Mommage

A Love Like No Other

I thought I knew love.

I love my parents, I love my siblings, I love my friends, I love my husband, and yes, I love my cats. But now I have my son.

Reflux Medication for Infants?

Every time I think I've heard it all, I come across something that proves me wrong.  It's been a long time since a baby spit up on me, but I always thought it was a normal reaction after feeding.  Why would doctors suddenly think babies need medication for something they've been doing since the beginning of time?  What would make a pediatrician prescribe reflux medication to an infant who is simply doing what babies are supposed to do?

There are at least two possibilities.

Do All Hispanic Children Speak Spanish?

Nope!  My husband is Hispanic so I guess that would make my children at least partially Hispanic, yet none of us speak Spanish.  Our last name is a Hispanic name.  We receive loads of unsolicited junk mail in Spanish.  Earlier this year my daughter's teacher sent home a weekend homework assignment in Spanish.  My daughter looks the part, dark brown eyes, dark brown hair, olive color skin.  She does not speak Spanish, other than a few token words learned from Dora, however, I guess the assumption is made because of her appearance and last name that she must speak Spanish.  It is very frustrating, not to mention stereotypical. 

An irritated parent wrote a letter through Planetfeedback expressing his displeasure with finding out that the "Hispanic" Little Mommy Doll that he purchased on Amazon spoke only Spanish.  While he admits that he did not do his due diligence until after the fact, and he eventually canceled his order.  As a mother I have been in similar dilemmas.  It is frustrating trying to fight the stereotype.  One of the commenter's on PFB made the comment about a bi-lingual doll, I think that is a great idea.  With the world the way it is now, and with many different cultures blending perhaps bi-lingual toys could be used to educate as well as entertain.

--Contributed by Renee 

Good News!

As some of you already know, my son's behavior has been a problem over the years, both at home and in school. Through it all, however, he has always managed to get good grades and has also been having a love affair with numbers since he was an infant.  So you can imagine my delight when I came across this article, stating that "preschool math and reading skills predict later academic success, but behavioral problems and social skills don't".

Granted, the theory is surrounded by controversy, but based upon my own experience with my son, I think there's a lot of truth behind it.  Here's why.

Lying to Children

In her letter about Petite Sophisticate on Planetfeedback, the writer brought up an issue I often struggle with myself.  Is there ever any justification in lying to a child?  Is there any difference between a lie and an untruth?  If a child is old enough to ask the right question, does the child deserve to know the right answer?

From the time they are born, we tell our children things that are not true.  We don't hesitate to say the spoonful of medicine tastes yummy, or that eating their spinach will make them grow up big and strong.  We lead them to believe there is a Santa Claus and Easter Bunny, and that the Tooth Fairy leaves money under their pillows.  All of those things are basically harmless, but at what point and under what conditions should honest answers be given?

Kid Surprises

Sometimes kids surprise you.  At least mine surprised me a few times this long holiday weekend.  They were good surprises too ~ my son demonstrated glimpses of maturity that I didn't expect.  After all, he is 13, which means sometimes he acts like he's 5 and other times like he's 40.

Alien abduction?  Some kind of mind-altering rays?  Has the CIA implanted something in his head?  It was significant enough for me to wonder aloud at times, who are you and what have you done with my son?

Should Vaccinations be a Choice?

Upon school officials realizing that more than 2,000 students in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, did not have the required vaccinations, parents were ordered by a judge to appear with their children at the courthouse to be vaccinated on the spot, or to provide proof of vaccination or risk going to jail.  Parents also had the option to offer an explanation as to why their kids had not been vaccinated.

Children who lack immunizations can be expelled, causing their parents to be brought up on truancy charges, which can also result in a 10-day jail sentence for a first offense and 30 days for a second.

Should parents be put behind bars for not complying with school vaccination requirements?

Homework Help

 You are trying to help your child(ren) with homework, it is late at night 8pm or later and your child is stuck.  You have tried your best to help, but you must now admit defeat.  Is there anything or anyone out there that can help when you are in this desperate situation and have been struggling for hours? 

With the wonderful world of the Internet luckily there are options available.  There is Google, but that may not be the best choice.  There are tutoring services available with real live tutors as close as your keyboard that can help you out and get everyone off to bed feeling good.  One such service is called Tutor.com, they specialize in helping with homework or just about any school subject.  This can be an invaluable resource when studying for a test.  This service takes place in the privacy of your own home while the tutor can be towns or states away.  There are fees associated with this service, but they have a money back guarantee.

So really what do you have to lose?  One of the biggest obstacles to learning is frustration be on the part of the student or the parent, here is something that can help.  Isn't the peace of mind and harmony worth it?

--Contributed by Renee

A Thanksgiving Alphabet

T...Turkeys, tablespreads, being together,
H...Happiness and homes to protect us from all weather,
A...Aunts and uncles, a reunion in Fall,
N...Nieces and nephews, family members all!
K...Kind-hearted kin coming over for dinner,
S...Surely you'll have fun, but you won't get thinner!
G...Gourds and pumpkins, mouths open wide.
I...Indians and Pilgrims we remember with pride.
V...Very special times-there could even be snow.
I...Imagine what it was like at Plymouth long ago.
N...Never forget how the settlers led the way,
G...Giving thanks and blessing this special day.

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family members and friends!  It's the start of holiday season where we come to realize that there are things more important than any one of us ~ things like ALL of us.  'Tis the season for being together and loving each other. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

-- Contributed by The Mommage Moms

The Pecan Pie Debacle

Let me begin by telling you that it is REALLY okay to laugh at my expense.  Goodness knows I've been doing it all morning.  My Thanksgiving pecan pie is in the oven after a rather rocky start.  (Forty-three minutes to cook.... and wow does it smell yummy already.)

My 13 year old son helped me make it.  In addition to being very handy with tools, he's got some good cooking chops.  He chopped the pecans and we mixed up a batter of eggs, butter, brown sugar, dark corn syrup, and vanilla.  Finally the "batter" was all put together and I sent him to the computer to check the recipe and he essentially turned off the computer.  I was fiddling with it to bring it back to life (he logged in as the wrong user, then it powered it off, blah blah blah). 

So I was distracted.  Which is what might prove to be the downfall of this pecan pie.