This week, I’m thinking about parenting. This weekend, Mamiche turns five. FIVE! In years past to celebrate her birthday I’ve written about my (traumatic) birth story, lessons I’d learned, some toddler challenges, and last year, I shared my “expert” parenting advice.

This year, I decided to celebrate some wins.

I’ve been amazed by her a billion times over the last five years: her first smile, her first words, when she learned to walk, the first time she sang her ABC’s, the first time she “wrote” her own song, all the daily small wins, watching her write her name, watching her reading words. I could go on and on and on. But these are things that I think most parents would consider exciting wins. I decided to ask my sister, Christie, to illustrate a list of some highly specific-to-me parenting badges.

I may have scared Zu more than not during Copa America and the World Cup due to my overexubernt cheering, shouting, chanting, and singing. And yet, it must not all have been bad because at some point during the World Cup, she sang one of the songs unprompted. Did I scream and shout and scare her all over again? Yes. But it didn’t stop her from doing it again, so I think all is well.

The best bagels in NYC are from Absolute Bagels on the Upper West Side. I will not take any questions or comments. You are wrong if you think otherwise. So when Zu once called out the inferiority of a bagel we had in Brooklyn, I knew, in my bones, that I was raising her right. (Shout out to my aunt Elena who picks up our orders bright and early)

I found potty training incredibly tedious. I remember distinctly when my friend Erin H. said, “one day she will go to the bathroom all by herself. It is amazing!” and sure enough, it WAS amazing. But overnight potty training is a whole other beast and being woken up to escort Zu to the bathroom is decidedly un-fun. The first time she went on her own and then put herself back to bed?! A stunning development for us all.

As a reader, is there anything more exciting than when your favorite author releases a new book? What about when they release a sequel to a beloved series? Zu gasping with excitement and delight when she saw a new Dory Fantasmagory and routinely asking about book seven? PURE JOY.

This badge was very much a team effort: my sweet, tender headed child not crying or whining while I detangle and braid her hair. Me, being beyond patient and detangling with my hands, strand by strand. I’ve earned this badge a few, very special times. The ultimate success story.

Perhaps some of you have forgotten that I am a nerd who contains multitudes. Do I have some archival HP Lego sets that I will maybe one day share with my child? Sure. But in the meantime, I have never been prouder than when she put together her own little Lego kit. Following the instructions page by page, occasionally asking for help or clarification, but in the end, proud of herself for having done it on her own.

This is a dual badge - the first time she understood that I was making a sarcastic comment (I don’t think you really love that, Mama) and the first time she made her own sarcastic comment. The pride was unmatched!

Did I die a little bit (in a good way) when she walked into the kitchen and out of nowhere just started singing and voguing? Yes, yes I did. Her musical eduction is well underway.

This is a badge I’m very excited to acquire. An aspirational badge, if you will: the one where she finally eats and enjoys something spicy.

This week in reading. . .
Am taking my time with Adam Moss’ The Work of Art. I saw him in conversation last week and wrote down some of the most unhinged, out of context notes but honestly they make sense to me! Also reading all the press around it. Josef and I talk A LOT about how meaningful, how impactful, it was to work with Adam at NYMAG, and reading this book reminds me of some of the great parts about working with him.

Felicity “Fizzy” Chen was one of the funniest romance leads I’ve read in a very long time and True Love Experiment was absolutely delightful. Now I am reading The Morningside and it is so good and I would like a full day to just sit and read it, please.

​This week in listening. . .
It’s been years since I’ve listened to The Daily daily, but this soundboard is truly hilarious.

​This week in TV. . .
I’ve been held hostage by my rewatch of Felicity and am mad that the Overdue Review x LITL issue never made it to your inbox, but now I am more determined than ever to make it happen, if only so I can talk about my deep love of Scott Speedman, my hatred of the character Julie, and how to navigate my changing feelings about the character Noel.

I thought my obsession with Bluey had hit a fever pitch while working on this photo shoot, but then came Ghostbasket, The Sign, and Surprise and I can’t believe that I am admitting this here, but it’s a safe space, right? I have been on Bluey reddit boards. Reddit boards! I have completely lost all sense of how to be normal about this show. I feel like I can safely blame friend and coworker Reyhan.

​​This week in a gif. . .

​This week in movies. . .
The Greatest Hits had a lot of things going for it - cute leads, interesting premise, and ~feelings~

​This week in a newsletter. . .
So appropriate for today, but this newsletter on the experience of traveling without your kid(s).

Laura Lippman on shaving.

This week in google searches. . .

This week in one good thing. . .
Is it spring? It feels like possibly maybe potentially springgggggg. Also, can I just give it up for not doing anything? I had a morning free and rather than doing all the things, I just rested. Highly recommend resting if you can.

​This week in a quote. . .
“For all the magazine covers and memoirs lately devoted to its alternatives, the dominant lifestyle in America remains monogamy, and the dominant means of maintaining that order remains compulsion.” - Brandy Jensen

​This week in artsy stuff and photo things. . .
This incredible crocheted installation makes me want to book a trip to Lisbon right away.

Looooooved this from T Mag on what creatives are planning on starting up next. (Not that anyone asked me, but: a zine (maybe two), a project to make someone cry happy/mad tears, Issue 400 for LITL)

Checking out this “New Rules of Photography” guide.

​This week on the internet. . .
Very cool look into how vinyl gets made.

LISTEN. Often I link to something and give fair warning that the content is challenging or sad and then you lot ignore me and reply about how devastated you are! THIS IS ABOUT DYING PETS. Do not blame me if you cry, dammit!

I am not going to judge these people cause they are saving animals, but. . .this is a lot.

Should I be offended no one said LITL?

A look into baby-led weaning which we did and enjoyed, but I get that it is not for everyone.

An interview with Hanif Abdurraqib.

This profile of Nicola Coughlan - I am not a fan of their particular Bridgerton story, but man, she is really selling it.

I agree with these commandments as well as the ranking of NYC walkers.

me, this week,
Leonor

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