Drop off at daycare/preschool has gotten to be an exercise in tough love. This morning Ms. Connie had to literally pry Jack off of me and then she suggested I leave quickly. I know he is fine after I leave (that's the party line they're sticking to anyway), but I spent most of the morning nauseous and picked him up at 2.
Am I fooling myself by believing that his social interaction is more important than hanging with Mommy at two years old? There are certainly (at least) two schools on that one. Pro and con. I have noticed he is much more vocal/verbal lately. Is that because of the interaction or because he is about to turn 2? Dunno.
Mothers who steadfastly believe that a SAHM is a GOOD mom will, I'm sure, tell me that I am putting us both through this for nothing. Moms with their kids in childcare will tell me it's all good and "just a phase." I didn't realize there are so many shades of gray in motherhood. I appreciate nuance as much as the next gal, but sometimes I'd kill for a black and white view of things.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
High on the Holidays
Oy Gevalt! It's High Holy Days time again! Jack celebrated his second Hebrew birthday on Erev Rosh Hashanah (that would be last Wednesdays for all you shiksas out there). And by "celebrated" I mean that he had ravioli for dinner and promptly got stuck in Temple's babysitting room while Osi and I attended services.
I did my first candle-lighting for a pre-holiday dinner. God bless the Crabills for not laughing. My Hebrew, as you can imagine, is not so good. We are currently seeking a babysitter so Osi and I can go to services and break-the-fast on Yom Kipur. If you know anyone, send them our way. Since OSU plays at 3:30, all of our "usuals" are tied up watching he game.
We're invited to the Delsons for break-the-(nonexistent)-fast, which thrills me to no end. The reason I am trying to be so active in Sisterhood is to develop a network that supports our family and our raising Jack as a Jew. Lord knows that network ain't his sisters, since they don't think Osi is "Jewish enough" and don't think Jack is Jewish at all. Thank God for the Crabills (again), Coopers, Delsons and everyone else who is welcoming.
By the way, for those of you who have not tried the Rosh Hashanah tradition of dipping apples in honey - YOU MUST! It is the most delicious snack ever. We had an abundance of apples from our pre-holiday apple-picking adventure (Jack used the fallen apples as balls - we had to dodge them to pick the good apples). So, the baking maven that I am, I whipped up an apple crisp, upside down apple cake, three pies and some baked apples. See, I told you we had a lot of apples. One pie went to Barbi's, another we ate and one is in the freezer. I didn't think it was wise to accept the thrown gauntlet of "Can we eat three pies?" I heard ob the Builder in my head urging "YES WE CAN!" But we shouldn't, hence the parceling out of said pastries.
We are in the season of Jewish Holidays, so I don;t expect to poke my head above water again for a few weeks. Happy Jewish New Year to you :)
I did my first candle-lighting for a pre-holiday dinner. God bless the Crabills for not laughing. My Hebrew, as you can imagine, is not so good. We are currently seeking a babysitter so Osi and I can go to services and break-the-fast on Yom Kipur. If you know anyone, send them our way. Since OSU plays at 3:30, all of our "usuals" are tied up watching he game.
We're invited to the Delsons for break-the-(nonexistent)-fast, which thrills me to no end. The reason I am trying to be so active in Sisterhood is to develop a network that supports our family and our raising Jack as a Jew. Lord knows that network ain't his sisters, since they don't think Osi is "Jewish enough" and don't think Jack is Jewish at all. Thank God for the Crabills (again), Coopers, Delsons and everyone else who is welcoming.
By the way, for those of you who have not tried the Rosh Hashanah tradition of dipping apples in honey - YOU MUST! It is the most delicious snack ever. We had an abundance of apples from our pre-holiday apple-picking adventure (Jack used the fallen apples as balls - we had to dodge them to pick the good apples). So, the baking maven that I am, I whipped up an apple crisp, upside down apple cake, three pies and some baked apples. See, I told you we had a lot of apples. One pie went to Barbi's, another we ate and one is in the freezer. I didn't think it was wise to accept the thrown gauntlet of "Can we eat three pies?" I heard ob the Builder in my head urging "YES WE CAN!" But we shouldn't, hence the parceling out of said pastries.
We are in the season of Jewish Holidays, so I don;t expect to poke my head above water again for a few weeks. Happy Jewish New Year to you :)
Sunday, September 2, 2007
I Want My Mommy
I have had a sinus infection for a week. Well, I HAD a sinus infection 5 days ago when I went to the doctor. What I have NOW is something that sounds a lot like I have been smoking 2 packs a day of unfiltered Marlboros for the past 20 years. Seriously, I bet there are TB wards quieter than my bedroom at 2 am when a coughing fit hits.
Jack, of course, finds the various sounds Mommy is emitting hilarious. My pain brings him joy. What a little sadist. Osi, God bless him, has gotten up with Jack the last 2 days and has let me sleep in. Thank God tomorrow is a holiday and he told me he'd do the same then, too.
I have a curious habit of just wanting to stare at someone when I'm sick. Neither my mom or my husband find this amusing. Jack doesn't notice. The dog is usually passed out and, besides, she lacks the empathy gene. Seriously - try to cuddle with that damn dog when you're sick and she will sigh deeply as if making a plea to the heavens "Why, God? Why must she constantly touch me?" My dog has issues, but that is for another post.
After a week moving through what I like to call the Sputum Spectrum, I seem t be stuck on a particularly unpleasant variation that should NOT be coming from my lungs after 5 days on antibiotics. I am reminded of the Friends episode where Pheobe has her "sexy cold voice." Only I tend to sounds more like Marge Simpson's sisters these days.
Bottom line: I want my Mommy. I want her to make me soup and let me lay in the big bed and watch TV all day. Also, I'd like to stare at her for no reason. I bet she'd let me.
Jack, of course, finds the various sounds Mommy is emitting hilarious. My pain brings him joy. What a little sadist. Osi, God bless him, has gotten up with Jack the last 2 days and has let me sleep in. Thank God tomorrow is a holiday and he told me he'd do the same then, too.
I have a curious habit of just wanting to stare at someone when I'm sick. Neither my mom or my husband find this amusing. Jack doesn't notice. The dog is usually passed out and, besides, she lacks the empathy gene. Seriously - try to cuddle with that damn dog when you're sick and she will sigh deeply as if making a plea to the heavens "Why, God? Why must she constantly touch me?" My dog has issues, but that is for another post.
After a week moving through what I like to call the Sputum Spectrum, I seem t be stuck on a particularly unpleasant variation that should NOT be coming from my lungs after 5 days on antibiotics. I am reminded of the Friends episode where Pheobe has her "sexy cold voice." Only I tend to sounds more like Marge Simpson's sisters these days.
Bottom line: I want my Mommy. I want her to make me soup and let me lay in the big bed and watch TV all day. Also, I'd like to stare at her for no reason. I bet she'd let me.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Sara Strikes Again
Warning: Pure rant follows.
Is there no end to this woman's thoughtlessness? Apparently not. As predicted, we see about as much of said Inlaw From Hell as we did when we lived in Westerville. I think Osi's hopes were up that once we moved within 6 blocks of her, she would take more interest in a relationship- both with us and Jack. Riiiight. Self-involved people don't care if you move in next door, Sweety.
Osi decided to "pop over" to Sara's for a visit today - since we are rarely, if ever, invited. I like the element of surprise as much as the next gal - but only good surprises. He had heard rumor that she was making a favorite lunch of his (OK, and mine) this afternoon. Since we couldn't score an invite, we decided to crash. Bad idea.
Apparently in lieu of inviting us, she had invited a whole lot of Orthodox buddies over for quality time. We sat in the living room for 5 minutes while they ate before I had to leave or something really bad was going to happen. I left with Jack without a word. Osi make some excuse and he bolted too. It is rare that I am pissed into silence. But I don;t think I ahve felt this much of an outsider since about 7th grade.
Yes, we crashed the party, so THEY should be the ones pissed. Here's my take:
Osi wants so badly for the families to be close. They won't eat at our house, so we have to rely on invitations from them to get together. Osi, apparently, was sick of waiting. To know that we aren't geting the invitations, but that her religious buddies are, really hurts. It's like the minute we got engaged, Sara believes Osi is no longer a "good Jew" and so has as little to do with us as possible. The only thing worse than getting hurt yourself is watching someone you love get hurt.
I was really sick 2 weeks ago and, out of desperation, asked Sara to com stay with Jack for a few hours. BIG mistake (again). Now I feel indebted, she feels like the hero and I want to stick a fork in my eyeball rather than spend one minute more in her presence. Think I've made my feelings about her clear?
Is there no end to this woman's thoughtlessness? Apparently not. As predicted, we see about as much of said Inlaw From Hell as we did when we lived in Westerville. I think Osi's hopes were up that once we moved within 6 blocks of her, she would take more interest in a relationship- both with us and Jack. Riiiight. Self-involved people don't care if you move in next door, Sweety.
Osi decided to "pop over" to Sara's for a visit today - since we are rarely, if ever, invited. I like the element of surprise as much as the next gal - but only good surprises. He had heard rumor that she was making a favorite lunch of his (OK, and mine) this afternoon. Since we couldn't score an invite, we decided to crash. Bad idea.
Apparently in lieu of inviting us, she had invited a whole lot of Orthodox buddies over for quality time. We sat in the living room for 5 minutes while they ate before I had to leave or something really bad was going to happen. I left with Jack without a word. Osi make some excuse and he bolted too. It is rare that I am pissed into silence. But I don;t think I ahve felt this much of an outsider since about 7th grade.
Yes, we crashed the party, so THEY should be the ones pissed. Here's my take:
Osi wants so badly for the families to be close. They won't eat at our house, so we have to rely on invitations from them to get together. Osi, apparently, was sick of waiting. To know that we aren't geting the invitations, but that her religious buddies are, really hurts. It's like the minute we got engaged, Sara believes Osi is no longer a "good Jew" and so has as little to do with us as possible. The only thing worse than getting hurt yourself is watching someone you love get hurt.
I was really sick 2 weeks ago and, out of desperation, asked Sara to com stay with Jack for a few hours. BIG mistake (again). Now I feel indebted, she feels like the hero and I want to stick a fork in my eyeball rather than spend one minute more in her presence. Think I've made my feelings about her clear?
Friday, August 17, 2007
Big Day at Chez Zimmer
Well, my friends, it has been a very interesting 24 hours.
Let us start with the fact that J has gotten into the pattern of waking up in the middle of the night for anywhere between 2-3 hours straight. He screams bloody murder (if he could talk, that is what he'd be screaming, anyway) if you leave him alone. While I am completely fine with letting the little Banshee scream himself hoarse, Osi can't take it. So our nights have turned into 3 a.m. arguments about how to handle The Beast. Needless to say, no one is getting any sleep.
The Detroit Crazies rolled into town yesterday, too. We went over to take the girls' their (purchased out of guilt) birthday presents and give Shawna some clothes for the ever-expanding baby, Schmuel (yes, that is not a typo). In Target, shopping for said gifts, I found myself thinking "Well, I like the $15 worth, but definitely NOT $25 worth." Surely, I am going to hell. We are signed up for another "family dinner" on Tuesday. As Stimpy so eloquently stated: "Oh Joy."
Now, let's move to the fact that we found out today that the JCC pre-school finally has room for Jack. He starts August 27 - TEN DAYS. That is not enough time for me to get my head around it. I see Tuesdays will be my "Julie, can we go drink at lunch" days. Julie's daughter Chelsea is also at the JCC, but on Mondays and Tuesdays (J will go Tues and Thurs). Here's the thing: J is a pretty well-behaved kid. He doesn't hit, bite or scream (any more than the usual 2 year old on that last one). I am scared that my nice boy is going to hang with some mean kids and either pick up bad habits or get bullied. OY, Motherhood!
FINALLY, I am in charge of a 40 person dinner tonight at Temple Israel. No, you didn't miss the conversion announcement - I'm still not Jewish. But I have apparently been promoted to VP of marketing in Sisterhood with plans to be co-president in 2 years. Again, the Shiksa will be running the Temple Israel Sisterhood. I find this both highly amusing and more than a little terrifying. The dinner tonight is especially for non-Jewish partners and recent converts, so i guess it makes sense that I am in charge. It is in 3 hours and I still don't have remarks prepared.
Oh, also, my whole family is descending upon me tomorrow night for a football game (GO BROWNS!). Fun, but stressful.
OK - how is everyone else's week shaping up?
AAAARRRRGGGHHHHHHHhhhhhhhh......
Let us start with the fact that J has gotten into the pattern of waking up in the middle of the night for anywhere between 2-3 hours straight. He screams bloody murder (if he could talk, that is what he'd be screaming, anyway) if you leave him alone. While I am completely fine with letting the little Banshee scream himself hoarse, Osi can't take it. So our nights have turned into 3 a.m. arguments about how to handle The Beast. Needless to say, no one is getting any sleep.
The Detroit Crazies rolled into town yesterday, too. We went over to take the girls' their (purchased out of guilt) birthday presents and give Shawna some clothes for the ever-expanding baby, Schmuel (yes, that is not a typo). In Target, shopping for said gifts, I found myself thinking "Well, I like the $15 worth, but definitely NOT $25 worth." Surely, I am going to hell. We are signed up for another "family dinner" on Tuesday. As Stimpy so eloquently stated: "Oh Joy."
Now, let's move to the fact that we found out today that the JCC pre-school finally has room for Jack. He starts August 27 - TEN DAYS. That is not enough time for me to get my head around it. I see Tuesdays will be my "Julie, can we go drink at lunch" days. Julie's daughter Chelsea is also at the JCC, but on Mondays and Tuesdays (J will go Tues and Thurs). Here's the thing: J is a pretty well-behaved kid. He doesn't hit, bite or scream (any more than the usual 2 year old on that last one). I am scared that my nice boy is going to hang with some mean kids and either pick up bad habits or get bullied. OY, Motherhood!
FINALLY, I am in charge of a 40 person dinner tonight at Temple Israel. No, you didn't miss the conversion announcement - I'm still not Jewish. But I have apparently been promoted to VP of marketing in Sisterhood with plans to be co-president in 2 years. Again, the Shiksa will be running the Temple Israel Sisterhood. I find this both highly amusing and more than a little terrifying. The dinner tonight is especially for non-Jewish partners and recent converts, so i guess it makes sense that I am in charge. It is in 3 hours and I still don't have remarks prepared.
Oh, also, my whole family is descending upon me tomorrow night for a football game (GO BROWNS!). Fun, but stressful.
OK - how is everyone else's week shaping up?
AAAARRRRGGGHHHHHHHhhhhhhhh......
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