My gripe today is about Christmas. Please don't shoot me. I love Christmas since my daughter was born it's great. However, it seems that Christmas is getting earlier an earlier each year. No, I don't mean that anyone has changed the date. I mean in terms of stores and advertising. I swear I saw Christmas decorations out in September.
I know the older Moms out there can relate. Once upon a time you didn't see Christmas items until after Thanksgiving. There was Halloween, then after that we all concentrated on Thanksgiving. Finally we celebrated Christmas. I remember my Mom thinking it was crazy that her friend was putting up her Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. It was just too early in her eyes. Now I bet there are some out there that put up a tree right after Halloween.
One of my favorite radio stations started playing all Christmas music the second week of November. I'm thinking, "You're kidding me right." I like Christmas music but there is only so much of it that I can take. I know I will be burned out on it way before Christmas gets here.
This is not to mention that we have practically excluded Thanksgiving from the holiday celebrations. We're so focused on Christmas that stores are opening Thanksgiving Day to sell you stuff for Christmas. I must admit I will be shopping Thanksgiving because, as much as I don't want to, I can't pass up the great deal on the Elsa doll that Froggie is asking Santa for Christmas. I don't really want to go but at the same time the thought of getting something she wants at a great deal is hard to pass up.
I have been asked if I'm decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. I might put up the lights because last year my husband waited and waited and we had them up for maybe a week. Putting up the lights always reminds me of the good times I had as a child. We will probably wait until the first weekend in December to put up the tree. Froggie likes to help with the decorations.
So tomorrow when you're gathered around the table with family and maybe even friends, think about Thanksgiving. Put Christmas out of your mind for just a moment. Think about what you are truly thankful for.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Monday, November 10, 2014
Are you a friend or are you a mom?
Every so often I come across a really great article. This one was due to the fact one of my Facebook friends had read it and thought it was good. So I looked it up and read it for myself. She was right.
Kelly Ripa was talking about discipline and her 13 year old daughter. She mentioned in an interview that her daughter didn't like her right about now because she had taken away the computer and phone privileges. Her daughter broke the rules and she was punished. She also mentioned that she is not her daughter's friend she's her Mom.
Bravo, Ms. Ripa. I know that there are people out there that are gasping right now and feeling faint. I believe this way too. My four year old, light of my life, told me that she hated me and she didn't love me anymore. She had a major temper tantrum and wasn't listening to me and wanted things her way. I'm sorry that's not going to happen. She got mad and told me mean things. I don't know if it's the way I was raised or because I'm an older Mom but I believe that you can't be friends with your child.
As much as teens say they want freedom, independence and to be grown up, they secretly desire structure and rules. It's scary being on your own. Sometimes those rules you have in the house, even the ones that they break, is a security blanket. I could give Froggie everything she wants at 4 and then she can be a total nightmare at 14. I won't do it. I'm sorry. She needs to know that there are consequences to her actions.
I am not a super strict Mom. Yes I do give in to somethings. I do believe in picking your battles. But I also am not the carefree, I don't give a damn what my child does parent either. I am hoping to raise a well adjusted child all the way into being a well adjusted, successful adult. If that means being the bad guy sometimes then so be it.
I'm not my child's friend. I'm her Mom. I'm her caretaker. I'm her teacher. I'm her nurse. Most of all I'm the one that is responsible for the way she behaves for the rest of her life.
Kelly Ripa was talking about discipline and her 13 year old daughter. She mentioned in an interview that her daughter didn't like her right about now because she had taken away the computer and phone privileges. Her daughter broke the rules and she was punished. She also mentioned that she is not her daughter's friend she's her Mom.
Bravo, Ms. Ripa. I know that there are people out there that are gasping right now and feeling faint. I believe this way too. My four year old, light of my life, told me that she hated me and she didn't love me anymore. She had a major temper tantrum and wasn't listening to me and wanted things her way. I'm sorry that's not going to happen. She got mad and told me mean things. I don't know if it's the way I was raised or because I'm an older Mom but I believe that you can't be friends with your child.
As much as teens say they want freedom, independence and to be grown up, they secretly desire structure and rules. It's scary being on your own. Sometimes those rules you have in the house, even the ones that they break, is a security blanket. I could give Froggie everything she wants at 4 and then she can be a total nightmare at 14. I won't do it. I'm sorry. She needs to know that there are consequences to her actions.
I am not a super strict Mom. Yes I do give in to somethings. I do believe in picking your battles. But I also am not the carefree, I don't give a damn what my child does parent either. I am hoping to raise a well adjusted child all the way into being a well adjusted, successful adult. If that means being the bad guy sometimes then so be it.
I'm not my child's friend. I'm her Mom. I'm her caretaker. I'm her teacher. I'm her nurse. Most of all I'm the one that is responsible for the way she behaves for the rest of her life.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Mom's Don't Get Sick Days
This is the new slogan for Dayquil. The commercial shows a woman that opens the door to a room and tells someone that she needs to take a sick day tomorrow. The next shot is of a little girl playing dress up in her room. The announcer says "Mom's don't take sick days."
Never has there been a truer statement said. Recently a stomach bug went around our house. When Froggie got it I had to explain it wasn't an actual bug in her stomach but a virus. That was fun in itself. She got it first then it passed to my husband. I went three days and figured I was fine. Oh how wrong I was. Wednesday afternoon I was sick at work. I couldn't leave due to the fact we were short handed. Luckily, hubby was already taking Froggie to dance class. I told him I was very sick and to just pick up something for the both of them to eat I was going to bed when I got home.
These are the times I am very thankful for daycare. Even though I still got up the next morning after a sleepless night due to spending most of it in the bathroom, I didn't have to take care of her the whole day. However, hubby had a very important meeting after work. So he took off early and picked up Froggie then told her what was going on. He told her that I was sick and he had to go to a meeting. She asked if she would go to the meeting and he told her that she had to take care of me. She said, "Why don't I go to the meeting and you take care of Mommy." He told her she couldn't because she couldn't drive. Though I do think his meeting with the board would have been much more fun and memorable if Froggie would have attended in his place.
I will say that my daughter is very caring and loving and a good nurse. But she still relies on me for a lot. I had to get her dinner. Thank goodness for Ravioli and a microwave. It wasn't the best meal but I got my child fed. We did a lot of snuggling but I still had to get up to get her something to drink. She gave me lots of hugs and kisses to make me feel better.
I am lucky that my husband is good. He took care of the dishes and put Froggie to bed when he got home. Not all Moms have someone that can or is willing to help out when you aren't feeling real well. I remember the last time the stomach bug hit me, Froggie was just a baby and it was over the weekend and my husband was working that Saturday so I had to take care of her. Let me tell you the last thing you want to do with a queasy stomach is change a poopy diaper. But I sucked it up and I did it. Just like the other night. I had to suck it up and take care of her. She's my baby and Mom's don't get sick days.
Never has there been a truer statement said. Recently a stomach bug went around our house. When Froggie got it I had to explain it wasn't an actual bug in her stomach but a virus. That was fun in itself. She got it first then it passed to my husband. I went three days and figured I was fine. Oh how wrong I was. Wednesday afternoon I was sick at work. I couldn't leave due to the fact we were short handed. Luckily, hubby was already taking Froggie to dance class. I told him I was very sick and to just pick up something for the both of them to eat I was going to bed when I got home.
These are the times I am very thankful for daycare. Even though I still got up the next morning after a sleepless night due to spending most of it in the bathroom, I didn't have to take care of her the whole day. However, hubby had a very important meeting after work. So he took off early and picked up Froggie then told her what was going on. He told her that I was sick and he had to go to a meeting. She asked if she would go to the meeting and he told her that she had to take care of me. She said, "Why don't I go to the meeting and you take care of Mommy." He told her she couldn't because she couldn't drive. Though I do think his meeting with the board would have been much more fun and memorable if Froggie would have attended in his place.
I will say that my daughter is very caring and loving and a good nurse. But she still relies on me for a lot. I had to get her dinner. Thank goodness for Ravioli and a microwave. It wasn't the best meal but I got my child fed. We did a lot of snuggling but I still had to get up to get her something to drink. She gave me lots of hugs and kisses to make me feel better.
I am lucky that my husband is good. He took care of the dishes and put Froggie to bed when he got home. Not all Moms have someone that can or is willing to help out when you aren't feeling real well. I remember the last time the stomach bug hit me, Froggie was just a baby and it was over the weekend and my husband was working that Saturday so I had to take care of her. Let me tell you the last thing you want to do with a queasy stomach is change a poopy diaper. But I sucked it up and I did it. Just like the other night. I had to suck it up and take care of her. She's my baby and Mom's don't get sick days.
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