Full Story: Coming Soon.
I thought of you today
August 7, 2010 By 23 Comments
Today, I thought of you (though you probably didn’t know it).
I thought of you, Jo-Lynne, when I saw a tweet about BlogHer…you and your sparkly red shoes. You with your perfectly timed humor, your magnetic personality. You with a heart as big as Texas.
Josh, I thought about you today. My one and only brother. We’re so different, but also a little bit the same. You have reddish-brown hair and wear canvas shoes and are math-minded. You married a girl I really like and moved to Portland.
A plane flew by and, Mandi, you came to mind. I wondered where in the world you are. I wondered if you are being romanced by someone (and I prayed that he would be as wildly passionate as you are).
I walked by your house and thought of you, Meghan. I thought – for the zillionth time – how we NEED to invite you over for dinner, how we want too. I thought about how we could be friends, how we could have great conversations about books and dreams.
Rollo, I thought of you today when I was rocking my baby to sleep at naptime. I was singing “Holiness, Holiness, It’s what I long for…” and a memory of you and your guitar came to mind. I thought of my middle-school self and what an impact you made on me at First Baptist as my youth pastor. Those rides in the church van with a dozen needy kids, stops at 7-eleven for slushies, talks about music (you made fun of Country; I still like it) and boys (you told me to wait for the best – and I did). Such wisdom you poured into me in those precarious days.
I thought so many things about you today – Yes, YOU. Cousin. Sister. College Professor. Coworker. Old childhood friend.
24 hours in a day. 24 hours that seem so much shorter than they used to in childhood and young adulthood.
I have a husband to dream with, encourage, enjoy. Kids to hug and help and hold. A house to keep. A writer hat to wear. An entrepreneur hat to wear. A friend hat to wear. A world-changer hat to wear. A comfortable pair of pajamas to wear (because a girl does have to sleep sometimes you know).
I want to do it all. To write you that letter. Bring you that meal. Invite you over for apple crisp. Tell you that your eyes are radiant windows to your iridescent soul. Remind you what an impact you had in my life way back when. Introduce myself for the first time. But…I often have a baby on my hip, a preschooler tugging on my arm, and smeared banana on my shirt.
Know this: In spite of everything, I AM thinking of you. More often than you know.
Do you struggle to find the time to acknowledge the people in your life? How do you show people that you are thinking of them?
Not at BlogHer (here’s why)
August 6, 2010 By 26 Comments
One of the most-talked-about blogging conferences is here. The Big. The Original. The Formidable. BlogHer.
I attended BlogHer in San Francisco in ’08. It was productive, exciting, discouraging, friendly, lonely, and lovely – all at the same time (If you’ve been before, perhaps you can relate to that description).
Photo (above): Me with Nicole and Caryn at Guy Kawasaki‘s house.
I chose not to attend BlogHer ’10 this year for the following reasons:
- New York is a long way from Arizona (and plane tickets are not cheap).
- It hurts my heart to be away from my family. I would simply say that it’s hard to leave my baby (that’s a common reason), but the truth is that I don’t like being away from my 3-year-old either. And the whole truth is I really-truly can’t stand being apart from Tim. We’ve been married for almost 9 years and I’m still madly-deeply-wildly in love with him. Last night, he said to me out-of-the-blue, “I don’t just love you. I really LIKE you. I like hanging out with you.” I feel the *exact* same way.
- BlogHer ’10 just so happened to be the exact same dates as the 2010 Global Leadership Summit this year (and the Summit is a can’t-miss event).
The 2010 Summit happens live at Willow Creek Community Church and at satellite locations in 350 cities across 50 countries. I went last year for the first time (and was blown away).
The speakers are top-notch, among the best I’ve heard. This year’s line-up includes Jim Collins, Dan Pink, Christine Caine, Tony Dungy, & many others.
We dropped off the girls at Tim’s parents (who they adore) today at 8:45am and picked them up at 5:45pm. I missed them like crazy, but it’s been worth it. Unquestionably worth it.
Tim and I have been discussing it nonstop ever since we tucked the girls in bed.
Are you at BlogHer or the Global Leadership Summit this week (or have you attended either in the past)? What conferences are you hoping to attend in 2010/11 (if any)?
babywearing basics (plus, my favorite/least favorite carriers)
August 4, 2010 By 57 Comments
If you were to see me in real life – at church or running errands or at the park – this is what you would probably see:
A curly-haired woman with green-hazel-blue-gray-always-changing-colors eyes – holding a preschooler’s hand and carrying a toddler on her hip or in a carrier. Smiling at you (I smile a lot).
I’m a big fan of babywearing or babycarrying or whatever you want to call it. Aside from all of the research-proven benefits, I like the closeness and security that baby carriers provide. I like the way my baby feels comforted and calm in my arms (People always say, “She’s such a happy baby!” and “Does she ever cry?” and things like that). I like the way that she is right at my eye level so that we can look at each other (and she can look at the world around her too). I like being able to grocery shop and cook and fold laundry, with her observing and content.
To date, here are the carriers I have tried or owned:
- BabyBjorn Spirit in Red Heat ($79.95)
- BabyHawk Mei Tai in Tweet ($79.99)
- Boba Organic Baby Carrier in Cedar ($118.00)
- Chicco Smart Support Backpack in Red ($92.00)
- ERGO organic baby carrier in Dark Chocolate ($120.00)
- Kelty FC 3.0 Child Carrier in Curry ($193.77)
- Kokopax Classic Carrier in Garden ($141.75)
- Maya Wrap Adjustable Pouch in Black ($27.50)
- Munchkin Jelly Bean Reversible Sling in Licorice Blossom ($29.99)
- PortaMEe Carrier ($170.00)
- Scootababy Baby Carrier in Black ($119.00)
- Sleepy Wrap Classic Baby Carrier in Orange ($39.95)
- Evenflo Snugli ($19.99)
My absolute favorite, hands-down, no-question is the ERGO. It’s comfortable, soft, supportive, and has an awesome sun/sleep hood that I use frequently. It also has a pocket that allows me to slip in my debit card or a little cash if I’m out and about. I’ve hiked with my 16-month-old baby for 6+ miles in it (with no back or hip pain).
When my baby was itty bitty, I loved the BabyHawk (and it’s so pretty too!) and the Kelty FC 3.0 is totally awesome for serious family hikers (3+ miles).
My 2 least favorite ones would have to be (in order): Maya Wrap Adjustable Pouch (the company no longer sells them – for good reason!) and the Evenflo Snugli (not comfy).
Surprisingly, I’ve never used a ring sling…but I have my eye on Sakura Bloom for baby #3 (when that time eventually comes).
Do you wear your baby? Which carriers have you tried (and which one is your favorite)? Do you have any questions for me about the baby carriers I have listed?
* There are affiliate links in this post.
Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web
August 4, 2010 By 10 Comments
Welcome to “Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web” where I serve as your tour guide and showcase the best contests, freebies, deals, and reads for moms on the web…all in one convenient location.
Contests
Enter to win a $100 Visa gift card & Scholastic Dictionary at Classy Mommy. Deadline: Aug 9.
Announcements
Chronicle Books is accepting applications for a brand new Chronicle Children’s Gold Review Panel. If selected, you’ll receive free copies of new books throughout the year. Deadline: Aug 13.
Good Reads
From The Associated Press: Chicken producers debate ‘natural’ label.
From BlogHer: How Much Should You Charge for Advertising on Your Blog?
Jo-Lynne {Musings of a Housewife} gives 5 Ways to Increase Blog Traffic.
Rixa {Stand and Deliver} questions this common birth rhetoric: “All that matters is a healthy baby.”
Miscellany
I stumbled upon the ABIE’s TOP 50 Mommy Blogs list last week…and Metropolitan Mama is on it! I am honored and humbled to be in such good company.
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*** If you have a contest or an announcement that you think might be a good fit for Tuesday Tours, e-mail me at stephanie@metropolitanmama.net.
Schooling Plans
August 2, 2010 By 126 Comments
She’ll be 4 in September (FOUR! – There goes my heart thump-THUMPing again).
Thus, the Question is becoming more common. Will she go to Public? Private? Charter? Which school will we choose?
The quick answer is that we plan to homeschool for the early elementary years (and, perhaps, beyond).
The long answer is too long for this post because we have thoughtfully considered our options and we have a myriad of reasons for homeschooling – social, mental, emotional, physical, spiritual reasons. They are reasons that make the decision right for our family in this season of our lives.
Actually, the truth is that we are homeschooling already. Actually, it might be more like unschooling (or whatever term you want to use). Tim and I primarily teach our girls through play and everyday interaction.
We’re big believers in “the world is our classroom” kinds of instruction – especially for the younger grades. Why not learn fractions while baking shortbread cookies? Why not sit under a big tree and read a mystery book? Why not talk about the solar system, while laying outside under the stars by a campfire?
You’ve probably guessed that we aren’t using a formal curriculum. That may change in the future, but – for now – we’re happy with this laid-back approach.
That said, sometimes we’ll set aside twenty minutes or so for “school time” and our 3-year-old is thrilled when we do!
Lately, we’ve been making use of the Giant Kindergarten Value Bundle by School Zone. We don’t use the computer software components much (I’m not huge into the whole let-preschooler-play-with-$1,000+laptop thing), but the workbooks and flashcards are lots of fun.
P.S. Check out the Sale section for great deals and/or Like School Zone Publishing Company on Facebook to stay up with the latest product launches.
Where do your kids go to school? If you homeschool, what are your favorite books, blogs, and resources?
WIN IT! One winner will receive a Giant Kindergarten Value Bundle ($89.99) by School Zone. To enter, leave any topic-related comment on this post prior to Tuesday, August 10th at 11:59 p.m. All generic comments like “Enter me!,” “Love it,” and “Cool stuff!” will be disqualified. Winner must provide a US mailing address.
* School Zone sent me a sample for review purposes and is also providing 1 bundle for the giveaway.
*UPDATE* The winner is #95 Amy Delong. Congratulations!
