Mommy A to Z

September 21, 2016
by Mommy A to Z
5 Comments

It’s Tough Being the “New Mom” on the Playground

I sit near the slide, watching my daughter and two other girls playing some game I don’t understand. It involves magical powers, which apparently become “activated” by climbing, jumping, and observing a host of complicated second-grade rules. The girls giggle and chase each other around the swings, without a care in the world. It’s everything I’ve wanted, ever since we decided to move to a new town last spring. Watching my daughter making new friends reminds me that all my efforts to help her with the transition — the late-night talks, the weeks of driving her to camp in our new town before we even moved in, volunteering at her school — were all worth it. Much to my relief, things are working out.

Except that, in all my worries about my kids, all my anxiety about their adjusting, I forgot one thing: I’m new here too. And it’s lonely on the playground when you don’t know anyone. Continue Reading →

September 12, 2016
by Mommy A to Z
8 Comments

What I Learned From My Daughter’s Move to a New School

There were tears the day we announced we’d bought a home.

I don’t mean the tears I cried at the closing when I held the keys to my first house. Or the manly glisten in my husband’s eye as it sank in that he was finally a homeowner. I mean the frustrated, angry, helpless tears of a seven-year-old who was being told she was leaving all her friends (not to mention the four-foot Lothario who’d captured her heart) to start over in a new town.

What seemed like a joyful milestone for us was interpreted by our daughter as Mommy and Daddy conspiring to ruin her life.

I don’t know if it was out of guilt or protectiveness, but at that moment I embarked on a campaign to ease her anxiety and make her transition as seamless as possible. And now that she’s eased into the school year, I’m relieved to say so far, so good. Here are a few lessons I learned as I held her tightly through the frightening process. Continue Reading →

August 15, 2016
by Mommy A to Z
18 Comments

M is for Mindful Mondays (Go With It)

It’s been a little while since I’ve written. We moved to a new house in a new town, and life has been somewhat chaotic. And, as many parents will relate to, I’ve been navigating the sometimes impossible gap between the end of camp and the beginning of the school year. While it’s a fun and eventful time, my clients don’t always understand that I can’t meet a deadline because I promised my toddler I’d take him for frozen yogurt. It’s a stressful time involving little sleep, lots of delayed promises, and too many guilt-ridden choices. Continue Reading →

July 28, 2016
by Mommy A to Z
4 Comments

Talking to My 7-Year-Old About Miley Cyrus

We were sitting at dinner, when my 7-year-old daughter looked up from her meatballs, paused for a moment, and asked, “You know that woman who sings ‘Wrecking Ball’? Why does she show everyone her bra and underwear?”

For the record, I generally don’t let my second grader watch music videos. Most of what she watches on TV involves talking unicorns and overly pleasant bears. But we do watch The Voice together, and when Miley Cyrus was a guest coach, they showed some clips of her videos. Apparently, it made an impression. Continue Reading →

July 7, 2016
by Mommy A to Z
12 Comments

TBT: The 12 Stages of a Road Trip

Road trip2

Nothing says summer like a road trip. Classic rock on the radio. Highway exits promising endless adventure. Your kids begging to go to the bathroom five minutes after you’ve left the house. Here’s a look back at the 12 stages of road trippin’ with little ones in the backseat. Happy travels! Continue Reading →

July 5, 2016
by Mommy A to Z
5 Comments

Yes, I Still Carry My Preschooler

I rushed through the door of my son’s daycare, carrying his backpack in one arm and him in the other. I had about five minutes to drop him off before running to a meeting with a client.

“Young man,” a staff member at the front desk said sternly, looking at my preschooler, “You’re old enough to walk. What do you think you’re doing, making your mom carry you?” Continue Reading →

June 27, 2016
by Mommy A to Z
0 comments

Join the Manic Mondays Blog Hop #100

The Mommy A to Z Manic Mondays Blog Hop Is Live!

Join the Manic Mondays blog hop! Last week’s hop featured great posts on everything from cool summer treats to supporting a friend through a miscarriage. To see which posts were featured, visit this week’s blog hop!

Now it’s time for this week’s party! Link up your favorite parenting post, recipe, craft – anything you like! As always, one post (or more!) will be featured on Mommy A to Z, Twitter, and the *NEW* Manic Mondays Pinterest page. So come link up your favorite post, mingle, and have a great time!

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Buy the book! For more Mommy madness, check out the new book, Mommy A to Z: An Encyclopedia of the Joys, Wonders, and Absurdities of Motherhood, available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple.

Like this blog? Click below to vote once a day for Mommy A to Z on Top Mommy Blogs!

June 22, 2016
by Mommy A to Z
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Get Your Kids on a Summer Sleep Schedule

Splashing on the beach. Ice cream before dinner. Concerts in the park. Summer is filled with wonderful experiences for families. Less wonderful, though, is trying to get your overtired kids to sleep when the sun is still shining and there’s so many exciting things to do. Dealing with a cranky baby or toddler who’s off her sleep schedule can be a challenge. Fortunately, Nicole Johnson, founder of The Baby Sleep Site, has shared this great guest post filled with useful suggestions for getting your kids to sleep at a normal hour.

Continue Reading →

June 19, 2016
by Mommy A to Z
0 comments

Join the Manic Mondays Blog Hop #99

The Mommy A to Z Manic Mondays Blog Hop Is Live!

Join the Manic Mondays blog hop! Last week’s hop featured great posts on everything from messy houses to learning from our toddlers. To see which posts were featured, visit this week’s blog hop!

* * *

Buy the book! For more Mommy madness, check out the new book, Mommy A to Z: An Encyclopedia of the Joys, Wonders, and Absurdities of Motherhood, available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple.

Like this blog? Click below to vote once a day for Mommy A to Z on Top Mommy Blogs!

June 17, 2016
by Mommy A to Z
4 Comments

4 Reasons Everyone Loves Daddy (Again!)

It’s that time of year again… time to honor the men who love and nurture our children, who are role models and comedians, tough guys and bear huggers. To celebrate Father’s Day, here is an excerpt from my book, Mommy A to Z: An Encyclopedia of the Joys, Wonders, and Absurdities of Motherhood. Happy Father’s Day to all the devoted dads out there! Your children (and their mommies) are blessed to have you! Continue Reading →