Trick or Treat

Halloween is almost here, and Seth has been totally psyched for weeks now. What's not to like? Free candy.....and lots of it. Plus, this year, he's going to be a Power Ranger. The Red one, to be exact. I must admit I don't know the difference between all the Rangers, but to an ardent fan like Seth, being the Red one was a distinct choice. We actually wound up getting a hand-me-down costume from a friend whose now older son was a Power Ranger fan big time, especially during their hey day.

Seth asked me what I was going to be for Halloween. Since we're not going to a party, I don't plan an elaborate dress up. When I walk him around the neighborhood and local stores, I will wear my jackolantern earrings, to get into the spirit of the occasion. They have a kids costume parade in our town annually, and it's quite a sight to see the little ones marching up and down the main drag all decked out.

One of my "hidden" talents, I've discovered over the years, is the art work I am able to create on pumpkins. I draw on them with oil pastel crayons, copying a cartoon character. This year's choice came from Seth....little alien....from one of his favorite bedtime books. I put it outside, as always, and yesterday we awoke to discover it was eaten, most likely by a racoon. Strewn pumpkin pieces were all over our stoop. Who knew?!

Despite that....Halloween is such a festive occasion, and one that conjures up memories from my own child hood. I used to collect money for Unicef during my doorbell ringing episodes. I recall on one odd occasion actually getting chased by someone whose bell I rang (I didn't know them), and they didn't plan on giving candy. I don't remember what I used to dress us as, but I do recall that my costumes were home made, i.e. a ghost. Things were simpler then.

Not everyone participates, I have learned. Some have an almost "Scrooge-like" attitude about it and don't want children at their door. A couple of parents I spoke to said they won't take their kids Trick or Treating because they don't like all the candy. I said that we filter it out when Seth gets home, and that it's just the fun of occasion that we support....not the sugar.

What is your feeling about Trick or Treating?

My Mommy Briefcase

I originally posted this on the Working Woman blog but thought it would be fun to have here as well!

When I was single, I used to have those embarrassing moments when I'd reach into my overstuffed purse for a pen during a client meeting and out comes a slew of tampons. Now that I'm a mommy, the fallout tends to be diapers and sippy cup. Not as embarrassing but still not so professional. I've been feeling like I need a Mommy Briefcase.


Okay, I'm using the term "Mommy Briefcase" loosely. I don't know about you, but I'm not really one to carry a briefcase. I'm more into the "everything bag," a canvas or nylon sack where I just toss everything into it. Not very professional. So I decided to find an attractive bag that I could carry to client meetings that didn't look like a bag lady's accessory.


I found a great compartmentalized bag from SkipHop that could also serve the dual purpose of professional looking purse and stand-in diaper bag so I wouldn't have to carry my bag and a diaper bag whenever I had baby in tow.

The bag is great, however, I somehow manage to overstuff it just the same - the only difference now is that everything is stuffed into its own compartment.

So what do I have in my Mommy Bag? Let's see...

1. Several pens - you can never have too many pens

2. Spiral notebook - to take notes at client meetings

3. Wallet - overstuffed, mind you

4. Envelope of coupons - I hated forgetting my coupons every time I went to the store

5. Digital camera - never know when baby is going to do something cute

6. Two cell phones - one for long distance calls, one for local (don't ask)

7. Terralina lotion - my new favorite lotion, unscented

8. Bobbie Brown lip color - a lovely neutral brown shade

9. Two spare diapers - in their own compartment, mind you

10. Baggie of diaper wipes

11. Pacifier

12. Two small plastic giraffes

13. Sippy cup with water

14. Baggie with Puffins cereal

15. Rubber duck

16. Anti bacterial spray

What's in YOUR Mommy Bag?

A Life of His Own

We went to an Open House at Seth's pre-K last night, and I always find myself feeling very sentimental when I go to his school. It's like I become that much more aware of the life that Seth has outside of me and his home. His new teacher spoke highly of him, and others in the school commented on how he proudly walks into the classroom wearing his favorite firetruck polo shirt. And, how he's always smiling. And, how much he grew in height from last year....since he went to the same school.

He's becoming his own little person, and I can see a greater level of maturity in him. He's not a baby anymore (though he'll always be my little guy), and he's already made his first classmate friend. He came home with a note in his school bag recently from the teacher. It said that Seth has become friends with a boy named Nathan, and that perhaps we'd like to do a playdate after school. I was given the name/number of his mother. We spoke, and got the boys together. It was so cute to see them engage in their own dialogue, even as it relates to school...an experience that we don't share with them.

I think back to the Mommy & Me class days...and I feel like a broken record when I say this...but time truly does goes fast. While a part of me misses when Seth was little and could fit in my arms, there is a lot to be said for observing his evolution. I feel so priviledged to witness the growth of his life and to be able to make whatever contributions I can toward his development. Parenthood really is a special role, and I can see how parents look back when their children are grown and comment that their kid(s) are the best thing they ever did.

Pushing Buttons

I didn't plan to blog on this subject, but I need to vent at the moment.

It is never a dull moment as a parent....both good 'n bad.

This morning, Seth went out with Marc to do errands, and they returned while I was taking a shower. Next thing I know, Seth is on the floor of my bathroom playing with the sliding bathroom door, and managed to pull it partially off the hinges. I know he's just four years old, but it gets frustrating living with a person, despite their young age, who has no regard for things in their home.

I know he didn't intentionally plan to break it, but the damage is done. And, Marc is as far from a handy man as you can get. So, what now? And, how much will this cost to fix?

I realize in the scheme of things, this incident is not a biggie, but it all adds up. Seth would surely not like it if I were to break his toys (not that I'd do that). Yet, this is not the first thing he's wrecked in the house.

I think part of it is that I spend so much time at home since I work from here, that I like the house to have some sense of order. And, with a young child, all my "control" buttons get pushed re: my expectations of a home life/environment. Our living room is now his playspace. Our guest room became Seth's bedroom. Believe me, I am grateful to have him in our lives. I just wish I didn't feel like damage control has become one of my regular tasks.

To-be

My in-laws gave us a generous gift for the baby, with a card that said "for the baby-to-be." It was refreshing to read it.

The stage that I am in has been investigated by anthropologists who coined it "liminality." As humans move through major stages of life, many cultures (if not all) designate a period that is in-between stages, marked with a set of rituals (rite of passage). One obvious example is adulthood (often for males), and another, death. When a person enters this in-between stage, that person belongs to a transient stage, often isolated from society, and the normal social rules do not apply. To my knowledge, not much is studied about the phase that I am in: I am neither a mother nor a non-mother. I am pretty much removed from the normal social environment (since my maternity leave started), and I am definitely treated differently.

At 36 weeks, I feel that I am verging on the cross-over. I am called a "mom" from time to time, although it is clear that I am not one yet. I am a non-mom and a mom at the same time. What do you say, Dr. Schrodinger?