No Worries

I think this long post was inspired by a lot of people in my life worrying about parenting, money, weight, school, work and anything. It will be okay friends because at least I know you will be fine!

I have a "no worries" gene I think. I believe I plow through life with no brakes. I am invincible. Everything will work out in the end.

I still don't completely know why I switched high schools after my sophomore year. . . academics? best friend? wanted new scenery? College was a huge lesson in trial and error. I worked 10,000 different jobs. I worked really hard to join a non traditional sorority and ended up quitting in the end. I picked an obscure, challenging major based on what I read in a brochure. I got knocked up. After I got a college degree I was hunting for a job for a year while raising an infant. During that time I washed dishes at Bob Evans. I worked at a gas station. I worked at a cookie factory. I worked at a Charter School.

It all worked out. It always does.

We moved to Buffalo for Nick's job. I quit a stable, government career and never looked back. I will be out of work for 4 years this October. We bought a house. Not because we always dreamed of owning a house, because our rent was just too darn high.

Cheeseburger was sick and a $2000 surgery could solve all of his problems (so could euthanasia). I went for the surgery. The doctors were right. He is still feeling good. We eventually paid off what was essentially a sex-change operation on our cat. :)

If the appliance company asks me if I want that extended warranty on my refrigerator, I say "No Thanks, I live life on the edge". On the other hand, I usually buy our large appliances (and basketball hoops) with Nick and he ALWAYS says yes on the warranty, but what the heck? Maybe we will need it! Sure Nick, whatever you want. :)

This "living life on the edge" attitude also applies to parenting.

A friend posted on Facebook about how every little thing she does has a significant impact on her offspring. She feels some sort of pressure.

Ummmmmm. I don't relate. I don't feel the pressure. I don't need to be a "good mommy". I am an adequate parent. My kid watches TV and loves video games. We eat McDonalds and don't watch our mouths as much as we should. I occasionally let Bailey have an Oreo milkshake to drink with dinner at Applebees and she is still alive! "Because I said so" is still a valid excuse even after generations of parents have used it much to the chagrin of their children.

If my kid wants to play tackle football with all boys which could possibly result in injury and relentless bullying. Fine. Let her play!

If the girls at girl scouts are mysteriously ignoring Bailey and she says she feels left out, I tell her "Maybe they don't want to play with you". GASP!!!!! This could be detrimental to her self esteem! But it's true. I say it like it is. She is going to have to learn to deal with girls very soon and girls don't get nicer from here on out.

This is how I roll:
All I want from my kid is obedience.
If Sarah is happy, everyone is happy. (maybe this should be #1)
I care very little what anyone thinks of me.
I live life on the edge.
It always works out in the end.
If you aren't living out of your car, than things have not hit rock bottom (yet).
I say it like it is even though it is very "Dr. Phil"
I think Dr. Phil and Judge Judy keep it real.

Sidenote:
I am not all "live life on the edge!" about everything.
-We always go to the dentist.
-We always wear our seatbelts.
-Bailey is big enough to ride roller coasters, but she is still in a booster seat in the car.
-I always pay our bills on time. If this means Ramen noodles for dinner, than fine.
-I always maintain a safe following distance when driving.
-When we move, I always ensure all cardboard boxes are full enough so they don't collapse when stacked but not so full they cannot be closed and taped properly. (that was for Nina)
-I think keeping your socks white is way more important than it really is.
-Sleep is really important. Don't mess with bed time. You will be sorry.

Our flowers

I'm not a flower person but here are pictures of our flowers anyway.


We planted about 2 dozen tulips last fall. The first one started to bloom today.

The daffodils came with the house. Here is what they look like underneath a spring snow in Buffalo.

New York State

I live in New York State. Since moving here, I have learned all about the different regions of New York. I live in Western New York. To the Northeast, you will find Upstate New York. Near the middle, you will find Albany (the capital of New York). Last, you have Downstate New York where you find New York City.

But the most shocking fact that I have learned is that the State Capitol building looks like a spooky haunted house.

Dirty Birdie

This is what Kate looks like after she murders a raspberry.

Rough Night

I woke up at 4:30am this morning. It was awful. I had one of those intense and vivid dreams. It seemed SO real and I couldn't get back to sleep. You may ask what this dream was about?

The bus was coming down the street and I couldn't get Bailey's hair brushed in time.

Yes, I had a hair brushing nightmare. How lame is that? Now I am going to be ultra tired tonight when I have to sleep in a Girl Scout lodge with 29 other people (15 of them being kids). Ugh.

I should shave that kid's head before she wakes up this morning.

I didn't write this, but I wish I did!

I read this today and it is like I wrote it. Soooo I'm guessing I'm not the only one who feels this way. Maybe a Public Service Announcement is in order. I have a few pregnant and brand new parent friends who just might enjoy this as well.

To all the psycho non-pregnant people:

1. The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is ‘Congratulations!’ with enthusiasm. Any other response makes you a jerk.

2. Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the mother and father – not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, you may not ever use the phrase ‘my baby’.

3. On the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in 2, the pregnancy, birth, and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it…

4. The body of a pregnant woman should be treated the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone’s stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix, or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman.

5. Likewise, no woman wants to hear comments on her weight…ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about is pop, must be having twins, looks swollen or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments invite her to critique your physical appearance and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is ‘You look fabulous!’.

6. By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that the summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don’t need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes. Nor do we need to know how badly you will feel for us because we will be pregnant during the summer and how glad you are that YOU will not be pregnant this coming summer.

7. There is a reason that tickets to Labor & Delivery are not yet sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is actually not a public event. It may sound crazy, but some women really do not relish the idea of their mother, MIL, or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents. You weren’t invited to be there when the baby was created, you probably won’t be invited to be there when it comes out either.

8. Like everything else in life, unless you receive an invitation, you are NOT invited. This includes doctor appointments, ultrasounds, labor, delivery, the hospital, and the parent’s home. You do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to ‘help out’. If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it.

9. If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules, and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping.

10. The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less.

Sincerely,

All the Pregnant Women/New Parents in the World

Books to read

I have a stack of books I intend to read. Unfortunately, I am not an avid reader and tend to take my time. I've been reading the same book since December. Then, I'm reading a blog about minimalist life and frugality when they mention yet ANOTHER book I want to read.

This is the book I want to read:

The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life

I like the title because it reminds me of the Joy of Cooking.

I like the cover.

I like the idea of purging extra stuff. Yes, I despise extra stuff.

I like the idea that someone else has read it and recommended it.

I do not like:

The idea of buying another book to sit on my bookshelf. The library doesn't have it.

I can try to give it away to the person who I thinks can benefit from it most, but they won't actually read it.

I can buy it on Kindle, but this type of book isn't Kindle-friendly in my opinion.

I can ponder the pros and cons until I have talked myself out of it.

Done! I don't need another book to help me get rid of extra stuff! I shall just purge and enjoy the sparse, sterile, and cold environment that I yearn to live in.