Category Archives: Mom Stuff

Kids

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First, they lifted the brochures, the ones that persuade you to refinance your mortgage, outside of their Lucite holders and used them as fans.    Next, they pulled on those pens that are attached to the coils, and mounted to a base.  They pulled as far as they would give and then let go, allowing the pens to fly airborne back onto the high counters that they sat on, next to the deposit slips.   Then, they attacked the chairs, in a full-on jump-up –and- down kind of way.  The customers began to stare.  The tellers darted their eyes from them to … Continue reading →

Love Letters Part 2

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I didn’t want a puppy.  I told them I didn’t want a puppy, but when you volunteer to foster dogs being rescued from shelters where they would otherwise be killed, it’s hard to say “no.”  It’s painful to imagine that alternate ending, when that puppy has no foster home to take it. The puppy comes to us with the name Tracey.    She’s cute!  But she’s a puppy.  She nips at my running shoe, she punctures a hole in my tank top.  She pees on the floor.  She nibbles at our wrists with her pointy puppy teeth.  She follows me … Continue reading →

My Almost Meet-Up With @acctodenise

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Earlier this week, joking around on Twitter, I fabricated a fantasy meet up among some of my favorite blogging girlfriends, people I’ve never met in person, but all who have a special place in my heart. In my fantasy, Christine, Michelle, Mary, Kristen, Denise and I all meet up in Maryland, where three out of the six of us live.  In the Twitter conversation, Michelle even offered me a place to say, saying that I could bunk up with her visiting in-laws (you were serious, Michelle, right?  I’m a very low maintenance house guest.  So long as I have access … Continue reading →

The Secret Life of Dora the Explorer

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It seemed innocent enough. She overcame challenges.  She was bilingual.   She exceled at sports.  Dora, the star of the Dora The Explorer TV series, was a decent role model for my young children.  It was a TV program with educational value, along with well-intended, clean cut characters.  But then, it started. “Can we get that Dora beach towel?” “Honey, don’t you think we have enough towels?” “Look, mom! Dora’s in that Lego set!” “We have plenty of Legos at home.” Dora dolls, Dora purses, Dora sippy cups, Dora puzzles, coloring books, watches, nightgowns, stickers, and the list goes on. I … Continue reading →

Setting Goals: The Power of “Why”

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Last week, I used the principles of fiction writing as an analogy for creating well focused goals. I invited you to explore the idea of creating one primary goal for you "story" and formulating secondary goals that support your "plot line." This week, I introduce another element of fiction writing to help you examine your goals:  Outer motivation versus inner motivation. If you examine a work of fiction closely, you will see that most main characters have a tangible, specific goal they want to accomplish by the end of the story.  For instance, in the original "Rocky" movie, Rocky wants … Continue reading →

The Green Ribbon

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Months ago, Miss F. told me she wanted to be on the summer swim team, sponsored by our town pool.     Miss F. wants to try everything, which is good and bad, when you’re her mother.     “You have to go to practice every morning, “ I warn.  “And practice starts early.”    “That’s fine, she says,” shrugging nonchalantly.     “You’re not just splashing around the pool playing.  You’re swimming laps.  It’s tiring.”   “Mommy I know that,” she responds, getting annoyed. “You’re treating me like a baby!”  Then came the first day of practice.  When it was over, she dragged … Continue reading →

Mom Fail in 13 Days

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My children have been out of school for exactly 13 days, and already, my parenting standards have dropped to an all-time low. Summer got off to a shaky start this year, and I’m not sure whether to blame that on planetary alignment or if the fact that summer vacation came abruptly early had something to do with throwing us off (our school district is one of those in the Northeast that paid us back for unused snow days, hence, the school year ended several days ahead of schedule). We have been struggling to find our summer groove. It’s a hectic … Continue reading →

Raising Hot Sauce

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She sizes up her two year-old play date, with a large blue-eyed stare,  cocks her head to one side, and tosses her wispy brown hair back behind her shoulder.  "When  {pausing for a sigh and another hair toss} are you going home?" she demands, with breathy exasperation. Why would you ask that honey?  I inquire, although I already sense where this is going. "Because…" she starts, with hands on hips.  "He's Booooooring!" Meet Hot Sauce, the youngest of my three children, a four year-old spitfire with so much spice, she'd make Atomic Fireballs seem mellow on your tongue. Hot Sauce … Continue reading →

Love Letters

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It was the second phone call in a week from Miss F's teacher to discuss her defiant behavior.  Miss F was born defiant, I want to explain.  She could not be sleep trained. She would not allow me to put her down, ever, in a bouncy chair, Exercauser, or swing.  I learned to perform all household and personal tasks, from checking email to stir frying tofu,  with Miss F nestled in a sling against my chest.  She "ran away" for the first time, at the age of four, leaving me in the complicated position of having to leave a two-year … Continue reading →

Oh, How I Want To Be Clever!

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"You need to get dressed!" I shriek.  Miss F lies on the living room couch with her head resting on the arm,  eyes half closed. "I don't know what to wear."  Not a day goes by with us not having this discussion.    "Mom, can I have more cereal," my Little Dude asks from the kitchen.  The Dude loves morning.  He's been dressed and ready to go since 6:55.       It's been raining on and off on this chilly New Jersey June morning, and the weather adds to my misfires.  I run to the fridge and forget why I'm there.   … Continue reading →