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

All Kinds of Time

February 3, 2012

The other day my favorite local radio station played “All Kinds of Time,” by Fountains of Wayne. Do you know that song? I never realized before that it’s about football. Thanks, Mr. Alt-Rock DJ! You learn something new every day. But the message goes beyond feeling pressure on the football field. The lyrics go: The […]

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What Will They Be When They Grow Up?

February 1, 2012

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m afraid all this “what do you want to be when you grow up?” stuff is a bad idea. On one hand, I get it. It’s a fun, harmless question. Kids come up with some pretty funny answers. When he was 3 my oldest said he […]

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Ye Olde Blog: A Longtime Blogger Looks Back

January 30, 2012

5+ years, 574 posts, approximately 343,600 words: those are my blog stats. I started my first blog in 2005 to chronicle my adventures as a new mom-to-be. In the blog world, that makes me ANCIENT. I had written a few funny emails to friends and family about my strange pregnancy symptoms (my belly wasn’t growing, […]

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The Amazingly True and Alarmingly Irrational Tales of an Almost 3-Year-Old

January 27, 2012

My kid is kicking my ass, people. I am outwitted, outraged, and practically outweighed by my toddler daily. It’s not only embarrassing, it’s infuriating. And also, exhausting. I read parenting books. I know parenting experts. This is my second kid, for Pete’s sake! It’s not like I just fell off the turnip truck. But still…STILL. […]

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How to Sell When You’re Not a Salesperson

January 25, 2012

As I may have mentioned a time or 50, I published an ebook recently. Since I would like for people other than my blood relatives to buy and read this book, that puts me in the unfamiliar and uncomfortable position of being not just a writer but a… salesperson. I’ve got to actually try to […]

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Q&A with Sleep Expert Malia Jacobson

January 23, 2012

One great thing about being a journalist or blogger or anyone who gets to interview people is that you can call up pretty much any expert you want and get professional advice for free. Of course, it’s nice if you’re not entirely self-serving and share this advice to benefit your readers. So I’m just going […]

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You Can’t Make Me Care About Football

January 20, 2012

I’m about to admit something shocking and controversial, and I hope you will still be my friend and agree to disagree if you feel differently: I hate football. No, wait. “Hate” is too strong a word. I am utterly indiffferent to football, and to most televised sports in general. I’m sorry. I wish I could […]

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The Golden Globes: Mommy Awards

January 18, 2012

Michelle Williams endeared herself to moms everywhere when she said in her Golden Globe acceptance speech last Sunday, “I consider myself a mother first and an actress second, so the person I most want to thank is my daughter, my little girl, whose bravery and exuberance is the example that I take with me in my work […]

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Flashback Monday: The Naked Truth

January 16, 2012

Both kids have off from school today, giving us a whole extra day of togetherness. Oh, joy. (Yes, that was sarcasm. We’ve been cooped up inside all weekend while Dad watches football and the boys tackle each other because the other took the toy they had first. Insert screeching and hair-pulling here.) To pass the […]

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How to Stop Time: Start Potty Training

January 13, 2012

Everyone’s always moaning about how time passes so quickly and they wish there were more hours in the day, right? (Everyone except me, that is. Personally, I wish there were FEWER hours in the day, specifically the hours of 5:30-7am and 4-6pm.) Well, I have the perfect solution for those of you who want time […]