Tag: parenting

  • But, Oh, Oh, Those Summer Nights

    I hate the winter.  Sure, I love the holiday season and the twinkling of Christmas lights (which, by the way, I feel should be required to stay up until at least Presidents’ Day), but the whole getting dark at 4 o’clock thing really sucks.  The day seems to be over so quickly, I want to…

  • Dandelion Wishes

    An essential part of being a kid is picking yellow dandelions and giving them to everyone you know.  As a parent and former teacher, I have received my fair share of dandelion bouquets, worn dandelions in my hair, and even put dandelions in a vase full of water. But the quintessential part of being a…

  • Mommy Fail: Misadventures with Tomato Sauce

    I’ve been a mom now for four years now.  You would think that will all of this experience I would have learned one of the most basic rules of parenting: Never ever give your children spaghetti AFTER they have had their bath. When you do, this is what happens: And then this: Duh. ************************** For…

  • Mama Foofed!

    My daughter, Bear, had quite a vocabulary by 17 months of age.  At 17 1/2 months, she was trying to put two words together, but they were often separated by a very large pause as she tried to connect the two ideas in her head. One evening a few weeks ago, I took Bear upstairs…

  • 1,461 Days (A Letter To My Son on His Fourth Birthday)

    My Dear Son, For 1,461 days I have held your hand, carried you close, and stroked your hair. For 1,461 days I have wiped away your tears, kissed your boo boos, wrestled with you, and tickled you until your belly ached. For 1,461 days I have nursed you, nourished you, protected you, and bonded with…

  • Reflections on the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting

    Like so many others, I am baffled, horrified, grief-stricken, and angry at the events that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday. Tragic events like this often cause us to stop and take stock in our own lives.  I did just that and realized that in the grand scheme of things: Does it…

  • Why We Need a Dog

      I think we need a dog. I love dogs, but I don’t want a dog… not now, anyway. I don’t want to take care of a dog. I don’t want to walk a dog, feed a dog, or clean up after a dog. I JUST want a dog to clean my floor after dinner.…

  • Musical Beds: Adventures in Co-Sleeping

    Musical Beds: Adventures in Co-Sleeping

    We are a co-sleeping family.  It’s completely wonderful and miserable at the same time.  Long gone are the days of spooning with my husband.  Long gone are the days of rolling over.  Long gone are the days of getting up to pee without waking everyone else in the house. I’ve seen many an image of…

  • They MIGHT Be Giants

    I had this conversation with my toddler a while back: Me: [singing] Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch / Who watches over you / Make a little birdhouse in your soul… Him: Mama?  Who’s singing this song? Me: It’s a group called They Might Be Giants.  The two main guys are named…

  • Yes, I Used My Son’s Potty!

    I can’t believe I’m about to admit this.  Some of you might think it’s hysterical.  Some of you may think it’s gross.  Some of you may have done it yourselves and many of you may have thought about it. My kids sleep in the car – a lot.  I drive around for hours a day…