Sisterhood46

Son: "Hey dad you want to play knock out?" Dad (in pj's): "Sure, just give me a second." Two minutes later dad (in pjs and cap) and son are shooting hoops on the driveway. Having a basketball hoop just outside our garage door, on the driveway, is one of the best things about living in the burbs. Back in the city organizing a father and son basketball session was work. Everyone had to get dressed, take the elevator, walk a few blocks, only to find that all the courts were full. Now father and son time is fun, easy and happens all weekend long. It's the best thing ever.

Spring is here. Are you ready? Spring in the city meant going out for a nice clothing shopping spree to update my wardrobe. It was delightful (not necessarily for my wallet mind you). Out here, it's much more serious. You need the right wardrobe of course, but most importantly you need the right body. You need a body that's "swimsuit ready." Everywhere I turn it seems like women in my town are trying new trainers, new diets, new detox methods so that come Memorial Day they will be worthy of going to the beach in a swimsuit. I'm all for working out but I'm a tad scared....Will I make it?  Do I care enough? I keep telling myself that I have another deadline. I'm working towards my 40th to be in the best shape of my life so if I don't make the Memorial Day deadline so be it, I have another three months. Still I'm a tad scared at the prospect of showing up at the beach amidst all of these "beach ready mom babes!" Are you "swim...

On a beautiful sunny sunday, I took my two sons to NYC to the International Kids Film Festival.  I was really looking forward to it but I realized that those feelings weren't reciprocated as soon as we arrived in Grand Central Station. Mom: "OK guys let's hop on the subway, it'll be faster." Boys: "oh common mom, let's take a cab. Pleeeaasseee.?" M: "OK fine." Out into the sunshine we go. M: "Wow a what a beautiful day!" B: "There is so much construction in the city, it's loud." M: "Can you the african drums? We used to come and listen to them every sunday night, and sometimes they'd let you play with them." B: "What time are we taking the train back? Will it still be daylight? Can we play with our friends?" OK let me try and jog their memories about how much they used to love it here. M: "You know you were born in this city." B: "When's the movie starting? W...

Once upon a time I used to make fun, ridicule and criticize those suburban dwellers who felt the need to drive around in an SUV. No more my friends! Now that I am the one carting around three kids and countless bags of lawn refuse (thanks to the recent storms), I can't tell you how much I love my cross over, rather large suburban vehicle! Can you imagine how many trips to the dump I would have to make if I owned a Mini?

I've spent most of my life, moving around, not really feeling like I belonged. That changed in March 1995 when I drove into NYC at the wheel of my moving van. It was the very first time in my life that I really felt truly at home. I've had to leave that home a couple of times over the years and it's been heartbreaking. I have experienced homesickness like never before. Well I'm happy to report that I found a remedy for my homesickness (apart from taking frequent trips to the city). And it most importantly was given to me by a very thoughtful neighbor out here in the burbs. The remedy is a book (you all know how addicted I am to books).  It's called "The Colossus of New York" by Colson Whitehead.  When you read this book and you're transported to New York. It's amazing. I would recommend it to anyone who loves New York and who wants to be reminded of what makes it such an amazing and unique place to call home.  http://www.amazon.com/C...

On my third day with the kids out of school and my second hour of raking and my fourth bag of lawn refuse my sweet five year old son shouts out: "Mom I have a question." M: "Sure honey what is it?" S: "Why is it that only boys go to work every day of the week, but girls don't ever go to work?" M: "Um...(let me take a deep breath) well girls actually do go to work honey." S: "but you don't work and you're a girl" M: "Um (let me take another deep breath) actually I do work, when you're in school and at night. And my work is also to take care of you." S: "yeah...but that's not really work" M: "Would you like me to go to work everyday ?" S: "well who would take care of us?" M: "A babysitter" S: "oh... I don't want that." End of conversation. I walk back to my rake, take it with my blistered hands and think about what I'm doing with my life. Nothing like ...

"Due to the continued safety concerns for our students resulting from the damage caused by the recent storm, the Westport Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday March 17th." Three days in a row? The news that all the parents had been dreading came at 4:23 this afternoon. It was received simultaneously by quiet moans from the parents and high pitched screams by the kids. The roads seem pretty clear, the sun has been shinning all day. Was this really necessary? My first instinct was to hit reply on my blackberry and write "Due to concerns for the sanity of the parents who have managed through the recent storm and its side effects, please open the schools! We'll all be safer!" But I'm still a newbie so being that vocal probably wouldn't be a good idea. Instead I gladly accepted my neighbor's offer to commiserate over a glass of wine while the sun set on day 2 of this very long week!

"This is your 7:00AM Code Red update from the Westport Police Department. As of 7:00AM this morning 48% of our residents are without power. Many of the towns roads remain impassible do to fallen trees and power lines. We have crews coming from New Hampshire to help with the clean up effort. However, it will take several days to complete the clean up. In the meantime please stay off the road, don't attempt to drive through flooded areas or around fallen trees. Please keep all children and animals inside to minimize the risk of injury. This has been the 7:00AM code red update." We've been getting these updates via telephone morning and night since the storm hit on Saturday morning. Although I feel like I'm on a stranded island with my food supply going down quickly, I feel incredibly reassured by these Code Red updates. Seriously, it's a small thing but knowing what's going on outside of my driveway, is incredibly reassuring, even though we're all ab...

It all started with a simple vision. Now that hubby and I have a backyard we thought it would be great to have a terrace with a nice table so that the family could enjoy al fresco meals in the summer time. Last year was our first summer and we just didn't get it together. We ended up having family picnics in the backyard. It was quaint, for the first couple of times but it would be nice to also invite some friends over. So the first thing we needed was a terrace and someone to build that terrace. I got a referral from a neighbor and made the appointment. The terrace lady came and started throwing out 20 different ideas. Of course most of them were super expensive but there was one we really liked. Build a terrace right behind the house. Simple enough, you'd think but behind the house we have beautiful rose bushes, they'd have to be moved. Behind the house we also have the sceptic tank (yeah another thing you learn about and wish you hadn't). But the town is su...

What's the best thing about the burbs? Finding out that you have two lovely neighbors who are also in need of a city fix! The plan was hatched at the bus stop late last week. My friend walked up and instead of engaging in the usual bus stop banter just blurted out "I don't know about everybody else but I seriously need to go to the city. I need to walk, I need to see people, I need it." I couldn't believe it, it's as though she'd read my thoughts. It's been a few weeks since I've been and it was starting to show. We encouraged our fun and world travelled neighbor that made three. Add my toddler and we had team of four adventurers. We set a date and made a plan. Today was the day we made our great escape. This morning at 8:50AM we put our kids on the school bus. Thanks to hubbie kindly giving us a lift we made it to the train station by 8:55 and by 8:58 the four of us were on our way to the city. It was bliss. We jammed ourselves into a ru...

What a gorgeous weekend! The weather was just splendid. I decided to make the most of it by leaving the car at home when I could and walk. I'm a city girl and walking is my preferred mode of transportation by far. I love any activity that has a multi-purpose. When I walk I get my physical exercise, I get to think, it's an emotional cleanser and I usually discover something new along the way. I walked to two destinations this weekend, both in the burbs. The first was the restaurant across the bridge (a 15 minute walk) to get take out on Saturday evening. I figured that if I was going to indulge in pasta I might as well walk to get it! The second was to meet my friend at the Westport Country Playhouse to see the Vagina Monologues (about a 25 minute walk). Both times I started my walk with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. I so psyched to have sunshine on my face and no car. The joy dissipated quickly. Here's why. I started my walk using a side walk but the s...

Once upon a time, about a year ago, it would have been a whole production to plan a visit to a farm. I would have had to organize a car, research the farm and most importantly research the world outside of Manhattan. Then we would have had to drive to an hour or so and finally get to the farm where we find lots of people like us. This weekend I heard from a friend that a local farm was having a "Maple Syrup Day." So this Saturday, the kids and I hopped into the car, drove five miles and had a wonderful morning, on a beautiful farm to learn how maple syrup is made.  The simple and fun presentation the farm made was thrilling to my younger son who loves to learn the science behind everything and the vanilla ice cream topped with fresh maple syrup was a hit with everyone. The kids got to drill for sap, see how the sap is boiled, learned how indians use to do it, do a taste test and meet some sheep and bunnies. Did I mention that there were no crowds and the whole thing w...

Living in the burbs, especially during the winter months can make it very easy to become anti-social. The number one reason is the weather. It's cold and usually some form of precipitation is falling, so one spends very little time outside in the garden or in the neighborhood. When you live in a house versus an apartment the number of daily interactions is drastically reduced. You don't see anyone in the elevator, you don't have a doorman, you don't walk your kids to school, you don't do much walking period. Finally, people in the suburbs seem to be into routines, so if you're not part of their routine chances are you're not going to cross paths. This tendency towards isolation has made it especially important to force myself to make connections out here in the burbs. It's not always easy. Everyone is busy. There is always a reason not to commit to a social gathering, especially with a small child at home and limited childcare. But I'm a city girl...