Illyse Lane

The Memory Bank

I grew up in a small town on the outskirts of NYC, surrounded by the Long Island Sound.Â In the 80s.Â Can you hear the Bon Jovi playing in the background? We could see the skyline from our tiny beaches.Â Being on the brink of that big city, every cheesy, regretful trend hit us.Â Hard. It was big hair and big fun.Â As teenagers, many a weekend was spent trolling the quiet, dark stree…

Posted 1 yr. ago.

The Long, Hot Days of Summer

Here we sit, in the midst of summer. As I unpack the pool bag for what seems to be the hundredth time, I reflect on the past six weeks.

Posted 1 yr. ago.

What's Your Crazy?

We all have a little bit of crazy in us. It manifests in different ways. Some monitor every bite they eat. Some shop excessively. Some exercise till they drop. Some, like me, worry. What do I worry about? My kids getting hurt. Really hurt. Bloody, hospital worthy injuries. Iâm one of THOSE moms. I hold my breath when Big Guy gets knocked off his skates during a hockey game. I look …

Posted 1 yr. ago.

Four Letter Words

When I became a mom, I was filled with hope. And although over the years I have also been filled with happiness, love, anger, sadness, frustration, joy, worry and excitement, that hope sustains me. Itâs why I get up every morning thankful the argument I had with Big Guy for talking back and rolling his eyes is a memory. That the time Little Guy spent in his room for whining and crying durin…

Posted 1 yr. ago.

Really Deep Thoughts

"Today I have decided to enjoy life," a little voice said. It was 7:22 a.m. I glanced up from behind a pile of laundry and saw Big Guy standing in the hallway. All 4 feet, 4 inches and 59 pounds of him. Wrapped in a blanket with wild hair, his skinny legs poking out. I was about to speak as he put his hand up.

Posted 1 yr. ago.

Ode to Really Big Guy

Really Big Guy, let's be honest. This fatherhood thing did not come easily for you. Without question, you had the foundation. The unconditional love. But it was hard for you to get into the daddy groove. Looking back, I now realize that it wasnât completely your fault. You had two things working against you: Me and your gender. Let me explain.

Posted 1 yr. ago.

The Good, The Bad and The Smelly

Remember those first few years of mommyhood? I do. I was tired. Busy.Â But that phase had a magical rhythm.Â I had figured it out.Â Sort of.Â Many an afternoon was spent heading to the park with Big Guy and Little Guy.Â Armed with sippy cups, pacifiers, and goldfish.Â Watching their eyes light up as they discovered they could slide down a slide or walk on a small balance beam. Â…

Posted 1 yr. ago.

Fight Club

A few weeks ago, we sprung ahead.Â The yearly ritual that enables our days to stretch longer.Â Iâve always loved the additional hour of daylight.Â The late afternoon sun, still shining but starting to set.Â Itâs breezy yet warm.Â Me, alone in my quiet kitchen, windows open. Listening to the faint play of happy children in the cul-de-sac. Â

Posted 1 yr. ago.

Rites of Passage and the Rituals We Leave Behind

Bedtime. Right before the clock strikes the magic hour, both Big Guy and Little Guy get the last of it out. They belt out songs (too much American Idol). They sarcastically insult each other. Until we turn the lights down and they finally concede. Then my favorite part. It is not what you think. Itâs not when their eyes glaze over, their faces look angelic and theyâre on their way …

Posted 1 yr. ago.

Adjusting Your Mommy Expectations

Before I had children, I had a good job. Lots of responsibility. I was organized and together. Never missed a deadline, a presentation or a flight. I always had a plan and I always knew what to expect.

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.