Because natural isn't always possible — or easy.
Posted in Emotional development, parenting on Apr 20th, 2013
Big Girl has an iTouch. It is actually turning out to be a wonderful communication tool for us. We’re both people who find it easier to write than to talk. The other day I sent her the following text as she was getting ready for bed: I will come give you a hug. Do you [...]
Posted in parenting, Pissy mussings on Jan 24th, 2013
I woke up with tears on my face early this morning. I had been dreaming about being browbeaten by the director of a local nursery school — someone who has known me since Big Girl was three. I can’t remember everything about the dream, but I remember the gist of it. She was telling me [...]
Posted in parenting on Jan 2nd, 2013
We’ve been laying out Big Girl’s clothing at night lately to try and cut down on angst in the a.m. Tonight, as I was laying out her new sweatpants (tomorrow is gym) and sneakers, I asked her what top she wanted to wear. I pulled out two matches and casually asked, “What do the other [...]
Posted in Emotional development, Marriage on Jul 13th, 2012
Today is my anniversary. 16 years. Amazing. We were kids, literally, when we got married. Both of us still in college, both of us just starting our careers. When I think back, I wonder what we were thinking. How did we know, “This is the one?” My groom, a 22-year-old adorable, hot guy, was extremely [...]
Posted in parenting on May 22nd, 2012
You know how studies always say that parents — not the media or Lady Gaga — are the real role models for children? (Like this one out of The University of Montreal.) I always doubted it. Why would my kid want to be just like me? I am imperfect. I am fallible. I am annoying [...]
Posted in Pets on Apr 21st, 2012
Last week my husband started sending me photos and links of adoptable dogs. He has been militantly anti-dog even in the face of…well, two cute faces. My girls have been begging for a dog for years. The little one, who is 3, is especially relentless. “Why can’t I have a doggie? I would love her [...]
I have a friend who has two kids under the age of four and a baby on the way. Some afternoons she sits in front of the nursery school — the same one that her son and my daughter attends — while her youngest naps. I am slightly envious, especially since she gets a whole [...]
Posted in Emotional development on Dec 13th, 2011
Christmas trees are as individual as fingerprints. Some people favor white trees with multicolored twinkling lights. Others go for a more monochrome look with the lights, the ornaments, and the tree skirt all matching in shades of red, silver or gold. Tinsel, angel hair, garland, lights, stars, angels — there’s a look, a decorative element [...]
Posted in Pissy mussings on Nov 3rd, 2011
Last night I fell in a hole. Literally. Remember when a tree fell down in my backyard? When the hurricane hit? Well, at the time we removed the portions of the tree that had fallen on my neighbor’s house and my fence, but we were unable to get the giant root ball or the bottom [...]
Posted in parenting, Pop Culture on Oct 5th, 2011
Sometimes, my job is pretty cool. This past Monday was one of those times because I got to preview the new Sony Pictures Animation film Arthur Christmas with my husband and my two girls. We got to see the movie at the Sony screening room, which was an experience in itself. (Big, cushy seating, super-loud [...]