Last night I had a phone date with an old friend of mine. It’s my answer to being a Mom, staying safe, saving money and still feeling like I have some sort of life beyond sippy cups and Sesame Street. She’s on the west coast, so I have to prepare to be a bit tired the next day, but it is always worth it.

I picked up a box of Hardy’s shiraz yesterday afternoon and remembered to charge up my cell phone.
For those of you who knew me when, this boxed wine revelation may come as a shock. But Hardy’s is a pretty decent Australian vintner who just happened to put their wine into this magic box that holds the equivalent of four bottles and never gets exposed to air, so remains stable after opening (if you are the sort who lets their wine sit around very long). So for about $14, my red wine therapy bill is covered.

This morning the kids woke up chatting about giant dogs in the closet. Tired but happy, I got them up and then curled up in bed while my husband got ready for work and they sat eating their bananas and drinking their milk with Curious George.
After he left, we made our way downstairs where breakfast was continued with raisin bread toast and drink refills, and I had some coffee and checked email. As I was responding to an email, I heard a suspiciously familiar sound from the kitchen. It was the sound of a marker making large glorious loops on a flat surface.

When I ran into the kitchen, my son stood there in front of white walls now serving as canvases for bright red marker drawings. I knew it would happen one day. We had even discussed repainting and decided to hold off until this sort of behavior was past its prime. I did not know for certain whether or not he knew it was against the rules. And the marker was supposed to be up on a shelf, not just hanging around free for anyone’s use. So I did not yell, but I gravely told him that we don’t draw on our walls like that and that we need to treat our house with respect and keep it clean. As his eyes welled with tears, I realized that if he had known it was off limits, he had forgotten that information when the muse struck.

I handed him a paper towel and the two of us tried to wipe it off (dry erase markers, it might have worked?) and then I tried some cleanser. It came off of the woodwork and the stove, but not the walls. And as he, and now his sister, realized it was on there for good his tears got larger and she started scolding him, telling him he ‘wrecked our house’.

Calmed by my more-tired-than-usual state, I asked her to please refrain from yelling at her brother and sat him down on the naughty bench simply in hopes that it would help remind him next time. He really started crying then and I felt terribly, especially because I may have been partially to blame for the marker being left out. But it is part of the job. What else is a naughty bench for if not to punish stuff like coloring on walls or stealing candy bars (haven’t gotten there yet, but I bet it’s in our future).

Three minutes later (one minute for each year of age) the timer went off and we hugged and were snuggling on the couch as I thought about what to do next. It was a rainy day, so I decided to paint one of the walls. The other, I had wanted to spray with that chalkboard spray anyway, so this took the guesswork out of that decision.

A dance party and three coloring books later and I got down an old baby gate and set the kids up with lunch where they could watch me.

As I worked, I heard them behind me playing. At first it was laughter and some chasing around the living room. But then I heard Campbell yelling at Ev not to shoot her. HUH? I looked over my shoulder and he had a Batman toy we’d picked up at a garage sale. It was with some other Batman things and I hadn’t realized when we got it that it shoots these orange discs.
I don’t give my kids toy guns, mainly because it freaks me out. The fact that I am married to an avid waterfowler would seemingly make toy guns a non-issue, but I happen to be anti-gun myself and would prefer our laws to resemble the UKs. But I digress…

I sternly told him not to shoot his sister with anything, and a minute later I heard the thing spit its orange disc, and then I heard her scream. She wasn’t screaming in pain, the disc is light and the weapon pretty benign, but she was howling at the fact that he shot her.

Now, I was rather proud of how I handled the coloring incident so calmly, so proud in fact that this total defiance at this juncture pushes me into a completely indignant anger. I leapt over the baby gate, took the Batman toy away as he starts to cry (over losing the toy not over my anger) and I use my super mojo don’t mess with me mommy voice, a voice I reserve for special occasions, as I explain to him that I am working to fix the mornings mistake and that he had better behave himself for the rest of the day or we are going to have big problems.

When I return to my work, I look back and he is sitting on the couch, looking at his toes, I hope reflecting on his error, but I know deep down he is probably wondering why his one sock is slightly more scrunched up than the other.

Four coats later we all got to look at a freshly painted white wall in the kitchen.
Clean slate.
Start again tomorrow.

So, tomorrow is Easter Sunday, a holiday I celebrated as a child by attending church and getting baskets and having egg hunts. It is another holiday that, for about twenty years, pretty much skipped off of my radar.

I studied comparative religion, fully realized my own agnosticism, moved west, and had no family around to have dinner with or any reason to participate in celebrating something I didn’t much care about.
But now the kids are here.

This year, nearly three years after their arrival, is really the first time this sort of thing has caused me some pause… like in December… do we do Santa? Do we do a church or a synagogue or a meeting of some sort? What do we tell them about god(s) and religions and why some people celebrate some holidays and others do not?

But they are children, and they believe in things. I didn’t do any formal Santa education last fall, but they just picked it up… they KNEW all about who he was when he appeared in shopping malls, and their anticipation and squeals of delight when we came through with stockings and gifts Christmas morning was pretty amazing. Downright awesome actually.

So, I decided for now, we’ll celebrate the FUN – the animated mythology I remember from my own childhood. Is it overly materialistic to make it about cartoonish creatures that bring presents? I don’t think the turning of seasons is anything to scoff at… I mean, spring is here! Bunnies are coming with candy and treats to celebrate making it through another winter!!

Granted, I do have a semi-plan for their future educations in belief systems. I plan to take them to churches and synagogues and meetings and mosques and celebrations of every different religion and community I can find, and we can explore each one together. My hope is, that in this way, by openly admitting that I do not KNOW what is the absolute truth, but I respect the ways in which people find peace and joy in their lives, and the way they cope with death and evil and despair… I am hoping it will construct a moral fiber strong enough to weather them through life – and if they decide to choose one of the avenues of faith, I will certainly support it. I hope that they will remain true to what I do believe: that life is interconnected in ways we do not fully understand, and that there is purpose and meaning in everything we do each day.

So, this evening we put them to bed, and told them pretty casually that the bunny was coming. I went downstairs and filled baskets with fun stuff I hope they can enjoy and appreciate. I decided, while doing it, to take up my husband’s tradition of a basket hunt – rather than an egg hunt. Is that lazy? Ah, I am sure they will enjoy it regardless. And then I heard my son calling me. I went into their room and they both were standing up.
“Did the bunny come yet?” he asked me.
“Oh, no honey, the bunny will come after you go to sleep and maybe bring you something to find in the morning.”
“We did sleep. It is morning!” Said my daughter. (We have discussed daylight savings and the fact that it is not dark at bedtime many, many, times lately)

I tucked them back in, and came downstairs, and realized what this is, what is happening. They will remember this. Maybe not forever, but next year, they will know what happened this year, and it will build an anticipation, a sense of wonder, that, if we are lucky, will last for a few years after.
This IS their childhood.
This is THEIR spring.

Chester County Mothers of Multiples Clothing Sale

Join us at the United Sports Training Center on
Saturday, March 29, 2008
9am-Noon

Items encompass everything from Maternity Clothing to Outdoor Play Equipment. If a Baby, Toddler, Child or Expectant Mother needs it, wears it or wants it.....WE HAVE IT!

United Sports Training Center1426 Marshallton-Thorndale RoadDowningtown, PA 19335Phone 610-466-7100Fax 610-466-9314

We went to the USTC community day egg hunt… my kids each got one egg due only to the generous spirit of other parents. It was a great event but the turn-out was vastly underestimated.
Today the kids and I went to Waterloo Gardens in Exton, and saw Teka the Macaw, and Lethal Weapon and Chester the miniature horses who live there. We also got mammoth sunflower seeds and starts for my herb garden, and a few more varietals of sunflower to go around our house. The kids helped us put the seeds in their small starter pots this afternoon in the sunshine and off we go. Spring is surely upon us.
Then I checked in with the weather channel and realized my plan for a trip to the zoo tomorrow is folly… rain and snow mixed does NOT a good time sound.
A very good friend of mine recently sent me a copy of “What Mothers Do (especially when it looks like nothing)” by Naomi Stadlen. I only wish I had received this book several years ago, but better a little late than never. Ms. Stadlen is a psychotherapist who interviewed hundreds of mothers on their experiences of motherhood, and the result is a book that actually talks about all of the things you aren’t supposed to talk about… like sleep deprived hallucinations during the first few months, loss of a sense of self, being on call 24/7 – literally, forever.
I recommend it highly and may write more about it when I am finished. But nothing has come as close (not even my own diary) to explaining how impossible it is to describe parenthood, how joyful and painful and endless and ultimate it is. I met a woman at a salon the other day who was mother to a 6 month old son, and she said, “no one ever told me how hard it was… I mean, you hear it, but I never had any idea.” My favorite quote from it so far is this:
“Having a baby – like dying- is one of the great transitions that we face for which there can be no rehearsal.”

Eggs have been symbols of birth and springtime since people started thinking in symbolic terms. Since becoming a mother, they have certainly taken on a new level of meaning for me. Spring also symbolizes warmer weather, better activities for young children, and an increase in smiles and joy all around.

And kids love hunting for stuff, always have, always will... so here are a few public egg hunts happening this weekend if you are itching for an activity that is free and fun for everyone:

Saturday, March 15th, 2008(with a Rain date of Sunday, March 16th, 2008)
Township of East Goshen
We’ll start off our day with breakfast with the Giant Bunny, courtesy of Chamber President, Rob Powelson. This breakfast event will begin at 9:00 AM, and be held at the Historic Building on Paoli Pike (across from the East Goshen Township Park) This event is for children ages 2 through 7 years.The Easter Bunny will be arriving on a Fire Truck at the Chester County Chamber of Commerce for the Annual Egg Hunt which will take place after the breakfast activities. There will be lively music to dance with the bunny before the greatly anticipated Easter Egg Hunts. There will also be a Bunny Magic Show & the very popular Bunny Farm where you and the Easter Bunny can visit with her little cousins to pet and look at. Bring your cameras and get ready to pose with the Bunny for photos and to do the BUNNY HOP!!! We HOP, HOP, HOP to see you there!!!!!



Calvary Bible Church of Phoenixville invites children ages 2-12 to join them for a free Community Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 15, at 11:00 a.m. There will be candy, prizes, refreshments, the first Easter story, plus lots of fun! Rain date is March 22. Calvary Bible Church is located at the corner of Whitehorse and Valley Park Roads in Phoenixville, PA. For more information, please call 610-933-6225 or visit www.calvarybiblecares.org. Admittance is free.


West Chester's "Annual Easter Egg Hunt"
Date(s):
03/15/2008 - 03/15/2008
Times:
Times: 10:00 AM
Location:
Everhart Park (100 S. Brandywine St.)

Join us for all the fun.With some help from the Easter Bunny and his friends, we'll be spilling out over 6000 plastic candy & toy filled eggs for all the youngsters of West Chester to gobble up. This event is for children ages 2-9. Please remember to bring you own basket or bag to collect the eggs. Also a reminder, they will be several helpers with large trashbags after the "Hunt" to collect all of the Easter Bunny's eggs. Please be there on time as this event will start promptly at 10am. Cost=Free


Don't miss the Exton Annual Easter Egg Hunt!
West Whiteland Township, Chester County PA will be holding two egg hunts for the kids of West Whiteland Township.
Miller Park, Exton: Saturday, March 15th, 2008; Rain/Snow date: March 22nd, 2008
Free Event: Bring your own baskets
The first will be for special needs children which it starts promptly at 9:00 AM. The second egg hunt is for all children ages 3-9 which begins at 10:00 AM.
Please arrive early and the egg hunt is fast and furious and over in about 15 minutes. Be ready to go, waiting along the walkway before the designated start time.
The 10:00 AM egg hunt will have the young children gathering eggs in the circle area in from of the gazebo. The older children 6 to 9 will gather eggs in the large field along Waterloo Boulevard and Miller Way. It's a great time for the kids and the parents. Have FUN!!
In case of inclement weather, call the Parks Office for a recorded message 610-738-7101.


Easter Egg Hunt 10:00 am Saturday, March 15, 2008
Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.
Rain Date: Sunday, April 1, 2007, at 1:00 p.m.
Location:
West Brandywine Township's New Community Park198 Lafayette RoadCoatesville, PA 19320

Sign up Form Easter Egg Hunt Sign Up



EASTER EGG HUNT
At Kimberton Park
Saturday, March 15th – 10:00 a.m.
(Raindate: March 22nd - 10:00 a.m.)
Children up to age 10 are invited to participate. Bring your own basket.



East Coventry Township Easter Egg Hunt
10 am sharp
East Coventry School – ages 1 through fifth grade
Bring your own basket
Rain date – March 21st for info call 610-469-8405


East Fallowfield Egg Hunt
2pm sharp Saturday March 15th
East Fallowfield Elementary School


Sunday, March 16th – United Sports Training Center in Downingtown is having an egg hunt as part of it’s community day from 2pm-4pm.

We had a day with no plan, and a child with pretty rough looking hair, so I decided to try “Snip its”, the new kid friendly hair salon in the Whiteland Towne Center shopping plaza. This is a mom-born chain out of MA that gives Chuck E. Cheese a run for his money in catering to kids tastes in décor and ambiance.

Dr. Seuss-like sculptures surround brightly colored chairs with screens playing cartoons, all hyping the Snip its branded characters. I found the extreme branding a little startling, but my kids seemed happier than when we sat for 20 minutes in Great Clips waiting for our last cut. Our stylist was friendly and spoke directly to the kids, all the while heeding my numerous requests as she cleaned up my son’s hair to my liking. Even my daughter, who was not even getting a hair cut seemed entertained and happy to be there. Afterward they put some of his locks into a magic box that spouted out a toy surprise. Add a lollipop and we were happy to shell out the $15.95. I don’t know if I will fill up my punch card there but it made for a fun morning.

Afterward, we followed the other Snip its alumni down the sidewalk to the new Learning Express location. The deceptively narrow entrance doesn’t do justice to how large this toy store is. And they had all of the great stuff you can’t find at Toys R Us, plus a doll house and train table in back that kept us there for over an hour. I like stores you can really camp out in, and I found that the sheer fun of wandering through a toy store unencumbered did not leave me when I became a Mom, in fact it is even better now, seeing things from both sides.

Interesting article in the Washington Post this morning about changes to immune system responses in recent years... I have always suspected that something was shifting as allergies increase as our environments become more sterile...

By Rob SteinWashington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, March 4, 2008

"First, asthma cases shot up, along with hay fever and other common allergic reactions, such as eczema. Then, pediatricians started seeing more children with food allergies. Now, experts are increasingly convinced that a suspected jump in lupus, multiple sclerosis and other afflictions caused by misfiring immune systems is real.
Though the data are stronger for some diseases than others, and part of the increase may reflect better diagnoses, experts estimate that many allergies and immune-system diseases have doubled, tripled or even quadrupled in the last few decades, depending on the ailment and country. Some studies now indicate that more than half of the U.S. population has at least one allergy.
The cause remains the focus of intense debate and study, but some researchers suspect the concurrent trends all may have a common explanation rooted in aspects of modern living -- including the "hygiene hypothesis" that blames growing up in increasingly sterile homes, changes in diet, air pollution, and possibly even obesity and increasingly sedentary lifestyles."

Read More...

So it is supposed to reach 60 degrees today, spring is in the air perhaps? What better place to visit after being cooped up all winter than the ZOO!!

Here are some options for visiting with the local delegates of the animal kingdom, and having a great day trip with your kids…

The Elmwood Park Zoo. http://www.elmwoodparkzoo.org/

Located in surprisingly easy to get to Norristown (30 minutes from our Eagle perch in Downingtown - a straight shot up route 202), this zoo features jaguars, wolves, a prairie dog maze, alligators and an operatic parrot who can mimic your child's laughter...just to name a few. The café offers children's meals for around $4 (toy included), or you can picnic near one of the best fenced in playgrounds around.
The standard entrance fee is $9.00 per adult, and $6.50 for children 1-11 years old (infants are free), and $6.50 for anyone over 55. They offer several membership options, we went with the family membership, which at $70 gives two named adults and our children unlimited free visits and also applies to free or discounted entries to over 140 other Zoos and Aquariums through the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's reciprocal program. They offer educational programs, a spring break 'camp', even overnights on the grounds for older kids.

Philadelphia Zoo. http://www2.philadelphiazoo.org/

We got the family membership.. if you have more than one child and plan to go more than once a year, this is absolutely the way to go – as you get free parking with membership and pack a lunch and it is a great day trip for no more than the price of gas. ***Straws are prohibited inside the zoo though, so stick with sippy cups or plastic bottled beverages. From 76 the zoo is a block from the exit ramp – so getting in and out requires close to zero “city traffic” negotiation. I have taken my twins twice already this year.

The Philadelphia Zoo is open every day of the year, except Thanksgiving Day, December 24, 25 and 31, January 1, and the second Thursday in June, March 1 - November 30, 2008 - Hours - Daily 9:30AM-5:00PM

Ticket prices: Adult $17.95, Child (age 2-11) $14.95, Child (under 2) Free
Parking- Per vehicle - $10.00 (Free parking with valid membership card)

Memberships range from individual at $54, through the Contributor at $280 – but all memberships are tax deductible!

Family Plus $114
Admission for two adults.Admission for children in the household under age 18*.Admission for two guests with each visit.
Family $94
Admission for two adults.Admission for children in the household under age 18*.