2011 - Page 2 of 14 - Forever In Mom Genes

Leapfrog Fun

Nov 27 2011

Working at home requires a delicate balance of hands-on parenting and skillful neglect. My number one job is to nurture my off-spring. However sometimes mama has a deadline so I’m always on the look out for the game or book or activity that will buy me a few moments of peace, sans mom-guilt. You know, the guilt attached to plunking your child in front of the Boob Tube in order to respond to a few emails. My son will happily play Brain Buster games on my iphone while I grocery shop or run errands. I thought maybe this could work for my daughter. I Googled “Best educational games for toddlers” and downloaded a few apps that looked developmentaly appropriate and engaging. This was genius. Avery could practice cognitive skills, while I worked. This brilliant plan went belly up in about five minutes. I didn’t factor in the fine motor skills required to manipulate the buttons on my iphone. Drat. Then I heard about the Leap Pad. Same idea – kid friendly brain boosting games, but designed for little fingers. I promptly put this on our Christmas wishlist. In the mean time, after hearing my plight, Leapfrog sent me two popular[…]

Nov 23 2011

I’m a social creature. I like to be near people at all times. If my husband is late coming home from work, I’ve been known to press my face up against the window, willing him home, like some lonely housebound cat. I don’t mind being alone. In fact, I revel in it some times. I just much prefer the company of other warm blooded mammals of the human variety. The past few days, I’ve been trapped at home with the flu. My children are good company, but after a while their social graces and conversational skills wane. So my brief excursion out this evening was welcomed. I was finally out among my peeps! So what if my big outing was merely to the grocery store? I went with it. I chatted with the produce guy. Our conversation may have only consisted of, “Excuse me, where are the mushrooms?” but it was a start. The dude in the meat department wasn’t very chatty. I tried to engage him in a convo about ground turkey versus ground chicken, but he didn’t seem that into it. Finally at the checkout (and here’s a glimpse of how loopy I become when I’m caged in[…]

Nov 22 2011

I’m sick of getting sick. It’s sickening. If I had an attack dog, I’d sick him on sickness. There have been so many germs and unwelcome viruses around here lately, it’s surprising we’re not living on a street lined with Sycamore trees. Sick-a-more. My Movember plan to be Sick-a-less hasn’t been going so well. Pink eye, strep throat, allergies, coughs, colds and now…the dreaded flu. I used to be able to fend off these germy buggars with both eyes tied behind my back. I know that’s not a real quote but I don’t care. It makes me laugh and we flu sufferers need all the humour we can find because one look in the mirror and it’s all tears and disgust. I look hideous. But now, I seem to fall prey to every bug that blows my way. My son caught something at school last week. Being the strapping young lad he is, he fought it off valiantly. Avery caught it next. She didn’t fare as well and was a sick little girl for several days. Then, I caught it. The chills, the shakes and fever, the sore throat and all over body ache–the flu is a[…]

Nov 18 2011

As weird as it is to have a perfect stranger rub and squeeze me, it’s completely worth the mild awkwardness. Here’s the low down on getting a rub down: 1. Eat before. Not so much that you’re a bloated whale, but enough to spare you the worry about your tummy grumbling during your massage. A rumbly stomach is a natural thing, but for some reason I find it embarrassing and anticipating my stomach making sounds on the table stresses me out. 2. Drink water before and after your massage – something to do with helping flush out toxins or something. 3. On that note, pee right before your massage. Parts of your body will be pushed on, so it’s a good idea to go in “on empty.” 4. Be advised that the massage therapist will tuck the top sheet into the wasitband of your underwear. Unless you’re comfortable showing off your butt, you might want to trade in the thong for full-coverage briefs on massage day. 5. Couples massages are romantic in theory. However, if your partner is a Chatty Cathy (Yes, I’m looking at YOU honey) and serenity is what you’re after, book separate rooms. 6. Set the mood[…]

Nov 10 2011

So far Movember is going well…for my husband. His stache is filling in rather nicely, if you like the porn star look. As I sit here, wiping the sleep from my eyes, blowing my nose, and feeling an all over sense of ick, I can’t say my Movember has started off with a bang. My commitment, though made in earnest, is hobbling pathetically along, stopping frequently to pull up socks and catch its breath. All hope of a healthy “No-phelgm-ber” have been dashed. My son, covered in a thin film of Vicks VapoRub and cold sweat, crawled into bed with me last night. He coughed and thrashed around and coughed some more. I got about eleven minutes of sleep. I know this is a blip. We’ll rid this house of these vile germs and start fresh on Monday. I can’t give up on this, on me. I matter to people. Specifically, the little people who live in my house and the guy with the porno stache. I made a commitment to get healthy and fit, a “commfitment” if you will. I know, I know, what’s with the lame, clearly made up terms? I can’t help[…]

Archive - 2011

Leapfrog Fun

Tired Of Loafing Around

Sick of It

A Message (read in french accent) About Massage

My Funny Head … Funny Weird, Not Funny Ha Ha