My littlest love. He’s my third and final baby. And every year for his birthday, I struggle to figure out what to get him. Not because I don’t understand him or “know” him, but because . . . well, it seems we already have everything, and I can’t imagine another toy entering my house. But last year, after playing at a friend’s house in a ball pit, I realized we no longer had one of our own. A ball pit…
It’s back-to-school time again, and I’m sure many of you have already sent the kiddos off to their new classroom adventures. We start later this week where I live, so I took the time (risk? challenge? dare?) to do some last-minute back-to-school shopping with my boys this weekend. I was foolish to think it would have gone any differently from how it has in the past. I swear these boys have crafted a 7-step guide on how to successfully make…
What would you say to your younger self if you could send a message back in time? Would you warn yourself of what’s to come, Celebrate what has been? Share hopes and dreams for what may come next? A fellow blogger, Erin, at The Accidental Supermom, recently posted a note from her thirties-self to her twenties-self, giving advice and great perspective. It was heartwarming and humorous . . . and, while she’s a bit younger than I am, it inspired me…
In today’s “me-too” era where awareness and implications of words and actions seems more serious than ever, Mothers of Boys have a lot to think about. In my recent M.O.B. Truths survey, approximately half of the respondents said they are trying to instill respect and values early on in their sons, while the other half said, “PLEASE HELP! I DON’T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THIS SUBJECT!!!” Here’s help. It may seem strange to take advice from me, a busy working…
I took the week off of work to spend with my boys — a little bit of fun, a little relaxation — wait, actually, relaxation never happens for me — a lot of laughs, some yelling, some tantrums, some timeouts, and a lot of mess. We find fun in making messes sometimes — it’s liberating for the kids, and it reminds me to just go with the flow (easier when I know I’m using washable paints!). Just like a few…
SLIME! If you’re a parent, you’re probably cringing at this craze that has lasted over a year now. Making slime, playing with slime, experimenting with new slime recipes, watching videos about slime, teaching others to make slime, putting new things in slime, figuring out where slime sticks and where it doesn’t. We are undoubtedly in THE SLIME ERA. I know lots of parents who hate all things slime — it’s messy, it’s sticky, it’s constant, it’s annoying. But I’ve looked…
Summer break! It’s time when kids everywhere enjoy vacation homes, family time, lazy days of sleeping late, breakfast on the back patio, and then splashing in sprinklers all day. Or, in the case of many working moms like me . . . kids are at summer camp. Don’t get me wrong – my boys love the day camp they go to, and I know they’d be bored out of their minds at home all day . . . I just…
It’s officially summer, when my kids seem to excel at the game “How many water bottles and pair of goggles can you lose?” and “Where did that tube of sunscreen go?” I’m a working mom who works through the summer, which means fun summer camps (with a hefty side of working mom guilt) for my family. This past school year, I got quite used to the big boys buying hot lunch every day at school. But now that summer…
“We seasoned our dinner with herbs from our garden, and topped off our salad with our homegrown tomatoes,” the neighbors said. Not us! Steak on the grill and frozen french fries over here! I tend to think I don’t have the skill — or the time — for a fancy, productive garden, though I do think gardening with kids is a great experience, and one I try every year. I used to think about it a lot, envisioning us creating…
You know when you buy Dad a tie as a Father’s Day gift, but he rarely dresses up? Or you get your husband a coupon book for various golf courses, and he never uses it because it turns out there are limitations on days and times, and none are convenient? Yeah, let’s avoid that, right? It was a thoughtful gift, targeting one of his interests, and reasonably priced . . . but in the end, not really practical. Time to…