Tornadoes and Parenting.... and the 'Crazies'

So....I'm tackling a 'current event'....and even put this post on the local online Newspaper: HF Patch.  I'm tackling my current parenting conundrum... Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated.  Seriously - when did parenting get to be so hard?

I can't even comprehend this devastation.  Click below to read the article in full:

Surviving our 2011 Illnesses...ALL HOME TOGETHER!

Walking Pneumonia has officially struck us all.  Yes, all 4 of us ranging in age from 34 to 5 are all on the exact same medication, and all stranded at home.  I attempted, after 3 days on antibiotics, to escape back to work in the city today.  Well, I only made it 5 hours and headed back south on the train.  Too tired, winded, exhausted - all of it.  I really tried to battle it out.  The thought of being home with 3 other 'sicklies' wasn't very exciting.  I was going to will my way back to work and normality.  My body was thinking something else. 

Yesterday I felt pretty good, today much worse.  Why - I'm not sure.  Many people have told me how long it will take us to get over this condition - since it really does weaken our immune system.  But you know me....I'll bounce back quickly....so I thought.  Monday when I sat down with my new doctor, he told me - Take care of yourself and Stop Being a Hero.  But wait, isn't that what my job is?

Suburban Gardening - Our first steps

Nearly two years ago when our townhouse was for sale, I had some pretty specific requirements:  Sell this to buy a REAL house....with a yard the kids can run crazy in and I can build gardens and plant flowers wherever I want.  This may seem like a standard wish or requirement for most people. BUT, not in a townhouse that is run by a homeowner's association that doesn't allow fences, personal children's playgrounds, or gardens.  Really, no customization of any kind.  Period.  When we were the standard DINKs (Double Income No Kids) in town, it was perfect.  We spent most of our time working, playing sports in the city, and didn't want to spend any of our own time actually maintaining our property such as landscaping and snow removal.  Again, it was perfect.  But....as what normally happens when you have children, our perspective changed.

As soon as the twins were old enough to crawl and soon run, the exterior of my home became nearly as important as the inside of my home.  Inside, we finished our basement and added a toy room.  Outside, our hands were tied.  There was a large common yard, but no personal space.  Our daughter once even fell down a neighbor's window well.  Yep, that was the straw that broke the camel's back.  No privacy.  No security. No safety.  And again....no ability to plant a garden and customize anything we wanted.  At one time in our lives, this was perfect - but by today, it wasn't for us anymore.

So luckily, we sold our townhouse and bought a 'real' house.  You know, one with our own walls, a yard we and we alone were responsible for, and one in which we owned a yard as far as the eye could see....where we could do whatever we wanted!  The first year we owned the home, we closed on it mid summer and didn't have a full growing season to take advantage of.  Therefore, 2011 was decided on to be 'our year'.

Children and their 'Filters'....Yes, they don't always work!

Yep...She did IT.  My daughter did IT!  She is five years old....and has been working on her 'filter' more and more over the last year, but really hasn't perfected it.  So, at any time, something could come out of her mouth - loud and clear- that 'maybe' she should have whispered to me or her brother, but definitely not yelled out loud in exhaltation!

But well - sometimes she can't resist.  Sometimes something so amazing/crazy/captivating is happening before he very eyes, that she really CAN'T hold it in any longer....and then ---- she says IT.  What is IT? - well, it's the most inappropriate comment you could ever imagine.  IT is the comment that makes all parties stop, turn, gasp - heck, even the buzzing of the flourescent lights above ceases to make noise and the birds in the air stop flapping their wings.  IT is the worst thing a parent could imagine - as their child is old enough and SHOULD be using an internal thought/speech filter by now - but just hasn't perfected yet.

IT - happened to us 7 days ago.

We were at a little grocery store by our house called 'Walt's'.  In comparison - it's not the mega

In-Church Discipline - A Guide on what NOT to do.

Easter Sunday at Church - one that you prepare for - for weeks!  What outfit to wear.  How to dress your children.  How early to get there to save seats.  But, we were blind sighted by the one facet that seemed to hit us just as we were standing up to walk to the communion line - expectations of 5 year olds!

Solutions for Hosting a Family Weekend Festivus – Napa Wine….and Running

Being the ‘hoster’ of this weekend’s family festivities…. I am feeling the most dreaded sensation right now - ‘holy smokes….why didn’t I plan ahead?!?’

 

We're not in Kansas anymore Dorothy... we're in Raymond?!?

Tonight spurred a lengthy discussion in - you guessed it - natural disasters.  Tornadoes in particular.  Last month was earthquakes and tsunamis after the catastrophe in Japan.  Tonight....it was based on videos and photos of 'God's Country' (as my mom calls it) - Raymond.

Five year-old girls and the bad Hannah Montana influences (us mamas) wish we could avoid....

When I woke up this morning, I read THIS article and instantly ‘got it’.  I have been traveling quite a bit recently for both work and fun – and have also noticed this crazy phenomenon.  You know – the phenomenon of dressing your 8 year old daughter as a hooker?  My daughter is now 5 and yes….I know she is ONLY 5, but something happened this week that made me think that she is growing up way too incredibly fast.  And I agree – all parents play an active role in this challenge and we must be vigilant and not just let them lead their own paths to who knows where.