Abby Off the Record — The scoop on life, writing & raising kids

What’s Your ‘Why’?

June 1, 2012

I sometimes get questions from other writers wondering: a) Should they start a blog? b) How do I find time to blog? c) Is the time commitment and effort worth it? My answers are, in short: yes; you make time; and yes, a thousand times, yes. Of course, we all have different definitions of “worth […]

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The Old Neighborhood

May 30, 2012

The boys and I were hanging out in our front yard one afternoon. Summer has already arrived in Baltimore, bringing with it damp heat and the drone of insects. The late-day sun slanted through the Japanese maple, casting a burnished glow on the overgrown lawn, scattered with plastic toys. From my perch on the front […]

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Flashback Monday: Random Thoughts at the Pool

May 28, 2012

Since it’s Memorial Day and I am spending my third day in a row at the pool, I thought you might enjoy this post from my archives. Throw a veggie burger on the BBQ for me, will ya? All these people are essentially standing around in their underwear in broad daylight. Where else do people […]

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Baby Nostalgia and a Book Giveaway

May 25, 2012

I never thought I’d say it, but I miss babies. I don’t WANT another baby, thankyouverymuch, but I recently got to hold a newborn and man, was he cute. And also, calm. He snoozed away in his swaddle blanket like a tiny, snoring burrito, oblivious to all the craziness around him. (Like my kids.) I […]

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So What Ever Happened with Potty Training?

May 23, 2012

You know how annoying I find those people who don’t offer any closure to those of us who listened to them whine about something for months on end. So as not to be one of those people, I am going to address that unanswered question I’m sure is on all of your minds: “So what […]

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Ready for Drop-By Guests?

May 21, 2012

It’s that time of year — the weather’s nice, everyone’s outside, and neighbor kids run in and out of your house for drinks or snacks or to use the bathroom. It made me think of this post from my archives, about how non-guest-ready my house usually is. BTW, I did see “What to Expect” this […]

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‘What to Expect’ and My Amazon Debut

May 18, 2012

It’s been a long time since I was excited to see a movie in the theater. It takes a lot to get me off my couch and out after dark wearing mascara, but I think I will make the effort for “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.” Besides the all-star cast and funny trailer, pregnancy […]

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What Is Your Jealousy Telling You?

May 16, 2012

It had been a long day of kid-wrangling and housekeeping. And by “housekeeping” I mean trying to keep the house from being destroyed by a couple of running, wrestling, snacking, spilling boys/superheroes/pirates/ninjas. The new issue of one of my favorite magazines had arrived in the mail, like a gift from the God of Overworked Moms. […]

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‘Listen to Your Mother’ Shares Powerful Stories About Motherhood

May 11, 2012

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I didn’t see them coming. I stopped breathing for a moment, aware only of the enormous lump growing in my throat. Moments earlier I had been nodding knowingly as this trim, blonde, 30-something woman described always wanting to be a little different growing up. I […]

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On Wild Things and Maurice Sendak

May 8, 2012

As a tribute to Maurice Sendak, who died Tuesday at the age of 83, I read my 3yo son Where the Wild Things Are before his nap. Riley is a Wild Thing incarnate. He, too, has dressed up in animal costumes, chased our dog with forks and swords, threatened to eat me up. I have […]