Dear 3 Boys

I have 3 sons - they are all special to me in their own ways and have their own personalities I so admire.  David always seeks to please me and is one of the kindest human beings I have ever met (as a toddler he would let every child slide down the slide in front of him before taking his turn).  Adam is so quirky and constantly smiling, even when he can tell I'm frustrated.  And then there is Matthew, the toddler with the most serious stare-down you've ever seen who is totally fearless (at birth he even decided he could handle being on his own in the NICU for nearly a month without his twin or Mama!). There are so many dreams and hopes we, as mothers, have for our children.  As David nears the end of his Kindergarten year and approaches his sixth birthday, I can't help but feel my baby and preschooler are no longer there - he doesn't want to sleep in my bed anymore, he wants his hair styled, and he can ask me questions that really make me think before I answer....

One of my resolutions and goals for 2019 is to really help my children gain more independence and become more self-sufficient.  I know they're still so young to do a lot on their own, but even the littlest things can make a world of difference to a mom of twins plus one.  Just getting out the door to go for a stroll could take me about 20 minutes of just getting ready to head out, with 3 jackets to put on, 3 zippers to zip, 3 pairs of shoes to put on, bottles to make, snacks to bring, etc....and then at least get shoes and a coat on for myself! As a first-time mom, I can admit that I dealt with a lot of guilt over returning to work teaching full-time when my son, David, was just shy of 6 months of age.  And that guilt of working full-time just kind of added on for me moreso as time went on.  I wondered if he was getting enough attention from the other family members watching him, if something was missing for him emotionally since his mom wasn't always there, or ...

With the end of January nearing a close, I just thought it'd be fun to share with you all some ideas I have for my own family adventures before this Winter is over  (that you may want to consider for your own).  Let's face it - there is no place else in the world like New York City - it offers an abundance in culture, variety and accessibility no matter the season...so why not take advantage!  I just hope that between my twin toddlers and growing Kindergartner who often feels too cool for his baby brothers, that there's something in each item on this list that they can really enjoy and have fun with.  Oh, and if you're looking for more ideas, you can revisit the post I shared when this Winter first started where I offered 4 suggestions of indoor places to visit with kids in NYC - just click here . But first, here's my round-up of 6 things to do with kids in NYC before this Winter is over: 1.  NY Boat Show at the Javits Center from January 23-27, 2019 I'...

This January actually marks 1 year of my return to being a "Working Mama," but part-time instead of full-time now.  Right before I found out I was having twins, I had shifted from being a middle school English teacher for five years in the Bronx to working as a Coach of Teacher Leaders across schools in the Bronx region (my professional career dream come true)...then the surprise of my life came when I realized I was having twins, which would change everything.  I worked until about the 8th month of my pregnancy, but had to stop earlier than I anticipated, due to preeclampsia issues in the twin pregnancy.  I took my maternity leave and stayed home for about 9 months before returning to work, and I was so fortunate to be able to go back part-time when I felt ready.  Getting back to my career, even just for a couple days each week, has brought me a lot of happiness and fulfillment because I feel like I am still connected to the side of me I worked most of my life to...

My 3 Mischievous Guys This post is a satirical twist on one of my favorite bedtime stories to read with my boys that I've read hundreds of times in the past 5 years.  This entry is inspired by, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by Judith Viorst.  And if you don't have it yet, this is a signature children's book you'll definitely want to add to your collection, available here on Amazon. Some days being a mom is just tough, and it may often feel like I must be the only one dealing with all the gazillion things that didn't go as planned for the day.  But then I remember the lesson Alexander learned from his own mother - that everyone has their bad days!  Hope you enjoy my version of a mom and her own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day written by yours truly! And, yes, these events are based on a true story, but it's my story, and I guess I wouldn't trade it for any other.  Just remember, every mom has their bad...