Too funny. Thanks for sharing Carrie!
Archive for the ‘Mommydom’ Category
Pregnant women are smug
December 2, 2010Parenting pearls from people I know
November 4, 2010I’ve been making a mental note of the times I hear someone mention some parenting tip that I particularly like. I have accumulated a few of these mental notes and thought I’d share them here while also encouraging you to share your personal favorite parenting tips. Leave a comment if you’ve got one to share!
On Christmas gift-giving:
My co-worker, Andy, and his wife give their two children three presents each on Christmas Day. No more. No less. His rationale: “If the Magi’s three gifts were good enough for Jesus Christ, three gifts are certainly more than enough for my kids.” I kinda like that train of thought.
On getting your kids to eat their vegetables:
My friend Amanda recommends actively soliciting the help of your little ones ones when doing summer gardening. Her two kids help her plant and then pick the green beans, tomatoes and other produce sprouting in her garden. And as a result, they’re all the more intrigued by (and more likely to eat) the vegetables they pick. I’ve already started this tradition with my toddler. She helped mama pick tomatoes, green beans and cucumbers all summer. And though she isn’t yet eating tomatoes, she is willing to give them a lick. It’s a start, and I’ll take it!
On birthday party gifts…
I recently heard the story of an eight-year-old boy whose parents were going to throw him his last “big” birthday party inviting all the kids in his class. Concerned about the excess of her son receiving 25+ gifts, this boy’s mom encouraged him to instruct his friends to bring a baby item (diapers, formula, etc.) instead of a gift to the party. They would then donate these items to a shelter for children from broken families. With only a little coaxing, he agreed. With tears in his eyes at the sight of the massive pile of baby items accumulated after the party, he said “so many babies need help.” What a great lesson his parents taught him and, by extension, the kids who attended his party!
I see this blog topic becoming a recurring one as I come across more wisdom from my parenting peers. Thanks to Andy, Amanda and Pat for these parenting pearls for us to ponder. 
Mom and baby meet Michigan Ave
October 19, 2010I lived in Chicago for six years and spent three of those years working on the city’s Magnificent Mile. It was an awesome place to work. Shopping and dining options abounded, and I regularly spent my lunch hour window shopping or enjoying the tasty cuisine seemingly available at every corner.
On more than one occasion during those three years, I encountered a tourist and her little girl asking for directions to the American Girl Store. The little girl would be holding tightly on to her mom’s hand working hard to keep from jumping out of her pants. I would happily point them in the direction of Mecca and smile as they walked away. On many more occasions, I found myself behind families making their way back down the street weighed down by the trademark red shopping bags undoubtedly stuffed with a “Kit,” a “Felicity” or perhaps a “Bitty Baby.”
I even made it inside American Girl once during those years to meet my sister who brought by niece to the city to experience the magic of the store (where you can also have tea with your doll seated next to you in a high chair or catch a live show with real girls cast as the famous dolls).
Last week, I was in Chicago visiting a loved one in the hospital just a block away from the Magnificent Mile. My husband offered to take me and my daughter to lunch to get away from the hospital for a bit. We took him up on his offer. The sun was shining on this beautiful day in Chicago, and we decided to take a stroll after our meal. On a whim, we made our way toward American Girl curious to see if our toddler would have any reaction to this special place.
We figured at 19 months, she was way too little to appreciate it, but were curious to see her reaction nonetheless. We walked in the door, and our daughter’s eyes grew big. She smiled as she pointed out “horsies” and “babies” on display. She then broke free and began roaming on her own. Her favorite thing was undoubtedly the strollers on display for customers to try out. She grabbed the handles and maneuvered first a double and then a single stroller like a pro. She was in heaven.
Tears came promptly when we finally picked her up and made our way out the door after spending time taking in the cast of dolls and their many accessories. But I know we will be back. And I am quite excited at the thought of making our way down Michigan Avenue with roles reversed when we are the excited mom and daughter, and I get to witness her experience the magic of American Girl.
Did I miss out? Methinks not…
October 11, 2010In case you were wondering, if you Google “What to do with my life,” the sixth entry to come up will be a list of 70 Things to Do Before Having Children as proposed by a couple only known as “Marc and Angel.” Curious to see what I may have missed before giving birth to my daughter, I of course clicked on this link. I have some thoughts in response to Marc and Angel’s list, but seeing as how 70 items is a lot to assess in one post, I thought for today I’d focus on the first ten. So here they are copied verbatim:
- Live in a high rise condo with an amazing view.
- Take a month long vacation on the opposite side of the world in a city with a completely different culture.
- Attend the Super Bowl live.
- Jump out of a perfectly good airplane.
- Make love in places you aren’t supposed to.
- Swim with the sharks.
- Scuba-dive to a large ship wreck.
- Audition to be on TV or in a movie… even if you’re just an extra.
- Throw the house party of all house parties. Supply all the booze and invite everyone you know.
- Take sexy photos of yourself (keep them somewhere safe).
Now dear readers, before I share my comments, I need to remind you that my most devoted reader is my mother, Mary Kay. With that in mind, I’ve intentionally opted to avoid commenting on #5 and #10, cuz really, I just can’t go there knowing she is reading this (hi mom)!
So without further ado, my thoughts:
1. Live in a high rise condo with an amazing view.
I personally have never been one for high rises. I like being able to open my front door and grab the paper while feeling the breeze. I am not a huge fan of heights. And I like a neighborhood feel. But all that aside, why can’t you have a baby in a high rise? Admittedly, carrying a baby and all the associated gear up flights of stairs is less than desirable, but are we to assume that said high rise lacks the modern amenity known as an elevator? Hmmm…
2. Take a month long vacation on the opposite side of the world in a city with a completely different culture.
I did this once in my life. I admit, it was AWESOME. Saw six countries in four weeks with four gals who will forever be part of my innermost circle. BUT I was 22 years old, weeks out of college and unemployed. Since that backpacking excursion of summer 2000, I have (thankfully) been continually employed, but never have I worked anywhere where it would have been encouraged (and probably even permitted) for me to take a month-long vacation. Do many people have this option, childless or otherwise at their place of employment?
3. Attend the Super Bowl live.
I would like to do this. But not with an infant, and probably not with a toddler–that is unless my husband were the MVP of said Super Bowl game, and I was standing next to him while holding our toddler to assist him with the selection of which Caddy he wanted to drive home before filming his “I’m going to Disney World” spot. Even though my husband is very athletic, I think it’s safe to say he won’t be center field with the Super Bowl MVP trophy any time soon. But heck, I’d go to a Super Bowl if the opportunity presented itself. I’d love to take my daughter too if she were a little older to appreciate it. Until then, there is a little something called a babysitter.
4. Jump out of a perfectly good airplane.
There was a time I wanted to do this. I felt the desire strongest after watching professional skydivers plunge from planes above Lake Michigan during the Chicago Air and Water show circa 2002. But within an hour of witnessing that spectacle, the idea was completely off my radar. And now, I have no real desire to do this, and would have to agree with Marc and Angel, in this one instance, that this is something I wouldn’t want to do as a parent–just not worth the risk.
5. Make love in places you aren’t supposed to.
See above. Just can’t go there.
6. Swim with the sharks.
Never had and suspect never will I have any desire to do this before or after kids. Didn’t “Jaws” and “Open Water” terrify anyone else?
7. Scuba-dive to a large ship wreck.
Again, I ask why can’t you do this if you have kids? Heck, take the kids with you. I’m sure they’d love it. And isn’t this junior wet suit so cute?
8. Audition to be on TV or in a movie… even if you’re just an extra.
In Hollywood, it seems parenthood is the new black. Halle Berry. Julia Roberts. Amy Adams. Maggie Gyllenhaal. Reese Witherspoon. Oh just a few up-and-coming Hollywood starlets who are also moms. Apparently these gals, who happen to know a thing or two about show biz, think the roles of mom and actress need not be mutually exclusive. So perhaps neither should we.
9. Throw the house party of all house parties. Supply all the booze and invite everyone you know.
I once threw a party at my parents’ house when they were out of town. I was 17 years old and made a bad decision. I was so worried the entire time that A.) the police would come B.) someone would steal my mom’s jewelry (turned out they just stole all the wine off the wine rack–yikes!) or C. ) that the house would be trashed, that I didn’t enjoy one minute of the evening. I’m a little older now (and hopefully a little wiser), but I still harbor the worry of both A and C. (I have no jewelry worth stealing so item B is no longer a concern.) Still, I prefer my parties a little more intimate, and I don’t think parenthood has anything to do with it.
10. Take sexy photos of yourself (keep them somewhere safe).
Again, I don’t really want to go here. And if you know me, you know I hate having my picture taken so photos such as these would never be a reality–with child or without!
As I review this top ten list, I am mentally composing a note to Marc and Angel. It goes something like this… “Dear M and A, Thank you for your thoughts on what to do before taking the parenthood plunge. However, I suspect you don’t yet have kids. I fully admit that when you are a parent you’re limited in time and admittedly energy so that many of the things on your list aren’t as easily doable–but you certainly can do them. There are such things as babysitters. And judging by the number of flights I’ve been on in my life where a child (sometimes my own) has been screaming, I can tell you plenty of people are traveling with kids and not just to Disney World…”
I’ve found that having my daughter with us as we take on life’s adventures adds a whole new dimension to our experience, and I mean that in a good way.
So to those of you who, like me, were slightly disheartened to see this list, my advice is to instead make a list of things that having kids enables or encourages you to do (e.g. visit the zoo, go on a hayride, swim with the dolphins, touch a baby piglet). In my experience the list will be many times longer than Marc and Angel’s.
Good luck!
Highlight of our Sunday evening
August 23, 2010Hands down was this…
p.s. I realize ours is not the first baby/toddler to get her groove on to Beyonce. What is it about this song?!
p.p.s. I am very excited that, as you just witnessed, Meghan is now twirling.
A love story
August 18, 2010My husband and I were set up on a blind date. A friend from a former job suggested that I meet her husband’s brother. Seeing as how I had had little luck in finding love on my own, I agreed to have her put us in contact. After a brief e-mail exchange, he and I met at a restaurant near my apartment. I vividly remember swigging a beer while listening to No Doubt’s “It’s My Life” to calm my nerves before departing for the three-minute walk to Tilli’s on the night of our meeting.
I didn’t want to be early, so I walked around the neighborhood a few times. And then I made my approach. I opened the door to the restaurant. It was a Wednesday evening so there were few people inside. I don’t why I thought he’d be standing right at the door, but no one was there. I scanned the bar and saw a friendly face smiling my way. He stood up. I walked over. We ordered a Harp and began our first conversation. Little did we know then that three years later we’d get married in Petoskey, Mich., and almost five years to the day later that we’d welcome a little peanut into the world.
That night we only knew we were both a little nervous. I wore flats because I didn’t want to be any bit taller than my five feet 10 and three quarter inches. He wore a zip sweater and khaki pants. We shook hands after chatting over two beers and then parted ways. I didn’t know where it would lead, but I knew I wanted to see him again.
And I did. And it must be said that he was a lot of fun to date. One spring evening, I arrived at his home to smell my favorite goodie, banana bread, baking in the oven. One fall day, he brought me a pumpkin. Once he sent me a card with a hammock on the front and a one-sentence message inside saying how he’d like to spend a lazy day with me in a hammock. There were other gestures (including one awesome one involving an extreme home makeover), but if you don’t mind, I think I’ll keep those for myself.
Now, six plus years after we met, we’re settled into domestic life. And while I think we both would admit that the butterflies we felt in the early days of our courtship are gone, something else pretty special has taken their place.
Seeing my husband as a father has made me feel even more fortunate to have found him. He’s a get-down-on-the-ground-to-be-at-eye-level kind of dad. And as I observed him the other night with our daughter, one thought came to mind: I am so very blessed!
Love you B!
p.s. If you want to read a really great love story, check out Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond’s chronicle of her courtship with the Marlboro Man (I hear it’s being made into a movie)! Start here.
When credit card use is a good idea
August 8, 2010Want to know what 10,400 American Express reward points can get you?
A Step2® Push Around Buggy.
Want to know how you’ll feel when it arrives and you get to present it to a 16-month-old with really curly hair and a gap between her two front teeth?
Like it’s Christmas Day.
Inside my head (it can be a strange place)
July 30, 2010Since having a child, I have come up with some pretty bizarre scenarios for things that could go wrong. I’m beginning to wonder if I am really paranoid, really strange or really paranoid and really strange…
For it’s scenarios such as these that pepper my thoughts from time to time: when I have my daughter in a grocery cart and return to my car after exiting the grocery store, do I put the baby in the car first and then the groceries or the other way around? If I put her in first, and then I get hit by a car when returning the cart to the corral, will EMS know to look in my car for a baby if I am unconscious?
Another example, when my husband is out of town, my paranoia turns up full throttle. Before I had a baby, I used to lock our bedroom door at night when he would travel. But now I can’t lock the bedroom door if my sleeping daughter down the hall is completely exposed to potential burglars. Should I bring her into bed with me and lock us both in my bedroom knowing neither of us will sleep well but that we’ll be safer behind a locked door?
And finally, when we turn on our attic fan, we need the windows open so air can circulate. But what if by leaving my 16-month-old daughter’s bedroom window slightly open, she (who has never climbed out of her crib before) somehow scaled her crib railing, ran to the window, hoisted herself up, knocked out the screen and base jumped down to the grass below?
I realize by revealing hypothetical scenarios such as these that you are getting a peek under the curtain at the odd goings-on in my head. I suspect, though, that I am not alone in my worrying ways. Any other moms ever conjure up what-ifs like these?
Where I’ll be Wednesday at noon
July 26, 2010On Facebook, a friend recently asked if anyone had advice for her as she returned to work following maternity leave. A slew of comments (including one from me) followed. Seems everyone has thoughts on this transitional time. One of the comments I particularly enjoyed was one that read “spend a lot of time with your work spouse.” I am not sure if I liked it because a.) it’s true or b.) I like the term “work spouse.” Either way, my comment to her was somewhat similar — spend a lot of time with other working parents.
This was one of the recommendations made to me when I was going back to work after 12 weeks off with Baby Blue. Go to lunch with other working moms. Share your ups and downs. And I have. And I do. And I will continue to do so — that is if I ever take a lunch again. Seems we in corporate America have gotten away from actually acknowledging the lunch hour. We almost need it forced on us as if we were second graders being herded to the cafeteria by our homeroom teachers. Otherwise, the temptation of doing e-mail or reviewing a report while eating a sandwich in front of our computers somehow trumps enjoying the beautiful sunny days that are way too few if you live in the Mitten. While I know it’s illogical to do the former, somehow I typically do, and that’s so not how I want to live my life!
So, I was glad to learn of a movement (again via Facebook) urging America to “Take Back Your Lunch.” In a nutshell, the movement encourages workers across America to actually take their full lunch hour every Wednesday this summer if on no other day during the week (although it’s an encouraged practice for every day). The idea is that by logging off, workers will come back from lunch more energized and ready to be more productive than if they had lunched at their desk.
So in typical corporate America fashion, I’ve blocked the Wednesday lunch hour off on my Outlook calendar so I’ll be reminded to take back my lunch for at least one day this week. If you’re in the area (Birmingham, MI) and want to take back your lunch while I take back mine — let’s meet up. Weather permitting, I’ll be in Shain Park!
