While grocery shopping with my three kids, we were stopped by a lady. She began to gush over my children, and how she thought my kids were, “Some of those kids, you know? The ones where they have eight, the twins and and then six more?” In my confusion, I thought for a moment she was referring to the OctoBabies. But then she said, “Your kids look just like them. Kate Plus 8!” (For the record, I look nothing like Kate.) I was taken aback as I quietly considered my children’s resemblance to the Gosselin kids. As it turns out, I didn’t need to respond because the lady continued chattering on how…
I’ve been vacationing at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware for the past 15 years or so. As a young, single professional, I joined a beach house share with friends. I spent many long weekends at The Bungalow with other young professionals sunning on the sand, drinking margaritas at sunset, walking the boardwalk, being lazy on the front porch of our rented house, etc. My friends and I would sleep late, eat bad-for-you beach food, windsurf on the bay, and explore the Lewes, Rehoboth, Dewey, Fenwick Island and Bethany areas. I look back fondly on my five summers of being a shareholder in The Bungalow. I …
Chantilly is not a very walkable town. I’ve found this out the hard way. My family has been struggling with automobile problems the past few weeks. Both my minivan and The Husband’s sedan had been making weird noises, operating strangely, malfunctioning, or all of the above. Despite extra time spent in our favorite local car repair shop, we continue to be plagued with problems. Coinciding with our car difficulties, I have also started an exercise regimen because, well, because sitting flat on my bottom wasn’t getting the weight off! For the past six weeks, I have been forcing myself to roll …
Each time I hear news of a child who died after being left alone in a hot car, I always remember the Gene Weingarten article, "Fatal Distraction,” published in The Washington Post Magazine in March 2009. The article focused on the aftermath of parents who have lost a child after forgetting them in a hot car. It’s not a pleasant article to read, and it is one that I cannot erase from my mind. Since becoming a mother, I have a tough time hearing about any child suffering. It hits too close to home to imagine since I have three beautiful children of my own. “I can’t even imagine.”“I don’t want …
How is it possibly mid-July ALREADY? The teacher and mom in me are marveling at the speed with which the summer days go by and how in just a matter of time, it will be back to school season with so much to do. Though, that implies that the summer lacks those things, which I always forget, is a fallacy. I don’t know about anyone else, but in my house the summer somehow ends up being absurdly busy with doctors appointments and errands.This summer though, I had a special project that I am thankful to be knee deep in already. My special project was mommy daughter camp. What is mommy daughter …
In honor of The Husband’s and my tenth wedding anniversary, I was looking through old photos from when we were dating and engaged. As I sorted through the pictures, I was struck by my physical appearance. In other words, I was much thinner then than I am now! Okay, so I’ve popped out three babies since then, and I am squarely a middle-aged mom. Still, I am displeased with my body’s appearance and would like to make improvements to my life. Ideally, I’d like to drop a few pounds, but my first and foremost goal is to live a more healthy lifestyle than I am now. To that end, I am trying to find …
Summer vacation is in full swing in Fairfax County, and as I start planning for my summer with my six-and-a-half-year-old daughter, I grow ever so slightly worried. The truth is that as long as the summer is, it goes too quickly. The fact that we are already approaching July means that I can already see the early days of having to go prepare my classroom for a new school year. It means that all the things I wanted to do in my daughter’s first summer without full-time camp, teeter dangerously on not happening if we are not careful. There are things we want to do. Time at the pool so that she…
When I was a kid, my family joked that I had a penchant for checking out every public toilet I encountered. That’s not really the truth, but I did like to know which restrooms were clean and which to avoid. Apparently this curiosity has continued on into adulthood since I usually have a good idea of the conditions of area bathrooms and where to find the cleanest ones! Recently I found a website that does the work for me. Sit or Squat directs you to restrooms based on location and gives a rating for their cleanliness. However, as a mom with three small children — one of whom is recently …
Self-esteem is something that many people, of all genders and ages, struggle with at some point in their lives. I for one, have had a roller-coaster ride with how I perceive myself and how happy or frustrated I am about my physical being. It is something that as a mom, I knew I would have to confront with my daughter at some point in the future. I did not think that moment would come now, as she graduated from Kindergarten. My daughter and her classmates had been practicing for their graduation ceremony for months. Every day she would come home singing or telling me about what was added or…
When I was newly pregnant with my first baby in 2003, I soaked up as much information about pregnancy as possible. I was also inundated with free advice given to me by anyone and everyone. Some of it was helpful, other information made me take pause and wonder if I’d misheard. “Eat oranges to stave off that nausea!”“Use olive oil on your tummy to avoid stretch marks.”“Get the epidural when you’re in the parking lot of the hospital!” At first I was appreciative of the suggestions; after all, I’d never experienced pregnancy, labor, delivery and having a newborn! Then I began to realize some …
The school year is drawing to a close. The days are getting longer. Temperatures are rising. It is almost that time. Time to enjoy the summer days and the bonding between my daughter and I as we experience “Mommy & S” camp where she and I spend our days visiting local museums, takings short trips to explore and splashing in the pool. But beyond that is a new school year. And try as I might to think about the fun we will have this summer, I am plagued by the worry and anxiousness associated with after-school child care.You see, S will be entering first grade next year, and with a mom, step…
My son is being called dumb by a kid in his class. Bito told The Husband at breakfast Sunday morning. The Husband relayed the information to me as we were driving to church. I could feel my hackles rising as I listened to what he was telling me. My mama bear instincts kicked in, and I wanted wrap my arms around Bito to protect him from the big bad world. I immediately wanted to call Bito’s teacher, the kid’s parents, the principal of the school, the local paper… My family had arrived at our destination, so my grandiose plans had to be put on hold. I was forced instead to sit quietly in …
The end of the school year is quickly approaching. For some, this brings on visions of splashing water, for others, it reminds them of labeled clothes and bags getting ready for camp. For others, like me, it brings on questions, trepidation and anxious excitement as I think about the transition for my daughter from Montessori to first grade in a public school. As a teacher, I know these feelings well. I have watched parents year after year begin to worry about which teacher will be charged with taking care of their precious cargo. I have watched parents send emails inquiring about …
A while back, my friend’s Twitter stream read something like this: Getting my SUV appraised. Am I really just one child away from the minivan? Stay tuned. Depressed at the thought of driving a minivan. The alternative is for Firstborn Child to climb in through the trunk when the new baby arrives. On our way the car dealership. Husband is ready to haggle. I am a new Odyssey owner. The deed is done. Guess I can’t deny my journey into being that suburban soccer mom anymore. I chuckled as I sensed my friend’s resignation at becoming a minivan owner and the strong opinions offered on both sides…
This is a big week in the lives of teachers and moms. Teacher Appreciation Week and Mother’s Day have creptup on us. As a teacher, I dined on a fantastic lunch sponsored by our PTA. As a mom, I went to my daughter’s school for a special breakfast. But as a mom of a child with a special teacher? Yikes, I am the worst when it comes to getting organized. Teacher Appreciation Week is a little bit like Mother's Day to me, an artificial time of thanks and warm fuzzies. The idea of forced thanks, cards, or gestures just does not make me feel appreciated. I would much rather a random gesture of…
I admit it: I took to heart all the advice I’d been given by experts, teachers, pediatricians, friends, family, etc, to read! read! read! to my children. I myself am a voracious reader who hopes to have three little bookworms follow in my footsteps, so it was a natural path for me read to my babies right away. The Husband is also a lover of books, and we make an effort to take our family to the local library at least once per week. In addition to borrowing books, The Husband and I find bookstores and the library’s used book sale irresistible! Scholastic flyers brought home by the kids also…
Spring has sprung in the Chantilly area. Our noses feel it from the tree pollen. Our children have felt it in the tremendously long period of school with a later-than-late spring break. And the grass and plants have felt the spring with day after day of rain that has soaked our region. The rain has also put a damper on youth sports leagues, at least ones that only play on Saturdays. Or, more aptly put, the rain has put a damper on my visions of joining the ranks of soccer moms everywhere this spring. This season is my daughter’s first attempt at soccer. She is playing for a variety of …
The sun is setting later these days, and the weather has finally gotten warmer! I celebrate both of these milestones of spring, even though it seems to have made my kids extra squirrely. Bito, Cupcake and BabyMuffin have been injected with an infusion of energy that outmatches mine daily. Add this to the fact that there are three of them and only one of me, and you have a mom who is outwitted, outplayed and outlasted at every turn. On top of the wildness running through their veins, the astronomical pollen count has cut my energy level down to practically nothing. Needless to say, my …
Spring break is almost here. It is ten days away to be exact. Not that I am counting or anything. Or wait, maybe I am. As a teacher, I am counting. As a mom, I am counting. As a lover of all things travel, I am counting. This year, we will be going on our very first spring break trip as a family of three. I have traveled with my daughter before, I have traveled with my husband before, but all together, for a week? Mom, daughter and step-dad, this will be our inaugural trip. I was lucky enough to do my fair share of traveling as a child. And the one thing I remember distinctly is that I …
Dear BabyMuffin-- As my darling three-year-old son, you are the baby of the family, and I probably indulge you far too often. It’s amazing to watch you learn new things every day. Recently, you’ve acquired the knowledge of how to manipulate your older brother and sister. Admirable, yes, but c’mon honey! Your incessant teasing is getting on their nerves (and yes, mine too). I know you enjoy pushing your siblings’ buttons while you sit back and smile at the chaos you’ve created, but please. Show a little restraint. Love, Mommy ~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Cupcake— You are beautiful to me no matter what…
