Mommage

TV or Not TV?

We're in the midst of a typical July heatwave here in the northeast, and the last thing on anyone's mind is cooking or spending time outside.  Thinking she had a perfect way to escape the heat where she lives in Michigan, Planetfeedback user Andrea took her family to McDonald's so they could enjoy a meal, and the kids could have fun in the air-conditioned PlayPlace.

When Andrea's seven year old son took a break from playing and joined his parents in the dining room, imagine their surprise when they found out what their son was doing in the PlayPlace.

Summertime...and Safety is Easy!

A letter was recently posted on Planetfeedback that brought to mind the many hazards facing parents and their children in the warm weather of the summer months.  What should be a time to kick back and relax can quickly turn into heartache and disaster if parents aren't on their toes.  No need to fret... with some preparation, caution and knowledge, a splendid time is guaranteed for all!

There are so many potential dangers, I didn't know where to begin, so I enlisted the aid of the American Academy of Pediatrics to provide a helping hand with its Summer Safety Tips.  If you take some time to review Part 1 and Part 2 of the tip list, not only will you be prepared for whatever comes your way, but you might even be able to avoid some of these scenarios.  With Fourth of July festivities already underway, it's also a good idea to be aware of the dangers of fireworks. 

I learned something last summer that was so unbelievable, I thought it was worth posting again.

The Meaning of Family Vacation

After being encouraged by her doctors to take a family vacation, Jeanine S. chose a Disney cruise so the kids would have a great time, and she could have some time alone with her husband while their children were in the kids club.  I can see how this information on Disney's website might be enticing, but it could also give parents a false impression of a child's cruise experience.  In Jeanine's case, nothing seemed to go as planned, causing her to send a letter to Walt Disney Cruise Line via Planetfeedback expressing her disappointment in the quality of daycare provided on the ship.

I was surprised by some of the comments to Jeanine's letter. 
I thought it was interesting how people formed different opinions about her intentions regarding her children, her husband and the vacation itself.

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.

'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!

Someone to Watch Over Me

Pamela is pretty steamed. She discovered nearly $300 worth of phone calls on her recent bill and, worse yet, found out her son made them.

I'd be steamed too but not for the same reason as Pamela. She's mad at the 900 company (or the phone company. It's hard to tell) for not waiving the bill; I'd be upset at the culprit.

You Better Watch Out!

A letter was recently sent to Subway via Planetfeedback, and as I was reading it, I was reminded of something many first time parents fail to realize.  They are so preoccupied and absorbed in everyday living, they sometimes overlook one very important aspect of raising a child.  In fact, it took me quite awhile to realize it myself, but when I did, everything changed.

In the letter, the writer explained how she left her teenage son in charge of ordering a sandwich while she ran an errand.  She returned to discover that he had ordered the wrong thing, and she asked the employee to make it right.  When the employee refused, she proceeded to make a fuss in front of her son.

What's wrong with that picture? 

No Lingering Allowed

I remember a time when I could drop off my teen and her friends at the movie theatre in the mall and go about my business knowing they were safe until I returned to pick them up.  I guess that's how Shaundra felt as she was on her way to pick up her daughter and friends, until she discovered the teens were told they had to leave the premises or receive a citation.  The kids ended up running to a gas station where they waited frightened and worried about being in trouble with the police.  Shaundra sent a letter via Planetfeedback complaining about the treatment her daughter received and asking the mall to allow teenagers to wait on the property until parents arrive to pick them up.

Most malls now have curfews requiring teenagers to be chaperoned, and theatres do not allow patrons to linger outside for any length of time.  Should parents just accept these rules and the responsibility that goes with them, or argue that because they spend their hard earned money at the mall, their kids should not be asked to leave?  As usual, the reaction on Planetfeedback was mixed.

Discrimination or Discipline?

If I ever had to be told to keep my kids
quiet in a restaurant, I'd be mortified. 
Not because they were being discriminated against as Heather claimed in her letter to Chili's on Planetfeedback, but because I would be embarrassed that someone had to tell me that my children were being disruptive instead of realizing it myself.

There are definitely two types of parents.  I'm not sure how their attitudes about behavior and discipline are established, but I do know it's not difficult to distinguish one style from the other when you're seated near them in a restaurant.   

Here's the difference.

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Billy, a twelve year old boy with Down Syndrome, went shopping for a pet fish,
but to his disappointment, he was told by the store employee that he was not allowed to pick the one he wanted.  He felt strongly enough about it to write a letter via Planetfeedback expressing his concerns.  He said the clerk yelled at him and questioned his ability to read the sign about not choosing fish.  In the letter, Billy said he was offended because he has Down Syndrome, but it's not clear if that's what he actually meant. 

Raising a child with a disability is challenging, but should a disability ever be used as a reason for the child to receive special treatment in public?  Do protective parents with good intentions unknowingly and unintentionally give that impression to their child?