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Thursday, 05 November 2009
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Soapbox
I don't live in some scary fantasyland where my kids are broken items that need to be repaired and labeled with some kind of disorder because I can't handle the fact that they are acting like kids!
I don't need to drug my child into a coma so I can catch a break. Parenting is hard. There are no breaks. Suck it up.
Kids muck everything up. They do things that make you want to scream and laugh and cry all at the same time. They wipe toothpaste on the walls. They lie. They steal. They blame their siblings with straight faces. They explore the world in so many different and unusual ways it is amazing.
They are all unique and special and have so many different needs and wants – EVERY child on the planet has special needs.
I can't stand hearing or reading about these 'autism spectrum disorders' and how they are so 'prevalent these days'. I don't even want to get into WHY they are so prevalent but I know from personal experience it has NOTHING to do with facts.
HELLO people! Try having an actual relationship with your children and maybe, just maybe you'll learn something wonderful from them! Instead of shoving them in a corner, shoving a pill down their throat and slapping a retard label on them try a little understanding!! Forget daycare, forget doctors, forget endless hours of pointless therapy! Lets try and get back to basics here and remember why we started having all these beautiful children to begin with!
/soapbox
Monday, 26 October 2009
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My Mom-isms
Some things I've learned in my meager 15 years as a mother. For whatever reason these things have been bouncing around in my head for the past week.. do with them what you will :)
I'll probably edit this and add things to it over time.. don't be surprised if I repost it at some point... I just need to get it posted before I forget again, while I have a second before starting dinner!
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Be consistent.
Whatever you do, whatever you say - follow through. Don't say things like "if you do that again I'm going to kill you", and then not follow through. Yes I'm serious, one day the child that heard that one a few times will respond to you with "no you wont, you say that all the time". Trust me, being consistent is something kids notice especially when you consistently do or say something wrong.People everywhere will know you are a mom, forever.
3 pregnancies in a row will leave vast areas of your skin looking like Freddy Krueger's face. Even if no one ever sees you naked and you manage to get out of the house without waffles in your hair, they will still know you are a mom. Case in point: A few weeks ago while walking through a grocery store alone with my big pregnant belly, a woman came up to me smiling and said "not your first is it?". I said "no, how did you know?" to which she replied "you have a little baby powder handprint on the back of your shirt!" and I laughed through the rest of the store.I am not phased by finding crumbs in my bra.
Or an apple core in my shoe. Or even Polly Pocket accessories while rinsing out poopy diapers. Fact is, not much can make me even say 'ick' anymore.Consequences are a kids best friend.
Kids need boundaries and structure. When they veer outside the lines you've set, you need to have set consequences as well. Otherwise the lines will blur and they will never respect you.Television is your enemy.
Nothing is worse than having a child addicted to the television and it's accessories. Some will tell you that it is a godsend when wanting to get things done. Some will tell you it is harmless and every child watches television all the time. I've learned the hard way that television WILL rot the brain and it may or may not be reversible. I've since found that children don't need the television at all and learn way more from me than any educational show that will ever be produced.Alone time is a joke.
Me time will go from a few hours out or some leisurely reading on the couch to successfully making it through a trip to the potty uninterrupted. Personally I treasure that 30 seconds on the toilet, no matter how messy the bathroom is.Cleanliness is next to nothing.
Your idea of clean will not be shared with any of your children. It most likely won't be shared by anyone in the house and you need to get a handle on that lest you drive yourself insane. Always remember at some point you WILL have time to get your house in order again.Patience comes in varying degrees and categories.
There are people that know me that say "man you have no patience at all", and there are others that say "you've got the patience of a saint". Fact is, both statements will be true througout your entire parenting career.Honesty is the best policy.
There are no situations where lying to your child will benefit you or them. Be it Santa Claus or the death of a loved one, the truth is the best way to go. Lies only beget lies and create the need to explain those lies and eventually tell the truth anyway! Children can handle the truth and deserve it at all times! -
Irrational Fear
All this ridiculous talk about the 'dangerous swine flu' that is supposedly spreading and killing 'so' many people.. even thought I've yet to hear of or even come in contact with ANYONE that even knows anyone that's had it.. has got me thinking..
Irrationality seems to be the theme of things lately. For me, I'm certain it is stemming from this pregnancy that is fast coming to a close. For instance, I have this overwhelming feeling that my labor will begin while I'm alone and I'll have to give birth unassisted. This will likely not happen no matter how much my normally rational brain refuses to stop going there, but it is not uncommon for a pregnant woman to be irrational at any time during pregnancy.
The irrationality surrounding the flu though, is mind boggling. I have not had one iota of concern over this insane 'swine flu epidemic', considering how ludicrous it all is. The fact that they are desperate to make it seem like such a horrid situation however, is disturbing. The reports of possible mandates and forceful administering of the very dangerous vaccine, weather truthful or not, are terrifying to say the least - and I certainly would not let anyone come near me or my children with a needle (or nose spray shot) full of that toxic mess. My OB has even requested that all patients in receipt of the shot (particularly the nasal one since the virus is communicable for 21 days after receiving it) stay away from the office, as not to expose anyone to it's shedding dangers.
I just can't understand why this big deal has been made, it is very suspicious indeed. After all, it is only the flu..
Monday, 19 October 2009
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One Crunchy Mama
I found this How Crunchy Are You survey while blog reading and thought I'd share!
How Crunchy Are You?
1. Do you have a homebirth?
No - alternative birthing method(birth center, CNM in hospital, hypnobirthing, hospital birth, ALL natural without any drugs of ANY kind)I have wanted a homebirth for quite some time but it doesn't look like it's in the cards for me.. no matter how much I despise hospitals.. though aside from the intervention laden nightmare that was Willows birth, the rest are/were all natural.
2. Will you circumcise?
NoNot that I have the option at this point (as I'm currently pregnant with a girl who is also my last) but I did not circumcise Lucas as Tre' was. I was more informed when Lucas was born and decided he was perfect the way he was made and didn't need any cosmetic surgery.
3. Do you use cloth diapers?
Yes - wash and make own diapersOf course everyone knows this :)
4. Do you observe your fertility signals using; Natural Family Planning/Fertility Awareness and use that for birth control?
Yes - observe and use for birth control/TTC; or you use ecological breastfeeding/lactational amenorrheaThis isn't exactly true, as with my current pregnancy I was not aware I even ovulated since I was exclusively breastfeeding at the time.. I like to think it was meant to be no matter what!
5. Do you co-sleep?
Yes - part/all of most nightsI was co-sleeping with Luke on a regular basis until a few months ago when he decided he would sleep in his crib once I turned it into the toddler bed.. but he does still end up in bed with us on occasion.
6. Do you use a baby sling/soft carrier?
Yes - make and use your own slingsI have made and purchased a few of these and find them to be a must at infancy and a further necessity when you have more than one toddler nipping at your heels!
7. Do you breastfeed exclusively for the first 6+ months?
Yes - child-led weaningMy goal is always 1 year, with my first I only made it a few month (due to misinformation and no support) but have gone way beyond that with my younger 2!
8. Do you believe in/practice child-led weaning; even if that means breastfeeding for several years?
Yes - up to 3 yearsIf I'm honest I'd say 2 years is my limit, but Willow went a bit over that and I didn't mind.
9. Do you tandem nurse/nurse during your pregnancy?
Yes - nurse during pregnancy and tandem nurseI nursed Willow through my entire pregnancy with Lucas and nursed him through my current pregnancy.. though I dried up near the end of this summer and he became uninterested until recently when my colostrum came in he's been asking for it in the middle of the night.
10. Would you/have you ever breastfed/fed someone else's baby or have someone else breastfeed your child?
Yes - would do itI was never in either situation, but I would absolutely breastfeed a child in need if ever I were asked.. and if another mama were kind enough to do the same for me I would be eternally grateful if it were something I ever needed.
11. Do you eat organic/whole/natural foods and limit your meat?
Yes - try to buy natural, whole grain foods, etcI would like to say we grow all our own produce but sadly we have no property to grow on. We do stick to a more natural and simple diet though. We stay away from almost all processed foods and prepackaged things.
12. Do you use herbal/homeopathic remedies?
Yes - very rarely see a regular doctorOver the last few years I have found little to no use for a doctor whatsoever.
13. Do you homeschool?
Thinking about itI am considering homeschooling for my younger children after experiencing the horror that is public school for the last 10 years with my oldest son.
14. What's your take on childhood vaccinations?
No vaccinesI have yet to find a convincing reason to vaccinate for anything. Ever.
15. Do you use cloth/re-usable products for mom? (Sea Sponge, Diva Cup, etc etc)
Yes - make and use ownIt was the only logical thing to to once I had switched to cloth diapers. I love my mama cloth!
16. Do you wear make-up?
No neverOk, maybe once or twice a year I'll put on mascara or eye liner.
17. Do you shave?
Sometimes/Rarely - some parts, like armpits but not legs or vice versaThis really has less to do with being crunchy and more to do with the tiny amount of time I have to shower.
18. What is your shoe style?
Barefoot whenever possibleIf I have to wear shoes, I love my crocs!
19. Do you use natural cleaning products/etc?
Yes - make ownI've tried some of the natural cleaning products on the market today and they don't do a better job than my vinegar/water/tea tree oil combo or baking soda and lemon juice.. plus they are very pricey!
Score: 167 point(s)
Score:
225-170 WOW!~Crunchier than Grape Nuts!
169-130 Super Nutty, Ultra-Crunchy, Granola Earth Mama!
129-90 Mmm! Love that whole-grain crunch!
89-60 Pretty crispy!
59-20 Sprinkled with granola!
19-5 Instant Oatmeal
4-0 Jello
Sunday, 18 October 2009
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shhh...
noise
yelling
painblinding white
hot and bright
no no please shut off that lightthen quiet
so soft
pillows pillows in the lofthealing
and sad
so goodand yet so bad...
True
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