Boys Don’t Make Passes at Girls Who Wear Glasses

My Dad used to say the rhyme above, probably hoping that his oldest daughter would not become a trollop, and that I’d always wear big coke-bottle glasses.

Photobucket

Sorry, Daddy, I got contacts at 16.

Earlier this week, I took Belly to the eye doctor. She had been complaining that the letters in books were hard to see. Turns out, she does have a slight farsightedness issue and could use reading glasses. So, I took her down to the neighborhood store to pick out some frames.

Before we left, I talked to her about her friends who wore glasses. I even showed her the girl I think of when I think “coolest little glasses wearer”.

That was it. She wanted glasses, and she wanted them now.

The frames she picked were way cooler than anything I ever wore as a child. And, they are pink, natch. Silly things cost as much as my glasses, and I have a sinking feeling she will misplace them in a month. I almost wish she needed them all the time because at least they’d be more likely to be on her face than “oh, where did I leave them”?

But, now maybe, just maybe, reading won’t be such a chore for her. Even if the effect is minimal and the letters’ clarity is more in her imagination, I’m hopeful this will be the trick.

But, Daddy, she quite possibly may look even cuter in glasses, so we could have trouble.

Photobucket

Who’s In Your Village?


I am, technically, a stay-at-home mom (save for my cherished gig here, and the whole homeschooling side job).

By definition, this means I should be raising my children, cleaning, cooking, and. . .what else? Am I supposed to scrapbook? OK, I draw the line at scrapbooking.

The other day, a neighbor was walking by our house with her kids, and my children lured them into our driveway to play. Soon, I had two of her kids riding scooters and bikes with my three. Her last child, a newborn, snoozed happily in the stroller.

At one point, one of her children needed to use the bathroom, so she came into my house with me as I showed the way.

“Wow”, she breathed looking around, “your house is tidy”.

I looked at this other mom, tired from having two toddlers and a newborn, and debated whether to keep my mouth shut or to tell the truth.

I confessed. “The cleaning people were here this morning“.

This was a big step since I feel like admitting I pay other people to clean my house is kind of akin to saying I have a personal chef or live-in nanny (for the record, I don’t have either of those, but wouldn’t begrudge anyone of them). I know I’m a stay-at-home mom, and accept that responsibility, but, who says I can’t outsource?

This all reminds me of that “it takes a village” saying. I need a village.

I need my mom who comes over to help out whenever I call. I need my sister and friends who are happy to have my kids over for a playdate. I need my neighbor who always has an extra egg or cup of sugar; she also has the incredible daughter who babysits my kids so Fairly Odd Father and I can go out to a movie. I need the television that entertains the children when I’m out of ideas and energy. I need the internet, oh, yes, I need that.

And, I need those three smiling women who show up at my front door on Thursday mornings, ready to tackle the jobs I hate, freeing me up to do things I enjoy a lot more. Like what? Well, let’s just say that I won’t be employing a personal chef or live-in nanny anytime soon. I’ve got those jobs covered.

Let’s Have a Toast


In ye olde blogasphere, there is a baby shower of sorts being thrown for two fantabulous bloggers—Kristen of Motherhood Uncensored and Rebecca of Girl’s Gone Child.

Kristen has done what I did and decided to surprise herself with three children born within a few short years of each other. However, she’s also doing it while running a not-sominimedia empire from her home.

Rebecca is having #2 at an age when I was barely capable of having a meaningful relationship last more than a month. Oh, and she’s written a great book and regularly contributes here too.

So, my hats are off to you two. If you can handle all that, another baby will be a snap.

(Rest assured, it does get easier with time. And, no longer having those new-mom jitters is a good thing, for you and your little munchkins).