by Michelle Sinclair Colman Borders recently announced that they are closing 200 of their stores. When I heard the news, I quickly downloaded the list of locations to be shuttered and searched for Mt. Kisco, all the while praying it would be spared. It is—for now.  On second thought, why do I care if the bookstore closes or not? Wasn’t it just a few years ago that I was lamenting the death of the mom and pop shops that were killed by big box stores like Borders?And don’t I tell everyone who will listen about Ridgefield's wonderful small, independent bookstore, Books on the Common? Once a …

Just like the old saying "it must be 5 o'clock somewhere," ever since we had our first child seven years ago, our New Year's Eve call has been "it must be midnight somewhere." And it always is! Typically in Paris.  Why wait for the ball to drop at midnight in Times Square when it most likely means everything else will drop? First you, then the kids! Years ago, we wondered, why not celebrate with any other city east of us at a more reasonable hour?  We choose France because their midnight is our 6 p.m. How civil! We do all the same countdowns, horn blowing and clinking of glasses (our …

Okay, I admit it, I was pretty sad that summer was over as is documented on Patch (no denying it). But the second I felt the first crisp breeze of fall—wahooo! Thank goodness for seasons. I love every season equally and when one ends and the other beings, I wonder how the heck I lived without it for so long. There are a number of reasons I love fall. I love the colors. I love the cool air. I love returning to the routine. I love dressing in layers. I love autumnal food, the apples, squash and pumpkins! But most of all my favorite part of fall is soup!Soup rocks. As a vegetarian, soups are one…

As we were walking down the beach last week, we passed a couple and said hi. The man turned to my son and said "school starts next week, huh?" My son looked at me with the most horrified expression. "Mom? You didn't tell me!"It's true. I hadn't reminded him because I am in complete denial. I don't want summer to be over. I don't, I don't, I don't (imagine me with my arms crossed, stamping my feet).This is the first summer since I was in high school that I didn't want fall to start. Normally I'm a huge fall fan and can't wait for the autumnal routines to start up again, the days to get cooler…

On a bike ride the other day, I saw a child manning a lemonade stand. There are rarely pedestrians on this street, few bikes and even fewer cars. How in the world was that child going to make money? Then I noticed the mother give the child a nudge and the girl walked out into the street and help up her "Lemonade 35 cents" sign. Really? I was suited up in my cycling gear, going as fast as I could with no wallet with me. I'm working out girl, not drinking lemonade! The lemonade stand got me thinking about my kids and money. My older son was born a mini-capitalist, a little, loveable Gordon …

Without fail, packing the car for a summer road trip makes me think of National Lampoon's Vacation. No matter how bad it is, at least we have no nagging stinky grandma in the backseat and the dog is not tied to the back bumper. But I definitely have my Clark Griswold moments. I run through my list. Kids, check. Dog, check. Pack and play, diapers, wipes, check. Snacks, movies, games, check. Don't let the dog get the snacks. Don't let the kids eat all the snacks in the first few miles. Get the dog off the kids. Start the movie player immediately! When we bought our car my husband begged me not …

Something miraculous happens when I put a fishing rod in my son's hands: he develops the patience of a saint. In no other activity in the past six years of his life has my boy been able to maintain such intense concentration and purpose as he steadily watches that red and white bobber. Last summer he sat on a rock in the Adirondacks for an entire morning and never once did I hear the words "I'm bored," "I'm hungry," "What's next" or "Can I play Wii?" When he fishes, he just sits, watches and waits. When he feels the tug, he yanks, reels it in and boom, he's caught a fish, and a great big …

Do you want to know the easiest way bring your next conversation to a screeching halt? Tell whomever you are talking to that your six year old is not going to camp this summer. What? Huh? Silence. You'd think I just announced I was going to pull my kid from Lewisboro Elementary and homeschool him forever.Memorial Day is here, town parades welcome the arrival of summer, the Pee Wee races are off and I am racing to plan the June 24th grand opening of Camp Colman! Okay, let's be clear here. When my son first told me that he had no interest in camp this summer, I nearly lost my lunch. "You what? …

On numerous occasions people have asked me why I don't have an iPhone (or a Blackberry, for that matter). I ask myself that on a daily basis. The honest answer is: I'm afraid I'll be a really crappy mom if I get one. I can see myself now: "Get off my leg kid, I've got to read this juicy email!" Or : "Yea, yea, I'll help you down from the monkey bars from which you dangle precariously—right after I check out this hysterical YouTube video. Hold on!" All I have is a very basic phone. The camera is broken and I don't even text on it. Gasp! I do carry it with me everywhere I go just in case my son…

All I want is to be able get a tall coffee with my short Joe (okay, my son's name is not Joe but you get the point.) I would like to sip a decent coffee while I sit and relax with my son. Is this really too much to ask? Let me be clear about my parameters. In terms of a "decent coffee," I'm talking about a Starbucks or Seattle's Best grade. And when I say "sit and relax," I'm not imagining kicking back on a chaise with my feet up while getting a massage (though that would be nice!) but rather just not having to be "on" my son every second before all the baristas and patrons begin to glare at …

When I was pregnant with my first son I was obsessed with any TV show about having babies. Then, one day, I stumbled on an animal baby show. Have you ever seen a pig give birth? Now that's the way to do it. A sow's gestation period is 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days. And then when it's time to have the babies, boom, boom, boom, they shoot out one after another! Pretty exciting (and enviable for an expectant, human mom).You may not make it to Muscoot Farm at the exact moment the piglets start popping out, but this is the best time of year to visit.My youngest son and I went to Muscoot the other …