The summer between first and second grade, I had the most beautiful red and white checked outfit my Great Aunt Adele gave me. I insisted on wearing it quite often. That would have been fine, if the outfit had not been long sleeved and wool, and had I not been living in Phoenix, home of […]
I’ve already written once about a scary baby doll. It happened again. Several times in the last few days, I’ve walked past the living room couch and gasped — there lay (laid? pick the one you like best) a baby. I know Ray really wants a third, but I’m not sure even he’s resourceful enough to scare […]
By the end of our Fourth of July celebration last night, Sophie’s face was streaked with red tears, the Elmos face painted on each of her cheeks running down her face. She couldn’t have been happier. “Oh, what’s wrong with your little girl?” people ask in the mall or at the grocery store. “Why is […]
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 […]
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 […]
It seemed like a good idea to buy the soundtrack to “Across the Universe”. Annabelle’s really into the Beatles right now. Conversation in the car: “Mommy, is that a Beatles song?” “Yes.” (Few minutes later.) “Mommy, is that a Beatles song?” “Yes.” (Few minutes later.) “Mommy, is that –” “Yes!” “Mommy, don’t you think the […]
I maintain that Sophie’s the best judge of character. If she gives you the thumbs up, I’ll be your friend, too. So I wasn’t surprised when, within minutes of her arrival, Megan had already been whisked away to Annabelle’s room for a visit with Dr. Sophie, equipped with plastic toys from a half dozen doctors […]
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 […]
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 […]
