I consider myself excellent at multi-tasking. I can sew on a button, cook blueberry muffins from a mix, and paint watercolors with my kids, all while chatting to my mom on the cell phone. But some tasks demand my full attention, which doesn’t sit well with my life as a busy mama. So what ends up happening with these important life-altering decisions? They either don’t get made, or they take over my whole life.
Archive for October, 2009
Halloween vs. The Swine Flu |
Read the full article!| Posted in Motherhood / Parenthood, Preschoolers, Shopping | 2 Comments » | Friday, October 30th, 2009 | |
| Labels: Motherhood / Parenthood, Preschoolers, Shopping |
In a room
There is a needle
And I’m surfing
| Posted in Health, Motherhood / Parenthood, Pregnancy | 5 Comments » | Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 | |
| Labels: Health, Motherhood / Parenthood, Pregnancy |
Be an Effective Parent By Committing to Defined Values |
Between the age of fourteen and my current full-time mom gig, I’ve had a variety of jobs. I’ve been a babysitter, a shoe store employee, an ice cream scooper, a dance teacher, a bank teller, a waitress, a caregiver, an editorial assistant, an assistant editor, and a preschool, middle school and high school teacher. Each position taught me something of value. I learned most people have a complicated – and often negative – relationship with money, ditto for Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream. I learned it’s possible to laugh lots while you suffer from a debilitating disease, and I also learned schools fall into two general categories: effective and ineffective…
It should be the same with parenting.
| Posted in Family Life, Motherhood / Parenthood | 4 Comments » | Monday, October 26th, 2009 | |
| Labels: Family Life, Motherhood / Parenthood |
Teaching God to Children |
Last year, with some help, Antony and I solidified some of our beliefs and traditions regarding Christmas and Hannukah, and in doing so, we celebrated our best December ever. But, I don’t know that either of these holidays, beyond the words of the traditional candle lighting blessings, have anything to do with praising God for us. Instead, these holidays for us are a time for family togetherness.
| Posted in Family Life, Preschoolers | 1 Comment » | Saturday, October 24th, 2009 | |
| Labels: Family Life, Preschoolers |
Part-Time Jobs for Moms That Pay Well… |
With our booming economy, I have no need to work outside of the home. I wake up in the morning to wads of cash being thrown through my front window by random passers-by. I shop at designer stores and eat out seven nights a week, usually leaving 100% tips for the waitstaff. I also have enough money left over at the end of every month to donate to ten charities of my choice, and I make it a point to pay for everyone else’s gas each time I fill up at the station.
But if you’re not so lucky, perhaps you’re looking for part-time work that fits in with your busy schedule as a full-time mom.
| Posted in Finances, For adults only, Motherhood / Parenthood | 1 Comment » | Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 | |
| Labels: Finances, For adults only, Motherhood / Parenthood |
Halloween Candy |
On Sunday, my husband came home with two bags of Halloween candy. He broke the two Halloween candy rules that I try to follow:
1) He purchased candy that I actually like! (in this case, Reeses peanut butter cups and KitKats)
and
2) He purchased it two weeks before Halloween (which ensures that I’ll have to buy more for the trick-or-treaters).
| Posted in Feeding / Nutrition, Motherhood / Parenthood, Preschoolers | 2 Comments » | Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 | |
| Labels: Feeding / Nutrition, Motherhood / Parenthood, Preschoolers |
That Ancient Librarian |
The first time I went to my local library with my then 9 month old daughter, they made me cry. Seriously. Great big snotty sobs at being kicked out of the children’s reading room. My crime? Reading a book.
| Posted in Babies, Books, Family Life, Motherhood / Parenthood, Toddlers | 1 Comment » | Monday, October 19th, 2009 | |
| Labels: Babies, Books, Family Life, Motherhood / Parenthood, Toddlers |
When Do We Stop Getting Caught Up in the Hype? |
As parents, we all want what’s best for our children. This is not a new phenomena. I’m sure parents back in the Middle Ages thought, “Hey, I’d love for you to rise above being a serf on a feudal manor, and oh yeah, I sure hope you don’t catch the Plague.” But what does seem to be a new parenting philosophy of our generation is that by giving our kids more and more opportunities, we can make them happy. We can ensure that they have safe, prosperous, healthy futures by enrolling them in the right school, the right extra curricular activities, the right gifted reading program, the right sports teams. Right?
| Posted in K-5, Motherhood / Parenthood, Preschoolers | 5 Comments » | Sunday, October 18th, 2009 | |
| Labels: K-5, Motherhood / Parenthood, Preschoolers |
Sick and Tired of Feeling Sick and Tired |
“Hello?” I answer.
“Cindy?” the voice questions.
Now at this point I’d like to say, “Who else would be at my house answering the phone at 7:28 pm?” But instead, I am sweet, “Yep.”
“You sound awful.”
“Thanks.”
Now, I prefer to think of my voice as my nasal transvestite alter ego. Once in a while the raspy throaty scratch sounds sexy.
| Posted in Health, Motherhood / Parenthood | 3 Comments » | Friday, October 16th, 2009 | |
| Labels: Health, Motherhood / Parenthood |
A Bead in the Nose |
When Annabel started to scream tonight at 8:45, I chalked it up to an early evening nightmare. After all, she’d been quiet for a good 45 minutes, especially since we had a friend over for dinner and were enjoying a nice bottle (or two) of cabernet. But as her cries grew to the hysterical level, I rushed to investigate.
| Posted in Family Life, Motherhood / Parenthood, Preschoolers | 2 Comments » | Thursday, October 15th, 2009 | |
| Labels: Family Life, Motherhood / Parenthood, Preschoolers |
