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June 10, 2008
Finding my religion, Skadaddle
Finding my religion, Skadaddle
My parents were both raised Jewish, but as a result of a few life experiences, they pretty much bailed on the whole religion thing. So, for the first nine or so years of my life, we celebrated Christmas (like the majority of the people I knew in those days). My brother, however, upon discovering our Jewish roots, re-ignited an Old Testament interest in our household, and before long I found myself in Sunday School, Hebrew School and well on my way to a Bar Mitzvah. [more]
June 10, 2008
Bag of tricks, Professor Mom
Bag of tricks, Professor Mom
Each time I click over to Amazon to ogle this book that's just come out with my essay in it (shameless self-promotion), I get a helpful handful of "suggested reading" titles along with it, and lately they've all been about traveling with kids--like this one: How to Fit A Car Seat on a Camel and Other Misadventures Traveling with Kids. [more]
June 9, 2008
Still teaching, Skadaddle
Still teaching, Skadaddle
In addition to all of the things that made my father-in-law an extraordinary man, he was a teacher. Through his career, he mentored the development of thousands of young doctors. He not only taught them about medicine, but also about compassion (while perhaps trying to pass on a legacy of wearing bow ties). [more]
June 9, 2008
City mouse...suburban mouse, Professor Mom
City mouse...suburban mouse, Professor Mom
A new popular drugstore chain opened up a location only five minutes from our house. A few weeks ago they sent us several coupons to lure us over there, including an offer to give us a $25 gift card if we only switch our prescriptions from our regular pharmacy to theirs. I thought about it, weighing convenience and the temptation of that gift card. Our current pharmacy is in our old neighborhood, convenient to that house, but almost 15 minutes door-to-door now from where we live. But we've been using that old pharmacy for years now. [more]
June 6, 2008
Friday blues, Professor Mom
Friday blues, Professor Mom
Next week is the last week of this summer school class, and then the second round starts. I am half-hoping enrollment will be too low for the second section to run and that the course will be canceled. I'm tired and there just aren't enough hours in the day to get work done. And--can it be possible already? I'm feeling a tad burned out. [more]
June 5, 2008
If not sewing camp, what about SLEEP camp?, Professor Mom
If not sewing camp, what about SLEEP camp?, Professor Mom
Last night L. couldn't get to sleep until after 11:00, and then woke up twice with bad dreams. And T., who I hope so fervently is not gearing up for another migraine, woke up several times, thirsty and fussing in the middle of the night wailing that way small children have--the wails that cut through your dreams and shake you awake, to be worried and then grouchy, and then sleepless. I, of course, had to drag myself out of bed at 6:00 (still hoping to accomplish some work in the early morning hours--and look!--I am, I'm writing this post!) and T. proceeded to sleep until 10:00. [more]
June 4, 2008
The walk, Professor Mom
The walk, Professor Mom
One year ago today, L. swam by himself at the pool for the very first time. He was almost seven and had been holding back for over three years—afraid, but also ashamed of his own fear. The water always tormented him, as did the kids—unintentionally—as they danced and played in the deep end, striking out across clear water, or diving below to retrieve coins and sharks and plastic torpedoes. But last year, on June 4, L. swam. As I watched from the pool's edge, it was unmistakably clear to everyone that his feet had indeed left the bottom of the pool. [more]
June 3, 2008
R.I.P.: Cigars, dirty jokes and marching to the beat of his own piano, Skadaddle
R.I.P.: Cigars, dirty jokes and marching to the beat of his own piano, Skadaddle
G’s dad, K-Man’s grandfather and my father-in-law passed away tonight. He lived an amazing 86-year life that was marked by experiences that the very best writers in Hollywood probably wouldn’t dare put onto paper for fear they wouldn’t be taken seriously. [more]
June 3, 2008
Golden times, Professor Mom
Golden times, Professor Mom
At the pool this past weekend we met an interesting couple who also live in the neighborhood (thanks to T., who ended up joined at the hips with their two kids--the same ones who were frog hunting with her the other day). We've been meeting a lot of interesting people at the pool lately--people we click with immediately and have engaging conversations with. This couple appeared in deck chairs last weekend, as if blown in by the breeze, leaving us to wonder where on earth they were last summer, these interesting people, because it would have been nice to have known them then. [more]
June 2, 2008
Four going on fourteen, Professor Mom
Four going on fourteen, Professor Mom
I love so much about our daughter. I love her free spirit and her people-person character. I love her sunniness and her desire to be friend to all, big or small, animal or person, insect or object--like the fragile blue robin's egg she found on the path the other day. But she's giving us gray hairs these days, keeping me awake at night as I toss and turn, not even sure why I am so bothered, when I can barely articulate what it is that has me on the edge. She's a free spirit, T. is--she drifts around in her own sunny and beautiful world singing songs and seeking out friends wherever she goes. [more]
