The link to the blog that I referenced

Many people wanted the link to the blog title that I referenced in my last post. Here it is. Now, this isn't the first time I've complained that I've noticed, first hand, that moms of boys are treated differently than moms of girls. Of course, most women want a girl to buy girly things for, but honestly, that is truly the only reason I can see that a girl would be more desired than a boy. I mean, I totally fell in love with a pink bubble suit the other day at a consignment shop, BUT that doesn't mean that I value my son any less b/c he can't wear it! I mean I guess he could, but I'd rather he didn't. Secondly, I'm constantly hearing "oh you should have a little girl now" well honestly, I'd take another one just like my first or I'd take a girl. I have a 50/50 chance of receiving either, so I better not get my heart set on anything!

Now, moving on. I'm pretty sure my (almost) 19 month old has hit terrible twos early. He used to listen SO WELL to me when I would tell him no. Now, he tests me daily. He'll go to something he knows he's not supposed to mess with and stare at it and move really slow to touch it to see if I'm going to stop him. I once upon a time could just tell him no, but now I have to physically remove him from the temptation. It's driving me nuts! and he's all over the place. We went to the doctor the other day and talk about ants in the pants, he just flat out couldn't sit still or stay in one place. This is all new to me. He's still wonderful and very well behaved, but he's certainly gaining independence! I love it!

I just read a blog post that said "are moms of boys(only) considered real mothers?" WHAT??

Your first memory of magic?

Kris at pretty all true, who is amazing by the way, wrote an awe-capturing post regarding alchemy. Or experiencing magic when it's least expected. It made me think. When did you experience magic? When did something so seemingly ordinary hit you in such a way that it was the best moment you had ever had? I have a few memories of this from when I was child. But, mostly, I don't remember THAT much from my childhood. I'm not really sure why. I know I had good times and bad times. I know that I had bright cheerful days and I know that I had dark scary times. I know that I knew too much as a child, and I know that sometimes I didn't know what I thought I knew. But back to magic. I'm pretty sure my first time water skiing (successfully) was magical. It was amazing to not be scared of the water or what was in the water. It was amazing to by flying through air and walking on water at the same time. I haven't watered skiied in years, I mean years and years. I think I'm too scared on the uknowing creatures under the lake water. I mean what if the alligators that everyone swears don't exist, find me...or the water mocassins that definitely do exist.

I remember magic happening at the beach. My sister and I playing in the ocean (again, I don't get in the ocean. I know for sure that there's some scary ass creatures in there) when I wasn't scared of it. Magic happened at amusement parks. Magic happened in my own back yard. Magic happened when I dated my husband. And Magic certainly happened the moment I met D. Magic happens daily with him. When he discovers something new or learns how to do something. I love watching his face light up with delight and excitement and pride.

If the whole world had to learn this lesson, this way, it'd be a better world!

(Warning, some offensive language with one hell of meaning.)

Could this happen to you?

I never understood how this could happen. How could a parent, EVER, leave their child in the car and totally forget about them....I never got it. And then I became a very busy, very distracted working mother of a toddler. A toddler that frequently falls asleep in the car. A toddler that is an extended rear facing toddler. and I get it now. I've never left D in the car. I've never "forgotten" he was there, but I completely understand how this happens and I cannot even imagine the guilt and the fury that a parent responsible for this type of accident could feel. I used to think that parents that did this, on accident, should be punished to the full extent of the law. Now, I wonder how parents that do this don't commit suicide. I literally have made 3 habits since D was born to avoid this. One, the car is not a place that I allow stressors to take place. When I'm in the car, I focus on what I'm doing and where I'm going. Secondly, I always always always check in the backseat before I get out of the car. Even when D isn't with me. Lastly, I always leave something of D's in the front seat. A diaper, his bag, his shoes, something. Do I think this could happen to me? Sure, if the circumstances were right, the stress was there, and my mind was somewhere else, I definitely believe this could happen to me. Will I take every step I can to avoid this. You bet your sweet rear end that I will. See, we as parents, we all take precautions. We use baby gates to avoid a child falling down the stairs. We test food temparture. We have thermometers and tylenol for unexpected fever, we check for cuts, bruises, and splinters at bath time. Why wouldn't we take precautions against something so tragic even when we "know" it won't happen to us? B/C it could happen to us. We are not immune to our brains functioning. We are not bad parents, but we are human.

Please remember to take steps to stopping this from happening to you. Even though you think that it never could.

How do you parent?

Are you crunchy? Are you smooth? Are you over-protective, under-protective, or just right?


My step dad says I’m over-protective, my mother in law may feel that I’m under-protective, but the truth is, I follow my heart in my parenting. Let me tell you; whoever said that having a child is letting your heart walk on the outside of your body (or some variation of that) was so right. It is. I’m petite girl, so my son who is only 28 inches shorter than I am (I’m 5’1, he’s 33 and ¾ inches!!) is my little heart. Good Lord, I love that child and I protect that child and I’d protect that child if it meant giving my own life. Fortunately I haven’t had to do that just yet, but I would without thinking about it. So I don’t let my child jump in the pool I get in with him and hold him or the float he’s in. I don’t let my child ride in the back of the power wheel’s dump truck that my 2 year old nephew is driving unless I’m walking briskly behind said dump truck to catch him if he falls out, and I don’t let my kid go to the top of his swing set without me since it has two holes and I can only watch one of them and he could fall like 6 feet to the ground. But, I do let my child explore, climb, jump, run, and play hard. I mean exhaustingly hard, I’m just there at any given moment to pick him up when he scrapes his knee, to brush his dirty hands off, or to tell him he’s okay and to walk it off when he bumps his head. Does that make me over-protective or under-protective…I don’t think so. I think that makes me hands- on mom. We spend more time outside than we do in. He doesn’t watch TV b/c the moment the sun is up, he wants to go “side” (outside) and play play play. So we do. We play play play from the moment he’s up (on the weekends) and on the weeknights we play from the moment we get home from work and school. Of course he plays all day at school minus the naptime.

I believe, whole heartedly believe that in order to parent effectively, you must follow your instincts and your heart. We are all different. We will all parent differently, we will all make different choices, but in the end I have to be proud of the parent that I am and I have to choose to not care about the criticisms I may face or the way that Sally Sue may have parented her child. So far, I’m very proud of my son. He’s THRIVING. Learning daily, growing beautifully. Even if he’s tall and skinny!

School leads to Prescription Drug Topic

So far I've strayed away from talking about school much b/c honestly while it's a huge priority for me, it's going very well and it doesn't consume my thoughts. However, currently my class is discussing prescription drug costs, specifically for the elderly. Well I've ranted before about this topic, but I feel the need to do so again.

We all know I'm generally pretty liberal in my thinking. With the exception of how I feel regarding abortions and the fact that I'm voting for a female republican for my state's Governor, you might could describe me as a democrat. Yes, I voted for Obama, and yes I still support that decision.

That's not the point of this...the point of this rant is how absolutely disgusted I am with this nation over the cost of prescriptions. I mean to the point of vomitting and if I could talk Daniel into it, moving to Canada. It's beyond absurd to me that we have people daily skipping out on paying their mortgage to buy prescription drugs. No one should have to choose their drugs over their home!! Drugs that save lives should be a free and clear right. If you can't refuse to treat me at a hospital, you shouldn't be able to refuse to give me my necessary prescriptions based on my ability or lack thereof to pay. Personally, I'm outraged that my monthly anti-depressant drug costs me $35.00 to live a quality life. Some would argue that this isn't a life saving drug, however, I disagree. Without it, I certainly could find myself suicidal. Thankfully I can afford it, but what about those that can't. Secondly, I pay 45.00 dollars every 3 months for my birth control, I'm okay with this b/c I use it solely as a contraception and I'd prefer to spend this than buy condoms. See the difference? However, what about those with serious illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, clotting disorders, stroke sufferers, paralysis, etc etc etc?? I'm disgusted USA, I'm fed up and I'm furious. FIX IT!!!! We must treat everyone like their life matters, not say sorry you're poor, you're going to die b/c you can't afford your meds....

Yes I know there are programs that will help people with this problem, but not all meds are covered and many people don't qualify based on "making too much" what is too much and what is too litte? A family of four that has an average income of 50,000 is probably living pay check to pay check and struggling some just like a single household person that makes 23,000. It's not about what you make anymore, it's about what you must spend. Mortgages, groceries, phone bills, power, water, those aren't luxuries and those bills can't be skipped. Prada bags and designer shoes are luxuries. Co pays, deductibles, co insurances, non covered charges...again not luxuries...aside from plastic surgery, I can't think of a single medical procedure that I would consider a luxury.

Death Rate HIgher for Babies born at home?

I was reading my local news and stumbled across this article. It basically says that more babies born at home die than babies born in the hospital. Okay, this sounds logical but it also goes against all the "crunchy" moms who say otherwise. What do you think? Would you ever plan a home birth? Have you had a home birth?

I've read countless birth stories, including many many home birth stories....If I honestly thought I could get through the pain of my insides being torn in half (that's what it felt like for my 3.5 hours of labor) I would consider it.. but in my opinion, the epidural was the greatest medical advance EVER...so without being ugly and mean, how do you feel about homebirth and this new study?

**I think I should clarify some things** When I was pregnant with Dawson there was no way in hell I would ever even think that a home birth was a smart idea. I thought it was absolutely stupid. Babies should be born in hospitals b/c "if" something happens. I still feel that the absolute safest place to give birth is in a hospital with a NICU available for complications that may arise. However, I can totally understand why someone would homebirth now. How wonderful to be in a place that you are comfortable without the risk of interventions and medical staff everywhere you look. I'm not saying that hospital births are unpleasant. I feel like I had the best birth experience ever, in a hospital, with an epidural. I don't think birth experiences can get any more wonderful than mine was, but after doing some studying and research I can understand why some women would prefer to be at home. I even can understand why some women would want to have an unassisted birth. I would never ever make the choice to do that, but I also wouldn't homebirth b/c I do feel that a hospital is a safer option.

I guess what is so wonderful about this is that at least there are options!