Not so long ago, my husband took our son with him to get a haircut, where the boy was offered a lollipop, something he previously didn’t know existed. In my world, we would just say no thank you. It’s just Not. Something. We. Eat. End of story. If he asked, I would have just said…
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The second time around
I have an essay called “The First Time Around” in an anthology that is coming out soon, From the Heart: A Collection of Stories and Poems from the Front Lines of Parenting. It compares my first year mothering to my first year teaching high school and explores the desire for a do-over, to fix all…
Preschooler’s first movie: Babies
Although we are not media-free, I’ve avoided full-length feature films and had not considered taking my son to a movie before the age of six, at least. It just seems like way too much stimulation, not to mention the whole Waldorf thing about media stifling kids’ imaginations. But when I saw the trailer for the…
Look both ways — a tale of a city and its suburbs
Having someone in from out of town helps you see where you live with new eyes. When my brother-in-law visited, I was kind of psyched that after my husband picked him up at Union Station, they got enjoy a lovely drive through the District — past the monuments — at dusk on a perfect summer-feeling…
Generosity of Peers
Tell people that you might need help, and they come through! This has nothing to do with my last post about mood blues, which aimed to say that no one can help me but me. No, I’m talking about offers from other mamas to help out with my son this summer, when I’m expecting baby…
I’ll take a village. Please.
Originally posted at DC Metro Moms. After a week home with a son who was just sick enough to have to stay home from preschool, followed by a weekend of the biggest December snow ever in D.C., I was ready to get out o’ town on Christmas Eve. The cab that took us to the…
Yummy food for the holidays
We had a lovely holiday today. After a very busy Thanksgiving hosting four adults and two teenagers, I enjoyed not having to do a whole bunch today while at my in-laws’. But I did make the pumpkin pies, and they turned out delicious! Check out this (newly updated) recipe for Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie on…
Cell Phone Intrusion
So I called my friend to check on her after she’d emailed earlier in the week that she thought her baby would come soon. “I didn’t have a chance to write you back. How are you doing?” She’s hundreds of miles and several states away now. “I have a baby.” Having given birth just hours…
Yummy Thanksgiving!
I’m thankful for a delicious turkey from Polyface Farms (and a husband and in-laws members who cooked it), fabulous pastured eggs from our local farmer, and nobody pushing my son to eat foods that aren’t good for him. I’m also thankful for health, a home large enough to stuff a bunch of people into, the…
Toy’s the Season
So what do you do when a near-elderly neighbor gives your kid a Toys R Us catalog (along with a few other Sunday inserts) as though it’s a gift? After my husband accepted this offer, I ought to have put the stuff in the recycling bin immediately. But they went onto the floor of the…
Surviving the unexpected guest
This post originally appeared on DC Metro Moms on March 19, 2009 Surviving the unexpected guest I’ve never been much for spontaneity. Or hospitality. I’m not proud of being a crappy hostess or an anxious mess when things don’t go according to plan, but I can accept that it’s okay because there are other things…
You don’t have to breastfeed, and we don’t have to be best friends, either
So there’s another big to-do about breastfeeding with the publication of Hanna Rosin’s article, “The Case Against Breastfeeding.” There are debates/opinions all over the email list on DC Urban Moms and I’m sure every other moms list out there. I’ve looked over a few posts, but I’m blogging to say that I’m kind of sick…
My friend, a prize-winning author!
I just got back from a great meeting with my writing group — women who consistently challenge me and teach me, as a writer and as a mother. One of our members had to stay home with a sick child tonight, but it was great to see that she recently won the Silver prize at…
Happy and healthy Halloween
This year’s Halloween was a great day with crisp air and squeaky clean blue skies. I’m happy to say that, at two and a half years old, my son had a blast without having any clue that Halloween and candy have anything to do with one another. Here’s what we did: 9:00 Parade at school…
So Many Words
I really had no idea what this whole blogosphere was about before I became a mom. What are all these people doing thinking they are so important that other people want to read about their lives? During my pregnancy, I joined a few Yahoo groups — DC Expectant Moms and a group for BirthCare, the…