Dear Susannah, Hey baby girl, happy birthday. Six! SIX. Exactly six years ago we met, and the squirming, kicking, cantaloupe-and-liverwurst-craving boy I had been so sure I was having… …turned out to be a rosy-cheeked, blonder-than-blonde dollface of a ladybug. You, kiddo. Since then, things have gotten pretty noisy. Since then, things have gotten pretty wonderful. I love how your heart leaps out of your chest to comfort a crying classmate, a meowing kitten, or a UPS guy who maybe {Read More}
Kindergarten & the Beatles & crying in public
August 31, 2017 By 2 Comments
I cried at Target the other day. It’s neither the first time I’ve cried in public nor even at a Target, but the surprising nature of the cry was enough to snap me out of it pretty quickly and have it turn into an embarrassing choke/gasp kind of thing. So, Susannah- Suzy/Zuzu/whatever the heck she goes by at any given moment- my second born ride-along, the one who can keep a good pun going for as long as the situation {Read More}
Summer wins & fails- so far
July 20, 2017 By 1 Comment
Chicago Public School kids are officially done with their first month of summer vacation- and it was a looong time in the making. (Looking at you, everyone else who was frolicking in sprinklers by, like, May 12th.) I’m usually pretty hard on myself in terms of idealizing summer and then smacking that right up against Actual, Humans With Children Summer. But once we got the kitchen up and running again and all three children firmly home, it seemed…easier, somehow, to {Read More}
Suzy, (soon-to-be) off in the world.
May 25, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Guys, Susannah is graduating from preschool today. I know, I know, aren’t preschool graduations pretty much the dregs of a Participation Trophy Society? If that’s how early it starts, then when does it end? (…Never. I’m pretty sure the answer is “never.”) That said… It took the ramping up to a pre-k graduation to make me realize one incredibly important thing: Susannah’s not going to be in preschool next year. I know, I know. But- you know? She’s always been {Read More}
Promoting STEAM with “Project MC2” & the #StreamTeam
May 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Disclosure: As a member of Netflix’s Stream Team, I’m super-duper happy to continue the convo this month about what the kids are learning- and from whom. Although I’m compensated, all thoughts, opinions, and gadget-happy kids are entirely my own. *** Half of parenting is instilling important values in your kids. (The other half is yelling inane things from either the top or bottom of any given stairwell. “Trucks aren’t for nostrils!” et. al.) And I’m not going to lie; raising {Read More}
Suzy reviews the new SoCozy “Hush Collection” at Target
April 23, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Disclosure: I’m thrilled to be working with SoCozy for their new line of sensitive haircare products called “Hush.” Although I’m compensated, all thoughts, opinions, and delicately detangled dames are entirely my own. *** We love our SoCozy products. We love SoCozy and their brand of non-toxic, superbly effective kiddo haircare. (Need proof? I said this back in 2015 and this in 2016. Our love has grown even deeper and stronger since then. We have a lot of hair ’round here.) So {Read More}
Two types of children: Chicago activity edition
March 29, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Disclosure: I love working with Chicago-based companies to find the very best in kid-friendly, body n’ brain-stimulating activities all across town. Although I’m compensated, all thoughts, opinions, and stubborn children are entirely my own. *** Windy City Ninjas Let’s lay it all out on the table, shall we? Even though I have three children, I only have two types of children: One is the kind of kid who shies away from newness, believes wholeheartedly in stranger danger/”Mom, can I sit {Read More}
Hey, gang, let’s put on a show! (With Netflix & the #StreamTeam)
March 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Disclosure: As a member of Netflix’s Stream Team, I get to have a stupid amount of fun and pretend it’s all for the children. Although I’m compensated, all thoughts, opinions, and felt creations are entirely my own. (Okay, fine, the kids helped.) *** Remember back in the day, back when Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, et.al were all about Putting On A Show? (I’m not saying it’s back in MY day, but it’s definitely in my mental Filofax of cultural {Read More}
