February 24, 2010
tell me a story
I’ve never been someone who made up stories for my kids. I always kind of envied those moms, the ones who could string together a narrative that went on and on for days, about a dog or a prince or a space alien. That’s not to say that stories aren’t an important part of our bedtime ritual, just not stories I hatch in my own head. Wade reads with the boys before bed, every night (currently: Brian Jacques’ Redwall), and then after the boys are in bed, I snuggle in with each of them and talk about what they did today or what they’re doing tomorrow. After the tucking in is over, there’s more reading, under the covers, with their headlamps on. Geeks.
I love that last conversation with the boys, when they’re all showered and pajama-ed and tucked into their beds. Often, they want to show me what they’re reading, or tell me about their book, but some nights, they just want to talk. Those few minutes before sleep are often the window when they open up about the things that are on their minds. This week, we’ve talked about how to deal with the mean kid at school and where people go when they die.
You know, the easy things.
Death and bullies are tough things to discuss with your kids, especially at the end of a long day. In that moment, when the lights are out and we’re all warm and tired, I just want to protect my boys, but that’s the perfect time to remind them that being brave and kind and confident are important life skills.
Sometimes, it can help to tell them a story.
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Last year, I worked with GoodNites on their Special Bedtime Moments campaign; this year, I’m getting to work with them again, to promote a new — and super cool — program they’re sponsoring. GoodNites has created Bedtime Theater, an ongoing story about a boy named Iggy and his Wiggy Bed; the stories follow Iggy as he learns to stand up for himself, make friends, and explore the world around him. The best part is that I got to write one installment of the Iggy story, along with some other super fantastic bloggers. Trust me — you totally want to read our masterpiece.
Feeling inspired yourself? Write your own Iggy story and enter to win $2,500. No I’m not kidding! Do it today.
In the meantime, I’m giving away this awesome bag of bedtime goodies, compliments of the nice people at GoodNites. What’s in the bag? An iPod shuffle, a pair of Logitech speakers, a $25 iTunes gift card, and a super soft cuddle blanket. And it all comes packed in a reusable Patagonia bag, so you can take it on the road with you, or send it to Nana’s for sleepovers.
How can you enter? Just leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite childhood bedtime story was. SO easy! Best part? The GoodNites people are providing three of these great kits for Friday Playdate readers, so enter early and often! First giveaway will be Friday.
And don’t forget to check out the Iggy stories. They’re a nice way to end the day with your little ones.
Disclaimer: I have partnered with GoodNites® for this series of posts and giveaways; I am being compensated for my participation in the Bedtime Theater program and for hosting these giveaways, not for promoting a product. Just so we’re all clear.
February 23, 2010
“You have to be present to win. That’s how the world works.”
First things first: that’s a vodka tonic in my hand. I couldn’t get a martini at this particular function. Sadly. Other than that, though, Mom 2.0 was a complete and total success.
The summit kicked off with a “Mad Men”-themed cocktail party on Thursday night. My dress is vintage J. Crew (really and truly, you all — the dress is from 1988, which makes it vintage, and makes me old). Those are my mother’s pearls; they are also vintage, but of a much earlier vintage than the dress, like somewhere in the 1950s (which makes my mother stylish but not old, in case she’s reading this).
My weekend wasn’t all vodka tonics and vintage dresses, as wonderful as that would have been. Julie and I wandered away from the Thursday night party to have a Serious Talk about the State of Mom Blogs (we also ran around like a couple of high school kids trying to find two extra drink tickets, but that’s another story that I am not telling here).
You think I’m kidding about the Serious Talk, but I am not — we sat on those stairs for I don’t know how long with those very intense faces and talked about how blogging has changed in the past five years, until eventually someone pointed out that our drinks were empty and the party was over.
(Aside: please note both that I am wearing very high heels and that Julie and I are both sitting like ladies even though we’re on the floor. And OMG her hat! Is that the best hat ever? I’m still kicking myself for not swiping it from her luggage.)
Mom 2.0 was two and a half days of smart women saying smart things. It was exhilarating, honestly. And while we were getting smarter, we also picked up a few pretty things, too. Who says smart girls can’t also enjoy pretty stuff? Not me. At check in, we each got a fabulous Lands’ End canvas boat tote, in Kirtsy blue.
Speakers were greeted with beautiful toiletry bags from Cambria Cove, which of course just made me want to pack my bag and go somewhere else. Like Mom 2.0 2011! New Orleans here I come. Who’s in?
We stayed — and summited — at the Four Seasons in Houston. I cannot imagine a better location, at least in terms of the hotel. Everything was perfect, down to the amenities.
Is there anything better that wee little bottles of your favorite bath products? The Four Seasons totally had my number with these minis of L’Occitane’s Verbena shower gel and lotion. I may have swiped all of the lotions. Possibly. In fact, I may have hidden them from Heather because I love me some great citrus-y lotion.
Heather and I took advantage of the hotel’s lovely spa, and had lava stone pedicures on Thursday afternoon; I went with Spa Ritual’s matte polish in Body for my toes. It’s black! So cool. Spa Ritual’s polishes are DBP, Formaldehyde, and Toluene-free; they’re also vegan. Who knew there were vegan nail polishes! Not me. My feet have never been so happy.
Mom 2.0 wasn’t all pedicures and fancy lotion, though. Heather and I got up on Friday morning and put on our Smart Faces and got some coffee and settled back to listen and think. Although I think we’re acually making lunch plans here. No, wait, I’m sure we were listening. Or talking about how Heather is going to write a book and I’m going to organize her book tour. Although she’ll have to make all the travel arrangements because I suck at that.
My panel was Friday, and yes, I did tell everyone that I still have a fully decorated Christmas tree in my playroom, because that seemed like a good way to kick off the discussion on clearing the clutter. Please note that I am still wearing the heels; I wore them all day long, and my feet were pretty happy until about 4:00 pm, at which point I wandered barefoot into the lobby to talk to Wade on the phone. Klassy.
On Friday night, Danielle arranged for a group of us to eat at T’Afia. It’s a beautiful restaurant and the food is incredible — we had chorizo stuffed figs wrapped in bacon, which were easily one of the three most delicious things I have ever eaten. Ever. In my life. EVER. Monica Pope is T’Afia’s chef; to say that she’s a genius doesn’t go far enough. My whole weekend was filled with wonderful women doing amazing things. Perfect.
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Mom 2.0 wasn’t all about swag and shoes. In fact, until my feet started to hurt, I didn’t think twice about my shoes, and the swag was lovely but I would have traded it all to hear Gretchen Rubin talk about The Happiness Project, and to listen Maggie and Gabby and Heather theorize what Mom 2.1 might look like. Fortunately, I didn’t have to.
Thank goodness, because I really like that Verbena lotion.
In my life, I have friends who are kind and generous and funny, and friends who inspire me to get up earlier and work harder and be smarter. And there is a small group of women who do both at once, who make me laugh until I cry and then, in the same conversation, walk me through updating WordPress or or advise me about pitching an ad network or encourage me to plan a project. Nearly all those women — the ones who make me snort and make me think, all at once — were in Houston this weekend.
I came home full of plans and ideas and strategies; I’ve been writing things down — on paper, even — and mapping out my Next Big Thing. I wish I had a simple five-point summary to share with you, but other than learning that you should never use more than two fonts for your web site (thanks, Laurie!) most of what I heard is still percolating, in my head and in my heart.
At the end of the last session, the incredibly fabulous Laura Mayes got up to draw names for various prizes. She pulled one business card after another out of the bowl, only to find that none of those people were still in the room. And because she is smart and funny, she made a joke about it — “You have to be present to win. That’s how the world works” — but really, that summed up the entire weekend for me. Succeeding is about being present — not necessarily at Mom 2.0, but in your life, in your projects.
I feel very present after this weekend. And it’s a good, good feeling.
Photos from the “Mad Men” party were taken by the very very talented Sarah Hubbell.
