sasha-newborn-chronicles

For two years, I have taken care of Sam almost every day. When she turned one, we got two days of child-care, but even then, there were three days a week that she was mine, all mine. This week we started her pre-school. It is three times a week. And coupled with the two days of childcare, that means I no longer have my Sam. Like, ever. There is not a single day in the week … [Read more...] about Bye Bye Baby

Last week at this time I was losing my mind. Both kids were being treated for pink eye, I was struggling to drum up the bare minimum in freelance work, it was cold and dreary, my husband was laid off with no signs of local job availability and my daughter had gone—seemingly overnight—from a sweet, albeit exhausting toddler to a screaming, thrashing sea monster for no … [Read more...] about Ups and Downs

Until recently (really until Alan was born), I was convinced that I only wanted girls, that girls were the superior sex and that I would build an all-female army of feisty, intelligent, super hot women out of my daughters who would one day rule the world Lysistrata-style. Shockingly, I was wrong. I have recently started working once a week at my daughter's pre-school and … [Read more...] about Girls

The other day a friend and I were talking about someone we know and how her very thin mother always pressures her to lose weight. I was being my usual judgmental self and was denouncing that mother with fervor, until it occurred to me that I kind of got it. It would never berate or insult my daughter if her body were not up to my “standards,” but I would be very disappointed … [Read more...] about Building Active Babies

Last week a friend told me that she was fired from a daycare after only one day. Apparently her son had “too much separation anxiety.” I felt for her. But my own experience has been so different. Sam can’t wait to get me out the door. “Bye mommy,” she calls when I leave her at the gym daycare, her baby sitters, her grandparents or, most recently at her pre-school. I know … [Read more...] about Independence