Fall – my favorite and busiest season

Playing in the leaves is one of the childhood moments that shouldn't be overlooked

I don’t know about you but Fall is my favorite season. In our house it’s also the busiest season. There’s back-to-school, my birthday, both of the kids’ birthdays, anniversaries, soccer, gymnastics, Halloween, Thanksgiving, football season, and ski season. That’s just the tip of the iceberg when I factor in my work (which I love but requires me to travel often) as well as my husband’s job which also requires him to travel. The juggling act can sometimes get a bit overwhelming. In the midst of all this planned chaos, how do we slow down and enjoy it more?

Last week, we got our first snowfall. It wasn’t much but it was enough to make the beautiful golden leaves of my crabapple tree plummet like rocks to the grass below. Yes, I saw (and still do) the task before me: to rake and bag them all. But to answer my previous question, wouldn’t it be better to pile them up and let the kids run amuck? I mean really play in the leaves. That’s how we slow down! It’s not about getting to every ride at Disney World. It’s about taking in the magic and wonder that Disney creates. And there’s magic in the fallen leaves, and in carving the pumpkin not just in the completion of the task. As my favorite season passes me by, I’m reminded why I love it and to enjoy it before another one zips away.

As parents we have a responsibility to help our children slow down and experience life’s little wonders, too. Taking the time to make those cookies together, or take a nature hike around the neighborhood if not for the exercise but for the chance to talk, connect and take in the wonder of your everyday life. And it is the little things that count the most. For example, as your child learns to buckle his car seat by himself or to get dressed by himself – be patient – sure, you can do it faster but would it be nearly as rewarding for you? It’s a big deal for children to experience those independent moments.

Now, I have to get out there and rake. It’s supposed to snow again Wednesday.

Rachael Ray or Root Canal?

Doesn’t seem like much of a choice does it?! Actually, I have been suffering with some serious tooth pain and last week the dentist decided I needed a root canal. It was scheduled for today. The pain, over the weekend, was so severe and excruciating that I think I would rather go through child-birth again. Luckily by Sunday afternoon, I had pain medicine in hand and life has been much better.

Before I return to this story, let me digress about a mother’s pain or illness. Is it just my household or do things seem to get more messy and chaotic when mom is a bit out of commission? I just can’t seem to get clothes off the floor in the bathroom, or dinner just like I would like it, or the kitchen cleaned up afterward. And because a sick or hurt mom doesn’t have it in her to clean while under the weather the mounting mess is also a mounting mess of things-to-do when you do feel better. Aaagh! I know what’s wait for me when I get home.

Back to my story! Sunday I had a phone call with a producer from The Rachael Ray Show who invited me to come on the show for a Holiday Travel segment. What tooth pain? Of course, I can make it! So with that, the root canal is pushed to Thursday and I am in New York City. I’m taping the segment tomorrow which will air in a few weeks for Rachael’s holiday week of shows.

What tips will I be sharing? Well, you’ll have to watch to find out. And I will say that I never thought that I would ever be looking forward to a root canal but I am. Never say never.

Ok, maybe one tip but I’ve said it before. If you are planning to travel this holiday season and you haven’t booked your flights – BOOK YOUR FLIGHT! What are you waiting for? The prices are not going to be better than they are today. And with it being a Tuesday, they really won’t be better any time this week so get booking! You run the risk of not getting a seat at all because airlines are cutting capacity NOT price. Airlines will also be charging surcharges this season, some @ $10 each way on peak holiday travel days.

There you go.

Next Week’s Travel Trips…and a little parenting rant

Well, I’m preparing for next week’s travel segments for hotels.com.  I will be traveling to four U.S. cities to share 4th of July travel deals. Monday – The Daily Buzz. Tuesday – Atlanta & Company, Atlanta, GA. Wednesday – Washington D.C. WUSA – a taping for the Sunday Morning show.  Thursday – San Francisco – KRON.   If I’m in your city, I hope you can tune in.  

I’m lucky enough to have a fabulous mother-in-law to help us out when I am gone so long. The kids love having their grandparents visit and I actually think it helps that I am not here with them sometimes.  I think it is important for the children to have to rely on, listen to, respect, and respond to other adults in their lives. Not to mention the fact that it just tightens the bond between grandchild and grandparent.  It’s SO important especially because we live so far away.  

I was talking to my MIL this morning about things she wished she had done differently now that she is looking at her life with a little more perspective.  She raised four wonderful boys and gave them everything but she feels like maybe she should have had a different career as well.  I argue that it is hard to do!  Sure necessity dictates that most women in my generation have some sort of employment but to be a great mom and a great employee naturally lends itself to some sort of sacrifice. And you pray to God that it’s not your children that you are sacrificing.  Sure we have great child care options today but you can never get back the time, nor the influence that you can have when your children are young, to shape and mold them into great human beings.  

I take full responsibility for my children and that may be to the sacrifice of my career, to some degree. But is it really a sacrifice? I don’t think so.  It’s about the choices I make. I know that I can always work but I can’t always be so influential in the lives of my children.  It’s the biggest job of all that I accept freely and fully.  And with this knowledge, I am working to combine my personal and professional passions that will enable me to be the best mom and employee.  

Ok – enough about that.  For the past few nights, Genna Grace has been getting out of bed and coming into our room.  The first two nights, I must admit, I was happy to snuggle with her.  Primarily because I thought it was 5AM and not long before we had to get up anyway.  However, I was wrong.  It was more like 2AM and she snoozed in my arms for quite a bit.  So last night, I had t break the vicious cycle that I could see developing before my little monster reared her ugly head.  Sure enough, at some o’clock in the night, when I was happily dreaming of my new Twilight friends, in she comes.  I got up, put her right back in bed, and then the water works began.  I thought for sure she had woken up the whole house but after a few minutes, I was back in my bed sans toddler. Success!  We’ll see if she repeats the effort again tonight.    Parenting is about being consistent even when you are tired.  Giving in may be a short term fix but it creates a longer lasting control issue with your children.  Don’t fall for it!