Archive for the 'Me and My Monster - Roxanne Hack' Category
November 6th, 2009, 9:06 am by Roxanne Hack, staff writer
 Thanks to this week’s Google Logo, you probably already know that this year marks Sesame Street’s 40th on television. Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 10, its actual anniversary date, new episodes will air on PBS in place of the re-runs we’ve had to endure all summer.
There is some discussion over whether or not Sesame Street is still relevent, which surprises me to be quite honest. There aren’t a lot of good things on TV these days — even a self-proclaimed addict like me can admit that — so I tend to really latch on to the few things I do feel comfortable letting my son watch. A show full of furry monsters who teach you numbers and ABC’s is definitely on the good list.
 Is it outdated? Possibly. Is there anything wrong with that? Not in my book.
It’s a virtual place I can take my child where the economy hasn’t effected the neighborhood. It’s dependable and trustworthy. It’s safe. It’s Sesame Street, for crying out loud!
My son favors Elmo, whose voice can get a little annoying after awhile. But I’m pretty sure I owe thanks to the little red guy for my 14-month-old son being able to sing along to the Alphabet Song with, “Aaaaa-Eeeeee.” However, sometimes in the middle of the night, I’m haunted by Elmo’s Song. I prefer it when he’s riding his tricycle.
When I was a kid, I was a big fan of Grover, especially when he wore his red cape. I can still remember reading “The Monster at the End of This Book” over and over. My favorite segment was the Teeny Little Superguy — who lived in a cup and taught me things like sharing, and the safe way to cross the street.
Nowadays, the animated learning segments continue, and celebrity guests still visit and sing with the gang.
So what’s not to love? Who is your kid’s favorite monster? Who was yours?
Happy 40th, Sesame Street!
More from me and my monster:
Posted in: Me and My Monster - Roxanne Hack • PBS • Sesame Street • television | 10 Comments »
November 5th, 2009, 6:02 am by Roxanne Hack, staff writer
After watching Kate Gosselin on her interview with Natalie Morales of NBC News sob while saying, “I still think the phone will ring and it will be the old Jon,” I realized I was part of the problem.
I was watching the interview.
I was watching a woman talk about a fresh divorce. I was watching a woman with a broken heart answer questions no one outside a close circle of friends and family should ask. I was watching a real person, with real problems, as if I knew anything about her.
I crossed a line once more when I read about this Lindsay Lohan tape of her sobbing to her own father — who is, by the way, the person who sold the tape.
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Posted in: Me and My Monster - Roxanne Hack • celebrity gossip | 7 Comments »
November 4th, 2009, 6:21 am by Roxanne Hack, staff writer
It’s possible he’s teething again. The kid has like 10 teeth already, but there’s a side of his mouth that isn’t yet filled with tiny white razorblades, so maybe he’s growing more.
It’s more possible he’s learned from his mama that biting is fun.
My favorite tickle spot on the little monster is his knee, and the best way to really get him going is by playfully chomping on it. His left knee is more ticklish than his right. His laugh turns my heart to gold.
So let’s say it’s all my fault. Let’s say he is biting the crap out of me — my leg, my shoulder, my tummy — because he thinks he’s playfully chomping on me the same way I do to him. If I weighed the amount of happiness his precious giggle has brought into my life against the pain his bruises have brought my skin, the former wins.
Though I’m not sure his dad feels the same way. Or his Grammy. Or his great-aunt Linda. Or Rosie the family pup. Or …
Well, you get the picture. The kid bites. Hard.
And when you yelp, or pull away, or tell him, “no bite!” — he laughs. (Again with that giggle!) He thinks it’s funny. And why wouldn’t he?
What bad habits have you accidentally taught your child?
More from me and my monster:
Posted in: Me and My Monster - Roxanne Hack • bad habits • biting | 4 Comments »
November 2nd, 2009, 8:05 am by Roxanne Hack, staff writer
You know the saying: it takes a village to raise a child.
My parents live five hours away, so my monster’s village is comprised mostly of his dad’s family — Grammy, Grampapa and Aunt Jenny. I work full-time out of the office, but often my baby daddy can work from his parents’ house, so Grammy can help. We’ve been very lucky, and very grateful.
But lately, our routine has turned into … what’s the opposite of routine? Oh, yeah. Chaos.
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Posted in: Me and My Monster - Roxanne Hack • daycare • nannies • working moms | 9 Comments »
October 28th, 2009, 11:24 am by Roxanne Hack, staff writer
One of the very best parts of living in an apartment complex is getting to utilize the laundry facilities.
I just adore it. Mystery vent fluff, overpriced driers that take two rounds to actually dry, the musty smell of the damp, corroding walls and tile. Most of all, it’s the thrill of the adventure — the risk that at any moment, some strange guy could saunter into the room and steal all of my unmentionables and sell my denim for drinking money.
 OK, I don’t really adore it. In fact, I despise it.
But I can’t afford to buy new clothes every week, so I have to clean the ones I’ve got.
So last night, to make the chore fun, I got the bright idea to drag my tall laundry basket from my apartment to the laundry room, which is about 100 feet away, with my monster perched atop the pile of clothes.
Oh, it was cute. He giggled and looked up at me like I was the coolest mom ever. A neighbor laughed and waved.
We were almost there, and all of a sudden my world was moving in slow motion. A strong gust of wind. Uneven pavement.
The laundry … basket … toppled … over …
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Posted in: Me and My Monster - Roxanne Hack • laundry • parenting mistakes | 7 Comments »
October 25th, 2009, 4:39 pm by Roxanne Hack, staff writer
Yesterday I attended my sister’s baby shower, and the guest of honor wasn’t there.
Jen — who’s actually my ex’s sister, but will always be the sister I never had — is pregnant with twins, and was hospitalized two weeks ago. She is now 26 weeks pregnant, and doctors want to monitor her every move, literally, most likely until the babies come, which will hopefully be at least a few more weeks.
 So they planned the shower before she was put into the hospital, and once she was, they wondered what to do. Have the shower at the hospital, with only a few people to allowed to come? Would the doctors spring her for the afternoon? No, and no.
Instead, we Skyped.
Yup. Through most of the shower, Jen was watching from UCI Medical Center via Skype.
We took turns saying hello to her, and many of the guests opened their gifts in front of the computer, showing her what they brought.
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Posted in: Me and My Monster - Roxanne Hack • baby shower • sister • twins | 8 Comments »
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