by

McKenzie

When my husband and I were expecting our first child, I didn't go crazy reading mommy or parenting books.  I read the old standby What to Expect When You Are Expecting and watched a few videos.  I read the parenting magazines in my OBGYN's waiting room, and picked up a copy of Jenny McCarthy's book Belly Laughs when I happened to see it on a discounted table at Borders.  However, I do remember reading a book of stories of Mothers with grown children, recounting their parenting experiences.  Some were happy memories, some were helpful tips and some were regrets. There was one in particular that has lingered in the back of my mind through the years.  It was the words of a mother who had been absolutely fanatical about cleaning as her children were growing up.  Years later, the children were grown and gone and she sadly thought back to all the hours they'd been left in a playpen, while she focused on trivial things like refolding the laundry in all of the dressers.  In reflection, she wished she had that time back.

I remind myself of that story when I am trying to put dinner together in a rush and my daughter insists on "helping", or when she wants me to color in her My Little Pony coloring book with her and I am trying to return e-mails. Childhood is so fleeting and I want hers to be full of bright memories.  So my husband and I do things like pitch her princess tent in the back yard and make a small bonfire in 90 degree weather because she is dying to have a "camp out" and roast "smarshmallows".  We have just accepted that in a household with a baby, a toddler and two working parents, sometimes the laundry will have to wait an extra day.

FancyPantsParties.com emerged because we understand that today's parents are busier than ever, and the demands on them are great.  We also understand that even those of us who look back on our childhoods fondly, want even happier times for our children.  We started the company to help the busy parent create that truly special day for their child without killing themselves in the process.  My hope is that with this blog, I can introduce ways to bring something extra to the "every days" of parenting.

My mother plays the guitar and as a child when I couldn't sleep, she would sit on my bed and play songs for me ever so softly until I drifted off. Sadly, I do not play, and doubt that I will be picking it up any time soon. There are however, so many ways to create memorable moments for my family. Every week I will share some of these simple things, games or crafts, even fun recipes.  The goal is not to send you off to the craft store with a shopping list, but suggest ideas that can easily be incorporated into any ol' day. I hope that you will also feel free to share a memory you have or a fun tradition your family practices. It couldn't hurt to remind ourselves in the bustle of our every day lives, that years from now, tidy dresser drawers are not what we hope to think back on.