Last year around Easter, my step mom showed up with a huge stuffed bunny for Simon. “Oh, for Easter!” I smiled as I admired the giant white bunny with a bow around its neck. “Yes,” Ruth replied. “For Easter. But there’s more. You’ll understand later today.” I would? Several hours later a giant white bunny […]
Category Archive for 'Toddler!'
Simon Says II
Posted in Jessica, Simon says..., Toddler! on Jun 5th, 2009
It’s been a busy, busy week with friends. We’ve been to parks, to Art Sparks at the Speed Museum, and just today Huber Family Farm. Simon and Alise have played beautifully together, and his heart will be broken when Christine, AKA “Alise’s Mommy”, leaves tomorrow. I’ll have time for that later. For now, some quick […]
Up until having Simon, I wasn’t that much into kids. I wasn’t mean or impatient with them, but I didn’t seek them out, didn’t really know what to say to or do with them, and was terrified of being alone with them. What if one cried, or fell, or did something I didn’t want him […]
Dawn of a New Era
Posted in Jessica, KIP (Preschool), Toddler! on May 28th, 2009
Today was Simon’s last day in the Itsy Bitsy class. It’s hard to imagine, but he spent nine months in Ms. Lana’s class. The day he began, he was 33 ½ inches tall, clung to Dirty Dog like a life preserver, and used a pacifier when stressed. Today he stands over 37 inches tall, piles […]
There’s an author I worked with, whom I also consider a friend, who has a son about six months older than Simon, also named Simon. [I swore to him at the time, truthfully, that “Simon” was on our short-list before I learned his son’s name.] We meet up at conferences about twice a year, during […]
Summer of ’95
Posted in Jessica, Simon says..., Toddler! on May 23rd, 2009
In the summer of 1995, I volunteered on an excavation at Tel Miqne/Ekron in Israel. It was, in most respects, an awful experience. My first square turned up nothing but mud. The students in my second square spent all their time complaining and/or sick. The food was unimaginably horrible (hot dog and French fry casserole, […]
Certain sayings are trops of motherhood. Especially of mothers who end up getting quoted. For example: When you become a mother, you are supposed to love your child more than you have loved anyone ever in your life. That was true enough for me. You are supposed to feel immensely protective of your child, preferring […]
Looming Boyhood
Posted in Jessica, KIP (Preschool), Toddler! on May 19th, 2009
One Thursday, about a month ago, I happened to catch a glimpse of Simon on the couch at his grandparents’ house while he was watching “Racecars” on their TV at the end of a very busy spring day. He was leaning back, eyes fixed on the screen, a slight slouch to his posture, with one […]
Mambo!
Posted in Jessica, KIP (Preschool), Toddler! on May 16th, 2009
Thursday night, Keneseth Israel Preschool held its annual spring program. I, alas, was scheduled to be in Indianapolis for businesses through Friday morning. When I first realized this, I was just a little bummed. These things happen sometimes. Then, as I learned more about the program, I became more bummed. I was missing the big […]
A new season of shopping has dawned, and I’m finding my approach much changed from seasons past. When Simon was a baby, and even more so when he was a baby-on-the-way, I was a retailer’s dream. Nothing was too good for my baby. I shopped long and hard for his crib, and I splurged on […]