What's a Material Mom to do? Here's a few options for Madonna and kids when she's not at the FleetCenter
by Beth Teitell

Tuesday, August 7, 2001

Dear Madonna:

I'm soooo sorry not to get back to you sooner about lining up a babysitter for Rocco and Lourdes, but work's been crazy.

Good news! I found someone. She's the niece of the woman who cleans my neighbor's house, and is here for a month from Hungary. Her English isn't great, but she'll work nights, which means we can go out on the town (once you are off the clock).

She charges $12 an hour for two kids. Let me know if I should book her.

Are you even coming? I heard you had laryngitis. Madonna, seriously, if you're not feeling well, take a sick day or, if you've already used them up for the year, take a personal day. You get those, don't you?

If you do come, you should know that it's supposed to get really hot here, so I was thinking we should either: a) go to the Natick Mall, which is huge, and you can walk forever with a stroller - you're still into exercise, right? or b) we could take the kids for a swim at the MDC pool in Somerville. They don't let you bring inflatables into the kiddie pool, but it's free, so . . .

Hey, what time are you due at the FleetCenter? Because if you want, you can come to my mother's group tomorrow. Most of the moms work, so I think you'd get a lot out of it.

Last week, we talked about what it's like when your boss doesn't understand if you're late because your kid has a doctor's appointment or a school play or something, and how hard it is to travel when you have young kids.

If you take the children with you, there's the whole schlepping through the airport thing, carrying a diaper bag and a million toys (and hoping the plane isn't full so that your 11-month-old, who you haven't bought a ticket for, can get a seat anyway).

And if you leave them at home, there's the guilt, the missing them and wondering if they're being well cared for. This Super Mom thing is hard.

By the way, I couldn't quite make out your message on my answering machine, but it sounded like you said you needed to shop. Talbots is having a huge sale, so we could go to the Back Bay store and pick up some suits or pumps or whatever you need, and then maybe take a Duck Tour, or head over to the North End and walk the Freedom Trail. I'm assuming you're still a huge Paul Revere buff.

I can't remember if last time you were here we went to the Cheers bar, but it's really cool. Technically, it's not where the show was filmed, but I think the exterior shots are legit. When you're out in Los Angeles at the end of your tour, you probably could go to that Hollywood museum and see the set, if you wanted to.

Oh, I almost forgot to ask you: What do the kids like to eat? There's a Rainforest Cafe at the Burlington Mall. They usually make you take a number and wait in a really long line, but maybe if they see you, we could jump to the front.

Madonna, I hate to ask you this, because I know our friendship is based on more than enjoying each other's stardom and connections, but, uh, there's no way you could get me a ticket to tonight's show, is there?