Parenting

The Little Lego Maniac

I see lots of people hating on Legos. Woe the toe that steps on one of those razor sharp edges. Mourn the vacuum that is destroyed when a small block invades. Bemoan the fact that 99% of the pieces are choking hazards. If it can fit through a toilet paper roll, it is a choking hazard. Comfort the wallet when it realizes that these tiny blocks don’t come cheap…at all. I thought I would be in the legions of parents sharing both my child’s Lego love and my own misadventures Read More...

On Changing Schools: Her 2nd, 1st Day of Kindergarten

We started Kindergarten in September at our local public school with so much excitement. High hopes for a happy and challenged child. We waited a long time for Kindergarten. Before I tell you the story, know that it ends well. Here she is on her 1st day, yesterday, in her new uniform. What Happened Last Year? Sophia missed the school cut off last year by just 20 days, but was ready. Really ready. Last October I wrote about underestimating our daughter. We knew less than a month into school that Read More...

Ladies, Yours are No Longer Called Nipples

Newsflash! I kid you not. I have heard it from Miles, who is absolutely certain, that those things on your chest in the middle of your boobs are not called nipples. They have a better name, a more fun name, and one that should be said with a bit of laughter and a definite sing song voice. Don’t be the last one calling these things nipples. While I told Miles that the world, in fact, does have the same name for this particular body part shared by boys and girls, Read More...

6 Years Ago Our Lives Changed Forever

My first child was born 6 years ago. We named her Sophia Elise. My heart exploded with joy. Life has never been the same. I have learned more, loved more, cried more, laughed more and grown up more in these past 6 years than in the previous 28. Some days every minute seemed like an hour and a half or even a week. Motherhood is not easy. I am not perfect. She is not perfect. We are both learning. Looking back, 6 years feels like 2 minutes and I want Read More...

Because Spies Shoot Bows, Yo!

Sophia runs off the bus into the arms of her best friend Sean, who is in 2nd grade. They dart into his house and come out dressed as spies, they say. They are toting a full quiver of arrows and 2 bows. I think Sean may have confused the spy look with the Man of the Alpine look, but hey, who cares? Perhaps he was going for a fedora? Also, I do not know many spies who carry around bows and arrows, but Sophia was determined to learn. Maybe the Read More...

Real Willpower

We thought we should tell Miles that his best friend Hank got his yellow swim band a few weeks ago. You see, with a yellow swim band you can go down the slides at our YMCA. Without a yellow swim band, no slides. You hang in the baby pool, which is still ridiculously awesome with it’s own slides, or with your parent on the sidelines of the real action in the big pool. Honestly, as of yesterday, Miles had not shown us he was a good enough swimmer to get Read More...

We Hit the Tattoo Parlor for Some Ear Piercing!

Yes. I took my 5 year old Sophia to Krazy Kat’s Tattoos here in Charlotte to get her ears pierced. I know, I know, I always said we would wait so much longer. If I had a conversation with you about this, forgive me. I just totally changed my mind. I started reading all of her Kindergarten information after hearing her beg for 2 years to get those babies pierced. What do the two have in common? Well, the school uniform policy is extremely strict and the only places I could find Read More...

Sticking to Bedtime in the Summer

When the days are long and the sun doesn’t set until long after your child’s bedtime, sticking to a routine can be tough! We love to play until the sun sets, but the little monsters that wake up the next day can be tough on family fun! While we totally give up some nights and enjoy the evening sun, most nights we get our kids in the sack at the regular time, 7 p.m. This gives my husband and me time to ourselves, something that is very important for our Read More...