The house was too quiet when I walked through the door. Wilderness Dad was snacking in the kitchen. The babysitter was gone. I felt a moment of terror. She kidnapped my kids and he’s eating Twizzlers for dinner, I thought. “The kids are asleep,” he said. Puzzled, I looked around. The sink was clean, the dishes were done. The words felt alien in my mouth as I asked, “Did you do the dishes?” He laughed, “I paid the babysitter. She seems nice.” She did the dishes. “She’s amazing,” I said. “I love her.” She accomplished what no sitter before her could. In the morning, the kids told me that the …

I was four when I first set foot on the Appalachian Trail, holding on tight to my grandmother’s hand. We walked slowly as my brother and grandfather went ahead. She told me a story of an old woman who walked the entire trail from Maine to Georgia. She walked it alone, camping in little shelters “just like that one over there,” pointing to rough little three-sided wood structure.  “Someday I’m going to walk it too,” she told me. I wanted to tell her I would go with her, I would go anywhere with her, but I had a slight problem. The previous night we camped along the Housatonic River, not far …

You can learn something new about yourself constantly, if you pay attention. I thought I was a tough mama. I thought breaking up a sibling fight before bloodshed, mastering the laundry pile, interpreting toddler speak and balancing work with a smile on my face established me as a superhero. I figured I could handle anything. Following hurricane Irene, I discovered something. I’m a spoiled brat. Take away my power — my computer, light, flushing toilets, a daily shower, the ability to vacuum — and I throw a diva-sized fit.   I was relaxed when the power went out on Sunday. We were prepared. A …

The lazy days of summer are finally coming to an end. Are you prepared? Did you get lost in the fun of summer? Or did you run around all summer struggling to keep them entertained? Either way, the end of August means it’s time to get serious, even for moms. Heading back to the books doesn’t have to be stressful. These ideas are sure to help make the back-to-school transition easier for the entire family. Get ready for take-off! Organize a launching station where the kids can keep backpacks, sports equipment, dance gear and everything they need to take out the door in the morning. Keep it in …

I’m coming out of the closet. I’ve been avoiding the questions and trying to keep a low profile for the past six months. I didn’t know what to say or how to say it. I know the stereotype that will come to mind when I tell you the truth. I also know it’s just another stereotype that isn't based on reality. I’m a homeschool mom. In April, we pulled the Adventurer (age 11) out of Whisconier Middle School (WMS). I’m not going to elaborate on the multiple events that led to this decision. I’m not going to comment on what the school district did or didn’t do to help. It was necessary to remove her …

I found her cuddled up on the couch, eReader in hand. I felt her head. No sign of fever. The Adventurer (age 11) hadn’t moved in hours. “This book is so good,” she told me, then continued to ignore me in favor of her book. She was reading The Hunger Games. I was mildly concerned when she briefly described the plot. I was alarmed when I read a review on Slate.com last week, just as she worked her way through the final book in the trilogy. From the Slate review: “The three books in the series — The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay — are set in a future version of North America, which …

There was no enthusiasm as the girls made their way to the car, grumpy faced as if we were sending them off to math camp for the remainder of the summer. This has been going on for a couple of weeks now. They don't want to do anything together. Family fun seems to be a punishment in their eyes. We're determined to make them enjoy this day and each other. I’ve planned the entire afternoon carefully, which pretty much guarantees thunderstorms, an attack of killer bees or projectile vomiting in the back seat. We head out onto Route 133 through Bridgewater anyway. I change the plan slightly. I …

Their ice cream melted in the hot July sun, chocolate dripping down onto their hands before they could enjoy it. They were cranky, sweaty and bored of running errands. It was time for a change in the afternoon plan. Minutes after walking through the doors at the Village Center for the Arts (VCA), my girls were smiling and oddly speechless. They stood in middle of the Open Studio, listening carefully to the many choices in front of them. They could free build using a glue gun and all kinds of materials like scrap wood, beads, shells, fabric, cardboard or buttons. They could paint pottery in …

Your first instinct may be to shelter your child from the shock and saddness of the tragic death of Maggie O’Connor. Even adults who have a firm grasp on the reality of death often struggle with accepting such a tragic loss. Imagine how much more difficult it is for a child with only a vague concept of death. “It is important to be truthful about what you do know, but not to give more details than necessary,” advises Meyer Glaser, Psy.D, a school psychologist at Brookfield Public Schools. He also encourages parents to monitor their own discussions, because children are often listening and may…

I wanted to smack her in the head, but of course I didn’t. I don’t do things like that. I smile and nod. Another mom at the park had just suggested I take a parenting class. She shook her head watching the Butterfly, then three (now 11), lying in the sand at Kids Kingdom, throwing a fit. It was a little extreme, but that's my middle daughter's way. She may float like a butterfly, but she stings like a bee. And kicks like a billy goat. I knew what needed to be done. I needed to pick her up carefully so her kicking legs faced away from me and carry her up the hill to the parking lot. I didn’t …

I recounted the story of driving through the recent storm. I explained the hail stones, fire, high winds and driving under partially fallen trees wrapped in electrical wires. Dad shook his head. “You should make sure you have emergency supplies in your car,” he said. “Your luck hasn’t been good lately." I laughed, at first. Oh, no! Could he be right? I made it home safely in the storm. I'll spare you the many details of my current losing streak. Briefly, we've had multiple issue with the kids, I'm still battling the Lyme spirochetes, my latest medication looks (and stains) like bright yellow …

The Emergency Room at Danbury Hospital was overcrowded, as expected. It is Wednesday afternoon when I walk through the doors with my three little women, certain the Butterfly (age seven) needs immediate attention. I brace myself for the typical wait. We are rushed to the triage nurse and then back to see the doctor and  I feel myself tense up all over. It’s a bad sign when they don’t make you wait, I think.  I try to breathe as I assure my girls that everything will be fine. I whisper, "don’t look into the rooms" as we are led through the ER, with patients sitting on gurneys in the hall …

A scream fills my ears. The Butterfly's eyes bulge as the nurse removes the IV from her arm. We are free to go, finally. It's 3:30 on Thursday. I think the long day is finally over. 5 p.m.: Presciptions filled, I'm breathing easier now. I step outside Rite Aid, run for the car and am soaked. No probem. I'll be home in 10 minutes. 6:30 p.m.: Rain, wind, hail, flying branches and swinging power lines behind me, I arrive home.The power is out. 8:30 p.m.: A pizza dinner and an early bedtime. I'm a happy mother. 8:30 a.m.: Coolers filled with ice and essentials from the fridge, Wilderness Dad …

It was visible from the kitchen window. The Princess opened the sliding glass door and went running across the backyard to investigate the odd beige circle that seemed to pop up over night.  “It’s a mushroom! I love mushrooms,” she said, as she began to break pieces off of the giant. She delights in smashing them up to make pie and then burying it all in her garden. I knelt in the grass close by to capture this destructive (yet somehow sweet) moment with my camera. As time ticked and sweat dripped, I considered our summer plans. Last year I panicked. I scheduled camps and activities on top of…

I let them walk ahead of me, snapping a photo as they reached a spot where the sun broke through the trees and illuminated them.  I tucked my camera back into my backpack and jogged to catch up. "I think we're getting close," I said as I shielded the screen of the iPhone from the sun with my hand and tried to peak under at the map.  “It’s this way,” the Adventurer pointed. I wasn’t convinced. I thought we were looking at the map on our GPS app upside down.  Obviously, I'm not an expert GPS user.  I’ll claim that’s because I’m not directionally challenged and that I have an inner compass that …

Parenting often reminds me of  the old game Perfection. The timer is set and we struggle, rushing to get all the pieces in the right place. We frantically try to accomplish it all: homework done without a fuss, a clean home, delicious meals (in my dreams), papers signed, playdates set, kids tidy, obedient and happy, a dog that doesn't dig holes in the well manicured lawn or leave a mouse carcass on the front step to greet visitors. The impossible list is completed with a well rested, smiling mom. Just when it feels like everything is almost in its proper space and you are ready to sit back …

It's the thought that counts. That's what mom always said, right? It's entirely true, but when it comes to Mother's Day, a perfect gift to match the loving thoughts can make a mom feel appreciated. That's all we want. We want a thank you for doing the laundry, scrubbing the bathtub, cooking your favorite meals when you are down, finding lost toys, giving late night pep talks and keeping a positive attitude when all we really want to  do is whine, complain or take a nap. We need a sincere, meaningful thank you for willingly handing over our heart, soul and savings to our children.   Do you …

It’s Sunday morning and I can hardly move. My head is aching. Pain has stretched out to the ends of each limb, making me want to curl up in a ball on the couch. Even if I lie perfectly still, I feel it; the deep ache in my joints and fatigue in my muscles. Sounds of laughter find me across the house as my kids play Wii Fit. I cannot motivate myself to join them. Hope is like a bird that senses the dawn and carefully starts to sing while it is still dark. ~ Anonymous Tweet. Tweet.  After close to four months of treatment for Lyme, I still have down days, but I know I am getting better. I have …

I wandered into the family room in a pre-coffee daze to find the Butterfly (age seven) stretched out on my yoga mat in cobra position. At 6:45 a.m. she was already half-way through the A.M. Yoga DVD. She had watched me closely the day before and decided she wanted to give it try before school. “You really like this, don’t you?” I asked, helping her with Triangle Pose. She answered with a calm and clear “yes.” When she completed the program, she went on to the How to Use Yoga Props section, to learn to use the strap and block properly. She followed the directions and tried each prop with …

“You are so lucky,” the Adventurer said. “Your life isn’t complicated like mine.” I held back as much as I could. “Are you kidding? You have no idea how complicated my life is!” She looked genuinely puzzled. From her point of view, my life is pretty simple. And I can’t deny that being in middle school is stressful. Still, I feel like I' m living in the fast lane, like a rock star. My own mom is now laughing (lovingly). Later she may say something like, “Aim, you’re not even on the highway!” But the signs are there. I’m starting to resemble a burnt-out rock star. It shows on my face and in my …