Courageous - A Must See For Every Dad and Mom

Yesterday I had the privilege of having a mom/daughter day with my mom.... We went to Johnny Rockets for lunch and the movies to watch Courageous.... Watching this movie honestly gave me a kick in the head... I think everyone in the auditorium yesterday definitely got something out of this movie... As we were walking out - I overheard one man telling his fellow movie goers that he believed every dad should watch this movie... I could not agree more... I also believe every parent (mom or dad) could benefit...

The basic premise of this movie is to remind us that our priority should be raising our children. So many of us spend our time hanging out with our friends... working on our careers... relaxing in front of the TV.. when what we should be doing is spending quality time with our children... Loving our spouses... Providing a home... Setting an example of the kind of man or woman they should be... As parents we need to work on our marriage - we need to honor each other... We need to love unconditionally... Always..

Every child needs a dad... Many children are raised without a father figure... It's not to say that single moms are not getting the job done - I believe most are... but that does not take away from the fact that statistically - children who do not have a father figure in their lives end up being a sad statistic... Absent fathers need to step up to the plate - they need to get their head on right.. they need to grow up - take responsibility - and take care of their children!

I hope that Sherwood pictures comes out with a movie for moms... I have enjoyed every movie they have put out so far... Facing the Giants and Fireproof... Below is the trailer for Courageous.. I hope you can take the time to see this movie for yourself.... and bring some tissue and a helmet - You just might be kicked in the head too...

Well, When I Was A Kid....

Today I realized that I say the dreaded phrase that I promised myself as a young child that I would never ever no matter what say..... You know that one phrase that always got us kids groaning... Rolling our eyes (behind the grown ups back of course) The Phrase..."Well, when I was a kid...." Yep, I have become a grown up... a bore... a "well I had it harder when I was kid" kind of mom.... Oh no...... The truth has become apparent .....

I've Become My Mother.....

Phrases I am guilty of saying......

When I was a kid.... I never was allowed to have attitude with my parents or I would be in trouble.

When I was a kid.... I took the city bus to and from school - you have it easy, kid....

When I was a kid.... I NEVER talked back to my parents...

When I was a kid.... I ALWAYS NOT dressed appropriately....

When I was a kid.... My parents always knew where I was except the times I would sneak out my window

When I was a kid.... I waited until I met your dad before I had my first kiss.. try saying that with a straight face

When I was a kid.... I was making dinner for the family before the age of 10! okay, this never really actually happened.. but I did set the table!

I can't use the die hard phrase my mom would always use - Well, when I was a kid - I had to walk ten (10) miles in the snow.. up hill.... in a dress to school everyday.. But I still have a feeling... my kids are groaning and rolling their eyes behind my back... What do you think?

**photo by yahoo

The "Lady" Who Freaked At Target

As parents we often tell our children to be nice. Play nicely with your neighbor - share your toys... Don't say bad words... Show respect to your elders... Say thank you and please... Don't double dip...

The other day I was doing my weekly grocery shopping at Target with my girls.. I was in line to pay for my groceries and this lady (I say this very loosely) in front of me had two (2) beautiful young children with her..... She was yelling at the cashier because an item that she saw on Target's web site was not in the store.. I am very serious.. The cashier offered to track the item and discovered the item can only be bought through the Target web site...

The F bombs - the S bombs - the every bad word you can imagine bombs just started exploding out of this mother of two beautiful kids.... In addition to yelling - the "lady" started throwing her coins at the cashier.... What I found really sad is that her kids seem oblivious to this over the top lunatic rant.... My kids stood there with their mouths just about hitting the floor...

The "lady" was causing such a stir... all 12 lines that were open stopped to watch... All the customers and fellow cashiers just stood there as this poor cashier is getting pelted with quarters.. No security coming to her rescue - no managers walking our way.... So I'm thinking something has to be done.... (I'm lucky I didn't get pelted or belted).. As the lady was taking more change to throw - I grabbed her elbow.... I said, "Throw another quarter and I will personally see you arrested".... my eyes were angry... my voice was deep and shaky.. The "lady" looked at me - angry at first..... then reality must have hit her - her eyes did a 180.... As I saw the transformation in her appear - I said, " I feel sorry for your beautiful children to have a mother that can't even control herself... shame on you"... Right about this time - security came.. The woman was escorted from the store....

It amazes me how grown adults can act like this.... Throwing temper tantrums in a public forum because they can't get what they want.... I feel so very sorry for those children.... Growing up with an abusive parent. We as parents set the example for behavior...... What example was this "lady" setting for her children???

Have you ever seen something like this?

Reality TV Parents - Shame On You!

One of my biggest peeves is reality TV - especially when it exploits children.... TV stations no longer care about people... all they care about is rating and advertising dollars... Parents like Jon and Kate (plus 8) do not care about their children as much as they care about themselves - just watch any tabloid news show and you'll see Jon and Kate tearing each other apart.... I truly feel sorry for the kids especially when they get old enough to see what their parents did for "fame and "fortune" Jon and Kate say they do the show for the kids... yeah right.. They do it for themselves.. In my opinion parents who truly love their kids and have their kids' best interest at heart don't exploit them for money... gimme a break..

Last week one of one my clients called me and said for me to turn on the TV - there was a balloon in the air and a little boy was stuck in it.... Every news station was covering this. I watched the balloon with a million other people - praying that the child will be okay... I remember thinking in the back of mind - I bet this is a hoax... It just didn't ring right. The balloon landed and no boy - then people became fearful that he fell out and there was a mad search for him - but thankfully the little boy was fine - he was hiding in a box in the attic.. When the father asked him on a morning TV show - why he stayed in the box - the little slipped and said "I stayed in the box because you told me too"..... the father ignored that comment and proceeded to talk about something else..... the poor little boy was so traumatized he vomited right in the middle of the interview...

As the details of this story unravel - we have come to learn that the parents are reality TV junkies - they were on Wife Swap a couple of times and have been trying to be on TV any way they can... We need to have some laws to prevent these things from happening.. You see it all over TV - people getting paid - famous for doing the wrong thing... it is so very sad to me...

What do you think should be done?

A Music Generation Gap In My House!!

There is a huge generation gap in my house!!! Today, Dusty and Nikki were cleaning out the garage.... Nikki asked Dusty if they could listen to her kind of music... Dusty thinking that he was still hip.... still into the scene... said "Absolutely".. I think he secretly wanted to show his eldest that he still knew his music... that he was a cool dude.. a cool with-it dad....

So they are cleaning the garage and I walk out to change the clothes from the washer to the dryer and I heard the most hideous music... screeching really... My comment wasn't the best thing I have ever said.. "This music makes me want to throw something through the wall - it's awful.... it's irritating the H E double hockey sticks out of me" Yep, I said the H E double hockey sticks word..... If you read my blog- you would know that I am working on my F bombs and other various letter bombs - so H E double hockey sticks is pretty good for me.. any hoo... Dusty pipes in and says that "I Agree! - this is awful"

I remember the day when my parents would say my music was awful... that it was screeching and what the heck was I listening too - how could I understand the words..
I guess the title of my blog is true once again... I've HAVE Become My Mother.....

Her Music..... this is what I walked in today..


My Music.... this what my parents walked in to twenty-six (26) years ago..


Who's music do you think is better?

Dads Vs Moms

Today I learned a very big difference between how dads think and how moms think....

Dads

1. If the blood isn't gushing than you're fine.
2. Hey go ahead and drop off the kids at the water park 500 MILES from home - they'll be fine
3. Thinks mom is over protective
4. Says 13 and 11 year old girls should be able to hang out at water parks without their parents
5. Thinks the girls can do the laundry themselves.. - it's mostly theirs anyways.

Moms

1. If the blood is gushing - Urgent Care here we come
2. No way are you dropping my kids off at a water park 500 MILES from home -that is why our youngest is crying on the phone - she's afraid to go...
3. Thinks dad is not protective enough.
4. Says 13 and 11 year old girls should not be hanging out at water parks without an adult present (one they know)
5. Thinks the girls can do the laundry themselves.... - it's mostly theirs anyways..
   

There is a big difference between the parenting skills of dads and moms.... I'm thinking.. I am not saying one way is better than the other.. we're are just different... There is one thing that I can say.... my kids will not be going to the water park by themselves..... at least tomorrow or anytime soon.

Top Six Ways To Kill Piper....

Watching this video this morning really made me sick... This cartoon was made by a group of 11 and 12 year olds. The video is showing several ways to kill a young sixth grade classmate. Why are the parents not getting involved in their own child's life.. When the mother of the victim called one of the parents he said he was too busy to talk because he was making dinner....this parent (me)would have been knocking on that parents' door... I might have even considered getting the police involved... Am I overreacting? maybe... but maybe if Eric Harris and Dylan Klebod's parents overreacted - Columbine may have never happened.

Kids need boundaries... good healthy boundaries... If I think my kid is up to something you better bet, I would go through their rooms, their computer, their lockers, and whatever I might need... Privacy is a privileged... to be earned. I don't go through my kids' rooms because I do not believe there is anything wrong going on... there hasn't been anything that would raise a red flag. If a parent called me and said my daughter made a "How to kill someone video" you bet I would be exploring and my kid would be disciplined...and not just a slap on the hand... I'm thinking community service, a major Public apology... whatever it would take to snap my kid into shape.

It is so upsetting to me that parents and the school could be so blase about a video that could be preserved as a death threat.... What do you think?

Embedded video from CNN Video