Teach Me How to Mommy

Note to self:   When approaching a big milestone (like sending your daughter off to kindergarten) make sure you and your husband (or partner) are on the same page. This week we took Lucy to her kindergarten orientation.  She seemed to adjust great.  She walked in with a skip, was whisked away by teachers to a classroom and came back with stories to tell. Her parents on the other hand?  A little off our game.  We got there "just" in time.  We were called last (to meet with the principal) and therefore allowed our nerves to get the best of us.  During the "interview" we struggled with how to adequately express what a doll Lucy is without looking like the parents who think their child walks on water.  In the end, I don't know if she understood that Lucy is kind, patient and hard-working (all to a fault).  Instead, I think she saw sweaty-palmed newbies who struggled with basic questions. We'll know better with the second kid, pros ...

Just before my baby turned three years old he made it known that (until January) he is definitely still my baby. Today John turned three.  Three seems old, and at times he really seems it. He doesn't need me to play with him all the time.  I don't need to hold his hand when he's approaching a dangerous activity (he does it without permission anyways).  He even tells me sometimes often that he doesn't want my hugs.  He even (just this week) lost, albeit by accident,  the stuffed animal that he totted around for about 6 months.  "Tiggy" who was captured in every summer picture (including professional) this year, has magically disappeared.  We can't find it and instead of crying about it, John has taken it like a man (or at least a 6 year old).  That's right he is still going to sleep at night and going to school in the morning - all without Tiggy. Yet, he's not off to college either.  He's had three years of being a baby and he's not givi...

I know it's important to "make the time".  I've been working on it all summer.  But what if time is kind of running out (or at least running low). Recently anyone I come in contact with asks the big question "When is baby number three coming?" Wait, just joking (no one EVER asks that).  It's: "When do you go back?" It's soon ok.  It's Monday.  It hurts when I have to talk about it, but thanks for asking. Instead of wallowing, I've been squeezing every good minute out of this week.  We've done lots of fun stuff and then also some regular stuff, but we've done it all together.  I've noticed that Lucy has gotten just a bit more special attention this week because of the nature of some of my errands (haircuts, etc.).  So, on this night I told Jerry I was taking out our son and we would be back when we would be back.  I said bye to my favorite girl and headed out with no plan. We just ended up at the park, a perf...

Bachelorette on far right! In a few days Amy and I (and others) are escaping to the Cape for a girl's weekend.  Let's call it what it is a bachelorette party ! We are celebrating an amazing friend, one who we've known for well over 20 years.  A fellow girl scout who is truly selfless - beautiful in every way imaginable.  We are hoping some giggles and booze will help the memories, stories and squabbles surface in fits of dance and instagram posts. I've been excited for this for a long time, but it just dawned on me tonight that it will be the first time that I will be away from kids by myself.  The few times I've been away (for weddings or dates) Jerry has always accompanied me.  We were in it together.  We missed them together and had fun together.  Once when I cried, Jerry told me how much I deserved a night away.  He was right and I tried really hard to have fun (and I did!). Jerry will be great.  Maybe part of him is glad to have ...

Today, I cried. That's not new.  Anyone who knows me, knows this about me.  If I'm too happy, I'm crying.  If I'm too sad, I'm crying. It was why I cried that threw me for a loop.  I've had a few very happy phone calls over the last month.  With each phone call, I was crying.. Tears of pure joy.  I was crying with my head in the refrigerator (making Colin's lunch), I was crying giving Colin a bath, I was crying at Stop & Shop (in the cheese section).   My people -- the ones I care about the most -- are thriving! So then, when I heard there were new babies on the way, I was ecstatic! I want to impart ALL my wisdom upon these new Momma's.  I want to tell them to start wearing maternity clothes immediately (because boy will they miss them).  I want to tell them to eat ice cream, and carry tums everywhere, and drink coffee if they want to, go to the beach (even if they DON'T want to).  I want to tell them to go to every singl...

Kelly has shared with us before .  She's a super teacher mommy.  She'll tell you about a breast and bottle feeding journey below.  Whether \feeding came easy for you or not, it's more about the worries that come along with being a mom and the lengths you'll go to fix any issue.  Ultimately, moms know best right? Right?????? As an educator we always talk about how early intervention makes all the difference in the world for children. But how early is early??? Gus and I struggled from day 1 with breast feeding, and taking the bottle wasn't much easier. The bottle ended in both of us covered in half of the milk. As he sucked and slurped and garbled and squeaked, the milk would pour out of the sides of his mouth. I was blistered and cut and defeated. I joined a breast feeding support group which was amazing. All of the moms and the lactation consultant had great ideas, but it all came down to one thing, something didn't seem right. Gus had an undisco...

Just this week I was "tied up."  The kids were not in eye sight, but I heard them.  Then all of a sudden I didn't hear them.  It could've lasted 30 seconds or 5 minutes, I don't remember, but all of a sudden I was like what happened.  Was one of them sitting on the other?  Were they half way up the stairs (in socks)? Were they playing in the bathroom (the worst possible scenario)? No they were 10 feet away from me and Lucy was reading to John.  By reading I mean explaining the picture (she's smart, but not that smart).  He was sitting in awe of her. (The details of them being only half-clothed and sitting on the ottoman are not important). I am sure many moms have had these moments.  I have too, but there was something about me not being present while it happened that made it that much more special.  They love each other even when I am not there (hovering).  True siblings.  Sometimes I think back to the time that Jerry and I...

Transitions  11/2014 - the last day of my maternity leave. I’m probably the WORST person to talk about transition.  I’m terrible at it.  It’s not even that I “hate change”  I’m just terrible at life during a time of change. I have always felt like I am cut from a different cloth than many of the people around me.  I honestly don’t even know how to explain what that means… or I didn’t until I had Colin.  I was VERY nervous to give birth.  I was terrified of the pain (horrifying, and NO you don’t “forget” the pain after you see the baby).  I was terrified of having a c-section (worst fear realized… because that’s exactly what I had), and I was terrified of post-partum (check again.. but that’s a WHOLE other post).  Colin changed everything about how I saw the world, but it took me a very long time for me to realize that he made me a better version of myself.   I read a LOT of mommy blogs, and forums, and books, and saw tv sh...

My sister touched upon some transitions her family is currently working through.  She really struck a cord when talking about going back to work.  She's lucky to start off slowly by doing part-time ( bitch - sorry - not sorry), yet the transition will certainly have a huge emotional impact. Lucy transitioned to her big girl bed a couple weeks ago. As per usual she adapted easily.  My "miss independent." Via Facebook, I have recently seen a wave of friends and acquaintances who have new babies and who are returning to work.  Seeing their posts brought back the feelings I experienced when returning to work last year and the year before that. When a mom announces it's time for her personal paradise maternity leave to end and daycare to begin I feel strong pangs in my heart.  Those first days, weeks and months of tearing yourself away from feedings, nap times, homemaking and love in order to get back in the classroom, the cubicle, the desk seems unnatural. ...