How Do You Like Me Now?

Today's story about me....actually has to do with my children.....which has everything to do with me. My children's safety, happiness and health affect my life tremendously and if one of those things (safety, happiness or health) are adversely affected, then my world seems to swing out of kilter. Right now....I'm swinging.

This morning....on my way to work, God and I had one of our famous conversations. Conversation meaning that I talked, ranted, raved and yes....there might even have been some tears, and then....I listened. I am still listening and waiting for direction, answers....help. It will come I know...... and in His time, not mine. All the while, I hope to hold onto my sanity and be the person He obviously has faith that I am and not turn out to be the personal that I actually fear I am.

If you know me or read my blogs, you know that my family has nothing if it does not have health issues. Every six months I go through the wonder and waiting to find out if yet again.....I have dodged the cancer bullet that has interwoven itself in my family tree and looms eerily over all of us. Then there is David who has had health issues of some form since birth and in recent years has developed seizure issues that have kept me from many a nights sleep and have had me hyperventilating into a paper bag more than once. Now there is Z. Sadly....with Z I hover between frustration, anger and pure fear. I just want to say.....Grrrrr. And thus brings us to today's story.

When Z was young....he loved school and wouldn't miss even with a 103 temp unless I just forced him. Once he hit middle school though and the bullying began, he was sick all the time. Mostly it was just a way not to have to go to school and deal with the hell that awaited him each day from both students and teachers. When I pulled him out and he went to Eschool.....the illness was gone and other than the occasional allergy attack and one bout with strep throat, he was perfectly fine. Then May of 2010 hit. He was sick. He seemed to have a horrible flu and he had no energy. He would literally fall asleep talking to you. Finally after 24 hours of throwing up I took him to the ER. After blood work he was diagnosed with mono. There is no treatment for mono except rest. They told us the worst would be over in about two weeks. His lagged on for about 8. In August, he started back to school....actual school, not the E kind. Almost from the get go, he was missing school complaining of headaches, body aches and nausea. He was throwing up quite a bit. The doctor finally in Oct. did another blood draw and found that apparently he still had mono. ARRRRGGGGGHHHH! The rest of the year was a roller coaster ride of headaches, nausea, dizziness and of course.....missing school. Z would have stretches of good days and then stretches of bad. As hard as I tried not to.....my attitude towards his health was turning very negative. I was frustrated and then.....it all evened out and for the most part, there were no issues. Happy sigh!

Now we are less than a month into school and it has all started again. Headaches, nausea, dizziness and pain in his feet. All of this....almost since day one. WTH? He has only missed two days of school (yesterday being one of those days) but he has been to the doctor three times. Finally last week they decided to do some more blood work on him. The doctor seemed to think it was possibly a recurrence of mono....yet again. NOOOOOOOOO! Not three times. They did an Epstein Barr test on him which is the virus that causes mono. And so we waited for results. Yesterday Z goes to school and by 10 a.m. I had been called by the school nurse. He was running a fever, with all the usual complaints. I was on my way. In the process of all of this...the doctors office called to tell me that Z's blood work was back and it showed that he had NEVER had mono. Again WTH? The doctor then said they wanted to see him immediately just to feel around on his stomach and check his liver and spleen and then also to take more blood. Apparently the doctor started doing some research and all signs were leading to some sort of auto immune disease. For the third time....WTH? I was seriously considering just driving into a ditch and not moving. Of course I didn't.

So after finding out that Z's liver and spleen felt fine and that no lymph nodes were protruding.....they took about 30 gallons of blood from him and set him up with a Infectious Disease doctor....oh and a recheck with a cardiologist as we found last October that he had aortic valve stenosis which has to be monitored yearly. Yay us! So this is where we currently stand. My family is full of all kinds of fun hereditary type genes and diseases. Cancer is just one of the fun ones. We also have lupus and her first cousin rheumatoid arthritis along with their friend schlerederma. We also have Raynauds and Fibromyalgia. All of these are considered auto immune diseases...many my mother herself had and several are spread out amongst her brothers and sisters and my first cousins and then onto the next generation which includes Z. I am a ball of nerves. Blood work results should be back by Friday and that is when Z and I go talk to the ID doctor. Z is home again today with a spiking temp, painful feet and feeling sick. Poor kid.

It was really hard on the way to work not to feel defeated. I was feeling horrible for Z, horrible for myself and wondering when would be a good time to throw in the towel?! Thus the conversation with God. Somewhere in the midst of all of this I remembered that nothing happens without a reason and all things have a purpose....most of which are life lessons. So yes God....I am listening and I am holding on by what little threads there are left. But please............HURRY!!!!!!

So while this may not be a story per se......this does give you a little window into that which is my life and why I am always this crazy, neurotic, hair grabbing, gray going, nearly nuts individual. All that is left to do is ask so.......... how do you like me now?

Hope your Wednesday is going great and that all your speed bumps are small and your joys.....abundant. Happy Wednesday all!

Dating 101 or How to Find a Man in Lisaland.....A Party of Two

I have to laugh....Dani and Dean really started something last week. All week my email and facebook messages have been full of people with their suggestions for me to get out and get going in the dating world. I have even had some rather harsh criticisms as to the fact that some think I am "scared" and all talk! To you I say......you are absolutely right! This is one of the scariest ventures that I have ever set forth on in my life. As I said last week....dating is a young persons game. The older you get....the harder it becomes. Especially if you have been out of the game for a very long time. I can honestly say.....I have not been out on a date in this millennium. That is really a scary thought.

I did however, after last weeks ideas....decide to get a little pro-active. I have actively been searching out some sort of a group of like minded people to attend. I am not sure that a widow/widowers group is right for me. I am truly afraid there might be too much sadness involved there and that is not the direction I want to go. I have though been looking into groups of parents with kids who are special needs. I am kind of alone in the world (at least my little world) where this is concerned. Even if there are no available bachelors just dying to date me there....I might find people who will help me not to feel so on my own where David is concerned.

I have also decided to give myself an interesting present for my birthday. I am going to the gun range and do some target practice. I don't own a gun and probably am not going to own a gun. I do however like to shoot. Back a long time ago.....I used to go shoot skeet with an old boyfriend of mine. He taught me how to shoot and after much bruising.....I finally got the hang of it. I am sure a hand gun is different, but it will be fun to learn and you just never know who I might meet there. Worst case scenario....I get my Annie Oakley on and learn some sweet shooting skills. Best case scenario.....well who knows? 

Many suggested to me bars. My mother always used to say....you will never meet the man of your dreams in a bar. I laughed long and hard because that is exactly where I met my husband. Fact is though.....the only bar I go to is RD's and I sincerely doubt that my Mr. Right has any frequent flyer miles there. So in all reality.....bars are probably not where I will be hanging out.

I had one reader give me a stern email reprimand. Ms. Cmom, While it appears in your blog that you do not want to end up alone, your actions seem to say different. It appears that you are more in like with the idea of being with someone than you are of actually finding someone. Do you think you are the only one in your shoes? Do you think that others have not had to saddle up and ride again after losing someone they loved either through death or divorce? Love will not come knocking at your door while you stand hiding behind the curtain. You must put your self out there and show the world that you are ready to live again. Then and only then will you find the one who is meant to be with you. So quit talking and get out there and do something. Haven't you heard the saying...."A little less talking and a little more action!" Now go get some action!

Hmmmm....action? How about we start with lunch and see where that leads? But I do understand what is being said and I do take the words to heart. Bottom line is....I am scared! But scared accomplishes nothing. Short of asking people out myself (I don't think I will ever be daring enough for that), I am ready to start putting some effort back into my dating life. I plan on starting back to the gym....and maybe I will attempt to go at a time when people my own age are working out.

Someone told me the other day that it was pretty obvious that I wasn't desperate to find a man....or I would be all over every man I saw. She then followed that up with.....that is a good thing. Men hate desperate. I laughed. No....I am just single......not desperate and for the most part, I am pretty self sufficient and not too terribly needy (although I could still use a good handy man!), but I do miss the companionship. I miss someone to cook for (or....ummm.....cook for me...whichever). I miss someone to talk to and to laugh with, but I guess I am not really desperate enough for any of it.....or I'd have done found me a man by now.  So here goes nothing. Not desperate, not really needy.....just ready to be a party of two....instead of always just one!

Well...hope your Tuesday is bright, cheerful and full of nothing but good things. Happy Tuesday everyone.

Frugal and Filling

Well....today has not been a bad day....it has simply been a crazy busy day. By the way....Happy Labor Day all. Tomorrow we get back to the real world, but for a few more short hours....I am free!

So it is recipe day today. While I was trying to decide what to share today....I was going through my frig and freezer. Being that I am a very big budget girl.....my freezer always has the good old stand by....ground beef on hand. I usually buy it in large packages when it is on sale and then divide it into one pound packages and freeze it. It makes for easy thawing and quick meals. And when I am being even more time efficient....I take a Saturday or Sunday and fry up a bunch of ground meat. Some I fry up with onion and another batch I will fry up and seasSon with taco seasoning. Then I freeze them in marked packages. This makes it easy to grab when you want to throw some in for spaghetti with meat sauce or if you want to thaw and heat for quick taco's or chili.

As I was saying though....my freezer is loaded with the stuff, so this got me to thinking....most of us are on a budget and most of us that grew up in the 60's and 70's remember our parents being on a budget and eating budget friendly throw togethers. So today's recipes are themed around ground beef and budget friendly. The first one is not mine.....this was given to me many years ago by my friend Berty. Berty was one of 12 kids and her mom knew better than anyone how to stretch a dollar and a pound of ground beef. Berty's family perfected this recipe, then my mom used it and I have used literally thousands of times (least it seems that way) over the years. It is Aunt Ruth's Western Beans. The other recipe which I will be sharing was one I came up with one time when I wanted to make veggie beef soup but had no stew meat. I just decided to substitute what I had....and wouldn't you know it....I had ground beef. I thusly named it Ground Beef Soup. These recipes are not fancy, but both are easy on the budget and filling. They can be adjusted to fit any size family and the soup can be frozen and used at a later time.  They have that familiar taste of growing up with just a touch of comfort food thrown in for good measure. Hope you enjoy them and as always....would love to hear your thoughts.

Aunt Ruth's Western Beans
1 lb ground beef browned with onion (until onion is translucent)
1 can pork-n-beans (can also uses any variety of Bush's beans)
1 TBSP brown sugar
2 TBSP ketchup
Toast
American cheese slices

After meat is browned add can of pork-n-beans. Then add the brown sugar and ketchup. Cook until thoroughly heated. Then toast two slices of any kind of bread you like. Place on plate side by side. Cover toast with the meat/bean mixture and then place a slice of cheese on each. Let melt on it's own or stick under broiler until bubbly. Serve with a veggie or salad and you have a hearty meal for very little cash.

Ground Beef Soup
1 lb ground beef browned
1 med. onion diced
4 lg. potatoes diced
4 lg. carrots diced
1/2 cabbage shredded
1 reg. size can of diced tomatoes
1 sm. box elbow macaroni (uncooked) if desired
4 cups water
4 beef bouillon cube
sea salt
pepper
garlic powder
Mrs. Dash

After browning ground beef, put all ingredients into a a 5qt or bigger crock pot. Stir to mix and cook on high for 5 hours or low for 8. Serve with crusty bread or a salad and you have a ready made meal when you walk in the door.

So today's focus was not on fancy but more on frugal and filling. If you have some frugal and filling recipes....please share. In this economy....I am sure we can all use a little help. Here's hoping that you had a relaxing Labor Day and now that we have Monday out of the way.....this short week will be great for us all. Happy Monday everyone!

Settled

Things sort of feel settled today. Don't know whether it is because of the wonderful rain we had last night and cool temps this morning, or because I got a lot of cleaning done yesterday and got my bills on track, or maybe it was because I was sick as a dog last night and today I feel a little better. I am thinking it is a combination of it all.

Yesterday during cleaning, about 3 p.m. my head started hurting so bad that I was feeling sick all over. I had to quit and lay down. I must have conked out the minute my bed hit those clean sheets because I didn't wake up until about 5:30 p.m.. at which time my whole body was in pain and I was really sick! I couldn't lay, I couldn't sit and I couldn't stand. I was miserable. After going through several hours of this.....I blissfully found my way back to sleep. This morning I feel as if a truck hit me and my body aches, but I honestly feel better. I have some things I absolutely "have" to do today, but other than that.....NOTHING! Maybe this is what has been coming on all week and part of why I have had the headaches and felt so cranky. Who knows? All I know is....I am glad this happened on the weekend and not during the week when I had to get up and try to go to work the next day. I really don't think I could have made it.

The cooler weather is truly a gift from God. I was thinking last night when I woke up and was listening to the glorious rain that everything really does happen for a reason. Before this heat wave hit back in the spring.....temps had been pretty cool and people where complaining that the warmth would never come. I even heard people say.....I don't care how hot it gets as long as summer gets here. Well....it got here, with a vengeance and those same people were the first to complain as the heat dragged on. The heat is broken now (hopefully no more hundreds this year) and once again God has answered prayers. Do you think anyone realizes that God listens, and often gives us what we want? Only we either don't get that this is what is happening or once we get it we become unsatisfied with our choice....and in turn blame God for whatever unpleasant consequences come from our choice? We are surely an ungrateful world.

Yesterday....up until the sickness hit......was a really great day. Z and I were cleaning house (a job we both hate) and we were talking. I love days like that where it just seems it is him and I (David too of course) and we talk about everything. We take turns listening to music and Z plans ahead for his special acts of the year for the school music programs. This leads to conversations about school, kids at school, and often....the future. I learn more about Z in these infrequent house cleaning sessions than I do all year long. I know...I know. You are thinking....well perhaps if you cleaned more often....and to that I say.....probably not gonna happen! Aren't fall and spring plenty????

But I digress.....I really enjoyed reacquainting myself with this young man. I also noticed how different he is now from this time last year. Last year he was so up in the air about who he was, who he wanted to be and how he felt about himself. Pretty typical freshman stuff. He was playing with the goth/emo look and he was lost. This year though.....it seems as if he knows more about who he is and what he wants. Of course he is far from having it all figured out, but now he is asking the hard questions about life, he is putting some things into perspective and he is starting to prioritize for his future. Listening to him talk.....I see that he is starting to realize who he is as a person and what he likes....not what he thinks other want him to like. He.....like me today.....seems more settled. It was a nice day and one that I wish could have gone on for a whole lot longer than it did.

Needless to say.....church is not happening for me today. The last thing I need to do is go to the Villa and give all those poor elderly people what I had last night. And while I will miss having Father direct his sermon at me (wonder what he does when I am not there) I know that I am better off right where I am this morning. While my body is not in a pew.....my heart and mind feel very spiritual today. I see God working and I feel His presence all through my life. I see Him working through my children and most of all....today....I feel Him in my heart. All in all....not a bad way to feel on a Sunday in September.

Here is hoping that you are feeling settled....happy....and enjoying this three day weekend. Happy Sunday everyone!

Hell Week

Finally.....we come to the end of one of the more trying weeks of my year. This one has been a real hoot....if by hoot you mean just about every second of every minute sucked! And like my dislikes this week.....I have found much more than just one thing to rant about. So since I am at the end of what will forever be fondly known as hell week, I have decided to bit....er....rant about it all.

Where to begin? I am thinking that things look/seem so much worse than perhaps they are because we are on day 1000 of being 100 degrees or higher here in our little state. Okay....maybe I exaggerated a bit, but it doesn't feel like much. The truth is....yesterday marked the 52nd day this spring/summer where temps were 100 degrees or more. I can't speak for anyone else....but I am tired of sweating. All summer even with deodorant and perfume......I have smelled like floral sweat and trust me...that is not a pretty smell. Today I just paid another almost $500 electric bill and because of our huge water restrictions.....my lawn looks like a dried up straw field. Okay....truthfully, I probably wouldn't have watered much anyway.....but the restrictions just piss me off. You can tell that everyone is affected by the extreme heat because everyone is just as nasty as I am. People are grumpy, they have no patience and their road rage is insane. Okay....maybe that last one is just me and quite possibly the weather has nothing to do with it....but the bottom line is....I am so ready for fall.

And now onto a subject that I have touched on a few times already....but it still ticks me off to the point of making me want  to punch a pillow. Yeah....that's just how I roll! You know....I am not ancient (no snickers please) but I have been around a minute or two and in my advanced years....I have learned a few things. I have had experience with relationships (young ones....not old ones), loss, business and people in general. I have some life experience under my belt and contrary to popular belief.....I am NOT stupid. That being said.....I try very hard to keep my wisdom to myself....unless.....one I see an avoidable bad situation approaching or two I am asked. When one of those two occurs, then all bets are off on my ability to stay silent. For the most part I have tried very hard to keep quiet even when I see the avoidable about to happen, mostly because sometimes people just have to learn on their own and me piping up is really not going to change things and in the end usually just ticks people off. I get that! However.....don't ask me for advice and then get angry when I give it to you. Don't ask me for advice and then act like I am stupid for giving it to you. And finally....don't ask me for advice....not take it....and then get angry because things fall apart. I have been dealing with this a lot this week and I have about had it. I have said and done all I can for those that ask for help but refuse to listen. I have since decided that those asking actually like the negativity and bad situations, so believe it or not....I am shutting up. You can lead the stupid to the facts....but you can't make them listen, believe or change...so I simply quit! But darn it....don't come crying to me when the bottom falls out of your world, because I might just have to say....I TOLD YOU SO! And yes again....I am THAT kind of a person!

Finally....I am angry beyond words. You all know that I talk about my youngest son David. He is special needs and he needs different therapies. He needs occupational therapy (OT), speech therapy and most of all physical therapy (PT). He has needed them since he was very little and when you are the parent of a special needs child...you kind of learn as you go. Well to make a long story short, David had received all his therapies through the school and had done very well until his PT had to leave the school district. His PT had been wonderful with David and he was stretched regularly, made to walk with his walker everywhere he went and she was getting wonderful progress from him. I nearly cried when she left, but I was open minded and hoped that his new PT would be just as good. Right off the bat I saw a difference. His old PT was in contact with me at least once a week letting me know how David was progressing and what I needed to be doing at home. There was none of this from the new one. Then I had a para tell me confidentially that he was no longer being stretched because she didn't believe in it. Instead they put him in a stander 20 minutes a day and called it good. I called the PT and asked what was up and she let me know that she had over 20 years experience with special needs kids and that her way was successful. Again...I was learning as I went so I tried to keep an open mind. Then I started seeing him go down hill. His muscles were tightening and his mobility was getting bad. He had had some seizure issues but the neurologist said get him back to his normal schedule as soon as possible. Instead the PT insisted that he no longer walk with is walker and that he be in his wheelchair at all times. I had no idea this was going on until after the fact. When I took him to the orthopedist, he had a fit. He said to get David away from that PT and to put him into outside PT. This meant twice a week pulling him out of school and taking him to Wichita to have PT. Needless to say the PT at school was indignant but since the doctor over rode her, there was little she could do. Her role now was to over see stretches at school which the ortho insisted upon and that was it. This worked for about a year and then last year David started having major melt downs at his outside PT. The PT and I were flabbergasted. He acted scared and would come out fighting when she would come near him to stretch him. She felt horrible and I had no idea what was going on. When I took him to school I told the para he had at the time and she said....I think I know what it is. She then told me that his at school PT was getting in his face, screaming at him and had even grabbed his face. She said David was terrified of her and he would start screaming every time she came near him. I was stunned. This information was then backed up by a teacher who had also witnessed it. I went through the roof. I told the school that the PT was not to touch him again....and because of his behavior at the outside PT.....he could no longer go back there. I was angry beyond belief. I got Davids advocate involved and the state said a new PT had to be put in place immediately. When I went to the meeting....the old PT did not attend and I was told by administrative staff the she had resigned. I didn't care as long as she never came near my son again.

God was watching over David because the school was fortunate enough to find a wonderful PT and she began work with David immediately. Within just a few weeks his mobility was progressing and the new PT even fit him with and made him new braces. Apparently the ones the old PT had made were ill fitting and were generic and not made for his particular issues at all. Again I was furious and thankful all at the same time. David continued to progress and the new PT was getting things out of David no one else had been able to. He ended up having a wonderful school year.

When summer came and we went into the extended school year, the school decided not to have the actual PT work with David but had a para who had learned all of Davids necessary PT from the PT do his daily workouts. I was fine with that because she knew what she was doing. Then just before school started, I was told his PT wouldn't be back. That is also when I learned that his old PT was still in the school. She had only resigned from David, but she was still working with other special needs kids. I was not happy, but my first issue was making sure David had PT. School has been in session three weeks and no PT. At first the school even refused to let the para's stretch David as no PT was overseeing him....but that did not fly and so the para's were allowed to stretch him. Then I happened to talk to a social worker friend of mine who asked about David. I told her his current situation and she told me that if the school had not provided a good PT for him by Sept. 1st that I should contact the state. Trying to be fair....I contacted the special needs administration at the school and asked first how progress was coming on finding a PT. I was told that they had been unsuccessful as of yet, but that they were looking. I then let them know that I was very unhappy that the old PT was still there but that the new one was let go. Excuses were made and then I was told that I was the only one that had ever complained about the old one. I went through the roof. I was the only one who complained because I was the only one who knew how she acted around the kids. Had a para and teacher not told me....I would not have known. I let her know that I was sure that if other parents of special needs kids were aware of what was going on......there would be complaints. I was met with more excuses and I was livid. I also let her know that I was not letting this drop and that if the old PT had done this to David.....she surely has done it to others. And even if it only happened to one child....that was one child too many. Especially when you are dealing with children who often times have no voice and aren't capable of defending themselves. How dare this school system.....my school system put my child or any other child in the hands of such a person who calls herself a professional. I am taking this to the parents, the superintendent, the school board and the state. This is wrong and how can this school justify such an injustice to these children? In case your wondering....when I am through....heads are gonna roll!

Add to all of this....the possibly that Z has mono again (we are suppose to get the test results Tuesday), money is short, days are long and I am exhausted......and maybe you will understand why this week has been nothing but one big RANT! Of course....things could always be worse, but when your ranting....you really don't want to hear that. You just want to rant!

Here's hoping that next week is so much better and that you all have a very wonderful and rant free Saturday!

Motherhood for Dummies...Don't Diss the Mom!

So recently....I have been spending some time at the different doctors offices. It is just the nature of the beast when you have my life. And while spending time there....you run into all sorts of people. Some you know, some you have met and some you are pretty sure....you never want to meet again. Apparently though to some who enter those sterile walls....a doctors office is much like a priests confessional.....and all of the good, bad and ugly are revealed. Fortunately....I have taken no vow of silence....so I am free to blog about it all...even if I don't come out looking so good in the end. Yes...this is one of THOSE kind of stories!

So as I sat in the doctors office the other day....waiting for a test which I knew was going to require an IV, a lot of noise, and a certain amount of stress waiting on the results.....a young woman and her two children walked in and sat down beside me. This young woman looked to be in her very early twenties and attached to her was a child that looked to be about 9 months old who took turns between yelling and flat out crying. The cause was not evident, but my instincts told me that it might have been past someone's nap time. And racing around from chair to chair and magazines to other patients was this woman's other child. She looked to be about two, with no understanding of sit down and no filter on her mouth as she asked one rather large woman in her 60's if she had a baby in her "big" belly? The young mother looked only mildly embarrassed as the older lady shot daggers from her eyes and let out an indignant snort. I tried to pretend like I was engrossed in texting, but it did not stop this young woman from trying to initiate conversation with me. WHY ME? It never fails and I was really in no mood. So she began:

"These kids are driving me crazy." I wanted to say: So sit your little speed racer in a seat and tell her not to get up and put cranky pants on your shoulder and walk with him. Instead.....I just smiled and tried to go back to my "non" texting. She was having none of that. And so she continued. "You know.....I don't believe in spanking or raising my voice to my children. I believe in giving them space and letting them learn from experience. You know, my mother was always yelling at me, making me do chores and yes.....even spanking me." She paused looking at me for a reaction to this shocking proclamation that she had actually been spanked as a child. I glanced at her sideways widening my eyes which she took as shock but what they actually meant was "Why are you still talking to me?" Once she felt that I had given her story the proper facial expression, she continued on. "And you know my mother was so lame, I had a curfew....midnight if you can believe that? And it took nothing for my mother to ground me. You know once she grounded me for telling a little white lie? I told her I was going to spend the night at my friends house, but actually I went to my boyfriends house.....her daddy," and she pointed at speed racer who was now trying to shimmy up the reception desk and grab the receptionists clip board. Without taking so much as a breath she continued on, "Can you believe that. One little fib and I ended up grounded for two whole weeks. And then she caught him in my room after he had snuck in one night. That's right....I was grounded another two weeks. Man how lame! I am never going to do that to my kids. I am going to be a cool mom. They are going to have co-ed sleep overs and when they are 16 I am going to buy them beer and let them party at my house and I am going to trust them enough that I am not going to give them a stupid curfew or have a cow because they want to hook up with their boyfriend or girlfriend. Nope.....I am not going to make the same mistakes my mom did." And she stopped.

By this time she had my full attention and I am almost positive my mouth was hanging open and I had an "are you an idiot" look on my face. Obviously she did not understand the warning signs that my eyes were giving her because she boldly talked on. "I bet you are a cool mom. I can just see it in your eyes." No dear, what you see is me trying not to strangle you in front of all these witnesses. Meanwhile, cranky pants is now giddy with exhaustion throwing his head and pulling her hair and speed racer is now sitting on top of the magazine rack and tearing pages out of a Soap Opera Digest. All I could think is.....is this really happening? It was!

"Do you have kids?" she continued on at break neck speed apparently oblivious to both of her children. "I bet you do and I bet they think you are cool. I bet you never spanked your kids or yelled at them or grounded them for stupid stuff. You understand what I am saying though don't you? You understand that some things are just not cool to do to your kids and my mom did them all. So like I said, I am not going to make the same mistakes that she did." And then she looked at me and said "Right?" as if she needed me to confirm her last statement.

Okay...speaking of no filters, mine it seemed had hit its limit.  I had heard just about enough and between her overly exhausted baby,  her inexhaustible two year old and her incessant yammering about how awful her mother was....I could hold back no more and so the conversation went something like this: "Will you make the same mistakes your mom did? Absolutely not, because you will be way too busy making your own. And if you are just the teensiest bit lucky, through all those groundings, curfews, raised voices and spankings....yes I said spankings, maybe you just might have learned something. And I hope for your kids sakes, by the time they are old enough to have chores, curfews and be hooking up.....that you have matured to the point that you realize that your kids don't want a "cool" mom. They want a "real" mom. They want someone who tells them to clean their room, be in by midnight and stay away from that boy because he does only want one thing." Without a breath I continued on, "And further more, it sounds like your mom was the real deal and you better get down on your knees every night and thank God that you had a mother that cared so much for you and whether you know it or not.....taught you all the skills you need to be a damn good mom yourself. Now go pull your child off the x-ray techs leg and rock that tired baby to sleep." As I finished my last words to her, her face was ashen and the older woman whom speed racer mistook for preggers yelled out "Amen....you tell her how it is sista!"  I was a bit embarrassed at this point as all eyes were on me, including those of the tech who had come out to call my name and had been attacked by the two year old whirlwind. I started to turn to the young woman and apologize for my out burst....but as I turned to her, I saw that she had already grabbed speed racer and plunked her down in the chair next to her with a stern warning to sit still!....and now she was holding her little guy close obviously trying to sooth his exhaustion. She didn't look up as I walked back for my test and during the  test (about 45 min.) the whole scene played in my head and I felt really bad about going off on the young girl like I did. Maybe it was because I was already in an anxious mood over the test, or maybe it was because I just don't seem to be able to hold my tongue very well anymore, or maybe....and I think this was probably it....I hate to hear someone who has barely lived sit and talk negatively about a parent who has spent this child's entire life trying to make them the best they can be. Whatever the case....I wished that I had gone with the old adage....if you can't say something nice....don't say anything at all!

After my test, I walked back out into an almost empty waiting room. As I was checking out with the receptionist she said, "I heard what you said to that girl and it must have hit a nerve." I was a bit perplexed as she continued on...."She sat right there," pointing to the seat the girl had occupied, "and she didn't let that little girl get up again. She held that baby and he went right to sleep and she didn't say another word to anyone. So thank you. You just said what we were all thinking." 

As I walked out, I still felt bad that my mouth had shot off like it did, as it was not my intention to hurt or embarrass the young mother. It was also not my intention to scold or correct her. I have enough kids of my own to worry about....it is not my place to play mother to others.....especially when it sounded like she already had a pretty decent mom. Still though I wondered.....had my words really had an effect? Had I maybe made her realize that as moms go....we usually only get one and the sooner we learn to appreciate them.....the less regret we end up having? I really didn't know and I really hadn't decided whether I was ever going to share this story or not....until today. Today it just seemed like it fit....and so you have.... Motherhood for Dummies....Don't Diss the Mom!


Hope your Friday is the perfect ending to a perfect week!

I Don't Like.........

Well...yesterday sucked. And I don't mean just a little.....I mean it sucked from the moment my eyes opened because my alarm didn't go off, until just before I went to bed and found out that someone whom had done something very nice for me.....thought I didn't appreciate it. Everything in between sucked too. I have hopes that today turns out to be much better as I don't think I can survive another sucky day!

So to like or not to like. I think in going with yesterdays less than stellar mood, we will go with the things I don't like. Hmmmm...... Instead of just one, I think I will list a bunch for you. I seem to be building up and boiling over with this kind of thing anymore.....so I guess I will just go with it. Here are the things I currently dislike.... as follows:

I do not like child proof medicine bottles that only a child can manage to open.

I don't like people who argue with me when I am RIGHT. This list includes but is not limited to: school administration, my children, my co-workers, my dogs, and my family.

I don't like the US Postal service who obviously have an issue with getting a stinking card from point A to B. Who knew you needed to insure a card?

I don't like being my age (somewhere around 29) and still having acne. Again...don't correct me when I am deep in thought.

I don't like having gray hair, droopy eyes and an even droopier_________________! Go ahead and pick. Pretty much any part of my body will fit in the blank.

I don't like doctors offices, ER's or hospitals (especially the ones with stupidly blocked off parking.)

I don't like planking, skate boarding or any other crazy sport that might require me to have to end up in any of the above places.

I don't like scales, diets or exercise although I seemed to have mastered one of the three.

I don't like know-it-alls or people without children who think they have all the answers on raising children. It makes me want to hand them my child.....and run!

I don't like extreme cold or extreme heat. I think I want to be a Florida girl.

I don't like brussel sprouts, German sausage, or dark beer. (Note to self....stay out of Germany....you will starve).

I don't like bratty kids, nosey neighbors, or rude teens.

I don't like scary movies, extreme anything, or raw fish.

I don't like Jersey Shore, Keeping up with the Kardashians, or Toddlers and Tiara's......and yet I find myself watching them. WHY?

I don't like two seater cars, booty shorts or boys who sag their pants down to their knees. No one wants to see your nasty ol' skivvies.

And finally......I don't like dogs that bite, cats with attitude, bees, wasps, yellow jackets, hornets, horse flies, wild game, sycamore trees, leaky plumbing, bad wiring, high electrical bills, the IRS, SRS, welfare, the House, the Senate, politicians in general, haters, cleaning house, painting walls, a dirty house, dishes in the sink and unshaved legs.

Other than that.....I'm good! Hope you have a fantastic Thursday!