I Need A Wife

Cliched but true. I need a wife to get projects initiated, managed and completed properly. For what, you ask? For this:

• interviewing, meeting, selecting and scheduling a reading tutor for my son
• measuring, choosing, ordering, removing and installing the last 5 windows in our house -- replacing the original 1920 ones
• getting the backyard bricks power-washed
• repainting the backyard metal gates
• restoring the soil in the raised beds and covering everything with a new layer of cedar chips
• fixing the miserable landscaping in the front garden
• sorting through the books and toys that the kids have outgrown and donating them
• organizing the books and toys that remain, in a fashion that makes much better use of the existing space in their bedroom
• developing more varied, interesting and tasty lunch menus for both children, yet factoring in the complete lack of refrigeration available
• finding an end table for the couch in the master bedroom
• finding an appropriate chandelier for the dining room -- the one we have now looks like it's a castoff from the Spanish Inquisition

I could go on. So that's why I need a wife.

A Lot Happened In Q1 2009

A lot has happened in a short period of time.

In January, we had to let our nanny go. It was a drama-filled, tense situation for all parties involved and I would not wish it on anyone, ever. We went skiing for the first time this season.

February we found a new nanny. We like her greatly and hope she'll be with us for the long haul. My son also turned 6! We went skiing twice more.

In March, we got the terrific news that he was accepted to the school of our choice, which fortunately runs through 8th grade. Huge sigh of relief! We went skiing a final 2 times, and the kids are extremely enthused about next season. My husband and I bought new equipment -- skis, custom boots -- so we could ski using materials developed within the last year instead of the last 20 years... We also learned that my daughter would be going to our first choice pre-K campus at her excellent preschool in SF. Another hurdle neatly cleared.

In April, we realized we managed to forget to make an appointment with our accountant to do our taxes. So my husband ran the numbers and made an estimate for the IRS. We went to Disneyland for the first time ever, and enjoyed it greatly. I think staying in the park on the concierge floor made the difference between "okay" and "we'll be back". Between the Jedi Training Academy, Small World and the various rollercoaster rides; the hot chocolate and pastries; the fireworks and storytimes; and the water slide, it was hard to beat. One clear decision for next time - fly, don't drive.

Wait For It . . .

I don't know why I'm in such a rush for the kids to get older. When I stop to think, I realize it's an insane desire. For example, my kids are non-stop talkers. From the moment they wake until their heads hit the pillow, it's talk talk talk ask ask ask mom mom mom look look! My friends who have pre-teens and teens remind me that soon, all such communication will cease. For what seems like forever. And I won't be able to get any information out of them whatsoever, no matter how critical, on any topic.

So today, I am officially turning over a new leaf. I am grateful for my kids' chatter and willingness to share every little thought they've ever had.