Reality Check

thoughtful
Originally uploaded by
The Spohrs Are
Multiplying...

I was having a mellow Sunday, finishing the American Lawyer column I started in February on work life balance in a dismal economy (the writing-for-print lead times continue to boggle me), thinking about things like how grateful I am for the person who came up with adjustable waist kids' pants...

...when I stumbled across the story of Madeline Alice Spohr, daughter of Heather and Mike Spohr.  She died last month, after a difficult gestation, premature birth, and giving her family 17 months of joy. The family has been raising money for the March of Dimes in Maddie's name for some time; they ask that we continue to help them do so.  The desolation of losing a child...my head cannot begin to wrap itself around it. My deepest sadness and condolences to their family.

Parental Pet Peeves (And Letting Them Go)

Shout 2
Originally uploaded by andrew_mc_d

Child:  "I'm so, like, gonna have a popsicle." (Thank you Zack, Cody, Hannah, and Sonny.)

"Poop poop poop. Butt butt butt. Poop poop poop. Butt butt butt." (The Terrible Twos have nothing on the Fecal Fives.)

"Say it loud: 'I am a dirtbag!'" (Don't ever watch Over the Hedge if you're not ok with hearing this constantly thereafter.)

"Can I have another cup? This one's stupid." (Thank you Lucy van Pelt.)

Parent: "NICE WORDS, PLEASE..."

You can't stash them away in one of those "Altered States" isolation tanks, it's neither legal nor kind. You can't constantly police this stuff, life's too short and you have better people to be than an insufferable nag.  Personally, I'm keeping close at hand the expression on my kid's face when he orchestrated a thoughtful surprise, and pushing the "That's enough!!!!" line back a few more ticks.

New Digs On Squarespace

Thanks so much to Krystyn Heide for Bag and Baggage's new look and all the help with the move to Squarespace!