tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42437766829707560592012-01-25T22:09:33.798-05:00The Hard Learned Lessons and Eye Opening Realities of Raising Young KidsHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.comBlogger471100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-65761004591896836492009-03-24T19:40:00.015-04:002009-03-24T20:57:27.796-04:00

Last week, Mommy Friend Brenda suggested we take our kids for a picnic at New Pond Farm after preschool. Our sons are out at 11:45 am on Wednesdays and Daughter was happy to tag along. The temperature was pushing 60 degrees and while the rolling hills of grass were a murky shade of brown rather than green, the sun was shining brightly and the sky a sapphire blue.We visited the cows, sheep and

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-45861865667317203122009-03-14T10:27:00.009-04:002009-03-17T14:07:14.476-04:00

I signed Daughter (3) and Son (5) up for soccer this Spring. Many of Son's friends have already played a Spring/Fall season or two so we're late to the game. But I've also heard that some of these same four year olds were in tears or unwilling to play last year. So balancing my fear that I've held Son back too long is my instinct that I waited until the right time when he was ready to join an

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-69953728561608400352009-03-05T21:21:00.006-05:002009-03-10T11:50:37.493-04:00

Jen, from Westport, CT, has three kids: A daughter (5), son (4) and son(3).What time do your kids get up in the morning?6:30 - that's when they usually show up in my bed, staggered.Did any sleep with you last night?Probably. I don't always notice until the second one comes in and wakes me up enough to notice how many people are in my bed.What do you feed your kids when you can’t come up with

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-35900465297565001342009-03-04T09:33:00.004-05:002009-03-04T19:27:20.682-05:00

Husband's been out town for a week now and the kids and I are starting to fray at the edges.Son wakes up and starts whining immediately, I whine back, and Daughter's constipated on her sixth day of potty training (serious whining). My morning routine's deteriorating within the first fifteen minutes vs the usual breakdown as we try to leave the house.Son: It's over! (That would be the second Blues

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-82412820561119392522009-02-23T06:46:00.005-05:002009-02-27T10:02:19.114-05:00

Awhile ago I wrote about traveling with toddlers. Well, as our kids have grown, it's become easier and I've learned a few new tricks. Last week, I flew to Florida with Son (5) and Daughter (2) without Husband. While the vacation itself was kind of lame (we all got sick) the flying part went very well. Here's what worked:I brought a double stroller to keep Daughter in place (two year olds tend to

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-33561971831795406472009-02-22T07:43:00.005-05:002009-02-23T06:40:02.151-05:00

We've reached a milestone. My family can now play games together. Games that Mommy and Daddy actually enjoy a bit, too. It started with the gift of ThinkFun Zingo for Son's fifth birthday. As the mother of the gift giver said, "Oh, you'll love it. My little one can play it, too." And she was right. Two year old Daughter talks trash about how she'll win and the rest of us will lose when she nails

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-12130616207321468422009-02-11T06:01:00.005-05:002009-02-11T06:17:53.049-05:00

Welcome to the first in a new series of Real Mommy profiles. I always find it helpful to learn how other moms do it and that I'm not alone with little limbs at night or finding creative ways to sneak in some mommy time.Margaret has 9 and 6 year old boys and 4 year old girl.What time do your kids get up in the morning?My daughter is up by 6am. My middle one I have to drag out of bed by 7 or 7:30

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-71035348557953205002009-02-04T06:44:00.005-05:002009-03-17T14:08:35.083-04:00

Last Fall when Husband was laid off, one of my primary goals was to "protect" the kids. I didn't want them exposed to the stress and fear we were feeling or the safety of their family shaken. At two and four years old, they can't quite grasp what a job loss means, so why bring it up?So, we didn't really say anything. Husband left most days to "work" on his job hunt at the library. And when they

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-55954104352982816542009-01-29T14:23:00.008-05:002009-03-17T14:09:09.571-04:00

This morning we changed pediatric practices. I've changed pediatricians four times since my first child was born, but this time we changed practices. The truth is, I didn't know what to look for when Son was born and as I sampled Dr's in the large practice, I moved around a bit. Two men, two women.Our first pediatrician, Dr. M, seemed nice, well educated and was referred by a couple friends, but

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-62157262248084651202009-01-21T08:43:00.004-05:002009-01-21T08:57:08.918-05:00

Over the weekend, Husband and I set up this "big"week for Son: On Tuesday, Barack Obama becomes President and on Thursday, you turn five! He was very excited and somehow (being four) managed to combine the two, believing that when Barack Obama becomes President, he'll be five.Well, we managed to separate the two events yesterday, what with the general hoopla and excitement over the inauguration (

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-18395677699948770092009-01-07T10:52:00.005-05:002009-03-17T14:09:31.906-04:00

The buzzing started shortly after breakfast. Ice storm, no school, too many pancakes. Kids played with play do, I circled the house, searching for the mysterious buzz. Not upstairs. Not downstairs.Finally, I turned off the radio, "Shhhhhhhhhhh!"Kids and I walked towards big television in living room. It seemed to be emanating from above, behind, below."Shhhhhhhh!"I put my ear next to the flat

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-11494268402196216642009-01-03T08:21:00.007-05:002009-03-17T14:09:50.857-04:00

For Christmas, Youngest Brother gave me a sweet little book of Paulo Coelho's quotations titled, Life. One of the excerpts jumped out at me as being very applicable to raising children:In his or her life, each person can take one of two attitudes: to build or to plant. Builders may take years over their tasks, but one day they will finish what they are doing.Then they will stop, hemmed in by

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-36414425732189498912008-12-27T07:58:00.003-05:002009-03-17T14:10:23.360-04:00

Each year around New Year's I write down my goals for the year. Not resolutions, goals. The term "resolution" means failure to me. I can't help it. Growing up, I nearly always set a weight loss resolution and kind of knew in the back of my mind that I wasn't really going to keep it.Early in my career, I switched to setting goals. Goals are just more concrete. You hold yourself to them. Especially

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-6776529026509060422008-12-13T05:56:00.005-05:002009-03-17T14:10:42.760-04:00

When I picked up Son from preschool Lunch Bunch, he pulled me aside and excitedly said,"Mom, guess what happened today?""What?" I asked."Well, we were eating lunch and Miss Jill was getting coffee and we heard bells. And Miss Sherry said, 'Listen, what's that?' And she said, "It's Santa watching us."He had a huge smile on his face and felt very, very special that Santa had paid a special

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-12466452189006873752008-12-09T12:37:00.004-05:002008-12-09T13:05:04.402-05:00

Why is getting out of the house on time in the morning with two preschoolers akin to herding one hundred cats through a small swinging door? Try as I might, I still can't find the best way to encourage (or threaten) Son and Daughter to get dressed and out the door on time. It doesn't matter how early we start to get ready, their silliness will find a way to delay our departure.I call this

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-39256423062714430392008-11-13T06:47:00.005-05:002009-03-17T14:11:09.241-04:00

As I try and try to understand my children - or me as a Mommy to my children, it dawns on me that kids are really just an exaggerated microcosm of our human nature. For example:They always Want what they can't have (me, toys, more time to fool around before going anywhere). Remember dating and the nice guy who called consistently. Things were going well and you took for granted that he was

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-1783813015224022782008-11-06T12:33:00.005-05:002009-03-17T14:11:33.531-04:00

In a rally shortly before the election, Michelle Obama noted that her primary job is that of Mom in Chief. Don't you love that title? And, it's more relevant to motherhood than ever. As her husband, Barack, selects his cabinet and focus for the administration during difficult times for our country, many mommies are also strategizing during difficult times for their families. The one difference:

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-2529187647590827322008-10-31T06:34:00.009-04:002009-03-17T14:11:57.409-04:00

Over the past five years, I've trekked up to our middle school gym to vote in various elections with a baby strapped to my front, riding in a stroller, then holding my hand as I explained the importance of pulling levers in that funny booth drawn off by a curtain.This year, it turns out I'll be away on Election Day so Daughter and I made a special trip to Town Hall. We waited in line for my

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-58605088032426081322008-10-09T10:44:00.006-04:002009-03-17T14:12:42.975-04:00

I've just had my second decent night's sleep in three weeks. It was about a month ago that we moved two year old Daughter into a "big" bed for "big girls." The big bed happened on us through a good find (the frame) on Craig's List then a gifted mattress set from Aunt and Uncle when they downsized from a house in the burbs to a condo in the city. Mommy couldn't wait to set it up and move nighttime

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-45027442166062967462008-09-25T12:43:00.006-04:002009-03-17T14:13:09.258-04:00

This morning, our third day at the O.K. Corral, I figured out how to explain the explosive gunfire sounds bouncing off our front porch to terrified two-year old Daughter.A little background: Our house is situated on open space of heavily wooded terrain. At the end of our street is a large reservoir and dam. At the base of the dam is a deep gorge in the woods. Our local police department has

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-30786807820911819102008-09-08T22:01:00.006-04:002008-12-04T21:24:57.923-05:00

Now that we're back to school, I can't believe I lived without a regular weekly schedule. Last May I looked forward to the lazy, unstructured days of summer. I'm kind of a summer gal, actually, and relish beach time as much as my kids. I'm actually like a kid at the beach, happy to sit in the sand and help dig holes or bury feet.But by around mid-July, I found myself short-tempered and calling my

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-15118293195535387332008-09-02T21:12:00.008-04:002008-11-16T20:02:11.413-05:00

Upon hearing of John McCain's veep pick, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, I thought, hmmmmm, he chose a woman (I predicted he'd make such a move to my husband a week ago.) Then I heard she has five children. Double hmmmmm. Raised in a family of five children by a mother who ran the PTA, then founded and ran a small business with my Dad, I was impressed, shall we say, that Palin would enter such a

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-71769228388119636012008-08-27T08:19:00.003-04:002008-12-04T21:25:49.853-05:00

I received the following piece in email from my sister-in-law (mother of three). I don't know who wrote it but it's so good I'm posting it here. Read it with glee...What Do You Do All Day?A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-41073348794368701612008-08-21T15:49:00.007-04:002009-03-17T14:13:46.910-04:00

"Mommy, you didn't stop!" screamed Son recently after a red light."Huh?" Yes, I did. He said this a few times . Well, screamed to be heard from third row of bright blue Minivan (hey, I thought it would be easy to find in a crowded parking lot except every third Mom drives this weird blue Odyssey)."It was RED, you need to stop!" After a few outings with this claim, I realized he hadn't been

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-26031416039635094292008-08-16T07:14:00.008-04:002009-03-17T14:14:08.460-04:00

Last week we braved Stew Leonard's for groceries. If you don't live in CT, Stew's is the "largest dairy store in the world" and features singing farm animals, flipping monkeys, freshly packaged milk, the Chiquita banana lady, an insane progression with your cart down one winding aisle (turn against the tide at your peril), and, oh, a free ice cream cone if you spend $100 or more. We stopped in

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-22591035648733952692008-08-10T15:47:00.004-04:002008-12-04T21:27:26.160-05:00

Last weekend, Husband and I went away without the kids for the first time since Son was born 4 1/2 years ago. It was divine. Napping, bicycling, and dining without a care about racing home to relieve the babysitter. Husband's Mother flew up from Florida to take care of Son and Daughter. Our trip was long overdue but let's face it - it's hard to leave your kids and often harder to fine someone you

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-39366137751892220282008-07-28T15:37:00.003-04:002008-12-04T21:27:48.148-05:00

When I was young, I loved it when my Mom dropped me off at the library and I could pick out great summer books to read. My kids can’t read yet but I’m loving a few books that I’m reading to them at night.Rattletrap CarJune, Jakie, Papa and Baby try to make it to the lake in their rattletrap car. They depend on a few toys and marshmallow chocolate fudge delight to get them there. It’s a perfect

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-73881748375157715522008-07-21T07:01:00.008-04:002008-12-04T21:28:21.277-05:00

The last two weeks I’ve enjoyed some simple summer fun with my kids (running in the sprinkler, blowing bubbles, puzzles on the front porch), culminating in a short hike to pick blueberries this morning. It’s super humid and hot here in Connecticut so we hit the trail before 9 am, beach buckets in hand to collect our berries. Husband and I discovered this old apple orchard in Trout Brook Preserve

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-82694308476570014992008-06-25T07:54:00.007-04:002009-03-17T14:14:56.047-04:00

After two weeks with Son out of preschool, I got smart and asked my 15 year old niece to help out babysitting a couple days this week. What a difference! Happy kids, happier Mom. Why didn't I get extra help sooner? The three intimidating factors for me were:1. How would I find a decent babysitter I could trust and liked enough to have around my house?2. Did I want to spend the extra money each

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-55616837438370957022008-06-17T12:35:00.008-04:002009-03-17T14:18:16.926-04:00

I just had my first experience of relenting to my child’s need for coolness, peer pressure, please-please-please-can-I-have-them? versus my goal of practicality. We entered the shoe store with me intent on buying a pair of Teva’s or similar sandal for the beach and hot summer day playing and a pair of Keens or something similar for avoiding wood chips on the playground and hiking in the woods.

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-85289838252220193612008-06-03T13:33:00.006-04:002008-12-04T21:30:44.257-05:00

Here's a scary story shared by D., a Mom in my playgroup. She's been looking for a babysitter since she recently moved to town. I have used Craigs List in the past with mixed results. Well, here's her experience:Babysitter's Ad on Craig's ListThe Perfect Family Addition! Nanny Available FT ASAPD.'s email responseHiMy name is D. and I have a two year old son.Are you able to work in W. and are you

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-59834515702334659162008-05-15T05:54:00.007-04:002008-12-04T21:31:10.018-05:00

Okay, well this is a nightmare come true. In 2004, I fed my infant Son from Avent baby bottles (weren't they supposed to be the best?) and formula after nine months of breastfeeding. Now, we learn that Avent bottles, as well as formula cans, contain a harmful ingredient, BPA, found in many clear plastics (such as the Nalgene bottles Husband and I have used during hiking). I heard my first

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-82596571947488937262008-05-10T06:51:00.009-04:002009-03-17T14:18:56.656-04:00

In an article in the New York Times this week, a producer for Inside Edition said the campaign trail has become the “greatest reality show on television.” Amen. Until it got so negative and I decided I’d had enough. That’s when I turned to American Idol for some lighter fare. And while my toddlers can correctly name a front page picture, “That’s Barack Obama!” (is it a form of brainwashing if Son

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-20428519891511014442008-04-10T10:19:00.004-04:002008-12-04T21:32:20.690-05:00

Recently a group of friends and I were lamenting the hassle of running errands with young kids. It’s a royal pain to unstrap them from the car seat, hoist them up and haul them in for a short stop at say, the dry cleaners or drug store. Witness my recent Nightmare in CVS episode to pick up Amoxicillin for two year old Daughter with ear infection:“I’m sorry Ma’am, we don’t have it.”“But I heard

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-71234678648104218982008-04-01T20:02:00.010-04:002009-03-17T14:21:24.200-04:00

The first day of April brought a nice warm evening and I sat on our front porch with a cup of tea. Contentment. The kids fell asleep early (there is a God) and I felt a certain peace. With this moment to reflect I realized that in the four years since my first child was born, I've gotten the hang of this new job, Motherhood. It's been so crazy learning the ropes, I'm just now feeling my

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-56377119987989452292008-03-20T15:56:00.006-04:002009-03-17T14:20:12.311-04:00

It's official - I can't deny the differences between daughter and son. Basic, instinctual leanings wrought by nature, not just nurture. Let's see, when did it start? Oh, the other day when Charlie (4) started playing doctor after Sophie (2) returned home from ours with an ear infection (no, they didn't play that kind of doctor yet!) I was to be the patient (of course) while Charlie took my blood

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-36024149059270310562008-02-15T15:00:00.008-05:002009-03-17T14:20:35.214-04:00

Uggggh, I've been holed up at home with my two toddlers for two and a half weeks while they've battled four (4!) illnesses. What a rough February! First, my son came down with croup. I though he needed to have a cold first but our pediatrician said the standard course is croup, cold, then possibly ear infection (yep, he got them all). When his cough wouldn't subside after a week, she recommended

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-9504826432352628942008-01-30T14:51:00.002-05:002008-12-04T21:34:19.705-05:00

Ever wonder whether your fresh fruit is clean enough for your baby or toddler? Are you using the right solution? Did you wash it long enough to remove all the harmful pesticides and bacteria? Well, these types of questions have long lingered in my mind and plagued me as C. or S. bite into apples, grapes or pears. I've tried veggie washes, bathing fruit in soapy water and simply rinsing it.Then,

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-25267613284192045012008-01-24T06:39:00.003-05:002009-03-17T14:19:24.979-04:00

It’s 3 am, I’m rocking my 21 month old to sleep, are we on the looking glass, billy goat or horse and cart in this darn song? I know all the words (perk of motherhood) but they’re lost in my foggy brain. S. doesn’t usually wake in the middle of the night but what must have been a dream has woken her screaming, and brought me into the room. I was in a deep sleep and this disturbance is so

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-65677412996492001922008-01-03T13:26:00.003-05:002009-03-17T14:21:40.081-04:00

It’s January and time to start planning for 2008. And before resolutions can be made or kept it helps to have a solid time management system to organize your time. Mothers, especially, are faced with organizing:Kids’ schedules, meals, shopping, birthdays, activities and schoolOur own appointments, calls/emails to make, to do’s, shopping and errandsHousehold to do’s, repairs, chores, décorFamily

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-63541273839096541592007-11-30T06:51:00.003-05:002009-03-17T14:22:05.429-04:00

I’ve been working recently on my ability to say “No” to my three year old son. Oh sure, I can say No quite easily and say it many times. It’s the random question from him, that I quickly reply No to, and then regret with the onslaught of his crying and carrying on. He sure knows how to plead his case. And I’ve found myself to be more of a sucker than I thought I'd be. After incessant whining for

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-37060424014311451622007-11-13T13:58:00.002-05:002008-12-04T21:35:56.367-05:00

Last weekend we traveled up to Boston to visit family and had our first stress free travel morning. Some background. Since C. was born nearly four years ago, we've been learning how to travel with a young child - and a couple years later - two young children. You all know... it's not easy. The "cost of entry" (as I like to call it) for an overnight is the same as for a two week vacation. You need

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-62362153452681339112007-11-03T07:02:00.003-04:002008-12-04T21:36:27.677-05:00

I’ve been getting bored with my lunch repertoire for C. and S. and can’t seem to think beyond turkey or ham and cheese, carrot, celery and cucumber sticks and fruit. Sometimes we expand into hot dogs or leftovers at home, but it’s hard to think creatively when they’re clamoring for food and I’m hustling around the kitchen like a short order cook.C. goes to preschool three days a week so I need to

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-15284610260982896912007-10-24T20:27:00.003-04:002009-03-17T14:19:45.688-04:00

Yesterday, I opened the door to my back deck into an explosion of ladybugs. Yes, dozens, maybe hundreds, of lucky little black and red insects crawling over railings, siding, table and chairs. What really caught me by surprise was the fluttering of teeny tiny wings up into my face, around my hair and out over the yard. I waved my hands, brushing the pretty pests away, and prayed I wouldn’t insult

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-36399127804361635042007-10-18T13:43:00.004-04:002009-03-17T14:20:59.071-04:00

Last Sunday I took a trunk load of my used maternity clothes, children’s clothing and children’s toys to our local Goodwill drop off center. I had weeded our playroom the week before and amassed a reasonable offering of blocks, shape sorters, toy phones, pull trains and even an old Pooh and Friends See ‘n Say. Goodwill was happy to take the clothes off my hands but not the toys. The reason:

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-90156856664876311452007-10-11T11:52:00.002-04:002008-12-04T21:37:35.517-05:00

Yesterday's New York Times ran an article, "Picky Eaters, They Get it from You", about a study showing that picky eating is genetic. Yep, it's in your genes. And I'll admit I've harbored a secret fear since my kids moved off baby food that they would become (the dreaded) picky eaters and force me to cajole, trick and finally, cook multiple meals. If it's genetic, well, then I don't have as much

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4243776682970756059.post-75061009403898616442007-10-09T13:20:00.002-04:002008-12-04T21:38:02.802-05:00

WelcomeWelcome to Mommy Truths - my new blog devoted to giving tips based on what I'm learning raising my two toddlers (S, 19 mo. and C, 3 1/2 years). I also plan to opine about certain subjects (lead tainted toys, global warming's effect on our kids, banned cough medicines) so be prepared! Please post your feedback so we can have meaningful discussions.Weather WarningsNow, on to the strange

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308479729151318123noreply@blogger.com1