Polly Harrison

Camping Without the CAMPING – Family Camp at Camp El Tesoro

Camping is not my idea of an ideal vacation.  Anyone over the age of 10 knows that camping is not really a vacation – it can be fun but it is also a TON of work for the adults in charge. But as a mother of three children I feel responsible for exposing them to the joy of the outside world, especially a world that’s unplugged from all electronic doodads. So when Camp El Tesoro invited us to experience Family Camp during one of their Second Saturday programs, my family eagerly accepted the invitation.

My husband and I talked about the trip for a few weeks and prepared the boys for the experience of roughing it.  As a family we have been regular participants at another form of family camp (blogged about here) but this overnight was intended to be a bit more rustic. There would be screened cabins (screens with shades, no solid walls) and prepared meals but no heat/ac  – no electricity – shared communal bathrooms, etc. Not as primitive as tent camping but definitely more outdoorsy than real life.

The weekend of Family Camp, Mother Nature decided to throw us a curve ball and lowered the temps to an unseasonably low 40’s and opened the skies for (much needed – but still) rain. We made it to Camp El Tesoro at dusk on Friday night and were graciously escorted to our cabin by the camp director. This was after crossing over the famous (and crazy fun!) swinging bridge. It’s a bit of an inconvenience to have to carry all of your belongings to your accommodations instead of driving them but BONUS – there are virtually no vehicles to dodge while hiking around the camp.  Excellent feature when dealing with little ones.

Our cabin was dark and cold so we hung our lantern and dug out all of the sleeping bags/blankets for the beds. Then we traipsed to the main lodge where we made smores over cast iron dutch ovens with sterno (the INDOOR way to do smores!) and made personalized clay necklaces. This was also a good time to meet and talk with the other families who were already unpacking all of the board games the camp provides for entertainment. We were warm and cozy and the kids were enjoying every minute. At the end of the evening, we walked back to the cabin and settled in for the night. I won’t lie; this was not an easy night for this suburbanite. The bathroom was several hundred feet across a field so we made a few cold trips to the facilities in the dark of night while the weather dipped to the almost freezing mark. The temperature is probably not a big deal for avid campers with thermal sleeping gear but we struggled to keep ourselves warm. I knew that when we all got up we’d likely be miserable from a sleepless night but surprisingly, the kids bounded out of bed excited to explore the camp in the daylight. My husband and I were exhausted but after a hot meal of biscuits and gravy along with several cups of coffee at the main lodge, we were also ready to tackle the rest of the experience.

Saturday’s rain hadn’t begun yet so my husband took the boys on an early morning hike which they LOVED.  They climbed through the hills and found trails and hidden areas that very far removed from the center of camp. When they returned, we went back to the main lodge for an art session. The volunteers gave us supplies and instructions on how to create a simple piece that documented our trip to Camp El Tesoro. After this, we hiked to the north end of the camp for Indoor Archery. It was a good thing that the archery was indoors because it was at this point that the skies opened up and the deluge started. All three of my boys LOVED the archery experience and when it was over, they didn’t mind hiking back to the lodge for lunch in the pouring rain.

Lunch was warm soup (tomato or chicken noodle), grilled cheese sandwiches and a salad bar with cookies for dessert.  After lunch, we headed back to our cabin to rest and change out of our wet clothes.  At one point we had considered staying two nights at Camp El Tesoro but given the weather conditions, we decided to have an easy afternoon in the cabin and then leave shortly before dinner time. I mentioned this to the camp director and when we were loading our supplies in the car (with the boys playing in the rain again on the swinging bridge!); she met us with a small bag of snacks for the kids to eat on the way home.

For those (like myself) who would like their family to go camping without having to go CAMPING, family camp at Camp El Tesoro is a great option. The accommodations aren’t primitive and the food and activities are planned for you. With these concerns out of the way, your family can really enjoy the outdoors and the camaraderie of others. Personally, I can’t wait for an opportunity to return to Camp El Tesoro when the weather is warmer.  Check it out!

Camp El Tesoro

Located just 45 minutes southwest of Fort Worth near Granbury, Texas.
7710 Fall Creek Hwy, Granbury, TX, 76049

Camp El Tesoro invited my family to participate in their family weekend in exchange for my honest review of the event. Opinions provided here are my own.

Spring Break Camping – Camp El Tesoro

Spring break is coming up and my family always likes to take a little excursion to celebrate the time off. We don’t make it a huge trip – usually just a long weekend somewhere fun that allows us to get away from the everyday stress of the school year. In the past couple of years we’ve trekked to Austin to visit my inlaws but the SXSW traffic has gotten so ridiculously crazy in March that we decided to try something new. For this year’s spring break, we are participating in a family camp at Camp El Tesoro, Campfire USA’s facility outside Granbury, TX.  El Tesoro (“the treasure”) is the oldest Campfire camp in Texas and sits on 223 acres next to the Brazos River.  It’s a year round camp that hosts everything from traditional summer camp for kids to retreats for families.  My boys are excited because they love the idea of getting dirty outside without getting in trouble and I’m excited because I won’t have to plan anything or cook any meals – they cover it all for one low fee!

I’ll update again when we’re back from our trip but in the meantime, check out the website for info on other activities offered for families (maybe you could even join us – it’s not too late!).

For more on family camps – read my previous post on family camp at Camp Allen.

Camp El Tesoro has invited my family to participate in their family weekend in exchange for my honest review of the event. Opinions provided here are my own. 

European Wax Grand Opening in Plano

Beauty usually doesn’t come cheap but in this case, it’s even better than cheap – it’s FREE!

European Wax is so confident you will love their wax and service that they are offering free unlimited services to the first 100 guests who make a reservation for Premier week, February 13 – 17, 2012.

(Valid for the initial appointment only)

This deal is ONLY good at Plano and with the phone number listed (972-905-3789)

New Location:

Preston Park Village

1900 Preston Road, Suite 195

(In the Tom Thumb Shopping Center between Toni & Guy and Coldwater Creek)

Phone:

972-905-3789

Overview of European Wax services:

ONE OF THE FINEST BODY WAX SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD

Four step process designed to cleanse, protect, wax and rejuvenate the skin

Contains no alcohol, 100% natural beeswax and the finest polymers

Applied at warm bath water temperature

Non-Strip wax formula provides quicker application time

Much less pain, irritation and redness.  Silky smooth results

Developed in Paris exclusively for EUROPEAN WAX CENTER

Top Ten Reasons to use European Wax

• No Double Dipping
• No Recycling Of Wax
• Expensive Wax, Inexpensive Prices
• Clean, Fresh, Sanitary Environment
• Beautiful, Comfortable, Luxurious Facility
• Programs Created To Help You Save
• Products Designed To Help Your Skin
• We Provide Services Everyday
• Qualified, Experienced, Licensed Estheticians
• Educated, Knowledgeable Staff Trained To Understand That Our Guests Are Our #1 Priority

The Christmas Production That Helped My Kids Find Their Passion

T’was the Night Before Christmas

I remember where I was when, as a child, I realized I might be good at something. I was in 5^th grade walking home from school feeling badly about myself because many of my friends were busy preparing for their weekend activities. They were cheerleaders and dancers and even though we were only 11, they had already found their *place* and were excelling in something that made them feel successful. This success made them want to work harder which consequently limited their time and made me feel left out. So on this walk home from school I was giving myself a pep talk (I still do this, don’t judge me) and started to list the things I enjoyed and thought I was suited for. Drama was at the top of my list. At the tender age of 11 I hadn’t had many opportunities to explore Theatre Arts outside of the occasional Christmas pageant (darn you, State of Texas and your limited arts offerings in elementary school) but I knew enough to know that my natural abilities lent themselves to the dramatic. After that walk home from school, I primarily focused my efforts on the performing arts and eventually ended up teaching high school Theatre and dabbling a bit in professional acting and directing.

My older boys are only 8 ½ but we have been searching for an activity that would make them feel successful. Of course, I encouraged theatre but we have also tried baseball, football, soccer, basketball, karate, art and even choir. My kids make friends easily and are willing to try most endeavors but truly finding their *place* has eluded us. Until now. In October, my boys auditioned for the holiday show being produced by the Wylie Acting Group for Children. This amazing organization can’t accommodate every child who’d like to be in a show but if you’re cast in the play, you provide your time, talents and costumes. That’s it. No outrageous participation fee or mandatory ticket purchases which might exclude some families in this economic climate. My boys were both given roles in T’was the Night Before Christmas and have truly relished every minute of the production process. The memorization, the late nights, the hard work – all of it. This is the first activity we’ve ever done where they spend the day asking me, “how long until we get to go to practice?”. I also find them talking about it to their friends and family which tells me how special this project has made them feel. They didn’t get the biggest roles and they don’t have the most lines but being a part of this show has been really wonderful for them.

Look, I know that they may not stick with theatre forever. Their father has a music background and hopes to start them on drum lessons soon – maybe one of them will find that playing an instrument is their true passion. But even if they don’t I can tell you this: finding something that makes you feel successful is priceless and that confidence can carry you through in life when you find yourself struggling in other areas just to keep up.

For those interested in the work the Wylie Acting Group for Children is doing, we invite you to see the show this weekend and check it out for yourself:

T’was the Night Before Christmas

Friday, Dec. 9^th, 7:00pm

Saturday, Dec. 10^th, 3:00pm and 7:00pm

Ticket info available at wagforchildren.org

Pictures with Santa and hot cocoa available before the show!

Need Some Spa Time? Let Chevy Treat!

I recently drove a Chevy Traverse, White Diamond Edition (ohh la la!) for two weeks and got to experience the absolute

Polly Picking Up the Traverse

thrill that comes with driving such a well made vehicle. (The countdown for replacing my own claptrap has begun.) Chevy even gave me a $40 SpaFinders gift certificate to spend during my tenure in the car. I was able to use mine for a mani/pedi AND a makeup application desperately needed for a special occasion! See here:

Chevy and SpaFinders – a Great Start to my 40th!

But now, Chevy is offering a promotion for the general public that couldn’t come at a better time. With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season fast approaching, who couldn’t use a little time at the spa? Test drive a Chevy Traverse or Malibu and Chevy will give you your own $40 SpaFinders gift certificate, FREE!  You’ll love the way the cars handle (I should know, I’ve driven both on behalf of Chevy.) and you’ll love all the features available that makes morning carpool a lot more enjoyable.

So get yourself to your local Chevy dealer and take advantage of this generous offer.

Chevy Traverse, White Diamond Edition

Hurry! Offer expires on 11/23/2011. Check out the Gotta Love Chevy Facebook page for more info.

Chevy Traverse: Mom Review

Holiday Cards With Shutterfly

Halloween is over and it’s officially time to start getting ready for Christmas! This is my favorite time of year and even though I spend it running from store to special event (and back again), I completely embrace all the sentiment and nostalgia associated with the holidays. One tradition that I especially enjoy is the holiday card exchange with family and friends. I spend lots of time calculating which photo to use and then more time shopping around to find that *perfect* card. In years past I have gambled on smaller websites with cute designs but have spent weeks waiting for my cards to ship. Last year, I didn’t get my order until Dec. 16^th and I had to race around to address and mail my stack before Christmas Day. Too much stress! So this year I plan to go back to a tried and true original that has lots of designs to choose from and tons of experience printing and shipping them in a timely manner. Shutterfly is my go-to when I want something beautiful, personal and professionally done. I have already ordered two photo albums for gifts (shhh! Don’t spill the beans!) and have been perusing the cards to find an original design for the pictures we had taken.

I love this one for our family photo that turned out okay. It’s a good picture and this classic understated design would really make it pop:

The picture I really love has my little guy crying while the other two boys look at him (more of an accurate portrayal of our photo session!) and this card would be perfect for that image:

I am also ordering a calendar for the boys playroom and study area. They are always asking me how many days until __________ so a personalized calendar of their own will be a great relief for me.

Happy holidays and if you’re so inclined, drop me a card in the mail. We love them!

Disclaimer – In some cases, I receive free or discounted goods or services in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this blog are mine and mine alone.

I’m A Chevy Girl – Again!

Chevy has given me ANOTHER vehicle to drive for them and this time, it’s the three row Traverse.  A perfect car for my family and our busy lifestyle. Check out my little video talking about what I love best about the Traverse. *It’s really dark because I filmed it at night. When else am I in the car by myself???*

The Chevy Traverse campaign is being sponsored by the NorthTexas Chevy dealers. They are letting me test drive a Traverse for two weeks as well as providing me with a gas card and a spa gift card.

My Friend Has Cancer, Now What?

One of my best friends has breast cancer and it’s not fair. I realize that cancer isn’t discriminating but my 38 yr old vegan yoga instructor friend is really the last person I would have guessed would be inflicted. To make matters worse she’s also a single mother of three children who works full time so managing the constant barrage of medical appointments while coordinating care for her kids is just as stressful as the disease. An aggressive insidious disease that continues to infect her body even after a full dose of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy.

Brandie was always a pioneer when it came to new phases in life development. We went to college together and she was the first of our friends to get married and the first of our friends to have a baby. A woman’s girlfriends can play a significant role in these type of events (throwing showers, wedding attendants, baby advice, etc) but she didn’t have many of us for expert help when starting these ventures. We were stuck in the last phase of life wondering how in the world to go along on this new one. Now she’s done it again. She’s the first of our group to become seriously ill and I’m afraid we don’t know how to do this any better than we did her other developmental stages. We have many friends in common and I’ve seen several who have kept up with her blog and helped out where they could. I have also noticed that a few seem to be hesitant and aren’t exactly sure how to respond. We’re too young to have had many peers suffering from serious illness (thank God) so in the absence of life experience, some aren’t confident about what to do. I’m definitely not an expert on the best way to approach a friend who is sick but my assumption is that it’s better to do something than say nothing.

For instance, I had no real idea how many doctor’s appointments that a cancer patient had to endure. Offering to accompany someone on one of their appointments is a great way to help. And definitely bringing meals, filling their car with gas, babysitting, running errands, cleaning the house or even washing their dog would likely be welcome gestures. Sure, it brings up feelings about your own mortality and yes, hearing intimate physical descriptions about illness can make people uncomfortable. But support is given in the form of what’s needed, not in what’s most convenient.

Personally, what’s most interesting about Brandie’s particular struggle is that through it all, life goes on. I don’t know why this surprises me – she has always been a glass-half-full kind of person – but her insistence on not letting her condition define her is inspiring. Not that she set out to try and inspire anyone, she’s just trying to get through this and out the other side to a lifetime of better health.

The month of October is breast cancer awareness month. Support those you know suffering from this disease and please, get a mammogram.

Family Camp

When I was growing up, I could divide my friends easily into two categories – the ones who went to camp and the ones who didn’t. My family was in the non-camp group. That’s not to say that I didn’t have camp type experiences. I routinely did a week of day camp at the local YMCA camp and even remember playing capture-the-flag with the entire camp and winning the game for my team <preen>. But I never packed a trunk and went away for a week or two to experience nature and navigate the politics of a dozen girls staying in one cabin. On the other hand, my husband comes from a camp family – his sister went to camp every summer, he went to camp every summer  and they even ended up serving on senior staff at the camp as they got older. So my boys will be going to camp in the next year or two but until then, we attend camp as a family.

For the last five years, we have spent our Labor Day weekend at Camp Allen located north of Houston in 1100 acres of beautiful pine forest. After meeting my in-laws at check in (this trip serves as an annual family get together), we schlep our bags up to our hotel-like accommodations and find our way down to the conference center where we make nametags, sign up for our weekend activities and grab our first meal. From there our weekend unfolds with activities as varied as canoeing, orienteering, a petting zoo, skeet shooting, horseback riding and even a chamber music concert. We participate in all of these while sneaking in some time in the pool and enjoying lovely meals made without any of us lifting a finger. In other words – this is heaven for moms and dads who want an outdoor experience for their kids but would rather not pitch a tent and cook each meal over a fire.

So my whole family goes to camp and we’re hoping that these trips will make great family memories for my boys. Either way, I know in the future when I pack their trunk and send them off to their own week of summer camp that they will know a little about what to expect. And I’ll feel better because I’ll know that if they are asked to play capture-the-flag, the drive to win is in their blood.

Our Solution to the Summer Whine

First, a disclaimer: if you’re one of the lucky people who are fortunate enough to have your own pool in your backyard, you can skip over this post comfortable in the knowledge that your current situation is more than adequate in arming you against the relentless heat. But if you’re like my family and find yourself trekking all of your kids, snacks, and giant foam noodles to the local pool on a DAILY basis just to get some relief – then listen up. My family has discovered a SOLUTION that has already eliminated much of the summer whine in my home.

A little background – we have bought and used several $30ish inflatable pools over the course of each summer since having our twins and every time we used them it was a gigantic pain. It takes 20 – 30 minutes just to blow the thing up, then another 30 minutes waiting for the hose to fill it up while yelling at the kids to quit squirting each other and leave the water in the pool. Playing was more or less fun but when the day was over, my husband and I would be in the backyard dumping the pool over so the dirty, grass filled water wouldn’t be sitting around attracting mosquitoes. And the next day, we’d start the same laborious dance all over again but this time the pool water would eventually get grassy AND muddy due to the previous flooding of the yard. This whole process was enough to squash all of our home swimming enthusiasm and we’d eventually start declining the kids’ repeated requests to swim outside (“Honey, why would you want to go outside when there’s so much good TELEVISION on right now?? Oh look, Spongebob…”). But for $99, we found a solution at Target and it’s changed our whole outlook!

Voila! The Intex Metal Frame Pool, 10′ x 30“. It’s about the size of a hot tub so it’s not a *true* above ground pool but it’s bigger than those inflatable jobs that have vexed me for years. It stays up through the summer with no emptying or refilling problems and with the cover we bought, it stays relatively clean – I think I’m in love!

Of course, with any body of water in the backyard, it’s important that an adult is always supervising young children while they play in the pool but at 2 1/2 ft deep – even my 4 yr old can stand up with no problem.

Like many families, my children are on different schedules and my little guy still takes a nap. This pool has been fantastic at entertaining my 8 yr old twins while they wait for their little brother to wake up. It keeps them outside, they get exercise, and it’s virtually effortless for me. (Well, with the exception of all those wet towels all over the house but that’s a post for another day.)

We think this pool is really sturdy and once we take it down in lste September, we assume we’ll be able to store it until next year. But even if it doesn’t store well, this solution to our summer whine will have been worth every penny of that $99.

Ode to Thanksgiving With Easy Peasey Recipe

I love love LOVE Thanksgiving! It’s the kick-off to the holiday season and it’s filled with opportunities to spend time with our friends and family while simultaneously gorging ourselves on food. Yep, the food part is pivotal to my love of this celebration and I won’t apologize for it.  I used to enjoy preparing and serving epicurean delights but that was prior to the deluge of small children in my home. Now I try and wrangle an invite to other people’s homes who also enjoy preparing food. Sometimes I lament my lost love but not enough to venture back into the land of chopping, basting, sauteing, marinating and all of the other tasks which can make cooking a timely pursuit. These days, I open a few cans, add some fresh veggies and VOILA! A colorful, tasty side dish to contribute to the spread (recipe below). So now at Thanksgiving I just try my best to keep my head down, behave, and help with the dishes when the meal is over.

But the real reason Thanksgiving is so great to me is that it doesn’t involve gifting of any sort. Many other family gatherings orchestrated through out the year require participants to budget time and resources to acquire the perfect gift to give. I usually love the opportunity to honor loved ones with a special something but every once in a while it’s nice to get together just…… because. No gathering around to ooooh and aaaah over someone else’s gifts. No bribing the children to stay away from other people’s persents. None of that. Because at Thanksgiving you come together to give thanks, eat, visit and clean up . Nothing to it! Really, Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday. Oh Thanksgiving, how I love thee. I’m hungry just thinking about it.

Recipe easy enough for parents with small children to contribute:

Corn Salad

• 1 (15 ounce) can black-eyed peas
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 cup Fat Free Italian-style salad dressing
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

Combine and cover. Chill in refrigerator until it’s time for dinner.

Happy Holidays!

Massage is More Than Just a Good Time

Word on the street is that there are some people out there who don’t *love* getting a massage. In most things I can find common ground but on this I absolutely cannot relate. I dance a quiet little jig every time I’m lucky enough to find myself in the hands of a competent masseuse.  When Massage Envy and Chevy offered to treat myself and a friend to a complimentary massage, I knew exactly who to invite with me. My long time friend, Brandie Sellers, is a Yoga Coach with her own business (Simple Life Yoga)  but for me personally, she’s a gentle guide in nurturing and being kind to ourselves. Check out our Massage Envy date and see what she has to say about what massage actually does for our body (other than feel amazing!): Polly and Brandie talk massage

OnStar Navigation Takes Us Where We Want to Go

Easy!

By now, most of us have heard the OnStar radio ads with chilling snippits of real life conversations between the OnStar operators and drivers who are in distress. These recordings do a good job of illustrating what I have come to believe – passengers would be better protected if every vehicle came equipped with OnStar. But the feature I wasn’t aware of was the simple navigation service. We have a GPS but plugging it into the console and dealing with the cord while typing in the info makes using this system while you’re actually moving too precarious. OnStar solves that problem. With one touch of a button on your rear view mirror (yes, your rear view mirror), you get to speak to an actual human who does the heavy lifting for you. Want to see what I’m talking about? Watch my latest video and see how easy OnStar actually is

Follow Polly and the Malibu at Gotta Love Chevy DFW.

Mom is Only One of My Hats

I really love being a mom. I planned, pleaded and prayed for my children and I realize every day how lucky I am to have them. Still, every once in a while, I like to get in my car, crank up the radio, roll down the windows and pretend I’m footloose and fancy free. The feeling of the wind in my hair and the sound of the music blaring with absolutely NO REGARD for the content of the song (cuss words? Who cares! I’m carefree!) is so…….rejuvenating.  No surprise – this is hard to do when you’re driving a minivan littered with cheerios and happy meal toys.

The Chevy Malibu has afforded me the opportunity to shed my outer mom and become someone who isn’t always concerned about locating the next public restroom for her child. I find that when all of my boys are in school (for a precious 11 hours a week), the Malibu allows me to become a …..gasp….GROWN UP who enjoys her time alone. (The 8 speaker Bose sound system also helps.)   So many *family cars* give the family an opportunity to have an accommodating vehicle but leave the primary driver labeled (“there goes a MOM!”) even when they’re driving alone. The Malibu is different – it’s a great family car that masquerades as a sporty, zippy sedan.

It’s not that I want to stop being a mom. Au contraire, I love this gig! But being a mom is only one of the hats I wear and frankly, I like to change my hat every now and then.

Grocery Shopping – The Great Equalizer

 No matter who you are or where you live, you will eventually have to go grocery shopping. There are some go-getters who grow most of their own food and may just buy toilet paper or hairspray but even they need to go to the store occasionally and pick up “a few things”. For a family these “few things” can multiply quickly and after a marathon shopping trip,  it’s important to have a vehicle that can transport your bounty without smashing the delicates. On the surface it might seem like the medium sized Chevy Malibu wouldn’t be able to accomodate as many groceries as an SUV or a minivan. So Chevy asked me to spend $100 shopping and then write about getting it all home in the Malibu and I am here to tell you that not only is it possible, it actually holds them BETTER. Let me explain: in my minivan, I have a narrow but deep well in which to stow my purchases. This means that I can transport a scooter or bicycle with ease but several bags of groceries eventually get stacked on top of each other for the ride home. In our SUV, there’s plenty of space to put the grocery bags but they roll and shift around with nothing to contain them. In both of these vehicles, I have eventually ended up with squished and bruised produce and even some broken eggs.

Not so in the Malibu. I was able to fit everything in the trunk which is deep but also long. I had plenty of room for my $100+ in groceries AND for the other few things I picked up at the warehouse store on the way home. The trunk even has a feature where you can lay down the backseats and use the whole space from the trunk through the back part of the car. I didn’t have to do that with my groceries (not even close!) but next time I’m hauling a bike or a scooter, I know I have options.

My family has really enjoyed the bells and whistles available with the Malibu (they insist I call people just so they can talk to them on the bluetooth enabled in the car!) but it’s important that any car we drive be able to accomodate all of our *stuff*. And the Malibu did that perfectly.

For more info on Polly and the Chevy, check out Gotta Love Chevy DFW.

Love at First Sight

You know how sometimes introductions can be a bit awkward? Well when we met the new Malibu it was love at first sight. Head over heels, crazy, starry-eyed love at first sight. It’s only been a few days and it feels like the Malibu is already part of the family.

Much tears will be shed when it’s time to return this beautiful car.  <sniff, sniff>

Polly and the Boys Meet the Malibu – the movie 

I’m a Chevy Girl!

Chevrolet has asked me to participate in their Girlfriend Getaway promotion this month and I am so excited! Not only do I get to drive the GORGEOUS Chevy Malibu for the whole month of September (heaven!) but I will going on “missions” in the car and blogging about my outings.

Check back here, on dfwmama or over at the Chevy site to see more of my adventures with the car.  I know you’ll love it – I love it already and I’ve only had it a few hours!

Why am I Here?

School started recently and when events are being planned, I will not be one of those moms who fights over the last chaperoning spot on the school bus (unless the field trip is for shopping in Paris then you’d have to pry me away from the doors) or who insist on being at every class party. I love love LOVE for my kids to experience life outside their average daily grind –  I have blogged many times about our family adventures and even use our experiences as anecdotal information during my parenting workshops. But I think I’m different from lots of parents when I willingly and happily opt out of the exploring my boys do while away from home.

Many of my good friends and momrades-in-arms will move heaven and earth to go with their child’s school as they take the students on a new adventure.  They bristle when the teachers remind them that they can’t bring their younger children on the bus or to the holiday party. In the case of field trips, I have even heard moms encourage those who didn’t receive a coveted chaperon spot to just show up anyway; “What’s the worse they can do? It’s a public place!”

Please don’t misunderstand me, I support the teachers/counselors/sponsors/den leaders/coaches and if they need an extra set of hands, I’ll help where needed. But it has never occurred to me to fight to the death to accompany my children on their field trips or pass out cupcakes at their parties.  Am I the only one who needs the time away from my kids to recharge my mom batteries? Am I alone in my confidence that the instructors will have the situation under control?  But perhaps most importantly, are my children the only kids who just act better when I’m NOT around??? I’ve been on a few field trips with the boys and with some exceptions, my kids get clingy and whiny and the twins start bickering with each other. The entire experience usually leaves me wondering, Why Am I Here?? When I’m not present, their behavior is normal-to-above average and on occasion, even gets commended.So future leaders of my children can rest assured that I will monitor the situation carefully and then quietly, step back. I know the boys need time to establish their own identities and forge their own relationships just as much as I need time to regroup. But if their school decides to suddenly schedule a trip to the Bahamas, I reserve the right to recant this entire post.

Love Letters to My Children’s Teachers

School hasn’t even started yet but I feel compelled to write a love letter to the teachers who will be educating my kids.

To the educators who have committed themselves to my children this year,

I don’t know you but I already love you. I love you because you have promised to care for each and every child assigned to your classroom, including mine. Not just work with them – not just impart wisdom – but actually care for them. (How many other professions require that you care for a group of sneaky nose pickers? Not many.) I love you because I know that you enjoyed your time off this summer but most of you still found yourselves itching to come back. You could feel the quiet desperation of all of those hit hard by the economic downturn and while you sympathize with their need for a job, you will be danged if you will give them yours. I love you because you spend your own money to make your classroom a welcoming space. A place where children can feel safe and where learning is valued.  I love you because you often give hugs and pats on the back even when society is telling us to maintain a safe distance. I love you because you come to class with an open mind and a willing heart and a servant’s passion for children. But mostly I love you because you step in to take my boys right when I think that all of this summer-time togetherness might be the death of our little family. I love you because you will save us all.

If you need me, I’ll be getting a mani/pedi and sipping a latte.

signed,

a grateful mother