Should Have Looked That One Up
Posted by Martha
About three weeks ago I noticed a small itchy rash on my 6-year old’s leg. “I didn’t think we had any poison oak in the yard,” I said to him. Oh, and the patch of the alleged poison oak was also in a perfectly round shape. He didn’t complain too much about the itch and we continued on as normal, occasionally dabbing on my go-to miracle cure for everything A+D Ointment. It is truly a miracle cream. Plus it’s super fun to give some to a childless friend and as she’s putting it on her chapped lips announce that it’s really for baby bums. Screech!
Last week my mother-in-law came to town. Within minutes of seeing her beloved grandson she identified the rash as ringworm. My confidence as a seasoned mother with [...]
Order Up!
Posted by Erin
Dinner time is chaotic around here. Well, let me clarify. When the three of us actually sit down to eat, it’s really quite nice. We have always valued the sanctity of the family meal…the kids know that I feel very strongly about taking a few moments to relax and share the best parts of our day. It took some time to establish the routines (taking turns setting the table, no handheld computers, no Blackberry for mom, using our manners all the time), but I think it’s one of my favorite parts of the day. However, in the last year or so, the prep time for these family meals has increased dramatically! When they were much younger, they were picky eaters, like all other kids. But then we moved past that point, and we were all able to enjoy whatever it was I could get on the table. But last year, [...]
Ghost on a Stick
Posted by Martha
School rules sometimes squish the kids’ fun (but they’re important just the same.) Our school is nut-free and candy-free at Halloween. But that doesn’t stop the super moms from sending in fun stuff for friends.
Here’s a creative, non-candy idea for Halloween that’s easy for busy moms. Especially good alternative for sending treats to school.
Pencil Ghosts: Place a cotton ball on the end of a pencil, cover it with a white tissue and cinch the middle with a bit of pipe cleaner or yarn. It’s fun to spin, and makes sending a pencil a bit more special. All supplies are readily available at the one dollar store, and the kids [...]
It’s Okay to Talk About It
Posted by G.I. Jane
I read an article on NPR yesterday that talked about the difficulties of parenthood and how admittance of this fact comes with the stigma that you aren’t normal or are an unfit parent. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s okay to talk about it, and more importantly, it’s okay to feel beat down by the whole experience.
My daughter is eight months old and I’m still “mourning my pre-mommy” life as Martha calls it. The memories of being able to get up and go somewhere – alone! – or do things around the house without an infant needing my constant attention are still fresh. Last week I was able to walk to the liquor store by myself to get a bottle of wine on a beautiful evening and I felt an indescribable feeling of freedom in those short 15 minutes.
Monday, however, was a day when I questioned [...]
Plugged In
Posted by Erin
I was listening to public radio the other day and I heard a great story about multi-tasking. The point of the segment was that all of the technology that we rely on daily has actually changed the way our brains function. Our brains (and those of our teenagers) have actually changed to accept lots of little bits of information all at once. We’re actually more efficient when we are being bombarded with tidbits on a constant basis, right? So this NPR story is my excuse for being plugged in, constantly. I got my first cell phone when I was in college. It was huge, minutes were a fortune, and calls got dropped all the time. But I had the cell phone and it was great in an emergency. I’m not sure exactly when [...]
The Magic Robe
Posted by G.I. Jane
I have a magic robe. My husband surprised me with this red fleece robe a few weeks before I gave birth to our daughter. It was intended to keep me cozy during my maternity leave in the middle of winter. I have learned, however, that it possesses magic powers. These powers don’t allow me to suddenly whisk away to another time or place, or make me disappear or even make me Super Mommy, but it does have the ability to calm and soothe my daughter into a nap…or her happy place.
I’ve been wearing it since she was a newborn and noticed recently she has an affinity for it. If she sees it, she suddenly lights up and lunges for it. Literally, lunges. If she gets her hands on it, she smothers her face with it. It’s become her blankey, or lovie. Case in point, I had a friend over a [...]
