glenrockschwartz

After camp today, Alex was feeling a bit down on himself because every single boy in hisvgroup is a better athlete than him - better at soccer and basketball and faster runners and kickball and, and and.... Then he started to talk about the kids who get the harder, longer spelling lists, who are way better at math, and are just nice helpful kids. "Everyone is just better than me at everything, mommy" He was just feeling so sad. And frankly, he was making me feel sad too, as well as question whether we had passed on the worst of ourselves rather than the best. (Here is my love letter to my wonderful son) So I started to think about what was amazing about my Alex. He can spell just fine, but oh how he can speak and how he can spin a tale! He can engage you in a world of wonder. And that kid gets content and context from movies and books in a way that kids twice his age can't. And while at seven years of age these qualities that are uniquely Alex are perhaps not...

Yesterday morning, Avery and I did the following: 1. Dropped off homemade cookies and chicken noodle soup at her friend Tali's house since the Pittmans have a new baby! Baby Eva! Stayed for about a 20 minute impromptu playdate. 2. Ambled around the Ridgewood Farmer's market. Avery sampled her way through and thoroughly enjoyed tastes of tomatoes (yellow and red), broccoli, chard, spinach, green beans, pickles (full sour, half sour, new) and crackers with homemade blueberry peach jam. 3. Had an impromptu playdate with Avery's friend Abby and Abby's cousins Molly and Lily when we were driving by and saw them outside. Ice pops, pushing pretend babies in little strollers, riding bikes, trying to be good about taking turns, but never feeling like your own turn was long enough. 4. Watched Eric play some softball (and ate other people's snacks and played on the adjacent field as if it were a beach) The rest of the day we mostly did things as a fami...

This girl needs some girly friends, for sure, and not to ALWAYS be surrounded by 7 and 8 year old boys.

Hey migraines and lyme's fingers - go away! You're not welcome here. How long do you think I can avoid dealing with this?

....for posterity. Because it is beautiful. And it makes me cry. And it makes me think of how much we all love each other.

Hi Avery, Just about a month ago you turned three. I think I have stayed away from blogging about this past year of your life because I love you intensely my dear, but you are in fact a terrible two turned terrible three! I know that this behavior will pass and I should write about it right now so that I can tease you years from now when we read this together. I will start with your birthday party. 16 children and an assortment of 16 mommies, daddies, grandmas and babysitters. I was nervous that it would rain, but the rain held off so we were able to have your abrakadoodle art party all outside in our yard, and eat pink and purple cupcakes and play on the swing set. It was everything a third birthday should be. You are still great friends with your buddy Abby. You guys don't always like to share, but I do still think you love each other nonetheless. You no longer wear diapers, not even at night! (But you still love your paci) You are opinionated. You insist on being a leader. ...

Dear Alex, Today is 12 days past your seventh birthday. This year you had three parties: a friend party, a school party and a family party. For your friend party, we kept it small this year and took a handful of boys (and Avery) out for pizza and to the movies (Rango) then back to our house for ice cream cake and playing. This felt like a very adult party and I think that your favorite part was back at our house when you all ran around outside with fluorescent yellow dollar store dart guns from you goodie bags and played war. I think this will be the theme of your seventh year, that you have become a complete and utter boy. There is no trace of cuddly baby left in you. You like to do the things that boys do - play war, get dirty, ride your scooter and bike, play video games. And in the past few months some of the most amazing changes have occurred in you. You have become basketball player, reader extraordinare (chapter books all on your own!), and mathematician. You have a few re...