EV Moms

My layoff: Time to tell the kids

Michelle Reese — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:39:02 +0000

It happend: 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.

Post from: EV Moms

Seasons come, seasons go

Michelle Reese — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:33:28 +0000

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.

Post from: EV Moms

The flu never looks the same

Michelle Reese — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:23:26 +0000

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.

Post from: EV Moms

Disney offers refunds for Baby Einstein flicks

Michelle Reese — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:11:16 +0000

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.

Post from: EV Moms

Letting the kids run loose on vacation

Michelle Reese — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:35:40 +0000

Last week, I let the kids run loose on the beach in Southern California. They ran to the sand, frolicked in the waves and talked to strangers.

And I wasn’t within arms’ reach of them. In fact, there were a few times I couldn’t even see them. But their voices carried far and I knew they were just out the back door of the patio at the beach home we were visiting.

They laughed. They screamed “AHHH! We’re getting soaked.” They chased down the tennis balls dogs dropped for them to throw.

For the most part, I was up on the patio reading my book. But I didn’t have them in sight all the time. I ran inside to get water bottles and towels. I put the dishes in the dishwasher. I grabbed another soda from the refridgerator.

“We want to go the beach!” they yelled after breakfast each morning. “So go!” I said, shuffling them out the door.

There was really only one place to go - the sand and water right in front of us. And when the tide was high, I joined them in the water (years of visiting California beaches, I know what a strong current can do).

I don’t know why I felt a little freer to let them go during our vacation than I would, say, in our own neighborhood. But I did. Sometimes at home I will let them run across the street to the park with friends. But I usually have an eye on them from the upstairs window and I don’t leave them alone for long - I’m there within a few minutes.

So I surprised myself with my actions last week. From the porch I could see my son watch over his little sister. They knew exactly how far they were allowed to go into the water (”Don’t stand in water above your ankles. Make sure you can see the house.”) Mostly they chased the waves and let the waves chase them.

It was nice to let them have that freedom. And it was nice to have that freedom for myself.

Post from: EV Moms

Free stuff alert

Michelle Reese — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:42:10 +0000

I got an e-mail alerting me to a “free” DVD giveaway from Brainy Baby. It’s not entirely free - you have to pay shipping and handling that’s $6.95 - but still, with holidays around the corner, this may be a nice, inexpensive gift for a child in your life.
Now through the end of December, families can go to www.myfreebrainybaby.com and order a free copy of one of the company’s most popular DVDs: music, ABCs, laugh and learn and colors and shapes. Of course this proably puts you on a permanent e-mail or mailing list for their stuff, so be warned.
I saw the information on the Web site, but admit I have not done it myself to see if it works.

Post from: EV Moms

Trip planning sometimes includes post-trip chores

Michelle Reese — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:06:50 +0000

Va-ca-tion!
Why does it seem that in the days leading up to vacation, 10,000 things need to be done?
I mean really - and I say this to my fellow moms - must the house be clean? The laundry done? The refrigerator stocked for our return?
No! All that REALLY needs to be done - in my case anyway - is the selection of a few outfits and bathing suits, followed by putting those clothes and two kids in the car. My husband has to work and isn’t joining us this trip out, so even the refrigerator doesn’t need to be stocked.
But before we depart for the beach and grandpa, I imagine I’ll do all of the above. Why? Because that way when I get back, I won’t have to do it.
We aren’t leaving right away and it’s only a short trip. And before we go we have gymnastics and football to attend to.
Somewhere between now and then, the laundry will get done, the house will be picked up and yes, I’ll probably get groceries. The kids will do their chores. They Legos on the floor will be put into boxes and the library books will be returned.
See, there’s a VERY GOOD reason I don’t leave on trips on the first day of vacation: I want to relax while I’m gone. If I realize all this awaits my return, I may not enjoy it as much.
Or maybe there’s just some brain nerve that can’t be turned off until my To-Do list is complete.

Post from: EV Moms

Mommy’s back

Michelle Reese — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:53:36 +0000

I spent the last few days at a conference in Washington, D.C. Not only did I plan my trip, I confess I also put in place events for my husband and kids in my absence. Example: Sunday a good friend came over with his two kids for our weekly “football watching/playdate.” And with my husband coaching football, one night I arranged a babysitter and the other night his mom picked up the kids from school.

OK, so I didn’t have it planned out perfectly. My husband said our friends showed up and our children weren’t home yet from their grandparents. After a few phone calls, I was told, every one was home and the kids broke out the hundreds of Legos onto the loft/playroom floor.

I missed them, absolutely. And it was a bit surreal to realize that for three days I didn’t have to cook, gather up backpacks, plan lunches or even pick up a single toy.

And while it was work - a very good conference held by the Education Writers Association - it was also a break for me.

I got up each morning with only myself to care for. I saw a cousin who lives in D.C. I even got to go see Smithsonian museums - the way only I would do it (quick tours in and out of a couple museums plus the National Archives). If I’d had kids with me, it would have been a much slower pace.

But for me - it was perfect.

The house is a wreck (four kids and a Lego playdate will do that). We ordered take out last night for dinner. And I probably won’t get laundry started until… well, I don’t know when it’s going to get done. But it’s very nice to be home. Still ringing in my ears is my daughter’s call of ”Mommy!” after she crawled in bed and found me there. And my son’s long embrace will keep me going throughout today I have no doubt.

Post from: EV Moms

Crafty mom bug bites

Michelle Reese — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:30:07 +0000

I had to pass these along. I found a few craft ideas on other mom blogs that may be tried in the Reese household during fall break. One idea I saw is creating butterfly or fairy wings. The other idea shows how to make cute-cute-cute toadstools. When we get ours done, I’ll post photos.

Another blog I just found shows ideas with pumpkins - fake ones that is. I LOVE fall. That’s why my husband and I chose November for our wedding. That’s why each fall I try to run away with the kids to the Arizona mountains or to Indiana to see my grandparents. That’s why I will probably be making these adorable pumpkin topiaries sometime in the next month. Now, when will I have time to fit my scrapbooking in?

Post from: EV Moms

Michigan story sparks Arizona child care questions

Michelle Reese — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:53:08 +0000

A mom in Michigan is under fire because state regulators say she is violating childcare law there. Each morning, the woman’s neighbors bring their children to her house for care before the bus arrives. Then the woman takes all the children to the bus stop. But the state says that because she is not licensed, and the care is ongoing for more than four weeks (Michigan’s statute), she is breaking the law.

According to Susan Wilkins, the executive director for Arizona’s Association for Supportive Child Care, the Michigan woman may also be breaking the law in Arizona, but it’s a fine line.

In Arizona you cannot care for more than four children (who are not your own) at any point in time without being regulated if you’re receiving compensation for that care, Wilkins said. And compensation may be the “exchange of goods or services,” such as a “you watch my kids, I’ll watch yours,” situation.

“If she’s doing it for absolutely no money, she would probably be exempt,” Wilkins said. “But that would be a fine line.”

The laws are in place, she said, for the safety of the children. That’s why there are regulations, she said.

“If you have five children in your home and you’re caring for them in your home every morning, what safety do you have in place? Are you doing anything with curriculum for the kids or are they watching television? Are you giving them a snack? There’s all kinds of things to consider,” she said.

Group home care licensing is required for anyone who cares for between five and 10 children (not their own), she said. That is set up by the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Office of Child Care Licensing.

Post from: EV Moms