November 19th, 2009, 2:07 pm by Michelle Reese
My husband and I have lots to talk about over the next few weeks. With my pending layoff, decisions have to be made about our financial spending.
Two of the questions at hand directly involve my kids.
With mommy not working, I don’t need my daughter to be in daycare. But she’s entering kindergarten in the fall, and she’s gaining a lot from her preschool time now. I really don’t want to rip her out of her class and away from her friends and teacher. I feel there is great value to this time.
I’ve already made a mental committment to keep her in preschool. If we knock off the fees for early- and after-care (assuming I don’t land a job right away), that just leaves the monthly preschool fee.
That’s doable until summer.
The second question involves my son’s after-school care. He LOVES LOVES LOVES his after-school program. It’s what he looks forward to most. It is his down time. It is his play time.
But this is definitely something we won’t need after my job ends. And the expense isn’t cheap.
My husband and I will talk about it with the kids, they are 4 and 7, but I know they’ll be disappointed.
Since my job ends during their holiday break, perhaps that “routine” being changed anyway will ease the additional changes we make to it. But still, I can already hear the sadness in my son’s voice when I tell him he won’t be going to the after-care program.
And that breaks my heart.
Posted in: Michelle Reese • Add new tag • Being a mom • fiscal decision • layoff | Post a Comment »
November 19th, 2009, 11:25 am by Michelle Reese
 It should come as no surprise that I count myself among the TwilightMom fans. (Note: I have a link to Stephenie Meyer’s blog on mine) Part of my intrigue is Stephenie’s story - how this mom of three young boys managed to find the time to create not one, but (including “The Host”) five bestsellers. As a writer of nonfiction, the process of creating fiction fascinates me. How much do you research? How much do you make up? What inspires you? When do you do your writing?
Friday’s midnight opening of “New Moon” brings the story around for me again. I didn’t see “Twilight” in theaters (there was NO TIME when it came out!), but I am plotting a trip to the theaters this weekend (complete with dropping the kids off at a yet-to-be-figured-out babysitter). I may go alone (not sure I can drag Mr. Reese to this one since I couldn’t drag him to the first one).
But until then I’ll let fester this thought: At this point in reading the books, I probably sided more with Team Jacob than Team Edward (and actually, character wise I much preferred Alice to either of the boys). Now, it’s your turn to vote.
Choose a side: Team Edward or Team Jacob?
Posted in: Michelle Reese • "New Moon" • "Twilight" • Stephenie Meyer • Team Edward • Team Jacob • Time for mom • writing process | Post a Comment »
November 19th, 2009, 10:52 am by Michelle Reese
During a recent activity at church, my 7-year-old son made up a list of things he’s thankful for. On fall-colored paper leaves, he wrote family, Jasmine (our dog), home, God and presents.
Actually, that last one was the first one wrote.
He’s all about presents. What kid isn’t?
But for WEEKS he’s been asking, “When is Christmas?” And when I say “Thanksgiving is next,” he doesn’t like the answer.
I’ve been having trouble getting the idea across that presents are just that - unexpected gifts. He proceeded to tell me he had seven thigns on a Christmas wish list and he expected to get all of them.
Whoa.
I thought I made progress when we picked up a few “Angle Tree” cards from church. I let the kids decide the sex and age of the children to buy gifts for: My son wanted a 7-year-old boy. He was excited when I showed him the card, but then started listing all the things HE wanted.
He was more than a bit upset when I explained we weren’t getting gifts for him, but for a child who may not get any other gifts for the holidays.
It took the entire 20 minute drive home from church, followed by a few more minutes of discussion at home to get the point across.
I think it’s finally come across, though we still have to go shopping for our “Angel Tree” kids.
This morning, my son said, “Mom, when is Thanksgiving?” and for once, it wasn’t followed by “Then it’s Christmas!”
See also: North Pole irked at end to Santa replies
Posted in: Michelle Reese | Post a Comment »
November 11th, 2009, 1:09 pm by Michelle Reese
 Santa has my thanks.
My kids and I accidentally stumbled on the jolly old man this past weekend at a local shopping mall. (Yes, parents, be warned. He’s already there.)
As the kids and I wandered through the crowd and marveled as the holiday decorations already in place, I spotted from the second level the tip top of a holiday house display. Not knowing the house was OCCUPIED, I called the kids over to look down below:
“SANTA!” they screamed.
Before I knew it they were on a hunt for the elevator.
One of the elves happily greeted us (complete with a look of, “Yes, I know. It’s not Thanksgiving yet and here I am dressed in green with pointy ears”).
No one else was in line, so my son quickly made his way to Santa. My daughter hung back a bit. (I kept thinking, “What am I doing here?”)
Santa had a long talk with them about being good to each other, listening to mom, and doing their chores and homework.
Wow… this man has just earned extra cookies at the Reese house!
Then he asked the kids for their holiday wishes.
Son: “Legos and Bionicle.”
Daughter: Shoulder shrug, “I don’t know.”
Santa: “How about I surprise you?”
After getting some fun books as parting gifts, we headed to my husband’s football game. Within a few minutes of getting in the car, the kids started the bicker. Then they stopped… on their own.
Son: “Santa said we have to be good.”
Daughter: “We can’t fight.”
And that same conversation has gone on just about daily since then.
Um, Santa, do you think you could also make an appearance in July?
Posted in: Michelle Reese • Being a mom • Christmas • Holidays with kids • life with kids • mall • Santa Claus • shopping | Post a Comment »
November 9th, 2009, 12:42 pm by Michelle Reese
 I just saw the Time.Com article on babies rocking out to Beyonce. There’s a link to the Time.com compilation of the YouTube videos. (I know, that’s a long way of saying, “Take a look at the link to see all the cute babies dancing.”)
It’s adorable and if you need a good chuckle - and who doesn’t now a days - check it out.
I may have to put the video up on our TV and turn the video camera on my kids tonight.
Posted in: Michelle Reese • babies dancing • Being a mom • Beyonce • cute kids • silly times | Post a Comment »
November 9th, 2009, 10:02 am by Michelle Reese
 A learned a valuable lesson from my daughter recently.
Did you know broccoli is best fresh, right in the store, right off the produce aisle?
Yea, I didn’t know that either because I’ve never tried it. But apparently my 4-year-old was out to prove it during a recent grocery trip.
My daughter and son can not be more different when it comes to food choices. She’ll eat every color of the rainbow if it’s a vegetable: raw peppers, carrots, celery, lettuce, broccoli.
I’ve seen the girl devour an entire container of cherry tomatoes in one sitting.
My son has eaten salad probably a handful of times this past year. If you give him a carrot – and make him take a bite – he sputters and coughs, almost like he’s being choked.
When we hit the produce aisle, my daughter up to each vegetable, asking to take it home, almost like it’s a sad-looking puppy.
So this particular day when she spotted the broccoli she pleaded: “PLEASE!” I grabbed a crown, stuck it in the bag, put it in the cart, and turned around to get the peppers.
When I came back to the cart, my daughter was just standing there.
You know the look, parents: GUILTY.
Me: “What did you do?”
Daughter: No comment.
Then I noticed tiny kernals of green surrounding her mouth.
I saw the broccoli bag at the bottom of the cart. There was NO WAY she could have reached it.
Then I looked at the display next to her.
YIKES!
“Which ONE did you bite?” I asked her.
She pointed. It was apparently near the bottom of the pile, but I couldn’t tell which broccoli crown has been chomped on by her teeth.
Even if I could, I knew if I pulled from the bottom, the whole thing would come tumbling down.
So I got down on her level, explained that I LOVE how she enjoys vegetables, but next time, could she wait until we get home?
Posted in: Michelle Reese • broccoli • eat your vegetables • food • kids' health • words of wisdom | Post a Comment »
November 5th, 2009, 1:39 pm by Michelle Reese
It happened: I lost it yesterday.
I wasn’t in the newsroom 10 minutes before I started crying. I knew it would happen. I just didn’t know when or what would set it off.
But the tears flowed and flowed and flowed.
I managed to stop long enough to get a few things done before leaving to take my son and myself to the dentist.
Tears started again in the dentist chair, and when I went to pick up my daughter from preschool, and when we all went to the grocery store.
“Mommy, what’s wrong with you?” my 7-year-old son asked driving home from the store.
A song had set the tear ducts going again.
Me: “Mommy is going to be sad for a few weeks, honey. Mommy’s job is ending. My work is closing. I’m going to miss my friends and my job.”
Son: “Why?”
Me: “Because honey, lots of things are going bad in the economy and sometimes businesses have to close.”
Son: “So there won’t be any more newspapers?”
Daughter: “No more newspapers and no more money.”
And I thought my kids didn’t know what I did all day while they were at school. I was very, very wrong. Of course they know. They know because they’ve heard me do interviews at home. They’ve seen me type stories. They’ve been to the office and sat in my desk and met my co-workers and been handed newspaper after newspaper to look at all their lives.
It made me smile. It also helped me realize they are at an age where they are beginning to understand the value of a job - that it can satisfy both personal and financial goals.
I stopped crying.
Posted in: Uncategorized • changing times • laid off • time with kids • working mom | Post a Comment »
November 3rd, 2009, 5:33 pm by Michelle Reese
As a working mom, I’ve come full circle.
When my son was born, I returned to work six weeks later, full time. Eight months later, I left to freelance.
I became a part-time, working-at-home mom. I about pulled my hair out. I’ve never felt so stressed in my life.
Before that year was over, I returned to work - one day in the office and one day at home. My son was in preschool. My daughter was in my belly.
And so the cycle went after my daughter’s birth: I worked in the office a few days. I worked from home a few days. I eventually returned to full-time employment.
And now, in a few months, the cycle will start again.
As many of you have read here, the Tribune will close its doors Dec. 31.
Many people have asked about my plans: I don’t know. But seasons come and go, and apparently this season in my life is coming to a close.
I would like to devote more time to my son’s school, which doesn’t have classroom aides this year. I would like to write a children’s book.
I plan to blog - I’ll let you know when I can where that blog will be found - because I am a writer. It’s who I am. It’s what I do. And I love it - whether or not anyone is reading.
But for the next two months, I’ll continue to share my mommyhood with you. And I hope you find a little smile in reading it each day.
Posted in: Michelle Reese • Being a mom • home time • life with kids • working mom | Post a Comment »
October 29th, 2009, 4:23 pm by Michelle Reese
With the flu wrecking havoc across Valley hospitals and schools, it’s inevitable we will all know someone who gets sick.
Count the Reese household as a likely candidate: We have two children in school. Two young children who put their hands in their mouths and noses and eyes and ears.
Two children who love each other dearly, hug each other and everyone around them.
Two children who are among the most likely to get the H1N1 virus.
And with one at home with a fever yesterday, count us as likely victims of this bug, too.
My son has been a solid rock health-wise since March when he got his tonsils out.
But Wednesday he didn’t want breakfast. And when we got to school, he went and sat on the sidewalk instead of going to play.
In class, he just put his head down on the desk.
So after I took his sister to school Wednesday, I went back to his school, picked him up, took him home and put him in bed.
He slept most of the day. His fever went up to 101 then back down to nothing all night.
Then back up again this morning before I left him at home with daddy.
I just called there, and my son is sleeping again.
I’ve heard from different parents that their kids were sick for two days, then fine, then sick again. I’ve heard from others that kids are missing two days from school, but are then back to normal.
I’ve heard from a preschool director that only 3 kindergartners showed today in her small class because the rest are out with flu-like symptoms.
It’s taking all shapes and forms. There’s no magic formula this bug is following.
My son may be fine tonight with no fever and ready to rock ‘n’ roll tomorrow.
Or he may sleep again all day. I have no idea. But I’m heading home, armed with a family-friendly DVD for the night and plans to read books and to down fluids.
Posted in: Michelle Reese • Being a mom • flu • H1N1 • sick • sleep | Post a Comment »
October 25th, 2009, 11:11 am by Michelle Reese
I ran across this story today while looking for news for another blog. Apparently Disney has agreed to refund $15.99 for each “Baby Einstein” video returned to it by consumers. Households can return up to four of these movies, without a receipt.
Why is Disney doing this? Faced with a lawsuit, Disney is admitting - according to the story - that the entertaining films did not do anything to stimulate brain cell growth or create a new generation of “Einsteins.”
My kids and I have watched these films. It’s been years - they’re 4 and 7 now - but we’ve watched them, MANY MANY MANY times.
They’re cute. They’re colorful. They’re entertaining.
But I didn’t expect them to boost my kids’ ability to do calculus in high school. Nor did I expect them to become early readers from it.
They just enjoyed the pictures… and I enjoyed the music.
I’m pretty sure I don’t have any of these in my possession any more (my sister now has kids of her own and I think they’re enjoying them).
But even if I did, I’m not sure I would return them.
I got what I wanted from the films: the kids heard the names of colors and animals, often repeating them, and I got a few minutes to fold the laundry when they were little.
Posted in: Michelle Reese • Baby Einstein • Being a mom • kids at home • kids' television | Post a Comment »
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