ok. being a mom today is really like running a lot of different businesses. i know it's not a novel comparision but i just can't believe how the older my children get the more behind the scenes organization there is.
not only do you have to monitor all their dentists, ortho and doctor appointments, times 3, there are school items, sports items and anything else that they are involved with.
then you throw in 2-3 schools between the 3. signing up for high school classes, getting documentation and money ready for a class trip, graduation organization, yearbook photos, forms, forms, forms. not to mention the driving between home and the schools and dealing with any other "issue" (ie truancy) you may have with the school at any given time.
there's making sure that your children are passing at school. are they doing well? checking in to make sure they have good study habits and are taking school seriously and working hard. i really wish the grading system i had growing up still existed today - simple - just add a number after the letter grade for effort. such a little thing - but so valuable.
there's also applications, letters of recommendations for programs, flex terms and camps. the organization of getting all forms, filling them all out and then having them all complete and handed in by a deadline.
there's also 3 soccer teams, scheduling, fundraising (coffee, raffle etc), organizing carpools, driving carpools, uniform orders, holland trip details - forms, payments, meetings. not to mention evaluations, training weekends, hotel reservations and just keeping track of who is playing when and where and getting them there!
there's also the ski racing. 3 racers in different age groups. means making sure everyone has the right skis, they're waxed and ready to go for race day. who's driving? and packing countless lunches. the psychological piece is heavy on this too....
and then you have the bigger issue looming on the horizon - drivers license, organizing insurance, a car?, summer jobs, eventual college trips, applications etc....
Friday, February 18, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Race to Nowhere and then some.....
I saw the movie Race to Nowhere last night.
Powerful, although not as powerful as Waiting for Superman.
But, nonetheless very good food for thought!
We don't live outside of NY, LA or Boston so don't think the pressure our kids feel is nearly as bad as kids in those suburban areas. But it does still exist here too. We hold our children to a high standard, as my parents did for me. And there is definitely a fine line between supporting to succeed to get good grades, to work, to perform to your potential and pushing for performance because the child needs to get into a good college.
People are actually making decisions on programs and experiences because they think it will look good on their child's college application resume. Throwing money at program after program, trip after trip because it will look good. They think it will help their child get into a better college.
Are they kidding? What ever happened to valuing experience for experience sake. Just enjoy. Go on one trip. Enjoy that trip, embrace it, experience it. The motives are wrong. The pressure for that college app resume is taking away from the experience.
Not all kids want to go to Africa, South America, Asia - whereever. Did Mom and Dad pick that trip? pay for that trip? Yes, parents can give ideas, help direct a teen's experiences but the REASON for sending a child on any trip or program should be 100% for the experience - not the college app resume. They are doing it for the wrong reason.
I have so far taken 2 of my 3 children to Africa for 3-4 weeks to volunteer when they were in 8th grade. This is not on the college app resume. My goal was to open their eyes to the bigger world, to the developing world, to see first hand how other people live, eat, survive, spent their days.
I am a firm believer that experiences are a huge part of what shapes a person - who they become, what they will do, how they will chose to live their lives.
My children have been very lucky so far in their short lives. They were born abroad, lived abroad and have traveled a lot. They are seasoned travelers and can deal with jet lag, different foods, no sleep, lost luggage, foreign languages etc.
They will carry around with them those memories of their trips forever. The images of the homes, the children, the food, the smells will be with them forever. They have the knowledge that not everyone lives like we do, that not everyone HAS all that we have.
Volunteer travel is a powerful thing. It's too bad so many are doing it for the college app resume....
How did I go from Race to Nowhere to volunteer travel. Yes, apparentely by blog is named correctly - "random ramblings of motherhood".
I talk like this too.
Powerful, although not as powerful as Waiting for Superman.
But, nonetheless very good food for thought!
We don't live outside of NY, LA or Boston so don't think the pressure our kids feel is nearly as bad as kids in those suburban areas. But it does still exist here too. We hold our children to a high standard, as my parents did for me. And there is definitely a fine line between supporting to succeed to get good grades, to work, to perform to your potential and pushing for performance because the child needs to get into a good college.
People are actually making decisions on programs and experiences because they think it will look good on their child's college application resume. Throwing money at program after program, trip after trip because it will look good. They think it will help their child get into a better college.
Are they kidding? What ever happened to valuing experience for experience sake. Just enjoy. Go on one trip. Enjoy that trip, embrace it, experience it. The motives are wrong. The pressure for that college app resume is taking away from the experience.
Not all kids want to go to Africa, South America, Asia - whereever. Did Mom and Dad pick that trip? pay for that trip? Yes, parents can give ideas, help direct a teen's experiences but the REASON for sending a child on any trip or program should be 100% for the experience - not the college app resume. They are doing it for the wrong reason.
I have so far taken 2 of my 3 children to Africa for 3-4 weeks to volunteer when they were in 8th grade. This is not on the college app resume. My goal was to open their eyes to the bigger world, to the developing world, to see first hand how other people live, eat, survive, spent their days.
I am a firm believer that experiences are a huge part of what shapes a person - who they become, what they will do, how they will chose to live their lives.
My children have been very lucky so far in their short lives. They were born abroad, lived abroad and have traveled a lot. They are seasoned travelers and can deal with jet lag, different foods, no sleep, lost luggage, foreign languages etc.
They will carry around with them those memories of their trips forever. The images of the homes, the children, the food, the smells will be with them forever. They have the knowledge that not everyone lives like we do, that not everyone HAS all that we have.
Volunteer travel is a powerful thing. It's too bad so many are doing it for the college app resume....
How did I go from Race to Nowhere to volunteer travel. Yes, apparentely by blog is named correctly - "random ramblings of motherhood".
I talk like this too.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Another one of these emails
the last line is my favorite:
Friendship ~ None of that Sissy Shit
Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality?
Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.
You will see no cute little smiley faces on this ~Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.
• When you are sad ~ I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.
• When you are blue ~ I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
• When you smile ~ I will know you are thinking of something that I would probably want to be involved in.
• When you are scared ~ I will rag on you about it every chance I get until you're NOT.
• When you are worried ~ I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.
• When you are confused ~ I will try to use only little words.
• When you are sick ~ Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.
• When you fall ~ I will laugh at your clumsy ass, but I'll help you up.
This is my oath .... I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask ~ because you are my friend.
Friendship is like peeing your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.
Friendship ~ None of that Sissy Shit
Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality?
Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.
You will see no cute little smiley faces on this ~Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.
• When you are sad ~ I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.
• When you are blue ~ I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
• When you smile ~ I will know you are thinking of something that I would probably want to be involved in.
• When you are scared ~ I will rag on you about it every chance I get until you're NOT.
• When you are worried ~ I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.
• When you are confused ~ I will try to use only little words.
• When you are sick ~ Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.
• When you fall ~ I will laugh at your clumsy ass, but I'll help you up.
This is my oath .... I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask ~ because you are my friend.
Friendship is like peeing your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Laugh for the day
Dear Noah,
We could have sworn you said the ark wasn't leaving till 5.
Sincerely, Unicorns
Dear Icebergs,
Sorry to hear about the global warming. Karma's a bitch.
Sincerely, The Titanic
Dear J.K. Rowling,
Your books are entirely unrealistic. I mean, a ginger kid with two friends?
Sincerely, Anonymous
Dear America,
You produced Miley Cyrus. Bieber is your punishment.
Sincerely, Canada
Dear Boyfriend,
I can make your girlfriend scream louder than you can.
Sincerely, Spiders
Dear Voldemort,
So they screwed up your nose too?
Sincerely, Michael Jackson
Dear Yahoo,
I've never heard anyone say, "I don't know, let's Yahoo! it..." just saying...
Sincerely, Google
Dear girls who have been dumped,
There are plenty of fish in the sea... Just kidding! They're all dead.
Sincerely, BP
Dear 2010,
So I hear the best rapper is white and the president is black? WTF happened?!
Sincerely, 1985
Dear Justin Bieber,
Ariel would really love her voice back.
Sincerely, King Triton
Dear Rose,
There was definitely room on that raft for the both of us.
Sincerely, Jack
Dear Windshield Wipers,
Can't touch this.
Sincerely, That Little Triangle
Dear Taylor Swift,
If it is of any interest to you, Romeo and Juliet both kill themselves in the end.
Sincerely, Shakespeare
Dear Soccer Fans,
B B B B B B Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z
Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z!
Sincerely, Vuvuzelas
Dear Saturn,
I liked it, so I put a ring on it.
Sincerely, God
Dear Rubik's Cube,
Done!
Sincerely, Colorblind
Dear Santa,
Please tell me how you managed to stop at three Ho's.
Sincerely, Tiger Woods
Dear Boys Wearing Skinny Jeans,
I. Can't. Breathe.
Sincerely, Your Balls
Dear Martin Luther King Jr.,
I have a dream within a dream within a dream within another dream... What now?
Sincerely, Leonardo DiCaprio
Dear Sleeping Beauty,
I had to join the army, dress up like a man, defeat the hun army and totally save China for my man.
All you had to do was wake up.
Sincerely, Mulan
Dear Romeo,
My death isn't the only thing I've been faking...
Sincerely, Juliet
Dear Fox News,
So far, no news about foxes.
Sincerely, Unimpressed
Dear Sex Educators,
Abstinence is only 99.99% effective.
Sincerely, The Virgin Mary
Dear Twilight fans, Please realize that because vampires are dead and have no blood pumping through them, they can never get an erection.
Enjoy fantasizing about that.
Sincerely, Logic
Dear Toaster,
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn?
Sincerely, Toast
Dear Edward,
I really hope that one day, I can find my way into your heart.
Sincerely, a stake
Dear Prince Charming,
You've got some explaining to do!
Sincerely, Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty
We could have sworn you said the ark wasn't leaving till 5.
Sincerely, Unicorns
Dear Icebergs,
Sorry to hear about the global warming. Karma's a bitch.
Sincerely, The Titanic
Dear J.K. Rowling,
Your books are entirely unrealistic. I mean, a ginger kid with two friends?
Sincerely, Anonymous
Dear America,
You produced Miley Cyrus. Bieber is your punishment.
Sincerely, Canada
Dear Boyfriend,
I can make your girlfriend scream louder than you can.
Sincerely, Spiders
Dear Voldemort,
So they screwed up your nose too?
Sincerely, Michael Jackson
Dear Yahoo,
I've never heard anyone say, "I don't know, let's Yahoo! it..." just saying...
Sincerely, Google
Dear girls who have been dumped,
There are plenty of fish in the sea... Just kidding! They're all dead.
Sincerely, BP
Dear 2010,
So I hear the best rapper is white and the president is black? WTF happened?!
Sincerely, 1985
Dear Justin Bieber,
Ariel would really love her voice back.
Sincerely, King Triton
Dear Rose,
There was definitely room on that raft for the both of us.
Sincerely, Jack
Dear Windshield Wipers,
Can't touch this.
Sincerely, That Little Triangle
Dear Taylor Swift,
If it is of any interest to you, Romeo and Juliet both kill themselves in the end.
Sincerely, Shakespeare
Dear Soccer Fans,
B B B B B B Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z
Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z!
Sincerely, Vuvuzelas
Dear Saturn,
I liked it, so I put a ring on it.
Sincerely, God
Dear Rubik's Cube,
Done!
Sincerely, Colorblind
Dear Santa,
Please tell me how you managed to stop at three Ho's.
Sincerely, Tiger Woods
Dear Boys Wearing Skinny Jeans,
I. Can't. Breathe.
Sincerely, Your Balls
Dear Martin Luther King Jr.,
I have a dream within a dream within a dream within another dream... What now?
Sincerely, Leonardo DiCaprio
Dear Sleeping Beauty,
I had to join the army, dress up like a man, defeat the hun army and totally save China for my man.
All you had to do was wake up.
Sincerely, Mulan
Dear Romeo,
My death isn't the only thing I've been faking...
Sincerely, Juliet
Dear Fox News,
So far, no news about foxes.
Sincerely, Unimpressed
Dear Sex Educators,
Abstinence is only 99.99% effective.
Sincerely, The Virgin Mary
Dear Twilight fans, Please realize that because vampires are dead and have no blood pumping through them, they can never get an erection.
Enjoy fantasizing about that.
Sincerely, Logic
Dear Toaster,
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn?
Sincerely, Toast
Dear Edward,
I really hope that one day, I can find my way into your heart.
Sincerely, a stake
Dear Prince Charming,
You've got some explaining to do!
Sincerely, Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty
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