Spring or Summer?

Mother Nature is having hot flashes in March and I am loving every minute of it. From a mother of an outdoorsy second grader to the Mother of all things outdoors, thank you. I don’t know where you live, but here in the Midwest we are experiencing a historic heat wave the likes of which has never been previously recorded. We’re sizzling under 82-degree temps in the middle of March. Now, this is the kind of March madness I can really cheer for. March weather madness has been in the air for nearly two weeks. Yes, for two glorious weeks … Continue reading →

Who Watches Your Kids on Vacation?

Can you really have a relaxing vacation when you are constantly breaking up fights between your tweens while looking for the purple pail and shovel set that your preschooler MUST have NOW or ELSE? For some parents, the answer is an irrefutable “no,” which is why more and more moms and dads are opting to take nannycations. The simple concept means that another trusted adult is around 24/7 to help deal with warring kids, beach meltdowns, mini-golfing fits and cannonball mishaps at the hotel pool. The extra set of hands and eyes also allows parents to actually get in a … Continue reading →

Cooler Than the Jonas Brothers?

Last Friday at four o‘clock in the morning, my husband and I dragged all five of our children out of bed and went down to Bryant park in New York City to see the one. . .the only. . .the incredible. . . JONAS BROTHERS!!!!! Yes, even my three year old twins can sing a very unique version of S.O.S. and my son thinks they are the greatest thing since sliced bread because after all, they are home schooled. My five year old knows all the words to Camp Rock and well–what can I say? My spouse and I know … Continue reading →

Parental Motivation

Recently a relatively new parent shared with me that she was having a “motivation problem”—you would think that an old crusty mom like me would have heard it all, but for some reason, this was the first time I’d chatted with someone who was having a hard time getting up and getting going at all in the mornings or doing any of the parental tasks at hand. Most people I’ve known might complain that they don’t know where the time goes and they feel as if they are spinning their wheels all day—but motivation and “oomph” are not the problem. … Continue reading →

When the Noise Gets to You

I know that my years of parenting have increased my tolerance for all sorts of things: mess, chaos, whining, and noise. It is amazing how quickly we acclimate. Even if we used to be the most calm and mellow person, craving and appreciating our quiet alone time–we do get used to the noise and rambunctiousness of family life. Well, at least most of us get used to it and for most of the time… I was at a coffee shop the other day and while it was a busy place, it was relatively calm–there was the constant buzz of adult … Continue reading →

Me and Scooby Doo

A funny thing happened Sunday while I was alone. Tyler was with his father watching the football games and I was sitting in the hotel reading the newspaper and flipping the channels trying to find something half-way interesting to watch on TV. At one point I flipped to Scooby Doo and for a split second I thought about stopping but then I hurried on. When I didn’t find anything, I made the rounds again and when I came to the channel that had Scooby Doo on, once again I was tempted to stop and watch. But somehow I felt that … Continue reading →

Daily Dose of Laughter

Maybe I’m just old but I really don’t get half the programs on Cartoon Network. But apparently kids do. As I sit listening to the rain pound against my hotel window (we’re under a tornado watch!) Tyler is absorbed in that silly program about the Grim Reaper. Bill and Mandy or something like that. Anyway, he’s been watching TV all day since the weather is too bad to leave the hotel and he’s totally enjoying the silly jokes and shenanigans being displayed. Periodically I have glanced at the screen to see if I can get a handle on what’s going … Continue reading →

Are You Too Time Conscious?

I am working on letting go a bit on the whole “time thing”—as someone who has been on a schedule for years—work, kids, volunteer projects, coaching sports teams, Girl Scout meetings, etc. I have stayed pretty connected to the clock. But, I’ve tucked my watches away in my jewelry box and I am trying to be more present without being chained to the clock. My work does not require that I punch in certain hours, so I now have some flexibility there. Additionally, my children are much more self-managing so I am no longer responsible for getting them where they … Continue reading →

Take a Parenting Time-Out

In a previous blog I wrote about an article I read that detailed quirky rules that work. One of the rules was to tell your kids that you’re basically off mom duty at a certain time. The goal was to assure that mom had an opportunity each day to have some “me” time. I’ve found an equally effective way to have a few minutes alone (no, not locking myself in the bathroom!) and that’s taking a parenting time-out. Typically, we give our kids time-outs when they are misbehaving but we can also take a time-out for ourselves, to recharge and … Continue reading →

Dinner Without the Kids and Without the Guilt

I told myself that I deserved to have just one meal that I could enjoy in peace. So when I had the opportunity to eat dinner without Tyler I wasn’t going to alter my plans unless it was an emergency. So when my phone rang as I pulled into the parking lot of the Best Western Hotel in New Orleans to have dinner at the newly remodeled Sassafras Restaurant, I answered said phone with a mixture of panic and annoyance. When I found out that he really didn’t want anything I was relieved. When Tyler passed the phone to his … Continue reading →