"She is too fond of books and it has turned her brain." –Louisa May Alcott
My kids like to get out of the house. Every day. They always want to be going somewhere, doing something. Boundless energy.
I envy them, really. They have not yet developed a sense of existential angst.
Anyhow, all this energy and optimism means that Mommy has to put down her Camus and chamomile and actually DO stuff.
But what to do? Continue reading “10 Cheap (or Free!) Places to Take Your Kids”
How do you feel about Valentine’s Day?
For me, it’s a mixed bag. I mean, it no longer causes the anxiety it once did–I’m married, so no worries about finding a Valentine–but it’s still such a strange holiday. I like the cute cards and hearts and it’s fun to dress up in pink and purple (You should see my outfit today! I’ve got hearts on my leggings). I like having an excuse to eat chocolate with abandon. Continue reading “Writing Prompt: Valentine’s Day”
“We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.” –Dalai Lama
I’m alone with the kids tonight. Lord help me.
What are your kids’ favorite toys? My kids keep surprising me–especially the boy–with the toys they attach to. My son’s two favorite things right now are his stuffed pineapple (from IKEA) and a Barbie grocery store conveyor belt. My daughter is especially fond of race cars and anything related to Paw Patrol, but she has a much broader taste in toys and is often found playing with doll houses, toy food, blocks, trains, puzzles, dominoes, and basically whatever she can get her little mitts on.
Sometimes I wonder if my son’s odd fascinations are symptoms of his ASD, or if he’s just a little oddball. He’s a huge collector of Hot Wheels and likes to line them up into parking lots (a behavior his sister has copied and so our house is a Hot Wheels minefield), which is definitely typical ASD behavior, but the pineapple–well, whatever it is, that’s my boy. He’s adorable. And he loves that pineapple so, so much.
My latest video is up on YouTube! I love making videos with my kids. They’re hilarious.
Always casual, Violet declined to meet me for coffee but invited me to play blocks instead. She wore her favorite t-shirt (a cheeseburger driving a car on orange jersey) and a diaper; her hair was stylishly tousled as if she’d just awoken from a nap.
Mommy: Do you know what it means to be thankful?
Violet: Yeah.
M: Is it like things you like? You’re thankful for things you like?
V: The pumpkin patch. Continue reading “The Girl Gives Thanks”
Earlier this month, I met Sam for coffee and conversation.
Mommy: Thank you so much for meeting me here. I know you have a busy schedule.
Sam: I’m just thankful for talking to something that’s really good.
M: You know, that segues nicely into what I wanted to talk about. We’re coming up on Thanksgiving, as you know, and I’m so curious–what are you thankful for? Continue reading “The Boy Gives Thanks”
The Sensitive, Bookish Type 