At the end of a long work day, the last thing you want to see is a strange critter run across your garage floor. That's what happened to me Tuesday and it's been creeping me out since.
Tuesday afternoon I pulled into my garage with the boys and thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye. At first I ignored it but then I realized it was moving. I didn't scream immediately but I did let a curse word (or 4) slip out while rushing the boys into the house. As soon as Hubby got home, I told him that I think we have a mouse in the garage.
After a few days of looking, he confirmed my suspicions and the great mouse hunt commenced. Not only did we discover that this rodent has been in the garage, but even tried to setup shop on one of the shelves with a nest. A freaking nest...in my garage...made by a mouse. Ugh!!!!!
That only left one thing to do: clean out the garage and get that sucker out of there. My husband
concluded that he was probably gone during the day and that we were clear to start pulling everything out and cleaning out the pellets he left behind (how rude) so we got to it. With the help of my husband, son and nephew, they were able to pull everything out so we could clean and fortify the house.
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| Pulling everything out of the garage |
After some online research, we took a quick trip to Lowes to pick up the supplies to get rid of the critter. We settled on the following items:
- Mouse traps
- Bait
- Sticky pads
- Critter Ridder Spray (which we also use to keep birds from building nests on our columns)
Our house is so fortified right now, I WISH a mouse would try to get in there. He has another coming! I definitely have to thank the folks at Lowes for having such a huge selection of items for getting rid of mice and rats. If you need them for that, be sure to check out your local hardware stores for products.
*This is not a paid post. The opinions expressed are my own.*
Every now and then when the kids are screaming, my house looks like a Tasmanian Devil has ran through it and I've accidentally burned dinner, I can't help but question this motherhood thing and if I'm doing this right.
In my mind, my mom was (and still is) the perfect mom. She cooked amazing meals, kept the house immaculate (despite having 3 kids in it), planned the BEST vacations, worked a full-time job, always supported our activities and never missed a beat. I'm sure she probably spent many nights crying and damn-near about to pass out, but if she did, I never saw it.
She's who I've always aspired to be when I started to have kids of my own. She had all together and that's the type of mom I wanted to be.
But when things aren't perfect and vacations are a bust, I reflect back on the advice my mom gave me with my first son.
This simple advice has had the most profound effect on my life as a mother. When ever I wonder if I'm being a great mom, or when I would rather hang out at bookstore for an hour alone than listen to the kids scream and play, I remember what my mom told me. I take some time out for me so that I can be great for them.
One of my sorority sisters lost her mother yesterday (on her birthday of all days) and it's made me reflect on my own relationship with my mom. It hasn't been perfect and I'm probably the reason for a few of her gray hairs, but she's never given up on me. Even I when I was being a bratty teenager and rebelling against everyone, she never quit on me. Now that I'm a mom, she's the first person I turn to for advice (and wine!) when I'm not sure what to do.
Daughters, be good to your mothers. You only get one.
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| My mom and I at my bridal shower |
She's who I've always aspired to be when I started to have kids of my own. She had all together and that's the type of mom I wanted to be.
But when things aren't perfect and vacations are a bust, I reflect back on the advice my mom gave me with my first son.
"Make sure you take some time for yourself. You can't do for everyone if you aren't doing for you."
This simple advice has had the most profound effect on my life as a mother. When ever I wonder if I'm being a great mom, or when I would rather hang out at bookstore for an hour alone than listen to the kids scream and play, I remember what my mom told me. I take some time out for me so that I can be great for them.
One of my sorority sisters lost her mother yesterday (on her birthday of all days) and it's made me reflect on my own relationship with my mom. It hasn't been perfect and I'm probably the reason for a few of her gray hairs, but she's never given up on me. Even I when I was being a bratty teenager and rebelling against everyone, she never quit on me. Now that I'm a mom, she's the first person I turn to for advice (and wine!) when I'm not sure what to do.
Daughters, be good to your mothers. You only get one.
