’Tis the Season

The holidays often include visiting, and I have been lucky enough to see many of the Secret Mamas recently. When we meet, our blog obviously comes up. We have been tired lately — and our trip to BlogHer 13 seems to have overwhelmed us more than invigorated us. As with many things in life, we left gung-ho, but then got home and life set in. We had things to do that didn’t include SEO and photo tagging.

We suddenly felt like our little blog wasn’t “right” or “searchable,” and so we put it aside. But here I am trying to get back at it. A gift to myself, perhaps, and the mamas I love so much.

Often when I share a moment with my kids I think of the blog — I think I should write this. I don’t expect anyone to read it, really, but I do know that it is something I do for myself that doesn’t require getting out of my pajamas, so I am all for it.

Here we go…

A Doll

Loulou is 14 months now! How does this happen? Time flies, pajamas get too small, nursing ebbs, and some sadness creeps in. The baby is gone, the toddler emerges. She is a happy girl and plays with almost anything, and with Christmas around the corner my husband and I have been wondering what Santa should bring. He obviously has to bring something for her because W can’t assume she is unworthy while he gets spoiled.

With the clock ticking and a Toys R Us coupon about to expire, I hit the mall this morning. I wandered the aisles and tried to think about Loulou as I browsed the (somewhat terrifying) selection of toys. As a second child she is already destined for a lot of hand-me-downs, so I wanted to pick something just for her. I touched ponies, tea sets; even a mini shopping cart held some appeal. Always with a voice in my head — GENDER! GENDER! GENDER! it screamed. Don’t buy pink! Be equal! No princesses!! However, she IS a girl and loves to put on her shoes and brush her hair (seriously).

So when I arrived in the Cabbage Patch aisle I knew I had to buy one. I knew she would love to feed a “baby” and touch its hair. I hesitated for a moment as I snickered and rolled my eyes at the names on their birth certificates — “Pax Adele” and “Clarissa June”  — and then I saw one whose middle name was the same as that of my oldest friend, and I took it as a sign! I bought the doll. I did it. I gender profiled LouLou! And, you know what, it felt good.

Tightrope Mama

[image: boy and girl playing doctor and nurse by H. Armstrong Roberts]