Farrah did what?!

So I'm obviously a bit behind on watching Teen Mom. I don't think I've seen an episode since Amber and Gary started fighting...oh what, that happens every episode? Well in that case, I'm lost, but trust me when I say I haven't watched in a long time, probably after episode 3. CW and Bravo have  much better fall line up than MTV ever will.

Anyway, so its been brought to my attention that Farrah decided to leave her daughter behind with her parents (who she doesn't really like anyway right?) in order for her to go to school and get her degree in Florida. Now, forgive me if I'm wrong but Iowa does have schools right? I mean, there are educated people from Iowa. I KNOW this for a fact because I tweet with some, text message with others, and read their blogs too. Iowa is a real place with real schools.

So what would cause a mother to leave her child behind in another state so she can go off and get her degree? I'll tell you what it was. Farrah is looking to regain her social life. Poor Sophia is taking a back seat to her mother's delusional dreams that maybe one day someone will want her. Think I'm lying? Why did Farrah get a boob job? Oh. yes, to get more jobs as a model to make more money to support Sophia. Those tears she cried while at that modeling job were 100% crocodile tears meant to move the hearts of the MTV viewers. Guess what Farrah? My heart is cold as ice and you didn't warm it up. You got the boob job so that YOU could feel better about YOURSELF. You got the boob job so you can get more attention from guys.  It wasn't about booking jobs because let's be honest, most models out there aren't all that well endowed unless you want to work for Victoria's Not so Secret.

Now I'm about to say something that will probably get me flogged in the blogging community among single mothers or young mothers etc but since when do I care? If you don't want the responsibility of having a child then keep your freaking legs closed. Do not HAVE a child if you are not ready to put that kid first. Do NOT take a LOAN out to get boobs because you could be spending that money on making a better life for your child, you could have gotten a loan to move into a more stable home away from your whack job parents. Why have a kid if you just want to drop them off at the nearest babysitter?

When you become a parent you start putting yourself 2nd or 3rd or whatever. You are no longer first. I know that first hand. I'm a girlie girl. I love getting my hair done, I love getting all pretty. Well, when I got pregnant and had D for the first 10 months of her life I completely forgot what it was like to be human. I stopped going and getting my hair colored (and I had about 8 inches of roots to show for it), I stopped shopping in the designer clothes section for me and would rather get myself a pair of jeans from Wal-Mart so I can put that extra money into Burberry or Dior for Demi. I didn't mind either. I would give my life for my kid so who cares about what label is slapped across my ass? The point is that we all have to make sacrifices for our children when we have them. That is what separates the good parents from the shoddy ones.

I'm sorry but its NOT a sacrifice to leave your kid with your mom while you run away to sunny Florida under the guise of it being "for school". You WANT to leave your kid behind because you want to party, you want to be a normal 21 year old woman. I hate to tell you this Farrah but you aren't a woman and you aren't a mom. You were merely a uterus donor and your mom is about to take on the role of "mom" again.

I often hear jaded women use the expression, "Any man can be a father but it takes a real man to be a dad." well, it looks like the same can be said for Farrah, "Any woman can be a mother but it takes a real woman to be a mom," and I'm happy that Farrah's mom is willing to take on that title again because Farrah is just a mess.

Hospitals & Babies

There are a lot of great things about being a mom but the absolute worst thing has to be dealing with a sick kid. Today my heart broke in so many ways I was so sad. Baby D has had chronic infections in her private regions. She has gotten 3 in the past 3 months. It always starts the same way, it appears to be a diaper rash, a high fever, the rash gets a "pimple" like head which fills with puss and is just an infection.

Her doctor ordered a round of blood tests to check her immune system to see if maybe there is something that her body just can't fight off. I'm not really worried, I'm not the worrying type...my mother and husband on the other hand are huge worry warts! Today was the big day. The day I've been dreading. I hate hospitals and I also hate how my husband always makes me the bad guy. He will drive us to the doctors office or the hospital and he'll sit in the parking lot or drive around while I do the mean mommy routine of taking her in to see the doctor.

So this morning we leave home right around 10:30 and head down to the Montreal Children's Hospital for her 11:40am appointment to have blood drawn. Everything is fine and dandy. She is in great spirits although she has a slight cold. We get to the hospital, hubby parks by the emergency room and I get out and unload the stroller while daddy takes D from the car seat. They say bye and in we go. We check into the blood center and I'm thinking "Hey, its only going to be like 20 minutes or so...." then as we sit in the waiting room (the chairs in the hall way!) I keep on hearing people talk about how long they've been waiting "It's already been two hours!" I suddenly knew that D was NOT going to be happy sitting in her stroller for that long.

I decide to take D out and just let her sit on mommy's lap. She was content for about .15 seconds. She got out of my lap and decided to walk up and down the hall way. I sat on the edge of my chair and just watched her. She went up to every single person and tried to fist bump them. Yes, my 17 month old adorable prim and proper little girl fists bumps. I taught her that while on vacation and she hasn't stopped. I'm not embarrassed by it, I actually find it hilarious that my little girl does this. She actually TEACHES other kids how to do it. She will walk up to someone with a closed fist and wait for them to give her their fist then she pulls her hand back and says "pshhhhhhhhh". So here she is going up and down the little hall way fist bumping everyone, blacks, whites, asians, muslims, she didn't care. She taught a few of the parents what a fist bump was as well. She was the star of the "waiting room".

As we are waiting we learn that we keep getting bumped back for emergency patients to come in and whatnot. I don't mind. I'm a patient person, my kid on the other hand isn't. I sat her in my lap and let her play Old Macdonald on my iPhone. As she was sitting there patiently hitting the pink little pig and watching it run away, I watched a mother push her 3 year old little girl in a wheel chair down the hall. The little gor; had tubes all over her and looked disabled. My heart broke. Sick kids is where I draw my "cold hearted" limit. I can be the biggest bitch about anything and everything but I turn into a little sap when I see a sick kid.

I quickly imagined what life would be like if that was D and I. My heart broke and I wanted to cry. It made me hug my little girl a bit more and give her a little kiss on the head. D hopped off of my lap and ran up to the wheelchair and tried to fist bump that little girl. She waited patiently but the girl wasn't having any of it so of course the talkative little monster that she is starts yelling at the girl. "HI....HELLO.....HI.....Pssssssh" as she put her hand into a fist. She WANTED a fist bump. The mother looked at D and smiled then I smiled at that mom. The little girl curled her hand into a fist and Demi was content. As the girl was strolled down the hall way D yelled "BYE!" until she was out of sight.

We still had some waiting to do so I put D back in the stroller and gently rock her back and forth. I jinxed myself because I told the 17 year old girl next to me, "Any money says that now that she fell asleep they'll call her." Guess what, they called her the second she closed her eyes.

You do the math. Cranky baby + woken up from her sleep + drawing blood = screaming bloody murder.  :( I was so sad for her and I hated how I had to hold her legs down while one nurse held down her arms and someone else drew her blood. I hated how loud she screamed, I hated how she had snot running down her face from screaming so loud and hard. I did love how she gave mommy a huge hug and wouldn't let go afterwards. Poor poor baby.

Hospitals are depressing in general but a children't hospital is even worse. I hope that the love that D has for everyone will last as she grows older. D doesn't know the difference between races,  religions, sexuality and sick or healthy. She treated everyone equally and it made me happy to see that she was still innocent. George and I refuse to allow racist, sexist, homophobic slurs spoken in our house and I hope that when she gets older she won't find herself friends with someone who does use those types of words.

Our children's innocence is the best  thing ever. I fell even more in love with my kid when I saw how she interacted with everyone.

Book Club!!!!

Nerd alert!! Nerd alert!!

I've always wanted to join a book club but for some reason never really put any effort forward. Guess what? No effort and it just fell into my lap. My sister has a sister in law and she called to let her know that they were starting a book club. My sister asked if she could invite me and the sister in law said sure (see not everyone has crappy inlaws!).

Last night was the first official meeting of the book club. It turns out that as of now there are 8 of us but it looks like we will probably grow to about 11 women. 11 Greek women in one place...all trying to talk about a book....at the same time...it really should be interesting. I would normally say that when you have a book club that slowly people start dropping out of it. In this case its a bit different because we all know each other going INTO the club. It's sisters, cousins, in laws, dating so and so's family member etc. When its a close group you are less likely to lose members.

I'm really excited. We already picked our first book which is Jodi Picoult's Change of Heart. It looks like its going to be a good read. I've read a few of Jodi's books and they have all been amazing. I'm very happy that one of her books was chosen for our book club. I am happy to expand my horizon in regards to types of books that I read because I really do find myself reading "chick lit" or heart breaking books like Picoult or Nicholas Sparks. I need to get back to reading thrillers and things of that sort. Maybe I shall get with the reading of the NY Best Sellers or maybe the Classics?

Our book club is meeting in like 5 weeks to discuss the book and I can read about a book a week so I have plenty of time right? Speaking of reading there is a great website called www.goodreads.com which helps you track what you've read, what you are reading, what you want to read and review books too. It's pretty good. I signed up on there so look for me and we can compare books.

I'll let you know what I think of the books as I read them. :)

Happy reading and hey...I told you it was major nerd alert! :)

Saturday 9: Ready or No

1. When severe weather happens, generally speaking, are you ready for it?
Yes and no. We have plenty of food, bottled waters, a fire place, and a back up generator. I think we'd be okay for a while.
2. If you could wake up tomorrow with a new talent, what would it be? 
I'd like to be able to write the way I used to write. It would flow effortlessly.

3. What do you strive for in life? 
Perfection. Just kidding. I just strive for being as happy as I can be! :)

4. If you were given a vacation home and you could have it anywhere, what location would you choose?
Italy! Beautiful beaches and amazing shopping. What else could I ask for?

5. Do you feel energized or drained by being in a group situation? If the answer is "it depends," on what does it depend? 
It depends on my mood going into it. Sometimes I'm very much a people person and love it. I get energized. Other days just the thought of one other person much less a group drains me.

6. When you're sick do you take "sick days" or do you force yourself to continue working? I never STOP working. Even when I am sick and don't go into the office I can be found making phone calls and answering emails. My sick days are to benefit others, so I don't give them my cooties. 

7. What is your absolute favorite piece of furniture you have and why? My bed. I love my bed. The head board is beautiful the mattress is so comfortable. It just looks like a nice statement piece.

8. When you go out, where do you like to go? What do you like to do? I gotta say, I enjoy going BOWLING. It's one of those things that we don't do too often so its fun. It's even more fun when its drunk disco bowling.

9. How's life? Is it treating you well right now? 

Life is pretty great. I can't complain.

Saturday Nine meme hosted by Samantha

Wine & Love

I found the cutest little meme hosted by Nora on Amber's blog and thought I'd join in.

What we are supposed to do is write down what is making us reach for wine, tequila or whatever your poison is followed by our loves. This should be things you've whined about and loved since LAST week.

Wines

• Everyone being out of the office but me. You'd think this is great news but its not. I get to deal with everyone's complaints and problems. Woofuckinghoo.
• It got cold way way way too fast. It went from a hot summer day to a super chilly fall day. Isn't there supposed to be gradual shift?
• I have another ear infection. Yes. Really.

Loves

• My daughter started at the daycare we own and I feel so much more comfortable with her there. She seems to have adapted so well and everyone loves her! :)
• The office is at least peacful :) I SHOULD be able to find time to finish some tedious tasks!
• My husband bought me the nicest pair of skinny jeans by Calvin Klein an they fit like a glove. 
• I just reloaded my e-reader with a bunch of new books and I'm so excited to find some time to just read while enjoying a nice glass of wine! 
• Did I mention I'm going to Blogher12?

Wordless Wednesday

words are not needed to get this point across...

It's NOT putting your kids down...crazy lady!

So there is a blog post making its rounds on the blogosphere that is called "Stop Putting Down Your Kids".  I read the post a few times trying to figure out where Tara was coming from. Was it written with some sort of humor that was deeply hidden? Was it written from an angry place? I finally realized where it came from. It was written from high above us "normal" parents, on her pedestal.

She says that putting down your children is not helpful, funny, nor will it improve your relationship with your child. I totally get it. Putting down your children is down right crappy. However, all the examples she gave are NOT examples of putting down a child.  The examples she gave are of mother's expressing their feelings to their friends, peers, co-workers or whatever.

Putting down a child is saying something along the lines of "my child is such a fucking douchebag. He's 4 years old and still not potty trained. I think he is mentally handicapped". "My child hasn't stopped eating crap, she is going to become a heifer"

It seems to me that Tara has a hard time getting the difference between parents discussing their hardships, their troubles, their hard times, problems, or however you want to call them and putting down. Putting down is an insult. Putting down is hurting someone's feelings.  Tara went pretty far and even called "putting down your kids" as being selfish.

Is it really selfish? Is it selfish to speak to other moms about issues you are having with your child/children? Here I thought it was a way to interact and bond with other parents and maybe do this weird thing called getting advice. Where should we turn to for advice about children misbehaving, not sleeping well, not eating well or whatever? Should we just google and hope we come up with something good? I know that when D was having issues sleeping I spoke to my friend and she told me about her family's bed time routine and how the end result was her daughter sleeping straight through the night.

When D decided that eating wasn't something she was fond of I spoke to a few friends and complained "Oh my god, D is going to be as picky as an eater as me. She hasn't eaten a solid meal in about 3 days!" and my mommy friends told me about their issues when their children were younger and gave me some suggestions.

You see, some might see it as complaining about our children but NEVER putting them down. Even the complaining is warranted. A parent's job is never over. It's a 24/7 deal. If our child keeps us up all night and we can't function its not good. We have the right to complain, to talk, to get advice. We have the right to NOT be judged for talking to other parents about our issues or hardships.  We have the right to turn to a friend and ask advice and compare horror stories and share survival tips.

Look, let's be honest, no one is going to give you an award for being a great parent but you shouldn't be made to feel like a shitty one for turning to someone to ask for help. If anything it makes us feel like a more normal parent for knowing that the majority of parents are dealing with or have dealt with the same thing.

So how do you feel about Tara's post?

MTV & The Law

I'm watching Jersey Shore right now. It's a repeat so I'm not really paying attention. They showed a commercial for Teen Mom and it was about Amber getting arrested for domestic violence. I don't know why but I got really pissed off. No, seriously. I got mad.

Why!?

A few seasons ago Snooki got punched in the face by some "gorilla" at the bar. MTV first aired the preview for the episode and the entire world got in an uproar over MTV airing this. How in the heck can they air a clip of a woman (?) getting punched in the face by a guy with a clear conscious. How could they? What were they thinking!?  MTV of course edited the footage and showed the fight minus the actual punch in the face.

Then about a year or year and a half MTV aired a scene on Teen Mom in which Amber started punching Gary in front of their young daughter Leah. Once again, everyone was in an uproar. People called the police, the courts demanded that MTV hand over the raw footage of that. Charges were pressed, she was arrested, and custody was taken from Amber (I'm 100% in agreement and its NOT just about the hitting, I think she is a very very shitty mom).

Well, where exactly is the uproar when people watch Jersey Shore and see the ticking time bomb that is known as Ron? In the past 4 sesaons of Jersey Shore Ron repeatedly flips out. When I say flips out I mean physically punching people, destroying personal property that isn't his, and emotionally abusive of his girlfriend (not to say that Sam doesn't act the same way!). Where is are the cries of domestic abuse? Where is the uproar? Where is the "that isn't right, what is MTV thinking!?"

According to Wikipedia Domestic violence is defined as:  Domestic violence, so defined, has many forms, including physical aggression (hitting, kicking, biting, shoving, restraining, slapping, throwing objects), or threats thereof; sexual abuse; emotional abuse; controlling or domineering; intimidation; stalking; passive/covert abuse (e.g.,neglect); and economic deprivation. Alcohol consumption and mental illness^[ can be co-morbid with abuse, and present additional challenges when present alongside patterns of abuse.


I dunno but it seems to me like that entire paragraph above just basically says "Ron & Sam". I've watched Ron:

• get into a fight on the board walk and get arrested
• shove Sam out of the way (repeatedly)
• completely trash Sam's room and break things (including her glasses)
• put her bed on the porch and say that since she "acts like a dog she can sleep like a dog"
• trash Mike's room and stuff
• get into a physical altercation with Mike.
  
  His behavior is always amplified by drinking. 

I get that the MTV veiwers became concerned because its not normal for a guy to punch a girl (Snooki), be abusive in front of your child (Amber) but are we sitting down and accepting that its okay for a man to treat a woman like this as long as no physical punches are thrown to her? What about emotional abuse? What about mental health?

I never got into an uproar about any of the situations presented above so I'm not going to get my panties in a bunch about this either but for all of those who did get involved by calling the police, sending emails, boycotting the show/network...where are you now? Don't you care?!

What is your opinion on this?

S.H.I.T. - So Happy Its Thursday

My lovely bloggy friend Rusti hosts a wonderful blog meme/link up every week. Every week I read it and I giggle. Who doesn't giggle at the title SHIT? I know I do (then again I'm mentally 12).

Reasons I'm So Happy Its Thursday

1. Its almost Friday which means a LONG weekend! 
2. It has to be better than Tuesday right!? Right?
3. Tassimo is set to deliver my new order of coffee to the office (I ordered the iced coffee)
4. I'm in discussions with a company for a review/giveaway on my blog!
5. Its also Marcie's Thirsty Thursday blog hop which I really enjoy! (I find all kinds of awesome bloggers to follow)
6. It's a long weekend to spend with my little adorable baby girl! I think I'm gonna mess around with my camera to take some new pictures of her for her portfolio! 

So now its your turn to tell me why you are so happy its Thursday!?