Project: Life Change. The first things on the list

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
-- Lao-tzu. This saying is on a stained, tattered and torn piece of paper that's been taped to my mom's refrigerator for years.

We've had a tough week. We've been emotional and upset and needing care. Lil E is a sensitive boy and even though he's not been privy to the serious conversations going on in our household, he's been absorbing a lot of the stress and clinging to me, whining uncharacteristically and needing his paci even more. The cuddles feel good but there are not a band-aid for the challenges we are trying very hard to not just address but dig into deeply.

In the middle of all of this, I've tried to be mindful, making a mental list of all the things I'd like to include in my own personal Project: Life Change. What kept coming up was my need for a break. A break from work. A break from our cluttered apartment. A break from the phone and the email and the stats checking. A break from the stress.

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Shhhh, mama's on the phone with Elizabeth Edwards

I don't talk on the phone much anymore. Most of my colleagues and friends ping me on IM or email me at all hours. But for Elizabeth Edwards, I will happily make an exception and sit on my land line for hours and hours.

This afternoon Elizabeth Edwards sat down in person with more than twenty bloggers from Silicon Valley Moms Blog. Even though my first impulse was to hop a plane to SF to sit at the table with them all, instead I locked myself in the bedroom and participated by phone with a great group of women representing the Chicago Moms Blog and newly-launched DC Metro Moms Blog.

If you've not yet heard Elizabeth Edwards speak, you should.

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Project: Life Change. Get in on this action!

Cross-posted on CityMama,  Chicago Moms Blog and Silicon Valley Moms Blog.

Calling all "mama friends," especially those of you who do the work-life juggle every day.

Are you tired? Stressed out? Grouchy? Feeling like you are working to much? Missing out on watching your kids grow up? Too busy to participate in the fun parts of family life? Avoiding the pile of laundry in the corner of your bedroom?  Neglecting yourself? Not making time or money for the little luxuries? Feeling isolated from your partner? Overwhelmed with school calendars, activities, and homework? Longing for more time in your day? Feeling out of control and powerless to make a change?

We're Jessica of Sassafrass and Stefania of CityMama and right there with you. And, as much as we love to bitch about how frustrated we are with our current life sitches to anyone who will listen (and you know we can bitch like it's our JOB), we've decided to do something about it.

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