Relax. There will not be anything expensive or trendy in this mix. No LeapPads or four-C-battery-operated blinking noisemakers, because Confession: When it comes to kids’ toys, I am hopelessly behind the times. When things run out of batteries in this house, I let them die. I threaten to give nothing but packs of batteries to […]
My favorite educational toys for children Read More »
Or, Things I Ponder in the Darkness as I Wait For My Children to Sleep “Wait” seems to imply gentle and wholesome solitude, but I assure you it is anything but. It takes two adults to put our two youngest to sleep. We sing. We rub tummies. We massage backs. We hum. We pray. We
Plagiarism in triplicate Read More »
…because it begged to be written. But I must specify–this is an angry wife, specifically. Do not try it with your next irritable cashier or irate colleague. *** 1. Shut up. By all means. 2. Take a moment to ponder in silence a couple of very important questions: Is she a) miffed, or b) furious?
The Ten Best Ways to Comfort an Angry Woman Without Losing Your Hide Read More »
Confession: I listened to the Accuser today. Ryan and I stayed up late having a difficult financial conversation, and I finished it by asking him an equally difficult question on beauty (what? I thought it fit…) and he answered all wrong and fell asleep. I lay awake stewing until my thoughts began to swirl into
A great, great gift to sit at this table together. A man. A woman. A school boy. A blue-eyed boy. A little girl who prays. Roast chicken is on our plates, and sugared sweet potatoes. Buttered corn and peas, and coleslaw with garden ingredients. We have ice water, and a matched set of plates. Enough
Confession: There are some household tasks I love… (cooking, organizing, pinning clothes to a line) There are many household tasks I find tedious, a mindless reworking of old ruts… (washing dishes, folding laundry, vacuuming floors) And there are a few household tasks I simply hate. (among which ironing is chief) For the latter two, the
Zooming in and zooming out Read More »
Yesterday on May 29 I told you I’d write a sequel post “soon” and so I thought I’d get right on that. What? You remember me writing about being on a treadmill entitled Trying To Keep Up With This Household? Yes. I’m sure it was only yesterday. Uh-huh. I can tell you’re trying to correct
Looking to learn, reloaded Read More »
So. We have an ethical dilemma at our house. *** Husband likes gray socks. Not black or white. Gray. Very well, says Wife. I will buy you some at Family Dollar. But Family Dollar does not carry gray socks. Family Dollar carries black or white. Hmm, says Wife. Would you be okay with black or
On socks and scruples Read More »
Confession: Most of my best ideas come straight from someone else. Here’s one from my friend Shaunda, who does not follow her own advice. (There’s a reason–In her kitchen, the drawers are bigger than she is. And they number exactly three. So she cheerfully hauls them around by the scruff of the neck, and passes
Confession: I have played one game unceasingly for the last 9 ½ years. And I’m boss for the month! [insert celebratory jig] Here’s how it works. Because today is the first of the month, I crushed my husband’s expectations in one fell swoop at midnight, with these simple words: “Happy August!” Now I get boss
The night owl gets the worm Read More »