At least we’re coordinated. I arrive home from Peru and the hubby leaves for Nashville on Tuesday. Unlike me, he’s traveling for work, not fun. He returns home on Friday and we co-parent together next week. And then he’s off to Nashville again. By the time he returns home a second time, Chloe and Sophie will have just three more days of school and we’ll have a few short weeks to prepare for our trip to France.
Category Archives: Chief Mom Officer Musings
They Survived
I came home from Peru to a wonderfully calm house. Chloe and Sophie seemed well-fed (thanks in part to one of our friends who cooked for my husband and the girls a few times while I was away), well-clothed (their Papa went on a mini-shopping spree at Uniqlo) and well-groomed.
It’s not that I expected the girls not to be all those things, but you just never know. Their dad sometimes lets them get away with all sorts of crap, but I must say that he passed the “no wife for two weeks” test with flying colors.
The huge hugs I received from the girls upon crossing the threshold on Tuesday were by far the best part of returning home. It’s nice to know that I was missed. Sophie was particularly generous with her embraces. Chloe even got into the game, although I don’t think my absence impacted her all that much. No surprise there.
I know I can be a pain in the ass and “so annoying” (the girls’ words, not mine). Chloe and Sophie never hesitate to remind me of this fact. I am, after all, Chief Mom Officer, and it’s my job to be a nuisance. My husband no doubt benefitted from my absence as well. The mutual break was restorative for everyone involved.
All of which is great news because now I can start planning my next trip with full confidence that my brood will do just fine without me. Southeast Asia, anyone?
For My Family on Mother’s Day
When I was in high school, I was convinced that I’d remain single, own a beautiful apartment in Manhattan and save lives as a neurosurgeon. When I started college, I changed my career goal. Realizing that I wasn’t cut out to deal with life and death situations on a daily basis, I was convinced I’d become a diplomat and live a life of adventure in exotic locales.
Verizon FIOS vs. Panera WiFi
We woke up this morning to a house that was technologically cut off from the world. No phone, no TV, no Internet. For no apparent reason, other than our Verizon FIOS service decided it didn’t want to work anymore.
Spontaneity = Happiness
In a recent post, I mentioned in passing that one of the great gifts of relinquishing my paycheck has been the newly rediscovered ability to be spontaneous, which goes hand in hand with the luxury of having time to breathe.
Standing My Ground with an Irritable Sophie
I attribute the recent uptick in Sophie’s irritability to a variety of factors. Not sure how many of them are legitimate and reasonable, and how many are simply rationalizations I’m pulling out of my head to explain this phenomenon.
Continue reading Standing My Ground with an Irritable Sophie
Thoughts of My Dad on His Birthday
71 – that’s how old my dad would have been had he still been alive today.
13 – that’s how many years he’s been buried in the ground.
Reflections on Finding that Ever-Elusive Peace
In my last post, I mentioned that one of the nice surprises about my transition to Chief Mom Officer has been the great sense of peace that has settled over me.
Continue reading Reflections on Finding that Ever-Elusive Peace
Four Weeks as Chief Mom Officer and What I Have Learned?
I have now served as chief mom officer for four weeks. It’s been a fantastic month. That said, what I intended to be an extended vacation at home for the first few weeks of this new life phase has been anything but.
Continue reading Four Weeks as Chief Mom Officer and What I Have Learned?
Dear France, I’m Proud to be a Citizen Today
France just became the 14th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. France never seems to do anything quickly, but they accomplished this feat in just a few short months, which is actually pretty incredible to me. It certainly helped that President Hollande’s political party dominates the country’s two parliamentary houses. But this legislation is all the more striking to me as a dual American/French citizen, considering that here in the States this particular battle has been fraught for so long, despite the incredible progress that’s been made at the state level in the last few years.
Continue reading Dear France, I’m Proud to be a Citizen Today