Beautifully written and spot on. Great post.

I've only got a few weeks before I hit 4.0. so I suppose I'd better start shopping for my hot pants now, right?

Great post. My daughter would love your son--all veggies, no meat. I'm inspired--we're going to try broccoli in the garden this year.

Nicely put. I agree 100%...I've only run into problems now that they start really wanting those darn activities.

Our mother's did not wear skinny jeans...! Your body will snap back, just give it time and try to enjoy this freeby time--you've got the best excuse there is.

Eden this is beautifully put, and I do hope that writing has given some small measure of peace. I haven't been able to do it yet.

Great post. I'm with the teacher--remind him in middle school that you are the mom who knows all (never mind the facebook part.)

If your husband will build you and office AND dust when it's completed you have all you need for the holidays and more!

I just took my 8 year old to her first orthodontist appointment...all the while screaming (in my head) I'M TOO YOUNG TO HAVE A KID HERE!

This is sweet, and sounds a little like our neighborhood too. No McMansions with jumbo-sized candy bars, but jammed packed with good neighbors.

More Denise More! I need details. What do you put in the sections? How is it different than a lunch box? Why don't you need the plastic baggies (sounds like a dream to me!)

We are in the same boat. I thought I'd always opt for neighborhood school (which is great) but there are so many options with magnets and charters, how do I know, really know, what the best is for my kid? Do you ever really know?

You are so making the right choice. I chose VBAC b/c the risks of natural birth are much LOWER than surgery, even planned, when you take into consideration the drugs and interventions that contribute to uterine rupture. Congrats on doing your research, and good luck to you. (My VBAC baby came flying into the world, quick and easy--especially when compared to my c-section.)

I applaud you, mama bear, for defending your cub and having the nice police man show up to get your back. Well done mama!

How true it is, how true it is!

Terrific post! So tell us, is there another way to become Queen?

My daughter also turns 6 this week, and our family is also mostly in NY. Lucky her this year Grandma and Grandpa are coming in, and we are going old school--backyard, pinata, cupcakes, limbo, etc. Lucky me I dodged the party bullet. (Our fave place (cheap!) for parties so far: Sunflower Farm in Longmont.)

Wonderful post. We are trying to figure out how to nurture our 3rd grade girl's love for all things science and invention before she figures out that it's not a "girl thing."

Great piece, and great take on a well-intentioned, if bizarre event.

I hope you have a good year, and congrats on getting her in. Colorado has got to make education a priority. We spend less per pupil than Alabama, and the stress is showing in the classrooms. My daughter had 28 kids in her 2nd grade class in BVSD--an unacceptable learning environment unless your kid is the squeakiest wheel. High test scores are NOT the same as a good education.

Your trip sounds wonderful. We leave tomorrow for our first ever family road trip. We're trying it old school, no DVDs, just a whole lot of singing and bonding time. Wish me luck!

Beautifully written. Now we need to make sure that the remaining ridiculous barriers come tumbling down.

Very cute post. I often find myself thinking of those pioneer women. Tough as nails and a hard life for sure, but they didn't have all this suburban drama to juggle, no playdates to schedule and practices to carpool to, nothing but kill and harvest and sew and cook. Ok, so maybe that doesn't sound so easy...

A slice of humble pie is small price for the huge piece of self-awareness. Good for you. Thanks for all you do to help.