I am a mom...

I'm not crazy OR hip, but I am a mom. And I think a pretty good mom at that.

As Oh The Joys as my inspiration, I have decided to join the web ring (I sound like I know what I'm talking about!), Crazy Hip Blog Mamas.

I've been slacking on my blog lately. And by lately, I mean for about 6 months.

I think once I realized that people other than The Swede and The Big Finn were reading my entries, I choked. And these people are excellent writers! I will never be a writer like them. Being a perfectionist, my inner voice says to me, "If you can't be the best, don't even try."

This time, I'm standing up to my inner voice. Head high, chest out.

I've always choked under pressure, especially when I was younger and it came to sports...oh, and dating. Ugh! I was no good at either.

Now, deep down, I know I was a good catch and way, way, deep down I know there's an athlete inside me (this is where The Swede would say something off-color about Martina Navratilova), but I have ALWAYS choked under pressure.

Take the time in 8th grade when during the all-girl softball games we played in gym class, I would routinely get to third base or hit a home run.

One evening, The most popular girl in school called me to ask me to be on her intramural team.

"Sure!" I said, not believing I had achieved this status as a desirable, sought-out team member.

When I arrived at the first game, I saw-to my horror-that the 8th grade popular boys were the team umpires. Yikes! I was not worthy!!

And, you guessed it...I choked. I struck out each time at bat. I'm not sure I ever even swung at a pitch.

I ended up quitting.

Choking on first dates? Those are memories so embarrassing I want to erase them for good.

It's hell being shy.

So why am I taking on a challenge to do a weekly quality post about kids? Because I have faced my insecurity, outgrown the shyness and, now that I'm middle-aged, I think I'm up to it.

Heck, if I can't find something...anything...interesting to write about in a week, than I truly am not worthy and should just quit.

Start by reading this weeks post, "Happy...Easter...Daddy".

We'll see what lies ahead.

Karen Forest...are you with me?