Help Me! Top Five Amazing Things About February

Posted on February 1, 2011, 1:03 pm, by alison Kramer and received Comments.

February. Meh.

Ya know what I mean. Its cold (at least where we are). It’s come to that point where winter’s lost all its holiday charm and everything just kinda looks grey.

February. Blech.

I sat down to write our retailer newsletter this morning (I know, kind of last minute, but that’s how I roll) and decided to think of five amazing things about February. I totally got stuck at 3, and to be entirely transparent one of them was a sale we’re offering….

So maybe you can help me. Continue reading this post »

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Top Four Questions About CoSleeping

Posted on January 26, 2011, 1:47 pm, by alison Kramer and received Comments.

It is pretty rare to meet a family who doesn’t share a bed in one way or another. My personal favourite is musical beds.  The traveling from room to room, often during the night, where you never quite know where you will wake up.  A sleep-your-own-adventure.

Like a lot of parenting choices, how your children sleep can be difficult, beautiful and defining.  In our family, we co sleep, meaning that we sleep together on purpose and have not encouraged our children to sleep on their own unless by their choosing. Over the years, I have heard every challenge and praise of the practice – from safety issues to comfort, and back. Continue reading this post »

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All I Want For Christmas

Posted on December 21, 2010, 10:36 pm, by alison Kramer and received Comments.

A few months ago, my son was invited to a birthday party where the child had requested no gifts.  He was horrified. “Please Mama, promise me we won’t do that for my birthday!”

I smiled because it was so honest, and concerned. Without any of the filters of adulthood.  A birthday without presents! Truly an affront to childhood! A crime!

I explained to him that the being a part of the party was his gift.  Sharing time, laughter. It was the thought that counted.

And then I pinky swore, that he would have presents at his birthday.

This time of year, we give and receive many gifts. Continue reading this post »

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Being Five, Happy Birthday to Nummies

Posted on December 15, 2010, 10:14 pm, by alison Kramer and received Comments.

I tried so hard

I wrote pages.

But i hated them.  The truth is, there are too many words.

And so, to celebrate Nummies on her fifth birthday, here is one of my favourite children’s poems. I read it to Jakob while he was in my tummy and countless times since.

Being Five, by Dennis Lee

I’m not exactly big

and I’m not exactly little

but being five is best of all, because It’s in the middle. Continue reading this post »

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5am with a Hammer. A Little Love Story

Posted on November 29, 2010, 10:22 am, by alison Kramer and received Comments.

I was woken up at 5:30 this morning to the sound of hammering on the kitchen table. I don’t mean banging, i mean hammering. as in hammers and nails and my kitchen table.

And it was 5:30 am…did i mention that?

So, as would be expected, i got up.  In kind of a grumpy way. grabbed a sweatshirt (its a cold morning around here) and came as close to stomping down the stairs as a person of my size can.

I was a less than happy Mama.

By the time i reached the kitchen, i was ready to get very upset with the one who was hammering. I came around the corner and found Ben (of course, who else would be hammering on my kitchen table at 5:30) sitting on the table, with a hammer in full swing, piece of wood on the table, mouth full of nails making this:

And with that, all the stomp went out of me. Continue reading this post »

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Boys Don’t Cry. The three lies the lady at the play place told.

Posted on November 9, 2010, 8:13 pm, by alison Kramer and received Comments.

I took the kids to an indoor playground tonight. We’re sitting happily, laughing and talking about our days – the tooth fairy and other life-stuff – when we hear a bunch of noise from the play area.  There are some kids, little ones, about 3 and 5 playing.  The 5 year old is hitting the 3 year old.

Usual scene for a playground. My kids are not angels, they fight.

I just go back to our snack.  The children who are fighting are not siblings, they are friends, and I find their two mothers are sitting beside us.  The mother of the child doing the hitting makes a comment about how the little man hits everyone, even her.

Pretty normal kid behavior. Children will often go through phases of hitting, biting etc. It isn’t any fun, but its not a big deal in my opinion.

So what happens next, my half-paying-attention self assumes they will tell Little Mr. Hit to stop and go on with their play, but they do not.  Instead, Mama Hit stays totally quiet, while the mom of the little 3 year-old yells this across the room,

“Don’t cry. You’re a boy”

Seriously….? Continue reading this post »

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As close as hands and feet. Sibling love.

Posted on November 6, 2010, 2:47 pm, by alison Kramer and received Comments.

There are three kids in their underwear under a blanket on the sofa.
I can see them sitting there, all entwined, watching cartoons. For a minute they are quiet and breathing. In unison.

Someone kicks, or wiggles and there is a change, a shuffle.

Tessa, get your feet out of my back, they’re cold
That’s why I put them behind your back

Laughter

A bit more wiggling until they find comfort again. Continue reading this post »

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Three Reasons Why I Didn’t Speak to my Kids for 16 Days

Posted on October 19, 2010, 8:30 pm, by alison Kramer and received Comments.

When I travel, I don’t usually speak to my kids. A lot of people reading this probably think that is pretty strange. Now, I don’t mean that they call and I don’t answer the phone – I mean that unless they call me, which they rarely have done, I don’t call them. When I was in New York in August, I got one call from Benny with a hurt knee. We chatted a bit and then he went back to playing.

I stay in touch with their dad many times a day, so I keep an eye on what they are up to, but I don’t speak to them.

And here is why Continue reading this post »

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Soccer Fun Day. Are you doing too much with your kids?

Posted on October 5, 2010, 2:44 pm, by alison Kramer and received Comments.

A few summers ago my boys played soccer.

To celebrate at the end of the season, the league held a Soccer Fun Day. What could be better right? Soccer at a great big park, face painting, lots of food.

Like many Saturday mornings in a busy household, we got off to a bit of a late start. Rushing around, one child missing a shin guard, the other a sock. Breakfast to be made, teeth to brush – ya know, life. Continue reading this post »

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We’re here to help. Ask us a question

Posted on September 28, 2010, 9:27 pm, by alison Kramer and received Comments.

Preparing to be a mom is hard. Being a mom is hard. There is too much information, not enough support, judgement, guilt and sleep deprivation.

I know all of this because i have been there and I am there now. I am a mom with three little ones, trying my best to raise them as well as i can.  Because of Nummies, I also have a ton of resources at my fingertips – amazing moms, brilliant experts and ears ready to listen. We care what happens to you and your baby. Continue reading this post »

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