Teach Me How to Mommy

Ok, well that's an exaggeration.  No actually wait, I was pushed, just not with a lot of force. I was out getting a coffee, sans kids. It's been so long that I've been solo that I actually went inside.  What a luxury it was to look at the menu and take my time making my coffee just the way I wanted it.  Anyways, while I was waiting a little girl walked in front of me - on a wet floor - and slipped right on her behind.  She wasn't hurt, but she looked startled and literally couldn't get up.  My mom instincts kicked right in and went down asking her if she was ok.  I used my own arm to help her up.  This took maybe 20 seconds. I didn't notice her mom at first, I guess she was at my side.  In reaction to my assistance the other mother pushed my arm away and said "thank you" in a way that I understood meant "get your hands off my daughter."  It was all so quick I didn't have a reaction, but I left feeling really embarrassed.  I kno...

Had a conversation with a coworker this week that really got me.   The jist of it was how hard having a teen girl really is.  It wasn't sugar-coated.  The things he said I could relate to (you know having been one myself and having two sisters). Yet, somehow I had forgotten...wasn't I always this amiable and easy to deal with? Wasn't I born sweet and awesome, just like Lucy is? (I think my parents my have a response to that...).  Instead of dreading it I am going to enjoy my time with this dancing queen.  Spending some extra time on these snow days building her up - making sure she knows just how great she was.  What else in the world could be any more important? PS.  Take me back to days at Memere's pool.  This dress won't fit her this year (although she still won't let me donate it) and I bet Memere's shoes are already going to start looking small.

The view from the glass. Now that my kids are a bit older, I've started to depart from "mommy and me" classes to more send em' in and watch through the window classes.  This is a different phase of motherhood that I enjoy for many reasons - less chasing more stillness, more time to check my phone and sometimes I get to chat with other moms. When I don't have another kid to chase while one is taking a class (which is rare) then those 45 minutes can be golden. Unless you share those 45 minutes with people who don't realize how annoying they are.  While trying to watch Lucy prance, balance and attempt a cartwheel I overheard two moms compete back and forth over whose daughter is better, smarter, sweeter and of course taller.  As I had free time and couldn't really scoff (out loud) I had to record their conversation via my own notes.  Highlights include: 1.  "My cleaning lady"-   I know normal people have them too, but when you mention he...