Horizontal Snow

The wind is blowing, and the snow is coming down sideways.

Today I have been researching the closest available YMCA. It's in Wentzville. My dream was to get Abbie into a dance class, and Grant into T-ball, and both into soccer..... Well, just so you know, the dance class alone is 86 dollars for 7 lessons.

I read something on the Internet yesterday that made me so mad! It was one of those How To Handle Your Child articles. Essentially, it was telling us that we should be buddies with our kids, and when our toddlers don't listen, we should tell them we agree, and if they pitch fits, we should teach that disagreements are about feelings, and that only Mommy's matter, and that when our teenagers disobey, we should (no I'm not making this up) tell them that they are cool so they will confess what they've been up to. WHAT?!?!?!!? In my universe, someone has to be the adult.

Whether your kid is 2 or 17 1/2, you are still the parent, he/she is the dependent child. That is reason enough to expect obedience. Yes, you can overdo it, but why would anyone think that encouraging feelings of equality between parents and their children would do anything other than undermine parental authority? I want to have a good and loving relationship with my kids, but I don't want them to get the idea that they can talk to me the same way as their buddies, or that they can do as they please. I am great friends with my own mother. We have been stopped at the store, told by strangers, even Mom's former hairdresser mentioned what a wonderful relationship we have. But was there ever any confusion about who made the rules? Never.

And children not telling their parents where they've been and what they've been up to? There are two issues, here: 1. Sneaking around is proof that they know they are doing wrong. Do you really want them to think YOU approve of it? 2. Sneaking around is a sign of immaturity. If they were living with a roommate, and not a parent, the considerate thing would STILL be to tell the other person where they are going, what (approximately) they will be doing, and when they can be expected home. This is so roommate/parent knows when it is appropriate to call the police. I intend to approach this from the good manners angle, I think, since good manners can be applied to situations that include friends, and not just grown-ups.

Anyway, what the article said was not nearly as upsetting as the authoritative way it was written. Weak-minded parents the nation over will be applying this to their parenting, and that just pisses me right off. This country wonders why people are selfish and lazy and never think the rules apply to them. Well...this is where it starts. For the few moments when we interact with the children we put on this planet, we want them to be friends with us. Who, then, is going to be the parent? Possibly we acknowledge our responsibility to our children, but don't forget that we also have a responsibility to the rest of the people who are going to have to share the world with the human beings we add to it.

I've said it before, and I will keep saying it. I want my kids to be healthy, good, and happy. In that order. And by good I mean law abiding and considerate as bare minimum.

Um...okay. I'm done talking about that now. The article really wasn't worth all this attention.

Josh takes his physical test for the St. Louis County Police Department tomorrow. Good luck, Josh! And yay for me being able to cook normal food again. This whole diet thing is seriously putting a damper on dinner. And the grocery bill, too. Yikes.

Did I tell you we made frozen meatballs the other night? They were a little pricey for what I usually buy, but we only used half of them, so when you consider that it makes dinner for the whole family twice, it's easier to take. It was a super healthy dinner, too. The yummiest salad I've had in months (mushrooms, tomato, cucumber, buttery lettuce mix and this yummy lite dressing) and the meatballs with diced tomatoes. Mmmmm. The kids thought they were pretty fantastic, too, since I gave them plain ones with toothpicks and ketchup to dip them in. Win!

We went out on Thursday, and I was so happy that Michelle came, too! Wish I had seen a little more of Molly, but I got there very late. We ended up at the Lake St. Louis Denny's. Some of you will understand and giggle. Friday, Abbie had her evaluation. Miss Penny said, "You know, Rosemary, I never expected this level of cooperation from Abbie!" Me, either. In case you were curious, she did extremely well. (She doesn't use the word "smallest" but that was the only one she wasn't great at. Miss Penny had three circles and asked her to find the smallest. She pointed to the middle one. We asked which circle was the baby and she found it. I told her which one was the smallest, and Abbie said, "No, I fink it's the littlest.") Sunday after taiko we went to Little Chris' place and had pizza and watched the football games. GEAUX SAINTS!!

Yesterday, my mommy came over. We played lots with the kids, had some tea, looked at some pictures. It was very nice. She brought Valentines' Day candy. Poor Josh had a rough night resisting temptation.

Gonna do some taiko tonight. I had to get wrist braces. I've been having pain in my right arm. But it might just be arthritis. I mean, that's what I suspect. I wonder if I can bug my doctor friend about the likelihood of that....

I'm cold. But at least I found some more cider. Josh bought 3 boxes for me. Isn't he cute?

I think I am going to read Pride and Prejudice again. Debbie was quoting it, and now I have this inexplicable desire to read it. Okay, maybe it's pretty explicable. Ah! The joys of Jane Austen. I think next time I have a bookstore gift card I might buy her collected works. I only own three of them, and only one is in hardback.... Or should I buy Dracula? Or something new? Well, I guess I can save that debate until I actually have a gift card.

Hope your Tuesday is good to you. Oh, and those of you interested in coming out on Friday for Josh's birthday, let me know!