Last night, the girls and I made an impromptu trip to the bookstore to buy my friend Laurie Notaro’s new book, “The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germaphobia, and Laser Hair Removal” (info at www.laurienotaro.com). The book had been released just that day, and I had to grab it […]
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 […]
I’m reminded this morning that there are some things in life you just shouldn’t try to do quickly. One is shave your legs. The second is blog. At least, blog about anything of substance. As I fell asleep last night, my last thought — as the People magazine fell from my hand — was, “I […]
I’m not sure who Shakira is. That’s how dumb I am. And the worst part is that I should know who Shakira is, since I have a People magazine waiting by my bed. (I even subscribe, for crying out loud.) I think she’s a singer. Anyhow, apparently she’s a rocket science and I’m spending too […]
Last week, Sophie started calling Ray and me “Daddy-o” and “Mommy-o”. I have no idea where that came from, but it’ll be appropriate, I suppose, at Annabelle’s bowling-themed birthday party Sunday. (I’m bummed — I wanted to put “We Had a Bowl” on the goody bag tags, but realized in the nick of time that, um, […]
It’s official. I have to find Sophie some friends. At least, some play dates — specifically, the therapists tell me, play dates with girls (or very mellow boys) a little younger, 3 and a half or 4. And it’s got to be in a controlled environment: One on one. For about an hour. Annabelle can’t […]
Somehow, the topic of underpants came up at dinner the other night. I have written in the past about how I feel, as Sophie’s mother, a responsibility to make sure she always looks her best. That means no overalls or sailor shirts, and I’m still debating the denim dress with star-shaped bandana-print appliques, silver studs […]
In our house, apparently, we don’t play school. We play therapy. We came home this morning from breakfast with my grandfather. It’s going to be 110 today, so options are limited. “No TV!” Ray admonished, and since it’s Father’s Day, I toned down my objection. DIdn’t matter — Annabelle immediately invited Sophie into her room. […]
One day when Annabelle was about a year and a half old, I plopped her in her high chair, shoved the Grinch into the VCR and gave her some orange construction paper and blue paint. She made some lovely, messy finger paintings that I proudly framed and gave away as holiday gifts. This afternoon, I plopped […]
Ray told the girls about Ernie last night before bed. I didn’t know it was coming. I walked into the living room to find the three of them on the couch, Ray and Annabelle in tears. Ray had told them simply that Ernie got sick and died (no gory details), like our dog, Elliot, who met his […]
