Discipline & My Children, Part 1

I was fortunate to meet the wonderful and gracious Heidi Murkoff, author of the very well-known "What to Expect When Expecting" series of books.  I just happen to be working the booth for Miralax at the AAP show (American Academy of Pediatrics) in May 2011.  I got my lunch break and decided to shop the floor and see what vendors might be worth visiting.  I saw this teeny-tiny little woman, a lovely site who seemed very interesting to me-she had a entourage; I guess I was needing this woman's advice and she was willing to give it. 

Keep in mind, I do not know who this woman is but that she authored a book of some sort.  I just walked right up to her without any reservation and began to pour out my heart about the current state of my parenting: my year and a half year old twins were hitting, biting, and we'll you name it, they were doing it.  It appalled some of the other parents in the Mommy and Me classes I was involved in back in New York but don't worry I did the right thing, I quickly removed them from the situation and disciplined them later. 

On with the cool Heidi story: when she heard my plight she asked me for a hug and told me it would be alright (and to go to page 167-168 in her new book she was autographing).  No seriously, she told me it could be a call for attention (twins are famous for this), or sensory overload, and just a normal phase of their development.

I was somewhat relieved and then my consciousness kicked in and I was reminded that there were several fans behind me waiting for an autograph.  I quickly moved aside and thanked her for the wisdom and hoped that their behavior would simply STOP.  BTW-I was floored that I received a free copy of her book "What to Expect The Second Year." (grateful)

Eventually the behavior did wane and now it's just an occasional bump or "love hit".   I can relate to that feeling, Patrick and I are like that when it counts the most.  Thanks Heidi for caring more and for sharing your generous wisdom with all of us.  Your book is on the kitchen table for quick reference!!

Review of "One Day" with Anne Hathaway

Has anyone seen this film?  It begins on July 15th (my birthday no less) and revisits that date with the two central characters in the piece, portrayed by Anne Hathaway who gets more gorgeous by the minute and Jim Sturgess, of whom I've never heard.

I convinced my husband to watch this film one uneventful weekday evening and to my surprise I was blown away by the ending (this does not happen often in movies).  My time is limited between my husband, my children, and my dogs, so when I watch a film it needs to be GOOD.  I've never been so inundated with this chase of a love-story in my life, as I was here.

To the actors involved in this film, you deserve an OSCAR just for starring in it.  Your acting was deserving and heart-felt.  What a love-story.  The hook, my birthday.

My 39th birthday at the Vineyards of Hudson Valley

If you haven't seen any of my blogs it's probably because the whole month of July I take off to explore, shop, and visit NYC as much as I can in the summer, partly because it's SUMMER and that's for obvious reasons and ALSO because my birthday falls right in the middle of the month.

I disappear and then I come back.  Sorry I've been out of the loop of things.  Their will be shops to report on, dishes I've created and tried on the grill and decadent surprises that I could not resist.  The New York Hudson Valley area has been good to me. 

Here I am at Palalia Vineyards in Highland Mills, NY.  I always have my closest camp take photos of me like this because I have to show I was there but more important that my children have something more of me-my memories-the happy ones.  It was a great time.

Here is also one of my big purchases from one of my adventures: Wedgwood china in their brown/white pattern.  All I know is that this patina attracts me and I think my Mom gets confused when I approach these pieces.  She grew up with it so she no longer wants the vintage look, the old; she just passed on the love-now it's my turn to appreciate it! I thank her for my birth, for my prize at the Cukoo's Nest and MORE!  I love you Mom!

Summertime Crafts

SUMMERTIME CRAFTS

Summertime is the time to get crazy with CRAFTS and your kids.  If you can't get outside and get messy......but you have a garage...........we'll put it to use instead of parking the cars in it (a novel concept I know).  So it's okay, let your kids go WILD with paint, food coloring and ice cube trays or any other art projects that are collecting dust in their playroom!  It's okay it cleans up with a hose.

My favorite project that is almost as easy as 1-2-3 is painting an old coffee table with chalkboard paint and letting the kids use it as a craft table.  Mine is the perfect height and my girls love using chalk (or crayons, don't worry this washes off too) and finger paint to explore with their hands.  Take an old poster piece of paper (24 x 36) that's in your basement, you know the one with the film JAWS on the front that you can no longer post in your movie room (yeah that one).  We'll turn that movie poster over and you have the perfect canvas for ART!  When my children were finished, I looked at the work of art they created and realized what a beautiful memory I created with them and in Daddy's playroom.  How funny and what a moment too!  They were so proud of themselves and I was too.