Tuesday, May 29, 2012
It's the story of the 6-year-(old's) engagement
I knew the day would come. I’m not looking forward to it, and I love my children so much I hate to see them go. But, let’s face it. It is fairly likely someday they will move out. My son said this weekend he is ready for that day. He is going to propose to his girlfriend. They have been boyfriend and girlfriend for almost a year now, so he says it is time. May I remind you, he is now 6 years old. On his day off this holiday weekend, I took him for a special trip to Aronld’s Family Fun Center in Oaks. We had a great time playing laser tag, driving go-karts and playing arcade games. Afterwards, we took our ticket winnings to the prize center, as usual. After scouring racks of toys, candy and games, his eyes finally fixed on what he wanted to…
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Montco Mommy learns what makes her special in her son's eyes
What do your children think of you? I don’t often think of what kind of “legacy” I’m leaving, but one of the most important things I know I leave behind in this world someday when I’m gone is what kind of people my children are. While I may not dwell on it daily, it is likely a motivating factor for much of the way I parent. What life skills do they need to have forever? What ways can I best benefit them? When I’m long gone, what will they remember me for? At ages 4 and 6, that is sometimes hard to gauge. But, I have a fairly vocal and thoughtful son, so I know what he thinks most of the time as he thinks it. I’m not sure my daughter is old enough to think of it at all, but this weekend, on Mother’s Day, I was given a great description of …
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Montco Mommy grappling with the grating sound of a drawn-out plea
Somewhere around my daughter’s second birthday, her voice changed. No, it wasn’t a super early puberty. It was the addition of “the whine.” Since age 2, it has barely changed. Instead of speaking to her father or me in her typical toddler voice, she began to ask for everything in a droning, ultra-sad, pleading whine. I suppose you could say we are allowing it to go on too long, but really we don’t. “Mooommmmmmyyyyyy,” she whines. “I wannnnnttt a juuuuuuiiiice.” I hear it. I’ve heard it most of the day. I make her fix it. She has to request things again in a normal tone of voice in order to get what she wants or needs. We try not to ever succumb to the whine. But, then of course, you go see grandparents for a weekend, and she is super …
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
A break from the busy schedule might be nice, and more likely than winding back the aging clock
It is that scary time of year. It is a time of year I tend to try to ignore. But for some reason, they keep on coming every 365 days or so. This week is my birthday. Gross. I think somewhere after 21, the thrill is gone. I think that’s about when you stop looking forward and start dreading another digit adding to that immense total. Up until then, you are anxious to see another calendar year flip. You can’t wait until you are a whole hand. You are so excited to hit double digits. Then there are teen years, and you seem so much “cooler” with a “teen” in your age. Soon, you are counting the days until you can have a license. You are so excited to officially become an adult (and yes, for some of us dorks, even excited to vote for the first …
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Science fair is a lesson in learning for son and labor for our Montco Mommy
I loved doing science projects. Despite my ultimate decision to focus a career on writing and editing, I was really good with and enjoyed figuring out science and math problems. I’m glad I enjoyed it oh so long ago, because it has come back into my house to “haunt” me. And here, I thought I was done with elementary school myself. Turns out, I was just getting started. Each year my son begs and begs to enter the science fair. As he is only in first grade what he says is “Mom, can you help me do a project?” What I hear is, “Mom, you have a science project to get done!” This year’s big show was just last week. My son is very into “science,” more accurately at this point meaning blowing things up, seeing reactions, testing things… he loves the…
Monday, February 27, 2012
Little messes and surprises keep Montco Mommy on her toes
My daughter has had a rough run of neighbors watching her. Or, maybe it was rough on the neighbors. I am not quite sure yet. What I can tell you is that I am pretty cautious about leaving her with another neighbor on our street. Let’s start in the neighbor’s defense. She is a handful. And, that is putting it lightly. Alora is a self-appointment princess. She can be difficult, and I know it is not an easy task to watch small children. They aren’t as perfectly behaved as we’d like to think. The last few times my daughter has asked to go play at a friend’s home, she has come back in all kinds of trouble. Try Number One: My daughter returned from her first play-date with her own, little self-applied, permanent make-up. How did she apply said …
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Montco Mommy's road trip takes an unexpected detour
It is hard to live so far away from my parents. I miss them. I wish we lived closer. When I go to visit them, it is a five- to six-hour drive diagonally across Pennsylvania. I wish it didn’t take so long. I’ve never wished that harder than this weekend, driving home. Just a half hour into a five-hour ride, and my daughter, who had an unfortunate stomach bug that seems to be going around the area, projectile vomited all over the truck. In true Linda Blair-style, she was just a head rotation away from us calling a young and an old priest. She hadn’t eaten much all day, but somehow, for someone so small, with so little of an appetite, she had a lot to get up. It all happened in what seemed like slow motion to me. I heard a gag. I whirled my …
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Montco Mommy doesn't need tons of fuss this holiday
Do you watch “The Middle” on ABC? I love it. I loved it more this week, when Mom Frankie and Dad Mike sit down to explain to their youngest son Brick what love is, by highlighting their Valentine’s Day plans for him (while taking down the Christmas tree, mind you). The couple goes back and forth on options of going out to eat (too crowded), the movies (they could sleep at home for free), so decide on a bucket of chicken on the couch on their sweats. To take it further, Mike likes sports, so they decide on a bucket of chicken, in separate rooms, on separate televisions, in sweats. It is a perfect Valentine’s Day plan, if you ask me. I’m just that kind of girl. I’m not a big fan of flowers or chocolates. I generally wonder even as I’m …
Monday, February 6, 2012
Montco Mommy remembers how her princess entered the world four years ago
I’m told a children’s book called “Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born” is quite popular. I don’t know much about the Jamie Lee Curtis book, but I do my kids love to hear their own versions. Since it was just four years ago today that I was entering my 24th hour of labor, I have a feeling tonight will be one of those nights. A chubby, round face will look up at me with big, hazel eyes and say, “Mommy, do you remember when I was born?” Of course, I do remember. As she is my second child, I think we were calmer for her “turn” to enter the world. My son had attempted to arrive early three times too early for his delivery date, so I was happy to have made it to 36 weeks with her at all. It was mid-afternoon, and contractions were coming …
Monday, January 30, 2012
Wailing and gnashing of teeth about culinary choices gives Mom something to chew on
It happens every night in this house. They get off the bus, gobble down some after-school snacks, usually play a video game or two. Then the house starts to turn on mom. The inevitable question, by 5 p.m. each night, has reared its ugly head. “Mom, what’s for dinner?” We can start analyzing this problem by saying first off, no. I have no idea how this got to be mom’s problem all alone. Four people and one dog need to eat each and every day. Most of that list knows what they’ll grab for breakfast on the way out the door. Most also have mom pack their lunch. But, that dreaded hour, when the massive question must be answered… No one seems to know what is for dinner. In a working mommy’s house, this question is even harder to answer, since …
Ginny Politz
1:00 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Recently had a 22 year old daughter and her dog both barfing in the back seat on 95 from Georgia to Pa. The smell!! Yes almost enough to get me started too! I feel for ya more ›