Mom & Pop Culture

the bus to middle school

I just put my firstborn on the bus to middle school. When the heck did this happen? How did my baby become a pre-teen? And how come it never gets easier sending them off out into the world? 

I think it hits me harder this time of  year, because my daughter's birthday also happens to coincide with back-to-school time and I am reminded that time is just flying by. She is getting older. I'm getting older. Nothing stays the same.

Six years ago, I dropped my daugher off at Kindergarten and went home and wrote about it. For the first five years of my daughter's life, I had committed myself full-time motherhood, and I was clearly in need of a creative outlet.  And we were obviously both ready to spread our wings a little and leave the confines of the home. Once I wrote that essay, the words started pouring out of me, and I began writing in earnest. And I continued to  write, and write, and write, and write.

I'm sure someday I'll be writing about my daughter's first day of college.  Writing is what will help get me through that enormous separation.  If we're smart, we let go of them a little at a time so as not to be completely shocked when they finally leave us for good. 

As I said when my daughter was only four going on five, "I realize that I'm merely [my children's] guide, not their partner, on life's journey ... And that is the bittersweet truth about motherhood: I will always be my children's mother, but my children will not be my babies forever."

motherhood is everywhere

Motherhood is everywhere. On TV, Tales from the Underbelly became one of the few shows renewed for another season. Jennifer Garner just pitched a talk show about motherhood. There are several plays dealing with motherhood. And every month I receive another book, like this one or this one, to review about the topic. What the heck is going on?

When I first started blogging and writing about motherhood, I did so (like many) out of need to reach out to other moms and share my experiences and feel part of a community. As a writer and filmmaker, I began to complain loudly about the way motherhood was "invisible" in TV, and movies, and even books -- except in obvious, boring or dismissive ways.

Motherhood was once deemed unentertaining -- a topic that nobody was interested in.

what's going on

Turns out I finished as a 4th Runner-Up in TVwriter.com's People Pilot's Competition. So, I'm wondering if the six people before me can't fulfill their duties, does that make me Ms People's Pilot Spring 2007? Shouldn't I get a consolation prize, like a box of Rice-a-roni?

I'm still blogging about American Idol for TV Squad, but have this week off because my son had his tonsils removed on Monday. This week I'm in full-blown "MOM MODE" catering to the boy's every need as his scarred throat repairs itself. He told me the other night, "You're the best mommy in the whole wide world."  Awesome.

I'm heading to L.A. in July to take part in Ken Levine's "Sitcom Room." Ken has written for many sitcoms (Frasier, MASH, Wings, The Simpsons) and he's a blogger too. How cool is that? I can't wait to spend two days in the same room with him, soaking up his knowledge.

no, i don't want to read 'baby laughs'

Apparently, Jenny McCarthy wrote a follow-up book to Belly Laughs, called Baby Laughs, and some marketing butthead thinks that I want to receive fifteen e-mails a week in my inbox promising me the "funniest book about mommyhood ever."

Okay, marketing butthead, here's the deal -- I read Belly Laughs and it was mildly amusing, yet not nearly as funny as you'd like the public to believe. Also, Jenny McCarthy aint that bright -- she writes at about a second-grade reading level (and we're not talking the advanced second graders). I guess we're supposed to be impressed by her bawdy language. Jenny's so cool, she talks about farting and makes fun of women who don't shave their hoohaws!

you're just so pretty

My six-year-old son, Jared, was thinking about the future the other day. He turned to me and said, "When I'm a grandpa, I'll show my kids the two houses where I used to live."

Then he goes, "I'm just going to adopt.  I AM NOT getting married."

I tried to explain that when he's older he might change his mind.

"But I don't want to leave you.  You're just so...so...pretty."

still unbalanced

My latest column is up over at Literary Mama, and it describes my constant quest for better health.  It's called, Unbalanced, Part II.  If you haven't read Part I, you can do so now too.

back to school

The kiddies went back to school today.  It's a new school for both of them, and they're taking the bus this year instead of having me drop them off.  While I love avoiding the whole crazy, drop-off thingy, I felt a little anxious putting my babies on the bus.  I've seen the way those bus drivers drive -- and I definitely used to feel better watching my  kiddies walk into school safely within my sight.

I do have to say that I'm happy that they can take the same bus, and am elated that in this district they are in the same school at least for a couple of years.

So now it's pretty much back to work full-time for me.  I have the entire day to get back to my scripts.  I've had lots of good feedback of late with my scripts and I'm feeling pretty damn energized as if I'm close to making a sale. 

As I learned at the Vegas writing conference, all you need is talent, perseverance, and luck.  So am I feeling lucky?  You bet.

the literary mama anthology

I just found out that I'm going to have an essay included in Literary Mama's first anthology.  I'm so excited and honored, because there have been so many amazing essays posted online, and so many fabulous writers, that I am proud to be associated with the site, and now, the book.

I also had no idea my essay was up for consideration, so it was a nice, unexpected surprise.  And one doesn't get such unexpected surprises often.  The anthology is due out in January 2006 for all of you Literary Mama fans.  Pre-order now.

quotable moms

"By and large, mothers and housewives are the only workers who do not have regular time off. They are the great vacationless class."

-- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

july reading

It's 4:28 p.m., and the holiday weekend has already officially begun for many.  But please take some time during this busy weekend to check in with The Philosophical Mother and read the latest columns from our moms and dad.  July columns are below.  To read past issues, go to  http://www.philosophicalmother.com/.

A BEACH DAY
By Gerry Di Gesu

BUILDING COMMUNITY, ONE MAMA AT A TIME
By Stacey Greenberg

KNEE HIGH BY JULY
By Jim Turner

MOTHER KNOWS BEST
OR WHY TOM CRUISE SHOULD STAY OFF SOFAS
By Joanne Detore-Nakamura, Ph.D

RESERVATION FOR SIX
By Elizabeth Katkics-Thompson

SPRING FAIR
By Regina Walker