It's been a rough week. Perhaps I don't give Jamie enough credit for as much as he does...he's been sorely missed this week while in Wyoming! Last night the kids and I walked around the neighborhood and then we walked up to McD's (w/Sherman in tow, of course) so Chase could get an ice cream cone (btw--from now on, Cass needs one too b/c she figured out that big brother had ice cream and she didn't and she was NOT happy). Long story short, halfway through the ice cream cone, Cassie and I got it b/c he wasn't listening. Which isn't safe when you're on a walk.
So anyway, he ended up going to bed early after all that. This morning we were running late again (note to self: getting up at 7:55am is NOT working, must set alarm for 7:30am). Cass and I were upstairs and Chase got dressed and came downstairs. I figured he was watching cartoons, but he wasn't. When I got home from taking him to school, I realized that the tv hadn't changed from last night (muted HGTV) and that my full dishwasher had been emptied. He put all the dishes away--in the right spots, no less, all by himself. Without being asked. I was so very proud of him. So we're heading to Monkey Joe's for dinner tonight b/c I want to reward behavior like that. I've already been to his school for lunch, but he's getting a special night out tonight, just b/c he did a special thing.
Of course, it would helpful if his sister wasn't boycotting her afternoon nap...aye yi yi. Can't have everything, right?
Sherman lost a canine tooth today--despite the 4/26 birthday we were given for him, I wonder if he's really older than that. He's lost almost all of his baby teeth and he's not even five months old! I'm so glad those sharp canines are leaving us.... He's also getting his adult coat/fur and he's rather curly! I've been testing him lately when the kids aren't around--letting him hang w/o his pinch collar and leash and seeing if he'll obey. He's doing rather well. He needs a new buckle collar though--he's rapidly outgrowing his!
Why, oh why, won't my daughter nap? I know she's tired...but she refuses to sleep. Another early bedtime for her tonight...
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Self esteem and more...
Last month at my Aunt Ianthia's funeral, my cousin Dan and I had a discussion about self-esteem and how much of it the current generation of youngsters in college have. Daniel teaches at a state university and community college and I've been volunteering w/my sorority since my graduation over a decade ago, so it's safe to say that we know college students. We both agreed that the "self-esteem" movement has done more harm than good.
I was reminded of this movement when I went to Chase's parent teacher conferences this evening. They no longer use letter grades in grades 1-3 in his school district. Instead, they get a number: 1--not meeting grade level expectations 2--developing grade level expectations 3--meeting grade level expectations 4--exceeding grade level expectations in depth and complexity. I kid you not--THIS is the report card I'll get for the next three years. In case you're wondering (and you know you are), Chase got all 3s. Now, this annoys me. He hasn't gotten below a 100% on a spelling test this year (b/c of bonus words, he usually gets over 100%). I'm looking at a test w/a 93% on it and I've seen lots of those. He's a bright kid and he does well in school. But instead of As and Bs on his report card, he gets 3s. This whole nice-everyone-is-equal-crap drives me crazy because we aren't preparing our children for the real world.
Jamie's compensation is commission-based. He is rewarded when he does well at work w/a big fat paycheck. When he doesn't do well, his paycheck sucks. That's pretty powerful motivation. If he were salaried and make the same $$$ regardless of how he performed, do you think he'd work as hard as he does? Of course not. So as long as Chase is "meeting grade level expectations" he's fine at school--what is his motivation to do better? I don't see any. And that makes me mad b/c once again the need to make kids "feel good about themselves" overrules the need to prepare kids for the reality that is life. And you don't always feel good about yourself in life--that's something you need to learn (and learn to deal with) when you're growing up.
I love Chase's teacher. He loves his teacher, he loves school and he's learning and thriving. But it bothers me the way kids are coddled in our public education system these days...it really bothers me!
I was reminded of this movement when I went to Chase's parent teacher conferences this evening. They no longer use letter grades in grades 1-3 in his school district. Instead, they get a number: 1--not meeting grade level expectations 2--developing grade level expectations 3--meeting grade level expectations 4--exceeding grade level expectations in depth and complexity. I kid you not--THIS is the report card I'll get for the next three years. In case you're wondering (and you know you are), Chase got all 3s. Now, this annoys me. He hasn't gotten below a 100% on a spelling test this year (b/c of bonus words, he usually gets over 100%). I'm looking at a test w/a 93% on it and I've seen lots of those. He's a bright kid and he does well in school. But instead of As and Bs on his report card, he gets 3s. This whole nice-everyone-is-equal-crap drives me crazy because we aren't preparing our children for the real world.
Jamie's compensation is commission-based. He is rewarded when he does well at work w/a big fat paycheck. When he doesn't do well, his paycheck sucks. That's pretty powerful motivation. If he were salaried and make the same $$$ regardless of how he performed, do you think he'd work as hard as he does? Of course not. So as long as Chase is "meeting grade level expectations" he's fine at school--what is his motivation to do better? I don't see any. And that makes me mad b/c once again the need to make kids "feel good about themselves" overrules the need to prepare kids for the reality that is life. And you don't always feel good about yourself in life--that's something you need to learn (and learn to deal with) when you're growing up.
I love Chase's teacher. He loves his teacher, he loves school and he's learning and thriving. But it bothers me the way kids are coddled in our public education system these days...it really bothers me!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Garage Sale
So I had 11 tubs/boxes of stuff. I donated 4 boxes of clothes (2 pair shoes, 23 pairs of shorts, 68 shirts, 31 pairs of pants, 7 pairs of pjs, 3 onesies, 27 bibs, 7 blankets, and 12 hats)--the rest SOLD! Plus, I only have 1 box of toys left (which I'll donate when I get a box instead of a rubbermaid container) left. I cleared $210, which I've been told is quite good for a garage sale. The bassinet didn't sell--I kept hearing how immaculate and beautiful it was though, so I'm going to Craig's List it, along w/another $100 worth of stuff tomorrow during naptime. Hopefully it is all out of the garage by the end of the week.
Cassie is NOT napping right now, Chase is getting ready for his BFF Dylan to come over and play Air Hockey on his new Air Hockey table...I'm looking forward to reading, relaxing and hanging w/my puppy for a bit. If my daughter ever naps....
Cassie is NOT napping right now, Chase is getting ready for his BFF Dylan to come over and play Air Hockey on his new Air Hockey table...I'm looking forward to reading, relaxing and hanging w/my puppy for a bit. If my daughter ever naps....
Friday, September 12, 2008
Dear Matt Damon,
Recently I read your comments about John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his Vice President. I believe you said something along the lines of: so she's just going to take what she learned with the other moms in the hockey rink and use that with Putin and Russia? Ridiculous!
Well, Matt Damon, while you've been busy f*cking Sarah Silverman, Governor Palin has achieved an 86% approval rating as the Governor of Alaska. So clearly, whatever she learned from those other mamas in the hockey rink is making her constituents very happy. I'm curious--is the satisfaction/approval rating from your last film close to that? Forgive me, I can't remember exactly WHAT your last film was...
I'm not a hockey mom--I'm a soccer/baseball mom, myself--but I think I can speak for many moms when I say that US foreign diplomats might learn a thing or two from us regarding diplomacy. Obviously you've never been in a preschool classroom with two other Martha-Stewart-wannabe mamas fighting over which of their holiday crafts gets the coveted red table. And obviously you've never had to tell another mother that her child bit/hit/kicked/punched/otherwise assaulted your child on a playdate. While I realize that neither of those situations threatened the state of the nation, they do teach a person something about getting what they want while convincing the other party they're getting what they want and isn't that the whole point of diplomacy? Don't we want to placate Vladimir Putin and keep him happy and feeling warm fuzzies toward the US while we put up our missile defense system in Poland? After all, he's kind of like that Stepford mom on the playground that we don't mind chatting with but would never let us see without our makeup on and hair done and would certainly never open up about insecurities and issues with. Because you never know who that would get back to. And if Putin is playing with Iran, he's not really our friend.
You Hollywood types would make me laugh if you didn't make me so mad. If you think the federal government knows how to spend your money better than you--by all means, cut them a check. There is no law that says you can't give MORE than what the IRS says you owe, so pony up for the entitlement programs you find so appealing. I don't begrudge you your ridiculously inflated per movie price--the fact that you command millions and get it to make a movie is exactly what I love about this country and our capitalist system--anyone can do anything they put their minds to. As Angelina Jolie so famously said, "I get paid a ridiculous amount of money for what I do." Your success is exactly why I oppose the government handouts you find so appealing. Because big government doesn't work. Because PEOPLE are better than government and bureacracy. Because you can't give a hand up if you're giving a hand out.
Our founding fathers did not design a "living, breathing" constitution. They laid the laws of the land so our country could survive and thrive. I thank God every day of my life that I was born in our great country. I'm not curing cancer or saving lives, I'm just your ordinary suburban Mom who tries to do her part to make her little corner of the world a better place. I'd like to do that without government intervention or without hearing from Hollywood Big Mouths like yourself just how menial and worthless you think that existence is.
And if you'd like to debate this mom on public policy, you're on. Because this suburban housewife would welcome the chance to open a can of whoop ass on you.
Well, Matt Damon, while you've been busy f*cking Sarah Silverman, Governor Palin has achieved an 86% approval rating as the Governor of Alaska. So clearly, whatever she learned from those other mamas in the hockey rink is making her constituents very happy. I'm curious--is the satisfaction/approval rating from your last film close to that? Forgive me, I can't remember exactly WHAT your last film was...
I'm not a hockey mom--I'm a soccer/baseball mom, myself--but I think I can speak for many moms when I say that US foreign diplomats might learn a thing or two from us regarding diplomacy. Obviously you've never been in a preschool classroom with two other Martha-Stewart-wannabe mamas fighting over which of their holiday crafts gets the coveted red table. And obviously you've never had to tell another mother that her child bit/hit/kicked/punched/otherwise assaulted your child on a playdate. While I realize that neither of those situations threatened the state of the nation, they do teach a person something about getting what they want while convincing the other party they're getting what they want and isn't that the whole point of diplomacy? Don't we want to placate Vladimir Putin and keep him happy and feeling warm fuzzies toward the US while we put up our missile defense system in Poland? After all, he's kind of like that Stepford mom on the playground that we don't mind chatting with but would never let us see without our makeup on and hair done and would certainly never open up about insecurities and issues with. Because you never know who that would get back to. And if Putin is playing with Iran, he's not really our friend.
You Hollywood types would make me laugh if you didn't make me so mad. If you think the federal government knows how to spend your money better than you--by all means, cut them a check. There is no law that says you can't give MORE than what the IRS says you owe, so pony up for the entitlement programs you find so appealing. I don't begrudge you your ridiculously inflated per movie price--the fact that you command millions and get it to make a movie is exactly what I love about this country and our capitalist system--anyone can do anything they put their minds to. As Angelina Jolie so famously said, "I get paid a ridiculous amount of money for what I do." Your success is exactly why I oppose the government handouts you find so appealing. Because big government doesn't work. Because PEOPLE are better than government and bureacracy. Because you can't give a hand up if you're giving a hand out.
Our founding fathers did not design a "living, breathing" constitution. They laid the laws of the land so our country could survive and thrive. I thank God every day of my life that I was born in our great country. I'm not curing cancer or saving lives, I'm just your ordinary suburban Mom who tries to do her part to make her little corner of the world a better place. I'd like to do that without government intervention or without hearing from Hollywood Big Mouths like yourself just how menial and worthless you think that existence is.
And if you'd like to debate this mom on public policy, you're on. Because this suburban housewife would welcome the chance to open a can of whoop ass on you.
Monday, September 8, 2008
So Jamie fixed the naptime issues this weekend. Apparently I'd been waiting too long to put Cass down for her morning nap. She does better the earlier she goes down. Rationally, I know this. But I still try to squeeze stuff in. No more. She took two good naps for Jamie yesterday and then slept well last night.
We have her one year pics today. I know, I know--I'm ridiculously late. I had an appt. the day we had to put Woody down. I think that says it all...
Chase is going through a challenging stage right now. That's the politically correct way of saying he's being a little brat. His tantrums are worse than Cassie's these days and she's my toddler. I put the smack down pretty hard this morning--when he threw a tantrum about not getting to finish his Scooby Doo in Mexico movie, I informed him that it was going back to the library today and that he'd never get to finish it. Oh, and no more tv before school, b/c that never turns out well and I'm tired of him whining that he "never" gets to finish what he's watching. Grrrrrr. Then I made him walk to school w/a red, blotchy post-crying face. I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm the world's biggest bitch. And that's okay. I thought my mom was bitch sometimes too. But now I know she was right...I'm banking on appreciation in 20 years or so...
Whilst I'm complaining, can I just say how tired I am of the 15 day period. It's not technically a period. It's spotting. For the entire last month of my BCPs. Ugh. I'm hoping that there isn't much of a period after all this, I guess we'll see in 13 more days. I'm seriously thinking about uterine ablation now, these pills are such a pain. On the other hand, the two months that I don't spot and have no period are nice. Hmmmm. Two months of pleasantness for one month of cramps and spotting--therein lies the dilemma.
I'm off to fix my hair (that means shove it in a ponytail--I desperately need a decent haircut), crate Sherman, and wake the Princess (oh joy) for her pics. I hope this goes well...or at least better than the first half of my morning.
We have her one year pics today. I know, I know--I'm ridiculously late. I had an appt. the day we had to put Woody down. I think that says it all...
Chase is going through a challenging stage right now. That's the politically correct way of saying he's being a little brat. His tantrums are worse than Cassie's these days and she's my toddler. I put the smack down pretty hard this morning--when he threw a tantrum about not getting to finish his Scooby Doo in Mexico movie, I informed him that it was going back to the library today and that he'd never get to finish it. Oh, and no more tv before school, b/c that never turns out well and I'm tired of him whining that he "never" gets to finish what he's watching. Grrrrrr. Then I made him walk to school w/a red, blotchy post-crying face. I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm the world's biggest bitch. And that's okay. I thought my mom was bitch sometimes too. But now I know she was right...I'm banking on appreciation in 20 years or so...
Whilst I'm complaining, can I just say how tired I am of the 15 day period. It's not technically a period. It's spotting. For the entire last month of my BCPs. Ugh. I'm hoping that there isn't much of a period after all this, I guess we'll see in 13 more days. I'm seriously thinking about uterine ablation now, these pills are such a pain. On the other hand, the two months that I don't spot and have no period are nice. Hmmmm. Two months of pleasantness for one month of cramps and spotting--therein lies the dilemma.
I'm off to fix my hair (that means shove it in a ponytail--I desperately need a decent haircut), crate Sherman, and wake the Princess (oh joy) for her pics. I hope this goes well...or at least better than the first half of my morning.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Rock Star
That would be Sarah Palin, of course. Her speech kicked such ass last night that Jamie and I kept trying to call each other (he was on his way home from an appt. an hour from here) and getting our respective voice mail b/c we were calling each other at the same time.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Naptime Hell
So I'm not sure if Cass is transitioning to one nap or if our crazy week has just thrown off her normal schedule THAT much. Nonetheless, she shrieked for over an hour this morning instead of taking a morning nap. She's been asleep now for several hours. Chase is on a playdate w/a friend and Shermy is napping at my feet. We're going to practice obedience in a bit. Jamie is working on the landscaping out front. He's pulling out shrubs so we can redo the whole thing. Always something...
We had a great time at Grandpa Jim's lake yesterday. Cass rode on the wave runner with me and while she didn't love it, she didn't freak out either. Chase kneeboarded, he was a bit scared, but went all the way around the lake. He's a trooper! I skiied a bit and am rather sore this morning. I've really got to start skiing more than twice a summer...the bat (from last Labor Day) was back in the ski, but Jim got it out this year before I stuck my foot in...of course, I'm immune to rabies for another year or two now, but like Jamie said, if that was the same bat, clearly it wasn't rabid 364 days ago. Oh well, better safe than sorry and at least I've got a bit more rabies immunity! ;)
I'm off to interrupt Shermy's nap for some obedience work while Cass sleeps. Happy Labor Day!
We had a great time at Grandpa Jim's lake yesterday. Cass rode on the wave runner with me and while she didn't love it, she didn't freak out either. Chase kneeboarded, he was a bit scared, but went all the way around the lake. He's a trooper! I skiied a bit and am rather sore this morning. I've really got to start skiing more than twice a summer...the bat (from last Labor Day) was back in the ski, but Jim got it out this year before I stuck my foot in...of course, I'm immune to rabies for another year or two now, but like Jamie said, if that was the same bat, clearly it wasn't rabid 364 days ago. Oh well, better safe than sorry and at least I've got a bit more rabies immunity! ;)
I'm off to interrupt Shermy's nap for some obedience work while Cass sleeps. Happy Labor Day!
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