"I'm going to keep these dinosaurs. Just because they're the ones from Nan, so they're special to me." My 11-year-old son, Newt, is going through a box of toys, figuring out which ones to give away. When he says this. I actually feel my entire body relax. My mother died five years ago on July [...]
What I Do All Day. Really.
February 7, 2014 – Posted in: Blogging Betties Podcast, Cleaning, Elfie, Family, First World Problems, Forgetting, Mouths of Babes, Okay That's Funny, Parenting, Tammy Thinks, TimeI was cleaning up the kitchen the other night, and as I cursed my husband under my breath because he'd messed up the stove again, I stopped short, realizing what a jerk I was since he'd actually taken the time to cook. Whereas cooking for me looks a lot like melting cheese on tortillas and [...]
5 Things That Have Changed Since You Watched Grease
January 28, 2014 – Posted in: Beauty, Bullying, Elfie, Getting Older, Growing Up, Mean People, Mouths of Babes, Movies, Nevada, Okay That's Funny, Parenting, Things To Do with Kids, Unsolicited Advice, Women's IssuesThe other night, we all sat down and watched Grease. As far as my husband, Tenzin, is concerned, it’d be embarrassing to become a full-grown U.S. American without being able to sing along to "Summer Lovin'" and "You're the One That I Want" (and no, it's his brother who's gay...) Anyway, it became pretty clear [...]
The Tree Doesn’t Fall Far from the Apple
September 25, 2013 – Posted in: Bullying, Conservatives are Funny, Elfie, Family, Growing Up, Kid Friends, Mean People, Mouths of Babes, Newt, Parenting, Women's IssuesSo I'm happy to report that the kids not only survived camp but had a fabulous time. Apparently the first night was a little touch-and-go: Newt wanted to come home very badly, and Elfie got stung by a bee. But they sucked it up, and the memorable stories have been trickling out of them since [...]
The Mystery of Letting Go
September 18, 2013 – Posted in: Bright Side of Life, Elfie, Family, Growing Up, Kid Friends, Life is a Mystery, Mouths of Babes, Newt, Parenting, School"I just really don't want to go. I'm going to miss you guys too much." My 10-year-old son is lying in his bed. I'm snuggled next to him, stroking his head. He finds a hole between my body and the mattress so he can get both arms around me. It's like he's holding on for [...]
Comic Relief: F-ing Shut Up
August 9, 2013 – Posted in: Illustrated by Me, Kid Friends, Mouths of Babes, Okay That's Funny, Worst Mom MomentsSo the kids, Newt and Elfie, are at a little camp this week, and today they came home with a story for which words could not do justice. I've been messing around with an app called Paper by Fifty Three on the iPad (I'm sure all of you cool people already know all about it -- I'm just [...]
The Bachelorette — Helping Me Teach My Daughter the REAL Facts of Life
August 7, 2013 – Posted in: Elfie, Growing Up, Mawage, Media, Mouths of Babes, Parenting, Personal Insanity, TV, Unsolicited Advice, Worst Mom Randomness"What are you watching?" My 9-year-old daughter has just caught me watching The Bachelorette. Normally this is an activity I'd reserve for after the kids have gone to bed, but it's summer, and "after they've gone to bed" is practically when I go to bed. "It's called The Bachelorette. It's a horrible, horrible show where [...]
Ten Things a Kid Should Never Say at the End of July
July 29, 2013 – Posted in: Mouths of Babes, Okay That's Funny, Parenting, The Kids are Killing Me, Vacation, Worst Mom Randomness1. I'm getting kinda sick of macaroni and cheese. 2. You know, you were right. We should've signed up for camp. 3. None of my swimsuits fit. 4. Why's Dad googling "deep woods backpacking"? 5. None of my sandals fit. 6. I can see all the veins in your legs... 7. I think I was suppose [...]
If They Could Just Stay Little — How to Make a Memory
July 27, 2013 – Posted in: Elfie, Getting Older, Growing Up, Mouths of Babes, Parenting, Personal Insanity, Sappy Tammy, Worst Mom Moments"I'm having that feeling again." My 9-year-old daughter has her arms wrapped around my waist. One cheek is pressed against my stomach. I've just spent the last hour reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire to her and her brother, and now I'm trying to extricate myself from the area. She's gotten out of bed [...]
Baseball Makes Me Want to Fall Asleep in My Cracker Jacks. But I Still Go Anyway.
July 23, 2013 – Posted in: Bright Side of Life, Elfie, Family, Mouths of Babes, Personal Insanity, Sports, Things To Do with Kids, This Is Supposed to be Fun, Worst Mom RandomnessThe other night, we went to a baseball game. Reno has a Triple-A team called the "Aces" (original, right?), and my friend gave us some really good tickets. One of these days, my kids will go to a game where they have to sit where "normal" people sit. So far, every game they've attended has [...]
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