As parents, we like to tell ourselves we are teaching our children. We’re the mentors, the leaders, the guides, helping shape them into independent and functional members of society. Perhaps it’s our ego that keeps telling us this.
Continue reading “Lessons From My Strong-Willed Daughters”
Goodbye, January.
So long, February.
Hello, March!
For anybody who has noticed my silence this winter, I am sorry. It’s been a whirlwind of transitions, illnesses, and a brief bout with the cold weather blues. We decided to switch our two-year-old from crib to toddler bed because – it seemed like a good idea at the time. HA! Well, it became a safety necessity, but we sure did miss that crib – and a fair bit of sleep – those first few weeks. Our 2YO’s new favorite activity was to get up at any odd time of the night and go wake up sissy before waking us. Continue reading “Our Favorite Cabin Fever Busters”
“You better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout,
I’m telling you why,
Santa Claus is coming to town.”
It’s Christmastime! People decorate their homes with twinkling lights and colorful displays. Stores mark down prices and stay open late. The celebratory feasts are prepared then eaten. Everyone hustles and bustles to check their lists, then check them twice. Gifts are exchanged (and sometimes exchanged again). Little boys and girls line up in shopping malls from coast to coast anxiously awaiting their turn to meet Santa. The Hallmark channel plays reel after reel of sentimental Christmas movies. Continue reading “Parents Chime in on Whether or Not to Perpetuate the Santa Myth”
“You’re awesome, Dad!” our three-year-old exclaimed in Subway the other day as she hugged my husband tight. We looked at each other and smiled.
“You’re awesome, sweetie!” he replied with a twinkle in his eye.
“That’s a good daughter,” commented the Subway employee as he swept the floor.
“Yep. She sure is,” my husband replied still smiling at me. Continue reading “The Busted up Boots of an Everyday Hero”
Transitioning from being a working mom to a stay-at-home mom has been an enlightening move. Something I quickly learned is there’s no-one to tell me whether I’m doing a good “job” anymore. It’s nothing like the workplace where you can pretty much get immediate feedback or results from whatever method you tried. Oh, yeah, that formula worked, or nope, try something else. It’s been a bit of a transition from the full-time workforce to home life. Continue reading “Performance Appraisals of a Stay-at-Home Mom”
Yesterday evening as my 18-month old daughter walked into the living room, whole jalapeño sticking out of her mouth ready to take a bite, I let out a gasp as the realization hit me that our chopping block island was no longer out of her reach. My mind wandered to the knife resting near the veggies where she reached up with chubby little fingers and selected the jalapeño instead. As I asked her to hand mommy the jalapeño, I made a mental note adding to the ever-growing list of hazards I have come to worry over our second child – our wild child. Continue reading “Life Lessons From My Wild Child”
Being a parent in the information age is scary, no – terrifying. I was telling our pediatrician the other day that it seems we know too much about parenting nowadays. Long gone are the days of, “Go play outside, kids. Come home when the street lamps come on.” No, today, our days are a stress-filled measuring cup of quality time versus screen time, outdoor time with free play versus guided play, plus educational play. And make sure you read to them at least twenty minutes a day.
Continue reading “Mother Knows Best – The One Reason Moms Everywhere Should Chill Out”
I tend to be a busy person. Always have liked to be on the move, and when I move, I move quickly. Well, that was B.K. (before kids). These past three years, I have struggled to adjust to a slower pace. Such is life with small, cute, but very slow children. While some may say your pace quickens, I feel the opposite. The freedom to just move, to get up and go no longer exists. What took five minutes before (coat, purse, keys, go), now takes half an hour. Coat, purse, keys, diaper bag with diapers, change of clothing, drinks, snacks, games, toys, books, children . . . diaper changes once more before leaving, then returning for the coffee you forgot. You get the idea.
Continue reading “The Magic in the Waiting”
I looked down at my toes and saw one red toenail from the pedicure I’d had five months ago and sighed. Whose feet are these, I thought. They can’t be mine. When did my feet turn into these neglected, sad appendages? I’d once taken great care of my feet. I sighed as thought back to regular pedicures and missed my beautician, who I hadn’t seen in months. These days, If I fit one pedicure into a year it was quite the treat. Continue reading “These Tired Feet”
Have you ever strived to be the perfect parent? You try and try and feel yourself falling short? I do. All the time. The mom guilt is brutal some days. I’m not feeding my children a hot meal every morning, they don’t get organic whole foods every time. I lose my patience and yell. (I mean, I said it three times already and they didn’t listen!)
Continue reading “Parents, You’re Not Screwing Up as Much as You Think”
Pixie Dust and Whiskey 