Anyways, that’s a lot of what we’ve been up to – enjoying the growing kids and warming weather.

My “double” stroller.  It’s so much cheaper than a real double stroller and more exciting, because you never know who is going to fall out first!

I had trouble getting on my way to work this morning, as Rome was being particularly engaging and fun. We practiced silly faces and cuddled and laughed. He is so similar to me, it’s eerie. I see myself being harder or less patient with him because I always understand what he is up to. This week he was acting up, especially right before I left and right when I got home from work. We employed the thinking chair a lot.

I said to him, one might after a set of such antics, in a quiet and nice voice as it was just before bed, “Rome, I don’t like when you hit me.” And, in instant and equal measure, he said, “Mom, I don’t like when you go to work.”

Fair enough. I mean, still, no hitting, but the little man has a grip on his motivations.

Parenting has probably been the best education in growing up. No longer can you relax in blissful ignorance, naivete or half-baked back up plans. All of a sudden your wiggle room is cut short. No more messing around. Of course you could, but it likely will cause things to turn out badly. It’s time to grow up and help the next generation begin the journey to do the same. And Dear GOD, let’s hope the next generation reverts back to growing up at an earlier age compared to mine.

Thus, this weekend we celebrate one half of the mysterious equation of parenthood. It’s an unreasonable undertaking, draining all manner of resources with breakneck speed. Then, out of a mysterious well, a parent discovers a secret spring of patience, love, and determination to see their children through.

My mother has borne untold stress and concern for us in the 30-some years of raising 4 of us, the likes of which we will never appreciate fully until we are on that side of the equation. And, partly, we have been shielded from observing the stress of it because that’s not how she rolls.

Her energy is always positive, outward, and constructive.

She’s a hoot and an amazing support and asks hardly anything bit friendship and good times together in return.

So, I salute you, Mom, in a way that makes my face scrunch up weird to avoid tears from forming and falling out while I write this on the 5 train into Manhattan.

I love you so much for everything I know you’ve done for me, us, and everything I still don’t even realize.

You are the best!

Big Changes: Haircut. (Do you know how many people you upset when you cut off long hair?)

New Blog Idea: Life Look – A new chart each week to use to examine your life in greater detail.

New Business Idea: A Life Coaching business to accompanying Life Look.

Things I’m over: Rain and cold.  Worrying about having a public blog.

Things I’m looking into: NYC maximization: Bronx Zoo, Governer’s Island,Top of the Rock, Concerts and Live Tapings

Recent Success: Date night. Dinner and a Movie and I didn’t even take my phone to worry about the children.

Things Rome is now into: Changing settings on the Nook, our phones.  Entertaining big kids on the playground, esp. with dances moves if necessary. Break dance moves. Oh yeah.

Things Gael is now into: Everything. And his first tortilla!: