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.

Now You Know Why I'm Always Tired

It's summertime, and this season more than any other I am reminded of how much my life has changed since having my son. It has been this season more than any other that my husband and I have had to pick and choose our activities. For example, we enjoy going to festivals but taking the boy is not always feasible. I'm hesitant to keep him in the sun and heat for long periods of time, so an afternoon jaunt is sometimes out of the question. I also don't like to keep him up too late or fight the crowds with a big stroller (not to mention voracious mosquitos), so nighttime doesn't always work either. My husband and I also hate abusing family babysitters, so we don't like to ask unless it's really necessary. In many cases, we opt to just stay home.

As Usual, Let's Pile on the Parent

Katie recently wrote a letter to the home improvement retail giant IKEA via Planetfeedback. Unfortunately, her shopping trip ended in what could have been a horrible tragedy because she did what I, and other parents, have a tendency to do with our infants in their car seats: putting them on the front seat of the shopping cart.

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.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game....Or Maybe Not

What is more American than a day at the ball park with your family?  Now that school is out for the summer, perhaps you are considering taking your child(ren) out to the park.  Just  like with school you should do your homework. 

There has been an increasing number of player and fan injuries occuring at the ball park.  More specifically lately the culprit has been Maple bats.  It was not until Barry Bonds record season that Maple Bats became more popular with the players.  It used to be that Ash bats were the norm, now Maple bats are gaining favor because some players claim they feel harder (hit harder).  The problem is that it is becoming increasingly clear that Maple bats are much more dangerous.  They splinter and break easier.  There have been some serious injuries for people on the wrong end of one of these broken bats.

Take me out to the ball game, but use caution!

--Contributed by Renee

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.

Sticks and Stones

Kindergarten is supposed to be one of the least stress-related times in a child's school life. Unfortunately for five-year-old Alex Barton, it will be remembered as one of the most.

This is by no means a new story. As many of you probably know, in April of this year, Wendy Portillo, a kindergarten teacher in Port St. Lucie Florida decided to punish Alex Barton for behavioral issues by having him stand in front of the class while his classmates systematically told him what they don't like about him (one called him "disgusting") then voted him out of the class "Survivor"-style by a 14-2 margin. The one friend Alex had made in the class was also forced to participate. What may be even worse is that Portillo apparently knew Alex Barton was undergoing testing for Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism.

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.

Clash Of The Titans

Perhaps it's not on the epic scale in Greek mythology of the gorgon Medusa versus the Kraken, but it's still quite the battle.  From a spectator's perspective, it's fascinating to watch, but I know there are no winners.

I should charge admission and sell popcorn.  Or put them in a cage and let them duel it out to the end.  It's kiddo v. the math teacher. 

Right now, I think he's winning.