My fourth child celebrated his fourth birthday last weekend. It’s the perfect year for this light saber wielding, Darth Vader fearing, Yoda loving child to be turning four. We’ve already watched all six episodes that comprise the current Star Wars series, and we’re counting down the days until The Force Awakens hits theaters. The theme for his party: “May B’s fourth be with you” was an obvious choice for this kid who loves everything that hails from a galaxy far, far away. Sometimes I wonder if Mr. B actually thinks “the force” is real. We’ll be at breakfast, he’ll be bantering with his older siblings, and all of a sudden he’ll hold his hand up as if to halt them in their tracks. It’s a sight to behold, watching this preschooler try to stop a second grader with just his hand. I hate to dispel Mr. B's notion that “the force” is real, especially since my own little dude possesses a force of his own. *** "Mommy is it my turn?" Mr. B asks. He's up on the exam table at the doctor's … [Read more...]
All Choked Up at Checkout
When my youngest, Mr. B, finished potty training, I couldn’t wait to purge my house of all things diaper. As my caboose, Mr. B’s completion of this toddler rite of passage marked the first time in more than nine years when I would not need to purchase diapers during my weekly outings to Target. I remember the first time after Mr. B’s potty training that I barreled down the brightly lit linoleum floors, the excitement building as he and I approached the aisle where the Pampers and Huggies live. But as we came closer, I couldn’t help myself. I slowed down. I didn’t make a full stop or even turn in, but I reduced my pace enough so I could steal a glance of the purple, yellow and turquoise packages in all their shapes and sizes. As I passed the boxes of diapers by, I breathed in and I breathed out. Then I smiled. I turned to Mr. B who was sitting in the cart in front of me and said, “We don’t need those diapers anymore!” His smile beamed back at me proudly. While my girls completed … [Read more...]
An Unlikely Blog Name
When I worked at WNBC in New York, I wrote for the early morning newscast that aired right before the “Today” Show. It was always kind of weird being in Rockefeller Center in the middle of the night. Only half the newsroom lights would be on at any given time. Our small skeleton staff of writers and producers often felt like the only ones awake in the city that never sleeps. The Promotion There were benefits to working through dream time. I got to know the senior staff fairly quickly. One of them took a liking to me and decided to train me as an Associate Producer. Score! That meant I still got to do some writing, but I also got to help stack the line up. I had to make sure that all the segments timed out right and that things stayed on track during the broadcast. My first night in the control room, the senior producer stood by me as I watched the clock tick away. In spite of the oversight I received, I still kept coming up a few seconds short, which in the world of television … [Read more...]
Happy Mother’s Day 2015
On a recent organizing binge, I spent days sifting through long ago papers that were taking up precious real estate in my desk drawers. Most of what I found went straight to recycling, but every so often I came upon a gem that I didn't even realize was missing. Among those treasures was a questionnaire I filled out at the end of 2011, the year I gave birth to my fourth child. I remember answering the questions while listening to a motivational speaker at a board meeting for a non-profit organization. At the time, those meetings were about the only "non-mom" activity in my life. Inspiration The questionnaire was two pages. The first was titled: Completing and Remembering 2011, and the other was called: Creating 2012. Among the questions on the 2011 form was this: What compliment would you like to have received but didn’t? Answer: That I’m organized. (Never heard it in 2012,13, or 14. Maybe 2015 will be the year?) When I skimmed the 2012 form I saw this: What is one as … [Read more...]
