Scene: TD and I are headed out the door. As we climb into the car TD spies a displaced plastic container lying in the grass nearby. It is filled with trash despite being casserole size. TD: "Momma? Why is that plastic container lying over there? What is it doing? Is it trash?" She says as she climbs into her car seat.V: "Yes, it is trash. I don't know why it's there, but it shouldn't be." I say, reaching for her safety belts and fastening them.TD: "Why? Because it will hurt the earth?" She looks perplexed. V: "Yes, trash does hurt the earth. Very good!" I am a bit stunned but beaming and proud.TD: "Momma, when I grow up I am going to be a trash doctor so that the earth won't be hurt." She sits back in her car seat, satisfied with this proclamation.Ugh. My heart seized then … [Read more...]
Ten Months
In hindsight we probably should have just called you, Bluto. Not The Comedian. Yes, you love to laugh at completely inappropriate times and forever have a smile on your face but in the last few months you appear to be more like the Bluto character from Animal House.You steal people's drinks and act like it's just part of your charm. You are an eating machine. You often palm a bottle and chug it so fast that we can hear the air being sucked out from a few rooms away. You cruise around for any scrap of food or debris and are always up for a good food fight. Bah keep! I'd like anotha!My hair is stylin'. I fall a lot. Don't be judgin'.Lastly, You've already mastered the one raised eyebrow stare. I kid you not. I'm talking about Empathy and slapping other people's kids at Honest Baby and about … [Read more...]
Back to School
New Shoes? Check. Purple nail polish, hair bow and socks? Check.Lunch box with non-nut snack included? Check. Incessant whining about not being able to watch Super Why! and Curious George this morning? Check. A two hour absence of answering questions like, "Why is that an umbrella?" CHECK! Future as a hand-sign throwing sorority girl or gang member? A high possibility. … [Read more...]
Eight on Eight
The scent of warm, baked chicken fills my home. The rain is falling softly outside as fall begins to assert its presence with cooler temperatures and tiny gusts of wind. A steaming mug of rich, dark coffee sits by my side. A small white triple-layered cake frosted with a thick equally white buttercream icing sits on a tray nearby. It speaks of a celebration yet to happen.The house is quiet. The girls are away. Eight years ago H and I stood beside each other and in front of our family and friends vowing to spend our lives together. Happy Anniversary H. Thank you for eight wonderful years. … [Read more...]
Come Back Tomorrow
It's the middle of August.It's hot.It's humid.If you want to debate healthcare reform, read about wild toddler antics, baby meltdowns and more this is not the place. Go here instead.We're heading to the spray grounds to enjoy some end of Summer R&R. I suggest you do the same. There's plenty of time for blog reading later. The Internet will still be here when you return. I promise. Just in case you try and come back inside though, I'm locking the front door just like grandma used to do. Now scat!Image by Susan Gerstein. … [Read more...]
Hershey! Our First Family Vacation
When I saw this sign I assumed this would be the weirdest moment of our trip to Hershey, PA. Well, we all know what happens when you assume, right?Since our room wasn't ready yet at the incredibly family friendly Hershey Lodge (TD jumped up and down when she realized she could check-in to the hotel herself.) we decided to check out the Butterfly House at the Children's Garden. TD loves Fancy Nancy and her azure butterflies. The kid was so excited about seeing purple butterflies flitting about that she jumped down from our truck and literally hit the pavement. We all heard the smack and instantly our day turned upside down. H ripped off his shirt and used it to cover the gash while I found a bottle of water to rinse the cut. When he took away the t-shirt blood poured out of the wound and I … [Read more...]
Pack it Up! We’re Going to Chocolate World!
"Are we going to Pretzel land today?" TD asks continuously. To her Pennsylvania is the land of the giant pretzel thanks to her US Maps placemat. However, after this weekend I am quite sure PA will be known as Chocolate World from here on out. For other things to do near Penn State, click the link for more options. I'm doing laundry like a whirling dervish today. I just finished unpacking myself from my trip and off we go again. I'm looking forward to this opportunity for some downtime with the family. Lately our schedules have been so missed matched that we are almost never home at the same time. The kids are coming and going and so are we. I'm not concerned about the car ride to Hershey. We've got car trips down. Rather I'm deeply, deeply concerned about us all sharing a hotel room. … [Read more...]
Notes from the Road #54
Scene: On the phone with H one night. I sit cross-legged on the bed, watching the black beetles crawl into my hotel room from the great outdoors. How many will infiltrate my premises tonight?V: I had to deal with Border Patrol today. The line was short but it took forever. Then they get to me and I have my ID out. I'm ready to answer any and all questions about live plants or contraband oranges I might carrying across the Texas/New Mexico border. It's not like I'm hiding anything inside the rental car doors or what have you. All the guy asked was this, "Are you a US citizen?" I replied, "Yes." "OK, you can go." He said. I guess a blond girl in a black mustang, well, you just don't get anymore American than that now do you?In my frequent travels this week (six states in less than … [Read more...]
Three Girls, Two Cities, One Day
Ellen Burstyn lived as a homeless person for a few days to step out of her comfort zone. I don't need to go quite that far just yet. For me, stepping out of my own comfort zone only requires me taking the girls into two cities, aboard two trains, on three cab rides and onto the steamy streets of New York. All in just twelve hours. Even though I stay home with my kids I don't really think of myself as a hands-on mother. I still work, travel and am independent from them. It is a system that works well for us most of the time. TD was a year old before I had ever taken her to the grocery store on my own. Taking a three year-old and a nine month old on a day excursion to one of the world's largest cities is not something I find within my means of momfidence. It is more of an adventure. … [Read more...]
Working with Kids. The Unsolvable Equation.
I woke up late today. So much for Body Pump. I fear I will never see streamlined thighs again. I find myself running around today trying to catch falling yogurt cups before they hit the floor with a splat. Racing down the stairs with the dog who can't keep up and ends up tumbling to the landing in a yelping heap. There I am again on a work phone call, scooping cheerios off a high chair tray as I try to sound coherent and intelligent while TD yells in the background. That's just a fellow co-worker about to go postal over a PowerPoint presentation, right? Five seconds later I'm emailing Gymboree about Bubble Camp and settling TD into a good hour of Sesame Street. Meanwhile The Comedian tries to rewire our entertainment system. I swear that child will know how to hot wire a car by age … [Read more...]