Illyse Lane

Monitoring Mom

Back in the day, I loved a little retail therapy. If I was holding a grudge from a spat with Really Big Guy or feeling frumpy with my mom wardrobe, there was nothing like a bit of spontaneous shopping to boost my spirits. It wasnât anything excessive. Nothing that would tap into the kidsâ college fund. Or have a detrimental impact on my ability to buy weekly groceries. Just something…

Posted 1 yr. ago.

Paying My Fair Share

Last week, as we were driving home, the boys noticed a large home being built. Little Guy said, âI bet if we put our money together we could buy that house.â Big Guy responded, âI could put my money in. So could Dad. But Mom has no money.â Huh? He continued, âWell, Dadâs the only one who really earns any money. And we get money for contributions and birthdays. …

Posted 1 yr. ago.

Verbal Warfare

My boys have been fighters their entire, short lives. It's a given in our home on any day. At any moment. So it doesn't surprise me to walk into room, filled with grunting and tears to find a tangled web of limbs. Itâs always been a combination of little touches, taunts and pushes that escalate until the physical explosion. Then, fists fly. But once the boys are separated, they cool off. …

Posted 1 yr. ago.

Hats Off to Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin, my hat goes off to you. I admit, before last week, I didnât know who you were. I sit here in suburbia, consumed with my own little life. You know, the husband, the kids, the doctorâs appointments, the activities. And yes, I am a hockey mom, too!

Posted 1 yr. ago.

Little White Lies

Weâve entered a new realm in my house. We are now in the âHonest Eraâ. Funny thing, I never realized we were living in the âDishonest Eraâ. Thankfully, Big Guy brought it to our attention. All those years, I thought I was being completely honest with my kids, I wasnât. Those times I thought I was instilling confidence, I was telling stories. Using a commonly known…

Posted 1 yr. ago.

Jack of No Trades, Master of One

I am a mom. Therefore, I multitask. And I am good at it. Or at least I was. In the beginning, it came naturally. I quickly figured out how to fix a warm bottle while holding a crying infant. Simple things like grabbing a diaper while making sure Big Guy didnât roll off his changing tale. When Little Guy came along, my abilities quickly grew. I could open a car door while holding a baby …

Posted 1 yr. ago.

Selective Amnesia

Sometimes, when I am without my children, I forget how old I am. And that is OK, for at that moment in time, my age is insignificant.Â It doesnât matter how old I actually am when I stroll the frozen food section.Â Buy a book of stamps.Â Pick up my Retin-A prescription (like all smart women who forget their age). Â If you caught me at this moment in time, I may hesitate when you a…

Posted 1 yr. ago.

The Rules of Summer Play

When summer rolls in, the rules of play change. School year playdates are easy, mandated by a designated start time and end time. Summer playdates are different. They go on. And on. Especially if itâs with kids in your neighborhood. As is the case with Big Guy and his best friend, who happens to be my best friendâs son. When no official mother transportation is required, these soir…

Posted 1 yr. ago.

The Sibling Factor

When Little Guy was born, I stared at his pasty white skin and orange hair. If I hadnât just delivered him, I would have figured theyâd made a mistake. It was the middle of a quiet, cold January night and all I could think of was how we would be able to take him to the beach in the summer. I made a mental note to buy stock in Coppertone. For months, he was the mellow, content baby. The…

Posted 1 yr. ago.

Our Choice Cup Runneth Over

A few weekends ago, Big Guy played his last soccer game with his team.Â It was a bittersweet moment.Â Many of these boys have been together since they were four.Â Most will be sticking together, progressing to the next level next season.Â But not Big Guy.

Posted 1 yr. ago.

about this blog

Illyse Lane

Illyse is a TriangleMom2Mom featured blogger, appearing every Thursday.

She is a stay-at-home mom who also works as a freelance writer. She resides in Raleigh with her husband and two sons, ages 8 and 10.Originally from New York, Illyse fled the cold to attend Florida State University. After a brief return to life in the city, she relocated to Raleigh to work for GE Capital and has never looked back. Illyse is sure that as long as all the boys in her home continue to speak, she will have plenty of material to write about.