My Artists & Writers in Training

Another Chloe Illustration

Leave a comment

This one was for a Martin Luther King, Jr. day coloring book that her art class made for little kids. The theme, in keeping with the holiday, was helping others.

Here, a girl is comforting her friend, who is upset after her little brother destroyed her tower of blocks. Chloe is not a big fan of this drawing, but I really like it. She asked that I not include it in the blog, but I convinced her that one day she’ll be glad to see it in the 2010 volume of Pink Me Not.
I generally try to respect my kids’ wishes when they ask that I refrain from blogging about certain things. But every so often I stand my ground, hoping that one day they’ll thank me for my prescience in deciding to include some of the stories they’d currently like to forget.
Frazzled Working Mom's Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

Broccoli!

Leave a comment

It’s only taken us about nine years. But we’re finally realizing that our kids are super malleable and impressionable. You read about it all the time – kids will imitate their parents, but we’ve always been a little skeptical.

Yet, if mom and dad use bad words, the kids will let them slip as well (but hopefully not in front of the teacher). If mom and dad read a lot, the kiddies will read a lot. If dad is addicted to his iphone, the kids will steal his iphone and become addicted to it, too.
Yesterday, we had broccoli with dinner. I’ll admit that it’s not the most popular side dish in our house. But my husband and I have recently noticed that our little Sophie is a copycat, and she’s been displaying more interest in tasting whatever we have on our plates. So we went the broccoli route last night.
And because Sophie seems to be a little more attached to me than usual, when she saw me grab a spear, she pointed to it and asked to have some. I happily gave her a piece (I’m really not a big fan of broccoli, but hell, I’ll do what it takes for my girls) and she ate it. And asked for more. And more. It was a win-win for both of us.
She now proclaims that she likes broccoli as much as carrots. Whoopee.
Frazzled Working Mom's Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

Miniature Mardi Gras Float

Leave a comment

Chloe’s latest school project was for French class – to create a mini Mardi Gras float. This is where Grammy comes in handy. Grammy likes to help the girls with the projects I can’t stand.

And she’s chock full of the perfect supplies. Chloe’s float consists of a shoe box, some dinosaurs, beads and a clown juggling naked babies. Descriptively entitled “The Silly Dinosaur-Infested Circus,” it’s a true work of art.
Chloe has another project that’s due next week. Won’t be as much fun, but it should get the creative juices flowing, at least a little bit. Creating a coat of arms for a biographical figure – Chloe is likely going to pay homage to Thomas Edison or J.K. Rowling. I think I’m stuck helping her with that assignment. One out of two ain’t bad.
Frazzled Working Mom's Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

The Saucer Eyes

Leave a comment

The girls hosted a tea party for us last evening. Replete with milk playing the role of tea, and Oreos filling in for scones. No matter that the teapot leaked. It was quite fun, especially since it was one of the only (if not the only) times the girls served us some food.

Everyone was in a happy mood after our treats so I figured it was high time I caught up on some photos. I was starting to run out of pictures for the blog. Sophie had fun making faces, one of which was this ‘deer in the headlights’ shot. Her eyes have never looked so large.
Frazzled Working Mom's Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

Sophie is Still Talking Dirty

Leave a comment

“Penis! Penis! Penis!” That’s Sophie. At least once a day. Just because it sounds funny. Her poor Papa doesn’t know what to think. Every time she bursts out in penis shouts, he looks at her a little sheepishly. Not that sheepishly, mind you, because the French don’t get embarrassed that easily.

By the way, if you don’t see this post in a few days, it’s because weirdos surfing the web looking for x-rated stuff stumbled across this blog. We don’t want that (and believe it or not, it has happened before).
Our strategy right now is to let Sophie get the p-word out of her system. She might replace it with the female equivalent, but somehow I don’t think she’ll find it as amusing to pronounce over and over again. It just doesn’t have the same sing-song quality to it.
Frazzled Working Mom's Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

Sleepaway Camp!

Leave a comment


It’s confirmed. Our to-be-9-year-old Chloe will be attending sleepaway camp for two weeks this summer. At a lovely place in Pennsylvania called Camp Cayuga. She is so excited (and perhaps a little bit anxious, too) about the prospect of going to this idyllic place in August, she can barely contain herself.

I must say I’d be excited if I were her age. Sleepaway camp has certainly changed since I went 30 years ago. My camp had a lake. It had a pool. It offered arts & crafts. We even had the trip to Hershey Park. But there weren’t any classes in circus arts. Nor was there an extreme trampoline, or any trampoline, for that matter. Other than the cot mattress. Scuba diving? Forget about it. And I sure is hell never saw a flying trapeze at my camp.
What’s not to love? It’s friggin’ Club Med for kids.
Frazzled Working Mom's Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

Super Mario Bros.

Leave a comment

I am trying to improve my Wii Super Mario Bros. skills so that I can beat the crap out of my daughter. The only problem is that I really suck at the game. I’m trying, truly I am.

I spent approximately two hours today in an attempt to get closer to Chloe’s playing level. There are eight “worlds” in the game, and each world has a bunch of different courses that you need to complete. Chloe has managed to conquer almost five of the worlds. After devoting way too much time to this silly (but fun) game, I am still stuck at level one of the first world. I had succeeded in making my way through three courses, but then lost all of my lives. So I have to started all over again.
I am determined to become my daughter’s equal at this game. She’s sick of playing it by herself. I guess this means that my weekends are going to be pretty busy over the next five years or so.
Frazzled Working Mom's Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)

Sophie and Me

Leave a comment

Sophie and I are having a special Sophie & Mommy afternoon. Papa, Chloe and one of Chloe’s friends went to see “Avatar.” Sophie and I are having a movie-fest of our own, at home. Watching a compilation of Pixar short movies, which are all super creative and entertaining.

She’s cuddled against me as we watch them for the second time in a row. I know, too much TV. But who cares? These cartoons are irresistible.
Anyway, Sophie is definitely my favorite cuddlebug. Chloe was never really a cuddler, but Sophie loves to give hugs and kisses. “I want to cuddle you SOOOO much!” she tells me. How cool is that? “And I love you,” she adds. Really, really cool.
Shortly after that exchange, we were both lying together on the couch and she positioned herself on top of me. And a few minutes later, I heard the heavy breathing of her sleep. Not a deep sleep, mind you. She wasn’t snoring, after all. But she had dozed off and I was transported back a few years to when she was just a baby. What a lovely memory.
I hope she never tires of the cuddling. I don’t think I ever will.

A Mom's Ramblings About the Marvels & Mishaps of Parenting, the Joys of Family Travel & the Writing Life