Parenting

The problem of friends

drouse — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:45:15 -0400

Its been a tough week at our house - and No, not just because we are all stuffy and allergy laden. Although that certainly hasn't helped.

No - most of the drama is about Emily and her "friends". Or who isn't her friend. Or who is, but shouldn't be...or who will be if she gives them XYZ, OR who she wishes would be her friend, but doesn't like her.

Still a girl

drouse — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:50:03 -0400

Emily smells a bit like peaches when she sleeps.

Embarassment Strategy

drouse — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:50:59 -0400

Emily, in addition to the never ending battle of "Did you flush the toilet?", has recently acquired another exceptionally annoying habit.

Whenever she is around another child and/or adult related to aforementioned child, she invites the child over for a play date.

It does not matter when, where or who. It does not matter if she has just spent hours with the other child at a play date at their house, or at a birthday party. She will run up to either Terrance or I, with child in tow and ask if they can come over.

Know where I can rent a Hyppogriff?

drouse — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:30:41 -0500

Dear Emily's current teacher,

You know - I swore I was never going to be one of "those" parents...and to date I haven't. I don't do her homework - at least not with my knowledge or consent. There are times she tricks me into giving up information, but I swear that I am attempting to enforce the "Your homework - Your effort" rule.

Unnamed Parent? May I have a word?

drouse — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:05:36 -0500

Two weeks ago my ten year old daughter walked into my room and said this:

"Is it true that Obama wants to kill babies living in pregnant womens bodies?"

Oh my head.

Deploying my oldest teacher technique, I responded with a question:

"What do you mean? I am not sure I understand your question."

What unfolded was an explanation offered to my daughter by a classmate of the politics of abortion, through a lens of a pro-life religious viewpoint.

Herd Immunity

drouse — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:13:57 -0500

Do you know what that it? Herd Immunity? Well, in the world of public health, it is an important concept. There is a cute video of the concept here, but if you don't want to watch the animated explanation, here it is in the most laymen of terms.

Don't wander in the dark alleys of the Internet

drouse — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:06:13 -0500

From the moment the child is concieved, parents are hammered with the notion of "doing the right thing" for their child.

I mean - the vitamins, the folic acid supplements, the nutrition classes, the birthing and breastfeeding classes. Honestly, I wonder how I was able to survive for 28 previous years with no one monitoring my every mouthful of food, ibuprofen and caffeine intake.

It should shock no one that when the baby arrives that this sense of hypervigilence is extended and - dare I say it? - encouraged. Encouraged how?

Coco The Rabbit

drouse — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:54:17 -0500

The best answer we ever have gotten about why the rabbit was living in the basement was this: The child who the rabbit "belonged" to had failed to take care of her, so the parents shipped the rabbit to the basement of our duplex.

They fed her some pellets, and seemed to refill her water bottle. And they must have cleaned her cage enough so that she didn't develop urine scald.

But in the basement she lived. No real light - in the back where the only humans she saw were the family who had placed her down there - when they did their laundry.

Lesson Learned

drouse — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:44:02 -0500

My weather epiphany came when I was 16.

It was January and snowing in Vermont. However, I was not to be swayed from my decision to wear black patent leather pumps and a skirt on my "date" to the movies downtown.

And a funky old suit jacket that I had bought at a second hand store.

With no hat. Or scarf. Cause these might mess my carefully gelled and moussed spiky hair .

Its the Most wonderful day of the Year!

drouse — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:45:23 -0500

And all you parents out there know what I am talking about -

Say it with me!

School is back in session!

Lord Baby Jeebus - that was one long vacation.
I was worried by this morning that Terrance and Emily might actually fall to the ground and begin to wrestle in earnest - That perhaps a thunderdome had been constructed in my living room and the cast of Mad Max was coming to cheer the two of them on.

Two go in - One comes out.