If I had sat down and written this a few weeks ago it would have been a very angry, frustrated, sad post. A few weeks ago I was going through a rough spot with my daughter, EJ, now more than half way through kindergarten she is going through so many major changes. It’s had a huge effect on her behavior and therefore a huge effect on what I’ve had to sort out as a parent. EJ has always been a terrific, sweet girl, eager to share, playful and silly yet empathetic and caring. She was my sweet first baby that I showered with mountains of kisses and endless attention and doting from all the extended family for being the first spectacular grandchild on either my, or my husband’s side of the family. So having said that…  read more »

Before I had kids, I honestly, somewhat secretly, thought it would be cool to have like, 6 kids.  Hilarious to me now of course, with two kids, a daughter that is nearly 6, a son that is almost 3, a neglected husband and an even more neglected blog. 

How the hell do people do it?! How do you have more than two kids? Once they out number you, you know they’ll just plan a coup.  As lucky as I am, with two kids that adore each other and are basically sweet, great kids, it’s still super challenging and a ton of work all the time. 

Now that my youngest is 2-1/2 things are settling down, he’s able to play with her, it’s wonderfully delightful to listen to her read to him or play action figures together and crack each other up. It’s something I missed out on as an only-child and it’s exactly why I wanted to have six kids, no two is better, they have each other.  read more »

Babies Know: A Little Dirt Is Good for You

By JANE E. BRODY

Ask mothers why babies are
constantly picking things up from the floor or ground and putting them
in their mouths, and chances are they’ll say that it’s instinctive —
that that’s how babies explore the world. But why the mouth, when
sight, hearing, touch and even scent are far better at identifying things?  read more »

In case it’s not abundantly obvious I’m a bit of a grinch. Please don’t take it personally, it’s not you, it’s me. I thought I would save any holiday related rants until after readers had enjoyed there festivities so as not to seem like a party pooper. I do hope everyone enjoys their holiday, however they celebrate.

This year my grinchiness was in full swing with life as I once knew it falling to pieces, friends having troubles, family having troubles and of course the economy, the nation having troubles.

So I welcome the change of the new year, let’s make it a good one. We’ve got one fantastic change in leadership that is like a large bandage on the emotional scars our previous administration left us with over the last eight years.  read more »