Silicon Valley Moms Blog

Crushed by Parental Paperwork

.... cross posted from our sister site, Chicago Moms Blog.

Of the myriad skills necessary for effective parenting, I would have thought that years of working through school and in offices would have prepared me well to handle the paperwork. Wrong. 

Four kids, four schools, six doctors, two dentists, several teams, too many extracurricular activities and one dog add up to a lot of paperwork. That doesn't even take into account my own personal papers. No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to stay on top of the never-ending influx of health forms, permission slips, report cards, sign-up sheets, camp forms, registrations, family histories, and emergency contact sheets. And those are just the forms I have to complete and return. 

Then there are the read-only materials, the read-and-file materials, the read-and-act-upon materials and the what-in-the-hell-am-I-supposed-to-do-with-this materials. You've got your newsletters, your flyers, your invitations, your reminder sheets and your save-the-dates. And don't forget or misplace the calendars and class lists and team rosters and schedules. Clearly, the promise of a paperless society is nothing but cruel joke.

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING ON CHICAGO MOMS BLOG.........

.... cross posted from our sister site, Chicago Moms Blog.

Of the myriad skills necessary for effective parenting, I would have thought that years of working through school and in offices would have prepared me well to handle the paperwork. Wrong. 

Four kids, four schools, six doctors, two dentists, several teams, too many extracurricular activities and one dog add up to a lot of paperwork. That doesn't even take into account my own personal papers. No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to stay on top of the never-ending influx of health forms, permission slips, report cards, sign-up sheets, camp forms, registrations, family histories, and emergency contact sheets. And those are just the forms I have to complete and return. 

Then there are the read-only materials, the read-and-file materials, the read-and-act-upon materials and the what-in-the-hell-am-I-supposed-to-do-with-this materials. You've got your newsletters, your flyers, your invitations, your reminder sheets and your save-the-dates. And don't forget or misplace the calendars and class lists and team rosters and schedules. Clearly, the promise of a paperless society is nothing but cruel joke.

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING ON CHICAGO MOMS BLOG.........

Grant Park 2008: I was there!

Chicago Moms Blog contributor, Alma, was at Chicago's Grant Park on Tuesday evening, listening to President Elect, Barack Obama give his acceptance speech.  Here is her passionate post about this once in a life time experience on such a memorable night.   CLICK HERE to view Grant Park 2008, I was THERE!

When Mother Nature Grounds Us

... cross posted from our sister site, Chicago Moms Blog.

Like most people we were astonished to hear tornado sirens (for the first time) Monday. Michelle, our neighbor who watched the house, stopped by to catch up and our mouths dropped when we heard the deep trumpeting sound. Uh, I guess we'll head to the basement now. We agreed to text when we got there with the kids.

As soon as we reached the last step we understood that the sound of rushing water wasn't just outside, it was in the basement! The soaked walls sprung leaks like fountains as Andy and I scooted all the goodies for my yard sale to dry areas. Meanwhile the kids used our emergency flashlights to create a strobe light effect in the dark dungeon. This gives new meaning to Panic at the Disco!

Leave it to my little one to add a little light hearted humor to the situation. As we all tried to avoid the newly forming rivers beneath our feet, Chaz just navigated back and forth with the blue cooler calmly. When Jack asked him what he was doing, he simply replied "I just came back from the harbor." What? The courses of pure laughter settled our nerves and put things into perspective. Despite the flurry of activity, we were all safe and stuff is just stuff, right?

Click HERE to continue reading at Chicago Moms Blog.

Expecting

... cross posted from our sister site, Chicago Moms Blog.
I am a girl with expectations. I always have been. Expectations of both myself and of those around me. I expect myself to perform at certain levels. I expect to complete things that I set my mind to. I expect to not let people down and to live up to the things they assume will be true of me. Exhausting at times, but just how I am wired.

Well, here I sit. Three weeks away from my newest son being born. And I am once again full of thoughts and tasks that need addressing. I am nesting, I am reflecting and processing... I am expecting.

Click HERE to continue reading at Chicago Moms Blog.

Divorce Happens, Kindness is on Purpose.

... cross posted from our sister site, Chicago Moms Blog.

With examples like A-Rod and Christie Brinkley, columns about celebrity divorces are kept full of plenty of dish. Salacious details captivate millions, and speculation is practically a national pastime.

But the reality of divorce is agonizing and personal.

Four years ago, my partner and I were facing a breakup. The reasons aren't important, except to note that neither of us wanted to give up on our relationship - the circumstances just kept throwing us against the rocks until we were battered, bruised, and resigned.

Click HERE to continue reading at Chicago Moms Blog.

I Just Realized How Complicated This Whole Motherhood Thing Is

... cross posted from our sister site, Chicago Moms Blog.

Yesterday my good friend and colleague announced her pregnancy at work. There's something about a pregnant woman that draws out every mother's stories of her own experiences. I spent yesterday hearing pregnancy and breastfeeding stories dating from the 1970s to the present.

As for me personally, I was a huge ball of nerves my entire pregnancy. I got the positive pregnancy test on a Friday, and I spent the following weekend sobbing. Even though the pregnancy was completely planned, I just couldn't accept the major changes that were about to happen in my life. I worried how motherhood would affect my marriage, my career, my friendships, and just my life in general.

Click HERE to continue reading at Chicago Moms Blog.

The "S" Word

....cross posted from our sister site, Chicago Moms Blog.

Can we talk about the "S" word?  No, not that "s" word.  And not that one either.  I'm talking about the much more controversial and dirty one - Spanking.

Before I had kids, I didn't have strong feelings either for or against spanking.  I was spanked growing up, and I've seen both how to do it well and how to do it badly.  In considering spanking for my own theoretical kids, I wasn't committed either way.  I figured I'd need to see who my kids were, what their unique needs were, why and how and when they acted out, how they responded to more mild discipline.  Not to mention who I would be as a mom. 

Well, I've got a two year old who has been disobeying every chance he's had since he first started to crawl.  It's not just theoretical anymore. 

Click HERE to continue reading on Chicago Moms Blog.....

Will Wii actually get Fit?

....cross posted from our sister site, Chicago Moms Blog.

Caption: Me in a sari and a friend at an event, two years ago (pre-baby). You can't tell from the photo, but the back definitely bares quite a bit of stomach flesh.

A few days ago my mother called, stressed out that I wouldn't lose the thirty extra pounds of pregnancy weight in time for my little sister's wedding this October. I'm a matron of honor, you see, which means I'll be in the wedding photos, wearing a sari. A sari is lovely and elegant, especially if you are tall and slim. But it is not a forgiving piece of clothing. It actually bares your stomach!!! At a formal event!!! For photos!!! My mom suggested that maybe if I couldn't get up off my ass and exercise myself, it might be time to hire a personal trainer. (My mom would never actually use the word 'ass,' but you get the gist.) For four months, once a week, that'd be about $250/month, or $1000. The family might even spring for it out of the wedding budget if necessary.

Okay, so that was embarrassing. I don't think I could stand to tell my little sister that she can't have flowers at her wedding because her big sister just couldn't seem to get her ass in gear. So a renewed commitment to exercise. I'm still very conflicted on the whole dieting idea, but a regular amount of daily exercise and a more active lifestyle is pretty clearly a greater good. Even if I don't lose.....

Click Here to continue reading on Chicago Moms Blog....

Missing You

....cross posted from our sister site, Chicago Moms Blog.

They would sit around the table, in tan pants and button-downs. And they would tell me about the plan. And argue about the plan. And I would sit, serenely. Listening. Bending, when need be. And ultimately, nodding. Saying "Yes, this is what we will do. It will be done. You will do your part." And they would, ultimately, nod and say "Yes. Despite all my arguments, despite my enthusiasm one way or another, I agree."

Then we would shuffle in a bundle out the door. Chit chat and empty coffee cups. Maybe head on down to the bar for a drink or over to that Chinese place. I would tug my Citibank card from my wallet, the one with no limit, to pay.

Or sometimes a vendor would, waggling his fingers at me to say he had the tab. No worries.

At the front door, home, I would kick off my heels. One, then the other. Never pantyhose or nylons. I would drop my laptop bag with a soft thud. Scoop my hair up into a scrunchie.

Click HERE to continue reading this post on Chicago Moms Blog.....

Whoopi Challenges Denise Richards

...cross posted from our sister site, Chicago Moms Blog.

Did anyone see The View this week?

Sparks crackled between host Whoopi Goldberg and actress Denise Richards, who was there to promote her new E! reality show.

Allegedly, Richards and her cherubs will be featured on the show.  Her daughters are two and four years old.  Their father is Charlie Sheen.  Some feel her decision to include her kids on-camera is exploitative.  Whoopi questioned Ms. Richards' judgment.

Bristling, Ms. Richards countered that several family reality shows already exist, such as TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus Eight," and "Keeping Up with the Kardashians."

Click Here to continue reading this post on Chicago Moms Blog.....