Things I Can't Say

Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom

Blog Friend Feature: Glamamom

I adore this week’s Blog Friend Feature.  She’s proving that you can still live a completely fabulous life even after motherhood.  And yet, as glamorous as her life seems, she’s still a totally down-to-earth friend.

Meet Jill from Glamamom.

Hello Ladies! (and possibly Gentlemen?) I’m thrilled to be Shell’s BFF today. Things I Can’t Say is one of the first blogs I started reading when I immersed myself in the blogging community last June after becoming a mama and deciding to chronicle my own journey at Glamamom.

A million thanks, Shell, for introducing me to your readers and all the support. It’s been an honor getting to know you through your thoughtful words and I look forward to the day when we can laugh together in person (and discuss X)!

For those unfamiliar with Glamamom, my huz, son, pup, and I reside in New York City. The Big Apple, the Concrete Jungle, the City That Never Sleeps, the Empire City, Gotham, the Financial Capital of the World, the City So Nice, They Named It Twice.

I won’t lie, some days it’s so mind-blowingly exciting, I have to pinch myself. Celeb neighbors? Check! An 850-acre back yard? Check! Broadway? Check! Fashion Week? Check! Nightlife? Shopping? Chinese food at 4 a.m.? Check! Check! Check!

And that’s what my blog is about, the fun stuff, the inspiration, an attempt to stop time and take it all in.

But don’t let it fool you. Life in Manhattan is challenging on a good day and can be far from glamorous:

Ever hear of sidewalk rage? It’s the pedestrian’s equivalent of road rage. Since NY’ers walk everywhere, when someone in the crowd isn’t going with the flow or proceeding fast enough, heart attack-inducing rage courses through your veins. I’m certainly guilt of having murderous thoughts, so just imagine what it’s like trying to navigate the bustling streets with a stroller, gear, and cranky toddler daily! Pray for me.

Our living quarters leave much to be desired too. How about 1,500 square feet (rather large by NYC standards) in which to make a home for children, a dog, and all your shoes?! That leaves no space to hide.

Oh, and that doggie? Well, he needs to be walked 4 times a day, on a leash, and we have to pick up his poop. As if I don’t have enough poop to deal with throughout the day.

Then there’s the cost of well, everything. Paying 3 times as much for groceries makes you reevaluate if you really need those Entenmann’s cookies. And don’t even get me started on the cost of preschool and the insane application process!

But my worst fear, and what I anticipate will be the most challenging aspect of raising children in a city so full of excess, is that a childhood in Manhattan will rob them of their motivation and drive to succeed. That they’ll feel entitled and have unrealistic expectations. I shudder to imagine my children like one of the kids of Gossip Girl, growing up too fast, and being exposed to too much too soon.

So, yeah. It’s not all that glamorous when you get down to it. Can parenthood ever be? I know these nuances aren’t limited to big city life. We’re all dealing with limitations and challenges.

But if you don’t mind, I think I’ll just go ahead and keep on focusing on the fabulous.

Please leave Jill some comment love here and then go follow Glamamom if you don’t already!

Comments

  1. I think I love this woman already.

    Entenmann's cookies are always a must. Especially, I would imagine, when you have nowhere to hide in your home.

    Sidewalk rage? I feel it on a daily basis. I just want to scream at people. I feel that we are kindred souls in this respect.

    Great choice, Shell! 🙂

  2. Brilliant post! I'm headed to her blog right now.

    I love the Sidewalk rage. hahaha I love New York, but I hate walking through the nasty crowds. She is so right.

    I can't imagine having to apply for pre-school. In the forest, there are never enough kids to fill all the preschools! Craziness.

  3. SO funny. And no matter how small or big your home, your children will always find you. I have yet to find a good hiding spot.

  4. Interesting insight.

    When I visited NY a few years ago I did wonder how people managed to live there and do day to day stuff.

    Can't wait to read more!!

    (Thanks for introducing her, Shell.)

  7. Love this! The fact that you think about the entitlement issue most likely means that you won't let it happen. I have the same fear in LA, especially having a rocker husband…my kids think they are FRIENDS with some famous musicians…but I know that we will keep them
    In check. My hubs is constantly threatening to make them work at Starbucks! Nice to meet you!

  12. I'm still stuck on chinese food at 4am….I could actually get fresh chinese ON MY WAY TO WORK! Now THAT would totally kick AS…uh…shoot…I'm modifying or attempting to modify my vocabularly…I don't have a new word substitute for that one…it would be really wicked cool. (darn, that just didn't feel as good…sigh….)

  13. I've always wondered what it would be like to live in Manhattan! I've only visited. And your 1500 square feet is slightly bigger than my house. lol So it certainly sounds glamorous to me! 🙂 Can't wait to read your blog!

  14. Visiting New York city in 2009, I left thinking, "There is no way I could raise a family in a city like this." My husband left, asking me, "Wouldn't it be great to move here and raise our family?" Ugh.

  15. You summed up life in NYC so perfectly! 🙂

    How funny, being from the south myself, I never thought I'd be living here, let alone raising a family. But c'est la vie and as you so eloquently stated, on a good day… it's awesome! So many things I wouldn't trade about the city!

    So glad we've met – its great folks like you that make NYC living so much fun for me!

  16. Great post. LOL at your sidewalk rage. I have some of that myself. And I think the kids will turn out fine. If anything I think raising kids in the city teaches them that they have to either sink or swim. Coming from a small close knit city, I can tell that moving to the city was certainly an eye opener for me.

  18. What a fabulous post by Jill. I just adore her blog and her many adventures in the big city. We all need to live vicariously through someone, right?

    Great choice for BFF Friday, Shell! 🙂

  19. Yes, please keep focusing on the fabulous. You totally brought me back to my days of sidewalk rage. My heart just started beating faster…GET OUT OF MY WAY! 😉

  20. Funny! I get sidewalk rage too and I live in Bismarck, ND. I also get annoyed with Mall Walkers at the mall, what is up with that?

  21. Glamamom rocks, i am already a follower.

    Great post. I know the feel of living in a big city – I lived in London until January, everything have its bright and dark side.

    Just like Manhattan, life in a big city can robe the childhood of children. I like Gossip Girl, but having a kid who grows too fast like the characters in the show can scare any parent even those who live in a village, LOL :). But as you wrote just focus on the fabulous.

  22. I think it would be SO cool to trade living spaces/cities with someone who lives in NYC, for a couple of weeks or even a month, just to see what it is REALLY like. And I'm totally serious. Not sure I'd want to live there longer term… Excited to come check out your blog Glamamom! 😀

  23. Thanks, Shell, for featuring one of my very favorite bloggers here today. Jill is every bit as fabulous as you would imagine (I had the pleasure of meeting her at an event in NYC a few weeks ago). I love to hear her thoughts on raising a family in NYC 🙂

  25. I am just going to live through you, seriously! I always wondered if I could handle City life, but I am not too sure I can….love your blog and you 🙂

  26. Jill is awesome and one of the first blog friends I met in "real life".

    Um darling, I don't know why you don't consider yourself a writer! This is an excellent post about life in our fair city.

  27. Hi Shell and Jill

    I really want to visit NYC

    I can't wait to have a little sidewalk rage!!

    that is all

  28. Great interview! We're like polar opposites. I have no fashion sense and live in the middle of nowhere 😉 I did get up to NYC last fall to run the marathon though, had a fantastic time! 🙂

  30. Hey, i get sidewalk rage just when I visit NYC so navigating the streets on a daily basis must really test the nerves.

  33. I feel like I'm late to the game… all the ladies above me know who today's FB is and she's new to me… I MUST go fix that pronto!

  34. I don't even feel comfortable walking around downtown Pittsburgh. I'm way too much of a country mouse for the big city! I'm glad there's such a safe way to live vicariously – you can't get mugged reading a blog.

  36. great post, and you just really uppped your glamour rating now that i know you have a ginormous apartment! happy weekend and happy bff!

  38. What a fabulous post about your fabulous life! There definitely are challenges, but of course, so many benefits 🙂 And I think you are an amazing writer, so I can't believe you would even be slightly self-conscious!! Happy to have met in real life and call you a friend!
    xx
    Sarah

  40. Everything sounds fabulous when you say/write it Jill, even the poop stuff!
    Terrific post, so nice to read a few more details about your fabulously glamourous life. Love that you are taking the time to notice and appreciate it all, and we as your readers have the pleasure of coming along with you!…sort of…unless you really want to take us, in which case, I can send you my email 🙂

  41. ALready loved Jill but this only made me love her more!I always wanted to live in Manhattan but then again the suburbs, where I live, are fabulous with my girls. I like to be close tot he city but I need a big yard for the dog, parking for my SUV, and to be able to hear the crickets every once in awhile. But I love reading about all the excitement in the city!

  45. I almost had side walk rage today with a man who was leisurely walking along like he freakin' owned the sidewalk…. slower than a snail. Grrr…. dude, speed up the process!!!

    Anyhow… I'm totally with you on the kid growing up feeling entitled thing. I fear that my Aiden would grow up as such as well. We're currently going through the pre-K process… it's long, tiring, and more stressful than a friggin' college application. And I was intense and hardcore with my college apps! It makes the preschool application process seem like a breeze. Oh, NYC… gotta love it, right?

  46. I have always dreamed of what it would be like to live in the city like that. Def going to check out her blog.

  49. Ever hear of sidewalk rage? It’s the pedestrian’s equivalent of road rage.