Moms
H1N1 Vaccine
November/02/2009 10:16 AM
by Nicole Hanratty
As a world community, we are up in arms over H1N1. We don't know if we should brush it off as an over-hyped media blitz reminiscent of the Richard Heene story, a government hyped political story to get health care reform passed (as Rush Limbaugh would argue), or whether we should just follow along and line up for the vaccination. Either way you slice it, the mounting number of young people from H1N1 this fall flu season is--without question--alarming.
Throwing paranoia to the wind, I admit I found myself in line. The benefits seemed to outweigh the risk with my family full of underlying conditions. (Everyone will handle this crises differently and opinions seem to get heated when you bring up the topic for discussion, so I am not in any way suggesting that any one should get this vaccine. Consult your doctor, your priest, your personal guru or your mother but do not interpret this as advice in way, shape or formation.)
For three hours I was entertained by the countless number of cameras, photographers, reporters, news vans, satellite dishes, radio djs, and personalities, including the man in front of us who listened to me quiz my child for a history test then explained a little more that we should know and told us about the book he wrote that he was promoting while in line. (Here's another plug for his book: Jacob's Rescue by Michael Halperin.) Hundreds of people, mothers with toddlers, pregnant women, health care professionals, teachers and critically ill patients were all brought together for one common cause: to fight the flu (or to report on fighting it).
Read More...
Request Responses
October/05/2009 01:39 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Over the years, I have learned that a wife and mother's job description really knows no boundaries. Whether it is wiping tushies, refilling kleenex boxes, cleaning up trails of vomit, making costumes, baking cookies, selling raffle tickets, purchasing gifts for random strangers or driving from here to Chicago in search of the right sport shoes, there seems to be no limit of what my loved ones will request of me after they spout the word "Honey" or "Mom."
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change hearing these terms of endearment for anything else in the world. It is the dragged out slow question forming ending to the word "Honey" and "Mom" that gives me pause. Here it comes, what will they ask of me next? Read More...
Morning Coffee
September/28/2009 10:07 AM
by Nicole Hanratty
I can't be the only one who is groggy in the morning, can I? I would love to proclaim myself as one who jumps out of bed to greet the sunrise with a smile, but no can do. Never had it, never will. Morning cheeriness is not my thing.
Even when I was a school girl I remember my dad, (who had been up for three hours and already consumed a pot of coffee), trying to discuss world politics with me at 7 AM. Bless him. He was trying to send me off for the day with a sense of what was going on in the world and all I could do was grunt at him as I picked at my cereal. Read More...
Bring Your Parent To School Day
April/15/2009 08:33 AM
Bring Your Parent to School Day
By Andee Hewitt
Sydney did not ask her accountant mother to come and talk to her class about what an accountant does at work...she wanted only her Daddy! I guess police work is a little more exciting than crunching numbers all day. The kids were so excited to try on the bullet proof vest and helmet. The class was even more excited to jump in the police car, hear the radio calls and see the lights go. Read More...
Buzzwords at Home
April/09/2009 02:31 PM
The Time report on the Top Ten Buzz Words for 2008 got me thinking about how these popularized words are impacting my life now in 2009.
10. Topless Meeting
While no one has asked me to turn my phone off in a brainstorming meeting, my husband has strict rules for date night. I am not allowed to text, email, google or twitter, much less take a call. And while I would like to bring my laptop along for quick access to movie times and reviews, restaurant suggestions, access to information that would settle our debate of the evening, and maybe sneak in a blog post while he is paying the bill, my computer is not allowed along either. Some might call this Topless Dating.
9. Tweet
Twitter is at my fingertips 24-7 with my favorite Tweetie iphone app. I can’t leave home or climb in bed without it. My favorite function of Tweetie is the Nearby feature. I love to see who is Tweeting in my neighborhood. Just one year ago, I wouldn’t have even known what the Tweet was going on. Read More...
Spring Break 2009: Staycationing
April/06/2009 10:01 AM
Staycationing
By GG
It is a glorious, yet rare spring day: 78º in Southern California. The kind of day that makes residents remember why we live here...the kind that makes tourists decide to move here...the kind of day with no sports or activities for my very active family. That is what makes it rare. So rare that it hasn't happened in our always on the go home since November 2008.
When it happened in last fall, we went away on vacation. But this spring, we’re taking the ever-popular “staycation” and today we all slept in--waking up to TV instead of alarm clocks. We marveled at the idea of freedom: there was no need to search for cleats and uniforms, no ice chest to pack, no presents to purchase or wrap. This freedom allowed time to make breakfast in bed for the kids, served on trays filled with French toast, strawberries, bacon and love. (Ok, really they were cookie sheets designed to avoid powdered sugar & syrup landing on their beds, but it was still done with love!) Read More...
Life of a Rock Star Birthday
March/19/2009 08:21 AM
My sister Gina's birthday was this week and she has been kind enough to share with our readers what a real Life of a Rock Star™ Mom's birthday is all about:
• Get served breakfast in bed. Well, why wouldn't she wake up to her kids and hubby bringing her steaming hot coffee, crunchy toast and not over-cooked-with-a-dash-of-cheese scrambled eggs while she slowly awakens to the beautiful day? Maybe because her sweet hubby doesn't know how to push the 'On' button for the coffee maker--even though she had gotten it all ready the night before--and needed our Life of a Rock Star™ Mom to head down the steps to get the java brewing. "Oh honey, while you're down there can you just get out your special bread, (she has Celiac Sprue), from the freezer 'cause we're not sure where it is?" Then climb back in bed to enjoy your prepared meal. Read More...
• Get served breakfast in bed. Well, why wouldn't she wake up to her kids and hubby bringing her steaming hot coffee, crunchy toast and not over-cooked-with-a-dash-of-cheese scrambled eggs while she slowly awakens to the beautiful day? Maybe because her sweet hubby doesn't know how to push the 'On' button for the coffee maker--even though she had gotten it all ready the night before--and needed our Life of a Rock Star™ Mom to head down the steps to get the java brewing. "Oh honey, while you're down there can you just get out your special bread, (she has Celiac Sprue), from the freezer 'cause we're not sure where it is?" Then climb back in bed to enjoy your prepared meal. Read More...
Multi-Tasking Or Attention Deficit Disorder
November/06/2008 05:19 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
On my way to sit down at my desk to write this article, I heard the dryer ending its cycle. I ventured into my other office--the laundry room--to pull out my husband’s white tee shirts and get them folded while they were still warm and wrinkle-free.
I knew I needed to get my bottom in my desk chair and avoid further distractions, but as I was putting away the fresh laundry I noticed my child’s closet was in desperate need of organization. There were multiple jackets on the floor that needed hangers and shoes that weren’t on shelves. Read More...
Now Moms Kick Soccer Moms Off the Field
April/11/2008 08:13 PM
Moms off the Field
by Nicole Hanratty
A new generation of mothers is stepping onto the soccer field in support of their kids, and they are doing it in style. They are Now Moms, and they have a whole new attitude with a wardrobe to match.
Everywhere you look, Now Moms are coming up with ways to buck the trends set by their predecessors. They are no longer relating motherhood with dressing in unfashionable clothing. They aren’t driving boring minivans and they aren’t ruining everything. They aren’t forgetting what it was like to be a kid. They aren’t keeping their mouth shut about important topics like sex and drugs when it comes to educating their children. And, they aren’t cooking dinner every night. Sometimes, they’re ordering it online from their iphone. Read More...
Mom, MD
February/08/2008 04:11 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
I love the phone calls from school that start, “Mrs. Hanratty, I don’t want to alarm you, but...” Forget it. You already have.
Does anyone know if Ebay sells manuals for children? Mine seem to be missing... And right about now, I could really use one.
What scares me the most is the relief on the face of school personnel when I show up, as if I have all the answers! “I’m just a mom,” I think to myself in a panic. “I don’t know what to do!” Read More...
Did You Get the Hash Browns?
February/05/2008 03:49 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
It’s seven a.m. My day started two hours ago. (Self-imposed; no need for violins.) But any minute now, my adorable husband will return home from the gym, open the refrigerator and ask me, “Did you get the hash browns yet?” I will have to reply, “No.”
Yes, it is true; we have been out of them for over a week. But I have not been to the Hash Brown Market in over a week. (Fever, flu, strep throat- but really, no excuses please!) His sad face will make me feel guilty as if I don’t do anything else during the day and I really have no valid reason for not providing him with his beloved hash browns.
But this is really just the tip of the iceberg. My shortcomings fall so much greater than this.
Here is a list of other things I have not yet done: Read More...
When Mom Goes Down
January/27/2008 02:53 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
When I get sick, I often dream of placing a Help Wanted Ad. It reads: Ailing mother in need of a full time chauffeur, cook, laundress, maid, butler and personal assistant. Salary Non-negotiable, Hugs and Kisses Only.
Then I lay in bed and reason that I don’t have to get up. The dog doesn’t have to be fed, the kids don’t have to go to school, and the laundry doesn’t have to be done. We could get by one more day without bread... Read More...
Carpool Drama
January/27/2008 02:37 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
This just in... School Carpool - a hotspot for drama! Bleary eyed mom’s do morning drive by hello waves, catching some and avoiding others. Watch out though, that innocent wave hello or lack thereof could be misconstrued. A turn of the head, a major snub.
Every morning and every afternoon, school parking lots and carpool lines bring about the very best and the very worst in those who navigate them.
Outfits are judged. “What is she wearing, anyway?” “Could that tennis skirt be any shorter?” “Didn’t she just wear that last week?” “Are those her only jeans?” “I always wear four inch heels to drop off my child...” “Oh, for the love of God, who does she think she’s kidding? Hasn’t she heard the rule? No mini skirts after age 35.” “Does she own that same Juicy sweat outfit in every color? (Lucky!)” Read More...
