Mommy Musings - Lyric and Lessons

Music has played a significant part in the fabric of my life. In an odd way, I fully believe that music helps shape us.

Mommy Musings - Spiders And Swear Words

There are many things which I truly love about being a parent to my two children. At first thought, I was tempted to say two elementary-aged children. I realize however that the comedy and reward of parenting truly has nothing to do with their age, but rather the journey. Each portion of their life represents a sort of 'new chapter' if you will. I often find ...

Mommy Musings – The Lesson Of ‘Can’ In Cancer

October … where to begin? As I sit to pen my thoughts for this week's column, my head swarms with three primary thoughts: Breast Cancer Awareness, physical ability and Cancer Sucks.

Mommy Musings – Hit By The ‘Fever’

I should have seen it coming. For some odd reason I have the tendency to operate under somewhat delusional thought. The belief that exposing my children to theater, ballet, even oldie classics in the way of music and entertainment will keep the inevitable at bay. Yet, here I sit again with the head scratching/head shaking fact that our family has been struck by 'the fever.' Not the fever we can muddle through and control with ...

Mommy Musings - Spokes And Folks

Familiar faces will once again retire into the everyday life of our community. There is no question that the words 'You look so familiar,' will now haunt Connie and Mel Sanguinetti as they wait in line at the grocery store or sit in a corner booth waiting to eat lunch. If nothing else they're sure to be stopped by a parent or two stating 'We bought our bikes from you for years.'

Mommy Musings –Slow, Safe And Sidewalks

The City of Oakdale is home to six separate public schools within the city limits, with an additional two in our rural areas. For those wondering we have four elementary, one Junior and one Senior High school in our town of just over 20,000 people (recorded in the July 2011 Census). Our two rural schools are K-8 campuses.

Mommy Musings - September Gratitude

My frustration and disappointment is bubbling over a bit this morning, as I've just returned from dropping my children off at their elementary school. As a 'seasoned' parent however, I recognize it is only early September and some really great 'drop-off' material will find me in the coming weeks and months.

Mommy Musings - Hug It Out

My kids are huggers. I share this with complete open and honest abandon because … I can.

Mommy Musings - Back To School … Again

I did it. You did it. We did it. Well, sort of … truly we're just getting started, but man what a major sigh of relief I can now breathe. Please forgive my vagueness as I am a bit giddy after getting through the first week of school. A hunch tells me some of you knew what those first three sentences meant straight off the bat. A fair share of you I know are now ...

Mommy Musings - No ‘I’ In Team

Just like any other business we here at the paper experience our fair amount of turnover or for some 'turn around.' A fair share of the staffers here (myself included) have departed from this building only to later return to its 122 S. Third Ave address. In all honesty ... It's just that good of a gig.

The Give And Take Of True Balance

A question was recently posed to me by a friend, which I'd never really given much thought. "Don't you ever just get tired of giving of yourself?" they asked. "I mean, don't you ever just feel like you give and give until there's nothing left for yourself?" Admittedly, this is a profound question for me and until that moment I'd never really given it much ...

Mommy Musings - The March Of Time

After 10-plus years of column writing, I must admit - at times it's tough to not be redundant.

Mommy Musings - Wishes Granted, Lessons Learned

My mother got her wish. You know that wish? The one they make out loud again and again during your childhood. The wish they make when you sassed them, challenged them or just did something incessantly. It was a wish that followed me well into my college years, never wavering or altering. A wish so big that often other family members would share the same feeling or desire. Something I like to call: The Golden ...

Mommy Musings - The Gift Of Imperfection

Confession: I am not a perfect mom. More importantly I do not strive to be, nor hope to someday be one. My reasoning is quite simple and perhaps for some a bit too honest. I was not raised by a 'perfect' mom. I was raised by a woman who (as she puts it) "did the best with what she had." This works for me. I not only accept it, but appreciate the honesty and recognition ...

Mommy Musings - Invites And Commitment

This week's column was supposed to be about the topic of commitment. Not commitment in the way of relationships, but the struggle there seems to be with accepting an invitation.

Mommy Musings-Ponies, Playthings And Grad Caps

Graduation season is once again here.

Mommy Musings - A Relayer’s Return And Hope

My column is a week late.

Mommy Musings - Explaining The Unexplainable

I'm still recovering from Boston.

Mommy Musings - Horse Trailers And High Heels

And so it goes … another Rodeo Week has been put to rest in the Chapter Book which encompasses my Oakdale life.

Reporter’s Notebook – A Tainted Finish

Monday, April 15 did not start for me as it did my friend and running teammate Cathy McClelland or Oakdaleans Vanessa Walton and Tom Burchell, or Jesse Santana of Riverbank. I did not board a motor coach in my sneakers with a race bib pinned to the front of my shirt in anticipation of running the 117th Boston Marathon.

Mommy Musings – Empowering Adjectives

Transitioning from my Reporter role at the Oakdale Leader was necessary in my life for a number of reasons. The one most at the core were my children. I knew I needed to work full-time. I knew I needed to stay local, but I desperately needed flexibility.

Mommy Musings - Pint Size Therapy

There are some days I think I'm wiser than others, when it comes to parenting.

Mommy Musings – A Moment Captured

Mommy Musings – So They Grow

They're growing up.

Mommy Musings – Guilt Free Mommy

There are a number of things I thoroughly enjoy about being a parent. Many of them I have the pleasure of being able to share here, with our readers. Among my 'favorite' things in the way of living with children, would be their innate ability to point things out which adults may give little thought to. I am of the belief that children not only pay attention, but understand ...

Mommy Musings – Proper Usage of Tools

Generally speaking, I'm an analytical type. More simply put, I think too much. Personally, I think it's inherent with becoming a mommy; however I have many male friends who struggle with the same topic. It's a two part problem for me, as I wake at 3 a.m. to recount what day it is and what I need to remember to stuff in my children's backpacks to which activity or ...

Mommy Musings – No ‘ing’ In Sportsmanship

It's barely February and yet here I find myself, penning yet another 'sports related' column. Truth be told there was a time when new sports reporters passed through our office on a routine basis. During that period I thought it might be fun to maybe 'switch it up' and actually approached Editor Marg Jackson with a proposal of possibly getting my feet wet in the Sports section. Much to ...

Mommy Musings - Holidays At The DMV

My month of December was not dissimilar from most of our readers. It was packed full of parties, shopping, holiday tradition and even a little quality family time.

Mommy Musings – What Awaits You

It's been a few weeks since I've forced my mind to share some thoughts. Truthfully we all need a reprieve on occasion and as the only staffer who does this weekly, there does come a point where I too must take a break.

Mommy Musings - We Made It

We survived. If you're reading this, then the world indeed did not end. Or perhaps it did and now you and I are left with the cockroaches to figure out what's next. Chances are, however, both are highly unlikely, not to mention improbable. I am no scientist, but after living through the let down of the Y2K hype I consider myself 'experienced' in such silliness. Of ...