Growing up my older sister S and I had a pretty structured allowance for chores. My dad made a list and it was very detailed on what we earned for each chore. Some of the pay was fair and some was not (even in the early 80s it was not right to pay your daughters 25 cents to mow the lawn). I think for a week we even got paid to read books. He quickly took this off the list when he realized we could bankrupt him before he knew what hit him.
When I was around 7 and S 9, we would be charged quarters for watching 30 minutes of tv. At this same time, the movie Flash Gordon came out. It was the only time in my childhood that we had a movie channel, and this movie may be the reason why we never had it again. My sister and I loved this movie. We scoped out the tv guide and made sure we had our quarters ready every single time it played. I've seen this movie as an adult and it has to be the worst movie ever made. The only thing it had going for it were the costumes. It had bad music, bad acting, bad plot, bad directing, etc. I can only imagine the agony my mom went through every time it played. Parents that hate Barney or Dora or Wonder Pets (my personal irritant) don't realize how good they have it.
I think my parents had a great idea in making us pay for tv time. I think it would be a great idea for video games when the time comes there also, but I'm going to have to figure out a way to mitigate the pain of being subjugated to a particularly annoying show constantly.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Independence Day
Today, we here in the United States celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I'd bet a lot of Americans have never read the document even though it isn't long, but I'm sure every American knows the second line, though they might not know it is the second line: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
We aren't really celebrating our separation from the British monarchy but freedom and what that verse says. What it doesn't say is that some of us really are more free than others. People of color, homosexuals, and those with disabilities are not free to be considered equals and are not given the rights that the declaration claims that they are endowed with. There is no life if one's parents abort when they discover you have a disability, and I'm sure if there was a genetic test for homosexuality the abortion rate for that would be high also. There is no liberty when an individual is blocked by others from buying property for one of these traits. There is no pursuit of happiness when you don't have the freedom to love or have a family or to have to deal with the fact that people use words that are used or were used to describe these attributes as an insult.
I hope on this day of freedom that you think about those not as fortunate in receiving the freedoms they deserve and have a basic right to experience, and if you are presented with a situation to help us move towards an America where people of a slightly different skin tone, those with an attraction to people of the same gender, and those that are differently-abled that you will choose the path that helps them to feel the equality that the rest take so much for granted.
We aren't really celebrating our separation from the British monarchy but freedom and what that verse says. What it doesn't say is that some of us really are more free than others. People of color, homosexuals, and those with disabilities are not free to be considered equals and are not given the rights that the declaration claims that they are endowed with. There is no life if one's parents abort when they discover you have a disability, and I'm sure if there was a genetic test for homosexuality the abortion rate for that would be high also. There is no liberty when an individual is blocked by others from buying property for one of these traits. There is no pursuit of happiness when you don't have the freedom to love or have a family or to have to deal with the fact that people use words that are used or were used to describe these attributes as an insult.
I hope on this day of freedom that you think about those not as fortunate in receiving the freedoms they deserve and have a basic right to experience, and if you are presented with a situation to help us move towards an America where people of a slightly different skin tone, those with an attraction to people of the same gender, and those that are differently-abled that you will choose the path that helps them to feel the equality that the rest take so much for granted.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Little Miss is Ours!!!!
My sister's adoption of her daughter Little Miss has been finalized. I cannot tell you how grateful I am that she will be protected from now on. When my sister actually became her mother two years ago, Little Miss did not even know the letters of the alphabet and could not communicate as well as my other niece that is 3 1/2 years younger. She has completely thrived under my sister's care and was in advanced programs this year and is reading up a storm above her grade level. I'm so proud of them both and am so glad to have the right to be able to continue to spoil her rotten regardless of what else happens in their lives.
On the same note but a slightly different topic, people that do not interfere to stop abuse of any sort are guilty of it happening. They are responsible for it happening and need to understand that a child needs to be protected from them as well as the actual perpetrators. Also, there are other kinds of abuse than the kind that ends up in a police office or criminal court, and my whole family will do everything under the sun to protect the children from all kinds of abuse, including the subtler mental abuse and neglect.
On the same note but a slightly different topic, people that do not interfere to stop abuse of any sort are guilty of it happening. They are responsible for it happening and need to understand that a child needs to be protected from them as well as the actual perpetrators. Also, there are other kinds of abuse than the kind that ends up in a police office or criminal court, and my whole family will do everything under the sun to protect the children from all kinds of abuse, including the subtler mental abuse and neglect.
Monday, June 7, 2010
The Best OB EVAR!
I have a great OB. He has been my OB for my previous two births. I love that he has never felt the need to pressure me to have tests done or anything that I was uncomfortable with. He also asked me what my birth plan was and told me that he would try to make sure that I had a satisfying birth experience. With my first pregnancy, I got excited about everything. When my blood pressure was 130/80 (and I had never even had anything higher than 110/70), he very calmly stated, "You are pregnant." When I thought I was gaining weight to fast, he once again very calmly stated, "You are pregnant." I actually heard that quite a lot. When the nerdlet came out with her piercing scream, he kind of winced but very calmly stated, "That's louder than normal." When I asked how much tearing I had, he calmly told me just a small amount and spread his fingers to an inch-and-a-half.
Today, I went for another appointment. He asked me if I was interested in testing and in discussing it, he agreed with my decision to only have the detailed ultrasound to look for possible health problems. He also recommended that I wait until I was 20 weeks to see the doctor that does them since her philosophy is completely different from mine and that she would push the blood tests and amnio. I told him that I was really glad that he told me that and shared some of the horror stories that I have heard from the other moms I know with children of Ds. The first time I ever saw him shocked was today when I relayed that many doctors will schedule abortions for their patients without consulting them. I told him that it wasn't uncommon and he told me that he didn't doubt it but that he had never heard of it or even thought that any would do that, but he did say that a lot of doctors think that they know best for everyone. I can't tell you how glad I am that I found this doctor and have been lucky enough to have him as my OB for my 3 pregnancies.
Anyway, Darth baby has a strong heartbeat and seems to be doing well. The nerdlet paid close attention and seemed really interested in the doppler picking up the heartbeat. She sometimes seems to understand that I'm going to have a baby. Then other things she does make me think she doesn't really understand as much, like when she told us that she was going to hug Daddy's baby and gave the side of his waist a big hug and kiss. I'm hoping that the girls are as accepting of their sibling as the nerdlet was of the bear cub.
Today, I went for another appointment. He asked me if I was interested in testing and in discussing it, he agreed with my decision to only have the detailed ultrasound to look for possible health problems. He also recommended that I wait until I was 20 weeks to see the doctor that does them since her philosophy is completely different from mine and that she would push the blood tests and amnio. I told him that I was really glad that he told me that and shared some of the horror stories that I have heard from the other moms I know with children of Ds. The first time I ever saw him shocked was today when I relayed that many doctors will schedule abortions for their patients without consulting them. I told him that it wasn't uncommon and he told me that he didn't doubt it but that he had never heard of it or even thought that any would do that, but he did say that a lot of doctors think that they know best for everyone. I can't tell you how glad I am that I found this doctor and have been lucky enough to have him as my OB for my 3 pregnancies.
Anyway, Darth baby has a strong heartbeat and seems to be doing well. The nerdlet paid close attention and seemed really interested in the doppler picking up the heartbeat. She sometimes seems to understand that I'm going to have a baby. Then other things she does make me think she doesn't really understand as much, like when she told us that she was going to hug Daddy's baby and gave the side of his waist a big hug and kiss. I'm hoping that the girls are as accepting of their sibling as the nerdlet was of the bear cub.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Worry Dream
I had a dream that the bear cub was an identical twin and that since her birth I had been completely neglecting her to only give attention to nerdlet and the bear cub until the twin had starved to death. I think that it probably means that I'm really worried about having enough time and energy to mother a third baby. I know that I'll be able to do it and that people have 3 babies (either triplets or singles) all the time and do just fine, but my subconscious obviously feels differently.
I've been putting the bear cub down more and trying not to give both girls as much attention all day so that they won't feel as deprived and blame the baby. The girls were really resistant at first. The bear cub would complain and try to get me to pick her up all day, signing please (for please pick me up) constantly. Now, less than a week later, she squirms to be put down so she can play and explore after very little hold time. I also found her and the nerdlet happily playing together in the dog water dish earlier. Also, the bear cub has gotten very good at holding her own bottle and feeding herself while not in someone's arms. She still wants to fall asleep with a bottle in her mouth which I've been trying to discourage, but a lot of times it means she is not going to sleep for an hour or longer after I want her to.
The nerdlet is having a harder time with the changes. She says, "I'm mad" and "I cry now" an awful lot lately. She is mad that I don't carry her up and down the stairs anymore. She is mad if I only have the single stroller and I won't take the bear cub out so that she can ride. She is mad if I try to double the girls up to bathe at the same time, esp if the bath gets cut short. It's actually nice that she is telling us that she is mad and although the fits are not in any fewer supply, they do seem to have lessened in intensity. She has been trying to be babied more though in the last week or so by constantly trying to sit in the baby car seat or asking to be put in the playpen. She has also been more affectionate which I don't feel to be a bad thing.
We were so worried about how badly the nerdlet was going to take having a new sister and she completely surprised us by loving her from the moment she met her. I have a feeling Darth Baby isn't going to be as well received by either the nerdlet or the bear cub, but hopefully we'll be pleasantly surprised again.
I've been putting the bear cub down more and trying not to give both girls as much attention all day so that they won't feel as deprived and blame the baby. The girls were really resistant at first. The bear cub would complain and try to get me to pick her up all day, signing please (for please pick me up) constantly. Now, less than a week later, she squirms to be put down so she can play and explore after very little hold time. I also found her and the nerdlet happily playing together in the dog water dish earlier. Also, the bear cub has gotten very good at holding her own bottle and feeding herself while not in someone's arms. She still wants to fall asleep with a bottle in her mouth which I've been trying to discourage, but a lot of times it means she is not going to sleep for an hour or longer after I want her to.
The nerdlet is having a harder time with the changes. She says, "I'm mad" and "I cry now" an awful lot lately. She is mad that I don't carry her up and down the stairs anymore. She is mad if I only have the single stroller and I won't take the bear cub out so that she can ride. She is mad if I try to double the girls up to bathe at the same time, esp if the bath gets cut short. It's actually nice that she is telling us that she is mad and although the fits are not in any fewer supply, they do seem to have lessened in intensity. She has been trying to be babied more though in the last week or so by constantly trying to sit in the baby car seat or asking to be put in the playpen. She has also been more affectionate which I don't feel to be a bad thing.
We were so worried about how badly the nerdlet was going to take having a new sister and she completely surprised us by loving her from the moment she met her. I have a feeling Darth Baby isn't going to be as well received by either the nerdlet or the bear cub, but hopefully we'll be pleasantly surprised again.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
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