As a mother, it is my job to teach my children. To use everyday activities to teach them lessons about how the world works and what is expected of them. A daunting task to be sure. And one that I often feel like I am failing miserably at.
But every now and then, something happens that makes me realize my kids are in fact learning from me.
This year for Halloween Abby wanted to have a party, so I suggested we invite over a few neighborhood friends for pizza before trick-or-treating. She was thrilled.
She made up invitations, selected some decorations from Target and planned her menu.
Since it is her party, I sat down with her and helped her make a list of the things she needed to do to get ready for the party. I suggested items like clean off the table and put up decorations. A good lesson in responsibility.
Abby's suggested addition to the list?
"Make sure there is wine for the Mommies"
I have taught her well.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
favorite moments from halloweens past
As the big day approaches, I thought it would be fun to share some favorite shots from years past.
First we have ten month old Abby with her loot. Mommy and Daddy carried her door to door. And probably ate most of that candy too.
Then we have Abby as a butterfly on her second Halloween. This costume is still a dress up favorite.
Next is baby's first Halloween, with big sister the princess.
And finally, Princess Belle and Claire the little lamb heading out for Trick or Treating. I love this picture because to me it captures how small but determined Claire was.
First we have ten month old Abby with her loot. Mommy and Daddy carried her door to door. And probably ate most of that candy too.
Then we have Abby as a butterfly on her second Halloween. This costume is still a dress up favorite.
Next is baby's first Halloween, with big sister the princess.
And finally, Princess Belle and Claire the little lamb heading out for Trick or Treating. I love this picture because to me it captures how small but determined Claire was.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
a moment in time
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
Do you know those moments? Those moments when you are simply happy? Completely at peace?
A child is contentedly playing at your feet as you sip coffee in your pajamas. The sun is shining. The air is cool and crisp.
The house is a mess. The laundry is half done. There are places to go and work to be done, but it does not matter, because in that moment you are simply happy.
Simply content to just be in the moment. Content to be in the house that is not perfect, but is your home. On a couch that is old and stained, but comfortable and familiar. With the child whose easy joy completes it all.
This is that moment:
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
move over target, I have a new love
Move over Target, I have a new love... and it is CVS. Yes, CVS, that annoying little store that I had barely been inside for the last ten years.
So why the love?
Free stuff. Lots of it. And free stuff is fun.
I am probably the last person to discover this, but you can shop at CVS every week for things that you need and get them free. Free, as in every week for the last six months or so I have gone in, spent no money (or very little money) and left with bags of stuff. I never thought I would say this, but shopping at CVS is fun.
How do you get this free stuff you ask? Sign up for a CVS ExtraCare card (I know, I hate these silly store cards too) and then go here every week, read about the best deals and get links to coupons. How to use the CVS ExtraCare program is explained in detail here. Basically, the idea is to use your ExtraCare dollars to buy things that you get ExtraCare dollars back on. There are always things that are free after ExtraCare dollars, meaning that if the item costs $4, you get back 4 ExtraCare dollars. You then use these ExtraCare dollars to buy more stuff, so after your first trip you never actually spend any real money. You just keep spending your CVS money and getting new CVS money.
You can also use coupons to save even more on your free stuff. This week for example, I bought a package to tooth brushes that cost $3.99 and paid back $3.99 in ExtraCare Dollars. I had a coupon for a dollar off, so I spent $2.99 and got back $3.99.
Is it really worth it? Is it really stuff I use?
This week I got two packages of Huggies diapers, a bottle of Johnson & Johnson Baby Bath, Huggies wipes, two tooth brushes, Colgate toothpaste, a bottle of Kids Listerine mouth wash, a bottle of Excedrin, and two Halloween flash lights for $10 and I have 10 Extra Care dollars to use on my next shopping trip.
In my medicine cabinet I have about a years supply of toothpaste, Excedrin and Children's Advil, Tylenol, Benedryl and Motrin. All good, useful stuff. All free or almost free.
Yes, some weeks the deals are better than others. Yes, finding the exact brands and sizes is somewhat of a pain. I have learned that one of the three CVS stores near my house is much better at labeling the sale items and stocking them well so that is where I shop.
And another way CVS saves me money? No cute stuff. No fun stuff. And I am much less tempted to toss random things in the cart since my goal is to spend no money, as opposed to Target where I was already spending $100 (what's a couple more dollars at that point??).
Free stuff works for me. Give it a try!
More Works For Me Wednesday
So why the love?
Free stuff. Lots of it. And free stuff is fun.
I am probably the last person to discover this, but you can shop at CVS every week for things that you need and get them free. Free, as in every week for the last six months or so I have gone in, spent no money (or very little money) and left with bags of stuff. I never thought I would say this, but shopping at CVS is fun.
How do you get this free stuff you ask? Sign up for a CVS ExtraCare card (I know, I hate these silly store cards too) and then go here every week, read about the best deals and get links to coupons. How to use the CVS ExtraCare program is explained in detail here. Basically, the idea is to use your ExtraCare dollars to buy things that you get ExtraCare dollars back on. There are always things that are free after ExtraCare dollars, meaning that if the item costs $4, you get back 4 ExtraCare dollars. You then use these ExtraCare dollars to buy more stuff, so after your first trip you never actually spend any real money. You just keep spending your CVS money and getting new CVS money.
You can also use coupons to save even more on your free stuff. This week for example, I bought a package to tooth brushes that cost $3.99 and paid back $3.99 in ExtraCare Dollars. I had a coupon for a dollar off, so I spent $2.99 and got back $3.99.
Is it really worth it? Is it really stuff I use?
This week I got two packages of Huggies diapers, a bottle of Johnson & Johnson Baby Bath, Huggies wipes, two tooth brushes, Colgate toothpaste, a bottle of Kids Listerine mouth wash, a bottle of Excedrin, and two Halloween flash lights for $10 and I have 10 Extra Care dollars to use on my next shopping trip.
In my medicine cabinet I have about a years supply of toothpaste, Excedrin and Children's Advil, Tylenol, Benedryl and Motrin. All good, useful stuff. All free or almost free.
Yes, some weeks the deals are better than others. Yes, finding the exact brands and sizes is somewhat of a pain. I have learned that one of the three CVS stores near my house is much better at labeling the sale items and stocking them well so that is where I shop.
And another way CVS saves me money? No cute stuff. No fun stuff. And I am much less tempted to toss random things in the cart since my goal is to spend no money, as opposed to Target where I was already spending $100 (what's a couple more dollars at that point??).
Free stuff works for me. Give it a try!
More Works For Me Wednesday
Monday, October 20, 2008
a letter to my little big girl
To Claire,
Your older sister was exactly two years and five months old when you arrived, making her the big girl and you the baby.
You are now two years and five months old yourself, but still firmly consider yourself the baby despite mounting evidence that you are in fact a big girl too.
As a second child, in some ways you are much more advanced than your sister was at the same age. You know all your letters and are beginning to sound out words, just like your sister does. You know your way around parties and playdates. For about a year now you have played with all the same toys as your sister so you know all the characters, from the Disney Princesses to Sponge Bob. You know how to tell a knock-knock joke and you have the potty mouth of a preschooler.
But it some ways you are still very much a baby. You want no part of learning to use the potty or moving out of your crib. I still rock you to sleep each night in your squeaky old green glider with your lullabies playing, your lambie tucked under your arm and your blankie covering your entire body (which is getting harder and harder, by the way).
You are cautious by nature, and slow to try new things. Although this generally makes it very easy to parent you, I do sometimes worry that I should push you to do more. My hope has always been that in your own time, you would spread your wings and fly, your confidence built up by all of the love and security I have provided you every single day of your life.
And slowly, you are conquering new things. Your most recent conquest? The big, big slide, the one you climbed up for months but then refused to slide down.
You have the most giving spirit. When Abby asks you to share something, your answer is "Oh, of course," like sharing your candy with your sister is the most natural thing in the world to you.
You are also incredibly articulate and concerned with manners. You say the most adorably proper hellos and goodbyes. Recently as we were leaving the play place at the mall you called out to the little girl you had just meet ten minutes before "Bye-Bye, I will see you next time!"
As your mother I would love to take some credit for all these good manners, but I believe it is just who you are.
Despite your giving nature, you are not a pushover. You are a little thing with big opinions. You are very smart and also a bit stubborn when it comes to getting what you want.
You still often want to be carried, but are demanding about exactly which position you are to be carried in.
"Don't carry me like this," you cry, "Carry me like this!"
As the baby, you are possibly a bit spoiled when it comes to getting your way.
You are also steadfast in your likes and dislikes. You like the color orange, orange juice (NOT milk), Ariel Mermaid, macaroni & cheese and the letter O (yes, there is definitely a theme to this list). And unlike your sister, who changes favorites on a whim, these are the things you like and no amount of peer pressure will sway you.
As the youngest kid in the neighborhood you are adored by the older kids. You even had your own playdate recently with your seven year old friend from across the street.
However, your sister is truly your best friend.
As close as you and I are, you and Abby understand and enjoy each other in a way that I just can't. The two of you spend hours each day playing together in your own little world of fantasy and make believe. You speak each others language and make each other laugh over the silliest things. Seeing the love and laughter that the two of you share is one of my greatest joys.
I am totally in love with exactly who you are right now- part big girl and part baby. I love to sit back and just watch you as you interact with the world. I love to scoop up your squirmy little body and kiss you and tickle you all over. I applaud you growing and learning, but at the same time I savor these last bits of your littleness.
I love you, now and always, my little big girl.
Your older sister was exactly two years and five months old when you arrived, making her the big girl and you the baby.
You are now two years and five months old yourself, but still firmly consider yourself the baby despite mounting evidence that you are in fact a big girl too.
As a second child, in some ways you are much more advanced than your sister was at the same age. You know all your letters and are beginning to sound out words, just like your sister does. You know your way around parties and playdates. For about a year now you have played with all the same toys as your sister so you know all the characters, from the Disney Princesses to Sponge Bob. You know how to tell a knock-knock joke and you have the potty mouth of a preschooler.
But it some ways you are still very much a baby. You want no part of learning to use the potty or moving out of your crib. I still rock you to sleep each night in your squeaky old green glider with your lullabies playing, your lambie tucked under your arm and your blankie covering your entire body (which is getting harder and harder, by the way).
You are cautious by nature, and slow to try new things. Although this generally makes it very easy to parent you, I do sometimes worry that I should push you to do more. My hope has always been that in your own time, you would spread your wings and fly, your confidence built up by all of the love and security I have provided you every single day of your life.
And slowly, you are conquering new things. Your most recent conquest? The big, big slide, the one you climbed up for months but then refused to slide down.
You have the most giving spirit. When Abby asks you to share something, your answer is "Oh, of course," like sharing your candy with your sister is the most natural thing in the world to you.
You are also incredibly articulate and concerned with manners. You say the most adorably proper hellos and goodbyes. Recently as we were leaving the play place at the mall you called out to the little girl you had just meet ten minutes before "Bye-Bye, I will see you next time!"
As your mother I would love to take some credit for all these good manners, but I believe it is just who you are.
Despite your giving nature, you are not a pushover. You are a little thing with big opinions. You are very smart and also a bit stubborn when it comes to getting what you want.
You still often want to be carried, but are demanding about exactly which position you are to be carried in.
"Don't carry me like this," you cry, "Carry me like this!"
As the baby, you are possibly a bit spoiled when it comes to getting your way.
You are also steadfast in your likes and dislikes. You like the color orange, orange juice (NOT milk), Ariel Mermaid, macaroni & cheese and the letter O (yes, there is definitely a theme to this list). And unlike your sister, who changes favorites on a whim, these are the things you like and no amount of peer pressure will sway you.
As the youngest kid in the neighborhood you are adored by the older kids. You even had your own playdate recently with your seven year old friend from across the street.
However, your sister is truly your best friend.
As close as you and I are, you and Abby understand and enjoy each other in a way that I just can't. The two of you spend hours each day playing together in your own little world of fantasy and make believe. You speak each others language and make each other laugh over the silliest things. Seeing the love and laughter that the two of you share is one of my greatest joys.
I am totally in love with exactly who you are right now- part big girl and part baby. I love to sit back and just watch you as you interact with the world. I love to scoop up your squirmy little body and kiss you and tickle you all over. I applaud you growing and learning, but at the same time I savor these last bits of your littleness.
I love you, now and always, my little big girl.
Friday, October 17, 2008
ms. september
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
Every year for Christmas I make photo calendars for my mother and my mother in law. Twelve months of pictures of their granddaughters pretty much guarantees it is a hit every year.
Now you would think with the amount of pictures I take, finding twelve decent shots would not be a problem, but you would be wrong.
You see, I like my pictures to match the month of the year. Beach pictures for August, Christmas pictures for December, etc. You don't know how excited I will be if it snows in November and I am able to capture that perfect January shot.
So you can imagine how excited I was when Abby was outside at the end of the day (perfect light) in this cute matching outfit that looked rather back to school-ish and agreed to pose for a picture. Hello, Ms. September!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
maybe I gave up to soon
When I woke up this morning, I had a feeling that there was something school related that I was supposed to remember. Was it field trip day? Nope, still two weeks away. Permission slip? Nope, turned that in last week along with that medical form that was a good month late. Orange day? Nope, that was last Friday and I proudly produced a child in head to toe orange. We totally rocked orange day, as a matter of fact.
Feeling better, I went about the business of dressing and feeding myself, the girl and the toddler. True to my resolution last week, I let Abby dress herself. She even brushed her hair on her own and applied some of her Princess Belle perfume.
Due to a missing pair of glitter clogs that she had to wear, we were a bit late arriving at school. As I surveyed the frazzled mothers and perfectly groomed children it dawned on me:
PICTURE DAY
Abby ran off to play with her classmates as I chatted with her teacher about the fact that I had completely forgotten picture day as well as the challenges of dressing girls in general (she has two daughters, she gets it).
Another mother, just arriving with a child in formal wear gasped when she heard I had forgotten picture day.
"Are you going to go home and change her?" she asked.
Are you insane?
"Um, no, I don't think so..."
So to all of you more organized mothers, I apologize for the fact that this years class picture will feature 16 well dressed, perfectly groomed children and my daughter in a 'I Heart Recess' tee shirt, a velvet skirt, glitter clogs and somewhat brushed hair. At least I wiped the chocolate milk off her face on the way out the door.
Feeling better, I went about the business of dressing and feeding myself, the girl and the toddler. True to my resolution last week, I let Abby dress herself. She even brushed her hair on her own and applied some of her Princess Belle perfume.
Due to a missing pair of glitter clogs that she had to wear, we were a bit late arriving at school. As I surveyed the frazzled mothers and perfectly groomed children it dawned on me:
PICTURE DAY
Abby ran off to play with her classmates as I chatted with her teacher about the fact that I had completely forgotten picture day as well as the challenges of dressing girls in general (she has two daughters, she gets it).
Another mother, just arriving with a child in formal wear gasped when she heard I had forgotten picture day.
"Are you going to go home and change her?" she asked.
Are you insane?
"Um, no, I don't think so..."
So to all of you more organized mothers, I apologize for the fact that this years class picture will feature 16 well dressed, perfectly groomed children and my daughter in a 'I Heart Recess' tee shirt, a velvet skirt, glitter clogs and somewhat brushed hair. At least I wiped the chocolate milk off her face on the way out the door.
Monday, October 13, 2008
fall follies
Crisp air, warm sun, beautiful colors everywhere. This weekend was the very best of fall in New England, which of course means I had to drag my children out to every possible fall activity.
First there was apple picking...
...then a train ride...
...a carousel ride...
...and kiddie rides followed by bright red candy apples, hot dogs and fire works...
Sunday featured a hayride with Oma...
...pony rides...
... a petting zoo and of course the pumpkin patch...
But both girls agreed, the very best part of the weekend was the giant, candy filled pumpkin falling from the sky and the mad dash for candy that followed.
First there was apple picking...
...then a train ride...
...a carousel ride...
...and kiddie rides followed by bright red candy apples, hot dogs and fire works...
Sunday featured a hayride with Oma...
...pony rides...
... a petting zoo and of course the pumpkin patch...
But both girls agreed, the very best part of the weekend was the giant, candy filled pumpkin falling from the sky and the mad dash for candy that followed.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
the story of a fall portrait
Here is the new fall portrait that is going up on my mantel:
The story behind this picture?
First, I took 50 or so pictures of my little darlings with the promise of princess gummy snacks if they posed for me. This shot pretty much sums up their feeling about posing for pictures.
The story behind this picture?
First, I took 50 or so pictures of my little darlings with the promise of princess gummy snacks if they posed for me. This shot pretty much sums up their feeling about posing for pictures.
Unfortunately, I did not get that one great shot of both girls together. But I did gets shots of each of them individually that I really liked.
This was my favorite shot of Claire:
And this was my favorite shot of Abby:
Enter Photoshop. I used the Polygonal Lasso Tool (the little dented lasso tool highlighted below) to select Claire's head and a portion of her body. Since the two pictures did not line up exactly, getting the right selection area took a bit a trial and error. Once the area was selected, I feathered the selection area by 20 pixels so the edges would blend nicely (Select menu, Feather, 20) .
Then I copied and pasted this Claire head into my favorite shot of Abby.
After everything was lined up nicely, I cropped the image a bit, increased the contrast and adjusted the levels a tiny bit.
Cheating? Absolutely. But have you tried getting a portrait of a toddler and a preschooler lately?
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
not a child
This afternoon, I told Claire it was time to go inside. She pushed me away and announced "Mom, I'm not a CHILD!"
She is two. She said these words with the inflection and outrage of a teenager.
"Oh, what are you then?" I asked her.
"A baby," she said proudly.
Argued like a two year old. A very bitter two year old who still had to go inside.
She is two. She said these words with the inflection and outrage of a teenager.
"Oh, what are you then?" I asked her.
"A baby," she said proudly.
Argued like a two year old. A very bitter two year old who still had to go inside.
Monday, October 6, 2008
the fight I refuse to have again
Hundreds of dollars have been spent on my daughter's wardrobe, most of it by her two loving grandmothers. She has adorable dresses, that she herself selected. Perfectly coordinated hair ribbons. The best in kiddie footwear.
She should look adorable each morning as she heads off to preschool.
But Abby has little interest in wearing her adorable, perfectly coordinated outfits. Instead she likes to mix it up with vintage and out of season pieces. Perhaps some Christmas leggings with a striped top? Much sassier than the matching skirt. Or a maroon crushed velvet skirt with a neon pink top with a butterfly on it? How about a yellow headband? That goes with everything.
I try to relax and just go with it. Really I do. But she could look so cute...
So yet again I found myself in the car declaring "That is it, we are not buying you anymore clothes. It is a waste to buy you nice things if you are going to dress like this".
Harsh. Mean.
Let her make a choice and then shit all over it. Bad Mommy.
"Yeah, okay, Mom no more clothes," she replied in a bored voice. Clearly she did not believe me either.
As we pulled into the school parking lot, one of Abby's classmates was emerging from her mother's SUV in a little striped Gap dress with matching bow. Adorable.
"I love your dress," I said to the girl.
"We had a huge fight over that dress," her mother whispered as the girls ran ahead.
"You should have heard us in the car," I replied. "And just look at my kids," I said, gesturing to encompass the girl in red velvet and pink neon and the toddler in a smorgasbord of strawberries, hearts, carpi pants and winter shoes.
"They look fine to me," she replied.
Less emotional now, I looked at my kids again. They looked like kids. Maybe not kiddie catalog perfect kids, but not terribly neglected kids either.
I can live with that.
It is just not worth fighting over. Not worth ruining yet another morning over. It is not about me. It is not about how I want other moms to see my kids, and by extension me. I write these words to convince myself that these things are true.
So my plan, my goal is to let this one go. I WILL NOT HAVE THIS FIGHT AGAIN.
Expect to see much more of this in our future:
She should look adorable each morning as she heads off to preschool.
But Abby has little interest in wearing her adorable, perfectly coordinated outfits. Instead she likes to mix it up with vintage and out of season pieces. Perhaps some Christmas leggings with a striped top? Much sassier than the matching skirt. Or a maroon crushed velvet skirt with a neon pink top with a butterfly on it? How about a yellow headband? That goes with everything.
I try to relax and just go with it. Really I do. But she could look so cute...
So yet again I found myself in the car declaring "That is it, we are not buying you anymore clothes. It is a waste to buy you nice things if you are going to dress like this".
Harsh. Mean.
Let her make a choice and then shit all over it. Bad Mommy.
"Yeah, okay, Mom no more clothes," she replied in a bored voice. Clearly she did not believe me either.
As we pulled into the school parking lot, one of Abby's classmates was emerging from her mother's SUV in a little striped Gap dress with matching bow. Adorable.
"I love your dress," I said to the girl.
"We had a huge fight over that dress," her mother whispered as the girls ran ahead.
"You should have heard us in the car," I replied. "And just look at my kids," I said, gesturing to encompass the girl in red velvet and pink neon and the toddler in a smorgasbord of strawberries, hearts, carpi pants and winter shoes.
"They look fine to me," she replied.
Less emotional now, I looked at my kids again. They looked like kids. Maybe not kiddie catalog perfect kids, but not terribly neglected kids either.
I can live with that.
It is just not worth fighting over. Not worth ruining yet another morning over. It is not about me. It is not about how I want other moms to see my kids, and by extension me. I write these words to convince myself that these things are true.
So my plan, my goal is to let this one go. I WILL NOT HAVE THIS FIGHT AGAIN.
Expect to see much more of this in our future:
Sunday, October 5, 2008
his and hers
My Sunday:
Wake up with the kids at 7AM. Serve breakfast. Clean up breakfast. Attempt to distract children with TV. Assist children with art projects and dress up when distraction does not work. Serve snack. Clean up snack. Play some more. Serve lunch. Clean up lunch. Put baby down for nap. Take shower. Get two children ready for a birthday party at the jungle gym. Spend two hours in a small gym filled with hyped up kids, attempting to make small talk with other moms I barely know. Return home. Cook diner. Clean up dinner. Provide baths, books and bedtime snuggles.
His Sunday:
Wake up at noon. Watch a little SpongeBob with Abby. Take a shower. Pick up brother and father, and then go to Foxboro Stadium to watch the Pats game. Eat, drink, watch football and return home after children are sound asleep.
Surely, this must earn me some good wife points??
Wake up with the kids at 7AM. Serve breakfast. Clean up breakfast. Attempt to distract children with TV. Assist children with art projects and dress up when distraction does not work. Serve snack. Clean up snack. Play some more. Serve lunch. Clean up lunch. Put baby down for nap. Take shower. Get two children ready for a birthday party at the jungle gym. Spend two hours in a small gym filled with hyped up kids, attempting to make small talk with other moms I barely know. Return home. Cook diner. Clean up dinner. Provide baths, books and bedtime snuggles.
His Sunday:
Wake up at noon. Watch a little SpongeBob with Abby. Take a shower. Pick up brother and father, and then go to Foxboro Stadium to watch the Pats game. Eat, drink, watch football and return home after children are sound asleep.
Surely, this must earn me some good wife points??
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
blogging is just strange
This afternoon I sat at my kitchen table checking a few blogs while my kids got their shoes on to go to the library. Since they were in fact in the shoe closet and all the shoes were scattered about the hallway, I figured I had a few minutes. And since I had given them clear direction as to what I expected them to do, I felt I was entitled to guilt free computer time while I waited for them to comply.
I happened to be checking out this adorable picture when Claire wandered over.
"What dat name?" She asked, pointing a chubby finger at my computer screen.
"Frannie." I said.
"What dat she wearing?"
"A hat."
"No, dat!" she exclaimed, crawling up on my lap and pointing at Frannie's dress.
"And what is he's name?" she asked, pointing at the little boy.
"Cal." I said, as Abby strolled over to see what all the excitement was about.
"Who is that girl?" she asked, peering at the computer screen.
"Frannie." I said
"Where do they live?" she asked, perhaps hoping for a new friend.
"Near Chicago." I replied.
"Is that far?"
"A few hours on a plane, about as long as the time between breakfast and lunch."
"Oh, that is really long. Can we visit them?"
My answer: "Um, I don't think so honey.... It is really far..."
The real answer: No, we will not be visiting these children because I do not in fact know these children or their mother. Those are not actually even their real names. I just stumbled on their mother's blog one day and she had a funny post up about underwear so I added her blog to my feedreader. So now every so often I read about the various things going on in her life and the lives of these kids. I also follow her on Twitter so I know other random bits about how she spends her days but I don't actually in fact know her, really.
Yet, day after day I make time to read what this woman and lots of other strangers just like her have written.
Also, Abby? When you are in bed at night I post stories and pictures about you and your sister. Then your father, your grandparents, friends around the world, some of our neighbors and other random strangers read about you.
And somehow all of this helps me feel more connected, more sure of myself as a parent and less lonely as I navigate this journey called motherhood.
Perhaps I should stop judging the fact that my kids believe hanging out in the shoe closet is a fun and productive way to spend the afternoon?
I happened to be checking out this adorable picture when Claire wandered over.
"What dat name?" She asked, pointing a chubby finger at my computer screen.
"Frannie." I said.
"What dat she wearing?"
"A hat."
"No, dat!" she exclaimed, crawling up on my lap and pointing at Frannie's dress.
"And what is he's name?" she asked, pointing at the little boy.
"Cal." I said, as Abby strolled over to see what all the excitement was about.
"Who is that girl?" she asked, peering at the computer screen.
"Frannie." I said
"Where do they live?" she asked, perhaps hoping for a new friend.
"Near Chicago." I replied.
"Is that far?"
"A few hours on a plane, about as long as the time between breakfast and lunch."
"Oh, that is really long. Can we visit them?"
My answer: "Um, I don't think so honey.... It is really far..."
The real answer: No, we will not be visiting these children because I do not in fact know these children or their mother. Those are not actually even their real names. I just stumbled on their mother's blog one day and she had a funny post up about underwear so I added her blog to my feedreader. So now every so often I read about the various things going on in her life and the lives of these kids. I also follow her on Twitter so I know other random bits about how she spends her days but I don't actually in fact know her, really.
Yet, day after day I make time to read what this woman and lots of other strangers just like her have written.
Also, Abby? When you are in bed at night I post stories and pictures about you and your sister. Then your father, your grandparents, friends around the world, some of our neighbors and other random strangers read about you.
And somehow all of this helps me feel more connected, more sure of myself as a parent and less lonely as I navigate this journey called motherhood.
Perhaps I should stop judging the fact that my kids believe hanging out in the shoe closet is a fun and productive way to spend the afternoon?
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