Random Thoughts From a Mommy

Have you ever had that moment? The moment you notice something unusual about your kid. Your mind starts to race. You’re searching for possible explanations and don’t want to panic. Except it’s too late. You go from 0 to 100. You’re thinking the worst, and you scoop up your kid and head to the hospital. On the drive there, you’re wondering what life could look like if you receive the worst news. You go through a run down of your day, of your week. What did you miss? Was anything out of the ordinary? You recall details, details you feel will be important once you get to the hospital so they will take you seriously. Then you try to talk yourself down. You go to the opposite extreme. What if it’s nothing? What if they look at me like an idiot and write me off? Should I even go in? I don’t want to waste anyone’s time. You go to triage, you tell them what’s wrong. You justify why you’re there, that you’re not normally crazy and panic out of the blue. You have every reason to belie

Dear Alastair, There's something about the last that makes a parent's heart ache a little bit. There will never be another first tooth, another first step, or another first word. You savor it a little bit more, because you know the last really means the last. You cuddle a little bit more, because you just never know when any of of the kids will be too cool to have the last cuddle with you. I'm pretty sure you know this. You use this knowledge as your ammunition. You charm us out of trouble, a smile for one more treat, and you quiver those lips to delay bed time every night. It's amazing what you can do when you're the last. The excuse we tell your sisters when you get away with everything? Well, you're just a baby still! You don't know any better yet! Only you do. You know the power you hold being the youngest. You know that everyone will cater to your every need. No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to curb it! At your 18-month