Photography Widow

See more of his work here and here. 

“When your hobbies get in the way of your work - that's OK; but when your hobbies get in the way of themselves... well...” Steve Martin

My husband has a variety of revolving hobbies that almost always result in my garage, hallway,  etc. being filled with off road vehicles, bicycles, guitars and so on. My housekeeper has stopped asking why there are mountain bikes propped up against the dining room table. All this, I surmise, is the result of a childhood deprived of G.I. Joe dolls, I mean 'action figures' and Matchbox cars, envying the other kids on the block. 

For the most part, these hobbies have done nothing but add to my OCD, save for one. As of late, he is into photography. Despite the fact that my house is filled with stacks and stacks of photography books and we cannot go ANYWHERE without the damn camera(s), I do appreciate and recognize his dedication to documenting our daughter's childhood because, let's face it, my iPhone pics aren't cutting it. 

So, for now, I will try to bite my tongue when I feel the urge to scream, "Put down that camera and either help me with this 100 lb. planter or get your daughter to stop tonguing the shopping cart!" as we stroll through the Target garden center on a Sunday afternoon. 

Fashion Victim or Tree Hugger

I really want to buy these. Something is holding me back. Deep down I think my mommy need for comfortable, flat shoes is manifesting itself in a fashion victim sort of way. To buy or not to buy? God, I sound paranoid ;) 

Megalomaniac or Narcissist?

My husband and I recently spent the Easter Sunday car ride home discussing what 'Narcissism' meant to us and if we knew of any whom had children. (If 'yes', how did their child rearing techniques compare to us 'normal' folk?).  He believes that the majority can't bring themselves to have children or detest them (as well as dogs) altogether.

The result was that we knew a small amount of Narcissists, none which had children, one which was currently pregnant (jury is still out, we'll let you know what happens when reality sets in) and one that was borderline. 

In researching the narcissistic personality disorder, I came across this quote and have since decided Mr.Borderline is definitely a Megalomaniac:

"The megalomaniac differs from the narcissist by the fact that he wishes to be powerful rather than charming, and seeks to be feared rather than loved. To this type belong many lunatics and most of the great men of history." Bertrand Russell

And just to be sure I couldn't see the forest for the trees, I took this test and my results are highly paranoid, highly histrionic and moderately narcissistic, amongst other low scores, like obsessive compulsive; but one look at the bottom of my closet and you would've known that for yourself, no test needed. 

Do you know any narcissists with children (I strongly suspect said 'bunny' in previous post)? Is this the mom with a live in nanny who never sees her kids? If yes, why do you think they continue to have kids? 

Real Housewives of New York

"I'm a mom! I don't want to be too over the top." Eh-hem. I guess Ms. Bensimon must've let this costume from Halloween 2005 slip her mind. In all fairness, the bunny outfit at least covered her midriff. 

Why do I have to watch this crap? I just can't get enough of these overly exaggerated personalities going at it. 

Sharing is Caring

"Parents are not interested in justice, they are interested in peace and quiet." Bill Cosby

My daughter committed her first social offense today. She smacked a playmate when he tried to take a toy from her. I immediately held her hands, looked her in the eyes and told her what she had done was wrong (the good Super Nanny watching mom that I am) and she (the good manipulative toddler that she is) immediately turned on the waterworks and pouted out the lip. The other women in the playgroup were horrified that I was 'so harsh' with her, one of them actually said, "Just look at her sad face!". Am I a cold, heartless disciplinarian or are these chicks just a bunch of suckers?

Should I have ignored the behavior and just took the toy away all together? Oh Super Nanny, where art thou?