Why Some People Should Not Be Parents

It is no secret  that parenting is a tough job. I would like to think that many of us who chose to become parents did not go into it blindly and expect it to be a cake walk, to smell like a bed of roses. Quite frankly it is often like walking on egg shells and reeks of shit! But if you are a good parent (not perfect...perfect parents do not exist and don't let anyone tell you otherwise) you know there will be challenges and you opt to make decisions that are in the best interest of your kids. You feed them a healthy diet, you provide them with all the necessities of life. Discipline is difficult but you do it because you know it will help your child to grow and become a responsible adult. You love you kids unconditionally. They are your world, your light, your everything. You would do anything (within reason) for your children. You do not abuse them physically or emotionally. You shower them with attention and affection. These actions and choices make you a good parent. Sure we often catch ourselves making poor parenting choices, but being the good person that  you are, you make sure it doesn't happen again. Your a good parent.

Then you watch the news and stumble through blogs and social media and are astounded that there are a large number of people out there that are just Horrible parents. Period. Too many to mention, too many to dwell on. From the idiot Mom who leaves her sleeping infant in the car seat while she goes shopping for 3 hours in sweltering heat, to the Dad who beats his toddler to the point that he suffers severe brain damage. There are way too many of these horror stories floating around out there. Which brings me to my next examples of poor parenting ( or just plain dumb ass people ). We have all seen photos like this on the internet. But I thought I would share a few with you anyway, just to drive home the point that some people are just crappy parents.

I am sure that the parents who took some of these photos thought it was cute or funny that the kid was playing with a bong or guns. Its all right to smoke a giant doobie while your kid sits on your shoulders...isn't it? It was funny putting the baby in the microwave. NOT! I firmly believe that people need to be licensed to have children.

Wishing Summer Would End

I wish summer would end! I know what you are thinking, is this woman nuts? Well, yes, yes I am! Having my two cute but tiresome kids at home all to myself all summer is exhausting! Oh and the heat....holy cannoli!

Living here in Canada, where we have long cold winters, all I can do is whine about how freaking cold it is outside and how I long for warm summer days. But my love affair with the summer season comes to a bitter end usually by the time the first heat wave hits! Sadly, this summer has been nothing but a heat wave!

Like much of North America this has been one heck of a hot and humid summer so far. Nearly everyday is 29 or 30 then you factor in the humidity and you are close to 40! Humidity is not my friend! I am one of those gals who had the kind of  hair that looks like I stuck my tongue in a light socket while holding a fork into another socket at the same time. My poor daughter is also cursed with humidity hating hair. Then there is that almost oppressive air that comes with hot humid days, you know the days where a person with pretty good lungs even struggles to breath.

Bitching about the heat, humidity, dying grass and plants aside, I have also run out of ideas for entertaining my kids. I used up just about every activity and excursion in my arsenal. I even went camping and to Myrtle Beach! Two trips I really never wanted to do! If I had my way I would be sitting somewhere in the Amalfi Coast sipping Limoncello and watching attractive Italian men walk by.

As the final weeks of the kids summer vacation are coming to an end, I find that bit of excitement bubbling up inside me again. I no longer feel like a burnt out old hag who has seen way too many years. I feel somewhat rejuvenated! I started back to school shopping! While the cheap money pincher in me wants to save money, the trapped Mom in me wants to get all the things the kids need to go back to school. Never before has a pencil case looked so darned appealing! The smell of crayons is intoxicating, the sad look on my eldest childs face as he realizes that his summer fun is drawing to an end is priceless!!! Cruel, nah, just happy. I am happy to finally get a little bit of myself back when September arrives. Do I want cold weather, hell no! But I surely do not want to live in Hades either. I am a fall girl! I love the autumn. The cooler air, colors of the trees, pumpkins and the harvest...all of it. Bring on Autumn!!!

Summer School In Session

It is that time of year again where I am over joyed to have my babies home with me for 2 months. Of course that joy very quickly subsides to merely happy to see their dirty faces to down right annoyance by the middle of the first month!

One of the most difficult things a stay at home parent can do is try to entertain their children for the summer months all while trying to maintain some independance and sanity. I assure you this is no easy feat. This is the time of year when video games and television become a parents best friend. I remember when I was a kid, my mother just shoved us out the door and we only came into eat. We did not watch t.v. all day or nag our Mom to take us to indoor playgrounds or amusement parks, that stuff just did  not exist when I was a kid. While I would love to shove them outside for the day, lets face it times  have changed. I just won't let my 7 and 5 year old kids play outside without me be right out there with them. I try my best, but there is only so much water play, sidewalk chalk, scraped knee's and bugs that this old fart can handle.

One of the other challenges that parents face during the summer with their kids is keeping them educated. It is very easy for a young child to forget many important things that they learned during the school year fresh in their minds. This summer I am spending a great deal of time on the continuing education of my kids. My son who will be going into grade 2 is now reading on his own, but he is lazy. He would rather have me sit with him and sound words out for him than do it on his own. My daughter will be going into senior kindergarten and just started early reading programs at school. So far I have taken them to the bookstore to buy several books, each for their reading level and some story books as well. I found this neat little DIY book publisher kit at Chapters. It comes complete with 2 hard cover books that the child can write their own story in and do their own illustrations. My son loves to make up his own stories so I bought two of these kits. I have gone onto several websites looking for teaching tools to share with my kids over the summer. So far my favorite site has been The Teachers Corner . My son thinks that if he is not in school that he should not have to do homework....tough, I say. Then of course he says "Well you don't learn new things, you don't go to school". You know what he is right! I have not been in school for about 15 years now! I have taken a few courses here and there, but nothing too exciting.
 

So I made a deal with my son ( or perhaps the devil) that if he read 20 new books this summer that I would also learn to try to speak Italian, something I have wanted to do for the longest time. I purchased the Rosetta Stone Totale program and like my son have started working diligently at it.  The bonus with this program is that my children are drawn to it. They like to hear the Italian words spoken and they love the photos uses in the program. It just may be that my kids will learn some Italian this summer too! My son will be rewarded with a new Wii video game, and upon my completion of  Rosetta Stone, I will be traveling to Italy next summer hopefully armed with enough Italian for small conversation!

Who says summer vacation is just about beach days, bike riding, video games and television! It can also be a great opportunity to learn something new!

Family Fun - Arts and Craft for the Kids...and You!

Family Fun - Children's Activities - Arts and Crafts

by TK Healey


Family Fun - Children's Activities - Arts and Crafts



What are some fun ways to spend time together when the weather
outside is dreary? There are all kinds of inexpensive ways to
spend time with your kids. Reading a story to your young child
is a wonderful experience. Listening to music and dancing
together is also fun. Another fun activity is building forts
with blankets and moving furniture together. Then bring in a
flashlight and read a book to your child.



Play dough is also a nice creative way to spend time together.
Roll it, mold it and create great works of art. It's safe and
can be used over and over again. You can make your own play
dough and make different colors. Here is a great play dough
recipe I have used many times with my own kids.



4 cups flour



1 cup salt



4 cups water



4 tablespoons oil



1/2 cup cream of tartar food coloring (use this to create the
colors of your choice)



Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan. Cook and stir over
low/medium heat until play dough is completely formed and no
longer sticky. Allow to cool slightly before storing in an air
tight container or zip lock bag.



Shaving cream art is also fun and easy. Using a vinyl table
cloth or plastic placemats just spray some shaving cream on and
let them use like finger paint. I would recommend using the
sensitive skin brand of shaving cream. Another great favorite is
collages. You just need construction paper, some magazines,
elmer's glue and safety scissors. Have the children cut out
pictures of interest to them and glue them all over the
construction paper. Once their project dries hang proudly on
your fridge.



Make a dreary day into a fun and exciting day with your child.






Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article10632.html

A Child's 10 Commandments To Parents

This year the Ontario government introduced the full day  kindergarten program. Across the province about 600 schools are offering this new play based learning program to children entering junior and senior kindergarten. In the past the school that my children attend the program was daily for half day, which was perfectly fine for me and my little man (who is now in grade 1). I was torn about whether Gaby should attend full time JK in the fall. I felt she wasn't ready, that she was too young. Basically it all boiled down to this mother having a hard time letting go of her youngest child. I honestly felt as though the government was robbing me of my precious time with my daughter. I chose to be a SAHM so I could spend more time with my kids, then when the government designated our school as a full time kindergarten facility I was heartbroken.

Now that we are a couple of weeks into the new school year and my little angel seems to be getting along just fine I am slowly accepting the fact that my home is quiet and child free for 9 hours a day! What also made me feel better about handing my last born child over to the education system was this little paper that Gaby brought home from school the other day. I read it and tears welled up in my eyes but my heart filled with pride that my little girl is growing up and becoming a lovely, intelligent young lady.

A Child's 10 Commandments To Parents

1. Please don't expect Perfection. My hands are small. Whenever I make a bed, draw a picture or throw a ball it may not be perfect. My legs are short; please slow down so that I can keep up with you.

2. Let me Explore safely. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; don't restrict me unnecessarily.

3. I am only little for a short time. Housework will always be there. Make time for me.

4. Explain things to me. Take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world and do so willingly.

5. My feelings are Tender. Please be sensitive to my needs; don't nag me all day long. Treat me as you would like to be treated. I will learn how to treat people from your example.

6. I am a special gift from God. Please treasure me a God intended you to do. Hold me accountable for my actions, give me guidelines to live by and discipline me in a loving manner.

7. Encourage me so I may grow. Please go easy on the criticism; remember, you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.

8. Please, give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then, someday, I will be prepared to make the kind of decisions life requires me to make.

9. Please don't do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts don't quite measure up to your expectations. I know it's hard, but please don't try to compare me with my brother or sister or other children.

10. Please love me unconditionally as I love you without any strings attached.