Back to School

I can't believe I did it but I did. Citybaby is only 5 months old and I put him on a waiting list for school. Now, I know in large cities there is admissions mania and I read New York Magazine and know that people lose jobs over bribing people to get into schools. But I live in Charleston, SC....am I that naive? Some of my girlfriends with older children really worked me into this frenzy so I made the call. And the worst part was that in an attempt to even get on the list, I had to throw around my 10 year old nephew's name since he is a current student. I then had to pull him aside at a family function and explain to him that if the admissions director of the school asks him about me, he is to tell her how much he loves me and how great I am. Is it possible that I have stooped so low as to bribe children? Have I become a purveyor of all that I used to despise? You bet your ass. And, if the admissions director should be reading this, your hair looks great today.

Whole Foods

Now that CityBaby is immunized and 3 1/2 months old, we try to get out at least once a day for an outing. Lately, we find ourselves at Whole Foods. I like Whole Foods. In fact, I have a bit of an obsession with it. I like the experience, I like the offerings and I like the people. CityBaby does not feel the same. Here's how it goes: He is quiet in the produce section. Just chilling in his car seat perched high atop the cart. I face him out since he seems to be more content that way. I make a point of talking to him to continually keep him stimulated (this is some rubbish I read in a book) so I am the crazy lady talking to my infant. We cruise around the produce area, get our fruits and vegetables and move on to the cereals. He starts to become a bit more alert here and continues through the dairy aisle to the poultry section. Then as we round the frozen food section into the fresh foods and cheeses, he contorts his face and starts this cry he has perfected. It says, I am not really upset but I want you to know I am getting unhappy. Then as we leave the bakery department on our way to check out, he lets loose. The nice thing about Whole Foods is that throughout the store they pump music and white noise so you can't really hear a screaming baby. Not so at the checkout area. Every time we've been there, he breaks out in a full blown scream, tears and everything. In fact, the last time we were there, our friendly checkout girl mentioned that she remembered me from last time. Why? Because my baby was also crying at the checkout. Great - I am THAT lady. I'm going to continue to experiment and see what it is that makes him cry because I just can't give up my Whole Foods obsession.