Marianne to Appear on WGN Radio 720

I'm on the hook for some major do-gooding.  Like donating blood, saving orphans and curing lupus kinds of things.

What have I done now, you ask?

Nothing.  Well, just the regular stuff, really.  I got the back of my  neck waxed for my upcoming bridesmaid gig.  We're all sporting updo's.  I have a monkey neck.  I would have taken pictures to prove my point, but I figured some of you might be eating. 

Anyhoo, the fates and fabulous blogger Cathy Cassani Adams bestowed yet another incredible opportunity upon my undeserving butt yesterday.  It involves a radio appearance and quite possibly some alcohol.

The only microphone I should ever consider using.

But wait.  Let me introduce Cathy before I get ahead of myself (from her official bio):

Cathy Cassani Adams is a parenting expert and self-awareness teacher who supports parents in uncovering their authentic selves and inner joy so they can raise their children in a calm, loving, and supportive environment. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a PCI Certified Parent Coach®, a Certified Elementary School Teacher and a Certified Yoga Teacher.

Cathy is Adjunct Faculty in the Sociology Department at Dominican University, she received her Master’s in Social Work from Loyola University, and her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Drake University.  

Cathy is the author of The Self-Aware Parent and The Self-Aware Parent Two and she co-hosts Zen Parenting Radio with her husband Todd.  She teaches yoga at her local studio. 

Impressive, right?

All educated and licensed and adjuncted.  Warm and insightful.  A YOGA lover.

Yeah, I avoided Cathy at first, too.  She was a fellow blogger on Chicago Parent before she scooched over to Chicago Now.  But I decided to check my cynicism at the door and give some of her ideas a whirl.

The "be in the moment" stuff.  The "keep your children emotionally safe" stuff.

It was hard for a mom who occasionally threatened to send her kids to the orphanage.

But her ideas held water.  In difficult situations, the my-way-or-the-highway approach failed.  Cathy's way yielded a calmer Marianne and more reasonable children.

Go figure.

After becoming a reluctant convert to some of Cathy's thinking, I pretty much assumed she used my blog as a case study on how NOT to parent.  All of my over-scheduling and over-reacting?  Not Cathy's style.

But guess what she went and did?

As a frequent guest on Bill Moller's WGN Radio 720  show, Cathy displays inordinate knowledge and poise during each appearance. 

And then she recommended the anti-Cathy to Bill.  The one person who doesn't know the difference between downward facing dog and a push-up.  Yours truly. 

For those interested in hearing me screw up any chances of ever appearing on The View, check out WGN Radio 720 (link to listen live)  at 10:30 am-ish (CENTRAL) this Saturday.   I have a feeling I may go down as the most frenetic interviewee ever.

Not counting Charlie Sheen.

Which brings me back to the alcohol.

Sadly, I depleted my supply getting the old neck waxed (Revolutionary War anesthesia, I'm told).  There are a lot of nerves in your neck.

No matter.  Thank you, Cathy.  For this amazing opportunity. 

I will try very hard to be "in the moment." 

And I pray whoever controls the BLEEP button has very fast hands.


(If unable to listen live, I may be able to link to a podcast later.  Please note that I am often an unintelligible blur of rapid-fire ideas and words strung together with caffeine and Red Bull. Advise your doctor of any history of high blood pressure or seizure disorder before tuning in).