Tag Archives: Labor Day

Labor-Intensive Day

When you are a working mother with children under 5, it should be common knowledge that there is no such thing as a day off — unless your kids are in daycare during your day off. I was on my own with the boys, and the previous week, was considering a trip with them to visit their dad’s office in Santa Ana using public transportation so they could ride the train. I nixed this plan for several reasons — too ambitious to do on my own, too hot, and finally, Metrolink suspended its service on Labor Day. Plan B was to take them to the splash pad where we had Chris’ first birthday party. We got there early and…..there was no water. At a splash pad. We stuck it out for an hour — and Chris had a great time running around the park, forcing me to chase after him. Plan C was to take them to a shopping center we frequented before moving — but then they were both scared of the splash pad. After a short time at a dry playground in the same shopping center, I gave up, we picked up lunch (at Zankou, because that was Mama’s treat) and went home. After we all ate and the boys were watching TV shows on my phone, I saw Mikey starting to nod off in his seat. So I hustle them upstairs for nap time. My Labor Day rest consisted of about an hour of uninterrupted screening time for “Taken 2.”

Childhood memories of brownies

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My family and I spent our Labor Day holiday in Dana Point at my sister’s house. My sisters provided most of the food, although I brought the desserts — homemade chocolate chip cookies and cream cheese brownies. The latter turned out to be a fond memory for my sister. Even though she’s now 28, she still remembers when I would make cream cheese brownies (out of a box) for her and my younger brother.

“I remember how you used to swirl the cream cheese with a knife. You were like an artist.”

It makes me smile that something as small as box-mix brownies can make an impact, even 15 years later, when we’re all busy adults.