The spirit of the season

I have heard people say that in order to understand the true meaning of the Christmas season, you have to see it through a child's eyes. This year I did. And the true meaning is...PRESENTS. Presents in all shapes and sizes, in pretty colors. Presents, presents, presents! At one point, my mother asked DOM whether she had received enough presents, and she said, "No! More presents!"

Three days later, I sit in a house strewn with toys and games and other child detritus, and wonder where I'm going to put it all. Maybe someone should have given her a toy storage bin as well.

You know you're a mom when...

...you feel guilty eating baby spinach.

The life of leisure

It's 8:15 a.m. on the Tuesday before Christmas and here I am, relaxing in bed. Ahh...the life of leisure. I just want to thank my daughter for being so thoughtful as to GIVE ME HER COLD, so I can lie here feeling crappy, emptying out the contents of a tissue box while coming dangerously close to deadlines at work, last minute shopping remains to be done, and my house has to be relatively clean for my parents' impending visit this weekend. Who says toddlers are selfish creatures? They share so well...

Actually, I do have to say that this phase seems to be getting easier. Or else, I'm just getting used to the constant chaos and neediness.

Turning the dials on the stress meter, Sears still hasn't gotten me our portrait greeting cards. They were supposed to be ready by December 8, in tme for Hanukkah. It is now December 21. If I don't get them in the mail tomorrow, they're going to be New Year's cards. The people at our local Sears portrait studio are clueless, and the people at their national customer service are nice and apologetic, but haven't delivered on their promises. Next year I'm doing my own effing cards!

A sincere apology

Remember what I said about Ugg boots?

I take it all back. Except the part where shorts + Uggs = ridiculous.

A woman obsessed

The holiday season is upon us...run for cover!

Let me start by saying that DOM is a lucky, lucky girl, having parents who are a secular Jew and an ex-Catholic. Twice the presents, but with none of that boring church/temple attendance. The bad news is that we're great at the guilt.

Anyway, I have begun the frantic search for presents. Since there are eight days of Hanukkah, that means seven small presents and one bigger one. Outfits for her doll, check. Three-pack of play-dough, check. Characters for her felt board, check. DVD, check. Books, check. I've been on mission, combing catalogues, eBay, toy stores, Target. But today I realized something...I've forgotten about everyone else!

I have three weeks to shop for a whole bunch of people, and no earthly idea of what to get them. Any suggestions?

This was supposed to be the holiday where I got everything done early and then sat back and relaxed. Oh well, there's always next year.

It is always going to be so difficult?

That is the question I posted to Mr. MOM yesterday morning. Don't get me wrong. I think DOM is an angel - smart, funny, sweet - but she's also 2 years old. And, like a certain ex-boss of mine, if something isn't her idea, she doesn't want to do it. I quit that job - but this is something I can't quit, as much as I want to some days.

Take getting dressed. Unless SHE picks out the clothes, unless it is her idea to get dressed, it is a huge battle. Every morning. Same with getting in the bath, getting out of the bath, getting ready for bed, going to bed, eating dinner, etc., etc., etc. The wise advice is to pick your battles but, dammit, most of these things aren't optional.

So, how do I go about making everything seem to be her idea? I got pretty good at doing it with my former boss. But he wasn't as smart as she is.

Now that's an interesting concept

Mmmmmm...cereal...