Teach Me How to Mommy

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...

Today at daycare drop-off my kids were dawdling, procrastinating and being silly.  Even though it takes 2 minutes to get from home to daycare, it often takes us 10 minutes to get from the parking lot to their rooms.  It's a silly little habit we all have.  We look at the baby chicks in the lobby (yes real chicks) we look at the "library" for the book we want to take home and we say hi to all the teachers in our path.  Yes, I often have two thousand steps before I even walk into my building (7:30 am). Well, this morning a mommy kind of blew passed us.  It wasn't in a rude way, but an urgent one.  I've been there, I know.  We quickly discovered that her daughter was sick and she was swooping in to save the day.  She did the typical Mom thing - picked her up high in her arms and brushed her hair with her fingers.  The girl was mumbling something, but I couldn't hear.  The mom had no time for more pleasantries, she rushed out to take her b...

My sister and Kelly are best friends raising best friends too. This week you will read a guest post from a new mommy, a true favorite of mine.  I have known Kelly Peterson for almost 30 years.  It can't be 30 yet because she's not 30, that's the only limiting factor.  Our mothers are best friends, therefore even if we didn't like each other our lives would be intertwined.  Luckily, she's a doll.  A truly lovely person who (luckily for the world) created a smaller, male version of herself a short time ago.  Gus is four months old and his nursery is "explorer" themed.  Kelly and Cole take his photograph next to a big stuffed broccoli and did I mention they named him Gus?  No, it doesn't get any cuter. Kelly is really talented.  She can re-do furniture, decorate homes, take photographs, make dream catchers, act and make people laugh. She's also a second grade teacher.   Exactly, she's one of those type of girls, except she's also real...

You know when people ask you that question, "If you could be anyone else other than you who would you be?"  Well it never takes me even a second to reply. Beyonce . I'd be Beyonce.  She is a goddess.  She is beautiful and talented and a mom.  Add in the fact that she is rich and famous and you have basically detailed my wildest dreams. I may have been the only person who didn't know that Beyonce was going to be part of the half-time show last night.  But I was damn happy that the only real part of the game that I watched with any intent was the time she shared the stage with Cold Play (who I also love). I love her for all that she represents including a body that is real .  Really f*ing hot. I workout to "Who Run the World" (isn't the answer obvious?) "Boy you know you love it. How we smart enough to make these millions Strong enough to bear the children Then get back to business." Her grammar may not be in check, but ...

My husband and I aren't allowed to play cards with each other anymore.  More specifically, in order to stay married and carry on with our vows we can never, never play rummy again. We are both really competitive.  He is more so (he'd admit it too), but I am not meek - I like to win. After we first start dating we realized that playing cards and a few other things (like that time he tried to teach me to golf) just were not for us.  The final straw was when he accused me of cheating after I finally (outright) beat him at rummy.  I was fuming - like I'll dump your ass if you say it again kind of mad.  Instead, we just agreed to not compete anymore. Everything has been going really well.  I mean we have been together for over 12 years..something must be working. Oh, and I figured out what's working.  We DON'T PLAY GAMES with each other...like ever. Until we both got fitbits . I really love my fitbit.  It's the small recognition I get for j...

One year ago today my family was hit by a drunk (or high) driver while we were on our way to Christmas Eve festivities.  Lucy was still one and we had a newborn.  It was as traumatizing as one can imagine, but it did not actually result in any injuries or damage.  I reflected on this on my "old" blog and won't take too much time to detail the specifics today.  We were rear-ended not far from our home and even though we got out of the car and talked to the obviously inebriated driver, he ended up fleeing the scene and getting into a much larger accident just half a mile down the road. It was amazing that no one got seriously hurt that night.  It was also a blessing that police were readily available and he was caught and apprehended before he could cause more damage. Since that day I have thought about that night a lot.  It comes in waves.  When I am at the intersection near our house early in the morning I often think about the jolt our car felt. ...

December 14th is a day a lot of us remember, especially if you live in Connecticut. I remember I was six months pregnant and teaching when another teacher told me there had been a school shooting - in CT.  I think I remember being shocked and worried, but I wouldn't say it fully captured my attention until I looked it up and realized it was at an elementary school. The weekend that followed was full of tears, a near obsession with media coverage and quick donations to a variety of charities.  I was, of course pregnant so already on the verge of emotional breakdowns, but I think many of us were moved to tears after listening to the stories that surfaced from the event:  teachers and administrators covering students, the quick locking of doors, hiding, telling students stories to calm them down, running down the street.  I put myself in the parent's shoes as they waited to hear news of their kids.  Unimaginable.  Brave.  Unnecessary.  Beyond wor...

It has been one of those weeks when every night I breathe and say, "I survived." Nothing specific happened, I am just drained. Take that back.  I made a student cry, twice, in class on Tuesday.  I felt so bad (even though he was the one totally in the wrong) that I called home, talked to mom and eventually I was the one that apologized. So there was that.  Then also, it's December 2nd and I haven't purchased any presents. So there's that too. PS Colleen Here Was about to write about surviving this week too.  Amy and I are normally on the same wavelength, but this week it is unreal.  I almost cried in class this week.  Let's get real - I did.  The weird thing is I didn't even feel it coming - it just did.  My voice cracked and my eyes watered.  I got that weird look from kids like, "shit this teacher is really going to lose it."  I recovered and journeyed on - that's what we do.  The best part is that Amy and I wil...

Was inspired today to start a new category for the blog:   Step Off . Stew Leonard's is awesome - until someone comments on how many free smoothies you are drinking Ever since I was pregnant I realized that people (to be honest it's mostly women) feel quite compelled to say things that are not warranted, justified or even remotely solicited.  When I was first pregnant I got a lot of "silly" comments from the kids I teach.  These things never really hurt my feelings or anything, but they are the type of things you know (as an adult) not to ask.  "How much weight have you gained?"  "Are you sure you're not having twins?" "Your feet look weird."  I teach teens, and I know it's a learning curve so it never was a big thing for me.  I really embraced pregnancy (weight gain and all), so I tried to make it a learning opportunity for them and not a reason to put myself down.   After having kids, these unsolicited comments or wo...