Raising Opie and his sister in the most wholesome town in America.
Overrated:
Underrated:
Properly rated:
Agree/disagree?
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I think I need a new Twitter handle. I have been using @mayberrymom, but because I use that account to promote my Family Fitness site (and I don’t want two accounts), I think I need something more general. I could use my first initial+last name, but … snore. I’m trying to think of something that’s a little cleverer, but also broad enough to cover tweets about fitness, blogging, what I’m watching on TV, and so forth.
Any ideas?
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It is very, very rare for me to indulge my children when they ask for something frivolous in a store. I don’t want them to get the idea that if they pitch a fit in the checkout line, they’ll get whatever it is they are asking for. So the answer is almost always a cheerful “Nope!”.
I can’t remember why I broke my own rule when it came to this particular item. It was one of the book/stuffed animal combos that Kohl’s offers—usually, $5 or $10 buys you both, and proceeds go to some charity. Apparently I was in a generous mood the day my son spotted this (oh ha ha I didn’t even do that on purpose!).
And that was that. The fuzzy one has now accompanied us on half a dozen trips and must be tucked in beside his boy each night.
I haven’t told you his name yet because that would spoil my next question. What animal do you think he is? Because he’s so well-traveled, he’s been noticed and commented upon by people in airports and elsewhere along the way.
And no one EVER correctly identifies him. And so I ask you (all choices are based on real responses we’ve heard):
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My very generous husband gave me a very generous gift for my upcoming birthday (the one that ends in zero) and our also upcoming anniversary (another ends-in-zero event).
A dog on a surfboard! Just what I’ve always wanted!
Well, actually, an iPad. I was/am stunned.
After I get over my shock, I’ll need to load ‘er up. If you have an iPad, or covet one enough to have done some window shopping, tell me what I should get! (And P.S., I don’t have anything Mac or Apple–not even an iPod–so I am starting from scratch.)
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I am ashamed to admit that my children don’t do chores. At least not on a regular basis. If I ask them to set the table or pick up crumbs with the handheld vacuum or shuttle something upstairs or down, they comply (with varying degrees of cheerfulness). But they don’t have assigned daily or weekly chores, mostly out of sheer parental laziness (and unwillingness to cede control).
They also don’t get an allowance. They take in so much cash from greeting cards (seriously) that they honestly don’t need much more. If we gave them a few dollars a week they would just spend it on mass quantities of gum and Nintendo points.
But they still like to earn money from time to time (like the times when I refuse to buy them any gum or Nintendo points). And I want them to develop a sense of responsibility for the household, as well as the basic skills they need to take care of themselves and their living space.
After a few random attempts where my husband or I promised totally divergent amounts for similar jobs, we’ve come up with a plan that I think might work. We’re making a list of prerequisite jobs, everyday tasks that don’t come with a paycheck: keeping their bedrooms picked up, putting away their shoes on the shelves expressly installed for that purpose by the back door, clearing their dinner dishes, and so on.
Then we’re making another list of money-earners: folding and putting away laundry, weeding, watering outdoor plants, unloading the dishwasher, etc. These will each have a predetermined fee. The catch is that all prerequisite tasks must be done before the child may take on an extra chore for extra cash.
What do you think? How do you handle chores/allowance/spending money with your kids?
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I am so pleased to announce that the BlogHer Room of Your Own session that I proposed, with help from Nora of Nonlinear Girl, has been accepted! (See “Little Fish in a Big Pond,” the second session in the Personal Identity track.) It’ll be my fifth BlogHer and my first time speaking. Many, many, MANY thanks to those of you who voted and commented and tweeted and were just generally very kind and supportive.
I’ve already been collecting posts and questions on this topic, but if you have any wisdom to impart or burning questions to pose, please do pass them along–whether or not you’ll be in New York on August 7.
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As I flew home the other day, I was listening to the man across the aisle discussing his job with his seatmate. He was a pilot, one of eight who worked for some superrich, carefully unnamed Canadian oilman. He ferried the man and his business associates all over the world (“I’m still on Beijing time,” he said. “Once when we were in Switzerland,” he said). That night he was on his way to pick up a brand new plane for his boss. He’d give it a spin, kick the tires, and then fly it to Delaware or Kansas, whichever was more financially expedient, so his boss could complete the transaction.
I just sat there and thought Is this guy for real? People actually live this way? This is a job? I knew the answers were “maybe,” “yes,” and “most certainly,” but I still marveled.
Back when I used to read the New York Times wedding announcements religiously, my favorite part (except for spotting people I knew, including, once, an ex) was reading about people’s jobs. Tons of lawyers and doctors and Wall Street types, of course. But every once in awhile one of the JDs or MDs marries a dolphin trainer or a waste-water engineer or a professional BMX biker. And I’d remember there are a lot of ways to make a living (or at least a few bucks).
What’s the weirdest job you ever had, or heard of?
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When Jo was a baby we enrolled her in a child care center in our neighborhood in New Jersey. All of the staff were native Spanish speakers, as were many of the kids. Jo spoke a few words of Spanish almost before she said anything in English. We noticed that she’d chirp something like “ahpeeahpeeahpee” but we couldn’t figure out what it meant. Finally, one day I heard one of the teachers say it too. I realized that in her accented English, she was sing-songing “Happy, happy, happy!” to the children.
So that made me happy.
And lovely Wendy from Midwest Green has given me the Happy 101 award. The rules are to list 10 things that make me happy, which seems like a good idea after the last two whingy posts, and then pay it forward to 10 more bloggers who make me happy.
Things that take me to a happy place
(A selection of the) bloggers that make me happy
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Actually, vote for you. For us.
A few months ago I cryptically asked anyone who was reading, who considered their blog “small,” to raise a hand. I had an idea for a BlogHer’10 session on small blogs. Now is your chance to help me bring that session to BlogHer. Whether you plan to be there or not, please vote for my Room of Your Own session! To vote, you must be a member of BlogHer and be logged in; then you’ll see links at the top saying “I would be interested in presenting on this topic” and “I would attend this session.” Click on one or both and you’ve voted. Comments are optional but appreciated.
You can see the whole list of Room of Your Own ideas here. I’m thrilled that mine is one of the top 4 right now. I would love your help to keep it up there. Thanks!
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According to whoever decides these things, today is Delurking Day 2010! So, please, say something. You can tell me your favorite way to lurk. Mine is a tie between “looking in people’s windows as I walk/drive by when it’s dark outside and they have their lights on and curtains open” and Zillow.com.
graphic by greeblemonkey
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