Results tagged “home life” from Momtourage: Blogger Knows Best

by oneofhismoms
momtourage.net

Case Study:  Max and Ruby Rabbit

A Mr. Bun E. Rabbit, his wife, Bonnie Rabbit and her mother, Granny Hare are being held on charges of child abandonment, exploitation of a minor, and child endangerment today, after a shocking discovery was made in the attic of Mrs. Hare.  A vault full of digital recordings of their children, Max and Ruby Rabbit, were found.  These recordings are being held as evidence in the case; they essentially prove that the two children in question had been left to survive without any parental presence for a number of years.

How about this??  Instead of bailing out Wall Street why not just give the money directly to the American people?!  That's the kind of financial Viagra we could all use right now. Go ahead Mr. Bush, with your bad self, and stimulate my economic package already.  That sounds like a much better idea to me than giving more money to the Wall Streeters who lost it in the first place. 

I know it's way early in the school year to be proclaiming this but I will go out on a limb and say, I love first grade.  I'll tell you why:  less homework than Kindergarten.  I'm not kidding.  Last year, when Lily was a kindergartner, we had at least one to one and a half hours of a homework a night.  It was brutal: trying to get her to focus on new topics (yes, they had us start new subjects at home, and we weren't even on salary), review old ones and do 'busy work' for what seemed like an eternity every day.  Every weekend we had a book report due too!  We were teaching Lily all about sharing at that time and one day she asked me, "Can I share my homework with my friends?"  Smart girl.  This year, so far, we only have one book report a month and only 30-40 minutes of homework a night.  We no longer start crying the minute we leave the playground after school....I'm talking about me!  There is a god.....and she is merciful.  Are you in homework hell?  Let us know your story.

When I was growing up, if it was after 5 p.m. and you asked my mom when dinner would be ready, she would invariably say, "Twenty minutes." Regardless of the meal, the time or any other extenuating circumstance, her answer was always the same -- "Twenty minutes." It occurred with such regularity that it became a familial inside joke. The answer to anyone's request to know what time something would occur became...you guessed it...twenty minutes. And in all fairness, my mom could work miracles with a can of cream of mushroom soup, a casserole dish and twenty minutes.

Imagine my surprise, however, when my two precious tots popped their heads into the kitchen last night to ask when dinner would be ready and I replied without even thinking, "Twenty minutes." Just another in the lengthy stream of "It's official. I've become my mother" moments that happen to us all.

In an effort to sell our triplex in Brooklyn, we're currently updating the walls and electrical fixtures.  We're into our second week of construction already, it's Tuesday morning 9:07am - none of the workmen are here yet and I'm ready to rip my eyes out.  And yes, my contractor is named Bob.  Every time he walks in the door I find myself humming that theme song.

Here are some pix of how it looks at the moment (I keep telling myself it's going to be fabulous when it's all finished):

I had lunch with a group of old college buddies today.  Some of us chose to raise our children in urban environments while other parents opted for the burbs.  Now I've always thought there are many benefits to both: urban centers are great for diversity, exposing children to culture, museums, smelly street freaks you know all that great stuff associated with cities; while there's nothing like good 'ole fresh air, green grass, climbing trees, competing with supposedly friendlier people over sh*t no one really needs nor can afford to develop a child's imagination and body.

In a nutshell, I'm saying there are benefits to both.  I've never been one of those people who says I'd choose the city over the country for my child or vice versa.  I'm generally not that black and white about anything.  It's just worked out this way for us career wise: both my husband and I work in NYC.  It's definitely not cheaper to live in the suburbs - let's just dispel that myth.  When all the costs are figured in like commuting and taxes even the New York Times says home ownership costs about the same in the suburbs as it does in New York City. 

We just tend to be city dwellers.  We see the benefits to living in Brooklyn on a daily basis but we love the ease of suburban living....at least it appears to be easier....the grass is always greener because heck we don't even have grass!  If we could just get a Dairy Barn in Brooklyn I swear all our problems would be over: to not have to get out of the car; or circle for hours looking for a parking spot; or wait while some mental patient tries to haggle over the price; just to get a quart of organic milk would be incredible.

How do you do it all? That is the number one question presented to us every day from other aspiring mompreneurs. I'm certain it's a rhetorical question. There is no way anyone can do it all. I try but when you are running your own business and managing children, a husband and a household -- something has to give. Sacrifices need to be made.

Yesterday's sacrifice was a typical one... dinner.

Upon waking up I realize that it's been a week since my last trip to the supermarket. Don't forget to defrost the chicken, I tell myself.

Get out of bed and ready for the day -- this means brushing my teeth, putting on clothes and throwing the hair up in a clip. Again, it's all about sacrifice.

Moving on...get the 1½ year old out of her crib while the 4½ year old prepares himself for his day. The outfit is a green shirt with maroon sweatpants. Have to pick your battles, right?  Have to get moving for the drive to preschool followed by the 9:30 kickboxing class then back to the home office for a few hours of productive 'work' while the little one naps. It's too late to make breakfast so it’s the drive thru of Dunkin Donuts - again. There's nothing wrong with throwing 2 egg and cheese croissants back into the 2nd row of a minivan, right? What's a few more crumbs?

Kiss goodbye at preschool. Get to the gym and luckily the little one is happy today in the babysitting service -- sorry - her playdate (shhh it makes me feel better)!