midnight mommies

It was an interesting weekend to say the least: two holiday cocktail parties and two of the shortest dresses I’ve worn since my high school’s “Rock ‘n Roll Revival.” Was it the fact that I’ve recently lost some weight or the fact that my husband was going to be introducing me to some of his new coworkers that he insisted I get the perfect dress? Two grueling days at the mall with him as my drill-sergeant personal shopper (and our saintly kids in tow) and voila…I had two ridiculously body-hugging, leg-revealing dresses, sparkly holiday jewelry, and platform heels to sport my new, post-post baby body.

The clarity with which I make my decision is stunning. I will absolutely start working out next week. I have to, for God’s sake. My knees. My back. It’s only a matter of time before something gives.

One of the best things I ever did was take an online writing class from MediaBistro. Actually, I took three. Call me a glutton at the prices they charge, but I was in a “me” stage at the time–that is, trying to find time for me and realizing that the only way I would succeed was if I had classmates and a teacher and a hunk of my personal finances invested in the commitment.

As a mom of two young kids, there’s a seemingly unalterable reality that I continually have to face: my bandwidth for personal projects is slim. Very very very slim. No matter how clever I try to get with my routines, no matter how many times I attempt to rejigger my schedule–it always shakes out the same…I only have time for one project at at time, per evening, per “period,” per year, per whatever.

When Gaelle unpacked her basket full of goodies and started simmering things on the stove, when she called my and her own well-behaved children “à table,” and when she finished the meal with a delicious but healthy dessert, I felt taken care of. Remembered. Loved! I can’t tell you how memories of that one generous gesture have cheered me over the months that Bob has been on assignment.