...And empty my pantry.
A few years back, some high school kids decided they would try to fill the FargoDome with non-perishable goods for families in need. It has escalated into a GREAT donation drive that all area schools participate in.
When you have a child in elementary school, this means you are more than likely donating 25% of your pantry throughout the week as they try to load their backpacks up as heavy as possible for their classroom competition.
Add another child in elementary school, and I'm forking over like 45% of my pantry! Now, I like to give as much as the next guy, I really do. I feel good about it* and I know that the boys think it's a great idea.
But do they really GET it? Do they realize that there are some kids out there that can't just open the pantry door and grab a rice krispie treat? Can't just fill a bowl with their favorite cereal and walk away? They see bare shelves. I don't know that they GET that part of this food drive.
I think the next step is to take them to help actually HAND OUT those donated goodies to a family in need. Or get them in with the United Way and start filling backpacks with food for kids to take home for the weekend. SOMETHING to get them to see that not everyone can just go scrounge in the kitchen and find something to snack on. 87 times a day. It's true, they eat a lot. My grocery bill is only going to get more and more out of hand. And that's OUTSIDE of this food drive. :)
*I'd like to add that I do feel bad when I'm selecting food out of the pantry for them to take - because I will make sure not to give the last of something away because really, that just means I'd have to add it to the grocery list and ugh, too much time. Man, that sounded snotty. I will also be sure to pick things that I know the boys don't enjoy the most. But OTHERS may really LIKE that food, right!??!?! Hmm, I don't feel quite so charitable now that I wrote that out. Oops.
Showing posts with label Parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parenting. Show all posts
Friday, November 18, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Yikes - time flies!
Hmm, well, if you're a loyal follower (hi mom, hi sister), it's been a while since I posted!!
Apparently September flew by and I didn't get a chance to do a durn thing online here. What did I do this month? Well, let's see.
Apparently September flew by and I didn't get a chance to do a durn thing online here. What did I do this month? Well, let's see.
- Had my 8th wedding anniversary
- DH's birthday
- Quick trip to Vegas for a semi-long weekend
- Made 6 (or 7?) cakes for various events
- State HR conference - I was on the committee and so it was a hectic month!
- Had a going away party for my brother-in-law for when he goes overseas in a couple months
- Pinned probably 200 pins to my new addiction...
- Sick kids, sick husband...
- Plus the day to day living of working full time outside of the home, raising 3 boys, trying to keep everything straight! Yay me! :)
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Soap Box
All right - its time again for me to climb up on my soap box and tell you how I feel. :)
Today'svictim, er...topic would be people who use the word "retarded" to describe things that they find either odd, stupid, defective, slow, or some other real or imagined hindrance.
I've never been able to use the word in a derogatory way. I feel skeevy being around people who use it so lightly, so flippantly. I can recall using it once - and I felt so bad that I just couldn't do it again. Just last week at work I heard it and was like - Yeah, I don't like that word. The person who said it agreed that it shouldn't have been said, but....it was already out there. Why do we think that's ok?
For a long time, I used the word "renob" instead. Like "boner" but backwards - Boner Stabone, anyone? And now I can't use that because it sounds too much like I'm going to say "retard" instead. Ugh.
I know that a lot of people lately are all touchy-feely and think that we're raising overly sensitive kids. I agree on a lot of fronts with that, but I don't feel that this is one that is being overly sensitive. Why would it be ok?
T-Dogg came home from school one day last year and they had a session about replacing the "R Word" with Respect. And I looked at him and asked - would you have ever used it in a "bad" way? Because I don't want to set the example that it's ok to do so. And so I know, without a doubt, that he has never heard it from either his mom or his dad in the derogatory way. That fact makes me feel like we're doing a good job. Sure, he's 7 and can't tie his shoes yet, but he knows the difference between right and wrong. :)
You may now resume your regularly scheduled programming.
Today's
I've never been able to use the word in a derogatory way. I feel skeevy being around people who use it so lightly, so flippantly. I can recall using it once - and I felt so bad that I just couldn't do it again. Just last week at work I heard it and was like - Yeah, I don't like that word. The person who said it agreed that it shouldn't have been said, but....it was already out there. Why do we think that's ok?
For a long time, I used the word "renob" instead. Like "boner" but backwards - Boner Stabone, anyone? And now I can't use that because it sounds too much like I'm going to say "retard" instead. Ugh.
I know that a lot of people lately are all touchy-feely and think that we're raising overly sensitive kids. I agree on a lot of fronts with that, but I don't feel that this is one that is being overly sensitive. Why would it be ok?
T-Dogg came home from school one day last year and they had a session about replacing the "R Word" with Respect. And I looked at him and asked - would you have ever used it in a "bad" way? Because I don't want to set the example that it's ok to do so. And so I know, without a doubt, that he has never heard it from either his mom or his dad in the derogatory way. That fact makes me feel like we're doing a good job. Sure, he's 7 and can't tie his shoes yet, but he knows the difference between right and wrong. :)
You may now resume your regularly scheduled programming.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
I don't get it.
So a few weeks ago, I was leaving a meeting and heading back to my office. I was driving through an alley and stopped where it met the street, where there was quite a line-up of vehicles waiting for the traffic light to change.
Directly in front of me was some sort of SUV, it was red but I couldn't tell you what kind, because I'm a girl. In the backseat, which was level with my eyes, was a little boy. He was probably 2 years old, 3 at most. The window was down and he was wearing the cutest little sunglasses and was singing along with some song on the radio. I couldn't hear him, but I could see his mouth just going.
I smiled at him and he smiled back at me. I wiggled my fingers and he wiggled back at me. And then...even though the light hadn't changed yet, his mom inches the SUV forward and his window slowly raises until it's closed.
Um really? Am I some scary chick? I've got three boys of my own - and I don't mind when people make goofy faces at them and make them laugh. Sometimes I am a little leery when we're out in the open or in a store and someone comes right up to them and gets in our space. But to be completely safe, in your own car, all buckled and feel the need to cut off the interaction? It's not like I parked, got out of my Yukon and walked up to his window. No, I stayed in my vehicle, all my windows up, just waiting my turn to get onto the street.
Do we really have reason to be THAT nervous? Ok, I mean, I work in FARGO for pete's sake. I was just so surprised and I'm sure I made a face like - REALLY???
Trust me, I can be a mama bear too but I just thought that was overboard. What do you think? Sure, maybe they have had some bad experiences but wow. I'm still floored.
Directly in front of me was some sort of SUV, it was red but I couldn't tell you what kind, because I'm a girl. In the backseat, which was level with my eyes, was a little boy. He was probably 2 years old, 3 at most. The window was down and he was wearing the cutest little sunglasses and was singing along with some song on the radio. I couldn't hear him, but I could see his mouth just going.
I smiled at him and he smiled back at me. I wiggled my fingers and he wiggled back at me. And then...even though the light hadn't changed yet, his mom inches the SUV forward and his window slowly raises until it's closed.
Um really? Am I some scary chick? I've got three boys of my own - and I don't mind when people make goofy faces at them and make them laugh. Sometimes I am a little leery when we're out in the open or in a store and someone comes right up to them and gets in our space. But to be completely safe, in your own car, all buckled and feel the need to cut off the interaction? It's not like I parked, got out of my Yukon and walked up to his window. No, I stayed in my vehicle, all my windows up, just waiting my turn to get onto the street.
Do we really have reason to be THAT nervous? Ok, I mean, I work in FARGO for pete's sake. I was just so surprised and I'm sure I made a face like - REALLY???
Trust me, I can be a mama bear too but I just thought that was overboard. What do you think? Sure, maybe they have had some bad experiences but wow. I'm still floored.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Traditional Roles
I struggle with my feelings about the "traditional" roles that we all fall into. I want to think I'm progressive, I've grown up with great role models and strong women to look up to. But, I still feel myself falling into the "mom guilt" area beyond just wanting to make sure everyone is happy and healthy.
How is it that I have turned into someone who needs to hear appreciation for meals? I sit and hold my breath while the DH and kids try it out until I hear the sounds of enjoyment. WTH? On the one hand, I feel that I should make something and they should eat it and everything is fine. But on the other hand....I need that feedback. And it kills me when DH says "it's fine" - I need more than fine. I need to hear if I should make it again, if it needs something more, if it's too spicy or too bland. BUT if he is too critical, I can't help but feel bad. UGH! For the most part, he's just happy to sit and eat in peace.
This worry extends beyond the kitchen. Am I the only mom who feels guilty when DH gives the boys their baths? I should ENJOY the fact that he will do it, instead of feeling guilty that he's doing it while I am tending to other things in the house.
Sometimes, I feel that I need to know TOO much information about what happens when I'm not here. If I happen to go to happy hour or wine club, when I get home, I drill DH about what the boys had for supper, if they were in good moods, how and when did they go to bed. Sure, I love to hear the cute funny stories too but I want details about how the night went. Why? Why can't I just trust that they were fed, happy and healthy and peacefully sleeping? I never question DH's parenting ability, but I *need* those details. I can tell that it irritates him but he still will indulge me and tell me. Sometimes I don't get enough details but I try to let it go.
Even with how households have advanced I think that a lot of moms still feel the need to take care of the household, while the husband goes out to work and brings home the bacon. How do you balance it out when you're ALSO going to work and bringing home that same bacon??
I've tried to get over the feeling that I've got to do it all and know it all. Do you know how hard it is to ask DH to make a dentist appointment for one of the boys? He has no problem doing it, but he needs to be asked. It doesn't register with him to just take care of it. So then in my mind, why don't I just take care of it myself?
I should just relax, lay off the worrying and enjoy my family and house. I should let DH do his thing and appreciate how awesomely we work together. I realize this. I do. But it's so easy to fall into the guilt. Grr.
How is it that I have turned into someone who needs to hear appreciation for meals? I sit and hold my breath while the DH and kids try it out until I hear the sounds of enjoyment. WTH? On the one hand, I feel that I should make something and they should eat it and everything is fine. But on the other hand....I need that feedback. And it kills me when DH says "it's fine" - I need more than fine. I need to hear if I should make it again, if it needs something more, if it's too spicy or too bland. BUT if he is too critical, I can't help but feel bad. UGH! For the most part, he's just happy to sit and eat in peace.
This worry extends beyond the kitchen. Am I the only mom who feels guilty when DH gives the boys their baths? I should ENJOY the fact that he will do it, instead of feeling guilty that he's doing it while I am tending to other things in the house.
Sometimes, I feel that I need to know TOO much information about what happens when I'm not here. If I happen to go to happy hour or wine club, when I get home, I drill DH about what the boys had for supper, if they were in good moods, how and when did they go to bed. Sure, I love to hear the cute funny stories too but I want details about how the night went. Why? Why can't I just trust that they were fed, happy and healthy and peacefully sleeping? I never question DH's parenting ability, but I *need* those details. I can tell that it irritates him but he still will indulge me and tell me. Sometimes I don't get enough details but I try to let it go.
Even with how households have advanced I think that a lot of moms still feel the need to take care of the household, while the husband goes out to work and brings home the bacon. How do you balance it out when you're ALSO going to work and bringing home that same bacon??
I've tried to get over the feeling that I've got to do it all and know it all. Do you know how hard it is to ask DH to make a dentist appointment for one of the boys? He has no problem doing it, but he needs to be asked. It doesn't register with him to just take care of it. So then in my mind, why don't I just take care of it myself?
I should just relax, lay off the worrying and enjoy my family and house. I should let DH do his thing and appreciate how awesomely we work together. I realize this. I do. But it's so easy to fall into the guilt. Grr.
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