Chicago Moms Blog

Why am I Still Seeking Sleep?

When our twin girls were first born, we didn't expect to sleep.  We knew we'd be up most of the time feeding, changing diapers, etc.  Once someone asked me how much sleep I had gotten the night before.  I hesitated and said, "About seven hours."  She said, "So why are you so tired?"  Well, I was still tired because it wasn't seven consecutive hours.  It was broken night of sleep -- one hour here and two hours there.  The sum total sounded better than it was.

Now our girls are six years old.  They go to bed about 8:00 p.m.  I try to get to bed within a couple of hours after that.  It sounds like I should be well-rested.  So, why am I still trying to get enough sleep?

My new sleep problem is my husband.  It's not the stereotypical snoring problem that keeps me awake.  It's his internal clock. 

He decided about a year ago that he wanted to get into the office earlier and get home earlier.  This has several advantages, especially for someone who takes the train.  The parking lot is pretty empty.  The trains are not packed.  He gets to work before most people, so he takes advantage of a little peace and quiet before the rest of the office arrives. He likes getting home earlier to spend a little more time with the girls each night.  It's all good during the week.

Why are you following me?

My friends tend to think I'm pretty plugged in because I blog, and I'm currently working for one of the world's leading consulting firms.  I can use social media and consulting lingo like a pro, as long as none of the pros ask too many follow-up questions.  However, if I'm honest, I'll admit that I'm not the most plugged in mom on the block.  I don't text.  I don't surf the net from my phone.  I don't tweet.

I do have a Twitter account, strictly because I needed it for a work project.  It has been months since I've logged on to see what is happening with the few organizations I follow.  Yet, every once in a while I receive a notice from Twitter informing me that I have another follower.  Currently I have about 50 followers.  Whenever I get a notice, I want to email and ask, "Why are you following me?" 

It cannot be for my sparkling way with words as I've never sent a tweet.  I mean never, ever.  I can only assume they look at my profile (and how do they find me anyway?) and say, "Well, she must be interesting.  She follows the Chicago Blackhawks and the University of Illinois sports.  What a fascinating person."  Otherwise, what makes a person follow another person on Twitter?

Ways to Sound Like a Hockey Fan

It's official. The Chicago Blackhawks are going to the Stanley Cup finals.  This means, of course, that the whole town will be hockey crazy for a little while longer.  As a life long hockey fan (We could ice skate before we could ride bikes.), here are a few things to say to sound like you know and love the game.

"Hey, stay away from our goalie."  No matter what the other team does -- skate too closely, push the goalie, spray ice on him -- defend your goalie.  Even if the act isn't really worthy of a penalty, teams take the job of protecting their goalies very seriously.  For bonus points, say, "Antii Niemi is amazing.  Is he really a rookie?"  Our goalie has been amazing in the playoffs.

"The Stanley Cup is the coolest trophy ever."  This is true and not because it means your team is the best in the league for that year.  It's the coolest because every player and coach gets it for a day.  Yes, tradition says that if your team wins the Stanley Cup trophy, then you get it for a day.  A few years ago, the winning coach put it in his backyard and invited fans to take a photo with him and the trophy.  It is the most traveled trophy of any sport, having gone around the world and appeared in numerous television shows. 

Just stop asking

Here's one thing I just don't understand.  Given all the news stories about how women are waiting to have children, and how the increase in fertility treatments has lead to an increase in multiples, how is it that people still ask me, "Do twins run in your family?" 

In my case, the answer is yes.  My maternal grandmother had a set of boy/girl twins long before ultrasound images gave you any warning.  I know what we thought as we stared at the screen looking at two little sacs during our first ultrasound.  I cannot image my grandfather's reaction when the nurse came out of the delivery room and said, "You have twins."

The most amazing thing is it is usually complete strangers who ask.  I've had people walk up to me in the grocery store and start asking about our twin daughters.  Why is this acceptable?  Are these people walking up to every parent pushing a baby stroller to chat and give advice?  What is it about multiples that brings out this need in some people?

The Importance of Finding One's Community

I've been thinking a lot about the idea of community lately.  There have been a lot of news stories talking about different communities.  Some are geographic; others are ethnic.  Some are based upon a common hobby or interest; others are religious.  Sometimes the community comes together for celebrations.  Sometimes you find out exactly how strong a community is because of a tragedy.

Our nephew recently learned an important lesson in community.  It's not something I would have ever wished upon him, though.  Jake plays for the Vikings Hockey Club at Arctic Ice in Orland Park.  He has been flying on the ice since he was old enough to put on skates.  A few weeks ago, a fellow hockey player was killed while riding his bike.  Kelly Ryan was just 12 years old. 

The initial shock turned into action for the extended Vikings team and Arctic Ice hockey community.  The requisite Facebook page created a place for people to express their condolences and share stories.  My sister-in-law said more than 200 cars were part of the funeral procession.  At some point the funeral home director just stopped counting.  At the funeral, the boys put up their hockey sticks as Ryan's coffin entered and exited the church.  It was the hockey version of a military salute.  At the cemetery, all the boys took off their jerseys and threw them on top of Ryan's coffin after it was lowered into the ground.  It was an amazing show of strength and community from a group of 12 year olds. 

Proof that Mother Nature Reclaims Her Space

When we moved to the Southwest suburbs, we found a lot of hidden gems.  One of our favorites is the Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens in Palos Heights. I have to admit that part of the appeal is the back story.  Lake Katherine was a dump at one time.  It was literally a place were people dumped everything from daily trash to unwanted cars.  The city of Palos Heights bought it, reclaimed the land and turned it into a hidden gem.  Now there is a 20-acre man-made lake, waterfall cascades, a children's garden, an arboretum and one-mile trail.

It's free to walk the trails and enjoy the scenery.  Every day you see people exercising on the trails or practicing yoga on the lake shore.  In the summer, children squeal when butterflies flit around them.  When the weather is good, you often see artists painting.  These artists are more than willing to talk to anyone walking by.  They have been very patient with our girls, who of course have dozens of questions for the artists.

I'm a jeans and t-shirt Mom

It's that time of the year when all the women's magazines are showing the spring and summer fashions.  When I sit in a doctor's office or walk through the library, I see all the adorable outfits and stories about fashionable moms who keep it all together all the time.

I'm not one of those moms, and I'm okay with that.  I'm the mom wearing jeans and a t-shirt/turtleneck in the cold weather and jean shorts and a t-shirt when it's warm.  It's not that I don't have nice clothing or that I don't wear it on occasion.  It's just that those adorable, fashionable outfits don't work in my daily life.

Where is the Red Cross?

Now that we realize there is no end in sight for the volcano eruption in Iceland, I have to wonder who is going to step in to help the stranded passengers.  I realize that if you are stranded because you are traveling for business, your company will step in.  It's the other travelers I think deserve some help.

The stories are getting increasingly uncertain.  Passengers who are running out of medicine because they didn't plan to be gone for so long.  Passengers who are running out of money.  Passengers who are sleeping in the plastic chairs in the airport because they don't have travel visas for their current destination.  After all, you don't need a visa when you are in a country just to change planes.  It's all getting a bit desperate.

I have to wonder when the Red Cross will step in.  This might not be an earthquake, but I think it's clearly a natural disaster.  It's hard to argue these people deserve their fate because they had the bad timing to be traveling when the volcano decided to erupt. 

I'm Just Trying to Share Some Good News

Our girls recently received letters accepting them into the Center for the Gifted program, an affiliate of National-Louis University.  They will take their first classes this summer.  They are registered for the 1/2 day program, so they will take three different classes during the two-week camp ranging from Fairy Tale Festival to Biology You Can Eat to Mathemagicians.  Just reading the descriptions made the girls giggle.   

When the letters came, I told a few family members and friends, then I put the letters away.  I have heard really good things about the program.  I'm very excited about the classes, yet I've already learned it's not something I can share with everyone. 

It's Not a Charitible Hospital if They Demand an Insurance Card

Recently I read a Chicago Tribune article called Burden higher for nonprofit hospitals, Illinois Supreme Court says.  I was appalled at how little charitable care nonprofit hospitals truly provide, yet they reap all the benefits of nonprofit status.  In my world, simply not distributing profits to shareholders is not enough to call an organization a nonprofit. 

Fast forward to our recent visit to an emergency room at our local, nonprofit hospital.  The first thing the admissions clerk did was demand to see our insurance card.  As my husband was sitting in a wheelchair, clearly in agony, she refused to let him be treated until I produced an insurance card. 

The hospital's web site says, "Concern for our patients is at the very core of every decision we make and each action we take."  What part of demanding an insurance card before seeing a doctor shows concern for patients?

The admission clerk finally allowed him to see a doctor after the nurse pleaded his case.  I sat there while she finished the admissions process.  The final straw for me was when she said, "It will take a minute to verify your insurance."