The Fretful Mother's Blog

My car is getting ready to die, I just know it. It has 167,000 miles on it, a hole in the roof and ice cream on the seats. It was the car I pretty much surrendered to the kids. I’m now looking for a new car and praying the old one will make it to at least be traded in for floor mats or something. (more…)

Nowadays I feel like I am on every drug imaginable. There’s a drug to control my every bodily function it seems. I guess that’s another sign of getting old. I am now one of those people who has to carry a list of my medications when I go to the doctor. Otherwise I’ll forget what I’m taking and she’ll cross-pollinate me or something. Of course all these medications come in nice, simple packaging. I wish. (more…)

I should mention my first job was as a hostess at a buffet, so I know firsthand what goes on at these places. Despite my knowledge, I still occasionally frequent these joints. I try to stick to breakfast if possible, but I do have a weakness for salad bars. Ruby Tuesday’s in particular. (more…)

My daughter has starting jogging with me at night. I try to stay consistent with walking and/or jogging every night, rain or shine, 90 degrees or 5 degrees. This isn’t always easy. I thought having a companion would give me some motivation, but it turns out it depresses me. (more…)

Oh, it looks pretty and tastes good, but behind that exterior hides a cold manipulator. I learned this lesson for the umpteenth time a few days ago. An old friend and I were catching up over a bottle of red zinfandel that for some reason caused us to lose our minds. (more…)

Those white lines they paint to guide your path across the street are merely false security. It does not mean a car cannot hit you if you stay within the lines. In fact, those walking man signs are pretty much the same. They may give you a good idea of when to cross, but it’s no guarantee that you will not be flattened by a trash truck. (more…)

You know how when you buy new clothes they always come attached with a plastic baggie with spare buttons? At the time you think your clothes have pretty solid buttons, so you toss the baggie into the neverworld of your junk drawer. At least that’s what I typically do. But my most favorite coat developed a button issue just mere weeks into its wear, and I’m now regretting that decision. (more…)

As a general rule my hair is pretty clean. I use shampoo and conditioner along with minimal care products. So basically I shouldn’t consider it gross. But having hair somewhere other than my head just freaks me out. I look at strands of it in the bathtub and immediately want to wipe it out. It just does not belong there. (more…)

When I scroll through the guide on my TV, it indicates the number of channels to be in the 9700 range. This number seems excessive to me. I don’t even have the super jumbo package. I’m always complaining that I don’t have Bravo or the Food Network. How can I complain about anything with close to 10,000 channels from which to choose? (more…)

At my place of employment we have what we’ve termed “the free table.” Anything on the table is up for grabs. The table usually displays coupons for “a free drink once you purchase a drink, appetizer, entrée, and dessert for two. Offer only valid the second Wednesday of the month between 10 a.m. and noon.” But sometimes the table boasts actual “goodies” such as pizza and pastries. Yesterday was one such day. (more…)