Results tagged “children” from Momtourage: Blogger Knows Best

by Yesha Callahan

Last year my 10 year old suggested that he should be able to have an email address so that he can send 'letters' to his friends and family, more specifically his 79-year-old great-grandmother, whom he refers to as "Me-Ma". I'm sure his Me-Ma would have felt honored that he thought she was that technologically advanced, but unfortunately she's not. Personally, I wasn't too keen on the idea of him having an email address, because that would open up another can of worms when it came to his internet usage, which I try to monitor closely.

I was flipping through an issue of GQ Magazine (the one with Robert Pattinson on the cover) while getting my haircut, when I happened upon an article entitled, "The Unspeakable Choice by Wil S. Hylton." I was drawn in by the deck: "Last summer, the state of Nebraska made it legal to abandon a child. Then the children started flooding in--eleven a day at one point, from all over the country." According to the article, people were coming as far away as California and Florida to leave their children at "safe havens" in Nebraska, and that under the new law, they could not be prosecuted for doing so.

While created to protect young mothers from leaving newborns in dumpsters, these were not the parents who were taking advantage of this new law. It turned out that many of the children who were abandoned had mental illnesses, and that many of the parents saw this solution as the only way that their child might get help (because their insurance didn't cover treatment, or because they didn't have the means).

This article surprised me. Firstly, because I didn't know that it was ever OK to leave your children (Texas, where I reside, just happens to be another state that protects parents), and that so many parents were driving so far in order to do this. It made me wonder, of course, what type of parent would do such a thing. Sure, there have been times when I was so annoyed with my children, that the thought entered my mind, but I could never bring myself to actually do that. The article also made me ponder whether these parents were lazy and/or neglegent, or if this was their cry for help.

At least three days a week after school at the playground, we buy Lily (and at least 2 of her friends) popsicles from the ice cream truck.  They're pretty cheap - only $3.00 a day for 4 small popsicles.  However, since my husband was laid off....again....I've been taking a hard look at our finances.  Fortunately, I've been busier than ever however, we need to be more careful with money.  We still have $3 for popsicles but should we be spending $9 a week on popsicles from the truck when they're cheaper to buy from the supermarket? I don't think so. 

Well, this story would have to involve technology. My family, known for various intense and long-standing feuds of the traditional sort (not talking, avoiding certain streets/neighborhoods/restaurants on the off chance that the you-know-who of the moment may be there) has stepped it up a notch and is now embracing digital shunning. Yes, I am talking about Facebook.

For many months, we've been waiting patiently--or not so patiently--for the Omnibus ruling on the autism/vaccine relationship cases. These were the cases of three families who claimed that vaccines caused their childrens' autism. When the ruling came--insufficient evidence to support a link between autism and vaccines--there was a collective groan and mass outrage. This was definitely a backwards step in the struggle to gain recognition of the fact that as vaccines are becoming more mandated, more frequent, and plain old 'more,' more children are being diagnosed with autism than ever before. The bright side though? The court didn't dispel the possibility either.

It's this time of year when I'm hyper-aware of it. I'm contributing to my children's greed. I don't like it, yet I can't help myself. It's because I can, I guess. I can't suppress that desire to give them everything, but I also hate what they've become as a result: always expecting me to buy them treats and goodies and asking for them. My younger son threw a crying tantrum in the bookstore yesterday until my husband relented and bought him the book he was crying for.
Is there a support group for this?

Hours after posting Santa Phobia, my post about my 6 year old daughter's irrational fear of jolly Old Saint Nick, my friend sent me these photos of other scared children with that awful Santa.  I don't get it!  Is is the suit?  The beard?  I understand being scared of a giant rabbit at Easter, I get that too, it's like an acid flash back or something.  But this guy is harmless...and he brings presents!!  Enjoy these, I don't know where she got them but they're hilarious... I think I would have felt better if the kids in the photo were 6 years old and up and not visibly babies. 

We had our first official Parent Teacher Conference with Lily's new Kindergarten teacher last night, not that I didn't speak with her every day the first three weeks during Lily's transition from first grade back to Kindergarten but who's counting?  I'm happy to report, for the first time in her schort school history, that she's doing exceedingly well!!!  And I'm not just lying to make myself feel better about it this time!

My niece is turning 10 this November 22nd and she's a real tweenager: complete with attitude; the perpetual rolling of the eyeballs; and the desire for a cell phone for her birthday.  She's getting one too....texting privelages as of yet are not a guarantee.  She's only in 4th grade for goodness sake!   My mum is giving her gems to decorate her phone with and a 'cool soft pink leather skin' for it.  Has she lost her mind?!  And since when has my mother purchased anything cool??

We had a neighbor's kid over today for a play date.  He was unusually well behaved and was really happy to be over playing with Lily inside while it poured outside.  She was also thrilled to have him over.  The play date was a success!...until...(dramatic theme music)....duh duh dummm.....his parents picked him up 90 minutes late and didn't answer their cell or my texts.  What to do?....

by Michellesamom

Perhaps one that says "advice needed"? Because I assure you Ms. General Q Public, I'm doing just fine without it. Why is it that when people encounter parents, many of them feel the need to offer their advice or opinion? Here's what happened to me today:

There's a rumor in the entertainment industry (well at least among us comics) that Sesame Street retired the Cookie Monster character because of his unhealthy eating habits.  "He's a monster...he has a different metabolism than humans for gods sake!  And he never actually ate the cookies...more like crushed them."  I'm quoting fellow comic Karen Bergreen with that joke.  I don't see him anymore on new episodes of the popular childrens series.  Am I missing something?  Is he still on them?  Are we just not seeing the episodes featuring him in the northeast?  If it's true it makes me very sad 'cause I really liked him.  His complete lack of decorum around baked goods is rivaled only by my Hungarian grandmother.

Lily starts school at 8:05am, eats lunch at 11:50am and has snack at 10:30am.  We, the parents, were advised at first grade orientation by her teachers that we are to send in only healthy snacks.  I've been sending in what I believe to be healthy snacks:  cut up fruit; pretzels; yogurt; organic oreos.  Only to find out, that her teachers have been withholding her snacks because they don't feel they're healthy enough and I quote, "are loaded with sugar."  Do teachers really have the right to tell your children what they can and can not eat?  Should teachers supercede your judgement when it comes to your childrens nutrition?