summer fun

someone prove me WRONG

I've been lamenting today about how hostile our culture is toward children. It seems, on the surface, that we're unbelieveable child-centered. At least if you watch commercials. But its purely from a marketing standpoint. I don't see much evidence of us really cherishing children in this country. I see much more evidence that we're on a neverending quest to make children convenient to us. From "teaching" kids to sleep on their own through abandoning them to scream in the dark, to micromanaging the bejebus out of them to the point that they can no longer behave like children without being scolded. Heaven forbid we should actually take a moment to consider what our children NEED from US. No no. We must constantly assume that Junior is a manipulative little devil, out to squeeze us for all we're worth. I'll end my rant here, because I've been throwing up for 24 hours and the last thing I need to do is get myself all worked up. So let me conclude by sharing this gem from craigslist:

PoMo-Parenting: Teach your children to behave in a restaurant
Reply to: pomoparenting@gmail.com
Date: 2006-05-24, 5:37PM PDT

I am offering a new service to teach your children how to behave in a restaurant. I am an experienced school teacher with an emphasis in the performing arts. This is how it works: exasperated parents pay me to get angry at their children in a restaurant--in order to "teach them a lesson." It may sound a bit drastic but it's been getting great results! I'll work with you to develop a level of aggression (or lack there-of) that you feel comfortable with. I have three different package deals. (1) I merely tell your child (loudly) to be quiet. This package includes a reasonable dinner for me and a guest + $50 + extra if the drive is far. (2) I tell your child (loudly) to be quiet plus I give them a short lecture on how much other people in the restaurant are bothered by their antics. This package includes a reasonable dinner for me and a guest + $75 + extra if the drive is far. (3) I tell at your child (loudly) to be quiet plus you can argue with me and angrily defend your child so that when I walk off you can complain to your child "see! I got in a fight because of you!" This package includes a reasonable dinner for me and a guest + $100 + extra if the drive is far. I will not under any circumstances divulge our agreement to your child. Other lessons are in development and I am open to structuring novel lessons around your given needs. References available upon request. --Pomo Parenting
no -- it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests


I suppose you would have to suspect the worst of your children....otherwise what happens if they are behaving much better than before and this crazy broad still comes up and screams at them? And it's always good to see that guilt (I got in a fight because of YOU) costs a little extra. And one more thing. References available? What does the concerned parent look for in hiring someone to scream at your child in a restaurant? Just curious.

it's like the three stooges around here

we don't believe in purel

conor's attempt at a humorous grocery list

and. um. I'm not quite sure what this is.

almost as exciting as the toast post

I haven't been posting my projects since I made Violet's little apron. So here's the big nap pillow I made. It was a feat taking a picture straight down without getting belly in the shot.

toast

i just had the best piece of toast i've ever had.

i commented to conor "this is the best piece of toast i've ever had."

he replied "i was just thinking the same thing."

so there you have it.

good toast.

what does it mean when you run out on your birthday and buy yourself this?:

and then vigorously bleach the floors in glee.....

I AM: having contractions
I SAID: something i shouldn't, more than likely
I WANT: to be prepared
I WISH: i wasn't in podunk
I HATE: cheaters. stupid brad pitt and stuff.
I MISS: home
I FEAR: uncertainty
I HEAR: the hum of the baby monitor
I WONDER: where we'll end up
I REGRET: everything stupid i did that didn't lead me here.
I AM NOT: enthusiastic
I DANCE: on your grave. HA HA HA.
I SING: lullabies more than anything else
I CRY: when i wake up from a bad dream about being in love with conor and going to his wedding with someone else. preggos have weird dreams.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: tired. just most of the time.
I MADE: hot dogs for dinner. nitrate free at least.
I WRITE: in capital letters mostly
I CONFUSE: lie and lay. what the heck are the rules for that again?
I NEED: some rugs. my floor gets filthy.
I SHOULD: eat less pudding
I START: insane nesting in my last 2 months
I FINISH: if you're from finland, you're finnish
I TAG: you. and you and you and you.

gardening

you may leave your slew of birthday greetings here:

puddle jumping

adventures in gluten free cooking

I have had some unfortunate incidents in the kitchen as of late. They have involved crying and throwing falafel. Trying to cook without gluten is almost a joke. My dear sweet husband bought me a gluten-free cookbook for my birthday. Which he gave to me a little early as I stood at the refrigerator crying and saying over and over "What am I supposed to FEEEED HEEEERRR???!!!" On a more positive note, last night's dinner (meatloaf and green beans with garlic and almonds) was a success. And I wrote down what I did so I can remember and revise it in the future. I also made some fantastic gluten-free banana bread. Ok, fine, the bread machine made it. But I helped! Gluten has to be the worst thing on the planet to be allergic to. It is in EVERYTHING. And we're not just talking bread products. Plus you have to think about things like not getting bread crumbs on the butter or in the jelly. Ah well. It takes some getting used to. And hopefully it is something she'll grow out of. In the mean time. I often think what a ridiculous concept it would be if we were still vegetarian. HAH. Here's your beans, rice, and bananas violet. For breakfast lunch and dinner.