Daughter wants to know about kissing...

My 12-year-old has a boyfriend. They are "going out." Yeah, going where? LOL.

He's come over here and she's gone for walks with him and her friends but that's the extent of their "going out" relationship. Her dad and I are still struggling a bit with the concept that she has a boyfriend and is holding hands with him. My husbands response when I told him about the holding hands stuff: "HELL NO."

This morning she comes to me before school and asks, "What happens if we kiss and our braces get stuck together?"

Just put me out of my misery now because the teenage years aren't going to get better! I can tell.

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Video Singing Love Story by Taylor Swift

I'm double posting this because I'm biased and happen to think my kid is adorable (they all are), lol.

This is my second grade daughter singing for the first time in front of other people for her school's talent show audition. She sang Love Story by Taylor Swift. She was very nervous. I cried because I'm such a sap.

She made it!! She'll be in the talent show.

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Kids Ice Skate In Shaving Cream...What Fun!

That's enough of politics. My youngest had an "ice skating" school event today...they "skated" with bare feet in shaving cream. Much happier topic than the state of our country, economics, and politicians. Here she is having a great time.

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The Travolta's and the Media

I wasn't going to post about the Travolta's because it's being posted everywhere and it's not like I could add anything that everybody doesn't already know about every parent's worst fear. I know it's been mine since the birth of my first child almost 12 years ago.

However, the media is irritating me. Too much (in my opinion) of the media's reporting is about "John Travolta's son" and then Kelly is mentioned as an afterthought. Is this because John Travolta is the more famous of the two celebrity parents? Don't misunderstand, I've loved John since Grease and now my kids do too. However, Jett had a mother too and from all I have read and family pictures floating around the Internet, she adored him. They both seemed to be parents who truly loved and enjoyed their children. As a mother, I can't imagine the horror and loss she must be feeling over losing her oldest child. Both parents lost their child; not just the more famous one.

My heart goes out to them both. I know everybody keeps offering them condolences, most of which they'll never see (mine included). So I offer mine too...I guess just to make myself feel better in some way but I decided I had to post about the media irritating me again (no surprise there...they generally do). Kelly is a mother; not an afterthought.

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Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Causing Asthma?

Is the Acetaminophen (Tylenol) you give to your infant putting them more at risk to develop asthma a few years down the road? According to one study, it just might. Studying 205,487 children from 31 countries around the world seemed to point towards this.

Knowing how often pediatricians have recommended Tylenol for illnesses or before vaccinations, these are seriously scary results. Is Ibuprofen next? You never know anymore.

Read more about it here.

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Kid Needs a Stick!

My oldest starts junior high in six weeks. Another milestone for my oldest is another step away from her being a child anymore. In a couple years, she is going to be a teenager and likely hate me for a few years. I'm not looking forward to those years.

It's time to start thinking about school supplies again. They're already out all over the stores. One thing that I noticed on her supply list that is different than all her previous elementary school supplies list is that they require the kids to have a memory stick this year. We are also going to set up a computer we don't use anymore in her room, without Internet access for her own safety, so that she can type reports and such when she has to for homework.

I have a feeling the next year is going to see a lot of growth in my middle schooler - not just physically but emotionally and mentally as well. Looking at her baby videos yesterday didn't help me adjust to that fact any easier.

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Drive-Ins are a great family time together

Last night, we took our kids to a drive-in. We haven't been to the movies in a couple of years and I haven't been to a drive-in since I was a teenager. Usually, drive-ins show movies that are already out on DVD or just about to be. Not the one we found. We saw Kung Fu Panda and Get Smart last night. The kids enjoyed Kung Fu Panda before three out of four of them fell asleep while we watched Get Smart.

I packed our cooler full of snacks and drinks (to avoid the expense of buying there) and the kids really had a great time. We didn't get home until after 2:00 a.m. which is very rare for us to ever be out that late (like never) so we all slept in today.

Next time, we'll bring chairs so we can sit outside like a lot of people were doing (my kids wanted to sit on top of my car but that is a big NO from mom) and watch a movie under the stars. They were out last night - clear and bright too.

If you've not tried this with your family before, you should. It's better than an indoor theatre because you can chat or whatever (not worry about how loud your food is crunching or the sound level of your kids bothering other people). Plus, it is usually much cheaper. Taking our family of six out would've cost us normally at least $40 in tickets for one movie. Our drive-in was $7.50 per adult and children are free and we saw two movies. Not bad eh?

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4 Kids & Wal-Mart

Taking four kids to Wal-Mart all at once is never a good idea. I just did that. I have a roaring headache and a short temper to show for it. I made a deal with the kids that if we were going, that they would have to behave and not ask me for anything and I would get them snacks for when they watch Camp Rock tomorrow night. All four agreed. I should've known better. The older kids did good but my youngest...it didn't last. She wanted everything she saw and then proceeded to cry loudly while standing in line at the check-out, during check-out, and out the door because I wouldn't give in to her.

Then we are pulling out and she wants McDonald's. No way in you know where am I now going to McDonald's! Not after that behavior at Wal-Mart. So, then I get the little voice, "I'll behave." Yeah, sure, now that we are done shopping you will. I drove home. I wanted to give in to that little voice, but I know I can't. Being flat broke helped my decision, lol.

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I Can't Believe It!

My son is going to be nine years old next week! My only boy is growing up so fast. He is getting so tall too. Everybody is remarking about it the past few weeks - - he's definitely had a growth spurt. He's such a sweet kid too and does wonderful in school. He's overcome a lot and is doing great!!

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All Parents Should Read This - Vitamin D

I am cross-posting this because I think it is very important for all parents to know.

It is an article about the alarming rate of Vitamin D deficiencies in infants, toddlers, adolescents and teenagers. You may think because they drink milk that they're covered. It's not true. There is more to it than just drinking the milk. Read this to find out how to ensure your kids are not one of the 40-something percentages of children found to be deficient.

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Missing Your Child's Events

My son was in his school's talent show today. He's doing a rap with other members of the environmental group he is in. It's a rap about recycling. My shy little boy was going to do something that he's always been to shy to do before - perform in front of his entire school when he's always been to shy to perform in front of even his family. I didn't want to miss that. I wanted to be front and center with my video camera.

The school didn't send any notices home to the parents about attendance. My older daughter said that parents didn't attend this last year. It's just for the students. That stinks.

I went to the school this morning anyway to drop my kids off. Normally, they take the bus but we had two dozen cookies and two dozen cupcakes to drop off. I brought my camera just in case, lol. I didn't see any parents around for the talent show. *sigh*

I couldn't embarrass him and be the only "mom" there. He's embarrassed enough about mom that I can't even get a high five from him when I drop him at his classroom. Mom there with a camera in front of all his friends would totally embarrass him. So, I took my camera and went home. Not happily, but I did.

Now if my kids come home from school later and tell me there WERE parents there, I will get doubly upset.

When little boys pull away from showing affection to mom in front of outsiders, do they ever come back to mom or should I just plan on the next ten years of my son distancing himself from me in front of other people and just enjoy the hugs and kisses I get from him at home?

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Bad Timing for Throw Up

Why is it that kids will yak at the wrong time every - single - time? I had stopped at Tractor Supply Company this morning, on our way to my three year old's speech therapy, and my three year old yaks in the car in the TSC parking lot as I am buckling her back into her car seat. Purple grape juice across her lap, on her car seat, and up my arm since I'd been reaching across her at the time with the seat belt. I call her speech therapist to cancel her appointment (can't very well bring her in with grape vomit down the front of her), which makes my darling toddler MAD. Angry toddlers are such a joy to have when you are stuck in a small space like a car with them. She wants to go to speech because the women who work the receptionist desk always give her stickers and suckers (and chocolate and money, lol) after her appointments because they think she's too adorable not to. So, for the ten minute ride home, I have a three year old ticked off at me in the backseat - huge frown with the occasional ticked off comment, "I wanna go to speech to see Hannah Montana" before she'd go back to sulking. (Hannah Montana is actually her new speech therapist's name - well, Hannah, not the "Montana" part.)

Being able to stay home with my kids so I can do all of these things with them and for them myself is what I want, but sometimes, I'd like to outsource the "vomiting, ticked off toddler" parts.

The quality of the pic isn't that great since it was from my cell phone, but maybe this sour puss shouldn't have that mad little face too well defined anyway. She doesn't get mad at me often, but she was this morning.

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Sexting - The New Danger for Kids

Is this the new "thing" with teens and texting? I've not heard of it before but as a parent of a pre-teen with a cell phone, this is something I am definitely interested in learning more about for prevention.

"Sexting" is more than just a flirty message sent via text/cell phone. Teens are sending erotic messages and pictures via texting. It is more private than talking on the phone and can be hidden from parents easier.

My pre-teen has a cell phone with texting capabilities but I monitor her useage. She has rules she must follow and I DO check her texts and call history regularly. I also check her contact list as she is only allowed to phone/text certain people (family and a few select friends). It's worked out well so far. We'll see what we get into as she becomes a teenager and starts whining about her privacy (that will be when I take away the phone we have given her the privilege of using:) The cell phone is not "hers" - it is a privilege given to her by us with the understanding that it can be taken away at any time.

For information on how to keep your children safe on this subject and others, check out Netsmartz.

This is not a sponsored post.

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Take 25 - Your Children's Safety

I was coming home from grocery shopping when a commercial came on the radio about the "Take 25" campaign. It was a reminder to take 25 minutes to talk to your kids about safety as summer approaches and kids will be out and about more. So take the time to talk to your kids about strangers, Internet safety, abduction, sexual exploitation and anything else you deem important to your child's safety.

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Male Time

My son is surrounded by girls most of the time. Dad is the only other male in the house regularly and with his work schedule, it leaves my son with me and his three sisters too often. That's too much estrogen for the little guy! He needs time with boys his own age to play with.

There aren't any neighborhood boys within walking distance to us. There are plenty of neighbor girls who come over, cutting through the backyards into ours to play here on an almost daily basis. That doesn't help my son though.

His best friend has been over here once before and as of last night, he's been over to his house. He was able to do boy things! They watched a baseball game before taking off to play on the playground with his best friend, who he says is like his brother. They live out in the country so they were outside to see the neighbor's horses. He came home last night very tired, lol.

I talked to his best friend's mom last night and the boys are going to have a sleepover soon. We were both happy to see our sons playing with other boys as his best friend is usually with more girls than boys too, just like here.

My son definitely needs more time with boys his own age to do boy things. My oldest daughter is somewhat of a tomboy, but really, it's not the same thing as having a male best friend your own age.

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Daddy Daughter Dance - A Great Time!

My girls and I spent the day shopping yesterday. The girls picked out identical dresses and shoes. We were all over the place shopping yesterday. Then a couple hours before the dance, I took them to get their nails painted and hair styled (they picked the same hair style too, lol).

The dance and everything done at the hair salon was to raise money for charity (Cystic Fibrosis). It looks like they did a great job for contributions. The donation jar was overflowing and that was in addition to what everybody paid at the school already for the tickets (which went to the charity as well). Great job!

I took a lot of pictures of course. I always do. My family probably gets tired of them all, lol.

The girls had a great time on their daddy daughter date last night. My oldest said daddy taught her how to slow dance. My youngest demonstrated how she did the limbo. My husband talked about a room full of screaming girls, lol.

Daddy - Daughter Dance May 10, 2008

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Daddy Daughter Dance

Tomorrow is the Daddy-Daughter Dance. My husband is taking two of our girls (the baby is too young, of course, lol). It is a Prince/Princess theme so my girls and I are going to do girly things tomorrow to get them ready to be princesses. First, we are going shopping to find them dresses and shoes. I am going to get princess tiaras for them both too. In the afternoon, I am taking them to the hair salon to get their nails and hair done. They'll put the tiaras on at the hair salon.

It is going to be SO SWEET when they come out all dressed up for their dance with their daddy. I am going to have to get A TON of pictures! They are going to have a good time.

I have to remember to pick up some flowers tomorrow too so daddy can give his girls flowers.

I wish they'd do a mother/son dance but I doubt my son would want to go. He's at that age where he's embarrassed to show any type of affection for his mom so dancing with mommy in front of all his friends probably wouldn't happen, lol.

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Have To Know More Than My Kids

...when it comes to drugs.

My oldest is going to be starting junior high school. It is time for me to become knowledgeable on all the drugs that are out there that are going to be pushed under her nose soon. I was a goody goody when I was a kid so I don't know very much about the drugs that were popular back in my day and now there are so many more out there and more dangerous!

So what should I be researching:

• Drug Names (regular and street/slang names)
• Symptoms of each particular drug.
• Side effects and dangers of each drug.
• What they look like.
• How they are taken (smoked, ingested, inhaled, huffed...did I miss any?)

Did I miss anything? I'm sure I did. Those are my initial thoughts. I have a lot of educating to do to myself so I can talk intelligently with my child about it.

For more on huffing, I wrote this: click here.

The BIGGEST thing I need to teach my daughter: TO SAY NO. She lets her friends boss her around now so I do worry that she will crack under the peer pressure when it comes to drugs. She's a goody goody like I was when I was a kid, but I was stronger. I hope she toughens up the next few years and learns to stand up for herself.

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Wee Willie Winkie

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Up stairs and down stairs in his night-gown,
Tapping at the window, crying at the lock,
"Are the children in their bed, for it's now ten o'clock?"

It's 11:20 p.m. here and my two year old is still awake. She is laying next to me watching Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends. She took a late nap today and slept for too long. I knew I should've woke her but she was so tired (and it was so quiet, lol). She has never been up this late before. I hope she goes to sleep soon because I am very tired myself.

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Too Young

This past week, my first grader has come home with a necklace from one boy and, today, a ring from another. She's listing off all the boys who like her and there were a handful. It's not supposed to start in first grade! At least give mom until fourth or fifth grade please to get used to the idea! It's too young.

Last year when a boy kissed her, she cried. She hated it because it embarrassed her. This year, she is all giggly and happy over these gifts from boys and gushing about them being her "boyfriends" and all these boys who like her.

Mom needs Tequila!

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