NYC Moms

Oops She Did it Again!

Personally I think media darling Miley Cyrus, aka Hannah Montana, is simply a vehicle for Disney to amass as much as they can from us cash-strapped parents! Of course, I count myself among the droves of well-intentioned moms, clamoring to  let their daughters feast their eyes and little hearts on one of the many media fixtures who isn't snorting cocaine, or giving birth to a baby at 16. In fact this morning, my daughter merrily packed her Hannah Montana lunch box; to her unsophisticated seven-year-old brain Cyrus is an icon of girl power- sweet, Southern, and simply adorable! To us parents, this good girl icon is now caught up in a maelstrom of trouble!

Unfortunately Miley was photographed for a recent issue of Vanity Fair by famed photographer Annie Leibowitz in some slightly provocative- topless, barely covered by a sheet and then sprawled seductively next to her dad-Billy Ray Cyrus.

Okay, maybe the picture of her barely covered top, slightly disheveled hair and pouty full lips does seem to evoke an image of a girl who has just done something naughty-wink wink! but

I'm a different Mom the second time around

It’s actually quite unbelievable to me that my mothering skills are completely different with my second child than they were with my first born.

I struggled with infertility and had waited with such eager anticipation till that pregnancy test was positive. I made sure to eat really healthy throughout my trimesters-although that was actually more for me than him! I knew this would be my last pregnancy so I really whooped it up and a ate like a contented pre-schooler- nibbling on whatever piece of shiny candy caught my fancy!

My eldest is a girl– and having grown up in a family of three girls– and a boy who is 12 years- my junior- I had a much more intimate understanding of all-things pink, feminine…and very little connection to the masculine persuasion.

Yes I’m married 10 years and still trying to figure out what exactly motivates my husband to do anything–he still remains a complete enigma to me– so suffice it to say when I gave birth to my second child- a boy- I quite literally felt very out of my element…

What's Up with all these Twin Births...Welcome to the World of Reproductive Medicine

My weekly Staten Island Advance Column, Kids in the City just came out today where I briefly reveal my struggle to get pregnant with my second child.

With my daughter, my husband and I were like; hmm...it would be great to get pregnant and literally nine months later, without even really trying, we got pregnant. With my son, it was a completely different experience. At the time, like many other women, I just assumed that as an early thirties Mom, as soon as my husband and I started "trying" to get pregnant, we'd be blessed with another little fetus.

Suffice it to say, we spent months trying. Very much like Halle Berry's recent admission that she kept her negative pregnancy test result sticks in a drawer, I too, would hold onto those urine sticks, in the hopes that perhaps that second blue line might magically appear.

I remember feeling a profound cocktail of emotions; sadness, anger, jealousy, bitterness, resentment, and having to come to terms with what I felt was my failure as a woman...

Is There Such a Thing As Mommy Rehab?

It seems like every time I turn on the television or open a magazine-there's a newsy alert that yet another celebrity has entered rehab...Imagine having unlimited funds and hand-servants to do your bidding- and still not being able to handle all the pressure! What about all us regular Moms, trying to stay on this treadmill of tending to our children's every need and desire while attempting to successfully balance a career, still remain a skinny minny--okay that is one thing I am SO Over!- and have a fantastic relationship with our spouse! You know what I'd really love...a Mommy rehab! Because despite the fact that I love my kids to death-- heck I went through major agony; infertility treatments, way more needles than I ever thought I could endure, poking and prodding to finally conceive my son--all these expectations are overwhelming!

If I could create the perfect rehab setting it would be; an hour long venting session with other mommies- who like me finally had a place where they could honestly admit- that sometimes, they would rather be doing anything but playing blocks with their kids, coloring pictures or reading Dr. Seuss...just writing that

Today, I wept for the first time in months

I am not one of those people who easily tear up at any occasion, in fact, I often felt ashamed or slightly defective emotionally that I'm not more prone to public displays of sadness, and tears at appropriate life cycle events- funerals, weddings...So I was completely caught off guard today at a my daughter's first grade Siddur play this morning, when I felt hot tears welling up in the corners of my eyes, strong enough to actually stream down my cheeks.

Let me give you some background... my daughter attends a religious Jewish private school on Staten Island, in which she spends half her day studying Hebrew and Judaic Studies, and the other half pouring over English, Math and science books. At this Siddur play presentation, she and her other classmates, sing songs, recite prayers, with the culmination being that each one is given their very own grownup prayer book. Yes it is all fine and dandy- and being the class Mother- I was up at the crack of dawn, helping the other Moms, set up the tables, flatware, donuts, etc...- Any other class Mom out there knows the drill- it is a thankless job- and yet- I know my daughter appreciates it- so I oblige-- it never hurts to have a little "look at all the things I do for you, " guilt stockpiled- ready to use at just the precise critical moment!

But back to my weeping...

Not Just another Christmas Versus Chanukah Post...I Promise!

I know there has been a proliferation of holiday related posts, and yet I feel the need to throw my proverbial hat in the ring and add my thoughts--I mean that is what this blog is all about- a place for us Moms to share our superficial and deep-seated joys and fears- without abandon- and hopefully without self-censorship.

So you ask, what can I possibly add to this whole, Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, what about little ole Chanukah- which came and went so soon- but is often overlooked in favor of the colorful Homer Simpson dressed as Santa- blinking multi-colored trees decked in shimmering tinsel and handcrafted sparkling ornaments-cartoons about Rudolph the Red-nosed reindeer?! I mean in the US, there really is no way to compete with the big old Jolly kahuna himself- Mr. Kris Kringle. I grew up in a pretty Orthodox Jewish Household, I went to Yeshiva, I observed Shabbat--and yet- no matter how insulated I was - who could possibly abstain from the seductive merry Christmas decorations...in fact, I remember waiting with baited breath for Thanksgiving to end because I knew the very next day- my Italian and Irish neighbors would roll out their masterfully, and quite intricate decorations, which would be a feast for my eyes...and Yes I do remember feeling extremely envious- and even wishing that for that one day a year- I too could e a Christian, and decorate a natural sweet smelling tree- wear a big old red Christmas sweater- sing carols- dive into a big ole' dish of candied yams...

I am ALL Over this Gender Neutral Boys in the Kitchen Thing!

Being that tonight is the Fourth night of Chanukah and I just finishing researching the latest and greatest holiday toys for an article I just wrote, Happy Lead Free Holidays, I really believed I had the whole toy situation figured out!

But unfortunately, each successive day --since writing that feature, seems to be bringing with it another report that the toys I and other well-intentioned Mommies out there are lovingly choosing for our little unsuspecting children are actually covered in lead, asbestos, the date rape drug--and so many more toxins,it's a wonder that our kids have survived as long as they have!

Then I got this message from a friend of mine..Here's a little bit of what she said,-I think this was originally taken from a Jay Leno quote...

Are You a "Bad" Mother Because You Bottle Feed Your Baby?

I can't believe this debate is still going on! In my case, I breast-fed my first child for about two months, but my heart just wasn't in it. The truth is, maybe I was a little selfish, but I really just wanted my pre-pregnancy life back.  I kept thinking, haven't I given this baby enough? I just housed her for nine months, and literally watched every morsel of food I put in my mouth. I treated my body like a Temple, and now it was my time to reclaim it. Of course I felt guilty especially when I read all the pro- breast feeding literature, courtesy of those extremely aggressive La Leche women who stormed into my hospital room while I was still woozy from having pushed a 7lb. baby out of my body, and began lecturing me on how I must breastfeed, even if I felt sick, I should and could just soldier on and breast feed through it.

Well like every other well-intentioned new Mom, I took their advice. And finally after two months I had enough, and felt ready to find the best possible formula, pour it into a bottle and happily let my husband do the next couple of feedings.

Announcing The Launch Of The NEW YORK CITY MOMS BLOG

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The time has finally arrived.....We are thrilled to officially announce the launch of the New York City Moms Blog!

New York City Moms Blog is a collaborative group of women living or working in New York City.  They wrestle strollers down subway stairs and struggle with taxi cabs on every corner.  But whether they’re parenting without backyards, extra storage space or carpools, or enjoying their recent escapes to the suburbs in spite of their horrific commutes, these moms are living proof that "the city never sleeps".

To visit New York City Moms Blog, go to http://www.nycmomsblog.com.  To meet the incredible (All right, we really mean incredible, talented, savvy, sophisticated and oh-so-interesting) NYC Moms, visit their "About Us" section, here.

The New York City Moms Blog is the newest sister site to Silicon Valley Moms Blog (launched April 2006), Chicago Moms Blog (launched May 2007) and DC Metro Moms Blog (launched September 2007).  The four sister sites now have over one hundred proud Mommy Bloggers talking about the experience of parenting and the issues that push moms' buttons.  We are delighted and honored to welcome these New York City Moms to our community of bloggers and hope you visit them today!

For questions or inqueries about the NYC Moms Blog, please contact us at: info at nycmomsblog dot com

Is there such a thing as a kid-friendly restaurant?

I just wrote a column about NYC Restaurants that welcome kids, suffice it to say- none of the three which I reviewed offer five star dining with white glove service and those tiny overpriced- but-oh-so-gosh darn good-looking appetizers that you don't even care that after you leave you're still famished because the presentation was so riveting-kind of restaurants! The three dining establishments that I reviewed offer classic kid-fare; lots of chicken nuggets, Mac n' cheese, pizza- and each has its own unique draw for kids'- like balloon sculpting nights, lots of toys to play with and even make your own pizza- and of course for us weary and bleary-eyed- parents- they all offer a respite from eating out-experiences where all the other patrons are shooting you dagger-looks, imploring you to leave the restaurant, or to stifle your screaming , squirmy kid- who has proceeded to litter the floor about him with a trail of greasy French fries. These kid-friendly restaurants, welcome and encourage loud-mouthed kids- feature great diaper changing areas and parents can rest assured when you walk through their doors- if you're kid decides to have a meltdown, because he refuses to eat--you'll get a compassionate- been there-done that look from the other parents- and you won't feel compelled to high tail it outta there!

Writing the column actually sparked a memory about a pre-baby, pre-marriage sushi dining experience I had with my fiancée'...