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{"id":2411,"date":"2010-10-15T06:00:12","date_gmt":"2010-10-15T10:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.buildingcathedrals.com\/?p=2411"},"modified":"2010-10-15T06:00:12","modified_gmt":"2010-10-15T10:00:12","slug":"merit-badges-for-mom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/buildingcathedrals\/2010\/10\/merit-badges-for-mom\/","title":{"rendered":"Merit Badges for Mom"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

1.\tMedic: for singlehandedly taking care of vomiting children and controlling destructive toddlers while our own innards are being thrashed<\/p>\n

2.\tChef: for preparing healthy meals on a budget to suit the tastes of many family members, all in 20 minutes time, while simultaneously nursing babies, managing toddlers, coaching exuberant preschoolers through a craft activities, and playing dress-up with little ladies<\/p>\n

3.\tAthletics: Tex elaborated on this one a couple of years ago<\/a><\/p>\n

4.\tLabor and Delivery: self-explanatory<\/p>\n

5.\tAutomotive Maintenance: diagnosing many vehicular problems just by listening to the car, as well as knowing exactly how to deal with mechanics; that is, going cold cosmopolitan mom with the sneering, lecherous ones and playing helpless damsel in distress with the Mr. Awesomes; then, no matter what, turning on them at the end to negotiate the price downward. Surprise.<\/p>\n

6.\tBackpacking: packing a diaper bag in 3 minutes flat that will supply, for one full day, the needs of several children relating to nourishment, hydration, incontinence, and soothing<\/p>\n

7.\tCitizenship: raising the next generation, and raising them to put others before themselves, even though having your first of many babies at age 24 isn\u2019t exactly in vogue<\/p>\n

8.\tEmergency Preparedness: spending anywhere between 20% and 80% of the day (depending on the season) in emergency mode; our guardian angels deserve this merit badge, but since they are incorporeal, we can wear it with pride<\/p>\n

9.\tPersonal Hygiene: doing the hygiene basics and usually finding time to put on makeup and earrings. Our self-esteem, our husband\u2019s gazes, and our childrens\u2019 compliments are worth it.<\/p>\n

10.\tWilderness Survival: also known as The Family Vacation<\/p>\n

Any others to add?<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"