About This Blog
Welcome to my blog. I'm Anne-Marie Nichols, a 40-something WAHM to Nathan, 6, and Lucie, 3. I've been married 12 years to their dad Paul, a scientist. When I'm not doing the mommy thing, I'm a freelance writer, and vice president of the board of directors for a Colorado public charter school. In my spare time I like to sleep, eat, read, and decorate cakes.
I created this online journal to share some entertaining and insightful stories from my own experiences as a writer, domestic engineer, and mom. I encourage you to share this blog with your friends, and hopefully it will spark some lively discussions on issues we can all relate to. Enjoy!
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Sep 18 2008
Turn out the light
My sister sent Lucie the most adorable outfit this week. No reason in particular, except that she's a nice aunt who loves to buy cute things for her niece. (Nathan got a present, too.)
It's a long white dress made out of t-shirt fabric with ruffling at the sleeves. It's so comfy that Lucie's using it as a night gown which I prefer as I think it's a bit shear to wear as a dress. After all, we don't want everyone knowing she's wearing her Disney princess pull-ups. Nothing more embarrassing than pull-up panty lines!
On the chest is a diamond-shaped patch with a print of a '50s style lamp, very similar to the light on my night stand. I'm amused by this little graphic touch, not because my sister knows it would appeal to my love of vintage design. Instead, it's because the lamp has a pull chain.
Like her dad, Lucie is a night owl, and often stays up until 10 p.m. or later. When Lucie wears this nightie I'm tempted to reach over and pull the chain thinking I can turn her off for the evening and get her to bed on time.
Wouldn't it be nice if kids came with an off button?
Sep 17 2008
Can you hear me now?
"Mom, the sixth graders are having flower sex," Nathan announced from the backseat on the way home after school.
Flower sex? What is this, some kind of new playground slang? I don't remember learning about that sort of thing until third grade. Wondering what the heck the sixth graders were up to (and why do the kindergarteners know about it) I asked Nathan to repeat himself.
"Flower sex. The six graders have flower sex. They have to feed them and take them everywhere they go," Nathan explained.
Between his stuffed up nose and stuttering, and my own head cold, I was having problems hearing the boy. Then I remembered the sixth grade lesson plan I posted on the school's website. (I'm the Web Mom.) Finally, a little light went off in my congested head.
"Oh, flour sacks. Nathan, do you mean flour sack babies?" I asked.
"Yeah, mom, flour sack babies," Nathan said. "The big kids have to take care of them." I imagined him rolling his eyes and thinking "like duh, mom," exasperated at my lack of understanding.
I explained that flour sack babies showed the big kids how hard it is to take care of a real baby. Having vivid memories of his colicky infant sister, Nathan thought this was kind of silly. After all, it's a sack of flour, not a real baby.
I drove towards home, realizing Nathan will have his own flour sack baby in six years. I'm looking forward to being a grandma.
Sep 16 2008
An open letter to my daughter
I'm concerned. Are you doing o.k.? You seem to be having a tough time of things this week.
First, you spilled peach yogurt down the side of your little blue chair. Twenty minutes after I cleaned it up -- fortunately it's plastic -- you tripped over the same chair and got salsa all over it and the carpet. Later, you covered the sofa arm in strawberry yogurt, and rubbed it in for good measure with a dishcloth. I appreciate that you want to help clean up, but don't. Just don't.
I figured you were having a messy day. Then you knocked over your soda when we were out at lunch with Mr. Tony and Nick. Not only did you drench the table, but you managed to soak your clothes. Luckily, I had a change of clothes in the car, but still.
Then today you spilled strawberry milk all over your blanket. Using my bath towel to soak it up wasn't such a great idea. Finally, the mess you made with your drink at Marina's party? Well, you're lucky that her nana was there with a big pile of napkins.
Goodness, child, it's even rubbing off Nathan. He tripped and spilled peach yogurt all over the kitchen trash can yesterday. And earlier this week, he managed to get cherry Gatorade on the living room carpet, too. You're becoming a bad influence on that boy.
Little girl, this spilling stuff has got to stop. I can't get the rugs cleaned if you're just going to mess them up again. Believe me when I say it's not pleasant to walk barefoot on a crusty carpet either.
Love,
Your soda covered mother
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