Sooooo, I said that, from time to time, I’d share insights into the “magic” (aka “madness”) of MA! Tiffany and I met at our favorite greasy burger joint in Castle Rock yesterday and, let me tell you, that woman is HILARIOUS when she’s had her sleep — which she hasn’t had in about — ohhhhh, how old is Emmy? Nine months? Yeah, I think yesterday Tiffany was working off of her first full night of sleep in nine months. Suddenly, this business partner-o-mine was ON. IT! I just kept staring at her (while shoving fries in my mouth).

A good friend. Good sleep. Greasy French fries. It’s beautiful moments like those when I realize that this business is going to be GREAT.

So, anyway, we are approaching the biggest event of our little company’s life — Mother.s Day 2008. Last year, we were barely a month old when Mother’s Day hit and we did fairly well. This year…

Ohhhhhh this year, have we got fun stuff in store! We are working on some awesome new products using photos sent to us by our faithful subscribers (and get this: they aint all family and friends! We love it when strangers love our stuff — they don’t HAVE to!)

Our biggest challenge now is the fact that we have so many great ideas (and Tiffany’s husband John is an Idea Factory!) but we also have to be moms and freelancers. We need a TEAM of people, but we’re not independently wealthy. So, we do get frustrated by the sheer number of things we COULD be doing, but we have to stay focused on the here-and-now.

For example, Tiffany was regaling me with a shower of ideas for our website yesterday and I said, “You need to be in an art bubble until these new products are done.” She got this euphoric, vacant look in her eyes and said, “Art bubble! Art bubble!”

Seriously, we are truly having fun and we keep putting one foot in front of the other — so things are going in the right direction. Watch out on Mother’s Day!!!

(Hey, if there are any bookkeepers out there who would like some FREE MA! PRODUCTS in exchange for setting us up on QuickBooks, we want to hear from you!)

One of the most memorable mommy moments I’ve experienced occurred when my daughter, Allie, was three years old. We were having dinner with my in-laws at their home when Allie marched in, plopped her butt on the floor next to the dining table, hoisted her feet into the air spread-eagle, and announced, “Mommy! My Vagina Hurts!” By the way, she was also panty-free.

And by the way, she was at the foot of my father-in-law’s chair.

My father-in-law, though a man of great wit and humility, took one look down, looked right back up, turned a unique shade of reddish-purple, and began eating again. My mother-in-law, a woman who herself tries to turn her husband that shade quite often with her own surprising announcements, thought this was completely hilarious, and burst out laughing.

Thus, I face the repercussions of my decision to teach my girls the true names of their anatomy. From the time when they were infants, we’ve just called an elbow and elbow, so to speak. I DO want my girls to have the sense that it’s ok to talk about their bodies, especially with Mommy and Daddy.

Buuuuuut, maybe it was time for a chat about appropriate words in public.

I’m no prude, but I do think the word “vagina” is a bit too shocking for table-talk. And, truthfully, I don’t WANT the word “vagina” to become commonplace! I guess “privates” is the right “public” word?

So, Allie is nearly five and the other day we were at Gymboree for an event when Allie screams out, “Mommy! My vagina hurts!” (Give this kid ONE bath and her “parts” don’t feel right.) Another mom looked over at me and laughed, then said, “Well, she knows the right word!”

I’d love to hear from you on this topic! Any funny stories? Any “philosophy” on how to handle this matter?!

Dave recently dropped the girls at school and was commenting on a piece of Allie’s art in her preschool class. He was struggling to find the right words to make her feel great about this piece of art but he had no idea what it was…

DAVE: Allie! I love it!… What is it?

ALLIE: It’s a horse!

DAVE: Of course! A horse! And what are these right here?

ALLIE: Daaaaaaaad. Those are his feathers!