I’m not a big Valentine’s person, so naturally, I planned nothing for the day. But that doesn’t bode well for children who hold on to dear life for the next holiday. I don’t want to play into consumerism, but I do want my kiddos to feel loved and thought about.
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I hate putting sunscreen on myself. Then I have to hate putting it on my kids next. Just add an extra 30 minutes to go anywhere outdoors, then smell funky and feel gunky all day. If you don’t put it on pre-sand and dirt, you’re in for an unwanted body scrub.
But it’s worth it.
I’ve done a lot of worrying about which sunscreen is best for my children. Probably because my skin is made for Ireland and Basal cell carcinoma cancer runs in my family. Many hours of my youth were spent on scorching tennis courts and now I’ve had 20 moles removed (TMI?). A few of them pre-cancerous.
Many days of parenting feel like I’ve only maintained life and made little progress. It’s hard to explain why I’m so tired at the end of some days. But I don’t think we give enough credit to the energy it takes to ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS. They are disparate, frequent, and complex. They come during school drop-off, while at the grocery store, and while using the bathroom. Answering them well- in a way that’s short, simple, yet nuanced enough to offer truth, can be cumbersome. Continue reading
My friend tells a story about a Christmas where she opened all her presents. She got exactly what she wanted but saw her brother’s presents and thought they were better. She told her parents that it wasn’t fair and she should have gotten more. Her dad’s response is perfect.
She was seven years old. Her father calmly told her to pack her presents up. They were going to take them to people who would appreciate them. He wasted no time. They left the same day and she received nothing that year. Continue reading
The sippy cup wars rage in my home.
I have purchased SO. MANY. SIPPY. CUPS. and most of them are terrible.
Let me first outline the classic list of problems, so you know what to avoid.
1. Speech Pathologists say that sippy cups can Continue reading
Hike Length: 6 miles round trip; 1900′ elevation gain
Classification: Moderate
San Gabriel Valley hike
This memorial day, we took our one and three-year old on a hike about 30 minutes outside of Pasadena, CA off the Angeles Crest Highway. The route was the Josephine Fire Road to Josephine Peak. We packed PBJ’s with snacks and loaded up the stroller. By the time we finally start driving my husband and I are exhausted from getting everyone and everything out the door and into the car that I wondered if it was worth it.
The decision to stay home after having my first child was incredibly challenging. My job wasn’t family friendly and I don’t have family nearby to help. My daughter had colic, and she needed me. Still, I deliberated until the last-minute. And I questioned my decision almost daily during my first two years of motherhood.
When telling a friend (who is a VP at a fortune 100 company
“Make time to go on dates with your spouse after you have kids” is common advice from weathered parents. I’ll admit, it’s easier said than done, but worthy advice nonetheless. Today, however, I accidentally discovered how important it is go on a date with my two-year-old.
I used to wonder “what do stay-at-home moms do all day?” I assumed they watched cartoons, talked on the phone, and did whatever they wanted while the kids played. Part of the reason it is so hard to know what a stay-at-home parent does is because every time someone asks this question the response is so full of small things that she doesn’t know how to answer it. Because she is CONSTANTLY Continue reading