Teach Me How to Mommy

Seems like it's been a long January, no? It could be the cold (although it's hard to complain this year) or maybe it's just the political climate.  Either way getting through the winter can sometimes be a challenge.  Personally, I've had my fill and I've got my eyes on summer, but I'm also in touch with reality.  So instead of dwelling on things I cannot control, I'd rather talk about things that have made January wonderful. 1.  Strangers - It's not what it seems.  My favorite podcast, Strangers , has been killing it this month.  All the stories are true, but not all are happy.  Yet, somehow putting in my earbuds and listening to them makes grocery shopping at 9pm on Friday just that much less painful.  If you can, listen to "Wouldn't it be Nice" and "Two Men and a Baby".  They both filled me with positivity about the human race. 2. This is Us - Need I say more?  All my students know my favorite kind of movie is the kin...

Avventures (how Colin pronounces "Adventure") await! Santa forgot a part to the wagon he sent to us (from the Toys R Us in the Newington North Pole).  So this week he, (Mommy), finally took it back to the store and exchanged it for one that had all the parts, and was not used/returned/missing parts ( ughhhh I'm so annoyed at Toys R Us' lack of customer service... but that's another story for another day). When I got home, and saw the instructions, when I couldn't figure out Step ONE, when I realized, this was now my Sunday mission; I set up my phone to record my "process". Step One:  Set up the time lapse, and try to put this magical wagon together.   Step Two:   Ask for a "helper" to get in an out of the Wagon as many times as he can.  It really helps when you are trying to put the WHEELS on!!!!!!!   Mommy took a break, and tried again..... Step Three:  Give up, wait for Papa Lou & Grammie Sue Sue to arrive, and say, H...

Our friendship spans over two decades, but it's this photo that really marks the start of this blog.  Three kids just months apart hanging at their grandmothers' beach.  They organized themselves from tallest to shortest and most to least hair - just kidding, this was the best we could get.  They knew how to walk, but not that great yet and whether they knew it or not their futures as "beach babies" had already been determined. We may joke, bitch or even exaggerate (what Amy and I..how dare you!), but always in our hearts and in our every thought are these three blondies.  We live for the summers which makes January especially painful.  But we will make it there again and take this same photo - as we will be doing until our walkers don't push on the sand. Happy Flashback Friday all - let's hope for an early summer.

Yesterday, I fixed the garbage disposal (which I also broke, but that's not important), I also planted a tree (which Jerry says is bound to die) and then soothed a broken-hearted little boy.  So thankful for this day off. If this garbage disposal really broke then it would be the second I broke in four years - not a good record.  So even though Jerry was pretty much resigned to the fact that the thing was done, I took another look.  Yes, I fixed a garbage disposal while two toddlers ate breakfast (and yes my life and pride depended on it). After some research (one youtube video) and my husband telling me it would never work - I took my kids outside in the middle of January and planted a tree.  More specifically, I replanted our beautiful Christmas tree.   On the outside I am playing it cool - if it dies at least I tried.  Inside?  Inside I am begging mother nature to give me this one. Today I had some playdates set for my kids.  Both of t...

Human Anatomy 101.   What a glorious day we had  on Sunday (last Sunday, as in a week ago, yeah, I'm a little delayed.) We played in the snow, we made a fort, we had bagels!!!    And that was allllll before we went to see Daniel Tiger, LIVE!    I was super nervous because our last adventure like this, the Polar Express Train, was a very expensive mistake. Colin spent the entire train ride being terrified of the singing -- he was shaking, and asking to go home.  I don't know if that was the timing (dinner time, right from daycare), or the overwhelming amount of sounds.... but he just didn't take to it.... (honestly, I was always weirded out by Santa... so I get it dude!)    Howwwwever --- Daniel Tiger could not have gone any better!!! He laughed, he sang, he danced!!!    He was happy, and I cried basically the entire time because my baby is not a baby anymore!!   That's all great, yay for progress & ...

This week (or at least the start of it) I found myself slightly less busy than other weeks. For me, this meant one day away from school at a training and days when I took my lunch period to spring clean my classroom and make phone calls for the kids (as opposed to scarfing down food and grading).  I was still up way too late and technically it was a 5 day work week (haven't had that in awhile), but the pace was just a bit slower. I guess anything is less chaotic when compared to Christmas. I started to feel a bit more "together" and less frazzled, which lead to a decision I don't usually make.  When I make it to Thursday I always breathe a breath of fresh air.  It's the last daycare day of the week and on Friday my mother-in law comes to us and spoils the kids.   So when one of my students asked me if I could watch him perform at the "open mic spoken word" show after school I said yes.  I always leave as soon as I can (which is always later than I w...