Category Archives: Frazzled Working Mom’s Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

Frazzled Working Mom's Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

School!

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On January 20, we may be inaugurating a new president, but in equally exciting news (at least for our family), Sophie will be starting preschool – three mornings a week.  So that she’s all ready for full-time pre-K in September.  She’s constantly talking about her little friends who are going to school and smiles whenever she mentions it.

Now she’s going to get her chance to join the ranks of the toddler students. Learning her ABCs, her numbers and maybe even how to spell her name.  Her papa is particularly excited about what will surely be her sooner-than-expected ability to spell “Papa.”  We’ll see about that.  One step at a time. 
When I explained to her that she’d be starting school in a few days, she asked whether she’d be going by herself.  When I responded yes, she replied, “Cool!”  I love my girls.  They make me laugh (when they’re not fighting).
Frazzled Working Mom's Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

Better Late Than Never…Hanukkah 2008

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I just realized that I had been meaning to post a photo of Hanukkah 2008 since the last day of Hanukkah.  Yet another example of time just getting away from me.  I am truly convinced that it’s an age thing – you turn 40 and all goes to hell.  My eyes have also been bothering me.
In any case, back to Hanukkah.  It was very nice this year.  Chloe, as you can see from the photo, loves playing with fire.  The only problem is that we have this miniature menorah – it wouldn’t be out of place in a dollhouse – that has a hard time holding candles.  I think we’re going to have to invest in a new menorah next year.
Sophie’s one obsession during the Hanukkah festivities was blowing out the candles.  We had to repeatedly tell her that such a thing was not possible.  And every time, she’d puff out her cheeks and huff in disappointment.  Oh well.  Life is tough sometimes.

Frazzled Working Mom's Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

I Should Have Known Better

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It was inevitable, I suppose.  I should have listened to my brain last night before I went to sleep because it was screaming, “Take some sleeping pills, you dope!”  Needless to say, I didn’t heed my brain’s sage advice, and I spent half the night fighting insomnia, thinking about all of the work stuff I had avoided thinking about during my vacation.  The upside to this was that I arrived at work this morning knowing pretty well what I needed to do.  The downside is that I felt like puking all day long from lack of sleep.

So here I am at home, having barely survived my first day back at the office, wondering if I’m feeling so crappy because I’m exhausted, or because I’m coming down with something.  I hope it’s the former and not the latter.
In the meantime, because I am now lying in bed (and it’s only 7:15 pm!) being lazy and trying desperately to feel less nauseous, I will not be spending much time on this blog entry.  Luckily, you have the privilege of viewing our future female Kurt Mazur conduct her own version of the Electric Light Orchestra.

Frazzled Working Mom's Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

Back to Work

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Sadly, tomorrow is around the corner.  Which means it’s back to work.  Tomorrow marks my year anniversary at the firm.  Time flew.

It’s nice having a vacation at the end of the year – I feel renewed and ready for the new year.  As long as it doesn’t bring too much negative news.  But 2008 was so bad on so many fronts that I truly believe things will start to get better (perhaps not before some additional economic hiccups, however).
Chloe has started to write a chapter book about a girl named Melanie, who is on an adventure to solve a mystery.  Once she’s finished (who knows when that will be!), I may serialize it on the blog.  And look for a publisher…I’m hoping to live vicariously through my daughter.  Having always dreamed of writing a book myself, I suppose the second best thing would be to have a daughter who might actually do it!
Frazzled Working Mom's Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

January 1, 2009

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Here we are closing in on the end of the first day of 2009.  It was a fairly uneventful day, as I’ve found most New Year’s Days to be.  We lounged around in our pajamas until 11 AM, played board games and I escaped for a couple of hours to check out the sales at the mall – a disappointing excursion that didn’t yield much, except for two very cheap pairs of pants from J. Crew.

The girls were still going at it this morning, but they seemed to have reached a bit of a truce this afternoon.  They even expressed love for each other – without adult prompting.  Sophie initiated it, and those three simple words, “I love you,” brought a big smile to Chloe’s face and an “I love you” back.
Three more days left of vacation, and back to the office on Monday, which will mark my one year anniversary at the firm.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, time has flown by this year.   I hope 2009 brings better tidings for everyone – family, friends, strangers…less war, a better economy, happiness and health for my girls, a good teaching job for my brother…and if we can swing it, a nice vacation in July for my husband and me, to celebrate our 40th birthdays and our 15th wedding anniversary.  Oh – and hopefully, no more drama with the house.
    
Frazzled Working Mom's Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

Au Revoir 2008

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This is how we’re ringing in the new year.  With a demolished sunroom that was collapsing because a previous owner didn’t bother to pour a foundation when it was built.  The good news is that it’s now on its way to being cured.  The bad news is that we have to do rebuild it in the first place.   At least one thing is sure about the imminent arrival of 2009:  it will be memorable for the new and improved room.  

The last few days of 2008 have been notable for the increased frequency of sibling fighting.  Chloe baits Sophie, Sophie hits and kicks.  Sophie baits Chloe, Chloe hits and kicks.  They seem to be doing this for our benefit – because our babysitter often remarks as to how well behaved they are when she’s on duty.  But the constant bickering of the last 10 days is definitely taking its toll on the parents.  
We’re not quite sure how to make them understand that it’s too much.  That life is too short for them to lose time not appreciating one another.  That they’re sisters – and that Chloe should know better than to let Sophie get the best of her.  They’ve been banned from TV tomorrow – which I know is going to cause Sophie to melt down in the morning because she won’t remember the punishment when she wakes up.
Suffice to say, I will admit to the fact that with every new argument I’m looking slightly more forward to returning to work on Monday.  Ugh.  We’re definitely going to have to find a way to nip this in the bud before they grow up hating each other.
My New Year’s Resolutions:
– find a way to keep Sophie and Chloe from attacking each other;
– cook more on the weekends, and recruit Sophie and Chloe as sous-chefs;
– save more money.
Happy New Year! 

Frazzled Working Mom's Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

Shrinkwrapped!

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I have discovered the best new punishment ever (ignore Chloe’s smile in the photo).  All you need is large cellophane bag and a vacuum cleaner.  You put the misbehaving child into the bag, turn on the vacuum, and voila!  Instant immobility.  

Of course, we tried this experiment in the context of a visit to the museum, so it was funny.  In fact, I did it also in order to test its effectiveness.  I couldn’t move anything – not even my pinky.
But imagine the possibilities – Chloe and Sophie swipe at each other.  No problem.  We have told them over and over again that there are consequences for bad behavior.  Until now, none of our consequences have had much effect.  Starting in 2009, however, both of them will be individually shrinkwrapped in their separate corners whenever they transgress.  Although they’ll be able to make noise and eat (and maybe even sleep if they’re tired enough), they WON’T BE ABLE TO MOVE…AT ALL.
Hee hee hee…
Frazzled Working Mom's Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

Does One Night a Pattern Make?

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For the first night since before I turned 40, Sophie slept.  Quietly and peacefully.  Without waking up once.  I woke up this morning and slowly realized that we didn’t have a little Sophie in our bed and that I had no nightmarish memory of my husband or me sleepwalking into her room in response to her screaming pleas.

We can only pray that last night marked the dawn of a new day in Sophie world.  Of course, I realize that I’m probably jinxing it all by setting it down in the form of a blog entry, but it’s hard to rein in my excitement at the prospect of getting two straight full nights of sleep in a row, since it’s been so long.
To be continued tomorrow, with what I sincerely hope will be an affirmative answer to the question in the title of this blog.