Mommage

Lights, Camera...Sleep? Revisited

Mommage Mom Dawn did a great job yesterday in discussing a certain PlanetFeedback letter written by Tera who took her two children to a late movie.  In typical Dawn fashion, she eloquently and kindly analyzed the letter and offered thoughtful insights into why this Mom did what she did.

So why am I revisiting this topic?  Because I have a bone to pick with many of the comments on this letter.  And I am not nearly as nice and rational about it as Dawn was.

I think my fangs look great in the half-light of the morning.  I just sharpened them.

Lights, Camera...Sleep?

Would you take your two-year-old child to see a movie at 10 p.m.? That's what Tera did last week Friday. She took her nine-year-old son and toddler daughter to see the Chronicles of Narnia and was upset to find out she would have to pay for her daughter to "see" the movie even though (she assumed) her daughter would sleep through the whole thing.

This Is A Longhouse

And it is the reason I missed the Mommage meeting last night.  My daughter came home from school and said "mommy my Longhouse is due tomorrow".  **What**?  I completely forgot.  The paper informing us of the project came home early last week I think, but I misread the due date (thought it was due next Wednesday), Doh! 

It turns out that making a Longhouse (or even a shorter version of a longhouse) is not so easy.  Remember we are talking second graders here, and luckily the house did indeed look like a second grader made it (even though hubby glued it together). 

For those that are curious here is a link that explains what longhouses are. Longhouse were constructed by the first americans.  Longhouses were usually constructed by the women while the men hunted.  They were usually made of bark, branches, and other things they could find in their environment.  Longhouses could house up to twenty related people, up to five families.  Each family had their own section, with a sleep area, and a cooking/storage area. 

--Contributed by Renee who is wondering what third grade holds

Hello Mother, Hello Father...

For many parents, Summer Break is looming.  For others, it's already begun.  While the kiddies are counting the hours with gleeful anticipation, many parents are wondering, "What on earth am I going to do with them for six whole weeks?"  It's great to see your kids having fun and relaxing, especially in a time when even 3rd and 4th graders are complaining of a heavy workload, but sometimes a week or two spent kid-free can be a real blessing during the summer months.  And that's where summer camp comes in.  Summer camp can be a great way to give your child a structured but still fun environment, but how do you know which camp to choose?  Every kid is different, but there is help out there.  Summercamp.org has a list of frequently asked questions, and some answers too!

Battles

Some battles are fought on our own soil and some are fought overseas, and then there are the ones fought privately within the walls of our homes.  We don't hear about them on the news, and they usually have little effect on the world, but they are battles nonetheless.  They slap our faces with reality and test our strength and endurance.  Unlike the usual battle, winning is not always the optimal outcome.  What really matters is how we accept the challenge and choose to confront it.

On this Memorial Day, I was saddened to hear that the father of one of our guest contributors, Frank, lost his battle with cancer.  I hesitate to use the word "lost" because I don't think it properly describes the courage of Frank's dad and his entire family.  He faced his illness head on with dignity, faith, hope and optimism.  He gave the illness a run for its money with a brave and persistent fight.  His perseverance allowed him to enjoy meaningful time with his beloved family, and that may be more precious and enduring than winning.

Please keep Frank and his family in your thoughts and prayers. 

~Contributed by Venice

I'm Outta Here!

Laundry's done.  Bought soda and snacks.  Gotta stop tonight and pick up cat food, fill up the gas tank, and get the car washed and then I am on my way tomorrow morning, just as early as I can. 

Are you traveling this weekend for Memorial Day?  I decided the family (mostly meaning me, of course) needed a get-away so I booked us into a four-star lodge on the edge of a national forest for some much needed R & R.  I can feel the tension of everyday life starting to take hold in my upper back, below my shoulders, so I know it's time to do something about it.

You better watch out, brown trout, because I am coming for YOU!

License to Be Old

Last week I finally bit the bullet and renewed my driver's license. It had to be done. It was soon to be expired and if I didn't get it done soon before the expiration date I'd have to pay some unholy late charge.

What Would You Do If Your Child Brought This Home?

Parents and students at McKinney High School in McKinney, Texas (about 20 miles North of Dallas) received quite a shock recently when they received their yearbooks.  One or more disgruntled employees working for Lifetouch National School Studios drastically altered pictures in the yearbook.  They switched heads and bodies, removed one girls arm, stretched necks, and placing a head on a body that appeared to be nude with the chest area blurred.

What the heck happened?  Lifetouch is calling it  "an unfortunate lapse in judgment" but does not believe it was malicious....yeah right!  They decline to say if the employee(s) responsible for the "lack of judgment" have been fired or disciplined.  Lifetouch has agreed to reprint the yearbooks at their expense, and fix the 30 or so photos affected.  WOW just wow, I am going to check my daughters yearbook closely when it comes home in a few weeks.

--Contributed by Renee

'Tis the Season to be Proud!

Reading the letters on Planetfeedback
from Rene F., Suzanne S. and Michelle G. reminded me that graduation season is upon us once again.  Kids everywhere from kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school and college will be taking that monumental step to the next level of their lives.  The next few weeks will be filled with invitations, reservations, flowers, balloons, photos, parties and gifts, and will create memories for families that will never be forgotten.

I have a few memories of my own going as far back as kindergarten... my kindergarten!

A Tragic End For Megan

Teenager Megan Meier committed suicide after being rejected on MySpace by a boy  named Josh Evans.

Except there was no boy.  Lori Drew, a mother herself, created a profile on the social networking page posing and posting as the 16 year old boy to woo Megan and then ultimately dump her.   After dozens of cruel messages, the final one to Megan (sent apparently by someone other than Drew), told Megan that the world would be a better place without her.  Megan (who was only 13) was devastated and hanged herself in her bedroom.  Now Drew is charged with federal crimes of conspiracy and accessing protected computers to obtain information to inflict emotion distress.  In short, cyberbullying.

Introducing the newest type of helicopter parents.