What I was doing 19 years ago today....

Giving birth to a big headed boy! Only 6 lbs 5oz and he still broke my tailbone! I couldn't sit upright for 6 weeks! Now my first born is all grown up: 6 foot, 190 lbs of bearded hairy man. My sweet boy was in a hurry to enter the world. He was born 3 weeks early, I still had a week left to work before my maternity leave. He also decided to be born in 5 hours from start to finish in the most painful, natural back labor ever! Of couse snapping my tailbone on the way out shows his impatience to get started in the world.

He has continued to be impulsive and impatient even now. Funny how those traits are with us from the beginning.

It's a sad and happy day for me today. Happy I was able to keep him safe so he could reach this age and sad because my little boy is really now gone.

1st day home. OMG I look like I'm 16! I was really 23 folks, honest. Wow look how skinny I was after his birth! That so didn't happen with my second child!

Happy 19th Birthday RJ!!! MOM loves you!!!

Driving Miss Diva - The 1st Drive

A super tired mom and a crazed anxious daughter are not the best combinations for a first driving experience. Here's what happened. I took her to the grammar school parking lot. It was empty and large enough for turning and parking and backing up. The daughter couldn't tell the difference between the gas and brake even after repeatedly trying each one out. She didn't understand why I wanted her to drive between the rows and turn at the end. (Perhaps to practice driving straight, stopping and turning?!)

After white-knuckling the steering wheel and stopping again and again she complained that the school janitor was watching her and it was freaking her out. I told her I wasn't going to take her on a real road until she and I had some confidence in her driving. So just shut up and drive. Next a woman walking a dog stopped to watch us, which started another freak out. I changed places with her and went across town to the junior high, which was having open house night of course. I finally drove around to a quiet street and decided to let her try street driving.

She did o.k. at 5 miles an hour until a car 2 blocks up started to back out of it's driveway. This started another freak out. "OMG!" I said to her. "How will you drive on the street with cars all around you if you freak out over every little thing?" She ended up driving all of 3 blocks and I needed a Pepcid when it was over.

She decided that driving on the street was better cause it goes straight. I reminded her that not all streets are straight and you have to turn sometime.

I know all of this sounds terrible but she was really better than her brother when he drove for the first time. I'm not looking forward to the second time, perhaps her brother will take her.

Palin for President, Michael Palin

I knew there was some kind of mistake!

Driving Miss Diva - The Background

O.k. it started like this:

My daughter, pounding up the stairs just home from school, "Mommmmm, can you take me driving today?!"

Me, hanging head and cringing. "Umm, yeah I think I'll have time later"
Now I've been through this last year with my son and 15 years ago with my baby brother. So I knew this was coming and I do have previous experience, but there is just something different about your daughter driving. I don't know if it's because she's my baby or a girl.

Now I'm all for women's rights and women can do anything men can do, but I feel strangely protective of her in a way I didn't with my son. I've spent time thinking about this and here are some reasons I've come up with. As much as I hate to admit it I do have a double standard when it comes to my children. And I think it really comes from a physical standpoint.

The Girl:

My 16 year old daughter stands 5' 4" and weighs 110 pounds. (she's 4 inches shorter than me)

Without make-up on she looks 11.

I own a mid-size SUV and she can't see over the steering wheel.

She is severely anxious about new situations and events. (it took her 2 months to get the courage to go to the DMV and take the permit test)

The Boy:

My 18 year old son stands 6' and weighs about 190 pounds.

Has a man-sized body and looks 25.

He is very confident (perhaps overly) in most everything he does.

The physical issue is probably all in my head because my daughter is an athlete and is tremendously strong for her size. But I can't help wanting to protect her! I guess it all comes down to the fact that I'm just not ready for her to grow up yet.

Stay tuned for further installments of "Driving Miss Diva".

Online Socal Networking Clubs

Are you a Swanky Mom, a Posh Mama, a Blogger Mom or a Twitter Mom? If you are then there are others just like you joining these online social clubs. Clubs are a great way to connect with like-minded people. I design personalized stationery so a club of mom's who handcraft things is right up my alley. I also have an addiction to Twittering so belong to a club for that feeds my addiction for more. I do consider myself "Posh" at least in my own mind (although my teenage daughter wouldn't agree with me) and I'm a Mama so there you go, perfect for me.


I enjoy talking to the people I meet and the networking is great (I've noticed a slight increase in sales-not sure yet if this relates or not). But it's a great way to put your business or blog out to a whole new group of people who might not ever had the chance to find you.

There are also smaller sub groups within the sites you can join that really focus on your likes and interests, such as: groups for business women, cancer survivors, politics, children and family, blogging etc. There really is something for everyone. And if there isn't you can create a group that interests you.


The biggest downside I've seen so far is that belonging to these clubs is very time-consuming. I've met some women who are on 5 or 6 sites. When do they find time to sleep? I've personally had to limit my time to a half an hour a day now, which is very hard when I'm getting email after email informing me someone has left a comment for me. I'm super nosy and it's hard not to stop work and click over to see what's going on. Also you can get spam. The sites I'm on are very good at deleting people who do that and working hard to keep a spam-free community.


I really do love the sites I'm on (www.poshmama.com & www.twittermoms.com) are my favorites. The women there are smart and savy. It's amazing how many women business owners there are! I love the discussions and business tips. I learn something worthwhile every day and enjoy contributing the little things I know.


So I highly recommend finding an online social club that suits you and hope you enjoy the experience as much as I have.

Singing Cake Kitten

This appeals to my bizare sense of humor!

I am WE, are you?