This morning began well before 7 with several (unintentionally, I’m sure) sharp kicks to my lower back and a loud announcement.
“It’s April! Then May!”
I rolled over in the bed and followed the script.
“And what happens in May, Sophie?”
“MY BIRFDAY!!!!!!!!!!!”  
I have created a monster.
(Apologies to Sandra Boynton. I love her “Birthday Monsters” board book.)
I blinked and stretched, trying [...]

Today Annabelle and I went to Kate Belly Button’s birthday party.
(You know, it could be that I’ve already introduced Kate Belly Button, but the truth is that it’s close to midnight and I’ve promised myself I’ll deal with at least one overflowing basket of laundry before bed, so I figure I either have time to [...]

Ok, I promised to explain my birthday neurosis.
I don’t remember much about my own birthday parties, growing up. But I do recall my 7th — celebrated at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour. Where else? When some other party ordered The Zoo and the guys raced around the restaurant with it — bells banging, sirens blaring — [...]

One of my favorite writers (full disclosure, a former student, but I swear, she already knew it all before she took our class) has a blog with a great name: aarpmom.blogspot.com
Check it out. Mary Ellen is hilarious, but in a wonderfully mellow way I can only aspire to. Here’s a sample, from her own daughter’s [...]