Bloomberg Is At It Again

You may or may not be aware of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his penchant for banning things. If you've read an earlier blog entry of mine, then you already know I don't like the man. Bloomberg has made it his personal mission to parent New York City by passing laws that take the freedom of choice away from its citizens. First, he banned the food industry from using any trans fat in products. Then he limited the cup sizes used to obtain fountain soda in convenience stores. Now, starting this September, he wants to keep baby formula under lock and key in order to encourage breastfeeding.

Perhaps none of this sounds so bad if you agree these are choices you would make. However, that's my point. Bloomberg keeps making it his business to decide for you, which I believe violates citizens' personal rights to decide what they do with their own bodies. His latest cause has got me fired up more than anything before. Bloomberg has decided he also knows what's best for your newborn child? I didn't realize Bloomberg birthed and breastfed a child himself.

After becoming a new mom, no issue grew more tiresome for me than the issue of breastfeeding. I know that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for the first six months to boost babies' immunities. I agree that it if that is true, it is probably best to do so or at least try for a short while, but here's a news flash— not everyone can! I was one of them. Besides, the AAP doesn't have a pulse on every specific child and situation and neither does Bloomberg.

I was very upset when we realized my son was losing too much weight and it was because he wasn't getting enough milk from me. I was brainwashed to believe there was no other way but to breastfeed.  I mean, I had an inkling it wasn't the end of the world, but breastfeeding was my plan!  I spent several appointments with a lactation specialist and I still remember the incredible guilt I felt at the thought of giving up on breastfeeding even though I was exhausted.

I spent the majority of my day for the first two weeks feeding my son and I couldn't keep up. I went from breastfeeding for awhile to bottle feeding him formula and then to pumping to see if I could improve the amount of milk I produced. This took about 1.5 hours of time. And he was eating every two hours. Suffice it to say, this process didn't last long. Who could keep that up? I had to stop pumping because it was taking up too much time and I was tired. I still tried breastfeeding for as long as three months despite my knowledge our son wasn't getting much. I could have stopped sooner, but there was this guilt that told me I couldn't. It was the voice of all the breastfeeding proponents and my lactation specialist. I resent the people who were "helping" me because they wouldn't let me off the hook. I remember tiredly asking my lactation specialist, "how long do I keep this up before it's just too much and pointless?" Her response was that she couldn't tell me. It was up to me and she encouraged me to keep trying. All I wanted was for her to tell me it's OK to stop, but no. She looked past the new mom's tired eyes and gave the safe answer that relinquished her of any responsibility and furthered the cause. I'm all for healthy babies, but I also support keeping moms sane.

My son is perfectly fine even though he wasn't breastfed much. He's still never been sick. You could argue that's because I kept breastfeeding him or you could say it's all dumb luck. There are a lot of working moms that simply cannot keep it up for the six months that are recommended. Day cares try to be flexible now to allow working moms to come breastfeed their babies during lunch breaks, which is nice, but seriously, what working mom can do that long before they say enough? Isn't the working mom already burning the candle from both ends? I resent this propaganda— from the "extremies" as I like to call them— that you are a bad mother if you don't breastfeed.  I don't even understand Bloomberg's claim that nurses are dolling out formula to new moms like it's in an effort to thwart breastfeeding. That is not the experience I had in the hospital at all. I never once was encouraged to do anything but breastfeed. I did receive the free bags from formula companies, but those didn't cause me to switch to formula in lieu of breastfeeding. In fact, thank God for the gift bags because it saved us in a very serious situation with my newborn son.

It was day five of breastfeeding and that morning he wouldn't stop screaming and crying. He had been losing too much weight and my husband and I were beside ourselves. We had avoided giving him formula because we were working with the lactation specialist and were going in that morning. We thought we weren't supposed to give him any formula or he would not drink breast milk (or so the propaganda goes). It was my natural instinct to just give him formula so he wouldn't be hungry, but I had held out for the guilt that that was the wrong choice. I had no idea if what he was getting was enough until that morning and the screaming wouldn't stop. It was then that we stopped caring what anyone said and gave him the formula. It was too painful to see him so upset and we felt like our child was starving— because he was.

Once we went in to see the specialist later that morning, she said she was glad we gave him the formula, which only made me angry because she never once said we should. I had blindly followed every piece of instruction from her that I didn't dare step out of line with anything she said so to me. By omitting any suggestion of formula, I assumed that was not necessary yet. I felt so lost in the inundation of information of "right" and "wrong" ways to parent, but I decided that morning to forget it. Just feed your screaming child. I felt so stupid and ashamed for not following my gut. So to purposely get rid of the free gift bags in hospitals is sad to me. As a new mom without a clue, I appreciated the supplies in those bags and it saved us in a desperate situation. It provided us with small bottles, carriers and freezer packs we still use today.

Bloomberg's policy does nothing but weigh harder on the conscience of new moms who need some relief and formula. And isn't that the point? To bully anyone considering an alternative? I think it's despicable. And I don't understand why moms everywhere aren't objecting. Bloomberg knows nothing about being a mom yet he's trying to control women's bodies. I would think this issue would be just as heated as other currently debated women's body issues. Maybe the hospital is too soon to decide if a baby needs formula, but I know I will be anxious about needing it next time I have a baby. It is unlikely I will be able to produce enough milk the next time. I don't think I can go through all of that again, wondering if my child is going hungry until it reaches the point of screaming and starvation.

I don't necessarily disagree with the perspective he's cramming down everyone's throats. I don't smoke. I prefer to eat food without trans fat. I understand that too much soda isn't good for me so I try to limit what I drink. Lastly, I believe breastfeeding is good, but I don't believe any of these things are life and death circumstances. I support people's choice to do the opposite of any of these things. I don't understand why there aren't simply campaigns to educate and let the demand of the people determine what is provided. People who suffer from heart disease and obesity are not going to stop suffering until they make some serious life changes on their own. If a mom is determined not to breastfeed, she won't. Restricting the formula handed out in hospitals isn't going to prevent any bottle feeding. You can still ask for it or purchase in stores although my concern is Bloomberg will get to that too. To pass these kind of laws only make it annoying for people who choose the opposing view and most likely generate money for the government enforcing the laws. You don't think for every policy passed there are government agencies created to enforce them? They are tracking what moms use the formula in the hospitals. Big Brother is watching!

I care about the policies passed in NYC because this is where it starts. One very large city adapts policies and next thing you know, another city and then another city are doing it too. Bloomberg's policies have been enforced in other major cities and I don't want it to happen where I live. I can't get over the way people allow frivolous laws to pass because they don't mind them despite the infringement on choice. We're all just fine limiting people's rights so long as it agrees with our own opinion, but sooner or later, something will come down the pipeline you don't like and you will want people to care. We have to start being more vigilant about the amount of power we allow our leaders and government to control our lives. We're grown ups who should be able to decide how we live our lives so long as we're not hurting others. When did common sense stop existing? Just give people the facts and leave them alone.

Documentary Gave Me a New Appreciation For Elmo

The documentary, "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey," was sitting in our Netflix Instant queue for a while before my husband and I finally decided to watch it one night. Our interest was piqued by our one-year-old's love for the furry, little red monster created and performed by Kevin Clash.  We both grew up with "Sesame Street"— my favorite was Grover— but Elmo's popularity was after our time. We lived through the "Tickle Me Elmo" craze in the '90's, but were somewhat ambivalent about Elmo until our son began watching. We couldn't believe how much he giggled and clapped when he heard, "hello. Elmo's so happy to see you!" After watching this film, I was impressed with how appreciative Clash is to work as a Muppeteer and it seems he was destined to do it. This film made me appreciate everything about Kevin Clash and his ability to bring life to the kindhearted, giggling Elmo.

"Being Elmo" documents how Clash's interest in puppets developed early in childhood and how it lead him to work on a children's show at a local cable station in Baltimore, Maryland, when he was only a teenager. Just watching Clash and his parents recount the stories of his first puppet creation (which he made from his father's coat without asking permission) or neighborhood performances (once to raise money for an ill child) brought a smile to my face. The way Clash and his family remember it with such fondness made me delighted that this was the same man we let into our home every day to entertain our child.

I identified with Clash for my own love of Disney and Muppets as a shy kid. I once had dreams to be a Disney animator or Muppeteer. I went through a phase when I made puppets and put on shows (with my sister), like Clash, although mine were not nearly as good or well thought-out. Clash's ambition at a young age became obvious as he made more sophisticated puppets so quickly. I understand how puppetry was a way for Clash to come out of his shell, performing with a great character in his hand and hear the laughs from behind a curtain.  

Clash was dedicated from a young age even though he was teased by other kids for his "strange" interest. His parents— especially his mother— were incredibly supportive. In the film, Elmo is described by a colleague as the culmination of all those years of love and support from this mother.  One of the most telling stories about Clash's determination and motherly support was how his mother tracked down a "Muppet engineer" Clash saw on an interview with Jim Henson, his idol, showing off some wacky Muppets. His name was Kermit Love whom I can only assume was the inspiration for the name "Kermit the Frog". Clash so desperately wanted to know how to make the invisible or "Henson stitch" on his puppets. Somehow, his mother obtained a phone number and made a call to arrange for her son to go to New York City and meet Love who was more than happy to show this young, enthusiastic kid around his studio and pass along his tricks. This was the birth of a great mentor relationship that would result in Clash working for Jim Henson years later. The stuff that dreams are made of!

It was a surprise to me to discover that Elmo was around for years before Clash got his hands on him, but with a very different voice and demeanor. And much less popular. It's laughable to see the previous concepts! Elmo was the source of frustration for another Muppeteer, Richard Hunt, who tossed him to Clash out of desperation. Clash, after many characters failed to be very popular, felt the pressure to create something memorable and prove that he deserved to work with the Henson crew. Clash's summary of what inspired his Elmo creation was incredibly touching to me as a mom with a child that loves Elmo. He tried to find that one characteristic to define Elmo and make him memorable. After watching his daughter and other children play, he realized that Elmo— a toddler himself— was about love. The rest is history. Elmo became a the hug-loving Muppet we know today.

This documentary offers a lot of video of a young Kevin Clash and his early work (on his first show "Caboose" and later on "Captain Kangaroo") and follows until a very busy present day. This is a must-view for any parent with an Elmo-loving child or simply anyone with an appreciation for "Sesame Street" and the Muppets. Kevin Clash's story is one of inspiration— a child who made his dreams come true because of his love and determination for something that brought so much joy to others. It will give you a a new appreciation for Elmo and the man you never knew was responsible.

I leave you with video of one of my son's favorite songs:

Looking Back on the First Year

We did it! We made it through our first year as parents. We celebrated our son's first birthday with a quiet day with just the three of us on the day and then a bigger celebration with family and friends the following weekend. It was great and the best excuse to get your favorite people together. And our son did really well at the party. He loved his cupcake even though mommy unwisely chose a blue icing one that ended up in many, many places.

As I watch my son rapidly grow-- walking and running (and falling) around the house— I can't help but feel proud of him and ourselves and think back to where we were a year ago. I laugh when I think about what rookies we were! It is completely true that despite your best efforts to understand the joys and difficulties of being a parent without children, you truly do not know until you actually go through it. There's nothing like it. A gauntlet of parenthood, if you will. My dear Auntie C asked me this past Christmas how it was going and I thought for a moment and replied,"it's the best and hardest thing I've ever done." To that she smiled and agreed. As if to say, "welcome to the club!"

Last spring I was barely functioning on a few hours of sleep. I was delighted to have our baby boy, but found myself struggling with the inundation of child care information versus my own instincts. He didn't cry only for the main trifecta (food, sleep or diaper change) as some claimed were the only reasons babies cry. There is a fourth category that falls under the unknown to any first-time parents out there. It could be gas/tummy pain, discomfort or whatever you can think of. And trust, your imagination does run wild. I remember my husband walking him around the house in laps to calm him down, which would eventually work. I remember the confounding discovery that a bassinet was no good— he wouldn't sleep in it. Our son preferred sleeping on our shoulder, which despite doc recommendations, we did just to catch a few z's for him and ourselves. The couch was my bed for a couple of months. If there's anything I learned from my first run at parenthood it is this:

Go with your instincts and use common sense.

I let way too much get in my head, which lead to second guessing. I think I did a pretty good job despite this, but at the beginning I often questioned myself, which I like to believe is what most first time parents do. It's incredible how much information is out there on what should and should not be done in the realm of baby care. I am thrilled to be where we are now— more seasoned and enjoying life with our son. Every day is a new discovery for him and we love the little boy he is becoming. He has such a good nature and loves to laugh. We are never short on laughs in our family and I love it.

The Great Debate: Working Mom vs. Stay-Home Mom

The Journal of Family Psychology published a study back in December (when I originally intended to address it) that determined stay-home moms are more depressed than working moms. First of all, this is a very sensitive issue. Nothing divides a room of mothers faster. So before I tell you my opinion, let's agree all women are different and everyone has their own parenting style. Perhaps the results of this study are true for some, but don't start pitying the stay-home mom just yet. It is my opinion that today's society doesn't respect women who choose to stay home and their depression, if any, is a reflection of that. I think some working men and women see stay-home moms as irrelevant— sitting at home on the couch watching their stories and eating bon-bons, right? In this "everyone goes to college world," both men and women are raised to believe everyone must have careers. We value status and money so to stay home is a failure of that. And there are so many working moms today that everyone begs the question: why wouldn't a mom work?

There was a time when women were not expected to work— money was for the man of the house to worry about. Women were supposed to make babies and raise them while taking care of the house. But now women's aspirations successfully go beyond the home, in fact, it's expected. For all the work women did to be accepted in a "man's world," they now have to explain themselves when they make the alternative choice. Stay-home moms receive raised eyebrows because it's not considered ambitious.  I think it's more often women who do the eyebrow raising, as if staying at home is a slap in the face to feminism. But isn't scolding women for making this choice anti-feminist? The operative word is CHOICE. I've witnessed conversations where people— working women— rolled their eyes about moms who stayed at home after earning various degrees or having flourishing careers. I understand it seems like a big waste of time and money, but if a person wants to be close to their kids, let's not knock people for that. There's always the option of going back to work later. I experienced some confusing responses when I shared the news we decided I would quit work and stay home.

My husband and I agreed that my staying at home with our son would be best for our family. The decision to even have a child was a very serious decision for us. We knew it was costly to raise a family, but we felt strongly that if we were going to embark on the journey of parenthood, we had to do what was best for our kids. For us that inevitably meant one parent at home. We agreed that if we could afford it, it was the best way to be active parents.

I realize this may appear to be a judgement on those who choose to work. I certainly do not mean it to be. I understand that many kids go to daycare from infancy and on and are just fine. If anything, those kids learn to socialize and gain independence sooner than the stay-home parent kids. However, stay-home parent kids get attention and parent involvement that the working parent kids don't always get. Not to say working parents aren't doing their best, but you have to concede, the working parent just doesn't have enough hours in the day. That's not what we want for our children. All kids work at their own pace and just because I'm home doesn't mean our kids won't be social and independent all the same. There's always play dates and babysitters! I understand some parents have no choice and must work to support their family, but the benefit of staying home outweighed any benefit of daycare for us.

Another thing I realize is some people need  to work. For some it provides a basic need— a goal to work toward. Some people would simply go crazy being stuck inside the house all day with a child to entertain. Some people love it. It's important for a parent to be happy with what they are doing. I struggled at first with being home only because I spent several years working full-time. And before that, focusing on how I would need to be working. My entire identity was wrapped around work, whether it was a job I loved or hated.  It was something to talk about each day. I think that's natural. You spend most of your waking hours at work most days of the week. You see your co-workers more than your own spouse.  I trained myself to think I needed to work even though I always thought I wanted to stay at home when I had children. I bought into the idea that you have to work to be useful even with a family. I was surprised when I struggled with the decision to quit, but was so relieved when I decided not to go back. I realized I was still useful— more so—but in a different capacity.  It's wonderful to be able to focus on your child without a job to distract you and fill your head with other worries. I know going back to work would have made me feel nutty and wishing I was home. Sometimes I miss the interaction at work. The conversation. And some of my relationships have started to fade because I no longer have work in common. It can be a difficult trade-off for some. I am happy with my choice. I know, your job is so stressful and important, but so is being a parent. And a  parent never "clocks out" whether they have a job or not. Staying home gave our family the comfort of flexibility.

So that brings me back to the mixed reviews I received about quitting work. My thought was how could anyone not think it's great? I think the answer is either jealousy or believing the propaganda that everyone should have a career. No one said to me that they thought it was an awful idea, but I couldn't help but notice the hesitation in some responses or the defensiveness in others. Don't get me wrong, many friends and family were very supportive and I thank them for that. Perhaps I misunderstood the hesitant responses. Maybe I was projecting my paranoia that people would think I was a failure for quitting work. Either way, some responses were less than enthusiastic.

No woman should be made to feel like a failure for choosing her family over career. I think family-focus is something that's been lacking probably since women hit the work force harder. It's not fair, but I think it's true. And before you think I am being anti-feminist, hear me out! It's only because no one stayed home in our place. I think women are carrying the weight of finances and family more and more and there is resentment over it. They aren't necessarily happy with it. Women wanted money and respect and now that they have it, they resent the men who failed to do better. Or perhaps men feel emasculated by the new found power in women? One theory suggests men have been relaxing more (less work) over a period of time while women take on more. Maybe that's a topic for another time, but it's interesting to think about.

Working or not working— there's no right way. Good parenting requires balance. And that's all we can do.

Apologies For My Lateness.... Bring On 2012! And How Do Parents Cope With News of Child Predators?

I apologize for my lateness or rather absence from my newly started blog. I could give you my excuses, but they are not very interesting. Let's face it. I got lazy.

I promise to bring you my take on a study on stay-home and working moms published back in December when I originally intended (and started) to write about it. In the mean time, can we talk about what is going on with this elementary school in California? You can catch up and read here.

It is my nightmare realized. I know you're not supposed to live in fear of the world and hide your children from it, but how are we supposed to defend against this kind of stuff? Sure, you can talk to your kid at what age? As young as three? Tell them about what is proper touching and what isn't and tell mommy and daddy if something weird happens? That seems to be all we can do! The rest is a crap shoot. It really seems like dumb luck if your kid manages to escape the clutches of a sexual predator. I don't know how we're going to know who to trust in our children's lives. I want them to live life and enjoy school and sports and all the things kids do. But every time I turnaround there are news stories about a teacher molesting students or a coach using a camp to rape boys. How do parents stay sane and keep their children safe without hiding them away?

I suppose the answer is talk to your kids. It seems like it's just so hard to know who you can trust. I'm sure one thing you can rely on is your instinct as a parent. Predators don't exactly where signs, but you know when something strikes you as odd. I hope we manage to get a message to our kids about what is OK and they at least understand without being freaked out. I've heard that it's better to talk about it because it's the best way to protect them and it really won't scare them. They take note and move on?

Having kids certainly brings new challenges! And our kid isn't even one yet, but here I am, worrying about schools and the world.

Lookout for another post very soon!

Goodbye Expensive Clothes and Good Riddance

As my husband and I prepared to take on parenthood, one thing we couldn't escape was the stress over money. We spent a lot of time talking about how we were going to save. We came up with a list of things we could cut out if money was tight. I could buy less clothes. He could buy fewer video games. We won't take any more expensive trips, at least, not for awhile. We could do without cable if we need to, but God we hope it doesn't come to that! And then there was the decision for me to stop working. We were fearful of even less money coming in, but we didn't realize how much money we would save without even trying.

In Raleigh, N.C., good day care is a mortgage payment. The amount we would take home if I kept working just didn't hold to the priceless advantage of being home with the baby as he grew. Then there's, you know, taking care of a baby 24/7. I forgot to consider that I would be so busy caring for a newborn that I wouldn't even have time to THINK about any shopping outside of basic needs and baby stuff, let alone, go. Old shopping habits quickly disappear when you have someone else to think about full time.

The first time I went (self) shopping at all since the birth of our son was at his six month mark. I kept forgetting about a gift certificate I had in my wallet since Christmas to one of my favorite clothing stores. I saved it because I was six months pregnant when it was given to me. I opted to wait to buy myself new clothes until I had some idea on what my new weight might be post-birth.

Jump to nine months later, I was grateful to be back to my pre-pregnancy weight (sorry for the brag, but I worked hard for that!) and feeling ready to indulge in something pretty to wear. I drove to the mall on a Saturday so my husband could watch our son and I wouldn't be pressed on time during my shopping trip. As any parent knows, the baby clock is always in danger of expiring at any moment, ready to fill the store with cries.

I remember feeling excited as I made the trek across the mall parking lot. Shopping— weeeee! My walking pace was a fast stride as I made my way inside and approached the clothing store I had not laid eyes on in so long. As I crossed the threshold into my beloved store, my eyes were all a glow. There were pretty skirts and blouses and pants dressing the ridiculously-sized mannequins. There were cute little dresses and fancy scarves, but my eyes were searching for some of the more "low-key" clothing.

I kept thinking, where are the cute sweat pants? What about some t-shirts that I won't mind getting drool and spit up on? Immediately two things struck me: a) they don't really sell those and b) this store was no longer for me. It was great for the working girl with meetings to attend, but for a mommy? Impractical!

I was conflicted. I was a little sad that I no longer had a real reason to buy any of the pretty things hanging in this store. I got used to prettying up! But then the sadness was quickly replaced with RELIEF that I no longer had a reason to buy any of these clothes. I realized cutting back on my clothes budget was not going to be a problem. I thought it would be difficult to give up, but it wasn't. Talk about going cold turkey!

I can't even remember what I spent the gift certificate on in that store. I think I found the only pair of stretchy pants and t-shirt they sold along with some socks and I was on my way home. I haven't even thought about that store since that last trip (minus one passing during Christmas shopping) and I have no plans on returning any time soon.

I look around at my closet now and see a lot of clothes I don't really need. I also realize I have more than enough to last me for a long time. I certainly flip laundry quick enough now with a baby. Occasionally, I find a reason to wear a nice top and shoes just to feel "special," but otherwise, I'm back to my old college days of being comfortable. I've always been a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl and it's funny how working changed that a bit. I got used to the idea that I need to look nice all the time. Let me re-phrase. It's not that I don't look nice now, but I'm not dressed up for business. You know what I mean! No heels. Hooray! My feet are grateful. Now I dress for baby changing, feeding, play time and errands around town. And that's just fine by me.

New Mom Here-- Welcome!

It's been almost nine months since I became a mom, which means it's been nine months since I've done any real writing, let alone, work on my former blog: Fiction Foodie. That's right! I gave up working and became a stay-at-home mom.

It was an easy decision to stay home for our baby boy— no one WANTS to leave their child with someone else all day. It was, however, difficult knowing that after years of working and honing my writing skills, I would likely stop getting any practice. And thus become the worst writer ever. Dramatic? Perhaps.

I just completed a year and a half of going back to school earning a professional writing certificate and was worried that it might go to waste. Knowing this, my supportive husband gave me a book several months ago for Mother's Day about how to get published while being a stay-home mom. The gesture was very sweet, but there was a problem with the book. It was all about becoming a freelance writer and making money and I wasn't finding it to be very helpful. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at every page. It rattled on and on about how to write when baby sleeps (yeah, good luck!) and you have to make time to do the thing you love. "You can do it— yay!" Use your established connections (But what if I don't have any?). Like I said— eye roll. At the book, not my husband.

Sure, that's great, but in reality I want to be an attentive stay-home mom. My focus is my child and not making money, which was the whole point of staying home. I don't want the stress of working and managing a kid if I don't have to! But writers need to write. When our son was first born, finding any "me" time was quite difficult. I gave up on any thought of writing while I am at home. It was just too much work when there were basic household chores to do and even getting those accomplished was a battle. Then life slowly got a little easier as our son grew from newborn to infant. No more round the clock feedings and constant sleep interruptions (sort of). I found things get easier to accomplish as you get into the "groove" of being a parent and on occasion, I find myself twiddling my thumbs about what to do while baby sleeps for a short while— might I add, a very short while. Shortest... napper... ever. Gotta fit in some "me" time quick, but what should I do? Catch up on the old DVR? Put the laundry away? Take a nap?

Then I remembered my long forgotten blog. Self publication— hazaa! I can write without the stress of someone else pushing deadlines as long as the cleanliness of the house and sleep can be put on hold for one or two naps a week. I started to tinker back in October, unsure of exactly how I wanted to approach this. I even posted a first version of this entry back then and quickly decided I didn't like it so I didn't bother to announce it's publication. I thought I would fix it, then share. Then I found myself distracted with other things and next thing you know it's December. Failure to announce is failure to keep working. So here we are! I'm biting the bullet and sharing this thing. Thanks to my husband who will not allow me any more excuses to not write. He knows what he's done!

My hope for this blog is to share my stay-at-home mom perspective through observations and stories that I hope will keep my brain fresh and make you laugh. I can't promise that it won't have the occasional child update and doting remarks, but my plan is to stick to the topic that springs out of any given situation with my son and spare him as much embarrassment as I can. Remember, I didn't promise.

Stay tuned for The Adventures of Home Mommyhood!