Playing With Food
When I was a kid, I folded American cheese slices into tiny squares. I'd open up the slice and throw away the wrapper and then start folding. I'd try to make the cheese squares as small as possible. I'd ...

My Name's Not Mindy
I think it's kind of funny when people send me emails asking me to promote something. So very often, the person starts off by saying how much they like my blog and that they read it regularly.

"WHAT Is That Disgusting Smell?"
When Claire goes into public restroom stalls, she always makes comments. Her comments almost always center around smell. She comments on the overall air quality. She comments on the particular scent when ...

Here today, gone tomorrow
My 10 year-old son is an affable guy and makes friends fairly easily, including at summer day camps. What surprises me, though, is how the end of the week often marks the end of whatever friendships he's ...

Testing: district-provided or private?
When it comes to having your child tested for special academic needs--whether for the advanced kids or the ones who are struggling--how does Seattle School District's achievement and cognitive testing ...

The US vs. everyone else
Ed in '08 / Strong American Schools has a new campaign out: One Nation Left Behind, highlighting our educational system's decline against other countries.

And Then There Were Three
Up 'til now I've pretty much only shared the fact that we are adopting an older child from foster care, but not much more beyond that. I had a curious reader ask me for more specifics: What age range? ...

Diaper Debacle
Well it's official: I should not adopt nor give birth to an infant. For me older child adoption is the only way to go. Why? Well let me tell you…

Picking and Choosing
One interesting aspect of adoption is the ability to choose. Having a biological kid, well, you kinda just get what you get. You have sex, the fastest sperm and the egg for that month collide, and you've ...

I'm moving
I am now blogging primarily at AbsolutelyBananas.com. I will no longer be posting to this blog.

Win 2 nights at a Seabrook beach cottage
Seattle Mom Blogs is hosting a great giveaway for two nights at a beach cottage at Seabrook, WA. Contest ends midnight June 3rd. Details here.

I did it, and so can you! How I transitioned from full-time work to stay at home mom
It happens all the time... I get together with friends over coffee or lunch and inevitably the topic turns to my new lifestyle.

Ballard Cool Moms - unite!
A coupla cool moms in Ballard are gathering to start this Seattle neighborhood's gang of families who will work to reduce global warming.

Green high chairs
I've missed you! I am working on several projects that I will share soon, so have not had time to jot down all the green ideas I find every day! Here is a little tidbit I thought I'd send along -- a few ...

2 years of cloth diapers – it gets easier!
Wahoo – she's two! Banana's full of tantrums, enchanting curiosity, giggles and she's developing a fashion sense (not necessarily a good one – but something's there…) Has she only been ruling our lives ...

Moms Like Sex Too: The Quickie
So the basic premise of my Moms Like Sex Too column over at Seattle Mom Blogs is that moms like sex just as much as the next gal.*

The Absolute BEST Way to Spend a Weeknight
A gourmet dinner. A bottle of wine. A full body massage. Someone else folding AND putting away all the laundry.

What is a Sex-Positive Family? (And how do I get one?)
Babeland, the family-friendly (or at least not-at-all creepy) sex store on Seattle's Capitol Hill, is coordinating Sexy Mama Bloggers throughout the month of May. Why? Because what better way to celebrate ...

Wrestle with This
Today I signed Zion up for the YMCA wrestling sports clinic. He wanted to do gymnastics but it wasn't available, and when he realized he could use his strength he was in.

All's Well That Ends Well
Sometimes, my husband is a saint. He agreed to take Zion and Daniel, my friend D.'s son, to the skate park today. It is a kind gesture because I've been gone at the Port Townsend Writer's Workshop all ...

Just Like Everyone Else
Last Saturday, two days after Zion and I finally left Mary Bridge, we celebrated Maya's 10th birthday with a party at our house. The theme was "Fashionista!" The decorations rocked, the music was slammin' ...

Dealing with dementia in Tahoe
The scent of hot pine trees met me as soon as I got out of the car. A warm breeze stirred up clouds of green pollen from the mighty ponderosas that stood sentry above the house. Pinecones the size of ...

A member of the class of '68 remembers Bobby Kennedy
We had a small group around the big table on the evening of June 4. My son Joe had called to ask if we wanted to have dinner together, and I decided to make his favorite meal, a pasty (rhymes with nasty ...

A new normal
Dear readers, I began this blog two weeks ago just as the weather was turning nice. I opted not to post it and relax. You'll see that I had a pretty good excuse.

Is There a Nanny Doctor in the House?
Hello, The Nanny Doctor consulting services were featured in the Style section of the San Francisco Chronicle today! Here's a link to the story!

Nanny Cams
As a parent, especially a new parent, you may be concerned about leaving your child with a caregiver other than yourself. As a result of these concerns, you may think about using a nanny cam. This is ...

*UPDATED* The Nanny Doctor's BETTER.TV interview!
The extend version of my Better TV interview has recently been posted on YouTube! Take a look!