Bridgewater Soccer Mom's view of the world

If you've read the blog for a while, you know that cancer and I have a history . My brother was diagnosed with it when I was 14, and several years ago my Mom died of it. In addition my 2nd cousin has had a bout with it. She seems to have won - NED (No Existing Disease) - go L! I also follow a cancer blog. I discovered it one day about 2 years ago and have been reading daily ever since. It's founder died in August, but the blog lives on, with a group of cancer patients, caregivers and now otherwise unlikely friends. This weekend I found out that someone I know, not well, but who I really like so far, is fighting her 3rd round of the big C. She's got a very supportive team behind her and good medical care. While she was in the hospital, her daughter scored the first goal in yesterday's game and you should have heard the emotional charge behind the cheers. Parents and kids alike were yelling out her name. I'm am guessing that she was thinking "This is for Mom!...

Last night I spent the evening with my son. I have mentioned before that he often is in his sister's shadow, but last night was all about him. First he had his taekwondo belt test. I have never seen that many kids test at the same time. The school had tons of chairs out. N was the 2nd highest belt rank being tested. It seemed so strange to see him there - as one of the biggest/oldest/most accomplished kids. The school's master was pushing him during the testing of forms to do them "stronger", but technically he knew his stuff. At the board breaking he gave it his all and broke the boards on the first time with ease. It was great. After that, Boy Scouts. I have to admit I hate Boy Scout Pack meetings. They are noisy and often disorganized (although this week there were very few kids and it was well done). N earned his bear patch promoting him to the next level. He was very proud. Another reason I hate the pack meetings is that it is mostly Dads who take part, so I feel...

My kids are heading off to work with their Dad this morning. They are lucky! My kids love the kids of T's boss who will be there too. The office will take them somewhere cool for lunch - a full 1.5 hours on the schedule - and I'm sure they'll be running amuck in the office all day long. But WHOOSH did you feel the swift breeze my anger just flew in on? My daughter wanted to wear eye liner and mascara to T's office today. She didn't want to take it off, so this followed with a hostile-toned lecture about how it is important that the kids make a good impression too. I know that the office workers aren't going to change their opinion of C for wearing make-up since they see her several times a year, and generally think she's a good girl. But I don't want ANYTHING to taint how they see T in his place of work. Why does my anger get the best of me? Why couldn't I take a deep breath and explain she needs to wash her face, please because it is inappropriate ...

The biggest challenge in this life is time management in the hours between 4pm and 7pm Monday-Friday. Last night I put dinner in the oven and went to a girl scout leader meeting. No one thought to take it out of the oven until it was long overcooked. I came home and my kids were eating sandwiches (but my Dad faithfully ate what I had made). It is sometimes impossible to get it all done at the same time! That said, my daughter desperately wants to add another activity for the fall (I have blogged about this before and because the final deadline is TOMORROW I have 24 hours to make a decision). I can barely handle the juggling of the week's activities that we currently have. We already eat after 8pm at least 3-4 nights a week. How could I possibly manage another 7 hours per week? The truth is: I can't. But I still want to give C this opportunity. And, yet, I don't. Cheerleading? YUCK! While I write this, my father is looking at pictures from the 1970s. Happy memories from my ...

I didn't think it was possible in this political climate - but the Budget Passed! Congratulations to Cynthia Cullen, Patrick Breslin and Christine Schneider. For complete results see http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20090421/EDUCATION/90421032/1025/education *** As an aside, it has come to my attention that a BOE member wrote an e-mail to an undisclosed number of people calling me and/or other bloggers un-American for criticizing Mrs. Schneider's religious expression because she sends her kids to Christian schools. I have not seen the actual e-mail myself, so I cannot quote it verbatim, nor defend myself directly. Writing this blog to express MY views is protected by the same Amendment of the Constitution as Mrs. Schneider's religious expression. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to...

It may be close, so literally EVERY VOTE COUNTS! If you want my opinion of the candidates see: Soccer Mom's Voting Cliff Notes Vote early, vote often! :-) You can't complain if you don't vote. Back to parenting blogs tomorrow. But I do want to note that today is the funeral of Mrs. G. I can't go since it's in my hometown. Mrs. G. was simply put a lovely lady and a good friend to my parents. I keep trying to believe in heaven... and if it's there, there is no question that Mrs. G's gonna get in. Say hi to Mom, Mrs. G. While the girlfriends are reunited beyond the pearly gates, our family will be there for your husband. Since we can't bring him food in person, I'm going to ship cookies and homemade bread to him overnight. Not the same, but it's the thought that counts.

Don't forget to vote tomorrow. I hope you'll join me in voting for Pat Breslin, Cynthia Cullen and maybe for Christine Schneider... I'm still deliberating. Support the budget if you feel it is the right thing to do. A strong school system is the cornerstone of a community. I'm going to vote yes and encourage you to do the same. It's more than just "those nasty benefit packages" - it's our kids' education. More blogs to come... I have had a very busy weekend and today didn't go as planned. I have started 2 blogs this weekend that I never finished.

No politics or current events in today's blog. If you want that you can read The Courier News about the BRRSD upcoming election , if you want parenting in jest (sorta) or if you want this week's feel good story watch the video . Just wrote another check over $50 (OK - I'll admit it, the first check was closer to $100) for the Plant Sale. What does that signify? Mother's Day is coming. I'm a sucker for the PTO plant sale. And now with 2 kids in two schools, I got a 2nd chance when C's form came home a week after N's. I never buy the PTO's pizza or the gift wrap - but the plant sale, watch out checking account.... The first year I was lazy and left the new plants in the driveway overnight only to find a few stubs the next morning - but I got smart: hanging plants = the deer can't reach them. Anything else? DEER PROOF, if that really exists. Am trying vincas, ageratum and allysum (I think that's why I ordered). Last year my sister-in-law generously...

I am the first number on several people's "just in case" list. How many times has school closed early and I suddenly have 5 kids at my house? Or how many friends have called in a panic with the desperate words "I'm stuck in traffic..." and off I rush to beat aftercare's closing hour? How many times have I taken one extra kid here, there, everywhere? I don't mind because today is one of those days when I'm cashing in on some karma. Guilt free, and grateful! As D and I laze in bed, MR is picking up C from school, then GH will drive BOTH ways to soccer tonight and BM will pick up N when he picks up my pseudo-son (his actual son) TM... It takes a village of drivers to raise kids in Bridgewater. Sometimes you have to lean on your colleague to get the job done! Who's gonna drive my kids home tonight?

Dear Readers, Today I watched the Bridgewater Raritan Regional School District Board of Education candidates night video. While I am not formally endorsing anyone (who am I to do that anyway? I'm just a parent) these are my opinions. I will DEFINITELY vote for: Cynthia Cullen , current President of the BOE. Cynthia's presidency on the board is an immediate improvement over the previous president. She makes people feel welcome and respects their right to be heard. The previous president was regularly rude to citizens who voice concerns during public comment portions of BOE meetings. Mrs. Cullenhas two children in the district and works as a professional in local industry. She also has a masters degree. I have met her on several occasions, including during strategic planning. She seems very intelligent. Her intentions are clear: raise educational standards and have accountability to the public. I will vote with her without reservation. Patrick Breslin . I am THRILLED that Patrick...

How do you get your kids to go to bed on time when they have been up until midnight for a week during break?

Pour yourself a cuppa coffee (or if it's nighttime, a nice merlot) this blog entry was longer than intended... I read two (cross that out and put three) things in the NY Times Magazine that caught my eye today: Lisa Belkin does it again (she's the writer behind the Motherlode blog which I have linked to before). This week with Your Old Man . Maybe all of my issues aren't to do with my Mom. Maybe the fact that my Dad was 45 when I was born plays a larger, previously unknown factor. No, I don't have autism, but I wonder if I have some mild form of ADD. It also turns on its head many of our preconceived notions about health issues coming from the egg to the sperm! (ew, yuck, I just thought about my parents' eggs and sperm!) Time to change topic. The other thing I saw was only by luck, since I don't read the sports section. This was in the Magazine Section, which I usually scan regardless of topic. Today Bridgewater, NJ is hosting a major soccer name at the former P...

I forget how lucky I am to have my kids. When I am angry at them, frustrated with the seemingly endless driving, and feeling sorry for myself for the lack of any viable career, I need to remember that. I can't give in to resentment! When I hurl verbal abuse at the kids, I have to take a ten second break! It's not their faults that I can't have it all (career and kids) at the same time. Some moms do. I was reminded of the lengths people will go to today when I saw this video on Madeleine Brand's website , "Parenting on the Edge". If you are an NPR junkie like me you will recognize Madeleine as the former host of the recently canceled show :-( " Day to Day ". If not, you can explore her site, blog, video and podcast, and get to know what she is doing now. (You might want to check out the video before reading the rest of my blog...) ... How many friends of mine have admitted that they are "trying to get pregnant", or going/have been ...

OK - so can someone explain why the BRRSD would go to the expense and hassle of having a board of education candidates forum that they broadcast on regular television, but didn't post on BRRSD's own website? Someone could have posted it on youtube! That would have made sense so that those of us who forgot to watch, have to borrow the single video that each school got? BTW - if you search youtube with Bridgewater as the key work "Bridgewater Bitch Lady" is the first hit! (It's not me!) I don't usually blog twice in a day, but I was hoping to do some homework for tomorrow's blog tonight.... guess I'll go watch LOST instead.

It's Wednesday - this Wednesday is just as jammed-packed as last Wednesday, and I am suddenly grateful that we have no big plans for the break next week. After school C has volleyball, girl scouts and soccer practice. N gets to go to girl scouts - the awesome art teacher at N's school is doing a 2-week project with the girls and their siblings. I felt jet lagged yesterday after all the crying at the wake on Monday and funeral on Tuesday. I slept poorly 3 nights in a row and that didn't help either. At P's funeral I thought about my own life. If I died what would people say about me? Who would actually show up? A certain person refused to go to either P's wake or the funeral. It made me wonder who goes and who doesn't and why. But that isn't the thought for the day. Today my cleaning lady is actively turning my bombed-out house to a comfortable living space again. I wish she could come every week. Every day. I know one thing they will say about me at my fun...