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Chronicles of Chaos

Oliver’s Preschool Transition

Oliver’s starting at a Montessori school this September, and the transition they’ve set up has been great for both of us. They invited us to visit the school outdoor play area starting the second week of August. We’ve gone by twice to swing on the tire swing and try out the slide. The first time we ran into his teacher carrying a new fish for the class tank. Our next visit, Oliver tried out the seated bikes, which intimidated him a bit in the beginning. He had the chance to figure out how to make the pedals turn quietly on his own, with me beside him when he needed an extra push to get going.

The week before school his teacher will visit Oliver at home, see his room and favorite toys. More

A Calvin Klein Bra

I found a bra that fits. The style is called, as perhaps it should be, the Calvin Klein Perfectly Fit No Wire Bra. I will confirm the design provides adequate coverage, dependability for white T-shirts, and all this without air pockets. I dallied with the surprisingly comfortable Bra-lleluyah! Soft Cup Bra by SPANX until the non-adjustable shoulder straps didn’t work for me. I would like to announce that Calvin Klein has created the perfect bra, but after my initial delight, I discovered the limitations of perfection. Like, it’s not great with tank tops, and the fact that my life has not changed dramatically. More

First Day of Camp

I dropped Wyatt off for his first day of camp this morning. It’s a science camp held at a local elementary school.  He loves science and after looking over his summer options last month, including not going to a camp this week at all, chose to attend. He knows no one who’s going to the camp, has never been to the school before today. I left him at the curb with a friendly camp counselor, and they walked into the building to join the other campers. I waited until I couldn’t see them anymore and then stood there awhile longer.

At a Challenge Success conference this spring, I listened to a Stanford administrator lecture about the importance of letting our children experience and figure out more of life on their own. When children are young, offering places to explore and practice these skills occurs in the safety (for them and us) of almost complete parent oversight. Beyond the preschool ages, Wyatt’s now six years old, a new territory outside these boundaries emerges as if on cue–like this first day of camp. More

Mother’s Little Helper

On Sundays, I’ve taken to reading the Lives article in the NY Times Magazine and the Style Section and then calling it a day. I’m also tossing the stack of old newspapers with must read headlines into recycling. I’m eliminating drag. This past week I loved the Lives piece by Nancy Kruger Cohen, Mother’s Little Helper.

I won’t spoil the twist, it’s an original take on our efforts to slow down with our kids. My latest dream of peaceful existence has evolved from a country house in Litchfield, Connecticut to include a barn with horses, chickens in a coop and a happy band of Labrador retrievers milling about. For breakfast, I will eat blueberry muffins hot from the oven. I have yet to reconcile these images with my dependence on store bought guacamole and carpools.

Elizabeth Gilbert Pep Talk

A friend sent this Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) article to Lyndsey, Lighten up on yourself to have a better life. Gilbert talks about women’s habit of second guessing what we’re doing with our lives and questioning whether we should be doing more. Our challenge of choice and habit of comparing ourselves to one another. All true, but I sense we’re changing. At least we want to change, which is the first step.

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How do you deal with a 3 year old who shows a strong preference for their dad, even though (or perhaps because) mom is the primary caregiver? More