Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

HP Family Time for THAT Mom

By

In some ways, I feel like I’m “outing” myself here, but in reality, I’m sure my readers have cottoned onto me a long time ago: I’m THAT mom.

I’m that mom who cringes when asked to look after a friend’s kids. Some days, I can barely stand my own offspring, leave alone kids that I’m forced to be nice to in an effort to appear like a normal, caring maternal figure. The truth is, I like children in small doses. Say, 10-minute doses.

I’m that mom who sighs when her child asks for another bedtime story. I’ve got a gazillion things on my mind right now, and if I have to read about an inane rabbit in an inane wonderland one more time, I may hurt myself. Every time I turn the dog-eared pages of my son’s favourite story, I make a mental note to search for a nanny-for-hire service.

I’m that mom who ushers the kids in front of the television while I cook dinner, hollering threats from time to time as the boys jump on the couch while the pasta sauce bubbles on the stove. But then I quickly look on the bright side – the fact that I have two boys who mostly amuse each other and give me a hall pass from parenting, at least before bedtime. It’s a well known fact that the only reason I had Reid is so that Ryder would leave me alone. Score 1 – Me.

I’m that mom who loves her kids fiercely, but on the whole, has a hard time connecting with them. Perhaps it’s a lack of patience, or a sensitivity chip that was programmed incorrectly. Maybe I’m just better with adults, and when my boys grow and mature and I can understand their world better, our relationship will take off from there.

I’m THAT mom. But I’m also that much more determined to be better. So I became this mom:

The mom who takes her children on family adventures that help to create lifelong memories.
The mom who works her butt off to show her children that ambition has limitless potential.
The mom who created a career that allows her to be present to kiss every boo-boo and unwrap every popsicle.
The mom who makes learning a priority – and makes it fun.

So I guess you can say, I’m that mom… and I’m this mom… and I’m just being perfectly me. And that’s that.

Now if we’re being honest, what types of family activities do I love? Simple – the ones that keep the kids challenged, entertained and out of trouble… and allow me to be off the hook after brief togetherness.

A few weeks ago, I introduced you to the HP ENVY Rove 20 Mobile All-in-One Desktop PC and HP ENVY 5530 e-All-in-One Printer. (Read my posts here and here.) And now, just in time for Halloween, I’m pleased to introduce you to the HP Snapfish portal, an amazing online resource chock full of fun activity templates for kids and décor ideas. HP Snapfish provides a free, fully-printable party décor kit, pumpkin carving templates, decorations and colouring pages. It’s so easy- just click on the activity you want and hit “Print”!

And so #HPFamilyTime just got even more awesome. Last night, I sat together with the boys and they selected a few colouring pages, in addition to a hanging decoration, straight from the HP Snapfish portal. As advertised, all we had to do was hit “Print” – of course, we printed our fun activities on our HP ENVY 5530 e-All-in-One Printer. 

Today, the boys were up bright and early. After breakfast, they got down to colouring their Halloween printables!

While the boys coloured away, I set the very portable HP ENVY Rove 20 Mobile All-in-One Desktop PC over to the side so they could enjoy some fun Halloween music. When a *slightly* spooktacular video came on, they were a bit sidetracked. Their expressions say it all; Ryder was thinking “Awesome!”… while Reid was getting ready to hide under the table. Oops! Sorry bud, I’ll remember to remove that video from the playlist in the future.

We also had a very creepy spider hanging decoration to tackle, but we agreed to finish the colouring sheets first before moving on to our next project. In truth, the boys are currently colouring downstairs while I put the finishing touches on this blog post in my home office. See what I mean about HP Family Time for THAT Mom? It’s the perfect activity – a little together time as a family, and a little alone time for me. Win-Win!

Check out the HP ENVY Rove 20 Mobile All-in-One Desktop PC; it’s perfectly suited to families and is one of my favourite new gadgets for back-to-school 2013.

The HP products mentioned in this blog post were supplied by HP Canada.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anne Taylor

    Lol, we are all “that mom” in one way or another! Your little one does look a bit worried watching that video!

    This sounds like such an excellent printer; I’m going to check it out further in a bit!

    thanks

  2. Flora M

    Happy Thanksgiving !!
    The spider is so cute – went to check out the printables page and love all the ideas they have.
    I admit I was a combination of “this mom” and “that mom” when my daughter was growing up, only because I was a single working mom back then. Now that I am a grandma, I am right in there colouring with the grandkids and playing games with them :o)

    • Lena

      Same with my mom :) In fact, I often laugh when I see her doting on my boys now, because I don’t remember getting that much attention! But I guess that’s what grandparents are for :)

  3. Judy C (Cowan)

    Looks like a great printer! From what I can tell from your blog you are a great Mom and your boys are very lucky!

  4. Ira

    Thanks heaven! I’m not alone :) Still one of the few, though… It feels depressing sometimes to see so many mothers who are happy to spend 24/7 with their kids and even take on a few more and never get tired of it. SAHM or even WAHM was a dreaded job for me and that’s exactly what I do now, lol.

    • Lena

      I totally hear you. The truth is, I don’t really trust anyone to look after my kids, but then I don’t really like looking after them myself! Ah! We all do our best in the end :)

    • Lena

      I hear ya, I’m sure a lot of people are the same way. I was definitely that way before I had kids!

  6. n.cassandra smith

    It’s great that you are so involved with your kids, I know some parents who are happy to just set their kids in front of their iphones or tablets and not interact with them.

    • Lena

      No, I don’t do that. Even though I do allow a generous amount of screen time, I always make sure to loop in and spend time with them too!

  12. Jennifer C aka JusticeSadie

    Nice Job and the Boys are adorable too. I miss that age mine are 13 and 16 now. Different challenges.

  14. Jenny

    Haha, I noticed that Reid’s expression in that photo before reading what you’ve written! I was wondering what was going on! The portable desktop looks like such a treat… it’s so convenient!

    • Lena

      It is! It’s a little heavier than your average tablet, but still completely portable and terribly convenient!

  16. Tenille

    Thank you for being so open and honest, Lena. Truly. I bristle at the perfect mom Facebook statuses with raised eyebrow. We’re not perfect. We’re imperfect and learning and our kids are imperfect too.

    They’re loved, unabashedly and wholeheartedly by us though, this I know!

  20. Tricha

    I laughed at your post and was nodding my head at points because I totally get it. This sentence resonates with me and I feel a little guilty admitting to it, “It’s a well known fact that the only reason I had Reid is so that Ryder would leave me alone.” When my oldest doesn’t want to play with her younger sister, I reminder her why I had the younger one, which was to provide company for her so she is not alone. Anyway, we are all THAT mom at some point or the other. Doesn’t make us love our kids any less.

    • Lena

      Agreed. And it was hard to type that line, but then, it’s the truth, and I do believe I’ve given Ryder one of the greatest gifts as he has constant companionship with Reid.

  22. Chandra Christine O'Connor

    lol I love the kids expressions on their faces. Great activity looks like a lot of fun

  23. Jennifer Hatton

    If there is a perfect mom out there, I have yet to meet her! LOL! We truly are all “THAT” mom sometimes. My husband always says that while he loves our kids, there are days that he doesn’t like them all that much! LOL! We love them unconditionally all the time, but some days you question why you had kids!

    • Lena

      Couldn’t agree more! I even wrote a post once about loving your kids, but not always liking them :)

  24. nicolthepickle

    “I’m that mom who loves her kids fiercely, but on the whole, has a hard time connecting with them. Perhaps it’s a lack of patience, or a sensitivity chip that was programmed incorrectly. Maybe I’m just better with adults, and when my boys grow and mature and I can understand their world better, our relationship will take off from there.”
    What? You don’t think our children are there to teach us patience? I think so. :)

    Ps. There’s a book called Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic. It helps put things back into perspective when you (me) feel pushed to our limits. I really enjoyed it.

    • Lena

      I do believe my kids have taught me patience. Every hour, LOL! And thank you so much for the recommendation. I checked it out on Amazon and ordered it! It sounds like something I NEED to read!

  25. Teresa Claire

    Gee…I think I am that Mum too!! I felt it was good parenting to read to Sara but she always wanted just one more…it was me time after a bedtime story and I was a bit in a rush to get there!

  27. Debbie S.

    Enjoy all the in’s and out’s of being a Mom to those boys of yours! Your doing a great job! I’m now enjoying my grandson, so whole heartedly, and we are real too, just like you!

  28. caryn s

    Take it easy on yourself lena we all have that mom times. I find i don’t have as much patience as i’d like or i shouted instead of talking when i am at my wits end! The important thing is to do better next time and to love them endlessly!

    • Lena

      I shout too much too, but then, sometimes I feel like they’re a gang of toddlers hell bent on driving me nuts! I try my best and yes, I love them endlessly!

  31. Holly

    The best Mom’s are the ones that don’t pretend they’re perfect. We’re all “that Mom” in some way or another. Breath of fresh air to read this!

  32. Jason

    Hahaha, you crack me up Lena x) It looks like the boy’s enjoyed their challenges/activities, minus the chartoon ;) After seeing your reviews I seriously have to invest in 1 of these :)

    • Lena

      I seriously think you need to as well! We love it – in fact, I’m using it at this very second to type this response :)

  33. Travelbuds

    I am a mom trying to do the best that I can. Working a 40 hour week and driving the kids to their activities and working with them on their homework and their piano practicing. I do wish there were more hours in the day so I could spend more time with them but we do what we have to.

  36. Nell C.

    We are all THAT MOM at some point! The important thing is that we realize when our emotions are taking over, to step back, take a good old fashioned time-out and appreciate the little things we’ve been given. Its very clear that you do all that you can for your boys, and they’ll appreciate it when they’re older (if they don’t already!) Keep it up girl!

  38. SueSueper

    I love that there are so many activities we can find to print and give to the kids. Kids do love to color, and cut and glue.

  39. Victoria Ess

    I love your honesty, Lena, and you are definitely not alone in having those feelings. You are absolutely amazing for doing what you do, and whatever kind of mom you are, I believe you are a GREAT mom!

  41. Teresa K

    Thanks Lena for an insipirational article ! Your kids look like they’re enjoying the dazzly gadget & the old-fashioned crayons / pencils. :)

  43. Crystal Englot

    No worries! I am also THAT mom! I am very busy but I also love my son to pieces! We are all human and no matter if we are spending every waking moment with our child doing activities or we send them to their room to play for a little while (or send them to the table to be creative) it is perfectly healthy for both the children and us (mainly our sanity! LOL)

  44. kelly

    I am a scrapbooker and I could use this lovely win. My kids would love the tablet especially after we dropped the playbook and cracked the screen

  45. MLV

    you are that mom who just wants the best for your kids. I don’t know you personally but in my eyes, you are that great mom! I wish I had some of these great things that the kids have today but I know my mom did her best and I appreciate everything that she has done and still does for me

  46. Valerie Godin

    There are so many printables online now days, it is fabulous to able to print out something and turn it into a great family activity!

  48. Athena

    You’re not alone in being “that Mom” I think most of us are “that Mom”. As much as we love our kids, sometimes you just need that break, even if it’s just keeping them busy with something while we do the dishes!

  49. Jeannie

    I think there are a lot of ‘that moms’ out there, but no one is willing to admit it. Kudos for you for sharing that you are that mom. I know I am and I’m not afraid to admit it. I have 2 boys and sometimes you just need a few minutes or 30 minutes to keep you sane!

  50. Cathy C

    So basically this technology gives you the tools to keep the kids busy and learning and entertained so you can do the things you need to do and still be a super mom! Now that is really an advancement in technology I can support!

  51. Doreen Lamoureux

    I am always nervous trying out new products… but not my husband. He loves tech and new tech stuff. The children look like they are having so much fun. I can’t get over how nicely large you screen is by the way. Well, we have had the same printer for many years. I am thinking in the tech world. We are way out of date. I love this printer. Thanks for the review.

  52. Erin W

    I love printables, now that my daughter is old enough, she loves to colour and I’m always forgetting that I can just print out colouring pages myself!

  53. Emilia

    They are focused on their crafts. It is really a nice warm feeling when children are happy just coloring and cutting and creating

  54. stacey dempsey

    ha the look on your sons face is priceless I too have accidentally had the wrong too spooky show on when they were young and accidentally scared them lol they seem to be enjoying the crafts though it is amazing everything you can do with that printer, it gives me hope I could learn all that too

  55. Soozle

    I love the fact your kids are content to sit and do crafts/color rather than being all about tv/video games.. The HP system is wonderful that it feels that game need all kids seem to have, but keeps it educational.. Win win in my books :)

  57. Cindy (@cindylee137) Procter

    a new printer could help in so many ways around the house, kids use it to print off assignments for school,,
    we are all mom and no one is perfect

  60. Tammi L

    I have to admit that I am more often ‘that’ mom than ‘this’ mom… as often because my 10 year old now thinks she is 15 as anything else. LOL. But, my intentions are good too! Thanks, this was entertaining and informative.

  62. Lilly

    That was a fab read! i laughed and thought this is so fantastic i’d hug just for honesty!! the prize looks awesome, and keeping fingers crossed that i could be “the cool mom” that won a prize my kids would be envious of…..(insert evil laugh) :)

  63. Lee-Ann

    I guess I was lucky..I was a mom who loved doing all that stuff with my kid…and now that she’s older, I love it with my nephews! If they didn’t have set bedtimes.. we would stay up later reading more and more! But..I can’t piss my sister off…hahahaha

  64. Tammy Dalley

    You boys are so cute! This looks like a great printer, my boys enjoy crafts as well this would be awesome to win! Thanks for the chance

  65. Kally Zwolak

    When my kids were young we crafted all the time together. Those are some of the warm memories we all cherish. I took some of my children’s drawings, transferred them by hand onto water colour paper and added colour just as they had created them. The paper was stiff enough to be cut out so their drawings could become Christmas ornaments that I could reproduce for family members as gifts. Ahh, the pre-technology world back then. I wonder what they could have created with something like this?

  68. Darlene Schuller

    I am all kinds of parents as well. You have to be, not just day to day, but different ages/stages in life & there is absolutely nothing wrong with stealing some silence in a day…

  69. Tooth Fairy

    Thanks for the informative intro to amazing HP Snapfish portal, a fantastic online resource! ☺ I’d love to get rid of my old skool printer. What a welcome new tool this new one would be!! So many sweet project possiblities!

  70. Lisa H

    Thanks for the relate-able story…. we all feel that we’re “that mom” at some time or other. Interesting feature you highlighted in your post as well. My little guy would enjoy the colouring pages too!

  71. DH

    Thanks for sharing!! I like the way you look at it… THAT mom isn’t always a bad thing, infact can be a great adjective.

  72. Clifford

    I liked your post, I’m a Dad and sometimes I feel that way too. My wife and I both dislike looking after other people’s children. I’m thinking HP might be the solution to having a few minutes to ourselves..lol.

  75. Zara

    Great printer. I think all moms have days that they are that mom. The important thing is you try to find ways to enjoy each others companies. I remember when I had a newborn and a 20 month old. I had just had my second c section that had not gone right. My internal stiches had popped and Had to have a third surgery. It was such a hard time, still is. I had a soccer field a block from my house so I would gake a half a loaf of bread and feed the birds while my lo would chase the birds. I could sit and he was s getting great excersise. Always on the watch for new activities.

  76. Jenn

    I think all moms have a bit of “that” mom in them as well! I literally lol, reading this! Such honest humor! :)

  77. Christy Martin

    Hilarious and honest! I am loving that Snapfish offers so much and is so easy to use with the HP ENVY 5530 e-All-in-One Printer!

  79. Eva Mitton-Urban

    I applaud you for being “That Mom”. What we invest in our kids – we reap the rewards in adulthood. I particularly loved to find mazes/connect the dots/puzzles free printables. *Sigh*. I am That Mom as well, but I wouldn’t change it for a minute. Life is chaotic enough, by imaginary/reading times with your children is paramount. Trust me, my son is an “Elephant” and countless times before sleep he recants memories – then I receive my silent Atta Girl. Follow the same path your on…you got it right.