Halloween: One of My Favorites, And Here's Why

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I love Halloween! It's a fun night. It gives children and parents a chance to do something together.

I love the smell in the air and the laughter I hear from kids running up to my porch and yelling "Trick or treat!" It's one more reason to have fun as a family.

When I was growing up, the decorations for Halloween used to be a couple of cute or spooky cardboard cutouts that you had to Scotch tape to your windows or door.

Today the decorations are so elaborate. From the inflatables on the front lawn to the flashing lights in the windows. I'm one of those people that like to celebrate everything and try to put my own special and personal touch on it. Any excuse to have fun with my child and enjoy life.

This morning started out great! My daughter jumped out of bed and was very excited. She couldn't wait to put on her make-up and costume. Today was one of those mornings for just cereal and juice, which she hardly touched. All she wanted to do is get ready and go to school. Fortunately her school allows the children to go in their Halloween costumes.

Last evening we had fun putting together little candy bags for her friends at school. They are cute little bags we picked up at Target that say "You've been booed". Last evening was another reason for me to spend time with my daughter by putting together bags of candy for her friends. We laughed and talked. These are the kind of moments you can make happen all the time.

*********************************************
Trust is the kind of payback you get from spending quality time with your children.
*********************************************

After school this afternoon she has to look forward to carving two pumpkins with her dad. A reason for them to have fun and talk together too.

A fun and easy thing you can do is get out a crockpot and put it on Low. Add apple cider to it and a few cinnamon sticks and let it simmer. When your children return they will have some nice warm cider to come home to and enjoy. This is easy and requires very little clean up. Just another way to make tonight just a little more special. While my husband and daughter carve the pumpkins, I will be making this little treat for them.
















Our Jack Russell, Scamp, is the cutest witch ever!



This evening will also be time for her and her friends to go out and be together. This is the first year she will be going out with just her friends. I know my daughter and her friends and am positive they will be well behaved and careful. Trust is the kind of payback you get from spending quality time with your children.

As parents we should all find any reason to make things as fun and enjoyable for our children as we can. It's another way we can become close as a family unit.

Halloween is just another excuse to have fun with your kids. Try to make every moment count! They'll be grown up before we know it.

Please remember if you are driving tonight to be extra careful. Children get very excited and can just dash into the street without thinking. So please think for them for just one evening.

Have a safe and happy Halloween! Enjoy your kids and most of all have fun with them!

Tired of Today's Network Programming? Pick Up A Game

When I was growing up television shows used to be geared toward more family programming.

I used to love Saturday nights and the lineup on television. I remember watching The Bob Newhart Show and Mary Tyler Moore with my parents. My mom and dad would order pizza or some other fun thing to eat. Sometimes we would even make homemade pizza or bake fresh bread. It was our time together as a family. The shows back in the 1970s were funny and entertaining and something you could watch with the whole family.

The shows today aren't geared toward families. Nothing makes you laugh and it seems like the networks aren't even interested in family programming. All I see is violence and a whole lot of blood and guts.


"Umm, TV networks? Where are all the shows like mine, today?"

Is it any wonder why we have a breakdown of the family? Nothing is geared toward families today. You would think that there would be a market for some type of family entertainment.

If you have a family, most likely you are home on Saturday evenings. Most families can't afford to take the kids to the movies. It is just too expensive. What can you do?

What we have started is family game night. We turn off the television and pick some games to play. Our daughter loves Scrabble. It's something we do together and it is educational as well. It also gives us time to talk and laugh together.

What I do is make a special snack. Last week I made fresh veggies and dip and we snacked and played games. I try to make it special by making some sort of treat. One time we made S'mores together. It's fun and brings you closer with your kids.


Scrabble: Fun, easy family time that's also educational

What you can also do is have your kids pick a special treat they like, and all make it together. If you make things special and fun children usually love to get involved. I really do believe that children love family time and need it on a regular basis.

So here's a note to the networks. If you can't make programming for families, at least on Saturday night, then you get turned off. We can all have our own Saturday night lineup with our families. It will bring everyone closer.

So turn off the television on Saturday night and give it a try. I think you will be amazed how much your family will enjoy being together without television.

Have fun!!!

Today's Homework: Book Sense Outweighs Common Sense

I can't say this any simpler: there is just too much homework for our kids! Someone has got to do something about this.

Yes, they should have some homework, but there is such a thing as overload. I think the amount of homework my child comes home with is completely unacceptable.

On top of all the homework is the weight of the books they bring home in their backpacks. I am so worried about my child's back. I'm afraid she's going to do damage to it. I told her, that if a book is too heavy, to carry it in her arms to more evenly distribute the weight.

You would think someone would use common sense when they're making these text books. Remember, these are children carrying these books. Can't someone use their heads and maybe break up the book in sections? Instead of one book for the whole year, maybe there should be three or four smaller ones. Am I the only person who thinks of these things?



I know everyone is always worried about cost. Do they ever think, What about the cost to our children's well being and health? Isn't that worth anything anymore?

The stress our kids are under is simply too much. Someone has got to say enough is enough. Not to mention the stress the parents feel -- especially responsible parents who work with their children and make sure they have good work habits.

The kids need a little downtime and also time for outside activities. They need balance in their lives. They need family time.

Also, think of the parents. We work outside the home, as well as inside it. We have to make dinner and be able to have time to sit and eat. We need time with our kids; it's important for our family. They need time with us as well.

We're multi-tasking all the time, so why do we have to multi-task time spent with our children? Then people wonder why there is a breakdown of the family. This sure doesn't help!

Another excuse I've heard for all the homework is kids have to be able to deal with stress. Well, maybe that's true, but isn't it our job as adults to protect them from stress -- not cause more? When the kids become adults they'll have enough stress. Why do we have to intoduce it to them sooner than necessary?

Here is another thing I've heard: "We have to be able to compete with other countries." This is a lot of nonsense. Why put our kids through all this stress to compete only to have the CEOs of this country outsource American jobs anyway? All they care about is the cheap labor they can get in other countries. They don't care about the American worker or the American family.

All I know is, Halloween is this Wednesday and I'm sure there will be a heavy load of homework. For one day can't they ease the load a bit? Let these kids enjoy going out without being worried about homework.

Also, let the parents be able to enjoy our kids for at least one night. We have to cook dinner, clean up and get the costumes on them, which includes makeup most of the time. Have a little pity on all of us this Wednesday!

Have a wonderful and spooky Halloween!!!! BOO!

A Dying Breed: People With Manners, Morals

Other than my immediate family, does anyone today have manners? Is there someone who just does something for someone else without an agenda? If these people exist I'd sure like to know who they are.

You see it every day and it seems to be happening more and more. I'd like to think I'm one of the few people who have manners and actually care about others.

I speak from experience. This is where it all began for me. Many years ago, when my daughter was in first grade, her school was looking for a parent to be Treasurer of the PTO. I was at the meeting and thought it would be something nice for me to do. After the meeting was over one of my neighbors pulled me aside and said, "Are you nuts?!" I had no idea what she meant at the time. Well, I found out pretty quickly. This is when my eyes were opened.

After I became Treasurer, it all began. Some of the women in the PTO started talking behind my back. Keep in mind, I was a new parent in this school and had never been involved in PTO. The reason I know they were talking behind my back is because they did it right in front of me without realizing. These two women were talking about me and it so happened I was walking right behind them. Unfortunately, my daughter and husband happened to be with me and heard everything they said. The funny thing about this incident was the reaction when these two particular women realized I was walking right behind them. The expressions on their faces were priceless. I thought they would both die of embarrassment. By rights they should have. The most heartbreaking thing for me however was when my child looked up at me with her big brown eyes and said; "Mommy why are they talking like that about you?" I was honest and said the only thing I could at the time and that was "I'm not sure."

They had been talking about something they thought I hadn't been doing, like the previous treasurer. Instead of coming to me and speaking to me about it like adults should, they chose to talk behind my back, and make fun of me. Well, thats fine I'm an adult and I can handle it, but what made me so mad was my child happened to hear also.

People like this are cowardly and gutless. After only one year as treasurer I stepped down. It wasn't just this incident, but one of many. It also just wasn't me; they would talk about other moms behind their backs too. I am just not into talking and gossiping behind people's backs. Mainly because it sets a rotten example for my child, but also because that is just not the kind of person I am.

I thought this kind of stuff just happened with women, but over the years I have come to realize it happens to men too. Maybe not in the same way, but it has manifested in our lives over the last seven months twice.

My husband has been stabbed in the back by men he thought he could trust. The problem is not only did they hurt him, but they hurt me and my daughter in the process. One of the individuals, we had treated exremely nicely. We had him over for dinner many times, and my daughter looked up to him. We treated him like a member of the family, but all he did was use my husband and toss him aside. My husband was hurt, I was hurt and the most heartbreaking thing for me was my daughter was hurt. As a parent, nothing makes you more mad than when your child is hurt.

The strange thing is these people seem to be able to live with themselves without any remorse. They also seem to be able to justify themselves. Well, I guess they think if they convince themselves they were justified everyone else will see it the same way. Well that's just not so. Just ask my daughter.

Well, I guess if you can live with yourself more power to you. I, however, am glad I don't hurt or use people. I happen to be the kind of person who can't live with herself if I hurt or use someone on purpose.

Yes, I'm sure I've hurt people, but it wasn't intentional. If I do hurt someone it bothers me, and yes I am a big enough person to apologize. The one thing I don't do is talk behind people's backs. You know the old saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all." Why would you want to hurt or use someone intentionally? I can't figure that out.


If you do nothing else this weekend, try to do something nice for someone. Whether it's as simple as letting someone in during heavy traffic or simply holding a door open for someone. That little gesture can make someone's outlook and day just a little happier. Don't we at least owe that to each other? Just show some human kindness; it may have a trickle down effect.

Have a great weekend!

Idle Hands Truly Can Be Devil's Workshop

I believe one of the best things we can do for our kids is to keep them involved in activities. Whether it is in school or after school.

My daughter is in band and will continue in high school. My husband and I encourage her all the time, and she has become quite a good clarinet player.

Like most parents, I'm worried about her transition from middle school to high school. I worry about her getting in with the wrong crowd, or into drugs, alcohol, smoking, sex -- and anything else that may get her into trouble.

I do, however, believe in my child and know that my husband and I did the very best to bring her up with good moral values. I hope we have set a good example for her. We aren't perfect, but I hope making sacrifices throughout her life and just plain being there for her has made the difference.

I don't think you can be your child's best friend. They have that at school. I think that parents must be anchors for their kids. Keep them grounded. Make sure you know who they are hanging around with and where they are all the time. It's not an easy job, but is very important to their well being.

My daughter and I are very close, but I found myself not listening to her other day. She came home from school and I was in the kitchen getting ready to start dinner. I found myself not really listening to her. So I just stopped what I was doing and sat at the table and listened to what she had to say. It was nothing earth shattering, but the fact is she wanted to come to me and talk about it.

As parents, we are all busy and there just are not enough hours in the day. Later I thought about taking the time to listen to her and I realized, what happened as a result? We ate 15 minutes later. What's so terrible about that?

I'm so glad I realized what I was doing and took the time to sit down with her. Nobody likes not being heard. Children are no different. They are worth every bit of love and attention we can give them.

The stress our kids are under in school is much worse than we ever experienced. It's so important for them to have a safe haven. They need to express their opinions and we need to be able to guide them in the right direction.


Taking a walk with your kids as a family -- even in the rain -- can be considered quality time

The most important thing is to have open communication with kids. It's definitely not easy in this day and age. I think the more you listen and spend time with your kids the closer you will become.

Schedules are hectic and life is crazy, but I think keeping children active helps. Most cities have community centers now. Kids can swim or do other positive and healthy activities. The cost is minimal, and will keep them out of trouble. It's a nice thing parents and kids can do together. It also gets everyone out of the house. They can also meet up with their friends while you swim or do other activities. The old saying, "Idle hands are the devil's workshop," truly does apply -- especially nowadays.

So spend time with your kids. Take time to talk to them. Get to know their friends. The best thing for our children is to know that someone cares. If their parents don't, who will?

One More Worry: The Food We Eat

Like a lot of people right now I am fed up with our government. It seems like everything in our country has gone south.

I am one of many moms trying to do what is best for her family and that includes giving them healthy and nutritious foods to eat.

However, how can I do that when every time I turn around you hear some kind of food recall? It scares me and you just don't know what to feed your family.

I was at a local produce store yesterday and my mom came with me. I was looking at fresh spinach and she suggested I'd better not buy it, just in case. This is something I go through every time I go into a grocery store now, whether my mom is there to remind me or not!

When my daughter was sick the other day the first thing that came to mind was, what did I feed her? The guilt began to build and the anxiety started. Unfortunately for us in this country we have to eat. If we eat we can get sick and if we don't eat we can get sick. What can you do?

The only sick I am right now as I type this is sick and tired. I'm sick and tired that our food prices keep increasing. I am sick and tired of our food not being safe. I am sick and tired of our government, who is supposed to protect us, allowing this to happen in this country. I am sick and tired of the FDA and their excuses. Just to mention a few.



To top it all off I just found out on television the other day that the FDA just received pay increases. It sure must be nice to not do your job and yet you still get an increase in pay. My poor husband is without full time employment right now, and yet these goofballs get a raise. Do I sound bitter? You bet I am!

What we need to do is clean house in the government from top to bottom. I have never been so disgusted in our country in my life. My dad fought in WWII for this country, and he would be shocked if he could see what is happening today.

Instead of all these rich people running our government they need an everyday person. One who has lived a real life and done without things. These people in our government have so much money they have no idea what it is to struggle from day to day. How can you have sympathy for anyone else if you've lived a privileged life? You can't!

The people in this country need to get mad and vote all these idiots out of office. No one in this country should have to worry about what they feed their children. If I hear about one more recall I think I will scream.

I love the idea of dinner at the family table -- if the family table doesn't end up killing you, or making you very sick!

The funny thing is, it isn't just our food supply -- now it's lead paint in our children's toys that we also have to be worried about. Christmas is coming and you can't even feel good about giving your kids a toy. The other day I also heard about lead paint being in lipstick. It all sounds like a bad Stephen King novel.

Our government is taking care of the whole world, but not taking care of its own people. This has to to stop!

People need to get mad and write their representatives and let them know this is completely unacceptable. If they don't get the message now make sure they get the message November 2008!

Cheesecake In A Jiffy? Here's How!

My family loves dessert after our evening meal. A little something sweet for watching TV and spending family time.

This is one of the easiest desserts in the world to make, and it only takes minutes. If you and your family love cheesecake like we do, you will really enjoy this.

NO BAKE CHEESECAKE

2 - 8 oz. packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1/3 cup of sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups of Cool Whip Whipped Topping
1 pre-made graham cracker crust or homemade

Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer til well blended.

Gently fold in 2 cups of Cool Whip Whipped Topping.

Put in a graham cracker crust and refrigerate for 2 - 3 hours.

* Top with fresh or defrosted frozen berries. Also, canned pie filling can be topped on this for an added twist.

I've tried different no-name brand cream cheese products with this recipe, but I don't like it as much. My suggestion is to use Philadelphia Brand Cream Cheese, and no, I don't work for them!


Store-bought graham cracker pie crust

Also, you may want to add fresh or frozen berries on top of the chessecake. Another great thing to add is a canned cherry or blueberry pie topping right out of the can.

I'm not sure how good this is for your body, but it sure tastes great. We all have to indulge once in a while and we shouldn't feel guilty.

The filling is also great to put into those little filo cups you can find in the frozen dessert food aisle of your grocery store. What I do is add about a tablespoon of the filling into each cup and top the filling with a spoon full of canned cherry pie filling. It makes a great cute little dessert and not as many calories. Kids can also eat them easily; in their little hands, it's a perfect fit. These little cups are great to serve around holidays too, which by the way, is right around the corner.

Filo pastry shells/cups (in the frozen dessert section)

Another great thing about making this is a chance to get your kids into the kitchen with you. There aren't a lot of ingredients so it isn't complicated. It gives you some time with your kids and this is a great excuse to talk and be together as a family. If you make the little filo cups the kids can add the pie filling to the top. It can't get much easier than that.

My daughter, Nicole, suggested I pass this recipe along. So I am giving her full credit for this little entry. She is always in the kitchen with me and this is one of the first recipes she ever made with me. Other than her Easy Bake Oven.

So give this little cheesecake recipe a try. It's another reason to spend some time with your children. Spending time with your kids AND a great dessert. What could be wrong with that?

Have fun and enjoy the recipe, compliments of Nicole!!

If You Want To Be A Mom, The Hours Are 24/7

Moms just aren't allowed to get sick and that was very apparent in my life yesterday.

My daughter got sick Sunday with some kind of stomach virus. Needless to say, I am the kind of mom that will stay up with her child when they are sick. She is 14, but still needs her mom when she isn't feeling well. There is nothing wrong with that; I'm in my 40s and I still would love to have my mom take care of me when I'm not feeling well.

Needless to say I didn't get much sleep Sunday night. Maybe 3 hours at best. I sat with my daughter and watched TV in between bouts of her getting up and running to the bathroom.

The problem started when all of a sudden, I didn't feel too good myself. My husband being without full-time employment right now has to do freelance jobs when he can get them. He had to work from about 1:30 pm until about 11:00 pm last night. I, like every other mother, had to go on and continue to run the house and take care of my child.

You see, moms don't get vacation or time off. You have to continue no matter how terrible you feel.


No, that's not me and Nicole, but the duties of a mom haven't changed

I wish more of these teenage girls would realize that before they become pregnant. Being a good mom is the hardest and most important job in the world and if you're not ready for it it can be devasting for a child, as well as the mom.

All I wanted to do was lie down and be left alone, but that can't happen. More important, however, was my child and I had to make sure she had fluids. On top of that I had to stop and make sure I was trying to keep down fluids myself.

I also have two dogs to feed and make sure go outside. Our little Jack Russell Terrier, Scamp, needs to be walked. I had to take him for a walk after he ate his dinner around 6:30 p.m last night.

I started a load of laundry earlier on Monday and had to go downstairs and put that in the dryer. After it was dried I put it away. You see, things just can't stop because I don't feel well. It was like being a single mom yesterday.

After I came back from walking the dog and putting away the laundry my daughter said she was a little hungry. I had to make her a little something to eat. Nothing hard so I opened a can of soup and heated it up for her. Now this isn't a difficult thing to do, but when you don't feel well yourself you'd be surprised how difficult it can be.

To top it off she took about two or three spoonfuls and said she felt nauseous. So it felt like I fed her for nothing. After that, I finally think I get to lie down. I do so, and not five minutes later the dog wants out again. Get this: my daughter says to me, "Mom, you're up and down an awful lot." No kidding.

When you're feeling fine all the up-and-down isn't a problem, but when you're not feeling well either, all this does is make you feel worse.

Obviously, since I'm writing today I am feeling a little better. My daughter slept though most of the night last night, but is still home from school. I'm going to try to get some solid food in her today. My job continues.

Being a mom is a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week job. You get no time off. There is no vacation. If you're not ready to be a mom, don't do it! The most important job in the world is to be a good mom. You have to put yourself last. If you don't, not only do you suffer but more importantly your child will suffer.

So for all you teenage girls out there that want a baby, caring for my sick 14-year-old is nothing compared to a little baby who needs constant attention. My daughter is a teenager herself and still needs me when she isn't feeling well.

The best way to be a good mom is to wait until you are ready. This is the hardest and most important job you will ever have. Don't mess it up!

The Reason I'm Gonna Stick With This Blog

When I started this blog a couple of weeks ago, I wondered what I could possibly write about on a daily basis.

The second thing I thought about was, who cares what I think or feel? I’m just a regular wife and mother. I’m no one famous. I’ve never really done anything in my life that’s all that unusual. I’ve never saved anyone’s life or cured any kind of disease. I’m not gay. I’ve never been molested. So why on earth would anyone care what I have to say?

However, the more I write the easier it has become. So far I haven’t had to look for material; everyday life has presented that to me. It may be that I have just had a whole lot of pent up frustration inside me, and this blog has helped relieve some of that. It’s become very cathartic for me. It has relieved my stress, because now I have a place to vent. More importantly, I hope I have helped or relieved the stress and frustration of at least one other person. So in that way maybe this blog is a good thing.



I just looked back on my blog yesterday and it has taken all kinds of twists and turns.
I’ve talked about kids and everything in between. It’s been fun!

I re-lived my childhood in one particular post, and that made me happy and sad at the same time. It made me miss my dad, who passed away in 1986. It also made me realize what a great dad I had, and how lucky I was to have him in my life. I had a terrific and happy childhood thanks to two wonderful parents who were always there for me.

I’ve had a very normal life, and I hope I’ve provided that for my child. I hope this blog has helped one other person other than myself. Maybe thru a recipe or just to know someone out here is going through the same things that they are.

I told myself I would give this blog a couple of weeks and if I felt it didn’t make a difference I would stop. Somehow it has made a difference in my life and I hope it helps someone other than just me.

My blog won’t save the world or stop war, but it helps me get out the frustration I can sometimes feel when things are just beyond my control. I see injustice every day and writing about it sure can’t hurt. Maybe it won’t change anything, but at least I can express my opinion, and hopefully I can make a small difference by just speaking out.

For now I guess I will try to continue this blog on a daily basis. It’s been a help to me and hopefully someone else, too. In some small way, maybe something I wrote or a recipe I’ve passed along has helped make someone’s day just a little bit easier and brighter.

Have a great weekend!

Today's Packaging: Overkill -- and Sadistic

One of my pet peeves for some time now has been packaging. The companies of these products are completely out of their minds.

Why is everything impossible to open? Is this really necessary?

I know one reason is to prevent people from stealing the product inside. However, you would think that the cost of the overpackaging they do would cost more than the people who would steal these products.

This happened to me yesterday. My husband and I picked up our daughter from school, and on the way home we stopped for gas. Our daughter asked if she could have some beef jerky. Of course we said yes. That was our first mistake.

My husband came out with one of these packages with a single piece of jerky in it. He hands it to our daughter, and I watch impatiently as she tries as hard as she can to open this package. Finally she looks at me, and now I'm trying to open it. My husband gets into the car after putting gas in the tank, and we hand it to him. Finally, five minutes and three people later, we get it open. Was it worth all the fuss? I don't think so.


YOU try to open this stuff!

This isn't just with food products, it's with almost every single thing you buy. Are you supposed to carry scissors with you wherever you go just to be able to open things?

Take CDs for instance. Now here's a good time if you like high blood pressure. First they put this cellophane stuff on it you can't remove without a pair of scissors. If that isn't enough, they put this industrial strength tape around the entire case that Arnold Schwarzenegger couldn't possibly remove, even on a good day. The search begins now for a pair of scissors. Again, 10 minutes later and minus one or two fingers, you finally get the CD out of the package. It's enough to drive you crazy.

Have you ever tried to get a Barbie Doll out of the package nowadays? Every single thing is sewn into the back of the box, including the doll's hair. I mean it is actually SEWN into the back panel of the box with a sewing machine. Get out the scissors again and lose a couple more fingers trying to get the hair off the back panel so as not to cut the hair. It's almost impossible.

What are these companies thinking about? They save a few bucks and we lose our fingers. I am not kidding when I say this. I have actually cut myself trying to remove products from packages that should be very simple.

Christmas morning is always fun. Trying to remove everything takes all day. The kids become impatient and a happy occasion becomes a stressful situation for not only the child, but the parent. Children want to play with their new toys right away.

Then there's the video game packaging, not unlike the CDs. They are virtually impossible to open without drawing blood.

What about those poor people with arthritis? How do they open anything?

Now there are only two products I can think of that you can remove from their packages without much effort and those are eggs and light bulbs. Other than that nothing else comes to mind.

Maybe someone should whisper into these companies' ears that they really can't be saving money in the long run. Nothing comes cheap today and I'm sure all this overpackaging is not saving them any money. Then again maybe it's because the cost always gets passed down to the consumer.

Just to let you know, THIS consumer doesn't buy certain products because of the packaging. For instance, that jerky we bought yesterday? I made sure I remembered the name of that brand so I'll never buy it again. Maybe if more people did this the manufacturers would get the message. Hit them in the pocketbook! That's the only way they will understand!

Contraception For Middle Schoolers: Treating A Symptom, Not The Problem

I heard on the news yesterday, which completely blew my mind, about a school district in Maine making birth control available to children in middle school. These kids are in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.

This means children ages 11-13 being able to get a full range of contraception. The types of contraception would include pills, patches, injections, and the "morning after" pill.

I don't agree with schools getting involved with the distribution of contraceptives. As parents, we're losing more and more of our parental rights. This is not taking care of the problem; all this is doing is encouraging children to have sex at a young age. Children at this age are just not ready for sex.

This also doesn't mean they won't be able to contract HIV/AIDS or any other sexually transmitted disease. All this does is prevent pregnancy and even that is not 100% guaranteed.

When our children come home with a sexually transmitted disease are the schools going to pay the bills? No, of course not. When a child dies of AIDS, is someone from the school going to be holding that child's hand? I doubt it.

Whatever happend to educating them? That's what schools are supposed to do -- not hand out contraception. Show them people dying of AIDS. Fear and the truth are great motivators. Education, education, education.

We educate them to not take drugs. Still, kids use drugs every day. Does this mean we start handing out drugs in school? I mean, if some kids use anyway, why not make that available to them too? It's the same premise.


Birth control patches, like the one pictured above, would be made available to middle schoolers, if a Maine school district gets its way

We also educate kids not to smoke. Again, some kids will still smoke. So why not hand out packs of cigarettes too? Where do we draw the line?

This contraception in middle schools proposal is just a way for lazy parents to get out of their responsibility. It's another example of the breakdown of the family. It seems it takes two incomes to make ends meet today, but this is no reason to shirk your responsibility as a parent.

Take time to talk to your kids. Get to know their friends. It's our right as parents to know where our kids are all the time. The schools have no right to get involved. This is a personal family matter. Whatever happened to educating and advocating abstinence?

Here's something else: You can't mention God in schools, but you can hand out birth control. What's going on in this country? Where are our moral values?

Another concern I have is, who knows what kind of effect these drugs will have on a child's developing body? Somewhere down the line when they are older maybe we'll find out the adverse effect of these contraceptives, but by that time the damage will be done.

My husband and I brought our daughter into this world and it's our responsiblity as parents to make sure she doesn't go down the wrong path. This proposal in Maine doesn't help our plight. As a matter of fact, it makes it worse. Why listen to your parents when you can go to school and get birth control behind their backs?

Maybe if kids feel safe, secure, and loved at home they won't want to have sex at such an early age. Let kids know they are special. Tell them to have respect for their bodies. It may not be cool, but neither is a crying baby at 2:00 a.m. Dying from a sexually transmitted disease isn't too cool either.

Our kids need to feel special and loved. I'm not saying that some kids won't have sex, but it's a parent's decision after consulting with a family doctor to decide on birth control if their child is having sex.

The primary concern is to make sure our children feel loved, so they won't have to seek love anywhere else. They need to come to their parents first. We need to have open lines of communcation with our children on any subject and they have to be able to trust us. The more you talk to your kids the easier this becomes.

Relaxing Bath Great Way To Enjoy "Alone" Time

It's so hard to balance everything when you are a mom and a wife. It's twice as hard if you are a single mom with a job. Fortunately, I am not a single mom, but I do know what it is to never seem to have enough time to yourself.

I think it's important for women in general to take a little time to themselves and not feel guilty.

My typical day is: make breakfast; clean the house; make the beds; drive my daughter to school; shower; work (if I get called in); pick up my daughter from school; make dinner; help with homework; and get ready for bed and start all over again the next day.

What I try to do at least three times a week is take time to treat myself to a nice luxurious bath, which includes a candle, something to read, my portable cd player, and nicely scented bath products.



It's amazing how many bath products there are today. They range from bath pillows to all kinds of wonderfully-scented soaps. The best part is they are all pretty affordable. You don't have to go into an expensive bed and bath store to find them.

I'm always satisfied with Target and the bath products they have that are really affordable. They have an aisle with nothing but bath soaps, body splash, lotion, pillows, and sponges, and the list goes on and on. Even the soap aisle has different types of shower gels ranging in price from $3 -$4 dollars. You don't use a ton of shower gel, especially if you get one of the bath sponges. All you need is a dime size amount of the gel on the sponge and just see how much it lathers up. You will be surprised how long the shower gel will last too.

Also, buy yourself some pleasantly-scented candles. Again, something very affordable. I just bought two candle holders for $1.99 each. You can also buy the little tea light candles to put inside a candle holder and they just burn out when the wax is gone. Then all you have to do is throw the little tin cup that is left inside the holder and no clean up at all.

The tea lights also come in a lot of different fragrances. I'm sure you can find one that you will like.

So treat yourself to a nice bath! It makes you feel feminine, relieves stress, and if you take it right before you go to bed, I can guarantee you will sleep a lot better.

The best thing we can do for our families is take care of our own mind and body and this is an easy and simple way to do just that. Just 20 - 30 minutes, two to three times a week, and see if it doesn't make a difference.

Enjoy!!! We all deserve a little time to ourselves.

Microwaveable Thermos Bowls Keep Food Hot For Kids' Lunches

How would you like to give your child a hot, home-cooked meal to eat at school without a lot of fuss?

I found this great product to use. It's a bowl made by Aladdin and it's great! In it, you can put leftovers from dinner the night before or soup; basically anything you want to reheat.

The terrific thing about this bowl is, you put the food in it, place it in the microwave, heat it up -- it takes about 3 minutes in mine -- and put a lid on it. It keeps the food nice and hot for hours and you won't have to pay for the hot school lunches. It also comes with a spoon in the top of the lid. Talk about convenient. It saves time and money and gives your child a nutritious hot lunch.

It's also nice because it beats a cold sandwich every day, which kids get sick of. It opens up a whole new world, while giving your child a healthy home-cooked meal.

My daughter loves a hot lunch, but she complains that by the time she gets through the school lunch line, she doesn't have enough time to eat.

I don't know about you, but I refuse to pay $3.75 for a school lunch that my child doesn't have enough time to eat. It's expensive and on top of that, a waste of food. Things are too expensive to have to throw out food because the schools don't give these kids enough time to eat.

Now my daughter can have a hot home-cooked meal for lunch even when she is in school.

The other nice thing about the Aladdin bowl is you can heat the food in the microwave so there are no dirty pots or pans to clean.

If you can find this product, try it. I think you will love it! I found mine at one of my favorite stores, Target -- in the same aisle with the thermoses, etc. I believe we paid $7.99. A good deal.

Waste Not, Want Not

In today's trying economy, it is so hard to make ends meet. Many people live from one paycheck to the next.

Like everyone else, I try to not waste any food. At the same time, I like to make tasty and healthy food for my family. Sometimes it's hard to not waste food that may be a little old, but not unsafe to eat.

For instance, when I buy bananas, no one ever seems to eat the last two, for some reason. They get brown and soft and very unappetizing. So they sit and sit on the counter sometimes for days. At one time I use to just throw them out. Not so anymore.


No longer do I throw out those last couple of stubborn, browning bananas

Banana bread is a great way to use bananas that no one wants to eat. You know the old saying: Waste not, want not. This is one way to put that into practice.

This recipe calls for nuts, but I've made it without them and it works out fine. No one in my family, thankfully, has a peanut allergy, but if someone in your family does just omit the nuts.



BANANA NUT BREAD

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1 cup mashed ripe banana
1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

350 degree oven

Stir together flour, baking powder, soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.

In a mixer bowl beat sugar and shortening with electric mixer till light, scraping sides of bowl often. Add eggs, one at a time, and the milk, beating till smooth after each addition. Add flour mixture and banana alternately to creamed mixture, beating till smooth after each addition. Fold in nuts (optional).

Turn batter into a lightly greased and floured 8x4x2-inch loaf pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 60 to 65 minutes or till a wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan; cool. For easier slicing, wrap and store overnight. Makes 1 loaf.

My family loves this bread. It's also a great after-school snack that won't make your kids too full, but will keep them going until dinner.

I give this to my daughter with a glass of milk and she is satisfied until dinner. It's better than cookies and all the ingredients come straight from your pantry. No preservatives or ingredients that you can't pronounce.

This is delicious and you're not wasting food and at the same time giving your family a healthy snack.

Try it and see if you don't agree.

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Getting Kids Involved In Cooking Can Cure Their Pickiness

Do you have a child who is a picky eater? I really don't believe that picky eaters are born -- I think they are made.

What do I mean by this? I think the earlier you introduce children to different types of food and make it a fun thing, the more they will be willing to try it.

Now I'm not saying force a child to eat something they truly don't like. On the other hand, please don't discourage them from trying new things. So many times I've heard children say to mom or dad that something looks good and I hear mom or dad say "Oh you won't like that." Let them try it. If they don't like it, oh well -- at least they tried it.

My daughter will pretty much eat anything you put in front of her. I contribute that to my husband and I introducing her to different types of food at a very early age. She will of course eat Italian and Polish food because that is what I mostly cook. On the other hand, she eats Chinese, Thai, Mexican, and Japanese, which includes even sushi. She loves vegetables cooked or raw. Maybe I'm lucky, but I believe it is because we introduced different types of food to her when she was very young.

For instance, when she was little she tried broccoli and didn't like it. What I did the next time was make a cheese sauce and put it over the broccoli. She tried it and she loved it. It was amazing how just adding cheese to the broccoli made a difference. Now she loves broccoli whether it has cheese sauce on it or not.


Don't discount raw veggies as a good, healthy snack for kids

Raw vegetables are a great snack after school instead of cookies or junk food. Also, raw vegetables are nice to put on the dinner table instead of a cooked veggie. I cut up carrots, red peppers, orange peppers, yellow peppers, broccoli, green onions, mushrooms, cauliflower. I also add grape tomatoes, but don't cut them up. I arrange it on a nice platter. It is so colorful and looks so appetizing. Don't be surprised when your kids start reaching for the vegetables. You can also put a bowl with a veggie dip in the middle of the vegetables.

Here is a vegetable dip my family loves and it is easy to make:

VEGGIE DIP

2/3 cup Hellmans Mayo
2/3 cup sour cream
1 T dill seed or dill weed
1 t celery salt
1 t accent
1 t onion powder
1 T parsley (dried)
1/2 t Worcestershire Sauce
2 drops of Tobasco Sauce

Mix and blend put in refrigerator for at least an hour so flavors marry. Serve with raw vegetables.

This is a great dip and everyone I have ever served it to loves it, and asks for the recipe. It's just another way to get healthy foods into kids. The more colorful and pretty a dish is, the more children are apt to eat it. I believe you eat with your eyes first.

So try different things with your kids. Think outside the box and be a little creative. You may be surprised what your children really will eat. Get them involved in making the dip. If they make it they will have pride in it and it will make them want to eat it all the more.

Getting kids in the kitchen to help is great. My daughter always loves to cook with me and she is always happy to tell everyone she made certain things. Now, at 14, she is turning into quite a good cook.

So let your kids into the kitchen to help. It's another way to spend time together as a family. You'll be surprised how much you'll talk with them as you are cooking together. It makes you closer to your children and gives them confidence at the same time. Children are small for such a short time. Enjoy them while you can.

Good luck and most of all have fun.

The 1970s: A Much Simpler, Safer Time

I grew up in the 1970s, and I believe that it was such a different world back then. I remember Saturday morning cartoons. It was an exciting morning because usually the only time you could watch cartoons for hours was on Saturday morning.

Today cartoons are on all hours of the day and night with cable TV. It isn't quite as special as it used to be -- getting up on Saturday and staying in your pajamas for hours. Of course, until one of your friends called for you thru the door, yelling, "SHAR---ON!"

In the '70s on our block at least, there was always someone to hang out with. The funny thing is none of us ever seemed to get into too much trouble. Kids were always outside playing and the parents were usually working in the yard or not too far away.

Front & back doors were left open and you didn't have to worry about some crazy nut just walking in your house to do harm to anyone. I also remember all the parents on our block being friends and knowing each other pretty well. My dad would go sit on a neighbors porch with them. It seemed before you knew it, seven or eight dads and moms were together talking and laughing.

The boys would be playing baseball in the street. Of course, you would have an occasional window break now and then. The girls would be playing Barbies on someone's porch or with their other dolls. As we got older, 2 and 4 Square use to keep us entertained for hours. We used to ride our bikes to the park without our parents. You felt safe. It was a much simpler time.

We were one of the few families on our block that had a pool and kids were always over swimming. I also remember my mom feeding other people's kids lunch on a daily basis, especially if they had been over swimming. In the evenings I would have the occasional pool party, and my dad would barbecue hamburgers and hot dogs ; we would also roast marshmallows. Dad would hook up a light to the side of the garage so we could swim in the dark until sometimes 10:00 pm at night. He would be sitting right there watching us to make sure no one got hurt.

Do you remember the big blue "helping hands" in families' picture windows? The big blue helping hand meant if you were in trouble or needed help you could run to that home. At that time you didn't have a fear that someone in that house may harm you.


Sadly, signs like this aren't needed much anymore in this country's neighborhoods

We ate dinner as a family every night, and my mom made sure of that. I also remember wanting to eat dinner so fast so I could go outside to play with my friends. My mom would occasionally get mad because she knew I wouldn't eat as well as I should, being in such a hurry as I was.

The food even seemed better back then. I cook pretty much the same stuff my mom did, but to me it just doesn't seem to taste as good. No one cooks like mom!

The homework wasn't as much as the kids have today. We had time to play after school. Not today -- the homework load is so heavy the kids have no time to just be kids.

The world is so different now and our innocence has been lost right along with our children. No one trusts anyone anymore. You never see boys playing baseball in the street. As for the girls, when was the last time you saw five or six girls playing Barbies or dolls on someone's porch? I see the occational kid riding a bike, but not like in the '70s. We would ride our bikes to 7-Eleven to get a Slurpee or to the corner store to get candy and bubble gum.

What do the kids do now? After the massive amount of homework they want to play video games. Maybe the video games they play relieves some of the stress they feel. We didn't have too much stress when I was growing up.

I feel sorry for our kids because they have so much stress and let's face it -- we bring them up to not trust too many people. School isn't even safe for them anymore. I keep reading about teachers doing unspeakable things to these kids. My daughter hears about all this because it's on TV and in the newspapers. That just adds to her stress.

Someone has to figure out why these kids are going crazy and shooting up schools. When I was a kid, we were ALL picked on at one time or another. I certainly don't remember any kids shooting up schools back when I grew up. There has to be more to this phenomenon than just being picked on. Being picked on may just be one of the reasons; there has to be more to it than that. It is the symptom of a much bigger problem.

Yes, I believe our innocence has been lost and that is so sad. I wish my child could have been born in a much simpler time. Where did it all go wrong? I have no idea, but it is tragic. Maybe it's as simple as the breakdown of the family. Because if we aren't secure at home, how can we feel secure anyplace else?

Our job as parents is to keep our children safe and secure. Part of it may just be talking and having dinner as a family together each night. That way our kids know us and we know our kids. Children should be able to talk to their parents about anything and not fear they will be judged. We need to talk and help our kids through everything in their life and they have to be able to trust us.

Parents can't be perfect and may not always have the right answers, but we owe it to our kids to at least be there for them.

MEAP Test Retaken; Another Waste Of Our Tax Dollars

I recently mentioned the other day about the MEAP testing and the stress it puts on children -- at least on my child, and I assume on other children as well. Apparently a reporter who was allowed in an elementary school in Jackson, basically divulged what the fifth and sixth grade prompts were on the MEAP. Now all the fifth and sixth grade students in the state of Michigan must retake a portion of the MEAPS test. This doesn't affect my daughter as far as the test because she is in 8th grade, but financially we are all going to pay again in the state of Michigan.

This is the sort of story that just makes me absolutely crazy and mad. My husband is currently out of work, and believe me he has a lot of company in the state of Michigan. Yet these people who have jobs are allowed to have major screw ups that cost people in this state money and stress. These MEAP test questions were printed Tuesday in an article in the newspaper, as well as, on the newspaper's Web site on Thursday. Where was the editor and where is the common sense of this reporter?

This is going to cost our state hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not to mention the stress these kids are going to have to go through all over again. This state is in a terrible financial mess as it is and now it is going to cost us more money that we just don't have. The governor just raised our taxes in Michigan, plus added lots of new taxes. Who does this hurt? The middle class and poor of course, which has no voice. The rich certainly don't feel it!

CHOOL

Right now the middle class and poor are stretched as far as we can go. Rising prices on gasoline, natural gas, and electricity, a lack of health insurance, and the list goes on and on. People in the state of Michigan are losing their homes to foreclosure at an average rate of 1 in 6. That statistic scares me. Everything goes up in price except our paychecks. How do they expect us to survive?

I keep hearing from President Bush how great the economy is right now. Who does he think he is fooling? The middle class are slowly being eliminated, and we pay the majority of the taxes in this country. We know what is going on; we are not ignorant peasants!

I stretch my food budget every day just to keep my family fed, and with my husband out of work it is nearly impossible. If the middle class are going through this, I can't imagine how the poor can even survive. Don't we have a voice in this society any more? Congress sure doesn't hear our cries.

I am a middle class housewife who has worked outside of her home most of my marriage. The sad part is now with all the hard work over the years on the part of both my husband and myself we may become just part of another statistic. We are becoming a society of the Haves and Have nots! Can you guess which category most of us will fall under?

Right now I don't see much difference in the Republican or Democratic Parties. No one is helping the middle class or the poor. We're too busy fighting a war we were lied to about! It costs so much money to keep this war running yet people's families are being torn apart. Isn't anyone willing to fight for the middle class and the poor in this country? I am sure there are many children going to bed hungry in our country and that is shameful!

My grandparents and great-grandparents came to this country from Italy and Poland to make a better life for future generations, but I feel like it was all for nothing.

Lots of Hope for Premature Babies

My daughter was born 2 months early, weighing in at a whopping 2 lbs 14 ozs. She was the tiniest little baby I had ever seen. I had toxemia and she had to be delivered after a long stint in bed for a little over 2 months.

At that time no one I knew had ever had a baby born that early. I was scared she would not have a normal life, and I tried to put that thought out of my mind, as much as possible. She was our first and to this day our only child. We were new parents and newly married. When I look back now I wonder how we got through that part of our lives without a nervous breakdown.

As a new mother you look forward to bringing home a healthy baby. My daughter was in the hospital for 2 months prior to coming home. I was at the hospital day and night hoping that her hearing my voice would let her know I was there. My mom was my constant companion at the hospital day after day. My husband had to work all day, but every evening he would be at the hospital with me, even as tired as I'm sure he was. I remember one night after leaving our daughter, I cried from the time we left Beaumont Hospital until we got home. My poor husband just drove and I'm sure didn't know what to do to make me feel better. As a new mother you want your baby home with you, but you have to do what is best for your child, and her coming home was not the answer.

As if you're not going through enough at the time, some people would have to tell you "Oh, your daughter is going to be slow", or "She won't do well in school", or "You have a lot of work cut out for you", or "She will always be sick", etc. What I always remember is what her Primary Nurse, Julia told me, "She will be fine; these kids do fine." That gave me hope and I tried to only focus on that.

I remember one mom in particular saying to me, "I'm so afraid I'm going to get a call in the middle of the night that my son didn't make it." That scared me to hear another mom say what I had thought every now and then, but I wanted to stay positive. I told her everything would be fine. As I looked at these two tiny babies hooked up to machines and wires attached to their little bodies, I'm not sure if I actually believed what I was saying myself.

Nicole was only on oxygen for one day. I came to find out later that her being in a stressful situation had actually helped her, and her lungs developed very rapidly while inside me. The longer she stayed in the hospital the stronger she became. To see this little baby develop outside of the womb was amazing. I can never say enough about the doctors and nurses -- they were wonderful and to this day I am so greatful for them. How do you thank people for keeping your child alive? There are no words.

After 2 months in the hospital the day finally came when we got to bring her home. I remember being happy and scared. Now the day you were waiting for is finally here, but the doctors and nurses don't get to come home with you. To say I was scared was an understatement, but I don't think I let it show. I still didn't know what her outcome would be. Would she be slow? I didn't want to focus on that and I didn't. I was just determined to be the best mom I could be, and to give her lots of love and attention.


An example of a preemie ward; a place like this was our home for two months (April-June 1993)

We started reading to her at a very early age. I remember her sitting in a bouncer reaching for the attached toys at about 3 months old. When I looked at her she seemed to be a normal baby to me. She had these beautiful brown eyes and would look at everything.

Before she was 2 years old she was saying her ABCs. She could also count to 20. I am happy to report that that little baby is 14 years old now. She is healthy, happy and smart as a whip. She just received her progress report and received all A's and a B. She is in 8th grade now and has been on the honor role every time since she began in junior high. She plays the clarinet, and very well I might add. The only thing is she may catch colds and get sick a little more than other kids, but she gets better pretty fast. So we are very thankful for the wonderful people at Beaumont and in God.

If you know anyone with a premature child this should give them hope. Oh yes, and that little boy I mentioned earlier, I saw him in the doctors office when they were about 4 months old and he looked great. I'm sure he is also doing well to this day. Children are amazing and this is proof. When you stay focused and positive anything is possible.

Have a super day!!!!

MEAP Test and An Easy & Quick Breakfast for Kids

If you are from Michigan and a parent of a school aged child, I am sure you are aware of the MEAP (Michigan Educational Assessment Program) Testing.

My daughter is a very good student, but she gets stressed out every year during the MEAP tests. The one thing I do is make sure she has a good breakfast every morning, and especially during the MEAPS.

All it requires me to do is get up 15 minutes before her, and I feel at least I got her off to a good start. She has always done well on the MEAPS, and I contribute some of that to a good breakfast before leaving home. Also, I try to calm her down and talk to her each morning before she leaves for school. I usually do this as she eats her breakfast, by taking just a few minutes and sitting with her at the table.

Me being half Italian and half Polish, I have always been around good food. My mom is Italian and my dad was Polish. Even though he passed away before my daughter was born I still fix many Polish meals.

My mom always got up and fixed me breakfast before school each morning, and I have continued that tradition with my own child. Now I'm not saying I'm June Cleaver by any stretch of the imagination, but I do make my child breakfast every morning to make sure she eats and gets off to a good start. Of course, there is the occational bowl of cereal, donut etc., but I try to at least make her a nice breakfast 3-4 times a week.


I wonder if Beaver's mom was half-Italian and half-Polish; ya think?

This morning I made her a breakfast called Birds In a Nest. I believe this is an Italian breakfast, but I may be wrong. Well, the only thing I know is I learned how to make this from the Italian side of my family. I timed myself this morning, and it took me about 10 minutes from start to finish.

Here is how to make a quick breakfast for your kids too:

BIRDS IN A NEST

Italian or French Bread
1 Egg Per Slice of Bread
2 Tablespoons Margarine or Butter
Salt & Pepper to taste


Heat skillet at medium temperature; melt margarine or butter. Hollow out some of the bread on the inside to create a small hole like a nest. Place bread in skillet and crack egg inside the nest, sprinkle with salt & pepper, and turn up heat slightly to around medium high. It should take about 1-2 minutes to cook on the one side. Flip over, making sure the yolk breaks, and cook on opposite side. You may want to salt & pepper this side also. This can be served plain or with syrup.

This is a fast and nutritious breakfast and the kids love it. I serve it with a glass of milk or juice and it takes no time to eat at all. If they are late you can wrap it up in a piece of paper towel and it is easy to eat on the run.

I also love the non-stick skillets -- it makes clean up a breeze. By the time she is finished eating I am finished with a quick clean up. She gets dressed and ready to leave while I start making her lunch and get ready to drive her to school. We both have this down to a science now. The best part is I feel like I've done something for my child to make her day a little smoother.

Try it and see how it works in your family. Well, at least during MEAPS.

Have a great day!!!

The School Parking Lot: Our Own Little Indy 500

My husband has been after me to start a blog for quite a long time. He has two successful blogs and is a very successful writer. I on the other hand am not a writer and this is very new territory for me. I am a private person, but after this morning an incident happened at school when I dropped off my daughter, which left me very upset. I came home and told my husband and he said that would make a good blog entry. So now here I am, sitting at the computer and writing my first entry.

One reason I decided to do this is to let other moms know they are not alone. Even though being a good wife and mother can be very frustrating it is also the most fulfilling and selfless thing I believe a woman can do. I don't want this to just be a blog for complaining, but also for recipes, ideas, helpful hints, and for other moms like myself to not feel so alone and isolated.

This morning I drove my daughter to school as usual. Also, as usual are the same offenders who won't follow the rules when dropping of their children. They put their children at risk, as well as being rude and not bothering to think about other parents who have to get their children to school. They drop their kids off in the middle of the street, in front of stop signs, and they cut you off and make u-turns where ever they feel like it. These people never seem to get tickets or caught and amazingly their children haven't gotten hit by a car. On the other hand, I follow the rules and get waved over by a security guard this morning in the school parking lot. This is enough to make you want to scream! I followed the rules, and still I get called to task for it. I pulled in the school parking lot, got my daughter out of the car and walked her across safely. In the meantime, cars are roaring through the parking lot to drop off their own kids and not giving my child a chance to cross. So my usual daily thing is to throw my body into the front of one of these wonderful parent's 40 mph cars so my daughter can get across the lot safetly and get to school. Needless to say, I on the other hand give their children more consideration. When I see any child I make sure I stop my car so they can cross. I also don't drive 40 mph in the street or in the parking lot. I am very mindful of other people's children even if my child doesn't seem to be given the same consideration. So I return to my car, again throwing myself in front of the cars of one these terrific and caring parents. I get in my car, carefully back out of the parking space, only to be pulled over by a security guard and asked where I had dropped off my child. I told the security guard I had parked and walked my child across the lot. She said to me "that's okay then." Well, duh! How come you don't notice the repeat offenders morning after morning, yet you hassle me! That's seems what usually happens to me: I follow the rules, yet I still get nailed for something I never would have done.

Well, I look at it this way: at least I am a good example to my daughter even if no one else seems to take notice. All that really matters is what my daughter thinks of me. I know I have done my job and been a good parent not just to my child, but to other people's children even if they don't respect the rules, their own children, or anyone else's child.


Our school parking lot during drop off. Happy Monday!!