Category Archives: Mom Stuff

The Big Greasy Dinner

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    “Mom,” the dude asks, “Can I get the pancakes and the chicken strips?” “How about we order one dinner at a time,” I say. “I’ll get the chicken,” he says, after some serious thought.  “With French fries.” “Broccoli,” I counter. “Aww,” he grumbles.  I catch his frown in the rear view mirror. “Okay, okay,” Fries are fine,” I declare, reminding myself that this is our “fun night out.” There were many animated discussions going on at once about what they would order, the excitement mounting as the car neared our destination. I am not a huge fan of … Continue reading →

Cheer Mom Part 3: Game Day

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As I walked into Sun National Arena in Trenton,  New Jersey for my daughter’s cheer competition, I was keenly aware that one of us would leave that night crying.  Either they’d lose, and she would be devastated, or they’d win, and I’d be devastated.  Don’t get me wrong, I want what we all want for our children.  But if you’ve read parts one and two of my Cheer Mom trilogy, then you understand the struggles I’ve encountered with my cheerleader daughter.  Advancing is what the girls want and what their coaches want and what I’m supposed to want. Yet, the … Continue reading →

Cheer Mom Part 2: Cheer Angst

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I wasn’t in the mood to go to a wiglet party. Furthermore, I wasn’t in the mood to deal with Miss F.’s mood after that cumbersome looking hair piece was sewn into her hair, which she would then need to sleep with and live in until her cheer competition, some 18 hours later.  Miss F. is the kid who goes on sensory overload from a stray dog hair caught in her shoe.  Asking her to sleep with an artificial hair piece that has been woven into her hair is like asking a child who has sandbags tied to her legs … Continue reading →

My Big Girl Shoes

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Predictably, the morning went to pot since I had to get out of the house a half hour earlier than usual. To my new bosses it probably felt like a nominal request. “Can you come in a half hour early on Friday?” What’s a half hour to most people?   But for me, it required making “arrangements,” two sets of arrangements to be precise.  One for my grade school kids and one for my preschooler.  A neighborhood parent was kind enough to see the older guys onto the bus, and I was able to drop off my toddler a half … Continue reading →

Costco Diva

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The first mistake was going hungry. The second mistake was going tired. The third mistake was taking the kids with me, who were also hungry and tired. The time change of Miss F.’s cheer practice Monday night was almost cause for a “case of nerves.”  First of all, they moved it up a half an hour, which left us no time for homework before she had to be there.   Second, they cut the practice down to one hour from two.    With a two hour practice, I have time to get home and do “something,” like bathe the smaller kids … Continue reading →

Hooky

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“There is no reason for you ever to wind up in the principal’s office,” I say. She sighs and looks away. “Ever,” I repeat for extra emphasis. It is the end of summer, and I have received the teacher assignments for the year.   Miss F. has been placed with someone who has the reputation for being stern.  “She’s not going to let you get away with the things that happened last year.  I’m just saying.”  “OK, Mom.  I get it!” Miss F. responds with a roll of her eyes. I have grown used to the eye roll, and for better … Continue reading →

The Walk

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We were half way around the block before I broached the subject, down by the lake behind my mother’s house, where we were visiting that Sunday afternoon. I grew up by that lake, walking my family dog, riding my skateboard, and flirting with first crushes on warm summer evenings.   After days of making excuses, it was time to let her in.  “Honey, I wanted to talk to you about something,” I say, fumbling into the conversation. “What Mommy?”  Miss F. asks, half listening while picking the wildflowers that grow along the sidewalk.  “Daddy…” I hesitate, “Went to live with Grandpa.” … Continue reading →

Cheer Mom – Guest Post at Things I Can’t Say

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The premise: A willful daughter and her control freak mother lock horns over the demands of the daughter’s competition cheer team. The cast of characters:  The Fierce Diva and the Divine Miss F.   The major dramatic question: Will the Diva pull Miss F. from cheer mid-season? The setting:  Suburbia The outcome: Hop on over to Things I Can’t Say to find out!   Wow!  What a week! I am still basking in the afterglow of my SITS Day, which was Wednesday, and today, I am the guest blogger over at Shell’s place, Things I Can’t Say. I met Shell … Continue reading →

Boys

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The Dude would go off for hours, to the field, the butterfly bush, the playground, or underneath a chaise lounge in a fortress built with towels. Most of the time he was with Jack, the Dude’s best friend, a surrogate brother, with whom he spends his summers at the town pool. Jack is a good boy, a really good boy, with an even keeled disposition that tempers my son’s occasional moods. They have the same imagination, which allows them to play with Legos or boats or collect leaves or rocks or catch butterflies for entire afternoons. I call the Dude … Continue reading →

To The Mom on Craig’s List

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URGENT!  Babysitter needed! For children ages 4, 6, and 7 September 4th and 5th in my home 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.  Offering $13.00 per hour   Stated the ad on Craig’s List. I felt like I knew this woman, or for that matter, this woman could have been me.  My guess was that her childcare plans for the two work days leading up to the first day of school and their corresponding aftercare programs had fallen through. And she had to get to work. I lived that reality for years, with young children.  Did my children come first?  Of … Continue reading →