Upper East Side Moms

Go Car and Splash Art

2011-06-30T22:38:00.007-04:00

Another birthday. Seems like when you have a family the size of mine, there will be a birthday pretty often. This week, my littlest little man turned 1 year old.

What to get a 1 year old? Should be easy enough, right?

I had these ideas of what he liked and was sure I knew just what would hold his attention for a generous amount of time. I searched a HUGE toy store and a few department stores, but nothing was QUITE right. I had him with me for those trips and nothing really caught his eye either. I love all those musical, learning, loud toys as does he. Turns out, none of them held his attention for more than a few minutes. I guess for a guy who just learned to use his legs to their full potential, not just any old sit-down toy will do. I was beginning to give up, then I turned to my trusted 3 block radius and found just the things he wanted.

First stop was The Craft Studio....again.(Truth is we went in to say hello to old friends and catch a minute or 5 of air conditioning.) While we visited and shopped, I found what seemed to be perfect for my man. It was a Kid O Go Car. This company Kid O is the same one that put out those Bilibo "seats" that many families love. I couldn't see the car with my own eyes, unfortunately. The packaging is this perfect, neutral colored box that is perfect for gift-giving. I figured I would take a chance on the 11 dollar vehicle. It was a chance well worth taking.

The car itself is very light and made of a so-far-durable-plastic that my son loves. The roof is actually a handle that fits perfectly in his chubby little paws. The wheels have a rubber coating that makes it "work" on any floor.....or ground. We should know.....he brings it everywhere he goes. On the front are these 2 little reflectors that replicate headlights. It is too cute. Truly.

Our next find was just a couple of blocks away at The Children's General Store. I frequently window shop in this store only because I am a Craft Studio faithful and I was never too sure about their pricing, but I am glad I visited this day. While I gazed around, I overheard a UES mom asking the store clerk about what activity her 16 month old daughter could do. He suggested Splash Art by Reeve and Jones.

I was sold when he explained it to her. I then Googled average pricing of the toy on my Droid and found this store's price was just right! Such an easy toy. You simply fill this little pen with water and let the kids color on one of the sides of the board and rainbow colors appear where they have written. The board dries and they can start again. It is very similar to a Zen board, which I LOVE. My older children had to constantly be reminded to give it back to the baby. Will be amazing when we travel. The birthday boy LOVED it too. Plus whenever he got thirsty, he sucked the water out of the pen. I bet the little capsule isn't BPA free! I also bet it won't kill him. That's the country in me talking!

I opened my mind this week and found some gems. My little man turned one. He got some cute new little toys and we all celebrated with him for days. Too bad he won't remember a thing of it!

Parental Comic Relief

2011-06-16T23:20:00.005-04:00

These past couple of weeks have been very irritating for my family. One would think that the end of the school year would be less stressful and demanding than the beginning, but that was not the case for us this year. One would also think that a break into the warm weather and some vitamin D absorption would lighten the mood. No such luck. I just feel sometimes like I am provoked from every aspect of my life.

I was almost to my breaking point one evening until I read/listened to a post on Facebook from a childhood friend of mine. It just so happened this post has been the most impactful post I had ever bothered to click on. It was the new sensational book, "GO the F**k To Sleep", read by Samuel L. Jackson.

If you are a parent and have not listened to this yet, you must. If you are not a parent and have not heard it, you must. Some may call it crude. I call it genius!

I have never met Adam Mansbach(author),but one read has me thinking he is one of the most honest parents alive! The book makes fun of and mocks many of our bedtime routines with our children and expresses what most of us are truly thinking during those moments!

The illustrations mimic that of a "typical" bedtime picture book. There are cutie-pie babies, sleeping animals, and distraught parents. The words? The words could not be more true! Each page starts with a calm, lulled description and then ends with at least one F-BOMB! Sounds a little bit familiar.

I couldn't stop laughing. I couldn't stop telling people about it either. Turns out, I was not the first person to hear about it. I also had the pleasure of listening to it the first time read by Mr. Jackson, who did it certain justice! I can still imagine him reciting it.

Now I realize that enjoying this to the extent that I did makes me seem somewhat crude and unrefined, but the simple THOUGHT of it made me smile. It makes me smile that there are real parents out there who at least THINK the same thing I have on more than one occasion. It makes me smile that celebrities can appreciate it too. It makes them seem more real and connected....not so untouchable. It makes me smile that even moms on the prestigious Upper East Side are talking about and appreciating its humor.....and not just me.

The though of this book was my sanity this week. When my son dressed up like a clown for a school play and a parent commented TO MY FACE that it was "finally fitting to his character", I thought of it. When my 4 year old threw a whopper of a temper tantrum in public, I thought of it. When I was late to lunch with a friend because I was cleaning up from an explosive diaper, I thought of it.

This book is exactly what some of us need to get us through a day. Once in a while, we need that peace of mind that we get from adult comic relief. This honest genius of an author gave us the laughs and F-Bombs we need to think of when we can't(or shouldn't) use them ourselves. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Now I need to go the f*@k to sleep!

Best Gift EVER

2011-05-31T20:00:00.005-04:00

My husband and I were shocked when our son came to us and informed us that he didn't want a birthday party. He continued saying he didn't want a party, a cake, or anything......except for a motorized "drifter". Lucky us.

Upon further investigation, and speaking to some friends who own the drifter, we decided that the motorized buggy was NOT for our son. We searched more and more every day, and spent a lot of time on www.razor.com. From the first time I went to the site, I wished he wanted this tricycle with die-cast wheels on the back. He didn't. He changed his mind from the drifter to the motor scooter. I guess it was ok. It still didn't sit quite right though.

Finally, 1 day before his birthday, he took another look at the tricycle and figured he'd go for it. Seeing it a million times, and hearing the disappointment in my voice over the other choices, swayed him. He went to school thinking that when he got off the bus we'd be heading to Toys R Us to pick it up. I had the hubby pick it up during the day.

When my big man got off the bus, we brought him back to our plaza where it all awaited him.....a cake, some snacks and juice, good friends, balloons, and his Razor RipRider 360! He was thrilled! His brothers and sister also got him the matching Razor helmet.

Let me tell you....this is the BEST GIFT EVER! After a short wait for the assembly of the bike(which a friend and I took care of while the guys watched)he was ready to go. It was a HUGE hit!

The birthday boy took the first spin. He took off peddling then took a sharp turn and spun out! Even us adults were impressed! It was so cute to see. Each kid in the park took turns taking a spin while the others followed close behind. Of course, the older, more daring monkeys got into some pretty good spins, while the smaller or more timid ones just got a little air. Either way, it was fun for all.

After each child had their fair share of turns, I searched for the weight limit of the bike(which, thankfully I am within)and I took my turn. Exhilerating! And a bit dangerous. You just feel weightless when it spins out! I loved it! And it continued to spin , unlike our Big Wheels with the side brake when we were kids. Remember?

We now ride on a regular basis when the weather is nice. Each time, we get looks from children and adults alike, and many people ask where we got it. Like I said before, we got it from Toys R Us but being an Upper East Side Mom had me searching for it on the UES. Results? State News. I hit it on the target first try! And if you act fast, you will be in luck because it seems they are having a sale and are selling it for much less than what I paid.

It is the perfect gift for a little guy. Shoot, it is the perfect gift for a not-so-little-gal like myself. The recommended age is 5 and up, which I can agree with after my feather weight 4 year old flew off and got scraped up pretty good. It seems to amuse kids of almost any age! Only wish I had the time to search my own neighborhood before I assumed it was something only big-time stores would carry. Oh well. It was worth it.

The smile on his face said so.

Befriending the Enemy at Bagels & Co.

2011-05-16T21:34:00.006-04:00

My daughter has earned the privilege of leaving the school premises for lunch. I guess that is what happens when your kids grow up. For the first few weeks of this new privilege, I was dispensing lunch money like there was no tomorrow. The next few weeks after that, she stayed in more and more. This was not by a choice of her own. I demanded that she earn this extra expense. Then she went a few weeks without going out at all. At a point, I guess she decided it wasn't worth earning.

Now that the weather is warming up and more and more kids are leaving to have lunch out, the requests for lunch money have resurfaced. She has been pretty good, with the exception of a few foul-mouth responses. Yes, I know. She shouldn't get anything for that sort of back-talk, but I tend to be a bit soft once in a while. My lack of back bone benefited me and my ego last week when my 11 year old daughter called me on her way to school and invited me to meet her for lunch.

I was over the moon, especially since we argued right before school over her lack respect and consideration. I had to remind her that she would never have the NERVE to speak to her teachers the way she can sometimes speak to me. The argument sure was a doozy. She didn't even kiss me good-bye which she still usually does. One the bus headed to school, she must have had a change of heart(or lapse of judgment)and thought of me.

I met her at one of her favorite lunchtime spots, one block away from school. Bagels & Company on York Avenue, between 75th and 76th street, is a restaurant I have heard about one million times from her and all of her schoolmates who happen to live right around it. I had never been to try it since there are 3 or 4 spots nearer to our home that I am pretty faithful to. Here I was, on my way to another bagel place for lunch.

I vaguely remember my girl telling me about all the lunch specials at a handful of places near the school. Bagel & Co. seemed to have one of the best. They have a special where you get 2 slices of pizza and a can of soda for 4 dollars! That is almost unheard of, unless it is yucky pizza. It was anything BUT yucky! It was pretty darn good, and it was also Kosher. Bonus for any of my fellow Upper East Siders who follow Kosher. Not a bad deal at all. I think I was the last to learn this though, because the place stayed with a continuous line out the door for the entire hour we were there!

Apparently a few of the schools in the neighborhood let the kids leave to eat, and the "Company" is a crowd favorite. They always say a place is great if the line is out the door, and this line wasn't even just school kids looking for a few slices and a soda. There were more moms and nannies there with their charges than you would believe. The only downfall is the place doesn't have parking for all the Bugaboos and Maclarens.

Seems they have a wide array of things to choose from too. Looks like they have a bunch of salads and wraps and sandwiches, etc. The options looked endless. Too bad I couldn't try one of everything. I have to get back there again.

I am not sure what it means that a mom and her daughter sometimes need a few slices and a can of soda to come closer together, but those calories were sure worth it. Just the fact that she was thinking positively about me after such an atrocious argument shows me how much she is maturing. Or maybe she is becoming more deceitful and she was just trying to befriend the enemy! Either way, I'll take all the time I can.....especially when it is requested. Perhaps I can earn myself a walk TO school one of these mornings so I can sneak a taste of the bagels!

German Ruby

2011-04-30T18:10:00.005-04:00

This week, I was unfaithful. My loyalties to a long term relationship were tested and (in the blink of an eye)were extinguished. All it took was one demonstration to break a bond of over 10 years. Move over Maclaren. Cybex just swooped in and stole my heart.

Being an active mom on the Upper East Side has gradually made me a bit of an expert on many things "baby". Strollers are no exception. In fact, at some points in my parenting, strollers have been a bit of an obsession. I have done my research. I have done my field studies. I have bought and sold and returned and donated more than a handful of strollers. Up until this morning, I was a Maclaren advocate. I have owned more than a couple and would have sworn by them, and only them. My love of strollers was changed today, or at the very least, it was broadened.

The only unfortunate part of this new experience is that my purchase was not made on the Upper East Side. I ventured out of the neighborhood and found this gem in the "hood" across the park. The gem I am referring to is a lightweight, aluminum umbrella stroller designed by a German company called Cybex. The style is one of their very latest called the Ruby.

My mission was to go in and buy a Maclaren Volo that I had seen online. My friend and I were floored and taken in by this oceany-green/blue stroller that was placed in our path to the Volo. We checked it out and gave it a little spin in the aisle. When the man came over and asked what we were looking for, we could not help but ask about the Spring colored "ride". He went on to tell us that they were in the process of urging people to take this stroller instead of the ever-popular Maclaren version. He pointed out all features then added that Cybex also gave a lifetime warranty on their wheels! That was music to my ears since I pound the pavement a LOT and tend to be a bit rough on my wheels. I was almost sold. Almost.

I was really looking for the under 9 pound weight of the Volo. This Ruby is 12 pounds. 3 pounds is a big difference when you have a 24 pound baby inside! The gentleman went on to show us why EXACTLY the Ruby wins. The 2011 Ruby comes with a "Super Canopy". This feature means that the hood(which is also made from SPF 50 material)can be pulled forward for extreme sun coverage and can be pulled up and down to accomodate a wide height range of children. To me, this means the stroller would be a good fit for my child for much longer. Volo hoods are short in comparison to this one.

Another advantage over the Volo? Ruby lays down! Only one position, but one position is enough. It is just enough that if my child falls asleep, I won't get the dirty looks from people in the street. You know, when they fall asleep in an umbrella stroller that does not lay down, they tend to just bend their neck and lay on their own shoulders. Not comfy at all. Being able to lay him back is great.

Another plus? Everything is machine washable. I can take the seat off and throw it in the wash. All the Cheerios, and ice cream, and other food that gets mashed in can be easily washed off. And the hood? Also machine washable. My hoods always end up getting coffee stains eventually. At least I can fend the nasty stains off very easily!

There are a few tiny disadvantages, although none are too tremendous they kept me from buying. A rain cover needs to be purchased separately. I worried about that for only a second when I realized that the hood nearly completely covers the passenger anyway. Only other issue is the poundage. 3 pounds heavier than the stroller I went in to buy.

What more could I ask for in a stroller at only 20 dollars more than my planned purchase? That 20 dollars pays for the reclining feature and the Super Canopy. I now have a nice, summery, washable stroller. The baby looks comfortable and I have no trouble carrying it up the subway stairs. And although my eyes were drawn to the cool and bright color of the demo, I opted for black. It has silver/grey accents and matches much more. Besides that, I know my husband would have had issues pushing that bright color down the street!

Sharing is NOT Always Caring

2011-04-16T18:48:00.005-04:00

This weather simply can not make up its mind. We have had temperatures nearly in the 80's and are now suffering through high 40's and low 50's the past few days. This is the kind of weather that no matter how you dress or layer, it just doesn't seem right. I have been guilty of under-dressing my kids on some days and over-dressing them on others. Throw in some seasonal allergies and you have a recipe for disaster.

It is inevitable that a number of kids and adults alike will come down with colds and flus and all sorts of other illnesses when the seasons change. We can give our children all the vitamins and orange juice in the world but if all of us are not practicing the same sorts of preventative measures, we are almost asking for these little bugs to spread like wildfire!

It is hard to keep after 4 kids to wash hands every time they sneeze, use the restroom, throw out garbage, etc. It is hard to get them NOT to share items when you have spent years teaching them that "sharing is caring". It is nearly impossible to keep my affectionate children from loving all their school germs onto my little guy. It is a full-time job in itself just to harp on such issues! The one thing that we have to all learn and pass on to our children is that some things are just better off being kept to themselves.

I won't even get into the whole bed bug issue again and all of the things that our children should learn to prevent the spread. Lice.....the schools make that one an easy one. As soon as they know about a case, the child is not allowed back into the classroom until the school nurse checks and clears them. We simply have to explain to our kids the importance of not sharing things that could spread the little bugger. It is such a common childhood thing.(Yes, it happens on the Upper East Side too!)Illnesses....not such a black and white issue.

I can recall just a short month ago when my 8 year old came home from school with a violent looking eye. I immediately took him into the doctor who prescribed an antibiotic for the bacterial pink eye that he had contracted. Rule is that until he was taking the meds for 24 hours, he should not be in school. Simple enough. He was capable of BEING at school, but it just wouldn't be fair to the other families for me to send him.(Luckily, I had been laid off from work last month, so it wasn't a huge inconvenience for him to stay home). I wondered about the child that my child caught it from. Did his/her parents think the same way? Did they know it was contagious? Did they even care? Or could they not afford the day off from work?

I have certainly been there. I have struggled with sending them or not a million times. I can even remember another mother's advice of drugging them before school so it would seem they suddenly got sick in the middle of the day. Seems like that may work if I needed it to and had no other choice. It also seemed that these are the types of parents that don't really consider how serious the implications could potentially be for performing such an act. I know all too well. The very next week, my infant son had a yucky eye.

When my daughter's belly was turning and rumbling and her head hurt, I was tempted to make her go in to school anyway. I contemplated it only briefly before I imagined her best friend's little sister with the same symptoms. Not cool. Even though we realize our school-aged kids are somewhat resilient and can handle these illnesses, some people don't think about the infants and elderly family members that these germs could be brought home to.

I am grateful each time I get a Yahoo Groups email from a mom in my child's class reporting that their child came down with "X" and had "Z" symptoms. It keeps us on the lookout and reminds us to remind our kids of their hand-washing and germ-sharing habits. It also shows the amount of consideration these people have for other human beings and their respective situations. While I can't say I am sad to have these allergy-ridden germ machines home for this LONG Spring break, I am thrilled at the chance for us all to heal. This vacation will be all about sharing. Sharing the tissue box, the childrens Zyrtec, and many many revitalizing naps!

Tar and Heels

2011-03-31T20:51:00.004-04:00

Last week, my birthday found me and some friends(who also happen to be Upper East Side moms)eager to have a "girl's night out". It takes a lot for me to find the stamina and the inspiration to actually put on make-up, dress in more than jeans and a cotton top, and venture out after 9pm. I find myself sometimes feeling like an old lady when it comes to planning an evening out. So I left it to a friend of mine.

One of my BFFs is Lebanese and has always frequented an Egyptian restaurant/cafe WAY downtown. I went with her once, and truly enjoyed the experience, but despised the ride home. Riding trains alone that late are not a good idea. Same goes for a cab ride for a car-sick-prone mom. I remember the food being delicious, and authentic(according to the dishes my friend cooks and I have had the pleasure of sampling). The atmosphere was cool too. Very comfortable and warm. The hookah? Ah, the hookah. I enjoyed it. Boy, did I enjoy it.

This time around, she decided to keep it local. Turns out, the owner of the successful restaurant downtown had opened one up in our neck of the woods! We only had to take a short little ride to 62nd st between 1st and 2nd Avenues. That is my kind of travel. This spin-off is called Horus East. It was a bit hard to see the place until I saw a slight change of color glowing behind an Eye of Horus symbol. Very fitting. Deeper investigation taught me that the symbol stands for all kinds of good things like protection and good health. The subtlity of the signage made finding the place a little challenging, but was such a compliment to the atmosphere once I experienced it as a whole. Very classy place. Very Upper East Side.

We decided to stay upstairs. Yes, there are two floors. We didn't learn until later in the evening that the downstairs was a bit more "clubby" than the upstairs. Upstairs is where you eat a meal and listen to authentic music. Downstairs is where you "drop it low" and "put a ring on it". Next time we will have to make some time to venture downstairs.

We left the ordering to the experts. That was a smart move, because not one thing remained on our plates. Each item was delicious.....right down to the rice! We also had some mint tea in tiny little cups that seemed to make it more authentic tasting. I feel like we continued to just pick at everything until there was nothing left to pick at!

The hookah was incredible. Now I am not a smoking advocate AT ALL. In fact, I was thrilled when all the laws were being made to keep it out of public places. It even makes me sick! For some reason, the light taste and smell of the hookah is enjoyable to me. It could have something to do with the fact that we happen to get a "premium" nicotine-free set-up that is smoked right out of a pineapple. Who can resist the taste and smell of smoke pineapple? Not this hookah novice 2 times over. Or maybe it is the mentality of doing something where no one under the age of 18 is allowed to enter! Probably a little of both.

Somewhere in the middle of all the eating and drinking and fruit-smoking, the music got louder and enriched with a little more bass. Then out came a belly dancer! She was beautiful and talented. I was impressed and amazed and a little bit envious. I soon found myself sucking in my baby gut just a little bit more than I was before!

Before we left, the music got loud once again and my friends had the waitress bring out a little chocolate souffle surrounded by strawberries. It had a candle on top and a unrecognizable birthday song played while everyone clapped. I was completely embarrassed and pleased all at the same time. The song goes back and forth between English and what I assumed was Arabic. All I know is the English part wished me a happy birthday and I felt like a million bucks.....for an awkwardly long time.

Overall, it was a fantastic night. Before we went out, I was thankful for friends who wanted to take me out. I was also thankful for a reason to put some tar on my lashes and heels on my feet. I was thankful to my husband for being a babysitter. After the night was over, I was thankful for the door-to-door ride home. I was thankful for being able to still stand in those heels, and I was surprisingly thankful for that skinny, talented lady who inspired me to get my slightly squishy self back into gear. I always seem to be thankful. But when you have the opportunity to be an Upper East Side mom with 4 reasons to still get up at the crack of dawn after a long night....why not?

Making the Grade

2011-03-16T19:47:00.004-04:00

I have to give a pat on the back to the New York City Department of Health for their new initiative and regulations regarding a grading system for our restaurants.

I am sure everyone has heard and seen that most of our local restaurants are now donning a legal-letter-sized "report card" in their windows. I had no idea what the whole thing was about until a few weeks after I started seeing them more frequently. I was compelled to post about it when I was trying to figure out lunch and one of my kids said, "we can't go there....they got a C".

I was noticing that most places had A's. I have only ever seen one C, in fact.....and 2 B's. To tell the truth, I was pretty surprised about a few of the A grades. I have been to more than one of these "honor roll" places and have experienced some things that would not deem them worthy of such high regard! At that point, I decided to do a little research about the standards set to grade our establishments against.

My short research led me to the Department of Health's website in a section all its own. The page explained that ALL of NYC's restaurants will eventually be graded in such a manner. The facility is inspected and points for violations are added up. 0-13 points is an A. 14-27 is a B, and more than 28 is a C. It is not clear as to how many points a place can accumulate before being cited or closed. I suppose the 13 points gives each restaurant a cushion to fall on for small violations.....but small ones could potentially add up fast! The seriousness of the violations is what could give more points too. A public health hazard is worth 7 points, so a restaurant with 2 counts of a public health hazard(like food at bad temps)could be eliminated very quickly from getting an A. Any restaurant that gets a C will continue to be assessed monthly until the grade gets better or the facility is closed for unimproved violations. Sounds fair to me. If I were a business owner, I would appreciate the chance for improvement and the potential bragging rights of an A.

What do I mean by bragging rights? The DOH website also offers a Search for Restaurant Inspection. On this page, a person could search for a particular restaurant's grade....down to the points! You can even put a borough, a zip code, and/or a particular cuisine in to search. And why not select only the ones with an A or B grade? You can do that from this page too. Definitely a good idea if you are trying a place out for the first time, or venturing to a new neighborhood.

I think I might try a few new places now that I can search for them so easily. The "by cuisine" option will be a good one for my family. As a matter of fact, I had no idea we even HAD Australian cuisine anywhere on the Upper East Side. We learn something new every day, I suppose. I think we have an advantage now that we never had before. Although the inspection reports of restaurants could be found, it was never this easy. Never. Now, since it is easier than ever, our restaurants will be held to higher standards. If they can not meet those standards set by the departments that are in place to protect and help us, then at the very least, we will see it very clearly if the have a C.

To Glee or Not To Glee

2011-02-28T19:28:00.009-05:00

The children in NYC public schools just returned to school today after having 9 days off. Many families go out of town for this vacation. In fact, I believe it is one of the school breaks when the most New Yorkers travel. I, on the other hand, had nowhere to go. I still had to work, which somewhat sticks my children to just hanging around town. The yucky weather in the beginning of the week didn't help us any. It kept us inside for a couple of snowy, blustery days.

What is a mother of 4 to do on such nasty days with a baby in tow? We have played most games in our house and if we haven't, there is a reason. It's hard to find a game that both satisfies and challenges EVERY age in my household. Plus, chaos generally ensues. I admit to turning to something that most moms would cringe at. At the very least, most would deny using such an inferior tactic. I turned to the television!

I'm not talking about our normal, daily routine of Nick Jr. and Disney and Nick. I had secretly wanted to catch up on Glee since I had never taken much interest in it and apparently "all the kids in school are talkin' about it". So, I got the first season. Just 2 episodes in, I began to wonder about the appropriateness of the content for my kids.

I am a pretty liberal mom, as far as moms go. I am very open with my children and I give them a lot of credit for being more mature than what they should be at their prospective ages. My uncertainty with the Glee show quickly went away when I continued to watch and realized that for every potentially provocative scene, there was an equal or greater number of scenes with both a lesson and a good example. There have been lessons about drugs, sex, acceptance, prejudice, teen pregnancy, and much more.

One scene in particular that sends parents over the edge is the "hot tub" scene. My husband happened to walk into the living room at that exact moment and was appalled by what he saw. The truth of the matter is that although we, as adults, knew exactly what the scene implied, our kids did not. It passed completely over their heads. As well, it should have. While we watch the show, they catch everything they should and everything else kind of sails right by. Then the GleeKs sing a relevant song and not much else is remembered.

Another thing that many parents have a hard time dealing with is that one of the characters is openly gay. This particular character went through a phase of insecurity and then self acceptance. It was touching. As a matter of fact, most of the characters went through the same phase. The jock, the "cripple"(as they call it in the show), the head cheerleader, the bully, the minority, etc. The writers have put a strong emphasis on the camaraderie the glee club has built and maintained. The kids in the club have learned to accept each other and their differences. Kids nowadays should see those kinds of things more often.

Beyond the lessons and inspiration the show instills, the cast is superbly talented! They do all of their own singing and dancing, and are all great actors. That in itself inspires and impresses my kids.

We watched about 2 shows a day, on most of these vacation days. We all sat together and enjoyed and laughed and got excited and celebrated the groups victories......together. I have become teary-eyed more than once and have begun open conversations with my children about the subject matter in almost every episode. We even talked about it when we weren't watching. I think we spent much of our time trying to talk others into watching it too!

I am excited to check out the next season. I am fighting off the urge to simply pick it up in the middle of the season, but will try my best to hold out for a few more months. I have to admit that watching a show with no commercials really makes the experience much more enjoyable. Perhaps we can start the second season on our next vacation? Seems to make a good bit of sense!

I am glad that I got over questioning myself as a mother for letting my children get into the show. I love it. They love it. The questionable topics/scenes have either sparked an inevitable conversation or have gone completely over their heads. They could be watching many worse shows and movies. I remember a time when my daughter would offer to clean the house so she could stay up and watch Jersey Shore because her friends were watching it! She was nuts! And my son begs to watch Spongebob. Now THOSE are two shows that are equally lacking in substance! I think Glee will just be a thing that we will enjoy together for as long as it lasts. I could use a Tuesday evening where we all want to be in the same place at one time for an entire hour. That is no small feat in my neck of the woods, so I will be forever indebted to the creators of GLEE!

Just Some Tape

2011-02-16T19:58:00.008-05:00

My daughter's birthday is coming up this weekend and I was shocked when I asked her what she wanted and she simply replied, "tape".

She always has been pleased by the simple things in life, but I thought this was extreme. She got really excited and started to explain that this special tape can be turned into bags and bracelets. I was still baffled until she told me, "it's the kind of tape that is usually grey".

So, apparently, the new "thing" is colored and printed duct tape. Children in school are having their parents buy special colors of the tape, folding it in half, adding a piece of sticky-backed velcro, and calling it a bracelet. They are making pouches and wallets and all sorts of things from the vibrantly colored materials. All she wants is tape. Now I get it.

When I went out of town last weekend, I was lucky enough to find spools of the Duck brand of tape. We collected a few different colors, a few prints, and some velcro. Every day since, I can not keep her away from it for too long! Just a few weeks prior, I was pulling her away from texting on her phone! Each day she comes home with a list of friends who want a bracelet or a bag. In fact, she has mastered the art of covering a fold-top sandwich bag and turning it into a fancy little pouch/case. It is incredible!

Upon returning to the city, I went on my search to find a few places to pick up more colors or varieties. Some of the kids at school have bought theirs from Duane Reade. Some from Staples. None were nearly as inexpensive as the craft store in Connecticut, but still fairly reasonable. I did just find out today that The Craft Studio is carrying a wide variety of colors and prints too(at a reasonable price). I am sure that many of the toy stores in the area are(or soon will be) carrying it also.

I remember being a kid and feeling the same way about embroidery floss as these kids are beginning to feel about this tape! I remember spending every quarter I had on a new color and making too many bracelets to wear, but wearing them anyway. It was a much cheaper obsession, but I have to admit that these bags and bracelets are very funky and chunky and cool! I have even been drawn to making a few things myself! Fifth graders are simply folding the tape in half and all the bracelets are almost the same size. I taught my daughter how easy the tape tears and showed her that she can make the strands as thin as she'd like. It makes for a huge variety of designs.

I am sure that this fad will come and go and come back again. Not too long ago, our kids were crying and begging for Silly Bands. They were trading and wearing them for quite a while. What can you DO with them though? Not a whole lot. The thing I hated about that little trend was that all my kids seemed to do was count them over and over and wear their favorites each day. They were comparing how many they had. They competed to see who had more. There are now thousands of the things sitting all over my house. At least with this more recent obsession, they can be creative and make useful and cute things.

Since our purchase I have not had to tell my daughter to get off the phone. I have not had to tell her to stop watching TV and get her homework done. She does her best to stay on top of things so she has more time to "create". It is almost magical! My advice? If you have a creative kid who doesn't have some colored duct tape, go out and get some! Better yet, buy some plain old duct tape and see what they can do. We all fall victim to trends and our kids are no exception. This is one trend that I will fully support.....until she has made everything she can and the duct tape bracelets are no longer "cool".

Please feel free to post some pics of your child's creations. I am also looking for good websites with project ideas and local stores that sell the supplies. Keep ME posted. I would LOVE the feedback!

A New Brunch Favorite

2011-01-31T20:59:00.006-05:00

Another Saturday morning, and a visitor from out-of-town, found me roaming the streets in search of a comfy, yummy place to spend a couple of hours. Just a few Saturdays before, I attempted to get take out from one of the most locally famous places on the Upper East Side. I quickly learned then that the place did not offer take-out during weekend brunch times. It smelled so wonderful inside. The ambiance looked to be exactly what I crave on the weekends for those 2 hours while I am almost child-free. I decided to go back this weekend and experience it to the fullest. The place? Yorkville Creperie.

In all the years I have lived on the UES, I have never been to this local treasure and I was beginning to feel like I was missing a lot. A friend of my daughter's mentioned that it was her favorite place a few years back and I vowed to give it a try. I don't know why I didn't do it sooner!

My cousin came in from Virginia and I began to think of something close and delicious for her to try since it was so cold out and we were not looking forward to much sight-seeing. I had even held on to the menu from my attempt at ordering take out weeks prior.

We ended up getting there a bit too early. FYI....most normal New Yorkers don't head out to brunch until late morning. I was forced out before most normal New Yorkers.(I dread Saturday morning test prep). The Creperie opens at 10am. We soon found out that it was well worth the wait. We went in and within minutes knew what we wanted. We both had something fruity/chocolaty/sweet in mind, but had no idea about all the savory offerings on the menu.

After some brief deliberation, we settled on splitting a savory crepe and ordering our own sweet crepe that we could also split. I think we just assumed the savory crepe would hold no weight to the sweet ones we know and love. Boy, were we wrong. In fact, I could go to brunch and forget about my regular Nutella smothered special! I think.

We settled on the Spartan crepe to share. A savory choice with spinach, garlic, roasted tomato and ricotta, all topped with an extra virgin olive oil drizzle. It was heavenly. The spinach was cooked to perfection. When we cut into the crepe, the bright and bold greens came pouring out. Among all the greens were perfectly roasted tomatoes and garlic minced so tiny that if it weren't for the contrast you would not be able to see it. There also must have been some salt inside. They must have put the crepe together at just the right temperature because you could taste and feel the crunch of the salt with every few bites. It was perfectly balanced in every way. I almost wish I decided to get my own savory dish.

I was definitely ready for more. When our sweet(classic, to us) crepes came out, we were just as excited. Mine was a traditional crepe with strawberries, bananas, and Nutella. Hers was a strawberry, blueberry, whipped cream crepe with a raspberry puree drizzle over the top. Both were exceptional. Although I think that when I go the sweet route I will almost always opt for Nutella on mine! The raspberry puree made the other one a little more fancy that any old crepe. It separated this restaurant's crepes from ones we have had while cruising through NYC street fairs.

Everything was really reasonably priced too. I don't remember how much those street fair crepes are, but I would imagine that the prices we paid could not possibly be much more than that. It was truly reasonable. The fanciest crepe they have is 12 dollars.

Beyond the food being insanely delicious, the coffee was amazing too. The atmosphere was more charming than many of our UES restaurants. It was naturally well-lit, which is important to a mom who wants to fall asleep every time she stops moving or doing for more than 5 minutes. It felt like the home of a family member. It was bright, inviting and quiet, although not too quiet. After about an hour of us nursing our crepes and coffee, the once empty space became almost filled wall to wall. That would explain their reluctance to do take out. They don't need to. Their brunch is personal. As it should be.

These early-to-rise Saturday mornings are really beginning to do a number on me. A working mom needs to sleep in once in a while to stay sane, but if I began to frequent a place like this, I would be one happy Upper East Side Mom.

A Good Old Cup of Joe

2011-01-17T21:53:00.008-05:00

There is no denying that it has been cold outside. It seems like our street crossings in the city are going to be covered with either slush or ice for a while to come. This is the point in the winter time that people start to look forward to a warm-up. The novelty of wearing coats and sweaters and boots that have been packed away for the warm months has worn off. So has the excitement of playing in the snow. The thought of bundling up a handful of us to go out into the elements is discouraging when you add up the number of layers it takes for a family of this size to get out!

When Saturday test prep for my daughter forced me out, I figured I would make the most of it. 2 hours is just enough time to make it not worth heading home. I hung out in a Starbucks for that time and enjoyed an average blend of a coffee and a less than average red velvet cupcake. While I sat, I thought about how comfortable and warm and chill it was to hang out there, but something in the back of my head never lets me forget just how commercial the mega-chain is!

On the walk home, I remembered a place that my daughter and I used to go to once or twice a week. I hadn't had to be in this direction for a while, but I decided to surprise her and bring her to one of her favorite places, M.Rohr's on 86th street. It was this very cool, inviting cafe/coffeehouse where I would serve my own cup of coffee from one of a number of self-serve airpots. She would always get a fresh baked biscotti as a snack, or a breakfast sandwich if we were on our way to school in the mornings. I remember when she turned 8 years old, my little hippie even asked for a gift card to this shop for her birthday! She was hooked. We even used to go in while the babies took a nap and we would sit for a while and enjoy our treats on one of the couches. It would make for a nice Saturday afternoon.

Much to our surprise and dismay, the "cafe" was no more. The entire back room of seating was gone. The couches and cafe tables in the front were gone. The storefront gave no indication of a change so we never would have thought any differently. All along the walls, still hangs the bins in which all the flavored beans are stored for sale, but there were no more pots of self-serve. There were no more fresh-baked goods and no more sandwiches. We were stunned. After a brief discussion with the man behind the counter, we learned that the owner decided to take the cafe section away because business was no longer financially supporting that portion of the concept. It was somewhat disheartening. I then asked for a cup of coffee to go, which they also no longer do. We were at a loss. I was really craving my favorite flavor from over the years of visiting. Coconut. Yum.

My daughter searched around with a frown and found some pre-wrapped biscotti, but it wasn't the same. Much of what the store now has to offer is beyond the realm of thought that a 10 year old is capable of! I could appreciate it as an adult, but it was still a bit nostalgic and sad for even me!

I decided to make the best of it and buy SOMETHING. After all, the business is struggling enough. I am typically not a coffee pot user(since I am the only coffee addict in the house), so I normally never buy coffee by the pound. I wondered then if I would enjoy brewing a special pot on the weekend or when I have company over. I went for it and bought a half a pound of my coconut coffee. The gentleman ground it up for me and put it in this simple, classy looking brown bag and sealed it up tight. It seemed pretty official. Certainly not the half pound you'd buy in the grocery store! Then we were on our way.

That Sunday, I brewed up a pot of my "special coffee" in my new coffee pot from Christmas. I have to say that it was delicious. It was flavorful and robust. It was perfect for me and the hubby on our weekend mornings. My house smelled incredible too! I am usually a cheapo when it comes to coffee, and buying like this made me a bit nervous. I took it all back once I tasted it. It was worth every penny and once I broke it down, it was really not that bad at all. My half pound seems like it'll go a long way! The next morning, I was the only one home for a cup so I brought out my trusty old manual coffee drip cone. It worked like a charm. One perfectly brewed cup of my special "Joe".

Upon complaining to my friend about the place, she informed me that Rohr's used to only serve the coffee beans and loose teas. They weren't ever a cafe until more recently. I never knew that. She remembered going by there as a kid. Back then they didn't have any of the food or treats like they did a few months back. I guess they just went back to their roots. They went back to what worked and what has kept them alive in Yorkville for over 100 years.I would imagine that to be a steady business for that long, it must have always been good. All I know is that it is good now. I couldn't ask for better coffee.

On the walk home that day, my daughter and I went over all the reasons why the shop would have changed. We realized that although we loved to sit in the cafe, part of why we loved it was because it never seemed packed. Pair that up with the subway construction mere feet away and you have a recipe for disaster. This is not the first business we have encountered that fell victim to the MTA's "improvements and advancements". It is quite sad. She suggested that we still go in there once in a while and buy a little coffee. She listed off a dozen or so people in our lives that would appreciate a certain blend or flavor. We vowed to make it a habit. Not a frequent one...but a habit, nonetheless.

I am already plotting my next flavor. I may even have to get 2. I have to have the coconut, but wonder what others I may be missing. I guess I will have to see, but I can assure you I won't be waiting too long. I can already smell it!

My Way

2010-12-31T23:31:00.003-05:00

I obviously did not go out on the town to celebrate this New Year....again. I am always pegged as a home-body, in general, but this night epitomized and embodied everything that I love about my life.

After a week of travel, and Christmas, and drugging through the slushy sidewalks while trying to pretend that my Maclaren has 4-wheel-drive, I was THRILLED to spend the holiday at home with my family. My husband has to work the majority of New Year's Eves. I typically hang with the kids or briefly have a toast with him before he has to rush off to start his shift. This year was a nice change of pace.

We took a friend up on their last minute offer to visit and eat some food. This friend happens to live right around the block, so I had no opposition to this. I made a few pans of stuffed shells(you have to make a few.....who makes only one pan? They are too much trouble to make just one!) We went to our friends house and enjoyed the company of some pretty cool, and friendly people. These same people also happen to be AMAZING cooks! We feasted on everything from friend chicken legs, to coconut shrimp, to my stuffed and cheesy shells. Not a bad last meal of the year. We are lucky to have friends like this. Not to mention that we had numerous invitations of this sort....it just so happens that the commute to this friend's house was a deal-breaker. I couldn't ask for a better group of friends.

Now, as I sit and wait for the ball to drop and the new year to begin, I am of course reflecting on this past year. A new baby, a new apartment, a new problem everyday, with a near-following new solution. We conquered this year, as a family. I was able to conquer it with the support of my family and good friends. Looking back on this trying year makes me appreciate every aspect of my life....even the troublesome and challenging parts. Funny thought....I have 5 "challenging parts" sitting beside me waiting for the ball drop! They are asking all about Reba! Not much of a country music influence here on the Upper East Side, I guess.

Upon asking the fam what their favorite parts of this year were, these are the answers I received:
"Moving" (times 2)
"When the baby was born" (times 2)
"The Justin Bieber Concert"
"Getting Pepper" (the cat)
I also got a burp.

Always amusing. Always a challenge. And always mine. In just 4 minutes, we will toast with our "Kid Sangria" which consists of grape juice, 7UP, and frozen apples. I will kiss my hubby and all of my little ducks in a row. I will tuck some tired and happy and full little monkeys into their beds. I will have a grown-up drink(or 2) and then I will sleep like a baby. That is my kind of night. That is my kind of New Year's Eve.

Here's to 2011. May it be as wonderfully chaotic, and beautifully aggravating as 2010. I wouldn't have it any other way.

The Search Is Over.....Again

2010-12-16T19:23:00.004-05:00

My daughter is halfway through her last year of elementary school. And what does that mean for an Upper East Side mom? It means that we are now on a search for a middle school....or should I say, we have until tomorrow to decide which ones she chooses to go to.

The board of education gives you this application to fill out(which, by the way, my daughter didn't give me until today). You have to rate these schools in the order of which you would prefer to attend. Now, I am sure that most of us have been through this once or twice already, but I am here to tell you that you'd be far better off to be prepared.

Since the beginning of the school year my daughter has been reminding me, relentlessly, that we should be going on tours and such to decide where she should go. I completely neglected to attend any tours. Completely. I got consumed by work, and the baby, and keeping my house and family of 6 running somewhat smoothly. My research included speaking to other parents of middle schoolers and hearing what they had to say about the schools that are available to us. Now it's crunch time. The paper is due tomorrow.

We have had the middle school brochure book for our district and have looked through it from time to time and had a vague idea of which schools we liked. My little lady picked one school solely on the fact that they offered football to girls as a sport! I asked her if she actually wanted to play football and she said, "not necessarily. I just like the idea of a school that says it is ok for girls to play it." Fair point. I like that too.

We also had a few schools that made the cut based on the fact that a cute boy was making that his number one choice, or that her BFF that week had made it a first choice. I quickly had to dispel the idea that those people will definitely get it their desired school or that she would either. I explained there were no guarantees. I also explained that small fallings out at this age could mean the ends of friendships and thousands of new people in a new environment could mean new friends too. We finally came to the agreement that we would pick schools based on what was important to her, and to us as a family.

I certainly would love for her to attend the school within our 2 block radius, but would love a school that caters to her specific talents or interests. I am concerned about getting her to a school that is much further downtown, but I wonder if a change of atmosphere will do her good. I wonder if it would be advantageous to pick a school that lets 6th graders go out to lunch or one that shelters them and requires they stay inside. I wonder if she would be too shy to shine on any interviews that some schools require. So much to consider.

In the end, most children will adapt to whatever environment they are in. Not all, but most. Not everyone makes the 100 percent right choice. Hope fully, we do. We set our sights on 3 or 4 that we would be happy with, knowing that you don't always get your first choice. We have set ourselves up for whatever may come.

We have been through this all before with preschools and elementary schools for 2 of our kids. This is the first time for us with middle schools. I don't even want to THINK of the process and the stress when it comes to high schools. All I know is that I am glad this round is over. I realize that I am known for procrastinating but, next time, I will promise to be more prepared earlier on! No matter where she goes, I am sure she will learn and thrive and grow. She will only get out of it what we make it. Now we wait and see what our future holds. Let's just cross our fingers and hope!

What Would The Duggars Do?

2010-11-30T21:44:00.005-05:00

As I sat and tried to peacefully enjoy my dinner one night last week, I came to a realization. I was tired. I was mentally and physically exhausted from working and getting up at the crack of dawn to get children off to school. Oh, the woes of being an Upper East Side mom.

My poor husband had cooked dinner by the time I got home and was eating his pasta with heavy eyelids. Remember....he keeps my two youngest while I am at work a few days a week and he does this after working night-shift at his job. It was a beautiful dinner.....until all hell broke loose!

The baby started crying, so I ate the last 3 quarters of my meal with one hand while the other arm rocked the fussy infant. Then the 3-year-old started sniveling about how he didn't like something that just the night before he LOVED. Then the oldest 2 children started speaking and shouting at each other in a way that disgusted me. I started to question what kind of parent I was that my kids spoke to each other worse than they would their most hated enemy. I had to get drastic.

For anyone that knows me, or has even read my posts a few times, you would know that I am no stranger to reality TV, and the Duggars are one of my top picks. I think I began watching their shows on TLC before they had 15 kids! While my spawn were shouting nasty names to each other and rolling eyes and making faces across the table, I sat back quietly(for once)and thought to myself, "What would the Duggars do?".

Episodes were running through my mind and I couldn't think of one where they had to discipline any of their children. I couldn't think of one when the kids were even fighting, like in the show mine were putting on. Then I thought about reasons why they don't fight as much or need as much discipline or correction. Couldn't figure it out. I did, however, notice differences between what they took as acceptable and what I do. HUGE differences.

Most of our children these days watch a fair amount of TV and/or spend time on the internet. Most of them have hand-held game systems and a WII. While many of our families are staying "connected", theirs is staying connected to each other. They play with toys that we had when we were younger. They use their imaginations, and they entertain each other. They don't seem to aggravated or lose their patience with each other. Shoot, I lose my patience hourly. Maybe I need a coffee date with Michelle. Maybe my husband and I should go on a double date with her and Jim Bob. Rumor has it that with all those kids and a house that size, they are also debt-free!

I decided in that moment that I would make my children appreciate what they have. I immediately confiscated all electronics. They were grounded from them for a few days. I knew it was the right choice when my son cried and sobbed and tried to explain how "important" his PSP was to him. It was pretty humorous, but sad at the same time.

I remembered another episode and thing the Duggars did, and I put that into action too. I called my mom in CT(where we would be spending the holiday) and asked her to find a place for my children to volunteer for the holidays. On Thanksgiving morning, they woke up and headed to the church/shelter in the area and spent a few hours. While they were there, they folded clothes to put together for families in need and packed up little goody bags for them. They separated socks into bags for girls, boys, men, and women. Even the 3-year-old squeezed the air out of Ziplocs and sealed them up. They learned where all of these things were going to and why. They came home with their name-tags and were proud of the experience.

They still fought all weekend. I can't say that the little things I did worked, but the simple idea of it all is what I hope they begin to get. I explained that in the Duggar family there are so many people in it but you never see them frustrated so easily, or hateful, or selfish, or greedy, or disrespectful. It made them look at themselves a little differently. It made me look at myself differently! Maybe it'll sink in to them sometime soon. Hopefully.

I read somewhere that when asked how they discipline their children, the Duggars answered with something like "speak softly" and only positive reinforcement. That takes a ton of patience I don't have! I envy those two.

Now this all does not mean that I want to go out and have 20 kids. It doesn't mean that I want to name my children with names that start with the same letter. It doesn't mean that my daughter and I will only wear skirts here on out. And it doesn't mean that I think anyone else should follow in the Duggar's footsteps. This just means that I think you should take a look at how a family of THAT size and proportion gets along so well. We may learn something. Sometimes as parents, especially in New York City, we tend to be so defensive and proud when it comes to raising children. We always think we know what's right and wrong, and we tend to always have an opinion of what someone else should be doing. We should all be a little more open to learning from each other. What a difference it would make.

Now, as for the "speak softly" part....how the hell will they ever hear me if I did THAT????

Right On Track

2010-11-16T21:46:00.008-05:00

My youngest little one just turned 4 months old and, as any mother knows, that is a milestone when it comes to wellness visits and immunizations. Looming in my near future was the dreaded thought of having to get the baby into the doctor for that visit.....and the other 3 children!

It turns out that my other 3 children were due for their check-ups the same month! After some careful and strategic planning, I made their appointments. As luck would have it, the doctor was willing to fit them in....all of them on the same day! A few of my friends thought I was crazy, but it made total sense to me get it over with. I was right.

Our doctor's office is Pediatrics of New York, located at 11 East 86Th street. The kids have been going to this office since before then can even remember! I actually remember switching to that doctor when my second child was a baby. I was so upset that the insurance had required me to change doctors, but can also remember how happy and relieved I was once I had visited for the first time. We have seen many of the doctors there and are quite fond of most of them. Of course we have our favorites, but it is nice to know that we can feel comfortable with all of them.

The last year or so had been a little bit tough for us when it came to the peds office. The office had been making so many changes in staff, and reception, and doing some remodeling, that it threw us for a loop. For a while, there were some inconsistencies that worried me, but I am so glad that we toughed it out and didn't change doctors. Once the dust settled, all went back to normal....and maybe it is a little better. Although we were quite sad to see our favorite doctor leave last December, we have been more than happy with who we have seen in more recent months. I suppose we just had to be a little patient while they updated for the good of their workplace and for the care of their patients!

So, on that Monday morning, I packed up the troop and headed to the doctor's office. It was a beautiful day for the older 2 children to take off of school. It happened to be one of those unseasonably warm days where we even ended up taking of our light sweatshirts. I couldn't have asked for better luck. We piled into the reception area, where we didn't have to wait too long before they put us into the biggest room in the place. We all went in at once.

They began with 2 medical assistants taking heights and weights and giving eye tests to all 4 of them while the baby hung out in his diaper and the rest of them were in blue exam gowns. It was quite a sight! In fact, I took a few pictures that I would have posted if not for embarrassing my 10 year old daughter! It was pretty funny to see them all struggling to get undressed and covering one eye to do the eye test and guessing their stats. Like a circus. The baby was entertained the entire time.

Then the doctor came in. Dr. Duszka. She happens to be our current favorite. My children have grown to love her, and so have I. She took her time with each one.....plenty of time. She spoke to them and asked them questions and smiled and played and examined them, all the while speaking to me and answering any questions I had. She is always very thorough and patient. I think that with a mom like me, patient is the best thing to be! I always feel like I am bothering them. She never lets me feel like that.

After examining them all, and getting a few prescriptions for dry skin and eye drops and such, came the announcement.....shots! At least 2 each! Just the whisper of the word made a few of them cringe. Lucky for me, some are too young to catch on too quickly. Dr. Duszka made that as pleasant as possible too. She was so quick and comforting that it really wasn't that bad. 10 total shots didn't seem that bad at all with her doing them! I guess that was the true test.

After we stocked up on stickers and Dum Dum lollipops, we left the office and headed to the dentist. Yep. You heard right. The dentist. Why waste a day off from school and work? On the way to the dentist I thought about how integral a part your child's pediatrician has in your life. Besides the obvious job of taking care and prevention for your child's health, a pediatrician takes a large role in the parenting aspect of things. I can remember, a while back, wanting to lie to the doctor about things that I had done or thought regarding my childrens' health but thinking that I better tell the truth so I can get a straight answer. I am now the kind of mother that doesn't get embarrassed anymore. After a ton of visits where the doctor says "keep up the good work, Mom", I start to believe I am doing good work!

It feels good to hear the doctor tell you that they are right on track for growth, or to keep doing what you are doing. It feels good even when they aren't quite on track, because you have someone helping or guiding or teaching you with advice and kindness. It feels good to check off all the little developments and advancements your infants make. It feels good to be able to ask questions that may even be a little silly and not be laughed at. Most of all, it feels good to be reassured over and over and over again, that what you are doing is "right".......if there really is such a thing.

Walking To the Beat of Our Own Drum

2010-10-31T22:18:00.004-04:00

Along with the change of seasons comes news beginnings and the vicious holiday cycle starts its go-around once more. We just plopped down our rather LARGE bags of candy from trick-or-treating and already I am thinking of the next holiday. This Halloween season, I brought it upon myself to make a cake in the shape, color, and size of an actual pumpkin. It was a recommendation from one of my favorite ladies in my life. My Aunt Rose told me that she had been making this for years and that it is always a big hit. While I was mixing and frosting and trying to phase out the fussy baby that I left to my husband to tend to, I wondered about MY traditions with my family.....or the lack thereof.

I usually take pride in the fact that I am a pretty liberal, laid-back kind of parent. I have my definite O.C.D. moments and issues, but possess an understanding that perfection is a lot to live up to. I am much more creative than domesticated, but aspire to be more well-rounded every day. One day, I want my children to remember things that we did or enjoyed together around the holidays. I want them to be able to call me when they are all grown up and tell me that they did this or that with their own children because we did it when THEY were little.

We definitely have some things that are important to us, as a family. All the typical stuff, really. Every Easter we have baskets. Every Christmas we have a tree and presents. Every Thanksgiving we have a lot of food. But I still continued to wonder what makes us unique or special? My husband and I are both from large families where tradition always played a huge role. We shared some things in common in regards to holidays and traditions, but differed in a few areas too. Accepting another persons traditions and compromising your own is not small thing to learn. It almost feels sometimes as if you are compromising yourself! We learned, over the years, to adapt to each others ways and have turned it into our own.

Our Thanksgiving table these days has such a wide variety of food that it is almost ridiculous! We both have ideas in our heads about what is SUPPOSED to be there, so we just have it all. Who is to say what's wrong or right? And if any of the kids have a suggestion that is reasonable, we simply add it on. It is all of our day, isn't it? Then we should ALL have a say. I think one year we even ate out and caught a movie!

There are years at Christmas time that were very "un-traditional" in our house. One year "Santa" didn't wrap the presents. Another year "Santa" couldn't find the stockings that she so strategically packed away into Spacebags, that she filled up the kids' rainboots instead.

As I posted about before, I have bought my children books on Valentine's day, instead of chocolate.

I can think of one million things that we do differently than most, or from the way my husband or I grew up. It is different, but it seems so fitting for us.

Most of the time, people are so wrapped up in their traditions or habits or rituals, they forget what is important. They tend to get caught up in the "we always" aspect or everything. Upper East Siders are certainly no exception. More often than not, our rituals, habits and traditions control our everyday life. Perhaps we would all be a little bit happier if we could get to the "we like to" approach of things. It is much less stressful and MUCH easier to live up to!

I can't wait for the holidays to roll around this year. I am a mother of 4 beautiful children who are still learning and growing and forming ideas about what all these holidays mean to them personally, and as part of a family. I can't wait to see and form ideas with them about what is important to us all. I can't say what will be this year, or next, or the year after that. The one thing I do know is that togetherness is one "tradition" that we hold near and dear to our hearts. That is one thing that I will take while I can. One day they will be all grown up and I want them to WANT to be together whenever we can. And perhaps next year for Halloween, I will bang out another few more pumpkin cakes. Next year I may even omit the many choice words that came flying out of my mouth when I dropped the first one out of the oven! Well, at least they can't say I didn't make some memories!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Select Bus

2010-10-18T22:17:00.003-04:00

I was pretty humbled this week when I started to have to depend solely on public transportation. Let's just say that if you get a parking ticket in New York you would be better off just paying it immediately....towing fees and the inconvenience of having to retrieve your vehicle add up to much more than a ticket could ever be!

When I came to the realization that I would have to get through without my car, I was not very optimistic. Surprisingly enough, we made it through. We struggled a few days with the rain, but were grateful for the moderately warm weather considering the season. The one interesting part of our week with no car was our first ride on NYC's new Select Bus.

It turns out that New York City has recently implemented their Bus Rapid Transit service on First and Second Avenues! We got ready to hop on a train headed downtown and were directed by an MTA authority that we had to dip our Metrocards into a machine! We were a little bit stunned, but then came along this beautiful new bus with bright blue flashing lights.

When we dipped our cards into the machine, a ticket receipt printed out and we were told to hold onto it for the bus. Apparently, this is how these buses work. I had no idea! We then got onto the bus. It was a brand-spanking-new bus. The seats were nice, the steps weren't steep, and there were seats that faced each other, which my kids loved! There were so many things different about this bus. It was pretty slow going, but with the buses being in their first days running people are still getting used to the fact that you have to buy your ticket before boarding. That was the only problem. We took what we thought was a limited bus and it took a painfully long time to get anywhere.

My daughter felt like she heard something about this a couple of years ago in school. She was somewhat excited that she knew and I didn't. I, on the other hand, came home and had to Google what this was all about.

Apparently, the whole concept is that we do need more subways but that since they take a long time to build, improving bus efficiency would better the transit speed. Eventually, it should be faster and more convenient for us to take these limited "Select" buses. The point of paper tickets is supposed to shorten the stop time. If everyone at a stop already has their tickets, then no one would have to be dipping Metrocards or counting out change and asking for transfers. There are also 3 doors in which people can enter. I think that once EVERYONE learns how to get their receipt tickets, we will be in business as far as speeding up the process.

Another way the buses are supposed to help is by giving the buses priority at stoplights and in bus lanes....that is what the blue lights are for. It gives the bus an extended green light, whatever that means.

The stops are pretty fancy too. They all have lights and really nice sheltered seating. That will make it a bit more bearable come the Winter months.

It was a nice ride....and a nice surprise. I guess it was a little bonus for the kids while we were out of commission with the car. Everyone should take a ride on one while it is still new. The M15 Select Service runs all up and down First and Second Avenues from 125Th street to South Ferry. Maybe it would be a nice day out to simply ride the bus to check it out and also stop in to one of the many businesses on Second Ave that could use the traffic during this disruptive construction. I am almost thankful for the break from my car.....almost.

A Craft For All Seasons

2010-09-30T21:17:00.005-04:00

I started back to work last week and got right back into the swing of being a working UES mom again. It went very smoothly, but was quite an adjustment after having a long hot summer off with a newborn. Needless to say, I didn't leave myself or my family much time to venture the "hood". This week, I will play it safe and familiarize readers with a place that I hold near and dear to my heart.....The Craft Studio.

My relationship with "The Studio" started a number of years ago. After numerous visits with my children, and many gifts purchased, a friend said that I was great with kids and I should take a shot at working in this child wonderland. It was the beginning of a long and beautiful friendship.....in more ways than I can count. While working there I met people who, until this day, are an integral part of my life!

Owner, Lindsey Johnson, and I started our journey with The Craft Studio on the same day(way back when!). I have since moved on with my next career and my children while she continues to cultivate and create a magical, comfortable, inviting experience for our Upper East Side inhabitants and beyond!

The Craft Studio is well into its second decade of business and with each year its fan-base extends considerably. You only have to visit once to know that the entire experience is one to appreciate. From birthday parties, to gift buying, to workshops and more, this place has something for everyone.

Birthday parties at The Craft Studio are unmatched. I have been to many parties on the UES and throughout New York City, and not one has beaten the ones thrown here! I know it seems I am partial, but take my word for it. When you have kids in different schools throughout the city, you can safely say you have been to a party place or two! I can't say enough about their parties. The energy of the staff alone is enough to keep you coming back year after year. There are now nearly 20 different themes of parties to choose from! That's actually part of the fun....choosing a theme with your little(or big) one! There's everything from painting a piece of plaster to building and decorating a chocolate house. Yes, that's right. A chocolate house. You have to take a look at their website to see it. Don't just take my word for it! In fact, they have a Halloween workshop coming up where you can do that exact craft. It always sells out, so call and make reservations soon!

Speaking of workshops, you must always be on the lookout for one whenever the seasons change or holidays are around the corner. They are all reasonably priced and a bunch of fun for the kids. And since the place has been so beautifully decorated, it makes for some fantastic pictures! P.S. The window decor also changes with the seasons and holidays. One window always outdoes the next and each time the decorations come down, passers-by await the new view!

Walk-in crafts are another thing they are famous for. Unless there is a private party in which someone has rented out the entire store, you can walk in and choose a project to paint. The selection of plasters seems endless, and there are also flower pots, boxes, and little odds-n-ends. One challenge we face when we come to paint is choosing WHAT to do! I suppose that is part of the whole experience. Another advantage of the walk-in crafts are that they do NOT charge for the time you spend on your project, as other places do. You can feel free to take your time! That alone, makes it worth the money!

I have found that The Craft Studio has saved my hide more than once or twice over the years. Not only do they do walk-in art, parties, and workshops. They are also a full-fledged toy shop! They carry a huge selection of educational toys and toys that inspire imaginative and creative play. More recently, I noticed they even carry a brand of "green" toys and organic baby toys. It is ALWAYS a good call to come here when I have to head off to a birthday party. I don't even have to know the child! I just need to know the gender and age, and any specific interests they may have. I can come in and tell the staff that info(and what I want to spend), and I have the gift! Not to mention they wrap....for FREE! Some items they carry may be a buck or two more than a chain toy store, but would Toys R Us wrap your gift in a beautiful copper wrapping paper with bountiful ribbons? I think not. I would take that beautiful wrapping and Craft Studio gift bag any day, over the alternative.

I could go on and on about all the great things The Craft Studio has to offer, but it would not do it justice. You have to take the trip in for yourself. Word of mouth, good business, beautiful decor, good vibes, and a concentration of some of the most pleasant, kind, funny, helpful, and energetic workers makes it worth the visit. I am not sure how she does it, but if you or your children are lucky enough to meet the owner, have no doubt that she will probably remember you when you come back. It's those little things that keep a big place in my heart, and in the hearts of my children, for "The Craft".

Paranoia

2010-09-15T20:37:00.003-04:00

There are a million and one things I could lose sleep over these days. I can worry about returning to work and leaving my new infant home for the first time. I can worry about the other children's adjustment to the new school year. I can worry about the economy or my own personal finances. The worries and fears that come along with being an Upper East Side mother are insurmountable. Same goes for mothers everywhere. But what is keeping moms in our neck of the woods up until those ungodly hours of the night? No. Not reality T.V. as in weeks and months and years past. These days, it's the NYC bed bug epidemic that occupies our minds and keeps our skin crawling!

I can't really remember the first I had heard about the impending threat. The one part I do remember is that when you went anywhere that required staying in a hotel that you would be wise to check everything while you are there and before you left so as not to bring the little blood-suckers home. I also remember thinking that the bugs would be something that ANYONE would be able to notice and that if you brought them home that you were crazy and neglectful and perhaps a bit dirty. It wasn't until a few months ago that those assumptions changed in my head.

There have been a ton of news segments warning of the danger of them spreading like wildfire. People posting items on Craigslist, or even giving them away, are attaching the note, "from a bed-bug free home". It is much more than normal that you see seemingly pristine mattresses bagged and left on the sidewalk for disposal. This is not something that people have had to worry about for a long time. I am pretty sure that when I was a kid I thought they were a myth. Well, they are REAL and they are making it known on the UES.

With all the commotion and paranoia and preventative measures that people are taking in more recent times, I myself have to admit that I have fallen victim to the anxiety and insomnia that the simple THREAT of bedbugs creates! I saw neighbors of mine throw a TON of things away from their house. Immediately I thought BED BUGS! I searched my entire house but not before I googled for hours about what to look for, where to find them, and how to prevent them. No luck. Or should I say, lucky me. No bed bugs....yet. None of my family had bites. There was no other evidence.

I sprayed anyway. What if I missed them?

The next night....a bite. A mosquito bite, that is. I know this since I actually SAW the vampire on my son's face when I went to check on him before heading to bed myself. Now I saw the bite. I killed the mosquito. Someone please tell me why I googled images of bed bug bites the next day to be sure that it was not bed bugs. It still wasn't a bed bug bite. Rumor and history have it that bed bugs tend to bite in clusters or a linear pattern.

The next night I woke up to 3 bites in a row on the back of my ankle! I jumped out of the bed, peeled the sheets from my bed and again inspected the mattress, underneath it, and then the entire room. Nothing. I was terrified. More hours spent googling to find that you usually don't even feel bed bugs biting since they use a numbing secretion before they actually suck your blood.

I kept finding bites on my family for days. I didn't sleep. I only thought about bed bugs. I became an expert on them, their habits, what their bites look like, and how to get rid of them....and I still didn't have them!!!!!

A few nights later, my husband realized that one of our windows was slightly sliding down and closed it up tight. That was the end of the bites. Not once since then had anyone been bitten in the same manor until we went to a barbecue in the country where mosquitoes were abundant. I knew all along that the bites could not have been blamed on the non-existent infestation in my home, but I just could not help trying to prove that it was not. Some of us....in fact many of us on the UES have not been so lucky.

I have learned that the bed bug epidemic in our area has reached an all-time high since the discontinued use of DDT after World War 2. I believe that I have learned all there is to learn about the nasty little creatures. Most importantly, I have learned why the Upper East Side in under such scrutiny when it comes to the rapid spread of the problem.

It seems that Upper East Siders have a large amount of pride. It also seems that those people who probably thought they would and could never acquire such a problem are keeping that problem a secret! There are articles and stories floating around about elite UES residents who have neglected to inform neighbors and buildings that they have an infestation. Undercover exterminators make their rounds as if they are a part of the secret service. Numerous buildings have been known to have an infestation resurface due to lack of complete extermination. The only way to completely eradicate the problem in by exterminating all connecting apartments until no more are found anywhere. Why would anyone want to spend that kind of money to simply have to live in fear that they will have to begin the whole process again?

Some people, like myself, are living in fear and disgust while others are living in secret and denial. We could all just live bed bug free if everyone would be honest and open and we all worked together to eradicate the problem or control it, at worst.

I suppose I should sleep well knowing(or should I say believing) that I do not have to suffer through the tedious extermination of beg bugs. I should take solace in the fact that my family was getting bitten by possibly disease-carrying mosquitoes, and not the blood-sucking creatures that the majority of New Yorkers dread at this point. They say bed bugs carry no diseases, but a citronella candle to repel mosquitoes cowers in comparison to the price of extermination and having to launder everything in the home of 6 people!

I just need to relax and realize that all I can do is be careful and preventative. We all need to keep this in mind and realize that no one is immune to the threat...even here on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

My New Year Resolutions

2010-08-31T22:24:00.004-04:00

New SCHOOL year, that is.

Next week the majority of my children start school. The beginning of the new school year is both a relieving and exciting time for Upper East Side Moms. Most importantly, it represents and means that some sort of order will fall into place. The school year is a foundation for all families in NYC, but is especially important for a working UES mother. Working moms(and Dads)count on school for part or all of their childcare expenses. School beginning is almost like a holiday to some families!

With our new family dynamic comes a new anticipation for this school year. This year we are adding an infant to the craziness of the year. Drop-off, pick-up, homework, dinner, etc. We used to make it all look so easy. I can't say this year will be the same, but I have tried to promise or resolve myself to keeping to a few things that may make all of our lives a lot easier and much more productive.

I promise to be more organized over all. This will be a necessity with having to oversee all of our lives. In doing this, I promise to better keep track of when homework assignments are due and when they need to have packed lunches for field trips! There was nothing worse last year than having to make a lunch 10 minutes before the bus picked the kids up! As you can probably imagine, the less time you have to prepare, the less healthy our choices became! I will also keep a folder on my PC with all the class contacts...another thing I was pretty bad at last year. I looked less capable of being organized than my 8 year old! I will prepare to be organized in all aspects of the children's lives. This year will be different.

I resolve to spend more time encouraging the kids to read and not procrastinate with their schoolwork. Procrastination is something that I have taught them very well, unfortunately. I am not proud. I find that a lot of the time, they are saving things until the very last minute they possibly can. My daughter even made a comment the other day about how good it felt to rush to get something done just in the nick of time! One day that rush will turn to anxiety, so I suppose this is something I should probably attempt to fix while they are young enough to learn it. Wasn't it this time last year that I was blogging about my daughter cramming in her reading the very last days before school started? This year we have already been off to a good start. We have just a bit more to go with a week left before the first day. Hey. Rome wasn't built in a day.

I commit to prioritizing my time with my children. Being a working mom was a bit harder last year than in year's past. My children were so independent that I always took it for granted that they had enough time and attention from me. It wasn't until this maternity leave that I realize how crucial this kind of time is. I was guilty of answering my phone and spending way too much "home time" on work related calls and issues. It wasn't fair to me or to my children. It wasn't completely damaging, but I could see a long run of such behavior not benefiting any of us in the future. This year I will need to delegate such time accordingly.

I swear also to start making better use of my UES resources. One good example....NYC Public Libraries. I started to realize how much money I was spending on books that were filling up my house and I would eventually donate. I went to the library a couple of times last year, but need to start making a regular habit of it. The libraries even have story times and activities for the little ones. All for free! I have been missing out! I also need to make a better habit of returning the books on time. These libraries could run another year on the late fees I earn. Again, I will be more organized this year. I hope.

Last but not least, I vow to get more sleep. Seems silly, but I have also learned in the past couple of months that without a good night's sleep I am not of much worth to anyone, including myself! My days of reality T.V. all hours of the night are just not going to cut it. I will have to get up much earlier in order to get us all ready, and with no sleep I don't stand a chance of making it through the day. I also want to set a good example for the kids. Even the best of us turn into lazy, angry monsters without sufficient rest!

I am ready for the school year. The kids are too. They've all got new shoes, a Silly Band on each wrist, and bookbags are filled to the brim with the "list" items. Every mom knows about Silly Bands and every mom on the UES knows the "list" I am referring to. Having that list complete is an accomplishment in itself! What more could an UES mom or her kids ask for?

Feeling Like a Million Bucks

2010-08-15T20:24:00.007-04:00

A good majority of us Upper East Side moms consider a good manicure and/or pedicure a necessity. Many of us wouldn't be caught dead with rough heels or hangnails. We get ourselves into the habit of going to get them regularly....some of us as regularly as a cup of coffee.

Being an out of work UES mom had taught me, or should I say, reminded me that it is not always about GOING out to be pampered. Sometimes it feels just as good to do it all at home. As I have mentioned in the past couple of posts, having 4 children has not left me with much time for myself. I have found myself waking up in the morning hoping that maybe THAT day I would be able to get around to doing my nails or anything else that I used to do for myself to feel good! I have always been known to do my mani/pedis myself in between the visits to the salon, and I have been known to do them pretty well! I wanted to share a couple of my tips for those of you who may not be able to afford trips as frequently as you would like, or for those of you who just can't squeeze it in!

1. Buy a quality top coat. This is the most important thing. You will need a quick-dry topcoat with a high gloss. Seche Vite is the best one I have ever used. Most pharmacies carry it. It runs about 9 or 10 dollars(the price of 1 manicure in the cheaper places on the UES), but is worth every penny! At that point it doesn't matter what brand of polish you use. This topcoat makes a 99 cent polish look like a fortune! And it lasts through tons of paintings! Basecoat is a bit less important. I use Orly Bonder, but have had a ton of luck with a few others. Bonder is a bit gluey, so I wouldn't recommend it for a slow painter...it tends to dry up fast. HINT: A good bottle of topcoat and basecoat is a really nice gift for a friend that doesn't go to the salon very often.

2. When you get polish onto your skin, DO NOT TRY TO GET IT OFF. How many times have you painted your nails and got a bit on the skin, and when you go to get it off with a Q-Tip dipped in remover, you end up ruining more nails? Simply let everything dry completely. Later in the day you can just wash it off. Better yet, leave it over night. In the morning use a bit of lotion and rub it in. The extras will come right off and look like a pro painted them!

3. Go with seasonal, trendy colors. Brights and lights should be used for the Spring and Summer months. Neutrals and darks for Fall and Winter. A few colors are pretty year-round.....see what works for your skin tone. And ultimately, wear what makes you feel good! That's the point, right? Right now, believe it or not, purples and greens are H.O.T.! This is evident in OPI's new Shrek line, inspired by the movie. They really are beautiful colors but, as I mentioned, you can use the 99 cent version of the colors with the fancy topcoat and get the look for less. P.S....Right now I have this salmon/orange color on that has received MANY compliments!

4. Don't cut your cuticles. You can buy a cuticle remover, but you are better off just using some cream and pushing them back. When they start getting cut, they grow back with a vengeance! I know for sure that I don't have the time to be dealing with that kind of stuff. While I watch TV or wait in lines or read, I always push them back a little.....I have become really good at multitasking and I hate those little pieces of torn skin near my nails. Mommies don't have time for little boo-boos!

5. Don't attempt to squeeze in a mani/pedi during the day when everything else needs to be done or when sleepy. I learned this the other evening when I gave the baby to my husband because I was so desperate to get it done, that I was rushing. I dropped the bottle of color all over my legs and hardwood floor! Then after finally cleaning it up and finishing my nails, I had a baby to feed! I would have been better of waiting till he went to sleep!

6. Wear socks in the house! I got so used to bare feet that I toss my shoes as soon as I walk in the door, but according to the lady in the nail salon, this is why my feet get dry and rough. (That and the fact that they scrub them and scrape them during a pedicure!) Same as the cuticles. Don't scrape or buff heels unless they truly need it. Just moisturize. Buffing is another habit I don't have the time to keep up with!

I guess that's it. My secret to happiness. Just give me a half hour alone and a few bottles of nail polish. And perhaps a cocktail, or a cup of coffee. I don't ask for much. Just don't forget my Seche Vite topcoat and all will be well with the world!

Build-a-Gift

2010-07-31T22:59:00.003-04:00

It took me a while to think about this week's post. Sometimes I have just waaaay too much to talk about and too many recommendations to make. Makes it a little harder to focus. I came across this idea when I was trying to plan out my next couple of weekends and I realized that I had passed this opportunity up a couple of times since the weather has been nice. Add this to the fact that the idea is FREE and we have this week's post!

I am referring to the Kids Workshops offered at Home Depot on 59th and 3rd. Yes, this location is so borderline that many don't consider it "Upper" East Side, but this mommy will consider it my neighborhood as long as they continue to offer this favorite activity of ours! 59th street is our Southern border, right?

Last year, we attended almost every class offered and we made some pretty incredible things, including a firehouse bank, mini wagons, and the ever-popular trivets. Each project comes out really cute, even if your little ones aren't 100 percent capable. The recommendation is for children ages 5-12, but I have brought the 3 year old and he LOVES it! The staff put on to help the kids follow the step-by-step instructions is really attentive and helpful. My children even remember the names of their favorites. The instructions are very easy to follow, and each project includes a little bit if this and a little bit if that. Every session that we have attended included a hammer and nails, which is really exciting for all! A few times, they were able to paint, and other times there were sticker decals to apply, or choosing tiles to glue into place.

The workshops run from 9 to 12am on the first Saturday of every month. I recommend getting there on the earlier side. The projects never seem to take all 3 hours, and you can get in and out before a large crowd comes in. Plus, if there is paint or glue involved, there is a bit of time to let the project dry while you cruise around the store for anything you may need to pick up. I find it a good idea to get cleaning supplies since they tend to have good deals and a WIDE variety. You can always find which project they will be doing on their workshop website too. Go every month or just choose the ones that really intrigue them!

Each child receives a pin of every project they complete that they can put on their kid-sized orange apron that they also receive at the first workshop they attend. That itself is pretty cool. The kids are all wearing aprons that look like they work at The Home Depot!

I find that my own children look forward to this every first Saturday. Being that 3 of them go whenever we attend, we have 3 of every project to bring home. It is a great idea for gifts. I definitely do NOT need more of these projects floating around my place, however I find it really cute to wrap them up come time for the holidays! Aunts, uncles, and grandparents all love their handmade gifts!

Next Saturday, we will be ready. This month's activity is a school bus pencil organizer and the kids are anxious for that! What a cool idea to get them excited to go back to school! Who would have thought that getting up early on a Saturday could be so much (FREE) fun????? We save a few bucks and have a ball. It is such a waste to miss these! Perhaps we will meet many of you there this month?

Crying Over Spilled Milk

2010-07-16T21:14:00.004-04:00

Today marks 3 weeks since my youngest was born. Three weeks ago today, I was in the hospital resting peacefully with only my newborn and myself. Someone brought me a pitcher of water when I was thirsty. Nurses from the nursery would double check if the baby needed a diaper change. A tray of food was brought to me 3 times a day. If I needed to take a shower, I could drop the baby off to a room full of more-than-capable people to care for him while I refreshed myself. I knew going home would not be as smooth and easy as these few days, but I had no idea how hard or trying or beautifully exhausting it would really be.

Number 4 is an easy baby. He is very calm and content and easy going. He started out only crying when he was hungry. He began to sleep in longer spurts throughout the night. I was in heaven! Sleeping large chunks through the night gave me the energy and endurance I needed to not take naps during the day. That meant I was able to still spend time with the older 3 throughout the day. I was able to get their meals together, take them out to play, and keep my house in some kind of order. That was all short-lived!

At home, I haven't gotten to take showers or naps or eat meals or drink water when I need to. I do all of that when I can. I recruit my poor husband who works all night to simply burp the little man so I can have a break! My daughter seems to be always on an errand of some sorts for me and the baby. The other two boys are my water boys and diaper boys. (NOTE: Breastfeeding makes you more thirsty than running 10 miles through this heatwave!) They get me glasses of water whenever I want and take diapers to the garbage. Everyone helps, since it is hard to keep up! Too bad none of them can sleep or use the restroom or shower FOR me. THAT would be ideal!

They say around 3 weeks, infants have a growth spurt and tend to eat a bit more during that time. Well, guess what? Feeding seems to be my life right now! That, and all the other normal things that arise with having 4 children, and I am at my wit's end a couple of times throughout the day!

Let's take today, for example. I woke up to an 8 year old with a productive cough that seemed to come out of nowhere. (Keep in mind there was no 5 and a half hour chunk of sleep last night). Upon investigating his throat, I panicked when it was swollen and he then complained of a sore throat. Just what I need....a sick child home with a newborn! I immediately called the doctor who fit us in for a strep test. As luck would have it, I had an hour to get 5 of us ready and get to the doctor. I did it, but it wasn't easy.

Turns out, it wasn't strep throat. Just a virus. Viral bronchitis. Doc said rest and fluids and he should get better. Wonderful! No strep! Just a virus that any of us could catch...even the baby! On the way out of the doctor's office in the 95 degree heat, we rushed towards the car only to find that a traffic cop had waited out my meter and given us a ticket! The minute my meter was run out was the same minute I was walking up the block towards the car with 3 kids and a baby in a baby carrier! What luck! And that was just today!

Every day since the day I left the hospital, I have had both a woman tell me how great I look and a child inquire as to why my belly is still big! Most days and times I know better, but once in a while I actually hold onto that child comment and worry about it. I even found myself sideways in a mirror disappointed that I didn't have a flat belly after only 3 weeks. I suppose it is safe to blame it on the hormones! Why not? My husband does! But he also blames it on hormones when I complain that he forgot to take out a bag of garbage. Apparently it wasn't the stench of baby diapers, but the hormones I was really angry about! (Wink)

Since this new period of rapid feeding, I just can't seem to catch up. My house will forgive me. My family will forgive me. My friends will forgive me. Eventually. I know a time of calm will come....many many years from now. For now I will have to forgive MYSELF for the tears that rolled down my cheek when, after a sleepless night, my boys manage to "drop" a bowl of cereal all over the floor and wall. Yes. I cried over spilled milk. I cry now over pretty much everything, but only for a moment. And then, at night when everyone is asleep and my world is temporarily calm, I cry tears of joy and thankfulness that I am blessed enough to be living this wonderfully crazy life.

Ah....the joys of being an Upper East Side mother of FOUR.

Barking Dog

2010-06-30T18:40:00.008-04:00

For weeks and months now I heard, and gladly accepted, numerous comments about how well I "carry". People kept me feeling good about myself, even when my ankles alone made my own stomach turn. I relished in the ideal that although I didn't have the energy to spend on primping myself, that somehow I pulled pregnancy off pretty well. I can proudly say now that I no longer have the "belly" to hide behind. Well, technically there is still a belly, just no bun in it anymore! Just 5 short days ago, my family welcomed our fourth child into the world!

On Sunday, we brought all 7 pounds, 8 ounces of him home. The kids are in love. We are in love. I am in love and in need of some good sleep! Everything had been considerably smooth. The kids were well aware that the first few weeks would be pretty hectic with the baby and a little slower paced for them. They have adjusted well so far, and have plans to spend an exciting weekend with my mom in the country this weekend. In the meantime, there is no lack of adventure or chaos in my household!

Plans for new furniture on Friday were foiled by my delivery. Monday we found ourselves having everything finally delivered and my husband assembling till all hours of the night...the very HOT night. Poor guy.

Tuesday we found ourselves bringing our tiny new addition to the doctor for a blood test since he seems to be a little bit jaundiced. Completely normal for a guy of his age. In fact, all of my children had a touch of it. Not the easiest thing to adjust to getting all of the kids ready, or even half of them, for such a trip. Doctor is on the UES, but the shear effort of getting just myself and the baby ready is tiring! Add the 91 degree weather in and you have a recipe for disaster. We made out ok though. Turns out we have to go back again Thursday for a retest and follow-up. I should be a pro by then. Remember, we still do not have a nanny!

Having to go back out Thursday gives me a reason to HAVE to get up and ready much earlier than I have been in the past few days. I also will take advantage of being out! My plans will include a breakfast at one of my favorite spots....Barking Dog Luncheonette. The doctor and I agree that the baby is too young to be in a closed space with too many people and germs, but I intend to eat out on their deck which wraps around the restaurant.

They recently redid the outer portion of the place and spared no expense with the deck. It is beautifully redone and they have a ton of seating outside. The inside is nice too, but I love being out in the air and enjoying a nice day and a nice meal at the same time. The breakfasts are really reasonably priced too. They have a country breakfast special for 6 bucks! Comes with eggs your way, a meat, a side of hash browns and this really delicious rosemary biscuit that they make. Can't beat the price or the portions! They run this special on weekdays which I love because on the weekends, you have a bit of trouble finding a seat anyway. Weekday mornings there are the way to go.

Even if you aren't in the mood for the country breakfast, they have a handful of other options. I really enjoy their pancakes too. They also have some much healthier options which honestly I have not tried yet since I love the country breakfast so much! NOTE: I usually get the sausage with my meal and it is pretty exceptional as far as sausage links go.

Another thing this place has going for it is that they are dog friendly. They have a doggy water bin out front that, if empty, you can fill again for your pup. On any given day you will see a 4 legged friend and their owners enjoying a meal out on the deck. Nice place when you have animal loving kids!

So I am looking forward to my morning. Looking forward to getting medical clearance for my tiny, temporarily yellow, little man. Then I will look forward to our beautiful breakfast on a beautiful day at a beautiful price!