#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Bringing Up Mr. Mom

April 18, 2008 · Convos with My Kid, Narrative

The other night, The Husband was working super-late and I had bedtime duty on my own.  Madeline was being a little bit fussy and we were at the point where she needed to just settle herself down.  After feeding and changing her, I put her in her crib and dimmed the lights.  Of course, she wasn’t especially happy with the scenario, but sometimes it’s ok to give them a little bit of time to learn how to soothe themselves, you know?

As I left her room, I told Nicholas to keep the noise to a dull roar and stay out of her room.  With the monitor on, I headed downstairs to do a bit of work.  Ten minutes later, Nicholas comes to the top of the stairs.

“Mommy, mommy, you have to come upstairs,” he said with great urgency.

“Why, what’s the matter?”

“It’s Maddie.  She’s crying.”

“I know, honey, it’s ok.  She’ll settle down in a few minutes, she’s tired, don’t worry.”

He gave me a crestfallen look, but walked back to his room.

Minutes later, he was calling me again.

“Mommy, I can’t do it.  I can’t let her cry.  She’s upset.”

“Honey, I promise you, she will be fine.  Don’t take her out of the crib.”

A few minutes later, all was quiet.  I finished what I needed to do and headed back upstairs.

There he was.  In her room.  He had pulled up a chair next to her crib.  He had filled her crib with stuffed animals, and was singing to her and holding her hand.  I could tell it was all he could do to restrain himself from climbing in the crib with her.

It’s tough bringing up Mr. Mom.  Especially the five-year-old kind.

Maddie is one very lucky girl.

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Posted In: Convos with My Kid, Narrative

Comments

  1. The Sister In-Law says

    April 19, 2008 at 9:01 am

    Aaaww…. that is so sweet. I can’t believe how grown up Nicholas is!!!

    BTW I think Maddie is giving you the finger in this picture LOL!

    SIL

    Reply
  2. grace says

    April 19, 2008 at 10:41 am

    what a sweet story! i predict you’ll have a real ladies’ man on your hands here in a few years. :)

    Reply
  3. Teresa says

    April 19, 2008 at 12:34 pm

    Awww. :-) Don’t you just love moments like those?

    Reply
  4. Mellisa says

    April 19, 2008 at 12:58 pm

    We subcribe to the self soothing philosophy also. My seven year old gets very upset when the little one is crying. Yeah for big brothers.

    Reply
  5. Tyanne says

    April 19, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    oh, that is so sweet. Nicholas is such a sweet big brother. you are right, Maddie is very lucky to have such a nice brother.

    Reply
  6. claire says

    April 19, 2008 at 1:47 pm

    How precious! He is such a great big brother. Maddie, just watch out for when you want to start dating…they’ll have to go through Nicholas first! :-) And I love that he totally obeyed you…he didn’t take her out of the crib!

    Reply
  7. Abbey says

    April 20, 2008 at 12:37 am

    Okay, that is just THE CUTEST thing EVER!!!

    What a wonderful big brother!

    Reply
  8. Ana says

    April 20, 2008 at 11:24 am

    Ohhh, I loved reading your post, that was the sweetest thing!
    What a nice brother Nicholas is!
    Ana

    Reply
  9. sharon says

    April 20, 2008 at 8:38 pm

    You’ll have to show him that post one day when they’re both teenagers. Very cute story! :)

    Reply
  10. Mrs Ergül says

    April 29, 2008 at 11:17 pm

    Cate, you’re very lucky to have such a lovely 5-year-old boy to dote on his little sister so much. Do you mind sharing what way you brought him up? It’s really sweet…

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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