Saturday, April 28, 2012
Stories I have remembered to forget!
My daughter is certainly old enough to read on her own now. In fact, she is reading some of the books I read at school like To Kill a Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby. She is also reading books that I only read as an adult, like The Invisble Man. But I do remember the days of reading to her. Laying in her narrow bed with the butterfly spread, her warm body draped on me and strands of her hair tickling my check. I knew that reading to my child was supposed to be virtuous, but I did not really understand why until now. I believed her elementary school when they encouraged parents to read to their children for thirty minutes each night. And when they circulated a list of suggested books by age. I took her to the library storytimes. I listened…
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Sometimes you have to learn to revise your rules and adjust to what your reality is.
I remember when I first found out I was pregnant. I had all these grandiose ideas then. I was never into the midwife or doula thing, but I was striving for a natural birth. I had envisioned this amazing picture in my head. I’d go to term and one morning my water would break. I’d remain calm, cool and collected and start timing my contractions. I would fill my tub with warm water and weather out my labor surrounded by dimly lit candles as the soothing scent of lavender wafted through the air. My iPod would be playing peaceful music that my husband and I had spent hours picking out for our “Welcome to the World Little One” playlist. And once my contractions got closer and closer, we’d drive to the hospital, go to the delivery room and …
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Giving thanks for a great urban dad
Being an urban parent is no easy feat. As much as I love living in the city, there are definitely times when the stress of “urbanity” takes a toll on the body, mind and spirit of us all. Sometimes I get tired of taking trains and buses and trying to maneuver strollers around this corner or that intersection. When those exasperating moments come upon me, I know I have a safe haven to come back too….my husband. For weeks I’ve been thinking about what I should get him for his second Father’s Day. At first I thought I would get him a book but, let’s be serious, what working parent has time to read a book?! Then, I thought I would get him a gift certificate to the Grooming Lounge but my husband is definitely not the mani/pedi type…..even…
Saturday, May 14, 2011
The perfect way to spend Mother's Day
"Oooh mommy feel this yarn! Look at this one. It's my favorite, bright purple! Oh and this one has sparkles in it!", exclaimed my daughter as she tugged my arm to move closer to the luxury yarns. "Yes, sweetie and feel this one, isn't it so yummy?" I asked as I picked up a skein of 100% cashmere wool. "Mom you can't eat yarn." She looked up at me puzzled. "No, but my needles can." It was Mother's Day and we were at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. My mom, who lives outside of Pittsburgh, came down for the weekend to check out the flocks and skeins too. I only recently took up knitting. It was about a year and a half ago, when I was pregnant with my fourth child. I knew that she was going to get a lot of hand-me-downs from her …
Saturday, April 30, 2011
When is it all "In God's Hands"?
"God and I are taking a breather," she explained over dinner. Silence around the table. My husband twitched first. It is important to be calm... "Any idea when you will be on speaking terms again?" "No, we just ran out of things to say for now". As background, let me explain that we are a Catholic family and go to mass at Holy Trinity about 3 out of 4 Sundays a month. I help out on Social Justice issues at the church and am a Lector. My husband has been active on Finance Committees and has worked with the liturgy. We say grace at dinner every night. I am not telling you all this because we are more "holy" than anyone else. I think we may be less holy. But we are committed to working on our numerous sins. My husband and I were married in …
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Sunday, April 24, 2011
One Sunday at a time.
"No! I'm not wearing that! I don't want to go to church! I'm NOT going!" was how our Palm Sunday last week began. Truthfully, that's how most Sundays begin. It may be one kid or another, but once the statement is made, the sentiment spreads like wild fire through the Teddy Bear Club (TBC), what we affectionately call our brood. This Sunday it was my oldest daughter, who happens to be particularly strong-willed. Normally, I don't make too much of a deal about their choice of dress, but this Sunday was a special Sunday when our church has a processional in which all of the children wave palms and make their One Great Hour of Sharing fish bank offering. Therefore, I wanted her to wear something other than jeans and a t-shirt. We went back and…
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Urban parents take on cabin fever.
I’m most definitely a summer person. I hate being stuck indoors but, whenever I am, I always think to myself….”better to be stuck inside when it’s cold rather than when it’s hot!” Approaching my first winter with a child, I’m hoping I can repeat that quote to myself over and over again. I have an incredibly energetic nine month old who is standing and gearing up to take her first steps. I also live in a two bedroom apartment. While we spent the summer and fall strolling through parks and napping in the car seat, life is definitely very different now! My main challenge is space. I don’t have a playroom or basement that she can roam around and we’re still a little young for indoor play yards so I’ve had to get a little creative. While she …
JH
10:29 am on Sunday, April 29, 2012
Parenting gap is at the heart of the education gap in most urban area. We need better role models like this one --- parents that see it as their job to educate and love their children ---- not just produce children to drop on others. more ›