Coast 2 Coast Mom

Meeting Dr. Scott and Learning Dinosaur Train Secrets

On Sunday we drove into NYC to visit the World Science Festival Street Fair for a screening of the PBS children's series The Dinosaur Train, as well as a booksigning and discussion with Dr. Scott Sampson (aka Dr. Scott to many 2-6 year old kids!). L'il Boo was so excited! On our drive in, he was all "I'm going to meet my first paleontologist!" Which made me giggle hearing that in his little four-year old voice. Most of the audience was families with kids around Li'l Boo's age, and Dr. Scott was clearly impressed, but not surprised, to be talking... Read more →

Getting Married at 9 - Similar to Getting Married at 4? Ridiculous, right?

This post is inspired by the Silicon Valley Moms Group book club choice, I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced. It tells the story of Nujood Ali's childhood marriage to a man three times her age, and her courage in becoming the first child bride in Yemen to win a divorce. . .she went on to become a Glamour Woman of the Year in 2008. I received a copy of the book as a participant in the book club. The saga of Li'l Boo and his preschool girlfriend continues . . . At dinner last night we were talking about... Read more →

Would My Grandmothers Mind Being Called This Color?

This post is inspired by the latest SVMoms book club choice, Green Guide Families: The Complete Reference for Eco-friendly Parents. I received a copy of the book as part of my participation in the book club. I learned of a concept for the first time last week, in the run up to Earth Day on April 22nd, that within the eco-friendly green movement, there are actually "shades" of green. I heard that 65% of people fall under the shade "light green." These people have made some earth-friendly changes to their lifestyle, perhaps commuting or taking publictransportation and recycling some of... Read more →

Cooking with My Kiddo

This post is inspired by the Silicon Valley Moms Blog monthly book club choice for March, Top 100 Finger Foods and Top 100 Baby Purees by Annabel Karmel. I received a copy of both books as a part of the book club. I remember when the idea of cooking with Li'l Boo first came to me. I read in several parenting books when he was a baby that kids are more apt to try foods when they help prepare them. I made a mental note for when I deemed him old enough to assist me, and moved on. Then while... Read more →

Literally Learning To Read in Celebration of Dr. Seuss's Birthday

This post is inspired by the Yahoo! Mother Board's monthly community topic, discussing how we celebrate reading in our families. Two years ago we celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday at Marche in Chicago for their annual "Seussville" celebration. It was a family-friendly (yet gourmet) meal and we were amused by the menu items all inspired by his books, or taken from the Dr. Seuss cookbook. The Cat in the Hat was there, and Thing 1 and Thing 2 visited tables and worked the room too while the kids each received goodie bags of Dr. Seuss trinkets and coloring and activity pages.... Read more →

This 'Workweek Widow' Understands the Possibility of Everything

This post is inspired by the SVMoms book club choice for this month, The Possibility of Everything by Hope Edelman. The book details one mom's parenting, marriage and faith as she seeks a cure to her daughter's disruptive imaginary friend, culminating in a wonderous trip to Belize to see a shaman. From the very beginning of this book I connected with the author, and not only as a mother who would do anything for her child, but as what another friend of mine refers to as a "workweek widow." Moms who parent alone during the week while their husbands travel... Read more →

The Coco Chanel Mom Uniform

This post is inspired by this month's Silicon Valley Mom's Group book club choice, Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky by Chris Greenhalgh (Now a major motion picture). I received a complimentary copy of the book as part of the book club. I didn't intend for it to happen. I didn't WANT it to happen. But alas, here I find myself in my slate colored yoga pants and long sleeve workout tee sitting with my laptop. Now a regular rotation in my laundry pile, I have succumbed to donning The Mom Uniform. I know I'm a part of the stereotype I... Read more →

We Can't Deliver the Flowers Because The House Is A Crime Scene

This post is inspired by See Mom Run by Beth Feldman, a compilation of funny parenting stories by bloggers and writers (many of whom I know!), and the latest book choice for the Silicon Valley Moms Blog book club. Our life was crazy when Li'l Boo was born, and in a lot of ways it has never let up (Hello! Four moves in four years?) At the time, we were living in Silicon Valley and had purchased a new home when I was six months pregnant. Unfortunately, the house needed a lot of work before being "liveable" and as a... Read more →

What's Said At Home Doesn't Stay At Home

Twice last week I was greeted with a smiling teacher' smile when I picked Li'l Boo up from preschool. The first time was when the class had to draw a picture of something they're thankful for. Mind you, most students drew their dogs, love, money, presents, parents, etc. Li'l Boo drew the double-decker main line train. I recognized it by the words they wrote to title the piece, but then saw it clearly as a big rectangle with multiple rows of windows. I instantly knew what he meant. What's not to like about the new train cars: clean, bright, and... Read more →

Not Having Kids Changes Everything

Usually I write my mommy blog posts on tidbits or reflections on how motherhood has changed me - for better or worse, or updates on things we're doing or enjoying as a family. Today I'm sharing a different perspective thanks to a book club assignment. This month the Silicon Valley Moms Blog network read This is Where I Leave You, by Jonathan Tropper which chronicles one doozy of a week for a man who discovers his father's death, reconciles with his siblings, and works through his estranged wife's yearlong affair while facing impending fatherhood. Despite the tragic outline of the... Read more →