I sense my second grader is about to blow the roof off the whole imaginary-characters-that-accompany-childhood thing. The culprit: The Easter Bunny. I’m generally a good accomplice to the imaginary harbingers of holidays. For example, I can completely keep track of the tooth fairy. Kid loses a tooth; fairy shows up & gives some coinage. Why does every kid get different amounts of money … [Read more...]

I am a night person. I hit my stride around 10:00 p.m. At that time I can sit down at the computer and pound out a speech in 2-3 hours, or go for a long run outside on a summer night, or clean the kitchen pantry. I find the energy, the mental fortitude and the desire to tackle those things when most are getting ready for bed. Now that’s not to say I don’t enjoy sleep. God knows I do. And I … [Read more...]

Hi mom. It’s me. I have something to say to you that is looooong overdue: I’m sorry. I’m sorry for every single eye roll, smirk and flounce of hair as I turned to leave the room. I’m sorry I didn’t listen when you told me I should come in the house and put my coat on the hook designated for it, and instead left it wherever it fell. I’m sorry I lost every single barrette, … [Read more...]

Okay, I know I’m going out on a limb here… but I let my kids fail. I don’t set ‘em up for it; I don’t lay and wait gleefully for it to happen, but when I see a kid headed for failure – I don’t always intervene. Giving my kids the room to fail has come at a price -- for both of us. Emma has shown up at school on “pajama day” without her pajamas, because she’d forgotten to … [Read more...]

It’s winter in the great American north. And we’re getting squirrelly. Honestly, how many times can you play “I Spy” where the only things you can spy are white (the ground) or grey (the sky)? You’d think we northern moms — those who live where winter starts around October and ends around May – would have this down by now. We’d have devised a means of easily occupying … [Read more...]

I knew kids were noisy. I knew there would be crying, screaming, yelling, shouts of joy, etc. What I never expected was a soundtrack -- one that accompanies my son’s every move. He runs to a new room to find a new toy, and a “swoosh” sound comes out of his mouth as he zig zags around the couch and ottoman, sweeping aside his imaginary cape. As he helps put his clothes away, a loud … [Read more...]

There is absolutely nothing better for upping the embarrassment quotient than having a kid. Those little stinkers know exactly what to say – especially in public – to achieve maximum cringe. A particularly memorable time was when Emma was around 2 ½ -- she was run around the house in a sugar-cookie fueled bout of hyperactivity, and spun herself into the blunt edge of a table. No … [Read more...]

Christmas. It’s the most wonderful time of the year – if only because I don’t have to be the heavy anymore. From December 1 to December 24 that is officially Santa’s job. “Kids? Not getting along together again? Haven’t studied your spelling words? You didn’t bother to brush your teeth? ::deep sigh:: I wonder what Santa will have to say about that…” Santa -- and his … [Read more...]

Oh dear. It’s coming up on flu season. This means I have the annual decision to make: do I risk contracting the dreaded flu, or should I force myself to deal with freakishly strong children who act like escaped mental patients when confronted with a needle? A few years ago, I took Emma to get her annual flu shot. She seemed fine: we had talked about what was going to happen (she wanted to … [Read more...]

Ryan has turned 4, and is on a solid – and I fear – permanent nap strike. This is no surprise as for the past several months he has walked a picket line in front of his room with a sign that says “Nap Time: Hell no, I won’t go.” But the fact is, I’m the one not ready to give up on nap time. Most of the day I spend running at a full sprint just to stay in the same place. Nap time … [Read more...]