Bridgewater Soccer Mom's view of the world

As is often the case, I spent the early part of my Sunday morning reading Saturday's NY Times, specifically  The Jihadist Next Door . As I read this I kept asking myself: how much influence do parents really have on their children and their decision making? I think this could never happen to my kids - or should I rephrase that to - my kids would never do this. But of course, it could and they might. Maybe not the Muslim extremist part - but a series of life altering series (bad) decisions, that in my opinion, ruin their lives.  What if it does? Where is the "What to expect when you're expecting" book for parents of adult kids who make awful mistakes or become the kinds of people that the parents didn't want them to be? What then? Not in my neighborhood??? Think again! Maybe people I've spoken to are right. Maybe it is more important for you to be an important part of your kids life when they are in High School than when they are in grade school? The fir...

My father has a very annoying habit. In the middle of a conversation, he will interrupt with "Oh Chaaaa-riast!" (as in taking the Lord's name in vain). He will then say "oh it's just something I said."  "When?" "In December 1957!" I woke up at about 5am today with the same problem - not from 1957, decades before my birth - but from several things that were either said or done yesterday. Among the doozies - A debacle about who was coming last night. I think I hurt my friend's feelings. :-( I asked another friend if she is still in contact with her ex-husband. It went over so poorly that she ignored the question completely, while another friend gawked at me for my poor taste. My lack of organization skills - dinner wasn't ready until almost 8pm when we were supposed to meet friends at the mall (see bullet point 1). At 8:20 we were finished with dinner and the mall closed at 9pm so we took a rain check, however this was a log...

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES... 1) THE POST THAT JUST WENT UP WAS WRITTEN WEDNESDAY. MAKES LESS SENSE TODAY. ALSO I HOPE THAT IF CD SEES HER MUGSGOT COMPARED TO A TV STAR SHE WILL TAKE IT AS NICE TEASING AND NOT THINK I'M SOME WEIRD STALKER. I FOUND IT BY GOOGLE IMAGES FOR BRRSD. 2) AM WRITING THIS ON MY IPHONE WHICH SOMEHOW HAS ME IN CAPS LOCKED MODE. SO I'M NOT YELLING!!! I'M JUST TECHNICALLY CHALLENGED. 3)KIDS DOING FINE IN SCHOOL. COULD DO BETTER ( N LOST POINTS FOR FORGETTING THE H IN NORTH - NORTH DAKOTA, AND C THOUGHT THAT EGYPT IS IN ASIA. BUT PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES ALL THE TIME. LOOK AT MY TECHIE PROBS BLOGGING TODAY!! HAVEN'T HEARD WORD 1 FROM MIL IN AT LEAST 2 WEEKS. I HOPE YOU ARE OK DEAR KKL. ARE YOU HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES TOO?  SPELL CHECK ISN'T WORKING EITHER. SOOOO I HOPE THIS BLOG ENTRY WILL AMUSE YOU DEAR READER AND THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN PAST THE YELLING. FINALLY A SHOUT OUT TO DEAR J. YOU'VE HAD SOME BAD WEEKS . I HOPE ALL ...

Last night I missed the big budget "meeting of the year" at the Board of Ed. They are talking about cutting the AI-program in the 5th and 6th grades and increasing offerings in e-programs. I've blogged about both of these programs on a number of occasions - in fact it is how I started to blog in the first place . Normally I would have itched to go to such a contentious meeting where I would have happily taken the podium to add my 2 cents worth. Last night I got home at 8:15pm from driving the Tae Kwon-Do carpool, I served dinner that was heating (only slightly burned) in the oven, put on my PJs, opened a Sam Adams and flipped between a LOST rerun, The Biggest Loser & Deal or No Deal. I have strong opinions about the AI and e-programs! I have waited my turn to speak about them at the BOE on a number of occasions. But you know what - I'm happy that I stayed home. If you read yesterday's blog, I was tired and grumpy in the morning. Staying up until past mi...

Lately I've been wondering - is there such a thing as the right time to go back to work and is now the right time? I am taking a class at the local college, hearing all these bright young people with their plans to be things like lawyers and psychologists. "I just like learning things, so I'm a dating a reference librarian" one twenty-ish student said. Even the professor seems to have taken a teaching job only after he had a kid and realized he couldn't do research abroad forever. He encouraged us all to travel "on the government's dime" (i.e. on a Fullbright or other grant-sponsored program). He was preaching to the choir. If I could get on a plane and study something, you wouldn't have to ask me twice! I'm still game to travel on a one-way ticket! When it came to my turn to introduce myself, I actually was at a loss for a reason to take the class, other than it sounds like fun. Unwillingly cleaning the toilets this morning, I asked my...

Had lunch today with KC at Origin . For once I expanded my horizons and ordered something totally different. Lunch with K is always an inspiration. We seem to feed off each others' energy and always have plenty to discuss. She has three boisterous kids plus a husband (TC) who is an interesting character. All in the next two weeks - TC is off to Helsinki. KC is off to Guatelmala. My T is off to Oslo. (I'm not heading anywhere, but I was just in Europe, so I'm not complaining!). I'm interested in school board politics, KC in Town Council politics, specifically the cell phone tower which is proposed just beyond her back yard. She used to be neighbors with Pure Evil whom I ran into last week. She had seen his sliminess recently too. Always a little gossip mixed in. KC and I could talk endlessly!!!! Even after about an hour and a half devouring our delish Thai food, we chatted in front of our cars for another half hour. K gets me. She really does. I miss living 50...

Haven't written much this week as it seems like an endless series of errands, duties and laundry. Guess that is what my life is this week. Did I mention cooking? Along with that, of course is cooking's BFF - EATING. Been doing that too. Scale isn't going down any, at least. I did see my friends yesterday, today and will have coffee with someone tomorrow, so for my griping, it "ain't too shabby"! Be well, dear readers.

My Mom always said her least favorite thing in the world was a hypocrite. I've generally tried not to be one. I am also trying to instill the same value in my kids. Just yesterday I pointed out how C did something on Friday that she complained another friend did earlier in the week that hurt C's feelings. "But..." the explanation started. So I explained to her what a hypocrite is. This is Merriam-Webster's definition. Main Entry: hyp·o·crite Pronunciation: \ˈhi-pə-ˌkrit\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English ypocrite, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin hypocrita, from Greek hypokritēs actor, hypocrite, from hypokrinesthai Date: 13th century 1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion 2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings — hypocrite adjective The problem is sometimes everyone is a hypocrite! I'm no exception. On the same day my daughter was being a classic example ...

 A blog in 3 acts. No particular order: Part A) Congratulations, Christine Rose. I don't know you, I don't know anything about you, but I am very glad you beat out your opponent for the open Council seat last night. Part B) All's well that ends well. Part C) The BOE voted to end the AI program for the 5th and 6th grades and expand e- offerings instead. This is probably a good thing as it will raise the bar to have additional bright kids in regular classes. (AI is a self-contained classroom for the "most gifted" kids, e- are advanced classes in Language Arts or Math, now they will include Science and Social Studies, too. The admission process is the same - testing and teacher recommendation. ). I think it is also socially good to have these kids integrated in sports, lunch, specials, etc. Apparently it saves several hundred thousand dollars. I want the district to open what it offers to more kids. This might help! (It might not too). Maybe someone like N who...

OK, in case you are wondering, I haven't abandoned my blog. In fact I have been writing a lot. Just not posting. Some of what has been going on has been so personal that I haven't felt comfortable sharing. I'm still trying to tweak something that I can share. In the mean time, a quick winge-session. Here's a conundrum: the 4th grade at my son's school is gearing up to learn the 50 states, their placement, capitals, spelling and .... ... and apparently their 2-letter abbreviation. N is very challenged with memorizing things. We have spent 30 minutes per night learning 3 states at a time. And just now I found out he was supposed to learn the 2-letter abbreviation too. It's an hour too late. School started already. I so suck! How could I have not seen that in the parents' letter? Poor N. It isn't his fault! It's mine! Say a little prayer (if you pray and don't think that your God has more important things going on to worry about my kid...

It's the new decade and I'm already a little unsure about its start. N bonked his head and we ended up in the ER for a STAPLE. It was pretty inhumane - but much faster than stitches. I am directly dreading when it gets pulled out on Saturday! Then this morning the alarm didn't wake us, not because I didn't set it, but because I didn't check the volume level and of course it was silent. Everyone got to school as close to on time as to not call it tardy, but N needs a few minutes in the morning to get his act together if he is going to finish his morning work on time. I am pretty sure his teacher thinks I am a flake of a Mom who can't get her kid to school on time! Flake or not, I spent most of the weekend with N (I brought him to see my Dad, C stayed here for a birthday party and some quality Daddy time). He had a great weekend, despite the ER visit. N loved that I let him run wild where I never thought I would. In a pinch for some kid fun on a cold day? ...