for the Amazing Race! This is a game my husband (and some of our friends) like to play. It is based on the idea that most married or dating couples on CBS's show The Amazing Race tend to look as though counseling, if not outright divorce, is in their near future. I am not sure … Continue reading Best Mom Tip #117: Choose your partner..

I have always loved school. I was good at it as a student and it gave me somewhere to go. I was drawn to it (although somewhat against my will) as an adult. I like the rhythm of holidays and summers and the cadence of final exams. This may be why I was driven about … Continue reading Best Mom Tip #116: Be thankful for the public school system

If I am honest, I have to admit that I do not own an actual HazMat suit. What I do have are my husband's candy-cane-print pajama bottoms and a maternity tank top covered in goo. I have been pooped on 3 times today. I was barfed on once. It is easier to point out the … Continue reading Best Mom Tip #115: Invest in a HazMat suit

I have mentioned, once or twice, that I cannot currently wear a lot of my clothes. This is primarily because of the 55 pound swing in my weight over the last year during my third pregnancy. Regardless of the reason, the result is that I have one pair of jeans that I wear pretty much … Continue reading Best Mom Tip #114: Buy multiples of your jeans

I can not do this all by myself. I can NOT do this all by myself. No matter how hard I try, I can not be or do all I expect without ever failing. Week before last I failed my daughter and I can't let it go. For about 10 minutes she was alone and … Continue reading Best Mom Tip #113: Repeat after me

Schmaltzy, I know. But my very dear friend Cheryl lost her father in an accident this week and every day since then I've over-hugged my children. I know that it is over-hugging because they keep trying to squirm away. I know that life is precious. I know it can change in an instant. Even so … Continue reading Best Mom Tip #112: Hug your kids again and again and again and ….

I hosted a baby shower over the weekend and since it was at 10:00am I had to actually dust the house. When I have parties later in the day I just assume that there won't be enough light for people to see all the dirt. But this one was when the sun shines on the … Continue reading Best Mom Tip #111: Buy an duster extension pole

I realize that if you don't have a baby, this is the kind of advice that might precede your meeting a policeman. But I do have a baby and he really loves it when I kiss his fingers. He giggles and coos and sometimes laughs out loud. His sweet little eyes look into mine and … Continue reading Best Mom Tip #110: Kiss a baby’s fingers

I am stealing my children's Halloween candy. I know that it is expected, but it is not helping with my problem of not being able to wear any pants without elastic in them. Also, the children seem to notice that stuff is missing.Charlotte separated out a very large pile that she said we could have, … Continue reading Best Mom Tip #109: Step away from the candy

I don't usually list recipes, largely because I am a dismal cook. But I make some decent pork chops so I thought I'd share. This is really easy and can be made with just about anything you have.Ingredients:2T butter4-5 boneless pork chops1/2 sweet onion (like Vidalia)2 cups chopped fruit (pears, peaches, apples, blueberries, grapes or … Continue reading Best Mom Tip #108: Make pork chops for the whole family