I wrote this while living with my mother-in-law, who was kind enough to take in a crazed Mama (me) her son and their three children in one of the most stressful times of their lives - and we still manage to be on speaking terms!

Okay so living with my MIL is not really all that bad - it gives me great stories to tell. My MIL is not a bad person - she has in fact opened her home to me, of which I am most appreciative. We are however, very different people with very different ways of doing things. But as this is her house, the kids ask Grandma and Grandma always says yes... so I am the odd man out every time I say no to soda or a lollipop or whatever. Okay - my days here are numbered so I am letting most things slide.My MIL eats everything in sight - and I mean everything. If she is cooking, she is eating. If there is a cookie left over or the kids leave food on their plates, she eats it. She likes to "nibble" as she says. The other day she is "nibbling" a cracker. She tells Mae that these crackers are horrible - so dry - but keeps eating and asks Mae why does your mother go all the way to Trader Joe's to buy these? Mae says "um, grandma,those are treats." Grandma responds that they are not treats because they are terrible - with a straight face Mae says treats for the DOGS... and with that grandma pops the rest of the terrible dog treat in her mouth and walks away. Only in Grandma's house kids, only in Grandma's house...

This was a post from my old blog written Dec. 16, 2008

Original post date 4/27/09....a little insight to why we call where we live "Mayberry"...


I live in Mayberry. Not with Aunt B, Andy and Opie, but my small town has been referred to in a national magazine as Mayberry. We have a quaint “town” with eateries, small shops, hair & nail salons. Now we also have a lot of “For Lease” signs due to the economy. With a graduating class of about 300 everybody pretty much knows everybody. Especially since a large percent of our population are “townies”. Townies are people who grew up here and now live and raise their families here. Not only do townies know everyone but they know everyone’s back stories which can be very interesting if you know what I mean.

Now not everyday is it wonderful to live in Mayberry. And there’s many a post to write on that angle. But yesterday it was a great day to live down the road from Aunt B. (I am sure there is one somewhere in this town...)It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and after a very gray chilly start to spring we deserved it. It was also opening day of Little League and the parade. Now I know I complained about (un)organized sports before. Lining up for the parade was nothing short of pandemonium. It was Mike’s first one and he was nothing short of thrilled. Dad not so much, ‘cause it was hot and we had already did the lacrosse game that morning but he smiled through it. We parked a car at the field early in the morning then I dropped the marchers off at the beginning of the parade and walked (quite a distance) to take my place among my friends and fellow parents to wave to the parade.So we stood there and waved to all the players and coaches (and hoards of parents who I thought were not all supposed to walk in it??? Sorry I digress…this is a happy post). We complimented teams’ banners and clapped for them. We hooped and hollered when our teams went by much to the delight of our players.

We followed the parade to the field for opening day ceremonies.I stood with my friends who had little leaguers there of their own. We commiserated about the heat, and having to spend the whole day at the field since we still had to come back later for games. But when the National Anthem started to play and everyone stood with their hand on their heart from Dads to little siblings running around the dugout trying to keep themselves occupied it was a good day to live in Mayberry, and see a field full of excited, healthy kids lucky enough that their parents are able to have them involved in good things like this. That it was a beautiful sunny warm day and they were excited and safe and proud to sing their country’s song. To look over at one of my favorite Dads as he watched his tiny little girl with her hand over her heart recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and see how content he seemed and how much he just loved her.

I realized how lucky I am too.And although I complain sometimes. I am happy to live in Mayberry. A place where probably more people then I would like know my business, where I can’t go to the supermarket in my sweats and little makeup without running into someone from PTA who wants to chat, where the same people are at the same meetings saying the same things.

But it’s the same place that I can walk to the beach in a few minutes, know my kids are going to be safe when I leave them at school, and if for some reason they need me and I can’t get there right away someone will take care of them for me ‘til I do. A place where people know me. A place that’s home and has been since the day I moved here to raise my family almost 15 years ago. It’s Mayberry and sometimes it’s a pain but it’s home and yesterday it couldn’t be a better place to live.

Jenn's two cents: I have lived in lots of places, and I have never felt a sense of community like I do here in our Mayberry. My husband was born and grew up in this town so he is a "townie" that left and returned after 15 years bringing a wife and children with him. It is a wonderful place to raise a family. People know your name. The girl at the local luncheonette knows I drink tea and brings it before I can ask. My husband went to school with many of the parents of my kids friends. It is a nice sense of familiarity. I am sure there are other towns like ours across America - but I am glad I am here, living in Mayberry.

A post from 4/19/09...obviously I had come home from an annoying meeting and was bubbling over with fodder for blogging. I have since removed myself somewhat from the inner realm of PTA this year to give myself a break. Much needed I think!

Jenn and I brainstormed ideas for blog posts in case we ever are coming up short for daily inspiration. When this one was added to the list I thought it would end up being about annoying kids...perhaps belonging to us or other people. And some post down the line may talk about such charming demons, but not this one.

The whiners and crybabies here are adults. Adults who pride themselves as having many enviable qualities among them being upstanding community members, parent role models, do-gooders who are always giving and giving (did I mention giving?) of themselves. If you don’t mind curtsying when they walk by, they would appreciate that, thanks.

They sit at their meeting touting all their do-gooding and wondrous deeds. Thank God for them because really otherwise what would become of the youth in our community? Are you wondering how you can become part of this exclusive group? Yeah you guessed it. Join the PTA.

I am by no means saying that the PTA is no good. I have been President of my Middle Schooler’s PTA for the past two years, and I would not be part of something that I don’t believe in. PTA does a lot of great things and our schools need them. But maybe some of the members should start holding themselves accountable for their own poor behavior. Stop and think for just a minute why some parents don’t want to help. Why some parents feel it’s a clique and stay away.If I had just some more nerve and God knows I have more than my share, (I think I went back for seconds when He was handing out nerve), I would have stood up and told all the whiners and crybabies to SHUT UP! Get off your soap boxes and get real. Stop playing the poor do-gooder who is always getting a bad rap. Maybe you are just a shit-stirrer and now it’s coming back to you. Maybe although you say it’s all about the kids your actions tell another story.

You don’t join because you want your name in lights. You don’t join because you are on a power trip and want to be the PTA Queen. You don’t decide who is “in” and who is not. You don’t adjust the rules to suit your agenda. You don’t ambush a person at a meeting, in front of a room full of people to watch them squirm. You just roll up your sleeves do what needs to be done and stand back and watch how your actions helped make a kid’s school experience that much better. You do that without always taking a bow. That’s what it’s about.

I should have told them that. Hmmm..maybe I just did.