Greeting cards have all been sent, The Christmas rush is through. But I still have one wish to make, A special one for Thing Two... Happy Birthday, Baby Though you're still asleep, it's true... . You're eleven now and in my dreams I always wished for a girl, just like you... . Growing up is NOT always joyful Especially when something's bothering you... . But every day's a brighter day When I can laugh with you... . The things you could be I wish you could see I wish it every day... . You're smart and very strong Darn good... Read more →

Sometimes, no matter how hard I try, there are just some things that I CANNOT get my kids to do...without a fight...or, flight...tapping into some serious negotiating skills taught in some sort of parenting class I've obviously MISSED. Like, getting Little Man to go to the bathroom, brush his teeth or go to bed...ALONE! "No way, Jose...'cause...it's WAY too dark [far, high, deep, quiet, loud, whatever] in there!" [eyes rolling] "No it's not." [doing potty dance] "YES, it is!" [rubbing right temple] "Mini-Me, can you pleeeeeeeze go with me to the potty!?!" [shaking head] "Nuh-uh...no way...NOT ME!" [enter the negotiator]... Read more →

Correct me if I'm wrong - go ahead...everyone else does - but, when a person wakes up, suddenly...say, sometime in the middle of the night...to strange sort of beastly sounds...similar with what I believe one would hear...when being chased down by a pack of wild dogs...well, I would venture to guess that most people would reach for something...say, like a shoe, nail file or clothes hanger...anything...that one could use as a make-shift weapon? Nope, not if you've got kids - especially, if there sick - because you already know that... [clears throat] ...THERE IS NO FIGHTING THE CREEPING CRUD! It... Read more →

Why...YES!...that is a whole lot of laundry I've got, there...and my family would love to go to Disney...one day...when it doesn't cost an arm...and a leg...or, perhaps selling my first born...but, that's not what this post is about. Thing Two (pictured above with Doofus Dog) is deathly afraid of mice - all she has to hear is just a little scratching, scuffing and scraping, or the cable guy telling me: "Yep, those wires sure do look as if they've been chewed on, all right!" Well, it's enough to send the poor kid into hiding - dirty, stinky clothes, or not... Read more →

What's red, white and green all over? Why, it's my house...and her house...and his house...and perhaps even your house...as families all over the...well, planet...try and live...yes, LIVE...through the next eleven sleeps 'til Christmas. Is it me, or does anyone else feel as if their head is slowly beginning to come apart at the seams - as fast as Little Man's school project - during the holidays!?!? Which brings to mind the old saying, "You can't have your cake and eat it too" - when used in an incompatible way, sort of like "Happy Holidays" and perhaps even "Merry Christmas "... Read more →

Dear Santa, I've been a good mom [dad] all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited their doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years. Here are my Christmas wishes:... Read more →

As a stay-at-home-mom -- who happens to spend a large portion of the day in the car, btw -- if you're a parent...then you know...a vast majority of our time is spent going to and from another practice (or a meeting) and standing on yet another very looooong line because there's, "just one more stop we have to make!" I swear. My kids and I have become accustomed to hearing me holler two very conflicting phrases: "Hurry up!" ...and... "Wait!" [see picture above] 180 out of 365, I get to stare at the same cars...ignore the "do not park" signs...and... Read more →