Mommage

Parenting - It's Not For Wimps

Today is the day.  I've waited for it with a little bit of trepidation.  But it's here.

I've been insanely comfortable for the last couple of years (after the initial shock wore off and with the firm and helping hand of a very good friend, of course) - or at least the last 18 months that I knew about it.  Even though I knew it wasn't going to be a permanent situation, it at least gave me some breathing room.

Knowing that he wasn't going to try to pop back into our lives.

Today is the day my ex-husband gets out of prison.

Mommy v. Daddy

As an attorney, I didn't practice domestic relations law.  Even now that I'm working as a legal assistant, I breathe a huge sigh of relief that my attorney doesn't practice it either.  There's so much emotion involved in these type of cases when it comes to divorce.  I would have to take out a membership to Costco or Sams just to keep me in Tums and tissues.  Plus this type of law really seems to bring out the worst in people

Case in point.  Yesterday, one of the attorneys at my firm was deposing the husband in a divorce case.  It was a little hostile.  At the end, the husband used our bathroom before he departed.  Instead of lifting the seat, he lowered the lid and purposefully urinated all over the toilet and floor.  Just like a pet would announce his displeasure.

Yes, people are not at their best in divorce situations.

Baby Einstein And Brainy Baby, Do They Help Or Hinder?

So you think you are doing a good thing.  You purchase Baby Einstein or Brainy Baby or similar DVD's to play for your children in the hope it will give them a jump start with their vocabulary and other skills.  Now the experts tell us that instead of helping them these DVDs may in fact be hindering their development.  I came across this article earlier this week when I was at Child Find with my son.  We were there to meet with a speech therapist, to try and determine the reason for my sons speech delay (luckily it just appears to be a small speech delay and his motor and cognitive skills are fine). 

I read this article in total disbelief.  I have done this, happily plunking down the rather high price for these videos hoping to help my son.  Now I read that this may actually have slowed him down somewhat.  I am still struggling with how to feel.  How much weight to give this study.  Wondering how when you truly have the best intentions, you can be doing it all wrong.  I wonder if this is like other studies, you know the ones I am talking about.  This year it is bad, next year it will be the best thing you can do for your child.  Ugh!  What is a parent to do?

--Contributed by Renee