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 – The Spirit Is Alive

I believe stores should be closed on Thanksgiving. Once upon a time ... They were. Soldiers, service professionals, restaurateurs; they know it is the nature of the business. Personally, I view these as necessities. Many people opt for dinner out on Thanksgiving and emergencies/civil order, well that goes without saying. Shopping does not fall under the necessity category in my book. I spent ...

The Joy Of Ticketing

Mommy Musings – Unintentional Modeling

In the role of parent we are never void of the knowledge that eyes are always watching. Be it the eyes of our children, our peers, family or society at large. No parent is perfect and we all have our moments. 'Slips' happen, but if we are truly fortunate the 'eyes' bring it to our attention.

Less Than Perfect

I'm a firm believer in the old adage of 'older and wiser.'

Mommy Musings – See. Achieve. Believe.

I did it. I accomplished a goal which once seemed inconceivable. A dream so big, I was once not brave enough to dream it.

MOMMY MUSING'S - Push Your Brave

On Sunday, October 20 dozens upon dozens of women from the tri-city area (Escalon, Oakdale and Riverbank) will flood the streets of San Francisco as participants of the 10th Annual Nike Women's Marathon benefitting the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.

Mommy Musings – Defining Stranger

Times they are a changing or … are they?

Mommy Musings - Walk The Talk

I sometimes run out of words. I am fairly certain for those who know me in my personal life this has prompted a smile. I tend to be 'naturally' wordy, which indeed has its benefits in the way of column writing. Sadly, even my 'short' thoughts are run on sentences. So, when faced in these situations of 'out of words' with a column looming I look ...

Mommy Musings

I recently learned of a reader sharing their dissatisfaction with my column. After all, who really cares about my kids and what I have to share about them?

Mommy Musings – Rules Not Exceptions

I really had hoped to not have to pen a column on this topic yet again this school year, but once again I'm faced with a frustration I know I am not alone in.

Mommy Musings - Back To It

It's hard to believe, yet the time has passed and once again we (us parents) find ourselves amid yet another school year. This is indeed a momentous occasion in our small town of just over 20,000. Whether you are the parent of school aged children or not ... heed fair warning.

Mommy Musings - If I Didn’t

My twenties were not spent changing diapers, shopping for formula or even pushing a stroller. No, quite the opposite. My twenties looked exactly as I had envisioned as a young girl. They were spent completing college, working long hours and building my career. It all seemed perfect.

Mommy Musings The Three Faces Of Mom

Children change us.

MOMMY MUSINGS – Going The Distance

I'm training for a marathon.

Mommy Musings - Stretching and Splashing

I'm not one to sit quietly when it comes to something I love. Proof positive of this would be the simple title of this column space, Mommy Musings. I love my kids and the older we (all) get the more I grow to love them and parenting. Oh, sure we have our moments…plenty of them. Growing up, however, I was always told we take the good with the ...