Well, just look at your kid now. Clearly that bit of coffee back then led to, well, I don't know but I'm sure sancti-mommy can think of something :)

Right on. My kid is being targeted by a "bully" but I do think little kids (he's 6) still have a great chance to get turned around. When kids get sent to the office, our principle spends a lot of her very valuable time talking to the kids, parents, etc. which is great. Others just seem to punish and walk away. In our case it's physical and for sure some special needs with this guy, which is why I personally don't consider him a bully, just someone who needs more help. We know the parents too and they are trying their best. My post is how my little guy is trying to single-handedly eliminate the word gay as an insult on the playground.

Well, you still look hot, even when you're about to give birth. Awesome, count me in too.

Well, you won't have a 14month old at home like I did, but as a mom of 2, things may be a little different :) My mom kept brining Keegan in, which was sweet, but he wanted me to walk around and stuff and I was exhausted. But you are also younger than me :) We stayed until they kicked us out.

I brought a soft cotton robe and nightgown, felt so good after my first shower. We also brought DVDs but didn't watch them for the 2nd one. Wait, you aren't planning to spend longer than 24 hours? As bad as the food is, someone else is serving it to you, 3 times a day.

Somehow after baby #2 I lost my curls, but my hair didnt' get straight either, and no idea how to fix it, so I had a lot of bad hair days. My hair dresser was all ready to say it was just my cut, product, etc. when she saw it and agreed :) They did come back, though, although still fighting the frizzies, so both products sound great.

totally agree! If my kids know who she was or were still young enough to watch Elmo, I'd ask them, but I can just imagine them wandering off 30 sec into the video :)

I really appreciate the logic and scientific methods you used to come to your spot-on conclusion...excellente! They invented diaper backpacks to dad's would finally carry them - how many of those do you see anymore? Exactly.

We had a similar experience. I'm not a strong swimmer but grew up with a pool and lots of lessons, so I feel comfortable and wanted the same for my kids. One loved baths and playing in water, the other hated it and both took years to get comfortable and eventually enjoy swimming. I remember so many times where they were dressed in floaties, a lifevest and goggles, standing on the side of the pool and refusing to get in, or getting in and clinging to me for dear life. It was a YMCA camp where they swam every day, without mommy, that turned the tides, so to speak. I feel the same way about reading...both my husband and I love it and read all the time, but that doesn't mean our kids will be the same. I hope they do, but while they are good readers, they would rather do almost anything else.

I hate those hanging badges the flip around, urgh, as I too am terrible with names and faces. I lost a job once because I met a guy who happened to be our high school valedictorian and I could not remember him. I totoally should have lied and told him I remembered, but his ego was too bruised to hire me. I'm really really terrible with names, especially out of context. Which also means I never get offended. My husband's a coach and sees how kids' faces light up when you remember their names, and visa versa...he's a whiz. But we can't be perfect, eh. I have a bunch of favorite bloggers who I either haven't met or only met once or twice, but read all the time. I doubt I'll remember their names under the pressure of blogher :)

I remember the first few conversations with a newly divorced friend, and the lightness in their voice which so much reminded me of myself as a newly divorced woman. All cases are different of course, but there was such a lightness. We didn't have kids or a house, and of course those make it much more difficult. But in many circumstances it's freeing. Sad how she assumed your light cart was because you were married...I remember friends warning my ex that I would try to take him for all he was worth, just because that was happening to one his friends at the time. He was so emotional he made me write down he'd get custody of our cats in the divorce papers, even though I never wanted them and had no place to keep them anyway.

You know, you were I think the first blogger I met in real life after reading your blog...it was like I was meeting a celebrity :) It was at a club in SF that I would never have gone too except for SV Moms turning me into a blogger. If you ever want to go somewhere closer than Disneyland but farther than down the street head over to Great America or Raging waters and I'll meet you there :)

That is right on...my husband has 8 knee surgeries. What are forming are academies, where the kids practice and play together, which means you can control the coaches, kids etc and make sure they play with kids at their same level, don't travel, etc. In most other countries the pro teams sponser these so it doesn't cost the parents so much $$. The earthquakes just started one and LA Galaxy has had one for a bit - one of my husband's former players is on it :)

Great read, but for some reason had a hard time coming up with a post. Finally did, though. http://www.notjustaworkingmom.com/2010/06/girl-in-translation.html

A good morning! Now we've both won! Sent from my iPhone

USA! USA! Big soccer fans over here, too. I was just in Germany and I swear every single store there...from appliance to lingerie were decorated with soccer stuff. I have to confess we are not all that dissapointed over here about England not winning, gives the US a better chance :) Since Italy calls it Calcio (so not "everywhere else" :) my husband stands firm on America continuing to call it soccer.

Ah, the world of competitive sports :) I agree, that lots of sports is fine for kids if they are having fun. I did want to chime in about competitve...a "functional" well-run club is wonderful (and there are a lot that aren't), but at 7/8 they do not need to play on a formal or competitive league even if you (I mean your kids :) have dreams of playing in the world cup (my kids are buying me a mansion when they make the pros :) Brazilians play a lot of soccer but no formal competition - games and travel, etc. until about 12 or so. If you're willing to travel a bit, my kids have been having a ball playing outdoor futsal at the San Jose Evergreen YMCA.

Ahh, that was great. I have to say I was a mite disspointed you did not do that story wearing your underwear...just like a victoria's secret commercial :) You're a great mom for using it, I will cross my fingers it gets lost.

Whew, I have sons too :) Although, how much padding is there? I remember when I finally want to a fancy shop to have a real bra fitting, and I complained I did not need a padded bra. they explained is was so my nipples wouldn't show...oooh, all these years and I never knew :_)

I'm so glad you wrote this...my kids are little, I could in no way predict what I would "let" them do at 16...I know my parents would have been worried but immensely proud if I had asked to sail around the world at that age, 1t 14 or 15, I barely wanted to go to the camp they signed me up for...where I rode my bike for 30-70 miles every day, but with a lot of kids and counselors. It's not just about letting go, letting your kids be free-range I think, it's are you going to let your kids do something amazing? I loved a comment I read on another post - Australia is paying for the rescue, the rest of the world doesn't need to worry about it :)

I heard an interview with a sportswriter on NPR, and I agree that while life is not fair may be one lesson, the way they both handled it was a lesson in how to handle it when life is not fair. Or maybe it was just such a refreshing change from some of the crap behaviour we see from adults lately. That one could apologize, they other could hug was just awesome. My son got punched in the face by a little boy who has had so many problems this year. I kept hearing how nobody wants to play with this boy what a pain he was. But in the last weeks of school what I heard was "we are friends now" and I see them hugging all the time. Apologies and forgiveness are wonderful lessons.