Teach Me How to Mommy

And by that mom I mean me.  Want to know a quick way to tarnish a perfectly magical morning? It's a Monday in October and my school district called a snow day.  Well, it wasn't really a snow day but a loss of power day.  With the exception of freak ice storms, October days off are few and far between.  Even better?  My kids had a two hour delay.  So we got to enjoy a lazy morning off filled with a Halloween show, Halloween crafts and a few heated games of Hungry, Hungry Hippo.  Then, just when they needed something new to keep them occupied it was time to head off to school where they would learn, socialize, play and enjoy pre-k, while I shopped, cleaned and ate while listening to naughty podcasts - out loud! So see gifts like this come but once a year (twice maybe).  I was feeling high on life until I brought my son to his room and saw the other mothers coming in with huge bags of "stuff." Shit. What did I miss? Then I saw their kids all d...

Just when you think you've got it all together.... Your son comes to tell you that there is poop on the floor.  So even though he's been potty trained for a nearly a year and ASKS for privacy when he goes, there are still mishaps.  Like, well this: He was such an easy kid to potty train...a few skittles here, a few there and BAM, bye bye diapers.  Yet, he has his quirks.  For instance, I am not sure why his own private potty ended up getting flipped over, but I do know that he was in there building a fortress with toilet paper.  It's what he does - I don't know, I tend to think it's creative and not destructive. I think my mistake was loading up the shelf with fresh new rolls (I did that at 7am).  It was all just too exciting for him. And so even though this was the first day in history that both children slept until 8am allowing me to deep clean the bathroom (again at 7am) I was right back at it at 11am. Please remind me of this as I have a ...

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...

With the help of two troops of wonderful family Jerry and I left for the weekend to celebrate my beautiful friend's wedding day.  Off to Cape Cod we went while our children were showered with love, gifts, sleepover treats, adventures and cousin time.  After checking in with them a few dozen times, I made some time to have fun.  A lot of it. If you put twelve of your closest high school friends in one house for a weekend there are a couple things that are guaranteed: 1.  You'll get no sleep.  I mean that.  One night I did not sleep.  The last time I did that was, well it was last year when John refused to sleep.  Let's just say it took me the whole week to recover. 2.  You end up reminiscing about the same memories you reminisce every time you see each other.  You also make a lot of promises about getting together again soon (let's make it actually happen). 3.  It's a good thing that snap chats disappear after 24 hours. ...

Kelly is our most featured guest-poster.  In other amazing news she came back to CT!  She's written about being a new mom , mom instincts and going back to work .  Now she's, "home" and starting a new chapter by "staying home" and moving forward with a few of her passions.  I say a few because unlike many people (ok, me) she's good at so many things.  Read on for more... So I have decided that I am too old to sleep in a sleeping bag on the hardwood floor, even just for one night. Let me back up… … We decided to make the move from RI to CT to be closer to family. Our house sold in 2 weeks (thank goodness, it was hard to keep picking up all of the toys for showings). We would close after the school year, pack up a truck, move in with my parents’ in CT, and put our stuff in a storage unit. It makes me laugh to think about our whole little house packed into one tiny (ok large) room, I wonder what all of our stuff is doing in there? The Mayor of...

Fresh off a fantastic weekend with beautiful friends (new and old).  We were gone for less than 48 hours, but I felt like I was on a different planet.  Sure we were in Cape Cod and not Mars, but it felt like a brief stop in time (or during many moments a flashback to my "old" life). These are my top 5 reasons why it is still ok for a 32 year old to go to a bachelorette party and really (REALLY) let loose. 1.   We went to the beach all day, which isn't a rarity for me, BUT it was with adults only.  I was able to relax and do the beach how I used to.  Instead of sand castles and umbrella time, I swam in the waves, had a beach drink and tried to nap.     I read more of my book than collect shells (but I still did both). 2.  I didn't drive the entire weekend. No car seat buckles and no kiddie snacks, no mediating and no toddler tunes.  Better yet, no pressure (safety, caution).  I left that to others.  Mostly to Meg for driving ...

Today I had just enough time to watch a grocery cart swiftly crash into my car.  Technically I had more than enough time to stop it.  In fact, it was kind of walking parallel to me, but then picked up speed and SMASH. The reason I couldn't stop it (even though it was bright green and headed for my shiny black car) was because I was holding 5 bags of groceries and two little people's hands. I went to the local grocery market so that the kids could both get their little carts and make a quick stop fun.  Ok fine, quick stops don't happen anymore, but they did have fun. I didn't want them bringing the carts in the parking lot, because that would be a disaster (both managed to tip them over in the store a total of three times). So I thought I could grab it all.  I didn't anticipate Lucy wanting to hold my left hand.  It was a really big deal to have the left hand - you know that one I had carefully balanced all the groceries on so I was frazzled when we walked ...

My sister has posted before and I love sharing her thoughts with you all.  She is a trauma therapist and she gives to others more than herself.  For this post she gives some advice and some scary as all hell stats.  I learned a lot reading it and feel better about how to talk to Lucy about things.  Read and share, please! There is a scary mommy post that has been popping up in my news feed again lately.  It's an old post, but it's making the rounds again.  The jist of the post is a mom writing about her and her husband’s decision to not allow their young children to go on sleepovers.  She goes on to say that they have some exceptions for trusted family members, but when it comes to friend’s houses, particularly friends who they don't even know with parents they never even met, their children are not going for a sleepover.  She says that at such a young age her children are too vulnerable and can't be trusted yet to know and understand appropri...

To the mom who manages to get her daughter dressed in a coordinated, fitted and ironed outfit every day.   I am in awe . To the mom who brushes her daughter's hair every morning.   I admire you. To the mom who gets her daughter's hair into pony tails, pig tails or intricate hair patterns with matching ribbons, clips and bows.   I'm at a loss. I've been taking notice of you and I need you to spread your knowledge.  I often give myself pats on the back for getting my kids safely and happily to "school" on daycare days and getting to work on time.  For me, this is a major achievement. Yet.... Just recently I have been taking notice of the other girls at daycare.  No lie...their hair seems brushed, tamed and pulled back.  They look together.  Their entrance proves that there was an effort put into their appearance.  It may go unnoticed to others, but not to me.  I am entranced. Lucy is an independent girl.  I love that about...

Rather, winter has already been here, it just took till February for it to actually be painful. This weekend the temps in CT have been below 0.  So, even though we have been going outside throughout all of January, we have officially made it an indoors weekend here.  I'll be honest, even the thought of bundling them up for a few minutes of fresh air felt daunting. Sidenote :   Jerry and I got out this weekend and went to see The Revenant.  It was a beautiful movie (at times) and when I say at times what I really mean is when I was able to actually watch it and not hide my eyes in my scarf it was quite lovely.  It was quite possibly the most graphic movie I've ever seen, but I suppose it was realistic.  It showed one man's survival in arctic cold temperatures (with a broken leg and several exposed wounds).  I guess my point is that if I can't get motivated enough to bundle my kids to get into the car and this guy traveled hundreds of miles on foot (...

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...

I am always amazed at moms who admit their flaws.  I do to a degree, but I know I hold back.  Then there are others...others who preach about  their issues so that everyone else can feel better about themselves.  What better gift can you give a new mom than the reassurance that other people have been there and have probably felt or done worse? I am truly in awe. I am big into podcasts.  I listen to them while I grade, while I plan, when I workout and when I am alone.  Yes, this equates to mere minutes a day, but it's something.  I listen to one called Death Sex and Money (it's not as scandalous as it sounds).  This week Brooke Sheilds was on talking about her new book and the issue of Post Partem Depression came up.  I didn't personally have PPD, but her description made me empathize and understand it better. How hard must it have been for her to be one of the first "famous" people to admit to feeling sad after giving birth? Just saw...

Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Schumer are not moms.  F it - we love them anyways. We love them for so many reasons, but mainly because they are two girls we wish we were or at least wish we could rub up against. Funny, talented, beautiful and oh so likable.  How did you get that way?   Until we find a mom we like just as much as you, you will remain our permanent crushes.  See you at the Golden Globes next year (perhaps Lucy can stay up that late to see you being you). Here's to girls' night on a work night.  It's worth eating a whole bag of popcorn and saying "screw it" to extra sleep, grading or cleaning.  

SJP  If you are anywhere in our age range, (or are my grandma), then those letters need no explanation. But just in case............. Today's MCM is: Sarah.  Jessica.  Parker. aka. OUR QUEEN It's hard to put my love for her into words.... She just seems to have it all, to take everything in stride, and to be happy!  She's the embodiment of "joy".    She runs not ONE but TWO Instagram pages  (her personal, and her Shoe Line) ,  She is best friends with Andy Cohen. She IS Carrie Bradshaw, She runs a shoe EMPIRE, She makes the world seem easy, breezy, and effortless. Her style is FLAWLESS.   We would literally take anything she wears and wear it ourselves.   But first and foremost, she is a MOM. When I think of a celebrity Mom that I want to be SHE IS IT!   She brings her children to school, she guards them fiercely from the photogs (which is why I chose not to...

Just wanted to take a minute to admire stay-at-home mom s.  I have the kids for 2 solid weeks and I couldn't wait.  I have them every vacation and summer and every minute I can get, but it has been awhile since I have had them for this many consecutive days without having to go to work.  Even though my job is hard - 150+ teens and the baggage that comes along with that - there are also built-in breaks throughout the day.  I have a set 45 minute lunch and a plan period.  I spend both of these in almost complete silence.  It's not that I want to be anti-social it's that those precious moments are the only time that I get to stop talking and listening to others.  "Me-time".  Not to mention there are some days when the kids are so good - no drama, no whining, just honest-to-God "need-to-learn" behavior. Those days make it all worth it - the gentle reminder of why it's "ok" to work while my kids are elsewhere. You don't get quiet-time when...

I have not been following this story for too long, but a short time ago I was perusing people.com and a woman named Joey Fleek came up.  I had never heard of her before, but her picture and a headline that had something to do with being terminally ill reeled me in.  If interested in a little back story visit here . This week this entry goes beyond "crush" into pure admiration and awe.  Fleek has a young daughter (22 months old) and what seems to be a huge, supportive family and husband.  She's also a country singer and famous.   Unfortunately, Fleek also has terminal cervical cancer.   Through my meager research it looks like she is at the end of a painful battle and that she has come to terms with it.  Her husband posts blogs, images and videos of the family having dance parties, doing crafts and snuggling.  Even though she is dying, they all seem determined to make it the most fun months possible. Every picture I see of Joey is a hu...

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...