My dearest, darling-est, only Man Cub: Happy Birthday Eve, Jasper. You are so incredibly close to two years old. You are also- at once- a squishy little baby-cheeked toddler and a decidedly stubborn male of the impatient persuasion. You ricochet between neediness (“Mama, Mama come, help you? UP. Mama“) and hittin’ the road, Jack. Fun fact: Did you know that Jack Daniels’ first name is actually Jasper? You’re clearly destined for greatness, distillery or otherwise. You are also destined for {Read More}
Step off, grossness. (Please.)
December 14, 2015 By 1 Comment
germsgergermsI give. I’m waving the white flag. I’m throwing antiques out of burning buildings. I’m praying to tiny vials of penicillin. “Wait ’til you see the germs they pick up in kindergarten,” they said. “I know germs,” I told them loftily. I’ve nannied. Had children. Sent them to preschool. Watched them put that door handle in their mouths- stop putting that door in your mouths, you guys. But “they” were right. Colds, viruses, flus, streps (yes, multiple streps) rage through {Read More}
I’m doing okay. (Here’s proof.)
December 10, 2015 By 2 Comments
Some days I have an awareness of just how peachy (and downright marvelous) my life actually is. Even when it’s annoying and stupid and exhausting and over-caffeinated. Today is one of those days. Here are just a few of the things I’ve said aloud this morning in slight self-beration of just how okay I really am. I’m doing okay if: …The most frustrating part of my morning is dealing with Target.com returns. I think we can all agree that a) {Read More}
Guilt/Cookies.
December 3, 2015 By 3 Comments
And sometimes your energy and patience and faith in humanity is justallgone. And you look at a picture like this: And you see those faces, completely full of innocence, and you kinda break a little bit inside. Because you don’t want those tiny people to be shot in a public venue, in a private home, not anywhere, ever, and not when they’re grownup, either. You also feel substantial guilt because those faces are growing up in a home with more {Read More}
Six. (Like, years.)
October 29, 2015 By 3 Comments
Dear Nora, First off, happy birthday. You are six. You are six. I remember each moment of your arrival- and don’t tell me I don’t, morphine ain’t that great of a drug- because I wanted to meet you so badly. I panicked (and ate salt) throughout eleventy-nine months of a sitcom of a pregnancy (one of the more serious and “real” episodes, obvie). What if I had no idea how to be a Mom? Would I ever be able to {Read More}
Remember to remember this one.
October 26, 2015 By 2 Comments
Every now and again I have a moment of clarity. “Remember this,” I tell myself. And when it’s unaccompanied by pangs of guilt or failure over moments that I’ve already forgotten to remember, that’s when I’m inspired to write it down. So I’m writing it down. I rocked Jasper to half-sleep just now, right before his midday nap. And instead of letting my mind wander towards things I need to do, things I need to want to do, or any {Read More}
Hiding under a towel, stepping away from the glue stick.
October 8, 2015 By 1 Comment
I had a Charlie Brown moment yesterday. Specifically, I had a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown moment as I stepped out of the shower yesterday. (Stay with me, here.) Only a week in, October has felt like a sprint. A sprint that I so wanted to enjoy and excel at, but one which left me feeling a little, well, winded. So when I grabbed a towel to dry my hair and the barrage of thoughts raced through my head (articles left {Read More}
Parental failure: Apple orchard edition.
September 28, 2015 By 4 Comments
I’m starting to see a pattern. There are ideas- really, really good ideas- that get into my head. And even if they don’t jive with my current reality, once I’ve decided that THIS is the plan, then buster: We’re sticking with the plan. So when it falls apart spectacularly, I shouldn’t be surprised. But I always am. Loudly. With tears. Which brings us to Sunday! P.J. and I- we– had decided to go apple picking. In Indiana. Because we always {Read More}
