MerryMommy

Sunrise above the clouds. Surf the crisp island air. Snorkel gorgeous reefs. Swim with sea turtles. Cycle 26 miles down the side of a volcano. A short list of things I did last week in Maui. And when I returned home and shared my adventures, do you know what my children asked me, excitedly: "Mommy, you didn't get eaten by a shark?!" Me, standing there alive and well: "No... no, I didn't get eaten by a shark." With elated exclamations of amazement: "Mommy! You are so brave!!!" I wasn't quite sure if they would have been more impressed if I had  been eaten by a shark. But, I was glad to have impressed them with my survival all the same. Who knew that putting myself out of my comfort zone in all these real ways would pale in comparison to the perceived threat these children imagined me to face. But they were right about one thing: I am brave. Even though I personally made all the plans to do these adventure excursions on my vacat...

  Strong mothers.  We all know them. We look to them during difficult times.  We watch how they respond to challenges. We listen to their wisdom.  We learn from their experience.  We trust their guidance. 18 years ago today our nation’s mother, Lady Liberty, was put to the ultimate test before our very eyes.  Her twins were attacked.  These emblems of greatness were stolen from her after years of guarding them from her watchful safe harbor.  The unthinkable became reality.  We were helpless children. We looked to her. We watched. We listened. We learned. We trusted.  We became.  We became better as a nation, as neighbors, and as New Yorkers.  Today I sent my own New Yorker twins to school with their neighbors in our nation’s colors.  I told them that today we remember an attack on our country by honoring the heroes: the brave, valiant men and women who gave all f...

Big black tires slow, Screeching breaks, it's time to go. Kindergarten. Whoa. I can't believe I am saying this, but my boys started kindergarten today. Those two little preemie fighters I was just snuggling in the NICU got on the school bus and drove off to their next big chapter of childhood. I have been thinking about this day for a while and feeling so excited for them, and (let's face it) for me. I don't feel sad to "lose" them, rather proud of who they have become and the energy and love poured into getting them to this place. It is an accomplishment for both them and for me. One which I readily celebrated today. But one thing that lingered with me for the past several weeks was actually spurred by a game of Candy Land. Now, this was my favorite game as a child: The winding colorful path of sweet squares punctuated by sugary surprises, culminating in the greatest candy castle one could imagine. I love that my kids love this game as much...