I’m The Mama Part II
I am happy to report that Ari is asleep and it is 7:55pm Eastern Standard Time. I made a promise to myself that I would get him back in his bed, and tonight (at least) I've done it!Here's what magical steps I took to accomplish this task:1. I told him at 7pm that we were brushing our teeth and going to bed.2. After teeth cleaning, we sat together in his dark room and I read Goodnight Moon 1-2-3. He cried through half the book and listened to the 2nd half.3. Then I sang Perry Como's " 'A' You're Adorable" while he put his head in my lap and screamed "MOMMY!"4. After awhile, the screaming and crying stopped and he listened to the song.5. I continued to sing Mr. Como as I moved him onto his pillow. He began screaming once again. I put a firm hand on his back and eventually the screaming calmed down and he drifted off to sleep.6. Then I counted to 120 (to make sure he was really asleep) and I snuck out of his room and told Egreck to stop meowing at the door. He was attempting to ruin everything that I worked so hard [...]
Beware: The Three Headed Monsters!
The more I stay indoors with my sick child, the less I want to enter the outside world. I think there may be three headed monsters out there. Or at least fire breathing dragons who only speak Russian. I certainly won't be able to communicate with them, so what's the point of leaving the house?This is the result of being indoors for a day and a half. Not to mention the fact that I've had my daily cup of coffee and (because I've been stuck inside) I haven't had a chance to burn off that nervous energy walking. So I just feel crazy. Also, I'm afraid to change from my pajama pants into jeans. Jeans feel like bad luck somehow. Pajama pants = good.The funny thing is that Ari doesn't seem to care about being trapped in the house.I must be going now. I think there are some garden gnomes threatening to enter my apartment. Bye for now!
Recess Monkey: An Interview With Jack Forman
Over the summer, I had the pleasure of attending a free concert at the Brooklyn Public Library. The band I saw was none other than Seattle's Recess Monkey, creators of unique and fun children's music. The attendees of the concert were as follows: Me, Ari, my mom, my niece (Francesca- age 8), my great friend Josina and her son Nelson.Josina and I were reflecting the other day on what an amazing time we all had. Recess Monkey had all the children dancing around the BPL auditorium in a conga line! And it was a such a culturally diverse crowd, there were kids from every nationality you could think of there.One of the things I love about Recess Monkey is that they really get kids. All the band members are teachers, so they are constantly surrounded by children and use their daily interactions with kids as inspiration for their music.After the concert, I purchased "Field Trip", Recess Monkey's latest album. I've used the music from "Field Trip" in the classroom when I play freeze dance with grades ranging from Pre K- 3rd, and at home when Ari requests a "CD" he is referring to "Field Trip." He loves to dance to [...]
I’m The Mama
Last night Ari was up until midnight. I tried to put him to sleep in my bed with me at around 9pm, but all he did was "read" Goodnight Moon 1-2-3 and play with my hair. After an hour of this, we got up and he watched 9000 episodes of Blue's Clues. I managed to sneak in my show "The Secret Life of The American Teenager" which he graciously let me watch.Finally, he went to sleep (with a fight) in my bed. Today he is cranky and I am miserable. After consulting with my great friend and mama, Gry, I've decided that tonight Ari must be re-sleep trained. He is getting back into his bed if it's the last thing I do.The results of non-sleeping are this:--a sink full of disgusting dishes that I am too exhausted to wash--a cranky toddler--a miserable mama--I think Simon the cat may have a broken paw, but I'm too tired to checkI keep telling myself that I'm the mama! - I can do this! Wish me luck tonight as I re-introduce sleep into our lives.
I’m Not Selling Anything, I Just Like to Write
I recently read the New York Times article about mom bloggers. The article talks about the fact that mom blogging has become more about making money rather than sharing experiences in motherhood.For my part, I love to write. It excites me to connect with other moms, share stories and experiences.If I happen to find a product that I feel other people could use or benefit from, I'll let people know. But the central reason I'm here is that I love to write. If other people read what I have to say, that's great!I believe this article short changes the women out there who are still genuinely reaching out to one another and sharing motherhood experiences. I know it's hard to believe, in this consumerist-based society, but not everyone is selling something.Now, if you ARE selling something, I have nothing against you (in fact, I admire that kind of entrepreneurship) I'm just not.For all you moms out there who are sharing your motherhood experiences please continue to do so!
Mini Car Drama Ending in Dunkin’ Donuts
Last night, I decided to be a good girlfriend and drop Wil off at work. Ari was happy to be in the car and point out other cars on the road the whole way to our destination. We got to the airport and Wil opened the door to exit the car. That's when the drama began. Ari shouted:"DADDY!!!!!!!!" "It's okay," I comforted my screaming child "Daddy's going to work. He'll be back soon." He would have none of it. We drove off and he was still screaming for daddy. I shouted over his cries: "DO YOU WANT ME TO SING YOU A SONG?" He replied: "YEAH!!!!!" I began a combination of yelling/singing: "The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round, the wheels on the bus go round and round, all through the town!" That worked...for a while. Then the screaming commenced again. It occurred to me that he could be hungry. So I asked: "Are you hungry?" He replied: "COOKIE!!!!" Which I took to mean "Yes I am hungry." "Okay, okay," I said trying to calm myself down yet feeling like I wanted to jump out of the car into oncoming traffic "We'll [...]
Friday: A Poem
Friday Friday here you areI wish I could play the guitar!When all is said and all is doneFriday comes I have wonA battle to survive the weekMy outlook is no longer bleakI want to sing, I want to shoutOpen the door and let the weekend out!The rain is here and I still want to cheerFriday you are here my dear!To all who listen hear me sayThank you and I love you so Friday!
Somebody Mother ME!
I pretended I was okay this morning when Ari woke me up at 7:15am and I had to be out the door by 7:30am, but obviously I wasn't alright. I was a walking disaster. I called my dad and pleaded with him to get Ari and take him downstairs so I could throw some pants on and run out the door to work. I know that a complete outfit includes more than pants, but all I could think about was putting my pants on. My dad refused to come upstairs, saying that it was "my fault" that I over slept. But Ari overslept! He was the one who woke up at 7:15am. Maybe I shouldn't be relying on my son as an alarm clock, but I can't possibly imagine using a real alarm clock. It just seems too horrible to listen to a loud obnoxious buzzing sound in the morning. Sometimes I just want some help, some understanding for all that I do. I'm not okay today, not remotely. I asked my friend and fellow sub for a hug.She was rubbing my back and then she said:"Okay, I'm going let you go now..." Clearly I am starved for care. I [...]
There Was a Boy!
During his dinner of applesauce and yogurt and not much else, Ari saw "a boy" out the window and couldn't stop talking about it!
What The CDC Wants to Know About Me!
Last night I received a call from the CDC on behalf of the Census. Or was it the other way around? I don't know, I was pretty tired when Ari answered the phone. Yes, Ari was the one who got the phone. When I collected the phone from him, the representative from the CDC was very amused.The CDC wanted to know all about me and my household. And (because I was bored and felt sorry for the representative on the other end whose job it is to call random people across the country) I agreed to participate in the survey while Ari got to watch a Blue's Clue's marathon.Here are some random questions that the United States government wanted to know the answers to:--How many people over the age of 18 live in your household?Just the two of us living in sin. No wedding rings to speak of.--How many people over the age of 12 months and under the age of three live in your household? I really had to think about that one!--Has the child over 12 months and under three years been vaccinated for varicella (chicken pox)? YES! I had the chicken pox when I was three and [...]
Sarcastica: An Interview
I love language and word play. When I discovered Sarcastica's blog, I was immediately intrigued. What a creative moniker! Sarcastica is a young mom from Canada. She has just graced her 20's (congratulations to her, I miss that decade so...) and is the proud mama to Nolan. Sarcastica agreed to answer some questions about her motherhood experience. Without further ado, here she is: Sarcastica: 1. What's in a name? Tell us about the name Sarcastica!The name Sarcastica was thought up by my cousin Karen during a brainstorming session for an online identity. Sarcastica is my "alter ego", the snarky, sarcastic girl that doesn't hold back. In real life, I tend to hush Sarcastica's funny quips because my humor often is misunderstood. Sarcastica stands for that part of me. I used to joke that Sarcastica was my version of Superman, only instead of flying and super strength I've got my sarcastic wit. 2. How long have you been blogging? How did you get started?I've been blogging since December 2005, 5 years ago...I was 15!!!! My early blog posts are so embarrassing to read, but I love that I still have them and I can see how much I've changed in five [...]
Wishing on a Magical Wednesday
Wednesday gets a bad rep. Some people refer to Wednesday as "hump day" as it is smack in the middle of the week.This Wednesday is magical. As I walked to school this morning, I saw Wednesday's magic in the bark of the tree-lined Brooklyn streets. We are invited to make a wish for something that you want in your life, something that is missing. We will wish on this Wednesday.This Wednesday, I wish that I will become a successful writer. I will reach people with my writing. On this magical Wednesday I hope that I can, one day, I can support myself exclusively by writing.Thank you Wednesday. I know you're listening.What would you like to wish for this Wednesday?
Playground Speed Dating
Long before pseudo-married life, I dated people. Yes, I was young once. I usually ended up scaring the guy off because I was "too intense" or he "couldn't give me what I needed." That was code for "I'm not that attracted to you and you're too needy! Get a dog or go call your mother!"During my dating days, I never had the chance to try speed dating. What I know of speed dating, and my knowledge is solely based on television sitcoms, is that you sit at a table with a person, talk to them for 60 seconds exactly, then a bell rings and you move on to the person at the next table. This process repeats at least 10 times. At the end of this rigmarole, you choose the person(s) that you like from the bunch.It turns out that I've been involved in a similar activity to speed dating and I didn't even realize it: playground speed dating!Here's how it works:I'm on the playground. I meet a mom and we start talking:ME: Your son is so cute! How old is he? SHE: 20 months. ME: Aw! SHE: How old is your son? ME: He'll be two in May. Where [...]
Meet My New Secretary
I've been swamped with work lately, so I decided to get some help. I've hired a secretary. Wait? Is that politically correct? Is it called an "administrative assistant" these days? Who am I kidding? I'm not politically correct! He's a secretary!Anyway, he's here to answer phone calls in particular. I just can't deal with anymore wrong numbers or telemarketers.He's diligent and has a strong work ethic. And he's graciously agreed to be featured on the blog. Here he is in action! Meet my new secretary: