Carnegie Hill Mom

“Are there any new presents under the tree?” chirped my daughter the moment she bounded through the door after school. “Are these all the presents we’re going to get?” she asked, re-inspecting the loot and grumbling, “Why does Zachary get the biggest gifts?” Fifteen minutes after school pickup—and I already needed a mommy timeout. I can’t stand seeing materialism brainwash my daughter, leaving an ungrateful heart in its wake. During gifting seasons, my daughter shows an utter lack of gratitude for the bounty before her. Even when she unwraps something on her wish list, she blurts out, “I don’t like Legos…I wish I had the purple one…Did I get any money? Can I pick out anything on the computer?” Thankfully, my daughter’s fascination with gifts isn’t limited to receiving them. Her favorite activity is wrapping up toys and odds and ends from around the apartment and presenting them to friends and siblings. Last week, my daughter gave one such gift to her classmate and then...

I can’t push four kids in a jogging stroller. It’s too hot or cold or rainy. I showered last night and don’t want to waste time showering again so soon. I don’t want strangers watching me sweat. These excuses flooded my mind every time I tried to return to my pre-kid routine of running in Central Park. Seven years into motherhood , I have finally found a workout that silences those voices in my head. To jumpstart my exercise plan post-kids, I had to start small, be consistent, and eliminate as many obstacles as possible. I needed a no-excuses environment. Excuse #1: I Can’t Get to the Gym I’m watching the kids, there’s a blizzard outside, my workout clothes are out of date, and a gym membership is too expensive. ADVERTISEMENT Thankfully, in 30 seconds flat, I can transform my bedroom into workout central. I open Pandora, roll out a yoga mat, and grab some dumbbells from my nightstand. My routine mainly involves yoga, dance, and calisthenics ,...