Montco Mommy

A Mother's Wish for Her Children

Montco Mommy makes a record of her wish list for her children's futures.

I’ve seen them all over. Maybe it was Mother’s Day last weekend. Maybe it is just the over-abundance of social media in my life. Whatever the reason, I’m sure you’ve seen them, too. From Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance,” to Tina Fey’s “A Mother’s Prayer for Its Daughter” (from her Bossy Pants book), there are a wide variety of explanations, prayers, hopes, songs, poems and wish lists a mom has for her children. I often think, if something ever happened to me, whether I be hit by a bus tomorrow or die in my sleep of old age decades from now, I’d still like to be sure my children know how I feel, what I want for them, what I hope they become. My real wish is that I’m a communicative mom enough that they already know it. I would hope I …

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Montco Mommy

Passing Down a Passion for Books

Montco Mommy's family has shared a box set of books for three generations now.

When I was little, I wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder. I read all of her books, and most days, I’d trade any of my modern-day luxuries to be that little girl on the prairie. These days, when I’m sitting in thick Philadelphia traffic or watching my MacBook spin the “pinwheel of death,” I sometimes dream of the same thing. Sometimes, I wouldn’t mind giving up cable TV, electricity and laundry machines for the feeling of wide open spaces, working for the simplicity of survival and skipping out on all of our modern-day challenges. When I was little, my mom handed down her tattered and torn copies of all of Wilder’s books. She had a box set when she was a kid. I still remember the perfect penmanship scripted in pencil with her name on the …

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Montco Mommy

Teaching Your Son To Fish ... So To Speak

Montco Mommy learns to let go, so her son might become a better man.

I really cannot believe it. I mean, I know he is half his father’s child, too, but it astonishes me that my son somehow got zero of my obsessive compulsive genetics. I’m a pretty organized gal. I think I have to be. To do well in school, get great grades, participate in four sports and countless academic clubs and groups, I had to be as a kid. I worked hard then, and I work hard now. Instead of schlepping backpacks, notebooks and sports equipment, I schlep kids, their school bags, and, OK, still a lot of sporting equipment. Keeping four people on track–from bills for the house, to dentist appointments, doctor’s visits to sports’ practices–the scheduling and organization is endless. Because I am so obsessive about it, it seems I’ve gone a …

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Seriously, School District? He's a Truant?

Montco Mommy takes district to task over absentee policies.

This year, the flu really hit our family pretty hard. I hear it was one of the worst flu seasons ever. My son probably felt it worst of all. At age 7, there isn't much you can do for him but monitor his fever, keep it down with acetaminophen and ibuprofen.  Thankfully, he made it through OK. We took two different trips to the doctor, and all in all, he missed 10 days, or two weeks, of school. Thankfully it was right around the holidays, so I figured with Christmas break looming, he'd not miss much work. It only took him and me a few days to catch up his school work. I thought the flu season was conquered, and all was behind us. That is ... until I got the mail a few days ago. It seems that since my son has missed more than 10 days this …

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I Love You, Alora ... But Go The 'F' To Sleep

Montco Mommy's blood pressure rises once per night, at least, when putting the smallest child to bed.

I'm not a very patient person, but since I've been a mother, I feel like I've grown some in that department. As a mom, you have to be patient. But, besides Philadelphia area traffic, the only other thing that I seem NOT to be able to control my famed red-headed temper about is my daughter going to bed. I'll admit it. We were spoiled first. My son was the quietest baby ever. He slept through the night by 10 weeks, and ever since has quietly gone to bed, peacefully, happily, and will even ask to go if it is getting too late. It seems just about EVERY night of my daughter's life, however, yes all 5 years of it, we've fought her to go to bed. We've gone through various stages with it. She used to sleep in a bassinet beside our bed, but would …

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Montco Mommy Welcomes a New 'Queen of Diamonds'

The smallest in the family has taken to the field.

She picked out a pink bat. She has a pink helmet, complete with sparkles that match the facemask. It all fits neatly into her pink Louisville Slugger bat bag. She’s ready for the big leagues. I’m talking, however, about my 5-year-old daughter. She is about to embark on her very first season of t-ball as part of the Audubon Recreation Association’s (ARA) spring league. She is playing in the “Girls’ Softball 6U” team, meaning those 6 and under. She is almost a foot smaller than every other girl out there. But, what she lacks in athletic skill, she makes up for in enthusiasm. It is still unclear if my darling children will be as athletically inclined as their mother. Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t play in college or go pro or anything, but I …

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When Should the Kids Have Facebook Accounts?

What ages are appropriate for joining social media sites? Montco Mommy debates.

It is official. My kids have their own Facebook pages. Yes, they are only 5 and 7 now, but in all honesty, they don’t quite “own them” solo just yet. I set them up, after much request from family, not for them to “Like” random pages, Harlem Shake videos and let’s face it, lots of cute cat photos. Instead, I find it to be a place to chronicle their lives. Much like my weekly column, I find it to be a nice space to save their daily shenanigans. My children are full of hysterical commentary, and I’ve dubbed them their “-isms.” Fans of my own, personal Facebook page largely tune in strictly to read the latest Seamus-ism or Alora-ism, not so much what I’m doing day to day. Then there are the photos. We take so many photos, and like most busy …

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Montco Mommy

Montco Mommy Versus Nightmares

How do you keep your tots in bed for the entire night when bad dreams come?

The boogey man. The monster under the bed. Vampires. Zombies. Witches. Spiders. At one time or another, one or many of these things have been after my children. Thankfully, they woke to find they were only dreaming. Our house seems to run feast or famine on nightmares these days. The main problem: We’re never quite sure when to “believe” them. Since the day they were born, (OK, more like the day they were out of a crib) the rule in the house has been simple. If you have a bad dream, you run to find mom and dad. The kids used to be small enough to squeeze in between the two of us in a queen-sized bed. These days, that is getting tougher and tougher. Typically, my husband has gotten into the (likely bad) habit of getting up and moving to the…

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Montco Mommy

The Baby Is Growing Up

Montco Mommy's youngest soon won't be so young.

My baby girl turned 5 this week. As a mother, I struggle with her getting older. Some days, I can’t wait to, say have a beer with my daughter. Other days, I miss how her tiny baby hands would curl around my finger. I can’t decide if I want her to stay tiny forever or get older. One major fear I often think over is her teenage years. If there is any truth to “bad karma,” I’m probably due for some rough years in there somewhere. As hormones start to influence her decisions, tone of voice and attitude toward her mother, we could have some issues. We are a lot alike, to be honest. I know when we butt heads it is because I’ve produced a daughter that is as stubborn, independent and bossy as her mother. I’m mostly proud of that. I’m less proud …

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Montco Mommy

In the Snow, With No Shoes, Uphill, Both Ways

Montco Mommy reflects on her childhood and the things our children may never understand.

We’ve all heard it from our parents. I used to walk to school, barefoot, for 12 miles, uphill both ways. Every generation has its hallowed tales of how tough it was when they were a kid. In our family, we often talk of the things our children will think odd that we lived without as youngsters. For example, I can recall getting our first microwave. It was a really big deal to heat up food and make popcorn without a stove or oven. I remember the first computer I’d seen in a classroom wasn’t until after fifth-grade. Even then, all we could manage on it was to play Word Munchers or Oregon Trail. (Man, I loved those games.) I’m sure most parents our age have identified the obvious. Our kids will wonder how we ever remotely functioned without …

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