Category Archives: kids

Shopping and a Kitty

On Saturday, just a few days before Christmas, I decided I was going to get some shopping done. Not Christmas shopping, mind you. No, there were a few things I needed, and obviously they couldn’t wait. I had originally planned a quiet day with the kids to rest up for all the activity of this weekend. Several friends are in town, and all of their families are having people over. Some of these people I have known almost my entire life, and their parents of course wanted to see my children. Last time some of them saw me I was pregnant with Munchie, so it has been a while.
This relaxing Saturday afternoon was in the making when my mother called. Apparently over the last few months she has gotten used to having the kids for a day each weekend. I told her I wasn’t really planning on it this week, but she will see them for Christmas in a few days. Nope.
I took the kids to my parent’s house on Saturday mid morning and began playing with them in the back yard. Since I have been dropping the kids off and heading on my merry way, my parents wanted to know why I was still there. They love me dearly, but I was hogging the children. Um… well then. Since I pretty much always have a book or two in my giant purse I headed off to Starbucks thinking I was going to get some reading done. Starbucks a few days before Christmas is not the place to get any reading done. But there was a mall just down the street. And I did need some things. So that is how I ended up going shopping amidst all the madness. I did find almost everything I was looking for. Except a new pair of jeans and one other thing. Still working on that.
With some more time to kill I ended up at Tanya’s house and we went grocery shopping for the brunch she was having the next day. Which was absolutely delicious by the way. While at her house, Duncan, her adorable kitty, was totally fascinated with my coat, and for such a long period of time that I, Tanya, and her husband all took pictures of the cuteness. Duncan was practically trying to climb into my coat, but could not figure out how. I used the best picture as the header for this post. What would Christmas be without cute kitty pictures? It would not be as good, that is for sure.
Enjoy the holidays everyone!

How Not To Raise Your Child

As I like to say, when it comes to parenting, there are more opinions than there are actual children. I am a parent, and have managed to keep my children alive, one for over two years, so in that sense, go me! However, this does not qualify me to give advice to anyone in regards to parenting. Because honestly, I have about as much a clue on the subject as you do. I know my kids, and I may know some things about yours, but at the end of the day, they are your children, and you know them best.
Parents who get all preachy and judgmental drive me up a wall. Unless I am directly harming my children, please mind your own business, and I will mind mine. Currently my business is my own kids. Which I mind just fine.
I am sure you have opinions, and frankly I would love to hear them, because that is how I get half of my own ideas. I hear what other people have to say, and then decide whether or not I like what I am hearing. If you want to know my opinion on different things like breast feeding, potty training, discipline and so forth, well, not surprisingly, I have a lot of them. I will gladly share, and talk your ear off. But I will not be offended if at the end of my rant you chose to say “no, thank you” to everything I have said. Because that is your prerogative.
It does take a village to raise a child, and there should definitely be a conversation between parents on best practices. That is how we all learn. Especially if you are having your first child and someone else has already been there done that, multiple times. That is called learning from others’ experiences. It is a wonderful process, and can be very helpful. But when the parent in the know takes it upon themselves to bash everyone else who does not take their advice, then it gets ugly. It is no longer called a conversation, it morphs into something akin to an argument. And from some of the blogs and boards I have seen, it can get pretty heated.
Some topics are a lot hotter than others. Breast feeding is one of them. If you have been reading my blog, you will know that I have tried (wasn’t all too successful, and if you read A Nervous Tic Motion this coming Thursday you will get a glimpse into why). Others have chosen not to try. I can respect that even if I don’t understand it.
But then again I have seen people tare each other to shreds in forums over much more innocuous matters, such as which onesies and rattles are best. Seriously folks? If you are having trouble sleeping because someone else gave their kid a rattle you don’t agree with there is a much larger issue there. Hint: it’s not the rattle.
So I am going to ask the age old question of why can’t we all just get along? Why can’t we share parenting experiences like kittens? Because no one ever argues about which kitten is best. We can all agree they are all wonderful.
So, in conclusion, I am ending with this hilarious, and only mildly off topic cartoon from Time.