working mom 24/7

   Everyone told me that my son Charlie wouldn't be at his Bar-Mitzvah in diapers but I didn't believe them. Now here he is, at four and three quarters, years away from learning his Haftorah and we are officially done with diapers and cleaning soiled underwear! Charlie is our youngest and last child so whenever he hits a milestone we know we've moved on to a new phase of parenthood.    It was a long road. When he was three and a half his pre-school teacher trained him to pee pee on the potty. In her brilliance she tapped in to what he loved most: Spiderman. She would say, "Do three Spiderman pushes," and this would coax out his urine. Before long she had him standing up and really going like a little man. I had promised him that when he did go, Spiderman would call him on the phone, and call he did, in the form of my brother, father of two boys and superhero expert, Uncle Randy. Teacher Cat had succeeded where my husband and I had failed. Did we feel slighted? D

  Ah Valentines Day. The fun holiday during my childhood when it meant homemade Valentines and cookie decorating. The dreaded holiday during college because I never seemed to be attached on February 14th and was either down in the dumps over a break-up or annoyed that all of my friends were with their significant others on that day. I do recall one fun "Anti-Valentines Day Party" where no couples were allowed.   After graduation I ignored the holiday which was easy since I spent my first year as a college graduate in Israel. When I returned as an "official" adult the blackness of that holiday had dissipated and I went on with my life, that is, until I met Richard.   Our first Valentines Day together was in 1998. He came up from LA to visit me for a romantic weekend. I surprised him with a night at a fancy hotel. He gave me a beautiful box shaped like a butterfly. We said "I love you" for the first time. I remember having a meal out and an annoying balloo