Goodbye, February

Goodbye, February. It is hard to believe that February is the shortest month when it seems like an endless slog of darkness, illness and cold. However, as it finally draws to a close, I think I have the discovered a cosmic February balance. Each of the “bad” things, the dramas, hassles and irritants have been …

Advertisement

What’s in a Name?

Lo’s vocabulary is growing daily and each day says something cute and funny. My daughter-in-law already laments that she will not remember all Lo's gems and wishes that she had written them down. I accept this responsibility and agree that Lo’s growing vocabulary is certainly worth remembering. She adds new words daily and can now …

South End

Remember my brief residency in Cambridge, Ma? Well, I did it one better last weekend. My daughter’s boyfriend was away. So with money in my pocket from my temp job, she and I planned and executed a perfect mother-daughter weekend. I had ordered up the warm and sunny weather in advance so all that remained …

Transitional Objects

If you have a teaspoon of knowledge about child development, you are aware that young children form attachments to certain objects and that these objects help the child “transition” from dependence to independence. My children had “blankies” which we called “nu-nus” but perhaps blankies have fallen from favor now that babies slumber in sleep sacs …

Housekeeping

Cleaning my mother's house. Cleaning my own house. This week, these parallel activities have me musing about the nature of housework.  I am a good-enough-for-government-work cleaner. The basics get done, and a little less frequently, I delve deeper, noticing and eradicating the toothpaste splash on the bathroom wall and the cobwebs clinging to the bulls-eye …

City Life

I was 21 years old when my husband and I got married and we have spent our lives together in this small New Hampshire city. It's a good city and a good life, you could even say both have improved over time. But inside me is a tiny longing and fascination for something I did …

Dinner ahead

  Once or twice a week, we pack a bag and head to Lo’s house for some grand-parenting. Since her parents work in Boston and have long commutes, our day shift can be 14 hours long. And one thing we know - that as the sun sets on a long day of toil: rocking the …

Touching

There is certainly joy in having a baby to cuddle. Poor Lo – we kiss her feet, squeeze her squishy legs, rub her head. She sucks our fingers. And, of course, we change diapers. How natural this is. This human touch is both important and pleasurable for both parties. (Not always the diapers) I have …