Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Mom needs time away from the kids, even on Mother’s Day weekend.
I love my kids, more than life. I would do anything for them, and I do. But honestly, there comes a time, when a mom needs a little space. This past weekend was Mother’s Day, and Friday my co-worker asked me—“What do you have planned for Mother’s Day weekend?” He laughed at me when I said, "Oh, we’re doing some family stuff, but I’ve got a sitter Saturday night for some much needed kid-free time.” I guess that doesn’t put me in the running for "Mother of the Year," if I’m gloating about my exciting free time on Mother’s Day weekend. Friday night we hit Chuck E. Cheese, and on Saturday, my oldest had a baseball game. But then I got to spend the afternoon getting a makeover before having a kid-free dinner with friends. On Sunday, actually …
Monday, May 14, 2012
Marylanders need to understand the magnitude of cuts on the table—as well as the revenue proposals up for debate—as our legislature goes back to work on the state budget.
Since the Maryland General Assembly adjourned at midnight on April 9—with fiscal uncertainties still rampant—there has been extensive debate as to where things really stand. With legislators reconvening today to assess the situation and consider alternatives, it is vital for all of us to understand the stakes. By now, everyone realizes that the budget that ended up being approved on the last day of session was actually never meant to succeed. Legislative leaders introduced the "doomsday budget," which contains a host of unpopular program cuts, in order to pressure lawmakers to approve a range of revenue enhancements, as well as a shift of teacher pension costs to the counties. Here is a quick look at the package of cuts that make up the …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Celebrate moms this week. Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13.
It’s just after 3 a.m. and I’m finally crawling back to bed because my toddler has been up with a stomach ache. As I drift back to sleep, my 5-year-old taps my shoulder. He’s sobbing because he’s had a bad dream. I settle him back in his bed—all while my husband slumbers undisturbed. Sound familiar? Yeah, this parenting gig is tough. I’ve come to the conclusion that the midnight to morning shift is definitely the hardest part. It leaves me frustrated with lack of sleep, jealous of my sleeping husband and doubling up on coffee in the morning. Yet, I wouldn’t change a single thing. Motherhood is something you can’t prepare for and has the broadest job description you’ll ever come across. And the pay ... well, I won’t even go there. Some …
Monday, May 7, 2012
As Maryland seeks a new Secretary of Transportation, it is important to take a look at the challenges the department will face in the years ahead.
Beverley Swaim-Staley announced last week that she will leave her post as Maryland's secretary of transportation, effective in July. As the O'Malley administration initiates its search for a new leader, let's consider the issues facing the new secretary on his/her first day on the job. Department of Transportation (MDOT) is perhaps the state's largest agency—at least in terms of scope of operations, number of personnel (more than 10,000), and budgeted funds (well over $3 billion annually). MDOT consists of five modal administrations covering aspects of transportation individual citizens are likely to use (highways, ports, transit, motor vehicles and airports). Additionally, the independent Maryland Transportation Authority has …
Friday, May 4, 2012
Being a leader is more that just holding a position or office. True leaders must exemplify a number of fundamental qualities.
Recently, I have been thinking about what it means to be an effective leader. How do we recognize that a particular individual has the qualities that are likely to make them good at moving an organization or a community forward? In order to answer this question, I have culled through the thoughts of a number of leaders. I offer the following as core traits that any person must exemplify, should they wish to be seen as a leader worth following. 1. "Don’t tell people how to do things; tell them what to do and let them surprise you with the results." General George S. Patton I was somewhat surprised to find this quote from the World War II general known to his troops as "Old Blood and Guts." Perhaps even more so, the fact that the notion of …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Here are some items that belong on new and expectant moms' baby registries.
Even though my youngest is only 2, I find myself walking through Babies 'R Us thinking, “I wish they had that when my son was a baby.” There are so many products to make life with baby a little easier. During the first few months, I know I bought just about anything that would help me sleep, free up my hands to fold laundry or allow me to take a shower. I’ve tried so many gadgets and gimmicks, I'm now a self-proclaimed baby gear expert. Here are my top four must-have products that helped me survive those early months. And here are a few new products. While I haven’t tested them myself, they seem incredibly smart for new parents. Like this travel pillow, which is a very creative solution, given that my son always slumped over in the …
Friday, April 27, 2012
Thanks for reading while I was away.
Remember spring break? That magical week from your college years when you skipped town and ran around with reckless abandon? Honestly, I was never much of a partier—my undergrad university didn't even have spring break (instead, we got a slightly shorter semester), and I spent my spring break in grad school with my family in Perry Hall (one of the world's most exciting destinations). In spite of this, since trying to become a responsible working adult, I've developed severe cases of wanderlust every spring. In 2010, I visited friends in Salt Lake City. In 2011, I joined the same friends in Boston. And just this past week, our little group hopped a cruise out of New Orleans to Mexico. In case you noticed my going-on-vacation post, I …
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Kids want to grow up too quickly, and that can be tough for parents to accept.
My 5-year-old uttered words I was not prepared for the other day. He said, “Mommy, I’m too old for that.” He broke my heart. We were ready for a little downtime. My youngest was napping. We had been out all morning running errands and playing at the park. I was exhausted, and since my oldest has long since given up his naps, it was movie time. I grabbed the case containing all our movies, and suggested we watch "Cars"—it’s one of his favorites. In fact, just three months ago, we searched all over Disney World so he could have his picture taken with the real Lightning McQueen car. So, imagine my surprise when he said, “Mommy, I’m too old for that.” Apparently, our days of watching "Caillou" and playing with Fisher-Price are over. We …
Monday, April 23, 2012
As we preserve the rich history of America's space shuttle program, we must also continue to make progress toward new innovations in space exploration.
Last week marked the formal transfer to the safe keeping of history for part of America's legacy of space flight. Discovery, the third of our country's five space shuttles, was transferred from Kennedy Space Center in Florida to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum annex in Virginia. This occasion serves as an ideal time to both reflect on the significant scientific achievements made by the shuttle program, and also to renew our national commitment to space exploration. Since the 1950's, the work of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has resulted in some of our country's most stirring successes. Starting with John Glenn's orbit of the Earth, and continuing with the dramatic voyages to the moon undertaken …
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Shop in Perry Hall and White Marsh without going over budget.
The weather is warm, the sun is shining and the kids are counting the days until the end of school, which makes this the perfect time to update your kids' wardrobes with warm weather fashions. You can even be economical about it, if you follow these easy tips. The first tip is obvious—utilize coupons whenever possible. A quick search on the Internet will get you coupons to local favorites, as close as White Marsh, like Carter's, The Children’s Place, Old Navy, American Eagle, Justice and more. One of my favorite coupon sites is MommySavesBig.com. I almost always find a deal that will save me money when I’m out shopping. Another tip to save you money this spring is to use apps for your smart phone—like SnapAppy from Old Navy. My kids love…
Tim
1:38 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Happy Mommies = Happy Kids more ›