beachin responded July 31, 2007 at 9:46AM

  Every family has a story, tell yours today www.pagesofalifetime.com

Ok, stupid question............. what state?

  Sticky_Mommy responded July 31, 2007 at 10:26AM

  I love my job, it gives me a break from my kids!

super cool rockergirrl.
beachin - vermont

  LatteMommy responded July 31, 2007 at 10:53AM

  LatteMommy

wish we could be there. good luck. Awesome!

  kymadsmom responded July 31, 2007 at 12:07AM

  

best of luck

  LatteMommy responded July 29, 2007 at 9:21PM

  LatteMommy

Hang in there. I'm sorry you had such a horrible weekend. Been there, done that with the dog crap but I was dog sitting for a friend and she had WHITE carpet. That is one memory I would love to forget.
I will say a prayer for your Mother. Hope all turns out ok. My DH's Aunt is going in tomorrow for surgery cause a year ago they found a spot on her skull and now they said they have to biopsy it. He has lost 2 Aunts to cancer already and we are praying really hard that damn C doesn't strike again.
We've been having bad storms here in MD too. Finally got much needed rain cause we have been in a drought and everything is burned up and brown.
sorry your basement has flooded again.
Things will get better. hang in there.

  vtmomof2 responded July 30, 2007 at 7:51AM

  Life is crazy but wonderful.

That that doesn't kill us makes us stronger. I'm sorry you have had such a hard time, I hope your mom gets good news from her MRI.

  Sticky_Mommy responded July 30, 2007 at 9:22AM

  I love my job, it gives me a break from my kids!

Benjamin Franklin, the great American all-rounder, said that God invented beer to show that He loved us, and because He wanted us to be happy.

Sending good thoughts your way. (((hugs)))

  rockergirrl responded July 30, 2007 at 9:27AM

  www.findbarefootbooks.com

thanks everyone. Especially Ben Franklin for inventing beer.

  kymadsmom responded July 31, 2007 at 12:02AM

  

Hey I am so sorry to haer about your Mom call me if you need to. I certainly can relate to the flooding twice in 11 months and unfourtunately the downstairs is where the bedrooms are can i tell you how inconvient it is to have your kids sleeping in the kitchen again call me if you need something

  beachin responded July 27, 2007 at 8:44AM

  Every family has a story, tell yours today www.pagesofalifetime.com

Oh! I am so sorry that this happened!

Try and keep it together..........things will get better. If you are feeling too stressed, grab your camera, a book, or what ever relaxes you and go out for an hour or two.
Some time away from the house will probably do you good.

  vtmomof2 responded July 27, 2007 at 9:05AM

  Life is crazy but wonderful.

I'm sorry to hear about your basement, I know it is stressful when everything happens at once and this is usually how it happens. I had a minor flood when my washer went last year. It is a real pain, but it will be ok in the long run, it can only get better from here.

  Sticky_Mommy responded July 27, 2007 at 10:13AM

  I love my job, it gives me a break from my kids!

AHHHHHH so sorry to hear that. That is rough even when both you & DH are availabe, but to single parent this right now is mind blowing.

((hugs))

  LatteMommy responded July 26, 2007 at 8:36AM

  LatteMommy

Beautiful!

  dvd1711 responded July 26, 2007 at 9:21AM

  

Nice Axe! Rock on, mama!

  Sticky_Mommy responded July 26, 2007 at 9:53AM

  I love my job, it gives me a break from my kids!

You are so lucky your family is talented muscialy. And it's nice that your husband is accepting of your new lover! ;)

  beachin responded July 26, 2007 at 1:54PM

  Every family has a story, tell yours today www.pagesofalifetime.com

What a beautiful guitar!

I would love to be talented enough to be able to play one!

Congrats!

  cosmoblue responded July 26, 2007 at 3:22PM

  

sweet!

  bestmommy responded July 27, 2007 at 5:07AM

  life is beautiful so live every moment

good lord..you are in love with this? I thought some man..this is beautiful however. lol

  vtmomof2 responded July 25, 2007 at 8:13AM

  Life is crazy but wonderful.

It is awful, we only have 1 tv. We do not allow tvs in the bedrooms which my daughter really wants. We would never get her to read if she had a tv. I have to admit I have never seen a tv at the grocery store.

  rockergirrl responded July 25, 2007 at 8:18AM

  www.findbarefootbooks.com

I haven't seen any in VT grocery stores but I have read they are becoming popular to install in the grocery lines so people have something to do while they wait. The trash mags aren't enough?

  dustbunny responded July 25, 2007 at 10:41AM

  dishing the dirt, cleaning the chaos

hello, have you seen the shopping carts with the wiggles inside the driver's section???you pay $1, put the wiggles on and you LOCK them inside...WTF? is that not insane??

  rockergirrl responded July 25, 2007 at 11:46AM

  www.findbarefootbooks.com

shut up???

  dustbunny responded July 26, 2007 at 12:56AM

  dishing the dirt, cleaning the chaos

no joke, I saw them at shaws in NH- my sister showed me the entire demo...gnarly

  Sticky_Mommy responded July 20, 2007 at 12:04AM

  I love my job, it gives me a break from my kids!

SHUT UP!! Wow, that is such a great deal. It almost looks like summer!

  Smasuzzo responded July 20, 2007 at 2:41PM

  

Such a good deal! Im green thumb handicapped but my mom would die.. she spends so much on her gardens each year

  momotogo responded July 20, 2007 at 2:47PM

  

Oh, I'm so envious! Yum!

  LatteMommy responded July 23, 2007 at 7:35PM

  LatteMommy

Oh my you sure did hit the jackpot with this one.

  Sticky_Mommy responded July 20, 2007 at 9:42AM

  I love my job, it gives me a break from my kids!

I am so glad for the happy outcome. How terrifying. I love how you had to remind the hospital staff you where with child. Just looking at the photo of the belly, you're right it was hard to miss!

  LatteMommy responded July 23, 2007 at 7:34PM

  LatteMommy

Oh my goodness. That is terrifying. Thank God you and Baby are ok. Your DH must of been out of his mind during all that. Best wishes for a happy, healthy child birth.

  momotogo responded July 17, 2007 at 8:31AM

  

Hooray and Congratulations! I acknowledge that it is incredibly challenging to juggle all the aspects of life as mother, partner, business person, etc. But having been a later in life college student by the time I finished, the rewards of pursuing an educational goal are worth it. Hang in there and enjoy the jouney.

  cosmoblue responded July 17, 2007 at 12:54AM

  

Yay that sounds really great. Good luck.

  vtmomof2 responded July 13, 2007 at 8:35AM

  Life is crazy but wonderful.

I agree completely. I worked when my daughter was little, I was a single mom until she was 3 so I had to work and I kept working until I became pregnant with our son and she was 5. I couldn't stand having her in daycare or with family (not that I'm not grateful for my families help) it felt like they were raising her instead of me. The daycare she was in was a wonderful daycare, the people were nice, the program was excellent but it just felt like I was missing so much.

I agree about the testing, my daughter was in 3rd grade this past year and our school, which is poor, does not perform very well on the NECAPs (no child left behind) so they really pushed this test. She spent so much time at school practicing for this test I feel she lost out on time learning new things. It was so focused on they cancelled all activities except practicing for this test for 2 weeks, every afternoon she had to be grilled on this test, of course she passed with flying colors, I never doubted she would even without the practice. But she developed timed test anxiety and I wonder if part of it was related to the pressure they put on these kids for this test. I don't blame the school they are getting so much pressure from above, they get threatened with having money taken away which to me is counterintuitive since they need more money to educate these children, one thing the schools cannot help is the fact that some parents cannot be there to help teach their children. I know I supplement a lot of my childrens education. I teach my kids history, science, math, art (which has been completely eliminated from school) and help with reading since they don't get this at school with so much focus on the NECAPs. I could go on, believe me. All I'm going to say is that if the government wants to have no child left behind then the government is going to have to support families with policies that make it more affordable to live which would help people slow down and support the next generation.

  dustbunny responded July 13, 2007 at 9:17AM

  dishing the dirt, cleaning the chaos

Hi...I agree. Two things...
1) Alfie Kohn is well respected and is giving a voice to some of these issues. Read some articles off his site: http://www.alfiekohn.org/stdtest.htm

2)Maria Montessori observed children for decades and developed the Montessori curriculum based on their needs, cues and capacities. One key component: a three hour morning work period. That's it...no 7:30-5:30 agenda. Many of us agree that children are sharpest, happiest and most willing to absorb information in the morning. What's great about Montessori is they choose to work on their interests or finish tasks from previous days during the work period. What's my point? Outside of a solid, focused work period, almost all childcare is solely for the need of working grown-ups. By all means, I know families need the full day care (as I did when I was teaching!) because so many people need to work all day. Bottom line, the quality and consistency of care doesn't match society's overwhelming demand for care, the children's intellectual needs or the parents' need to see their children more.

As for testing, my son went to a Montessori charter school and they, while they took the CSAP (colorado testing is NUTS), they didn't make a stink of it, they didn't care for it and they didn't let it take over the curriculum....they had a screw it attitude and stuck witht heir methods. We need more of that....

  cosmoblue responded July 13, 2007 at 7:16PM

  

I don't have much to say about preschool because my DD is only 13 months and I am biased because my mother is a preschool teacher at a Montessori so that is all I know really, but she teaches a 3 hour 2 or 3 day a week class for 18 - 35 mos. Her school also has half day kids and all day kids it is preschool that provides child care. It is not cheap $1800 a month for full day infants and toddlers.

I do however agree about the testing. I graduated 10 years ago and I remember being required to take the 12 grade test and thinking that it was stupid. "If I don't pass this test I don't graduate? Shouldn't it be that if I don't pass all my classes I don't graduate?" The questions were easy and It was a waste of time. I remember the entire second half of 8th grade being wasted on the 9th grade test. I wanted to learn real stuff not test stuff. I wanted to read Arthur Miller. I also remember being so mad when I found out that my younger sister had to take a 4th grade test and even more angry that my younger brother had to take a second grade test. I just wish they would require teachers to make sure that the children were up to the grade level before they passed them then we wouldn't really need all of the tests. I actually had a teacher in 7th grade who told us that she hated teaching middle school because middle school kids were boneheaded and a waste of her time. She was just passing everyone in her classes so that I looked like her students did well so that the school district would move her to a high school. At that moment I wished that teachers had to pass evaluations like we had to pass all those tests.

I hope that by the time we need a school for Dd that there are decent options for us.

  vtmomof2 responded July 11, 2007 at 11:41AM

  Life is crazy but wonderful.

I really like my microwave, I have a nice one that I use for baking, well, I soften butter and stuff, I don't bake in it. But I agree things are better in the oven and if I didn't have kids I probably wouldn't use it as much. My daughter is the biggest user, it is safer for her to use than the stove, I feel anyway.

  LatteMommy responded July 11, 2007 at 1:30PM

  LatteMommy

We do have a microwave but it is in the basement and DD is not aloud to be in the room when it is running. We rarely use the thing ever.
My Father-in-law read up on them and what they do to food in the heating process isn't good for us he says. I had read that they can cause infertility issues so when we were having problems getting pregnant we threw ours away (it had broke anyway's).
I've never heated anything of DD's in the mv.
I know heating things up in plastic containers are REALLY BAD for you if you then consume that product. Cancerous stuff. Natural Health Mag. had an article about that too. Also putting plastic water bottles in the freezer causes something to change in the plastic material and seeps into your water/drink and it's NOT good.
I am also a believer in Moderation. But I try to be green and not using the Microwave is better for the environment.
My Biggest concern is so much of our food products are coming from other countries like China. I'm not a fan of this after hearing what and how they grow their food products that we are consuming. Yuck!

  rockergirrl responded July 11, 2007 at 1:33PM

  www.findbarefootbooks.com

Oh I know. SO many people still heat plastic in microwaves even though you are not supposed to. yuck.

buy local buy local buy local.

  vtmomof2 responded July 11, 2007 at 1:34PM

  Life is crazy but wonderful.

I'm more concerned about my food coming from china, and I avoid it when possible, than my microwave.

  cosmoblue responded July 11, 2007 at 9:17PM

  

If I didn't have a microwave I would starve to death. I always use it, but I do avoid plastic though.

  akinvt responded July 11, 2007 at 8:39AM

  

I totally agree with you. I am already wondering how we are going to handle the schedule when DS goes to kindergarten. I am hoping to be able to convert my 4 day a week schedule into 5 part time days. I hate the thought of DS not being able to come home after school and just chill out. I remember the thrill of getting off the bus at my house with my mom waiting to hear about my day over a freshly made snack.

  vtmomof2 responded July 11, 2007 at 9:07AM

  Life is crazy but wonderful.

When I was in school, my dad worked the night shift and my mom was the lunch lady at my school, so both of my parents were home when I got home. I have been home since my kids have been in school, it was a sacrifice since we sacrificed my income but it is really the best for the kids. My daughter has friends that don't know which bus they will be taking because they don't know where they are going afterschool and one little girl I know doesn't get home until 6 at night. I know parents have to work and I agree this is a societal problem. We as a society need to value our families more. I mean these kids that we complain about paying for their education and poopoo the idea of all contributing to preschool or some kind of public day care or don't even discuss family friendly policies that would help families find balance, these kids are the future of our country and we need help them have the best start possible. Ok I feel strong about this.

  Smasuzzo responded July 11, 2007 at 9:21AM

  

Yea i def agree with you guys, but as long as the parents do the BEST they can than thats all the kids can ask for. When I was young was I lucky my dad worked full time and my mom worked as a Med Tech on weekendss or PT. I loved having her there, but my dad was rarely around. They split up when i was about 8 and my mom had to work full time to support us. At that point we went to daycare after school or eventually came home to an empty house for a few hours. I love my mom and she worked so hard to do the best she could and I think that is all any kid can ask for.

  rockergirrl responded July 11, 2007 at 9:26AM

  www.findbarefootbooks.com

Good. We should feel strongly about this. It should be Michael Moore's next documentary. The decline of the family. Until then I will keep stirring the pot by forcing discussion about the topic. It is tough to talk about because you don't ever want to offend anyone. This topic is not meant to disrespect anyone personally. It is the bigger picture. It is the fact that most businesses make people work long hours and miss meal time and sometimes bedtime with their families. It is the fact that it is damn hard to live on one income and for some families it is not an option at all. It is the fact that our society has put work and money above raising our kids and living our lives.

  rockergirrl responded July 11, 2007 at 9:29AM

  www.findbarefootbooks.com

Of course Smasuzzo. I agree with you 100 percent. Again this is not about making anyone feel badly for choices they had to make. People do what they have to do. My first child had to grow up in full time daycare because when my husband and I got together we both came with so much debt from our single years there was no way possible for me not to work the first three years of his life until I paid it off. I hate that I had to work but I certainly cannot feel bad about it. He turned out great. It is just the bigger picture we are talking about here.

  vtmomof2 responded July 11, 2007 at 9:51AM

  Life is crazy but wonderful.

I agree with rockergirl, this is not an attack on anyone for any decisions one family must make to live in a society that doesn't value families, this is a larger issue, not an individual issue. I also had to work when my daughter was small and would be working now if I was able to find a job, another topic for another day.

  cosmoblue responded July 11, 2007 at 9:24PM

  

When I was young my mom stayed home with me and when she went back to work the preschool that she worked at had an elementary after school program. I hope that everyone has looked at Moms Rising. I feel like there are not enough options for too many people. I don't think that anyone benefits.

  Smasuzzo responded July 9, 2007 at 8:57AM

  

Basically they want someone to raise their children and clean their house and run their household. That is absurd. I mean I know that working and raising kids is difficult... but that is just too much. They want the person to do EVERYTHING.

  vtmomof2 responded July 9, 2007 at 9:42AM

  Life is crazy but wonderful.

I agree, Wow. Did it say how much the pay was for all that work? I want to know how much I'm worth.

  rockergirrl responded July 9, 2007 at 9:48AM

  www.findbarefootbooks.com

No it didn't say. I almost thought it was a joke at first.

  handanmyl responded July 9, 2007 at 11:43AM

  Three is for me!

Unbelievable. Honostly, would love to know how much I am worth for doing all that PLUS working outside the home. I can understand needing daycare, for occasions when both parents need to work late, but this person pretty much needs a live-in! WOW.

  LatteMommy responded July 9, 2007 at 12:51AM

  LatteMommy

I agree with you all. Sounds like they want to be let off the "hook" of responsibility. They made their decisions and brought life into the world and made a home for them and now they want someone else to take over. Well all I can say is they will be the ones to suffer big time cause they will miss out on so many important things in their children's lives. I also feel bad for the kids cause they don't sound like they have a very good relationship with their parents.
Okay all this is jumping to judgement...maybe I'll try and give them the benefit of the doubt here....Maybe they have sextuplets and need another set of hands?
ok...I gave it a shot....
I would see about turning that news article over to your local TV station and have them do a report on it cause....WOW!
I read something somewhere once that broke down what we are worth and it is a heck of a lot more than the President makes a year.

  rockergirrl responded July 9, 2007 at 12:56AM

  www.findbarefootbooks.com

Yeah no sextuplets there. there are 5 children though. 2 boys (ages 12 &14) and 3 girls (ages 10,11 and 14).

  vtmomof2 responded July 9, 2007 at 1:02PM

  Life is crazy but wonderful.

Is it just me or do the kids seem old enough to help out around the house? It never hurts to have kids help out.

  Smasuzzo responded July 9, 2007 at 2:06PM

  

um ok... I was babysitting by the time i was 14 they should be cooking, cleaning and helping...it sounded like they need a babysitter... they shouldn't the oldest ones are plently old enough to watch the 10 year old who is technically old enough to be home alone anyway. thats just even sadder. ... ok i get the whole driving to school maybe... kind of ... why can't they take the bus? Are they too cool for it?

  kymadsmom responded July 9, 2007 at 4:28PM

  

I quess maybe the add should have read parents needed

  dustbunny responded July 10, 2007 at 12:25AM

  dishing the dirt, cleaning the chaos

oh no! you found my help wanted ad...busted :)kidding

  vtmomof2 responded July 9, 2007 at 9:47AM

  Life is crazy but wonderful.

Well said. I also have done it all, I have been a single mom, full time working mom, and a married stay at home mom. They all are stressful, just in different ways.

  dhiya responded July 27, 2007 at 9:13AM

  

Absolutely,life is all about making sacrifices..There is no way U can escape...Reality U know..

  momotogo responded July 6, 2007 at 1:07PM

  

Those are fab! Hope there are some left for me. I could use a little update to the earlobes.

  cosmoblue responded July 6, 2007 at 1:09PM

  

So pretty. If I could wear earrings with out fear of being wounded I would be in line for them.

  vtmomof2 responded July 6, 2007 at 9:40AM

  Life is crazy but wonderful.

I agree. I always keep my kids home if they are sick. I wish others would do the same. Even on my daughters birthday, we had a huge party planned but she threw up during school and we cancelled her party rather than expose others to her stomach bug right before christmas.

  cosmoblue responded July 6, 2007 at 1:07PM

  

Sorry your son is sick. I agree this problem is annoying, but not just for kids. Adults learn to be inconsiderate with their germs at work. No one wants to "waste" a sick day on a cold that isn't "serious". If they can stand up they are going to work. When I was preggo this chick came to work and was coughing all over the place and blowing her nose constantly I had to tell her that "if you need to talk to me to please call me at my desk because if I get sick I can't take any medicine." People have showed up in offices that I have worked in with mono and strep throat. I don't think that adults will keep their kids home until they learn to stay home themselves.

  rockergirrl responded July 6, 2007 at 1:19PM

  www.findbarefootbooks.com

oh yes cosmo you are so right. When I was still working outside the home I was blog bitching about the office sickies too. And the parents who would use our daycare and preschool as a drop off hospital for their sick kids. Drove me NUTS.

  kymadsmom responded July 6, 2007 at 2:10PM

  

Oh I agree I CAN't stand it when i go somewhere or even bring the girls to daycare and find out that there are sick kids there. I keep mine at home when they are sick it would be real nice if other partents did too.

  Sticky_Mommy responded July 2, 2007 at 1:24PM

  I love my job, it gives me a break from my kids!

That's what I'm talking about!

  akinvt responded July 2, 2007 at 1:45PM

  

Nicely said.

  cosmoblue responded July 2, 2007 at 3:07PM

  

Right on.