Because sometimes being a parent means doing what’s hard.
Posted in discipline, family finances, humor on Jan 5th, 2010
We had quite the day on New Year’s Eve. We woke to a snowstorm, which we drove through, slipping and sliding, for an hour to reach a lawyer’s office in a town that’s normally a 20-minute drive away. We were closing on a refinance of our home mortgage, a process that had taken many frustrating [...]
Posted in family life, humor on Dec 22nd, 2009
So, I didn’t change my name when I married my dear husband just over 9 years ago. Surprised? No one who knew me was, but I’m continually surprised at the hoopla it causes even now. Or maybe especially now, with our two sons firmly entrenched in the local public school system. But more on school [...]
Posted in babies, family finances, humor, school on Oct 7th, 2009
The other day, both boys came home with the familiar order form and info sheet in their backpacks: Gear up, mom and dad, it’s almost Picture Day!
I hate picture day.
To be precise, I don’t hate the day itself, since I’m not, literally or otherwise, in the picture. True to my meanness and aversion to being [...]
Posted in family life, humor, kids' TV, toys on Oct 1st, 2009
The latest I hear about the basic-cable TV channel Noggin (”It’s like preschool on TV!”) is that it’s now called Nick, Jr.
Can commercials be far behind?
My husband and I (well, my husband, actually) stumbled upon Noggin while flipping through the many upper (as in, above 100) channels we have in our cable system. He happened [...]
Posted in family life, humor, summer, vacation on Aug 5th, 2009
For many Americans, and famously for much of Western Europe, August is vacation season. Everyone who’s anyone decamps for mountains, lakes, beaches, theme parks, the family cabin, the campground… you get the idea. We’re not going anywhere; in fact, we haven’t gone on vacation in any real sense (that is, for more than a few [...]
Posted in family life, humor, shopping on Jul 28th, 2009
I don’t like to whine (though I am genetically attracted to complaining. There’s a difference: Complaining suggests that there’s a problem that can and should be fixed. Whining is unproductive, but sometimes feels good.) So. Here’s my current complaint.
I can’t find toothpaste for my boys that meets their need for something simple, yet without too [...]
Posted in family life, humor on May 10th, 2009
“I hold their hands in parking lots and when crossing the street, but then let them run ahead.”