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80 Twenty

So lately i have noticed an uptick in popularity in my blog, i am nearing a whopping 15 followers. In order to keep up with the demand, I have decided to roll out a new name. I mean a "rebranding" if you will.

Welcome to www.80twenty.blogspot.com

Why the name 80 Twenty you might ask?

Well its sortof my general philosophy on life. To quote a wise one who once lamented,

"I am 80 percent mom, 20 percent still wild and crazy
80 percent mature 20 percent immature
80 percent of the time I have my act together 20 percent of the time I am falling apart"

Ok, so the percentages can be skewed a bit...70/30, 90/10, but I am sure you get the drift.

In terms of parenting, I stick to my guns 80 percent of the time and the rest is well... out the window and in full survival mode. So, as I head up to the lake into the Xmas weekend, I think I am in the 20 percent part of my startegy. Sure you want 15 cookies and then a bowl of ice cream, no problem!

So change your bookmarks, check the new site and pass it around.

I have a feeling 2011 may be the year of my movie/book deal (think Julie and Julia). If so, i am really hoping that Mark Ruffalo gets cast as my husband.

Instant Karma's Gonna Get You

Today I took the kids downtown by myself and got off at the Grand stop. It was nearing rush hour and it was pretty difficult to maneuver a double stroller off a crowded train and into a station with no elevator.

Instead of being annoyed that I would need to carry my stroller up the long flight of stairs, I thought of my friend Karen. She is disabled and is one of the most spirited and amazing women and mother I know personally. (She once wrote Obama a letter about how she tried to attend a fundraiser at a church and it didn't have a ramp. He called her personally to apologize and now she is invited to the White House Xmas party...cool and inspiring!) I thought this is the type of stuff she deals with on a daily basis. In this day and age, when we spend millions of dollars on high tech cameras (I know I used to work for Homeland Security), why the hell can't we put in an elevator and make this world more ADA compliant.

Then as the crowds descended up the stairs and I was left alone on the platform with two kids. This man offered to carry my stroller for me up the stairs, not just up one flight of stairs, but two. I was struck by his willingness to help a complete stranger. What a mentsh. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does...I feel re-energized by the human spirit.

So, pay it forward. It's good karma.

Just a spoonful of sugar...

So it's Winter Break and I feel even more like a super mom than I usually do. I admit it, being a stay at home mom is hard. We have been up since 5am this morning and have been going nonstop. I must confess, I am having a blast. Going back to work will be a bit like taking a cold shower the morning after singing karoke until 2am at the Hidden Cove (but that's another story for another blog).

We have had playdates, gone to the library, visited museums, played dress up and really it's been awesome. I feel like perhaps I cherish this time more because I don't get to do it everyday. I am also accutely aware of how fleeting this time is, perhaps I can bottle up my kids right now and pickle them.

I am having so much fun planning the days activities and exploring with them. Just call me Mary Poppins or Maria (cue "These are a few of my favorite things").

So, as I go to bed at 8:30 this evening. I am fully exhausted in a different way than my day job and looking forward to tomorrow.

So this past week my daughter had her "gifted" test for Chicago Public Schools. As many of you know, this is an elusive process. They take your child into a little room and do...god knows what. I assume they ask some questions and try to guage in about ten minutes (or less) if your4 year old is gifted. That seems reasonable....umm NOT.

So of course afterwards we grilled her:

• what was the test like?
• what kind of questions did they ask you?
• what did you answer?
• what words did you tell them you know?
• and so forth.

My daughter's response:

• Well I just made silly faces at them and laughed

Great...I am guessing that can only mean one thing. We're In! Yeah right. I have heard crazy stats that it is harder to get into a CPS selective enrollment school than it is Harvard. My brain gets so frustrated when I hear this.

It this frustration coupled with Michele Rhee appearing on Oprah to talk about teacher quality. Then it is Waiting for Superman touting charter schools as the answer. As a parent, it is ALL of these things that our children need. It is not a one size fits all answer. It is all answers.

If only teachers were paid and revered in this country like sports stars we might all be a little better off.

All We Need is Just a Little...

Patience.

Shout out to Guns and Roses.

So here I am blogging from the Apple Store, while I wait for my turn at the Genius Bar.

I am trying super hard not to be annoyed that I have to wait in line. Instead, I am trying to roll with it and people watch for the next 20 minutes. I have to admit, I am finding this task difficult difficult as I think about all the tasks I need to accomplish in the next two hours before I pick the kiddos up from school.

However, as the year is drawing to a close I am thinking about new Year's resolutions. Well actually my January resolutions, because by February I usually forget about them. This year, it will be to try to have a bit more patience.

Patience with my kids. I admit that I have perhaps...once (ok maybe twice) lost my patience with them. I will try harder in January to remember that they are 2.5 and 4.5 and not little adults.

Patience with my husband. Self explanatory.

Patience with myself-this one seems the most difficult to achieve. I often put so much pressure on myself. With added patience, I will be in a better zone, as a mom, a friend, a wife, a daughter and as a professional.

So, instead of being annoyed that it is 2:29 and they promised my appointment at 2:30. I am cool with it-I promise...well at least until 2:40, when I go ask the guy where I am on the waiting list.

Online Shopping

So this story pretty much is the epitome of my life right now...

A few weeks back it was raining on the way to work. I realized I didn't have any rainboots, so I purchased a pair from Piperlime. They didn't fit quite right so I ordered a second pair; those too were a bit off. (Why don't rainboots come in half sizes?)

In the meantime, my daughter has turned the box from the first pair of boots into a dolly bed and my son has used the big shipping box to make a fort.

I have tried to be responsible and hold onto both receipts, but alas one is missing. I then have to go online and try to remember my special login and password for Piperlime, which I do not. They then email me a new code to reset my password, which I do. Finally I come to the page which shows my purchase, but you aren't able to reprint the receipt, only a new shipping label. I print it anyways.

I stuff both boots into one box, put this enormous and heavy box in the car and head to the post office. In the snow, I get out of my car, take out the box and as I am standing in line reading the mailing label I notice it is prepaid for UPS NOT USPS. So....

Out of the post office and off to UPS. I get out of the car with the big box, in the snow for the second time, only to realize that it is not yet open (I was there at 8:45 and it opens at 9am).

Back in the car the box goes and now I have to come back and try to ship back both boots for a third time. I will keep you posted on my success.

Moral of the story-No rainboots for me and no more online shopping. On the flip side, at least we have a new fort and doll bed!