Premium Mattress Cover (retail value $79.99). 

This waterproof, washable protector has a 10yr warranty and the Good Housekeeping seal of approval.  To enter, answer in a question to this post:  how many times a week do you take a nap?  US entries only, please.

Our son Isaac, falling asleep during scripture study.

For extra entires, do any of the following and leave an extra comment for each entry method used:

• Tweet about this giveaway (leave your Twitter ID in the comment)
• Follow this blog via Google Connect
• Subscribe to this blog via email or reader

All entries due by 11:59PM CST Monday, March 29.  Good luck to everyone!

*Disclosure:  I am posting this as a member of Global Influence.  In exchange for sharing information about National Napping Day, Protect-a-Bed products, and the Protect-A-Bed Twitter contest, Protect-A-Bed is sending me one Queen Size Protect-A-Bed Premium Mattress Cover (retail value $79.99), and offering one to give away.

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I took the puppy outside the other morning and it hit me:  winter in Houston is OVER.  The grass was damp, though it had not rained.  The air was peppered with wings of bugs both big and small.  The familiar taste of humidity was on my tongue.  My heart sank as I remembered how difficult it is for me to live here for many months of the year.

I have to admit, this winter was delicious.  Enough nights of consecutive cold temps persuaded us to unearth our heated mattress pad; using it brought back fabulous memories of burrowing into bed during typical Oregon frosts.  While others were complaining that they had moved to Houston to get away from cold winters, all I could think was that it felt so much more like home.  I breathed deeply for four glorious months.

Your breathing changes here during Spring and Summer.  Honestly, it does.  It becomes shallower, more labored.  If you’ve lived here long enough, maybe you don’t notice it.  If you’re breathing artificial air for most of your day (which most of us do), maybe it just doesn’t register.  But those first few steps out the door, into the heat, the humidity, there are seconds when your breath catches and your body adjusts.  It’s all about adjusting here.

I’ve met transplants to this area who have had no difficulty adjusting.  I am both impressed and mystified by this.  I fear I won’t ever adjust, not to the 8 months out of the year that can sometimes feel like the environment is trying to chew you up and spit you out.  “Inhospitable” is how I would describe summers here.  Aggressive, antagonistic.  I’m flinching with the thought of it.

I am honestly happy for those who are happy here.  I know what that’s like to love where you live.  There is a security in being able to breath easy knowing that no matter what else is happening in your life, you are where you are supposed to be.  There is a strength in being able to draw energy from your environment when you need the renewal.

I don’t feel that here, and though it means I’ve been able to draw strength from deeper places, I miss loving where I live.  We have been actively looking at our options.  There are so many decisions to be made, so many things that would need to fall into place.  So many feelings and futures to consider.  I don’t know if it’s time to leave or time to work on my adjustment.

I am just so ready to reflexively smile when I look out my window, drive through my town, or when the breeze blows through my open window.  I’ve learned there’s some truth to the idea that who you are is affected by where you are.  Though I imagine myself being carried by the wind to a different where from here, I just don’t know what the future holds.  Until then, I will try to temper my own will and learn to breath where I am.

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