Motherhood
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A Whale at the Other End.

By: Jen Shoop

*Image above featuring micro’s new backpack and the flag we’ve used for first and last days of school these past few years, whose colors you can customize!

I’ve been doing some shopping — mainly for micro — the past few weeks, as we move through toilet training and prepare for school next week. I cannot believe we are here. Some parenting moments unexpectedly take the wind out of me. When I took micro for a visit day at his new school in November, I retreated to my car and wept over the steering wheel. It was the strangest sensation, as I had not felt it brewing in the least. I’d been shades of chipper and all-business the entirety of the morning, and then I closed the door of my car and burst into uncontrollable tears. I drove down to Furst Bakery on Connecticut Avenue immediately afterward in a paroxysm of emotion and at some point caught a glimpse of myself in the rear view mirror and burst into simultaneous laughter. I mean, really! What a nut! It wasn’t even the true first day of school — I still had a month of his voice chirping around the house all day long to cherish. (And boy did I get what I wished for — a string of eighteen days in his constant presence, followed by the chaos of Christmas and the no-man’s-land that is the week before the new year.) But motherhood is like that, I find: the tiniest tug might lever the most enormous lurch of the heart. Sort of like fishing, I think: a little nibble, you reel, and you might find a whale at the other end of the line.

Anyhow, I’ll be weepy all week. I struggle with these transitions, which I presume to be a normal condition of motherhood. But we will make it to the other end, whale in tow and all.

Below, some of the fruits of my shopping….

childrens finds winter 2021-2022

SPARKLY HAIR CLIPS

PUFFER JACKET

WEE ONES BOW — BEST COLOR…SORT OF A GRAY-LAVENDER-TAUPE-MAUVE

GOLDEN GOOSE SNEAKERS

PERSONALIZED PENCIL BOXES

CONDIMENT MINI SQUEEZE BOTTLES

THESE RIBBED DRESSES ARE ON SALE FOR ONLY $14 — COME IN MORE COLORS, TOO

FRILLY SOCKS

BEACH OR SNOW (!!) PAIL AND MOLD SET

LS LACOSTE POLO

NAME LABELS

VANS HI-TOPS (SUCH A GOOD BLUE!)

TODDLER BOY UNDIES

STEP STOOL

ART STORAGE PORTFOLIOS

YUMBOX MINI – PERFECT FOR PACKING SNACKS! I USUALLY DO FRUIT ON ONE SIDE AND SOMETHING CRUNCHY ON THE OTHER (GRANOLA BALLS, PRETZELS, GOLDFISH)

$15 FLEECE

VELCRO SUPERGAS

PARAVEL BACKPACK

BASEBALL KEYCHAIN

P.S. More cute children’s finds here, and in case your little one is a dino fiend.

P.P.S. Layette finds here.

P.P.P.S. Was overwhelmed by the solidarity of moms sharing the same feelings in response to this post. Thank you! None of us are alone!

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2 thoughts on “A Whale at the Other End.

  1. Those name labels are such a good find! I ordered on your recommendation for the 2020-2021 school year and they’re still going strong. Even on water bottles!

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