Kids, Critters & Hubbies

Parenting: the Drinking Conversation

Anyone that knows hub and I knows that we occasionally party. Mostly, we throw them. Leaving us safely at home with our kiddos. No worries about driving afterward – for us anyway. We do however find ourselves with friends in our home who should not be driving. For one reason or another, these friends don’t [...]

Anyone that knows hub and I knows that we occasionally party. Mostly, we throw them. Leaving us safely at home with our kiddos. No worries about driving afterward – for us anyway. We do however find ourselves with friends in our home who should not be driving. For one reason or another, these friends don’t seem to get the fact that they drove themselves to our home, THEY chose to drink themselves silly and while we always always try to get the overly enthusiastic drinkers in our crowd to stay here when the party ends, they rarely do. It really puts hub and I in a spot. I mean, we don’t force our adult friends to consume liquor. We ALWAYS have non alcoholic options to enjoy. Yet, these adult friends make the choice to consume so much that they can sometimes barely stand – then they walk out our door with the car keys in hand. There have been nights that we have hidden keys from people. We have driven others home at all hours of the night. We have been yelled at for it by these people who we refuse to let drive a vehicle. But there are always the ones who we can’t stop. All adults mind you.

My point to this post: My kids are plenty old enough to get that now. They understand that these people in our lives are first of all drinking to a point of being stupid assed drunk and secondly, driving a vehicle in that condition. I don’t hide my kids away when we have people over who are drinking. As a result, my kids understand the effects of drinking. They have seen people have fun and relax – you know, doing it responsibly.  They have also seen them passed out and falling out of chairs as well as seeing the loved ones of the chair crashers having to deal with that. THEY GET IT.

What they don’t get today, right now, is how some individuals can drink to the point that MY kids know they are drunk – and then they drive a vehicle. We had one such conversation yesterday on the way home from the Ren Fest. Some of the people who were with us yesterday – including my very own husband – enjoyed the beer at the fest. A lot. Then drove an hour south to get home…..

For the record, I had ONE mojito…at noon.

As my hub was passed out in the seat next to me, I drove us all safely and responsibly back home….while the kids and I had this very difficult conversation. (HOURS after my one mojito) My answer is always the same when they ask “How can he be ok to drive?” “How does she think it’s ok?” I tell my sweet and loving kids that we can’t make every adult on the planet listen to us. They are adults NOT children. They are making their own choices and will therefore have to live and deal with the consequences of those choices. Yes those choices aren’t always the right ones but that is THEIR choice. They should indeed NOT be driving in their condition as it is illegal and yup, morally wrong, stupid and probably the dumbest thing to do EVER! Then I tell my kids, “Next time we see them, why don’t you ask them why they think it is ok for them to do it. “  I am certain that comments will be made and they will be blown off by the adults who were put on the spot by a 14 year old, a 12 year old and a 9 year old.

I listened to my son rant about one specific person in our group that was driving in this condition…a rant he has made several times about this same person..which he also mentioned…this rant caused my middle one to shed a tear or two and I had no answers for them. Because really, what could I say?

Parenting – apparently I suck at it

Yesterday, we were at our Science program. There are approximately 20 students with 5 -7 parents who are in this class. This was our day to take a bike tour through the area that we have been studying for the past 5 weeks. At one point, the group was stopped in a hardwood hammock and [...]

Yesterday, we were at our Science program. There are approximately 20 students with 5 -7 parents who are in this class. This was our day to take a bike tour through the area that we have been studying for the past 5 weeks. At one point, the group was stopped in a hardwood hammock and the instructors were telling us about the area in more detail. I hear behind me one of the moms from the group. She is on her bike, next to another mom and a dad. She says to one of the two kiddos who are near them – “Now when we start riding again, you need to get up there away from us. You don’t belong back here infringing on the adults.” Really, Ms Selfish Mom? Because the last time I checked, we were taking this class WITH our kids. It is set up to be a FAMILY class. One that we can incorporate into our various programs at home. I wanted to bitch slap her. On the spot.

People that act like their kids are an inconvenience to them royally piss me off. Why did you have them if you didn’t want to take responsibility for raising them? I know I have moments of wanting to duct tape mine to the wall but for the most part, I love being a mom. I enjoy watching my kids learn things. I feed off of their excitement when we do cool stuff. I just thought this was the norm for a parent. I also assumed that as a parent, we put our kids needs above our own. ALWAYS. I thought that even on the days when we are grumpy, tired or otherwise felt like hell, we gave everything we had to our kids. I always have. I considered it a blessing to have three adventurous, healthy and fun children around to share my life with. My kids didn’t ask me to become their parent. I WANTED to be one. I took that health class in 8th grade. If I didn’t want kids, trust me, I knew exactly how to prevent it.

I actually like hanging out with my kiddos. As a matter of fact, I would rather be with them than just about anyone else on the planet. There is no ME time. It is US time. And I  don’t regret one second of it. Yesterday, I found out that I am falling into that freak category in the parenting side of things too. Go figure.

I Am Not Sure I Like This

Des is getting ready to be packed up and shipped off to my parent’s house. Where he will be hopping on a plane with them and heading up to Michigan for 10 fun filled days with family. I didn’t make the plans. My mom did. She called us up one day a few months ago [...]

Des is getting ready to be packed up and shipped off to my parent’s house. Where he will be hopping on a plane with them and heading up to Michigan for 10 fun filled days with family. I didn’t make the plans. My mom did. She called us up one day a few months ago and said “Hey, can we take Des to Michigan with us when we go?” So…my son is going on a trip with my parents….and I am already going insane.

Is this what it’s like when you send your kid off to camp? I mean, I am excited for him. I am looking forward to having some girl only time with my girls but I am still going to miss him. Like crazy. I actually LIKE hanging out with my kids. I think they are fun people. They have my sense of humor and they treat others the way I do. *sigh*

I think the first stop on the “girl” agenda will be for wine. So that Momma can not be a wound up, tight ass for the next two weeks. I don’t know how people do this on a regular basis.

Happy Royal Family Anniversary Weekend

Yes. Today is our anniversary. And keeping with family tradition, an event of this magnitude deserves more than one day of celebrating. Hence the fireworks and parades. What? You all thought that was for the country’s birthday? Nahhhh. All for us. Really.
This photo was taken during the first night of our Honeymoon. That [...]

Yes. Today is our anniversary. And keeping with family tradition, an event of this magnitude deserves more than one day of celebrating. Hence the fireworks and parades. What? You all thought that was for the country’s birthday? Nahhhh. All for us. Really.

This photo was taken during the first night of our Honeymoon. That was my Hub and I in complete bliss. That feeling is still with us. Our marriage is something that I am proud of.

Today marks 9 years for us. Nine years that feels like way more than that. I suppose that is what it is like when you are lucky enough to find your soul mate. You forget what you life was like before they came in and made you whole. You forget if you were ever lonely or unhappy. I am lucky enough to have found the other half of me in my lifetime. Lucky enough to know what it is to be loved completely. Lucky enough to have a rock solid relationship. And lucky enough to be able to give all of that back to him on a daily basis.

To My Wonderful J –

PS – I know you didn’t send flowers. I am hoping that you took all of your vitamins and got a good nights sleep though. You are going to need it.

To Captain Mary – I wish you a birthday filled with love and peace. Study yourself silly woman. I am proud of you.

And to Kell – Thank you for always being here for me. 6 years now??? It still amazes me that you and I have never met. I hope your birthday is all that you want it to be. Smile and continue to dream my friend.

Shitty McFee the Wonder Dog

Apparently, my sweet little yorkie LIKES shitting on beds. You recall the story about my hub standing over me naked one morning, trying to decide if the poo pile was his or the dog’s? Yeah. WTF is wrong with her? Dog’s are not supposed to crap where they sleep. Right? Whole theory behind crate training. [...]

Apparently, my sweet little yorkie LIKES shitting on beds. You recall the story about my hub standing over me naked one morning, trying to decide if the poo pile was his or the dog’s? Yeah. WTF is wrong with her? Dog’s are not supposed to crap where they sleep. Right? Whole theory behind crate training. Not here. It seems to be a fetish.

Before you jump to on the puppy defense bandwagon. Let me tell you that 1. She is fed in the AM. Once per day or she turns into log dog. 2. She is let outside to do her business right before bed time. 3. She doesn’t piss or shit anywhere else in the house.

Perhaps she is getting older now and can’t control herself as well. I don’t know. My girls have woken up with poo piles on their bed three separate days now. I am over it. She is no longer a budding little pretty flower to me. She is now, forever dubbed, from this day forward as Shitty McFee.