I couldn’t figure out if the question was a bit passive-aggressive or genuinely from someone who wanted to know how this woman managed to be a mom and high-powered career woman, but it struck me nonetheless. Her response was very honest — she talked about issues her older son is having at school and how she felt that her and her husband not being around as much when he was younger probably had something to do with his current lack of motivation. She said that they learned their lessons and she doesn’t feel like their youngest is getting the short end of the parenting stick.

Driving home I was thinking about this question as it applies to my own life. (more…)

I had a bunch of work to get done but he first thing I did was to make dinner for the next two days. (more…)

I wasn’t surprised when I read the first part. I was at an event recently where I met working mom after working mom who changed careers or modified her job to have more time for family and kids. On days when my stress level is through the roof and I can’t seem to get enough work done or spend quality time with my daughter I often start thinking whether I should be doing something to dramatically change my career path and make it less demanding and consuming. I love to work and I’ve never thought about staying at home full-time, but I do know that if I worked less, it would be easier to juggle. (more…)

In Russia, where I grew up, we didn’t have this holiday, and instead celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8th — it was customary to give gifts to your mom on that day, but the whole Communist taste to it made it a lot less personal. I love my mom and am very close with her, but somehow when we moved to America and started to celebrate Mother’s Day, it felt a bit commercial.

But no longer — it’s now one of my favorite holidays. (more…)

Good Friday morning once again, my friends! Do you know what today is? No? Well let me tell you. This is the first day of Mother’s Day Weekend. Don’t believe anyone who tells you it’s only Sunday. It’s a three day weekend. Says me. The pampering needs to start today, is all I’m saying.

Offered up for your reading pleasure:

• Look, sometimes, a deli hides from you. It’s happened to me before.
• I like the idea of writing a note to your future amnesiac self, actually.
• Schmutzie rounds up some creepy commercials, and I will be having nightmares about the word “chockadoobie” for the rest of my life.
• Hey, baby… drink here often?

* * * * *

Now, what might you need to look into as a little Mother’s Day gift for yourself, hmmm…?

Through May 12th, 2008, find yourself something purty over at Shoebuy.com and use coupon code Mothersday08 to take 20% off your order. (Free shipping, free returns, no sales tax!)

Through May 14th, 2008, enjoy flat $5 shipping on your order at Kohls. Have a Kohls charge card? Use coupon code MAY15OFF for 15% off through the weekend, and you can stack it with code MVC2554 for free shipping. If you don’t have the Kohls charge, enjoy the $5 shipping and use code NEW5459 to take 10% off, anyway.

Of course you’ll want to look through the Amazon Friday Sale, right? Lots of goodies there.

This weekend it’s 5% off Garden and Patio items at Overstock, plus if you go through this link you’ll save another $20 off $300+, which is useful if you’re buying something biggish.

And biggish is totally a word, this weekend, for Mother’s Day Weekend. So there. Have a great one!

So here are some things I envy in other moms:

Easy-goingness. I know it’s not a word, but you know what I mean. Moms who have this great ability to just roll with the punches and not get completely and utterly stressed out by all the work-life juggle insanity. Like your kid spilling milk on your new pants when you’re ten minutes late for an important meeting and the sitter calls in sick. (Not like that’s happened to me or anything…) (more…)

“You know, you talk like a guy. If I didn’t know you were a woman, I’d think I was working with a man.”

I think he saw the puzzled look in my eyes after he said this because he went on to clarify that in his experience, few women are as direct as I was in our interactions. He told me that he works in an office with many women and he is not used to dealing with someone like me.

I honestly don’t know if I should have been offended, flattered, or something entirely different. (more…)

Not working is not an option, but here are a few breaks I’ve given myself and some little luxuries in which I am indulging in an effort to stop being so down and cranky, and frankly, annoying to be around: (more…)

Goooooood morning, and welcome to May. I know. No, I don’t know what happened to April, either. I mean, it was just here a minute ago. Weird.

You know what’s good for that panicked feeling that time is passing too quickly? Reading some blogs. Pinky swear! Why, the new handy list format practically makes them official!

• I’m a sucker for a good accompanying diagram. It makes the humiliation so much easier to follow.
• Don’t click this one here if you don’t want the recipe for some scrumptious cookies. (And don’t say I didn’t warn you.)
• Poppy’s watching her traffic, so I thought I’d send her some more. Besides, she cracks me up.
• And here’s this week’s Kumbaya summary, y’all: Yes, tell it, and amen.

* * * * *

You have one short week left to shop for Mother’s Day, you know. I’m just reminding you, because I’m helpful like that.

Take 10% off all jewelry and watches at Overstock this weekend, through that link.

Be part of the family at Eddie Bauer and enjoy Friends & Family savings; take 30% off everything but clearance with code SUM8FRFAM through May 4th, 2008. Or do the F&F thing at Macy’s with an additional 20% off using coupon code MACYSFRIEND through May 5th, 2008.

Well hello there, Amazon Friday Sale. Have you lost weight? You’re looking very pretty this week.

Enjoy your Friday, everyone!

The decision to uproot your family and move a thousand miles away is never easy when you have kids (hey, we moved from New York to Boston and a year later, I am still recovering.) So much goes into consideration — living arrangements, schools, activities, work, etc. But when moving involves one spouse taking a dream job and another potentially slowing down her own career or business, it’s much more complicated. (more…)