Sacramento, Father’s Day, 2010.
Maybe the doubling effects of the photo should have been a hint?
This can not be happening. We already HAVE two kids.
“Do you see what I see?” my OB said, turning the ultrasound screen to give me a better view.
“I see two,” I said, and then I burst into tears.
Not the happy kind.
“We don’t have room for two more children, we’re going to have to buy a f&*^%ing minivan, I was just getting my life back together, no f&*^%ing way can this be happening, we absolutely can not f&*^%ing do this and YOU — YOU” — I twisted around towards my husband, MrBigIdeas, “this is all YOUR fault, you are going to go get that f&*^%ing vasectomy RIGHT NOW!”
Cut to fifteen minutes later. I’m still weeping my eyes out while they’re drawing my blood. All the techs in the office are swarming around me, trying to convince me four kids will be fun.
Uh-huh. Sure they will be.
Except when those twins arrive, I’ll have four kids under four.
There is nothing anyone on the planet can say that will possibly make this seem okay.
“You know, if we’re going to do this, we’re going to have to get seriously organized,” MrBigIdeas says. “I mean, we’re going to have take all your OCD checklist shit for real.”
Reader, right then and there, I remembered the why I’d married him.
Seriously: this was one of the most romantic things I think he’s ever said.
Also, it spawned this blog.
Welcome to ChecklistMommy, where the world is neat, and organized …
… and most problems can be tackled with the help of a handy checklist and neatly labeled plastic containers.
When I started blogging, I was doing stuff like:
- Downloadable checklists like these.
- Product reviews.
- Parenting book and lecture reviews and recommendations like this.
- Funny little stories about my family’s attempts to “take my OCD checklist shit for real.” (Here’s a handy little cheat sheet about me and my family.)
I still do all that. But then I started to get some attention, for posts like “Tricky People” Are The New Strangers, which went fairly viral (and continues to grow) to the tune of hundreds of thousands of pins on Pinterest.
And then THIS happened.
After which, the blog busted a little more widely open, and I started sharing personal thoughts about parenting, marriage, and sometimes, umm, larger issues, like human rights and mortality and basic civil decency.
Really, at this point, most things are fair game.
Along the way, I co-founded MomciergeLA, a business that helps expectant parents get organized for their new babies.
And I continue to write essays, screenplays, and TV specs. I talk about the / my writer’s life over at SKLevy.com.
All of this makes me a great partner for brands pitched at the smart, opinionated, informed, and compassionate adults who hang around here, and on my Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest pages, where I share interesting things I’ve seen about parenting, marriage, and the general state of the universe.
I’m always looking for the next opportunity to grow this blog, and offer more service to my readers. Download my Media Kit for more thoughts about how we can work together to do that.
I think I’ve found the one blog I’ll ever really read!
Loved this story… laughed out loud! And from one of the lists…. we bought the city mini and LOVE it. Third stroller and could not be happier. Only wish I would’ve had that info sooner.
SO GLAD you love that stroller — I really can’t say enough about it! Only baby purchase I have ever made that I am okay with spending the money on … totally guilt-free!
I just had to comment:I had two daughters when I got pregnant with my twin sons! My oldest daughter was not quite 3.5 when the twins were born. So similar! They are now 5,3,2 and 2. I also cried when I found out I would have 4 in college at the same time.
Yikes! The thought of 4 in college at the same time gives me palpitations!
Hey! Other then the fact that we have a shared interest and love of Africa I also really enjoy your blog! I’ve nominated you for The Versatile Blogger Award! If you’d like to check it out you can head over to my blog and give it look! I enjoy your blog!
http://sincerelysarahandcrafted.wordpress.com/2012/03/28/versatile-blogger-award/
Aww Sarah … you just made my day! Thank you! (You take amazing photos, btw. Puts me to absolute shame considering my parents were wildlife photographers and I can barely manage my point-and-shoot.)
Had to laugh when I just now read this after stumbling your way from a friend on Pinterest. I have two sets of twins 3 years apart. When the doctor found the second set on the u/s and said “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see you’ve got two in there,” I said “You’ve got to be sh*tting me.” And then I cried. For 5 days off and on. And then a few times a month. But now, with two 4 year olds and two 1 year olds, life is beautiful, and I would not change a thing. Other than the minivan, but what can you do about that!!??
I arrived here via pinterest… Seriously contemplating making a list of reasons why I love you. In a totally normal way…
Awwwwww …. Thanks, Deborah!
Found your blog through pinterest…haven’t even looked around much…just had to laugh and comment and commiserate on this story. I have a similar one, except surprise baby #4 was surprise babies #4 and 5. I had 5 kids 6 and under when my twins were born. #1 and #2 were 14 months apart, and #3 was 17 months old when they were born. The early years are a bit of a fuzzy haze. Now they are 13, 12, 8 and 6.5. Everyone’s in school. They are the best of buddies and look out for each other. It DOES get better!
An old friend just linked me here, because our stories are similar, and oh can I relate to your moment of relevation! I have a seven year old, a five year old and 22 month old twins. We were hit with four under five and a half, less impressive than your age spread, but still a bitch. I blog about it at http://www.omnimom.net with far less humor, which means I will definitely be back here for a co-conspiratorial laugh!
Hi checklistmommy! I found your blog through Pinterest (the post about talking with strangers that I LOVED btw!) and now I am hooked because I really like your posts, lists and identify myself with you! So I thought I should introduce myself before I start commenting.
Hi! I am a very organized person, so much that I am reading about pregnancy, labor and parenting 2 years before actually start trying to have a baby! I am still finishing my PhD so once that is done, I can start the new project! And I figured that since I planned my wedding for more than 2 years, it just makes sense to do at least the same with a human being!
My husband is a really concerned with all the baby talk (if he is not going to read about it he will have to listen the summary!), and that’s why you are the first blog that I am actually following – I try to restrain myself to Pinterest pins so he does not worry too much. So keep posting for my delight!
Best
You sound like me … if I’d had Pinterest when I was planning our first baby I would have been OBSESSED!