My two cents

 Awesome photos by Lisa Shafer Photography

I have been watching 16 And Pregnant (MTV show) since it started..seen every episode.  It causes quite the debate in our house.  You may laugh when I tell you it has caused a few arguments between Joe and I.  Joe is always arguing for the 16 year old Dad and I am for the 16 year old Mom.  I think his past may play a role in his strict beliefs when it comes to co-parenting.  Then again..the guy just likes to debate.  Here are my two cents on the show.

The last episode featured these two young kids as they all do..and during the show I would sit back in shock at how young these kids are.  I am amazed.  Anyway...so this last episode both 16 year olds were good students.  They got goods grades and were on track to go to college and do even greater things.  The girl got pregnant, kicked out of her Mom's house...moved in an hour from her boyfriend with her dad.  She was then kicked out of the school at her Dad's house even though she was getting good grades.  They said it was because of missed days..but I am sure there was "more" to it.  Anyway...so the 16 year old father stayed in school..worked..enjoyed time with his friends and was accepted with a scholarship to college.  The baby was born and the 16 year old Mom was of course left to take care of the baby by herself while the 16 year old father got to continue with his life and goals.  Does that seem fair?  I mean they both made the baby together.  Joe's opinion was that you can't fought the 16 year old father because he was trying to get an education to provide for his family.  Are you kidding me??  You really think that is on the mind of the 16 year old father.  He is going to go to college...enjoy life to the fullest...get an education and realize that he does not want to be with the 16 year old mother anymore.  She stayed home to take care of the kid, which all 16 year old Dad's don't realize how difficult it is.  Anyway...so she wasn't able to pursue "her goals" but he did.  Both parents made the kid...but the man gets to go to college while the woman stays home.  How is that fair?  It just makes me so mad.  I feel for these young girls.  I usually end up crying during the episode.  Ok I cry a lot during the episodes. 

This brings me to my next point.  Most will watch these shows and say, "oh gosh I am glad I don't have a girl."  Yes...I am happy I have two boys.  I won't have to worry about my daughter getting pregnant at such a young age..but I have two boys.  I am terrified my son will be one of "those" boys.  The ones you see on 16 and pregnant.  The ones who cheat on their pregnant girlfriends.  The ones who don't take responsibility for their kid.  That terrifies me.  I asked Joe last night if he was afraid one of our boys would lack responsibility if put in the situation like the kids on 16 And Pregnant.  Joe's response was typical, "I wouldn't let them."  But at 16, do you really think our kids will listen to us.  Doubt it...some of these dads on 16 and pregnant have parents who try real hard and who are upset at how their son's are acting.  They seem to have a normal home life.  So...can we really control how they will take responsibility at 16? 

The show upsets me.  I feel so bad for these girls...it's like they lost that flicker of hope.  Ugh. 

Dear Aidan and Mason,

I hope you are responsible kids when you get older.  I hope you treat women with respect.  I hope you don't cheat..I hope you love life...I hope you take responsibility.  Enough said.

Brand Loyalty

Attention Attention...I am not this shallow...I think I have 1% shallow in me..so here is the 1%

brand loyalty....I got it.  It is bad.  Coke over Pepsi, Kellogg over store brand, Gap over Target.  I have a very hard time convincing myself Kohls is just as good as Baby Gap / The Limited or JC Penny shoes are just as good as Nine West.  Nope..can't do it.  The funny thing is, I know I have this problem.  I should buy store brand or lower priced clothes....just can't do it...just can't.  I work hard..I should be able to buy what I want right?  I also justify by telling myself they will be hand me downs so every time I buy something for Aidan I divide it by 2.  Ok...yes the financial analyst is coming out in me.  I can't even shop on sales racks.  They are just too messy and you need patience to sit there shifting through extra larges trying to find smalls...seriously...there are not that many small people out there.  I have come to the conclusion that small people buy smalls and large people buy smalls so there are no smalls left. 

I admit it..I am even shallow enough to look at other kids clothes and judge them.  Seriously 28 year old working mother of 2 judging these kids because they buy clothes I wouldn't.  Shallow are we???  I am working on this problem.  Growing up my Mom didn't dress us as "cool" as I would like to think and maybe that is why I am the way I am.  I don't go crazy or anything.....I'll give an example.  Target jeans $12...cant do it...I will buy the baby gap jeans for $24.99.  See..not too bad.  I am not shopping at Neiman Marcus or anything.  And that's not to say my kids don't have "some" off brand clothes in their wardrobe.  I do take hand me downs...on occasion.  Again...working on it.  I don't want my kids growing up thinking clothes define you or they have to dress a certain way to be cool.  I just don't want them being made fun of.  I seriously need to go to church or seek help for this...I know whatever.  Enough of my rant....

This weekend I went shopping :).  There is something about shopping without husband and kids that can really fuel me.  I don't go much..once a season.  It was awesome.  I started in Baby Gap.  was worried they were too expensive so worked my way over to The Children's Place only to realize the quality just isn't the same.  So I made my way back to Baby Gap.  yes much better...I can breathe in Baby Gap.  I went crazy...I don't even look at prices because I know how much everything cost.  I just grab and grab from one side of the store to the next.  Then get to the counter only to find out EVERYTHING was 40% off.  Oh...it just made my day so much I did it again at Baby Gap Outlet the next day.  Did the same thing..only I spent more money at the outlet.  Something sounds wrong about that...

Oh...I didn't forget me.  It was tough.  I did a lot of soul searching and made phone calls to my bestest Katie.  But I did it.  I bought myself 3 tops and 2 pairs of shoes.  I ROCK! 

Pictures of my weekend....

Be Jealous..this is my backyard...Taking donations for a new deck...

 Mason on the Go...

  

 

Seriously this kid is non stop..I followed him on his adventure.  He tried to climb the stool..peaked in a toy box and then went on his way.  Walking zombie style wobbling through the house.  



Don't fall....don't fall

Re-gained balance..wohoo

Destination...Cartoons. 

Yes..he is a boy..and he copies everything we do.

Stop Taking My Picture Mommy

Bye Bye



To take to the doctors or to not take to the doctors......

It starts with a runny nose....cough....diarrhea...clingy

I hate it.  I hate when one of my boys gets sick.  You never know if it is worthy of a doctor visit.  You know what will happen because you have done it before.  You take them in to see the doctor convinced your child has this rare disease and brace yourself for worst case scenario.  The diagnosis ALWAYS sounds like this, "it's a virus..let it take its course" or "he has only had diarrhea for 5 days, call back if it has been 10 days" or "he only has 4-6 diarrhea diapers a day..call back when it is 10 a day".  The Doctor is probably thinking, this Mom is nuts!  You get that feeling in your tummy...the Mommy feeling where you don't know what to do.  Is it something more than just a cold?  He isn't himself?  Should I stay home from work?  What is wrong with him?  I hate that feeling.  I seriously hate it.  I am just afraid I will miss something..what if he has something more serious and this is his way of trying to warn us.  I know..I am being dramatic...he just has a runny nose and cough and slight fever.  Oh and having problems drinking milk.  And I always feel like one of my kids is sick.  I am always going to the doctor.  Antibiotics is flowing in my house! 

So Mason has an ear infection...poor guy..and looks to be a sinus infection.  But he is still oh so cute.  Look at that dimple Jenny (left cheek...you can kinda see it)!!!

Poor Baby after Doctor Apt...you can see it in his eyes he doesn't feel well :(

So Aidan the other day said the funniest thing.  We walked by the squash at the grocery store and he says, "look Mommy a big peanut!"  No Aidan it was squash...well I think it was squash.  haha

He also told me while laying in bed the other day "Mommy I don't like you go away".  I wasn't sure if I should cry, yell, go away or what to do.  I knew why he said it.  I think another little boy says it a lot at school.  Also, he wanted to watch his cartoon and while I was in the room that was not going to happen.  It was his bed time crazy boy.  I ended up telling him that he hurt my feelings and not to say those things.  Parenthood...ikes.  

October 31st

Because I have fallen victim to the ploy to get adults to pay for online graduate school with the hopes it will further their career, I spent the weekend writing 2 research papers, 1 group project, 2 homework questions, 6 discussion questions and some other hoopla.  Mother of the year right here!!! 

My boys were neglected this weekend.  I use that word a lot.  Neglected!  I think I am going to stop using that word.  Let me try this.  My kids spent the weekend indoors and played with educational toys.  Ok..much better.

Aidan spent the weekend on the computer.  My 3 year old was on the computer so much he complained his back was hurting.  Nothing a pillow pet couldn't fix.  We bought him the dog one.  He wanted the purple unicorn but I told him it was for girls.  Joe shocked me in the middle of the store and said, "well if he wants it just get it, who cares".  This is the same guy who freaked out because Aidan wanted to be a cat for Halloween.  I think he just wanted to disagree with me..shocker...because if Aidan does or wants ANYTHING "girl" like, Joe freaks out.  Should I have let him get the purple unicorn?  Am I not letting him make decisions for himself?  Ah nuts....who cares...it's just a pillow pet.  I let him wear whichever shoes he wants in the morning.  I even let him pick out his own veggies for dinner.  He makes tons of choices...but the purple unicorn doesn't go with his sports room. 

Notice DOG pillow pet behind Aidan

Playing nick jr.  No he doesn't sit on the computer and go to chat rooms all day.  I would of course prefer Aidan playing outside or engaging with his parents..so I feel guilty about this but I was right there next to him typing a paper on another laptop.  

 Mason spent the weekend throwing food on the floor, snot (not joking) flying out of his nose, stinky diapers (10 a day..poor kid) and getting into everything.  He decided he wanted to move this step stool in the living room.  It wasn't as fun climbing in the other room where no one could freak out over.  He had to be the center of attention.

I guess you can tell who we voted for here

Not sure what is on the tv in this shot

So Sunday was here before you knew it.  Aidan talked about being spiderman for an entire month before Sunday.  He wore his costume at school on Friday.  After..he informed me he wanted to be a cat and he got it in his head he no longer wanted to be spiderman.  There were a few little girls at school dressed up as cats.  I thought he would get over it and once Sunday came and he would be excited to wear spiderman..NOPE.  He told me it was stinky.  (the mask was stinky..I tried it on and then tried to put toothpaste in it to make it smell better..i know..toothpaste???  but he is allergic to perfumes and stuff) Anyway..after crying for 45 minutes about it.we finally settled for a saints football player.  It worked out because the Saints were on last night and WON..thank goodness cause hubby would have been cranky if they lost. 

Mason was a cute green dragon. 

  

 

Looking out for trick or treaters...big helper

Funny story about the picture to the left.  I was left home to hand out candy.  We bought a TON of candy.  It is always hard to gage how many kids you will get so you don't want to give out to many pieces to each kid.  It is pure science.  When Joe came back I told him I should have been giving more to the kids that had already stopped by.  (more as in 2-3 pieces and not just one)  The door bell rang soon after, Joe goes to the door..takes the bowl outside and starts pulling out hand fulls of candy giving them to "OLDER" kids.  I started freaking out yelling no no no stop stop stop.  He just wasted all that candy on older kids.  See what was left to the left (haha left to the left).  Needless to say..I will be giving out the candy going forward for all Halloween to come.