Because natural isn't always possible — or easy.
Posted in Emotional development, parenting, Pissy mussings, Play, Safety on Apr 30th, 2012
Earlier this week we were all outside. The kids were playing basketball. Well, maybe playing isn’t the right word. “Mommmm, she won’t share.” “Little Girl, share.” “No, it’s my turn.”(Scuffling and pushing ensues.) “Girls, stop it. Big Girl, just let her play with it for another two seconds.” (Said dramatically) “No, it’s my ball. Besides, [...]
I am not what you would call an outdoor person and yet some of my most treasured memories took place outside. My sister and I spent all of our waking hours running around our street, biking, playing games, or hanging out at the playground around the corner. We used leaves, sticks, and flowers as props. [...]
Posted in exercise, Gender, parenting, Play on Sep 18th, 2011
Little Girl has been asking to play soccer for about a year now, as unbelievable as that sounds. We’d drive past the field and she’s squeal and ask me to stop the car. Now that she’s three, I decided to sign her up for a local program. We recently had our first session. She was [...]
Posted in Friendship, Play on Jan 27th, 2011
Today is a snow day here in New York. Hubby got up and, because he takes a train to work, was able to go off to the city. Me? I was at home with both kids. No babysitters in sight. We did a bunch of stuff to keep busy and have fun. I had Big [...]
When I go to playdates the other moms almost always put out one or more of the following: Chicken fingers, French fries, hotdogs, and macaroni and cheese. And I always serve Little Girl the same thing: Whatever I’m eating. a sandwich, some cheese and crackers, a little meat rolled up, some fruit. She doesn’t eat [...]
The past few Sundays — as her sister naps — Big Girl and I have been going for bike rides. We travel a half mile east, another half mile north, and then head east, north, and east again until we get to a local park. Inside, we slip onto the bike-only track. I won’t lie: [...]
Posted in Consumer Packaged Goods, Play, Shopping, Siblings on Oct 11th, 2010
This weekend was Big Girl’s birthday. To celebrate, we went into New York City and visited American Girl Place. We had dinner in the cafe, and shopped afterward for Big Girl’s very first real American Girl doll — number 35, a red-head with straight hair and green eyes. While we were there we made a [...]
Posted in Emotional development, Play, School and education on May 27th, 2010
My big girl’s play was today. I missed the 1 p.m. performance. I had a meeting I couldn’t get out of. She was the narrator. She was supposed to run onto the stage and start the play. Instead of running, though she tripped, or so my mother and husband told me. She went down hard, [...]
Posted in parenting, Play, Safety, School and education on May 24th, 2010
First, some disclosures. I do not like the water all that much. I don’t like getting my hair wet. I don’t like bathing suits. I hate the sun. (Pasty skin will do that to you.) Second, my big girl inherited my “love” of the water. I did not do this to her. My husband, a [...]
Posted in Environment, Going Green, Play, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Sustainable on May 6th, 2010
Take a look at the photo above. Ignore the fact that it is an obvious attempt to give my kids all the stuff I never had as a child. Also, that it looks like a daycare or a school. Then take another look. Know how much I paid for everything? About $300 total including the [...]