#makesmesmilemondays breakfast out, little helping hands in the kitchen, and good friends

I missed my #makesmesmilemondays post yesterday, but here are three things that not only made me smile last week, but always make me smile: breakfast out, little helping hands in the kitchen, and good friends

From Castles to Pirate Ships, Bunk Beds Can be an Adventure

The following is a sponsored guest post, written by Robert Liobitz on behalf of bunkbeds.net

One of the most amazing parts of life is the special moments we spend as children lost in our imagination. These are private moments where the adventure comes from within, and these can actually lead to craft us into stronger, more creative people. One of the best locations for this to take place is in their very own room. 

When it comes to making your child’s room a special place there is nothing more magical then decorating it to become something adventurous. There are amazing ways to do this, including adding bunk beds to not only give your children more space, but also a place that can become something unique in their own imaginations. For example, there are many options available out there that come with alternative bedding, drapes, and other accessories that can help to transform your bunk beds into places of wonder. There are some bunk beds that you can get which will come with this preinstalled, but there are also patterns and kits that you can get which are relatively inexpensive and can give you the opportunity to change the bunk beds into a castle, or a secret jungle hideaway. There are even pirate ship kits that can be added to transform your child’s bunk beds into an exciting new adventure. 

Not only are these options available, there are also accessories that can be added to enhance what you already have. This includes additions like shelving, or drawers. You can even add on closet like space or a desk section, making these highly functional beds even more useful. 

In addition to what can be added on, you can also take these beds apart and either rearrange them, or completely separate them so that they will serve as two beds if you run into a situation where this is necessary.

Bunk beds are a great way to add to the excitement of a child’s life, while also giving them more flexibility in what they are wanting to do. 

Follow Friday: Three Not-So-Ordinary-Mom Blogs I Follow

Here are three not-so-ordinary mom blogs that I like to follow:

No Longer Quivering http://nolongerquivering.com
Vyckie Garrison started her blog to share with readers her disillusionment and eventually, escape, from the Quiverful movement.

Big Mamma Hollers http://www.thebodiebunch.blogspot.com/
Cindy describes herself as a 57-year-old happily single mother of 39 young'uns. Yes - you read that correctly - she has 39 children.

Simply Bike http://simplybikeblog.com/ reminds me how much I love riding my bike!

Do you follow a not-so-ordinary mom blog?

#makesmesmilemondays Happy Valentine's Day!

My daughter, Cupid for the Day

That love is all there is, Is all we know of love.  ~Emily Dickinson

Insieme a Chicago: Italian Language School for Kids!

I am happy to share the following press release with my readers. It's never too early or too late to start learning a second language!

INSIEME A CHICAGO SPRING SESSION BEGINS ON MARCH 19TH

Insieme a Chicago is now enrolling children for a play-based, Italian language program whose main goal is to create a space for the kids to be immersed in both the language and the culture and for the parents to form an Italian community!

Contact: Barbara De Bernardi, Program Director

ba.debernardi@gmail.com

312 451 6880

Chicago, February 4th, 2012

“Insieme a Chicago” is an Italian language and culture program for children from birth to 6 years old. “Insieme” is Italian for “together” and as the name implies “Insieme a Chicago” gathers Italian speakers and Italianophiles “together”, in a space specifically designed for their little ones! Children will enjoy playing age appropriate games, singing songs and lullabies, listening to storytelling and participating in fun activities with their peers in a 100% Italian environment enriched with authentic Italian books, toys and songs.

The program is addressed to both native speakers and beginners! For the native families, this class is an opportunity to share their roots and to feel at home; for the non-native ones, it is a fantastic chance to learn the language within a natural, direct and fun method.

Our “Insieme” children are divided into two age-based groups hosting a maximum of 8 students each: “Il Nido” for children 0 to 3 years old and “Il Volo” for children 4 to 6 years old. In the Spring, only “Il Nido” program will be offered, which is divided into three classes: 0-2; 2-3 and Mixed Age (0-3). While they all share the same Curriculum, 100% immersion and fun, the age specific groups offer activities’ variations according to the students’ cognitive and language skills. “Il Volo” will be launched in the next season!

More program details are below!

With the goal of play-based learning and sharing of our Italian heritage, join us in creating a little piece of Italy in Chicago for our children to grow with…together!

Il Nido (0-2): Monday 9.15-10.15am (Location: 3759 N. Ravenswood, Suite #119 Chicago, IL 60613)
Il Nido (2-3): Monday 10.45-11.45am (Location: 3759 N. Ravenswood, Suite #119 Chicago, IL 60613)

Il Nido (Mixed Age): Monday 4-5pm and Saturday 8.30-9.30am (Location: 3827 N Southport Ave Chicago, Il 60613) 

#makesmesmilemondays

My kids at el circo cheapo on Saturday night

There is an 8 year age gap between my two kids. They have different fathers. My son's little sister arrived just as he was setting out on the tween years. I worried that because of those three factors, they wouldn't have bonded as much as siblings closer in age.
Instead, their loving brother sister relationship only warms my heart. They don't fight over toys; neither seeks the attention spotlight over the other. They enjoy spending time with one another and oh boy, can they make one another laugh! I think the high point of Chiara's day is when Daniel spins here around the room - she calls this "Di-do-do".

I always remind my son that when he's sixteen, she'll be 8, so he better be ready to take her on lots of car rides for ice cream cones when he gets his driver's license. And then, can you just imagine what a relief it would have been/be to have a brother 8 years older than you to call up for boy advice/college application assistance/moving help??? I know that Chiara will repay her brother too, someday, at least for all those "Di-do-do" spins around the living room.

Watching this brother/sister duo in action always makes me smile.

just let go

Reposted from July 2010


This past weekend, at a memorial service for my Aunt, the priest shared his experience witnessing the birth of a child. He noted that he hadn't imagined, until witnessing firsthand, the amount of pushing and pain that it takes to get a baby out into this world. It was, he explained, as if the child were protesting (as they all seem to do): I'm perfectly comfy in here and I have no idea what's out there, so I'm staying put! Ha! 

He likened this to death. That since none of us can know what's involved in the great beyond, all we can seem to muster is understandably fear and apprehension when it comes to even contemplating death. But that, like the baby, we must find within us that bridge of faith, someone who would stand by our side and see us through: who, in the baby's case would be all those that shower him with constant love, affection and care.For us adults, it would be the Universe, a higher power, God, God expressed through the words, gentle action and care of those who love us. 
Of course I thought of my own kids: both were reluctant about entering this crazy world.Fratellone, it seemed, wanted nothing more than to live inside me forever, enjoying the Tesco Swiss Rolls and the Hagen Daaz midnight dark chocolate ice cream. Even after a ride on the top of a rickety double-decker bus and several jerky Tube rides, sex (feeling like an elephant, I might add), curries, cups and cups of raspberry leaf tea, many, many walks around London - he just wouldn't budge - and he was two days late already. It reached the point that I finally just collapsed into a ball of tears, wondering, in my raging hormonally induced state, if this baby thing really would ever happen at all. 
The same with Pupa. With her, I tried all of the above, as well as swimming and "membrane stripping' - but not even that could get her to take even the slightest step in the birthday direction. She was due the 22nd but was instead born on the 24th. Whereas Fratellone made the snap decision, Oh well, may as well..., popped his water bag and came out fast and furious, Pupa had to be induced. A slow dripping pitocin began and for an hour, she seemed to say, No. You can't make me do it. No. No. No. You'll see! as both of our hearts beat steady and slow, until the pitocin was cranked up and she had no other choice. Alright! Fine then! + excruciating pain + a few pushes on my part - and there she was, ready to live her life. 
Even babies when they let out that first piercing cry - with their smashed up faces and super pissed off expressions - they really do seem to be yowling, I didn't want to have to do that. Why did you evict me? Whhyyy? No fair!!!. Until finally they recognize that indeed there are cozy arms to hold me here, gentle voices no longer so muffled, pleasant, familiar smells, something warm and sweet to drink, and well, they just must sense that everything is going to be okay, or at least we'll try our best! through the beaming smiles and wide-eyed joy, even if they can't see or exactly understand. 
I wish I had the faith to believe 100% that there is indeed a heaven. I hope (when I am a grey-haired centenarian, great-grandma to several) that I will indeed possess that bridge of faith that will carry me into whatever comes next with dignity and the sense of a life well lived. 
I do believe 100% that there is someone showing me the way - who I choose to call God. There have been times in life when I too was scared to let go and follow whatever it was that was laid out before me. How much easier it would have been had I just let go and taken a deep breath, Okay. Here I am. What's next?