babble » blogs » Strollerderby
Strollerderby
Wine makes everything better, whether hosting or just showing up.
With Thanksgiving just three weeks away, most parents have already made their dinner plans. Many moms I know are attending family functions, and others are hosting.
Some of my friends declare they will never host and are fully content with making their one special holiday dish or dessert to bring to the party and then go home when they choose. They would never host a holiday, they say.
Then there are others who typically host. Continue reading »
Hmm. Frosty the Snowman. What about that one?
So one of my boys comes up to me yesterday as I’m taking down the tree, (That’s right…it’s already down. We tend to get on stuff like that.) and he’s got this big frown on his face. “It’s sad when Christmas is over,” he announced in a defeated little voice. No argument there. I get a melancholy feeling every single year on December 26. In fact, I was in the throws of it the very moment Jack made his poignant observation.
There are countless thoughts and actions that go behind Christmas. So much energy lovingly poured into it. Then BOOM. It’s over. Just like that. Gone. That’s why we get the tree down so soon. Christmas is over, and the tree is just a painful reminder of that fact. So out it must go. Same thing with all the decorations.
But what about the music? Must it go? Or is it okay to play Christmas music this week?
Labor Day is one of America’s oldest holidays, having been celebrated longer than Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, according to The New York Times. Those of you who enjoyed the day off today should thank the American Federation of Labor, who in 1884 claimed the first Monday in September as a day to honor those “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.” That lovely quote comes from Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and co-founder of the AFL.
As the Times editorial notes, “There is not so much delving and carving these days, and nature doesn’t seem quite as rude as it once did. Labor Day has expanded well beyond the realms of organized labor, and what was once a “workingmen’s” holiday is now a respite for nearly everyone with a Monday job.” Parents, of course, often have two jobs – one outside the home, and what can seem like a million unending tasks inside the home. And while Mother’s Day and Father’s Day can be nice, promising Mom breakfast in bed prepared by the kids or a day out on the golf course for Dad, Labor Day is “a holiday that needs no preparation, which is a true holiday indeed.”
Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, and many families enjoy their last outdoor adventures over the long weekend, or attend their State Fair. I took my daughter to The Great New York State Fair yesterday and had the time of my life. We watched an amazing high-dive show and explored historical train cars. We picked our favorites at the horse show and I helped her make her very own tie-dyed scarf. Watching her try to drive the bumper cars had me imagining her as a driver in 12 years (if only 16-year-olds came with carnies who could help them steer) and seeing her ear-to-ear grin on the kiddie coaster made my face beam, too. But my favorite part of the day came as a surprise at the very end, when we strolled through the children’s games.
“Ooooh! A dolphin!,” my daughter squealed. I had no idea she was into dolphins, but then again, things don’t have to be very exciting for my kid to get jazzed over them. She likes to collect rocks and leaves and gets upset when she has to throw away the bits of wrapper that have been ripped off her crayons, so that giant blow-up Flipper must have blown her mind.
We’d had a busy day already, and I’d just spent my last ten bucks buying ride tickets. But when I saw how excited she was at the prospect of winning such a big prize, I thought to myself, “Take some money out. It’ll only cost you five bucks, and you’ll be a hero for the rest of her life.” I went to the nearest ATM and withdrew funds I knew I didn’t really have to spend, but I figured I’d work it out somehow. We ran over to the pleasant and plump woman in charge of the Pick-a-Duck pool, who greeted us with a hearty, “Hi, Mom!”
“We’ve got a special running,” she bellowed. “Five dollars gets you any prize you want.” I thought to myself, “Way to be discreet, lady. Why even make the kid pick-a-duck then?” But I handed her a 20 dollar bill, she gave me my change, and my kid reached down and grabbed an armful of ducks. Laughing, I said, “Let’s see what you won!” and turned the ducks over. They all said the same thing on the bottom, just a giant S for “SUCKER!” Continue reading »
MomLogic reports that AshleyMadison.com, the dating site for married people, sees it’s second-biggest surge in women signing up the day after Mother’s Day.
Apparently, when women don’t get pampered enough by their husbands on Mother’s Day, they go looking elsewhere on Monday morning.
Right now you might be headed to the video store (those still exist, right?) to pick up a couple movies to tide over the fam over the holiday. Everybody has their favorites, but here are 20 to avoid.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
An incredibly expensive, highly marketed film about looking past the materialism and marketing of Christmas. Ballsy move. Also, the original cartoon needed no improvement.
The threat of Santa can only take you so far. You keep using him and using him, and come Christmas Eve, it’s over.
If your kids haven’t shaped up, what do you? If you’re hard core, you cancel Christmas.
Really. Continue reading »
Think you’ve heard the most bizarre gift story of the season? Not yet. A couple in Texas wrapped a fetus in a gift box and placed it under the Christmas tree.
Yes, I said a fetus. Continue reading »
Joslyn Gray 
Amber Doty 
Julianna Miner 
Monica Bielanko 
Sierra Black 
Meredith Carroll 
Carolyn Castiglia 
Sunny Chanel 
Madeline Holler 
Wendy Michaels 
Rebecca Odes 
Danielle Smith 
Danielle Sullivan 
Katherine Stone 
The Walt Disney Company supports Babble as a platform dedicated to honest, engaged, informed, intelligent and open conversation about parenting. However, the opinions expressed on this site are those of individual parents/writers and do not reflect the views of Disney. In addition, content provided on this site is for entertainment or informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or safety advice.
4