The Octomamas are not pleased that triplets mother in the news is being called the “octo mom.” There is, was, and always shall be, just one. Oh, wait, two. And at one point three…
Anyway, she is not one of us.
Not ready to throw in the octo-towel November 30, 2008
Well, NaBloPoMo is over, and we survived with just one or two missed days. Thanks, Coco, for covering my hiney several times along the way.
I just send the URL to a friend today, and I was re-reading some of the November posts, and then some of our early posts, and it made me think. We still have plenty to talk about on the site. So, no, I’m not ready to let go just yet.
Maybe we do need to reconsider format, topics, promotion/readership and a few other things. But I hope we can figure it out and stick around for a bit.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I still need a little help figuring things out…
When the song (or video) remains the same… November 25, 2008
In a comment to my last post, Cate says:
I have a Dora dvd but my boy will only watch one of two videos – both Sesame St singalongs. Good in theory but i am starting to go a bit bonkers. How do you get them off one addicted video? Seriously – big time meltdowns if I put on Dora or anything else but “the two”. HELP!
We have a similar situation at our house, and I’ve just started trying to address it. Elsie used to be delighted with any/all videos — Sesame Street, Barney, Pooh, various kid’s music video options, etc. But lord help me, now she is all about Barney, and she has been for months.
We don’t do a huge amount of video time, usually 30 minutes in the morning while Max and I are getting ready for work. And at some point during the week, there’s generally one full-length Barney in the basement family room while I’m doing laundry or other downstairs projects.
I’ve been trying other options, but she definitely has a huge preference for Barney. It seems to be very music/singing driven. I tried The Wiggles, but honestly, they creep me out. Elsie has very little interest in plot-based videos, but she’ll do one every now and then (see Dora nightmare below).
So here’s the question(s):
1. How do you diversify your child’s video viewing?
2. Suggestions for kid’s videos with singing that won’t drive me crazy? Although, I am a freak. I don’t hate Barney. I just need a little more diversity.
3. Is Ni Hao Kai-Lan less annoying than Dora? I was thinking of putting the Season 1 DVD on Elsie’s Christmas list.
Thoughts, suggestions, recommendations, therapy?
Where do we go from here? November 21, 2008
OK, I was pretty encouraged to see five responses to Coco’s future of Octomama post. It certainly isn’t about whining for comments, really. We just envisioned the site as less blog and more discussion forum. Sometimes, it has been that, and it has helped me a lot on a few topics.
So, what next? What would you, our lovely few readers, like to see this site become? Is it a question of more promotion, like Cate mentioned? Is it rethinking the overall purpose/content of the site? Is it finding more contributors?
Do you go to blogs anymore? I really do, but often just to check up on friends, and like Coco, I don’t comment much. But my other blog has really become a true mommy-blog, so it has been nice to have this site as well. A large part of me would hate to see it end.
Sound off — what do you think? Where should we go from here?
Reporting Back on the Field Trip November 19, 2008
Since Cate asked, and it means I don’t have to muster up a real post, here’s a brief recap.
The field trip was a HUGE success, and Elsie sat next to her BFF, “School Mia,” (yes, we know way too many Mia’s). Mia was quite nervous about the bus ride, and apparently Elsie was very sweet about reassuring her and making her laugh. Several of the teachers commented that the bus trip was more fun for most of the kids than the bookstore or bakery.
I heard that the ride was “very bumpy,” but hey, it’s a bus, right? But Elsie also claims that there were no seatbelts. I need to clarify, since up is down and yes is no a great deal with her. But Julie, I was told it was a custom bus with seatbelts, but no childseats. Is that even legal for kids that young?
Again, I obsess…
Halfway home November 17, 2008
OK, we are a little more than halfway through the month, and I may be out of things to say. Don’t gasp, really, I do run out of babble eventually.
But Coco’s post made me think that yes, I do live a similar existence in some ways, but I don’t juggle nearly as much. And yet, I am tired. I think there’s a reason people do this parenting thing a wee bit earlier than their 40s.
And am I completely overprotective to worry about the field trip my daughter is going on tomorrow? It sounds delightful; they are going to one of the best bookstores in town for storytime, then to the nearby bakery. Really, it looks fun — I wanna go! Trouble is, they are going on a bus. No childseats, just seatbelts. My baby isn’t even three yet. But I don’t want to be “that mom,” so I signed the permission slip. Still, I worry…
Crap, I’ve had some fun November 13, 2008
OK, after bitching in two separate posts about this business trip, I had such an incredible time last night.
I was dreading the obligatory teambuilding activity, although I was intrigued that it involved some sort of “rock band” challenge. I love music, although I am hampered by no skills in either the singing or playing an instrument categories.
Our “facilitators” were from Camp Jam, and they included Liberty DeVito, Billy Joel’s drummer for 30 years, Jeff Carlisi from .38 Special, and other musicians who have worked with Sheryl Crow, Bon Jovi, Ted Nugent and Alice Cooper. The mentor for my team was Christine (can’t remember her last name), and she’s been part of the SNL band for ages. She also has a gigantic blond beehive.
Anyway, we rehersed endlessly, and finally got to perform our rendition of Mustang Sally onstage. It was so much like a real concert experience that I was completely thrilled. My lack of musical talent didn’t seem to matter much, and I was a backup singer complete with a huge beehive of my own.
After our own performances, the true musicians put on an incredible 2-hour concert. I am so exhausted and hoarse today (ok, and hungover, I admit it), but that was the most fun I’ve had in ages.
Don’t tell Max, ok?
Did I mention I hate business travel? November 11, 2008
I am at a six day meeting that could have easily been executed in three days. The rooms are bone-chillingly air conditioned. It is so windy in Miami that the outdoor meals have become an exercise in dodging flying salad and empty watter bottles. I am short on sleep and long on useless downtime between sessions.
And yet, my husband would trade places with me in a heartbeat right now. He did do a remarkably good job guiding Elsie through tumbling last night. Go Max!
Sorry, I know this is an uninspired post, but I’m slightly short on inspiration at the moment. Maybe the Sales Ops/IT Review session I’m about to attend will inspire me. Heh…
Talk to us! June 19, 2008
So, what should we talk about on Octomama? The Octomamas have tossed around a few ideas, and I have a few thoughts — so weigh in! Any of these topics appeal to you? Other Octostuff you’d like to chat about?
- If you are an adoptee or are very close to an adoptee, how did that color your own experience with adoption or your choice to adopt?
- Great parenting books, both adoption and non-adoption related.
- Books your kids adore.
- If you adopted a non-special needs infant (under 2) internationally, do you think you could do so again with a clear conscience? Or has this topic been beaten to death lately?
- What has been your biggest surprise in becoming a parent? What has been a bigger deal than you thought (for me, cooking real meals every day), and what hasn’t been as big of a deal as you expected (again, for me, poopy diapers)?
- Favorite online spot or retail establishment for great kids’ stuff.
Clearly, we need a little jolt of energy around here, so let us know what would interest you!
Six-Word Memoir April 25, 2008
Earlier this week, I was listening to morning radio chat on my drive, and for once, the conversation intrigued me. Apparently, there is a book out called “Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure.” The book asks people of note to describe their lives in six words (based on the fabled Hemingway six-word story).
In addition to the inspired example in title of the book, here are some samples:
Stephen Colbert: ‘Well, I thought it was funny.”
Joan Rivers: “Liars: hysterectomy didn’t improve sex life.”
Mario Batali: “Brought it to a boil, often.”
The one I heard on the radio was “It’s on my to do list.” (Love this.)
Naturally, this led me to ponder what my own six-word memoir would be. And I decided upon this:
“Just enough to get the A.”
Odd, no? When these six words first occurred to me (I’ve used them before in reference to my student days and my career), they made me feel a little bad about myself. But as I pondered why they occurred to me, I’ve come to peace with them. (Which is perhaps why I felt ok about writing this post!)
Achievement is very important to me, and I’m definitely competitive. But I don’t think anyone would accuse me of being an over-achiever. I’m no super-mom, and I’m not the co-worker who comes in early and stays late. I don’t send cards for holidays like Halloween, and don’t hold out for homemade gifts from Lulu. I haven’t put a photograph in an album for years, much less scrapbooked. I’m not crafty, and I don’t jog, play an instrument or garden.
But I am a solid cook with several stand-out dishes. I have a nicely decorated home that is passably clean. I’m a good wife most days, and a good mom on slightly more days. I am a productive/smart worker who has done well in her career, and that people seem to enjoy working with. I’m moderately well-read and well-informed. I remember people’s birthdays and the names of important people in their lives. I am a good conversationalist and can banter with the best of ‘em. I have a sharp sense of humor without being mean, I do really well at games, and I have a stellar memory for odd trivia (pop culture mostly).
But over-achieving? Nope, not for me. When I think of over-achievers, my neighbor up the street leaps to mind. She’s in her 30s, married with two kids. She doesn’t have an ounce of fat on her, wears very stylish/flattering clothes, has a perfectly maintained home and yard, seems to have read every book and watched every movie under the sun. In her “spare time,” she spearheaded the building and decorating of a spec home/investment property she bought with her husband. She hosted a teacher from France at their home this past semester, so naturally she learned quite a bit of the language and apparently a huge amount of the cooking. She’s a frequent volunteer at her kids’ school. I get small comfort from her stay-at-home mom status, since I think she could quite easily work and still do almost all of this – she’s just like that.
A prime example of her approach to life is that prior to a “neighbor ladies night out” to see Memoirs of a Geisha, she read the book. The whole book. In one night. Really. I was skeptical until we started talking about the differences between the book and the movie – yep, she really read it overnight. She’s a very nice woman, and I do like her well enough. But the over-achieving aspect of her personality makes me weary and tense, and I find myself not enjoying our one-on-one conversations.
I’ve commented to friends that I’m a “good enough, move on” type of person, and I think that’s partially true. A “B” effort would never be good enough for me, though. I do want the “A” in almost every aspect of my life. But I don’t really want or need the A+. And most importantly, I want to make sure I did just exactly enough to earn that A. No more. No less.
How about you? What would your Six-Word Memoir be?
