A Momma's Gratitude List, New York Style

Happy (belated) Mother's Day to all of you unbelievably courageous and beautiful mothers out there! Hoping you were loved, celebrated and adored!  I had a wonderful day, celebrating with my little monkeys. After breakfast  was ordered in by the biggest monkey, we went to one of the most iconic parks in the world to play. As I watched my childish (I mean, child-like ;) ) husband climb on swing sets and build castles in the sand with Conley while I sat on a bench with Holden who was snoozing in the breeze, my heart took flight and I had to wonder...

What in God's name do I have to bitch about???!!!

So, a day late, I would like to give you my list of 10 Things to be Grateful as a NYC Mom

1. First of all, I am a mom. I never knew the pain of trying to get pregnant. I do know women who have and it makes me all the more aware of how truly blessed I am.

2. My 2 little guys. I have the most beautiful, totally happy and healthy monsters. What a gift to look at their popsicle stained faces and know that they chose me as their mommy.

3. We live in a GARDEN LEVEL apartment, not a 5TH FLOOR WALK-UP. I don't have to  schlep 2 nap-needing screamers up several flights of stairs. I can carry groceries in without breaking down their stroller, breaking a sweat, or breaking into tears.

4. I have a washing machine/dryer just outside my bedroom door. I don't have to pack suitcases and roll them to a laundromat like so many New York mommies and daddies. I just have to make sure I have the quarters and detergent.  and if I don't, I can call a deli to deliver them to me.

5. I can call a deli to deliver them to me. and "them" is ANYTHING. I don't have diapers, I call someone. I need juice and applesauce, and a guy on a bicycle will deliver them right to my door. Our dinner is delivered to us from different neighborhood joints several times a week. (Our son actually thinks every person that comes to the door is named "guy" because we hand him the money to give the delivery "guy".  He gives them the cash and says, "Thanks, guy. Bye, bye, guy.")

6. We live less than a block from the park. No, THE park. Central Park is just outside my door with 2 amazing children's playgrounds at our street's entrance. I'm still not convinced it isn't a movie set, it's that cool.

7. We can walk everywhere. We don't own a car. I stroll several blocks daily with my kids. The kids' pediatrician, Conley's school, our bank and any drugstore are all walkable. This is not only fabulous on the budget (although, NYC rent is not) it is fabulous on a 2-kid-bearing-bottom. I walk a lot. I walk while eating a doughnut, but I walk.

8. The NHM and the MET. My kids get to go to the Natural History Museum to play with dinosaurs and the MET to gaze at Monet. How freakin' great is that?

9. Our babysitter is a dancer on Broadway. 'nuff said.

10.  My husband is a terrific father. He's 2 parts playful, 1 part hopeful, and the rest just sugar. The kids adore him and I'm a huge fan. He has to face the NYC beast every day - the weather, the subway, the attitudes- to make sure our barrel of monkeys stays afloat. He fights the good fight and is able to come home with a smile on his face and kisses for his family. I am so grateful for a true partner in this parenting gig.

And as a final thought, I have the best mother in the whole world. 

So there you have it. Instead of crying about motherhood today, I thought I'd celebrate it. Celebrate just how good being a mom - the mother I AM - is.

Happy Mother's Day!