being a good mommy
Last weekend, I took Baby-Ko to Disneyland for his very first time. Knowing full well that the idea of Disneyland really would mean nothing to him until he actually set foot on Main Street and experienced the joy and churros that is the magical kingdom, I had been making a concerted effort to point out the iconic and very magical Disney castle at the beginning of various movies. (Who am I kidding. We really only watch one. Mary Poppins). Of course, I had concerns about how he would handle the big D– the crowds, the line, the (no) nap… But, seriously, the minute we pulled in to the parking ...Read More
Before I had a child, I swore that I would always be honest. I’d speak the truth to him. I’d teach him things without covering up or rewriting the facts. I’d wear my heart on my sleeve and with patience and loving kindness, share the world with him…. one answer at a time.
Then he started talking.
A lot.
And because of this, and the fact that I am an advocate of encouraging childhood imagination and literacy, I have a confession that I’m not proud of:
I am so happy that Baby-Ko cannot read.
Take for example our trip to the beach a few weeks ago…. It was a lovely day… ...Read More
As mentioned a few weeks ago, I have officially become a single mom. This change in status not only comes with a slew of complex emotions and sadly, hairier legs, but also an onslaught of incessant mommy guilt…. which, as a working parent, who happens to work in the world of parenting, it can feel a little overwhelming. So, with a 2.5 year old little boy, my sensitivity level to what might ultimately eff him up for life (due to said divorce) is at an all time high…
That said, I think it’s gone too far and Baby-Ko knows it. The kid is playing me. He hears the guilt ...Read More
Thanks to another informative and entertaining episode of Sesame Street, Baby-Ko’s word of the week (not to be confused with Murray’s “Word on the Street”) is “ANGRY….” (pronounced: “ANGA-REE.”) There’s a segment with Cuba Gooding Jr. talking about the word “angry” — only, every time he refers to the word “angry,” the word “angry” keeps running off screen, causing Cuba to get increasingly, you guessed it: ANGRY! “Really, really angry!”
I’m pretty sure that up until now, this fine piece of media was the only time Baby-Ko heard this word and saw what it meant (at the same time). But obviously, it stuck. In fact, it’s now one of ...Read More
As a mom, I try really hard to do the right thing. I try to be organized. I try to be patient. I try to be thoughtful. I try to anticipate the needs and wants of my very strong willed and curious (two year old) child by being prepared. And I certainly try to handle all situations, where said personality traits can push ones buttons, with grace (and speed).
I TRY.
So, when Baby-Ko accompanied me to a very crowded and not so kid friendly Home Depot, you can imagine how hard I TRIED to explain to him why roaming the aisles (without holding my hand) wasn’t really an ...Read More
I’ll admit, I’ve never really understood why the zoo is so fascinating. Despite the fact that I’m not a huge animal lover and the zoo in LA (no matter what time of the year you go) is always hot and smells like poo, I find myself mesmerized by the animals behind the fences and glass. They do nothing really…. No Animal Planet type of chase or fight as the Mama Leopard attacks a Hyena to save her baby… No herd of Rhinoceros chasing after an explorer up a totem pole (hey, that’s what happens on the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland at least)… and certainly no wild, safari National Geographic type ...Read More
There are a lot of transitions happening in the world of J-Ko right now… Transitions can be hard. I’m learning to gather strength and encouragement from within and it ain’t easy…. Learning to be your own cheerleader is definitely empowering. And at some point, I do plan on talking about these transitions. But for now, I would like to focus on one major transition… okay, well, two…
The first is that I’m sending Baby-Ko back to day care full time. It’s a no-brainer, actually…. choosing day care over a full time nanny. First of all, a full time nanny in LA costs a friggin fortune and second, Baby-Ko is 21 ...Read More
Disclaimer: This is my blog and I’ll talk poop if I want to.
POOP SHAME: THE FINAL CHAPTER
As I’ve mentioned over the past couple of weeks or so, Baby-Ko’s vocabulary is really taking off. He’s repeating nearly everything, including the words that he shouldn’t (I dropped a carton of milk and cursed, to which he followed promptly with “Oh, Tuck!) I know that an 18 month old with a truck driver mouth isn’t something to brag about, but I must say, hearing him string two words together, (even an “oh”), was awesome.
And of course, given the fact that Bee-Bee’s made it known that poo-poo is Oof, it should come as no ...Read More
The other day, our nanny (“Bee-Bee”), proudly exclaimed that Baby-Ko has been mimicking her. She told me that when she went to change his diaper, it was stinky and she said “Ooof,” and he copied her and said “oof!” She thought it was hilarious and I guess created a little game and while making a “pee-eww!” face says, “Baby-Ko, do you have poo-poo?” He then says, “Nooo. Ooof!” She proudly showed me their little poo-poo shtick game and I laughed. Funny (smart) kid, I thought. Poo-poo is “ooof.”
But the next day, when I saw he was sort of struggling while making poops, I said, “Baby-Ko are you making-” and he, ...Read More
For several months, Baby-Ko’s language has really started to bloom. He’s definitely mastered Mommy, Daddy, Up, Down, Baba (bottle), Bye-Bye and a slew of other “common” (no shit) words that a 17 month old might say. But what I find to be so funny about hearing this little person speak is some of the other words that he’s decided to include in his repertoire. Moon, “Okee–Dokee,” Deer (one of our neighbors has a fake deer on their lawn. Don’t ask) and other little shticks we have like …. “Baby-Ko, who’s your favorite Laker?” and he says, “Koobee.” Brilliant. Or my husband’s favorite show off phrase, “Baby-Ko, who’s your favorite Dodger,” ...Read More

