December 2008 Archives

I was sitting in the Martha Stewart studio, surrounded by women of great achievement, tears streaming down my face, and thinking -- I am so proud of the company that I work for.

Women on Their Way and Wyndham Worldwide sponsored Martha Stewart's contest, "Dreamers into Doers" and last night was the taping of the final show, which included the announcement of the Grand Prize Winner, Amy Jaffe Barzach and her non-profit, Boundless Playgrounds.

Boundless Playgrounds is now known as the first national nonprofit dedicated to helping communities create extraordinary playgrounds where children, with and without disabilities, can play and learn together.

Packing for two hour visit with Gramma, who lives across town, includes a large bag of toys, my diaper bag full of the necessities like snacks (or if you want to say it like the wee one, "NACK!!!!" screamed at the top of your lungs), diapers, wipes and the latest favorite book. If it's a full day of catching up, add in the portable high chair seat (love it), some food for lunch, perhaps the meds if he's got a cold ... we're talking a two trip unload when we arrive over the river and through the woods.

So, imagine how much "stuff" (to put it politely) we have to bring with us for a week-long vacation for the three of us. It's border-line obscene.

Getting back into a routine after being on vacation is really hard. Transitioning from four days of lounging around, not worrying about the time or responsibilities and not having to leave the house to a work week can be really difficult. Your head isn't totally into your work on Monday mornings, getting up to an alarm is jarring and trying to fit all of those "mommy tasks" into your morning before leaving for work is a real challenge on a normal day, let alone when you're not really feeling all there.

So, imagine how hard it can be for your kids.

We just got back from a really great long mini-vacation. We stayed in a cabin in the mountains with two other couples and their little ones who are the same age as the wee one -- the kids have known each other since birth and are great little buddies.

One of the things that I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving season? That I am pretty good at keeping my cool when emotions get hot. We've all seen it -- temper tantrums in the airport (no, I don't mean from a little kid -- I'm talking about that crabby guy who can't change to an isle seat because the flight is full and everyone else wants an aisle seat too!), shaking fists and "payback" cut-offs on the highways and those tell-tale flashing police lights on the side of the road. There is no doubt about it. Traveling over the holiday season can be stressful.

So how can we remain cool, calm and collected while we're on the road, in the air and around the Thanksgiving dinner table? I've got some suggestions for you. Read them, pass them along and then share your own survival techniques.

There is nothing worse than feeling lousy and getting on a plane. The altitude makes your sinuses feel like they are going to explode, a headache can bring tears to your eyes and trying to entertain kids while you're feeling under the weather can be close to impossible. So, it's really important to do your best to stay healthy during this cold and flu season. Avoid making what can be a trying time into a miserable time. Women on Their Way has some great tips on how to avoid getting sick while on the road so check it out.

The Halloween decorations are put away. The carved pumpkin turning to mush out in the woods behind our house. The wee one had a blast; he was going to be a golfer but after an alarmingly negative reaction to the very cute pom-pom hat, we had to abort on that idea. So, in typical Alyson-humor, we dressed him up as a doctor; sans hat. (If you've read my posts before, you know that our first year was filled with fun viruses, rare conditions and a ridiculous amount of time spent in medical facilities.)

Somehow, every year, after all of the pumpkins on the stoop have been infested by the chipmunks and squirrels, after the candy has been inhaled and the costume stored away for the next kid .... There is a time-warp through the rest of the year. I'm telling you -- the last two months of the year fly by at a rapid pace and are packed with more "To Do" lists that the rest of the year combined.

I am addicted to the Cinnamon Vanilla Decadence Decaf with skim at the local Coffee Shop; I love the way that my drycleaners can get my clothes pressed and turned around in a day and Rago Brother's in town does the meanest shoe repair and leather cleaning that I've ever known (I even got my prized Burberry pumps back in as-new condition the other day. That saved me mucho bucks!). I know where to go in town for the best sushi, the cheapest diapers and the biggest selection of gluten free food.

I'd say that my "local knowledge" spans from about an hour and a half south of my house to a half an hour north. That's a pretty large area. However, I had never really thought about "going away" within that radius. Until this past weekend.

As a working mother with a young child, a husband and a house, our free time is short, our funds limited. However, our need for a night to just relax and reconnect as a couple was great. It's been a hectic fall - soon to be a crazy busy winter; and we needed some time to recoup and perhaps even (gasp!) sleep in.