Gum in the Works

So yesterday as I drove up to the gate to pick up Kate from school, she trotted out into the middle of the parking lot, passed in front of me in the lane, walked behind a car that was about to pull out, and forced me to stop an entire line of traffic while she tapped on the car window to stop and let her in.

The ensuing high-pitched parental lecture poured out of me as I watched a mom behind me huff and tap her steering wheel.

After I was through turning every shade of purple and warning this otherwise smart child of the dangers of parking lots and crazed parents in a hurry to grab their children and go, I presumed I'd get at least a second or two of remorse – or at least a passing "oops."

But instead?

"Mom, can I have some gum?"

Holiday Recovery

How did you spend your Memorial Day Weekend? Typically, we run ourselves ragged and flop into a heap on Monday night. But this time, we actually stayed home most of the time, taking care of some of those exciting tasks that I never have time for, such as replacing light bulbs and hand-washing my delicates. 

And because we didn't overdo it, I actually found that I enjoyed our little outings we did make even more (that includes an evening run to Target when everyone was home watching the Laker game).

But the highlight was Friday afternoon, when we braved the traffic on the 5 for a mission to the Discovery Science Center's new Bob the Builder exhibit (which runs through September). Little boys clamored for a glimpse at the almighty god among toddlers that is Bob, and my 3-year-old Jack was equally star struck. He also enjoyed the Animal Grossology exhibit on everything from penguin poop to fly vomit, which was educating for us all.

 

Kids Who Make Things

My husband has some serious geek tendencies, so when he suggested a trek to San Mateo in early May to the Maker Faire, I was more than skeptical. He assured me I'd enjoy the crazy contraptions, zany science exhibits and captivating games made from scratch, but I was completely unprepared for this spectacle. By the end of the day  I had ridden a bicycle with nine-foot wheels, helped my son make a car out of wood, witnessed the power of harnessed lightning and was amazed by the overall creativity and ingenuity that exists out there.

And my kids were hooked.

If you have a young engineer, scientist, fashion designer or architect on your hands, this is the place to go. Started by the creative folks at Make: magazine, this event is intellectually stimulating to the geek in all of us.

Mother's Day

On this holiest of days, you can almost feel the planet shift from the annual migration of mothers to their annual spa outings. Some of us even opt to bring along our young daughters to introduce them to this ritual of poodling and pampering. While most of us temper this rite as a "treat," a new disturbing trend is emerging among our spa-focused community here and across the nation. 

A recent story on MSNBC highlights a trend toward spa packages that might include lip and brow waxing as well as facials for young girls. Aren't we all trying to achieve they type of skin and features that our children already have? And don't they already have a long life ahead of them that is filled with hair coloring and massage treatments designed to manage stress? Unless we make it an occasional treat, maybe we shouldn't rush it; let's save these extravagances for ourselves for now. 

I Really Don't Have Time for This...

I sat down to start my first-ever blog, and while my head swirled with ideas, I just kept thinking, “I don’t have time for this.” I’ve got 37 e-mails in my in-box that are on fire and another 956 that have been patiently waiting for a reply. Magazine deadlines are calling, and that pile of mail is threatening to bury me alive. Oh, and I have two kids in two separate schools that I have to cross at least seven ZIP codes to collect everyone and get home. So, I concluded, I don’t have time to blog.

So, why am I sitting here, obviously still blogging?

Because I know you don’t have time to read a blog, so in my twisted, tired brain, I thought that together, we might have something here. 

For those moments between (or during) play dates, nap times and afterschool activities,  enjoy a little "you" time to read about a good time-saver, get a laugh or share an idea with me. Meanwhile, I'll be offering a little glimpse into my "kid management," cool tips I've discovered and various other journeys we can all share on this parenting path.

So sit down, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and take some time...