tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59777526627572220892024-03-13T09:54:37.907-07:00Two Goats Away From CrazyThis blog vividly explains how I forget my own personal motto: You can do it all, you just cannot do it all at once. I write about kids, parenting, chickens, urban farming, food, wine, politics and anything else that strikes my fancy or ticks me off.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-19844955593256643072014-03-05T07:34:00.002-08:002014-03-05T07:34:27.384-08:00Don't Be an Ash This WednesdayI wrote a version of this piece three years ago for <a href="http://crasstalk.com/2011/03/dont-be-an-ash/" target="_blank">crasstalk.com</a>. Still holds true today for me.<br />
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As a good Catholic girl, this is the time of year I think about how I
can be a better person. I think New Year’s resolutions are foolish,
but for some reason I have no problem with Lenten resolutions. I was
pondering why there was such a difference between the two periods of
personal improvement and reflection for me.<br />
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I am religious, but I’m more of a cafeteria Catholic. I find the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrament_of_Penance_%28Catholic_Church%29">Sacrament of Reconciliation</a> personally unnecessary as I don’t think I need an intermediary between God and me
to obtain his forgiveness. Don’t get me started on the Church’s views
on gays. (Update: <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/29/pope-francis-on-gays-who-am-i-to-judge/" target="_blank">I am beginning to feel better about this!</a>) Despite my picking and choosing of the tenets of my religion,
Lent resonates for me. Two of my favorite priests, Fr. Sam and Fr. Bob, love to say that "we are Easter people." I couldn't agree more.<br />
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Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. I am going to go to church and have
the sign of the cross put on my forehead with ashes from the burnt palms
from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. The history of the ashes goes
back to a time when during the Lenten season only the faithful were
allowed into church. Those who committed serious sins would be forced
to wear a hairshirt for forty days. That hairshirt was blessed with
palm ashes. I imagine that the wearing of a hairshirt was not unlike
wearing a scarlet letter. It marked you as a grave sinner. Today, it
reflects the fact that we all sin but are seeking redemption.<br />
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The act of giving something up for Lent is well known. Catholics are
asked to give up something; be it an appetite, a distraction or
something we love, not to just suffer, but to create a “vacuum” of
sorts. It is hoped that this vacuum is filled by the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps that is why I like it so much. Notice that it isn’t necessarily
about improving oneself, it is more about creating a “space” in your
everyday life for God to enter. Additionally, we are only asked to do
this for 40 days, not permanently. After that period of time it is
hoped that you would permanently create this space for God even as you
go back to enjoying what you sacrificed for Lent.<br />
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What many are not aware of is that the Catholic church does not
merely want us to give up during Lent. The Church wants us also to
“give out” and “give in” . By ‘giving out’ one can express their love
of God and Man by making your talents and treasures available. Acts of
kindness, volunteerism, donations of goods and services to those in need
are very much a part of the Lenten tradition. Some Catholics focus on
this aspect of Lent more than the giving up part. At the
conclusion of Mass, the priest asks the congregation to “Go in peace
to love and serve the Lord.” We are supposed to take what we learn
each week in Mass and apply it to the outside world. I love that fact —
that the Church really isn’t about Mass. It really is about applying
Mass to your real life. Way too many Catholics forget that. Priests
included.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><strong><em> </em></strong></span><br />
The ‘giving in’ part is especially interesting to me as it is quite
Zen. In this age of self-fulfillment we are called to go the opposite
way. In order to find your life, your way or your path, you must lose
it. You must let go of it. We are supposed to give our life and our
trust to God. I also look at it this way: when you cling too heavily to
your wants, desires or results, that you often miss an more interesting
or fulfilling path that was thrown in your way. This giving in part
really feeds into the reasons why we give up during Lent.<br />
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I’ve tried to give up many things during Lent over the years. Some
worked out fine and others not so much. I
find I’m much better at doing something than giving up something in
order to create that vacuum or space for God to enter. I do this with
acts of volunteering that put me in direct contact with those in need.<br />
This year, in addition to volunteering, I am adding daily exercise to
the list. Not to get my fat arse moving, that is an added benefit; but
to clear my head of all the cobwebs and crap that interfere with me
creating space or that vacuum for God to enter.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-18517450008203803802013-07-18T11:01:00.000-07:002013-07-18T11:12:59.204-07:00Rosés for $15 and Under - Stay Away from Chateau Miraval and Drink Great Wine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday a friend of mine let us all know on Facebook that she bought the Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Rosé wine Chateau Miraval. She went on to say she was pretty convinced that the wine shop clerk snickered. I out and out laughed that someone would spend about $20 (average price nationwide is $23 without taxes according to <a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/miraval+rose+cote+de+provence+france">wine-searcher.com</a>) on the Jolie/Pitt creation*. It isn't that Chateau Miraval is a bad wine, it just isn't worth $20. I posted that there were far tastier Rosés at cheaper prices and people asked for my recommendations.<br />
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So here are my Rosé choices and are at or under $15 locally - nationwide pricing may differ.
<b>Click on the name of the wine to see a picture of the bottle and label.</b><br />
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<b><a href="http://usa.advini.com/system/images/27/large/domaine-le-pive-gris-avenir.png?1329232761" target="_blank">Domaine Le Pive Gris</a> </b>is from the Caramague region in the south of France, right where the Rhone river meets the sea. On the nose, it is light and fresh with notes of strawberry, black currants and raspberry. The palate is where this baby shines - bone dry, a touch of earth and spice. Finishes long and clean. The perfect summer picnic wine, it also pairs well with seafood. After all, it is the sea which lends it its unique character. Wine is produced organically<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.jnwine.com/images/112431.jpg" target="_blank">Artadi Artazuri Rosado</a> </b>This 100% Grenacha wine has a beautiful rose petal color and a fresh nose of currants, raspberries, strawberries with just a hint of almond. The mineral palate mimics the nose and the finish is clean and refreshing. The vines are grown without chemical pesticides or herbicides and the utilize green harvesting methods. Perfect food-friendly wine from Spain.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.thegrocerygirls.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/l/e/le-cirque-rose-201-750ml.jpg" target="_blank">Le Cirque</a> </b>This is my favorite Rosé at the moment. It is from the Languedoc-Roussilon area of France and is a gorgeous wine. A combination of Grenache, Mourvedre and Grenache Gris this is a very intensely colored Rosé - but don't let that color fool you in thinking that it is sweet. It is BONE DRY and perfect for a steamy day. Super fresh and aromatic nose with a palate of spicy strawberry, watermelon and a touch of sage. Finishes very cleanly. <i><b>If you buy one Rosé this should be the one.</b></i><br />
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<a href="http://www.artisanwinedepot.com/v/vspfiles/photos/chateaududonjonrose10-w-2.jpg" target="_blank"><b>Chateau du Donjon</b></a> is a bottle of wine you shouldn't drink alone as you can easily drain it solo. This Syrah, Cinsault and Grenache-based wine has a beautiful clear rose pink color. The nose is full of red-berry aromas with a touch of red grapefruit. Another dry palate, but not bone dry as there is the barest touch of sweetness. Flavors of raspberry, strawberry, melon, and herbs give this a wine a silky, easy drinking texture.This wine goes down very easy - sometimes too easy.<br />
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<a href="http://images.nitrosell.com/product_images/4/959/thumb-woelfferRose.jpg" target="_blank"><b>Wolffer Estate Table Wine Rosé</b></a> is one of my favorites as well and it is from Long Island - who would have thunk? This Rosé is actually a blend of both wine and red grapes and includes Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc. The color is a sublime almost salmon color and is somewhat coppery. If you were to blindfold yourself and take a whiff, you'd think you were smelling a Sauvingon Blanc as it is very citrusy. The palate starts off in the citrus family with flavors of grapefruit and lemon at first, then whammo! You are hit by strawberry and raspberry. Clean finish and thirst quenching when I am mowing the backyard on my tractor. <br />
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The next two are actually <b>under $10</b> and I think represent excellent value. While they certainly are not the finest Rosés, they are a perfect picnic wine or what I like to call a Tuesday night wine.<br />
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<b><a href="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6126/5938295865_497d6f77b7_z.jpg" target="_blank">Domaine de Gournier Rosé</a> </b>is a very intensely colored Rosé with explosive red berry fruits on both the nose and palate. This wine has a bit more 'meat on it' than a typical Provencal Rosé with flavors of both spice and earth added to the palate. Fresh and dry, this is a great wine for a lot of grilled foods.<br />
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<b>Villa D'Adige Rosato</b> (sorry no picture available) is an Italian Rosé from the Veneto area. It is another intensely colored Rosé and has aromas and a palate of ripe red berries. Well-balanced and dry, this is a great first course wine on a blistering hot day.<br />
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*Note on Chateau Miraval: got to hand it to their marketing person, they came up with a great gimmick for an ok bottle of wine. The wine bottle is very pretty and very uniquely shaped. Retail customers are drawn to this pretty bottle not only because of the shape of it, but because where stores need to place the bottles. The uniquely shaped bottle does not fit in traditional wine racks and therefore the Chateau Miraval bottles have to be displayed near the registers or on valuable end-cap floor space. Genius.<br />
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While Wine Spectator gave this wine a 90 rating, I simply don't see it being a 90 rated wine. I suspect many people actually agree with me as the price has steadily dropped after the initial pre-offering prices in the US of $28 a bottle. My pal who inspired this post purchased this wine in one of the more expensive local wine shops in my town and it was just about $20.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com2Fairfield, CT 06824, USA41.1948222 -73.28832999999997441.003585699999995 -73.611053499999969 41.3860587 -72.965606499999978tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-68799445036204459902013-03-25T08:00:00.000-07:002013-03-26T10:05:19.469-07:00What the Heck is Holy Week?When one thinks of Christians and their religious celebrations, one tends to think of Christmas as the ultimate Christian holiday. In fact, they're wrong.<br />
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As a Catholic Christian, I really am an Easter person. Huh? What do I mean by that? Catholics celebrate Easter each and every week at Mass. Easter is all about the sacrifices and Resurrection of Jesus. Each week at Mass, Catholics receive Communion which celebrates and makes real for us Christ's resurrection. Not all Christian religions celebrate Communion each week; for many it is reserved for only certain times per year.<br />
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Bustedhalo is a great Youtube channel that explains Christian religious practices or beliefs in highly visual, brief clips. Below is the one for Holy Week, the final week of Lent which is also the week before Easter.
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<a name='more'></a>Holy Week is an especially reflective week of Lent. Christians contemplate the sacrifices Jesus made for us, the betrayal he must have felt by Judas' actions, as well as the promise of everlasting life for us. Easter Day ends the Lenten period. Easter is coming out of the darkness of Lent and into the celebration of Life and light.
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I especially love the fact that on Easter we sing Hallelujah again after the forty days of Lent where we do not say it. My father used to joke that we didn't say Hallelujah during Lent because on Easter, when you could <i>finally</i> eat/drink/do whatever you gave up, you would say "Hallelujah!" Actually, it is much cooler than that.
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During Lent, we are focusing on the "Kingdom coming" (Jesus' resurrection), but rather than the fact the Kingdom already came. As my priest wrote: "The readings in the Masses for Lent and in the Liturgy of the Hours focus heavily on the spiritual journey of Old Testament Israel toward the coming of Christ, and the salvation of mankind in His death and resurrection. We, too, are on a spiritual journey, toward the Second Coming and our future life in Heaven. In order to emphasize that journey, the Church, during Lent, removes the Alleluia from the Mass. We no longer sing with the choirs of angels; instead, we acknowledge our sins and practice repentance so that one day we may again have the privilege of worshiping God as the angels do."<br />
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Hallelujah returns to the Mass on Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil -- a Mass in which I almost never attend because it is sooooo long -- because Jesus has risen. I enjoy the Hallelujah on Easter Sunday.<br />
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Hallelujah indeed.
A version of this was originally published at <a href="http://www.crasstalk.com">Crasstalk</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-37932257253235356622013-03-22T05:31:00.002-07:002018-10-31T14:37:23.472-07:00Will You Attend? Yes, No, Maybe<br />
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I have a friend who when she receives an Evite to an event or party, always answers "maybe." Not that she is any busier than the rest of us, but regardless, the initial answer is always maybe. It isn't until the day of the event, or if you prod her with an email because you need to firm up your plans, that she finally give you a definitive answer. Her constant waffling drives my friends and me positively crazy.<br />
<a name='more'></a><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704141104575588460082408950.html">WSJ published an article</a> about this very subject and had some great points about those chronic 'maybe-ers." Elizabeth Bernstein writes that not long ago people were expected to give a definitive answer to an invitation, but that changed when electronic invitations came to the market. It is so easy to check 'maybe' with your mouse, isn't it?
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On top of it all, saying "maybe" means different things to different people. For some, it is a stall tactic -- to see if a better offer comes around. For others, it is a softer way of saying no. For my friend, we believe it gives her an out if she simply doesn't feel like she is up to the event that day. To make things even more complicated, often the person saying it and the person receiving the maybe attach different meanings to the word. " 'Maybe' can be blurry to the listener," says UCLA's Dr. Goodman. "People who feel intolerant of ambiguity probably hate to hear 'maybe' -- it can give them an insecure feeling."
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I think Dr. Goodman is right, at least, I think it explains why I get so aggravated with my friend's waffling. I'm a planner. I have three kids with super busy schedules. I work part-time and have a big volunteer job too. My husband is working constantly. For us to throw a party takes a fair bit of planning, organizing and juggling of schedules. My other friends who are aggravated with the waffler are no different. We have even had betting pools on when she was going to pull the trigger and commit one way or another.
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While my friend's fence straddling can be construed event shopping, I wonder if I'm not a bit jealous of her footloose and fancy-free ways? I do know that it causes me a bit of dread when I invite this family to a party. I am going to ponder this today as I place my family's weekend sports schedule on an Excel sheet so no one misses an event.
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image <a href="http://unstuckcommunity.tumblr.com/post/15568562153/the-virtue-of-the-waffler">via</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-80330089738683430662013-03-18T05:17:00.001-07:002013-03-18T05:24:13.480-07:00Today in WTF: Booze, The Great Equalizer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Do you feel oppressed by affluent, white males? Are you struggling to fit in with your peers? If so, you may want to start binge drinking in order to boost your social status and satisfaction. <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/asa-bdc081412.php" target="_blank">A study is out</a> which examined levels of alcohol consumption and the relationship with social satisfaction in selective Northeastern liberal arts colleges. Some interesting results were found. Binge drinking is defined as 4 or more drinks for a female and 5 or more drinks for a male. Sounds like a typical <span style="color: black;"><del datetime="2012-08-23T14:30:00+00:00">Tuesday</del> F</span>riday night right?<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Binge drinking on these college campuses is associated with affluent, white males, a high status group. "Students, who are considered more socially powerful, drink more," said Hsu, who co-authored the study with Landon Reid, a former faculty member at Colgate who is now attending law school at NYU. "Binge drinking then becomes associated with high status and the 'cool' students on campus." The study showed that lower status individuals (think females, poor, minorities, LGBT) who didn't binge drink had less social satisfaction with their lives. That isn't surprising. What was surprising is that binge drinkers from that same demographic reported about the same social satisfaction as the high status white males.<br />
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The most stressed and anxious students were the least likely group to binge drink, so they weren't self-medicating their negative emotions away -- often a driver of alcoholism. These happy binge drinkers were drinking to fit in as they felt it was the only thing socially acceptable thing to do for leisure. “Low status students in particular seem to be using binge drinking as a vehicle for social mobility and as a way to contend with an otherwise hostile social environment,” Hsu said.<br />
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This started me thinking about whether or not alcohol has these positive social effects as we graduate, become adults and get real jobs. Surely we'd realize that the binge drinking has some bad health effects along with social problems. A quick google search suggests that maybe <a href="http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0216/026.html" target="_blank">we do.</a> <br />
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A Michigan's Panel Study of Income Dynamics in 2001 found that those who drank 1-2 drinks a day had a mean income of $49k versus $36k for those who abstained. This study looked at similar demographic groups in order to make this distinction. Those that drank had a "drinker's bonus" of about 10% higher income.<br />
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Ok, that is moderate drinking, what about binge drinking as an adult? <br />
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This same Michigan study showed that income peaks at 2.6 drinks per day for men and 1.5 per women. At binge levels of 5 drinks per day, the average man is earning 21% below the maximum and women earn 65% less than if she stopped at 1.5 drinks per day. Once again, women get screwed.<br />
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So what to do with this information? Clearly the answer is to drink in order to be socially and financially successful, just drink less after you graduate from college.<br />
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A version of this post was originally posted at www.crasstalk.com Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-86080155787100548372013-03-12T16:04:00.004-07:002013-03-12T16:10:27.211-07:00Celebrate St. Patty's Day by Drinking Irish Wine<a href="http://crasstalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/drunk-irish.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-84778" src="http://crasstalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/drunk-irish.jpg" height="282" title="drunk irish" width="320" /></a>I don't like beer. I haven't liked it since 1988 when I was drinking Budweiser products at the basement of the Sigma Chi house at UW:Madison. It isn't snobbery, I'm just not a fan of the taste. I've struggled over the years to properly celebrate St. Patrick's Day without drinking Guinness, Harp or the gawdawful green beer.<br />
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Then I met my husband and everything changed.
My husband's ancestors are known as 'Wine Geese." What are Wine Geese? Well it comes from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Geese_%28soldiers%29">Wild Geese</a>, which refers to exodus of Irish soldiers to France at the end of the 1600’s following the Willamite-Jacobite war. The damn Catholics and Protestants always fighting. Catholics were forced to skip town. <a href="http://thewinevault.blogspot.com/2008/07/wine-geese.html">Wine Geese refers to Irish emigrants who became involved in the wine trade in other countries.</a><br />
<a name='more'></a>My husband's family went to Bordeaux. Sadly, we are too distantly related to them to even get a free bottle! Notable Irish Bordeaux wineries include: <a href="http://www.vinfolio.com/producer/lynchbages?gclid=CLu8uJD0664CFQdN4AodbDRfIQ">Lynch-Bages</a>, <a href="http://www.millesima-usa.com/catalogue/producer-chateau-d-yquem.html">d'Yquem</a>, <a href="http://www.saratogawine.com/chateau-Leoville-Barton-St.-Julien-1995-750ml.html?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=freeprodlisting&utm_content=459344&utm_campaign=prodfeeds">Leoville-Barton</a>, <a href="http://www.chateau-dillon.com/index.cfm">Chateau Dillon Margaux</a>, <a href="http://www.thewinedoctor.com/bordeaux/phelansegur.shtml">Phelan-Segur</a> and <a href="http://www.thewinedoctor.com/bordeaux/kirwan.shtml">Kirwan</a>. Try them all. They are all awesome.<br />
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Australia has a fair share of Wine Geese too. A lovely wine region in Australia, Clare Valley (named after County Clare in Ireland), is home to <a href="http://jimbarry.com/wines/reds/armagh-shiraz-2007">a world-famous Shiraz "Armagh"</a> which is produced by Jim Barry winery. It is a favorite of mine, if on an expense account, as Armagh is from where my grandfather hails.<br />
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In the US, <a href="http://shop.montelena.com/">Chateau Montelana</a>, who won the very famous Paris 1976 wine contest that put California wines on the map, is owned by the Barret family. <a href="http://www.concannonvineyard.com/wines">Concannon Vineyards</a>, run by the family of the same name, is reportedly the longest running US winery. Note to drinkers of the dreaded White Zinfandel: Concannon also owns the Glen Ellen winery which makes a White Zin. <a href="https://cart.murphygoodewinery.com:44316/Catalog/CatalogListing.aspx">Murphy-Good</a> (try their Zinfandel and Claret) and <a href="http://www.sequoiagrove.com/index.cfm?method=storeproducts.showList&productcategoryid=62747d7a-faa3-840c-76e0-8b9c83313baa&isMarketingURL=1&orderby=PXPC.DisplayOrder%20Asc,%20P.ProductName%20ASC&startrow=1&maxrows=12">Sequoia Vineyards</a> are also run by Wine Geese families.<br />
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Chile and South Africa also have their fair share of Wine Geese, but I've not sampled any of their wines, so I am hesitant to give a shout out.
So if you don't like beer or Irish Whiskey for that matter, don't go for that silly dyed green Cosmopolitian on St. Patrick's Day. Reach instead for a delicious glass of Irish wine.<br />
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Image <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/goddess_of_gripe">via</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-6751747987864812592013-02-14T06:21:00.000-08:002013-02-14T06:21:19.257-08:00Valentine's Day Thoughts: Wine, Women and SongHave you ever blamed being over-served as an excuse to cheat on your lady love? Sorry guys, that excuse doesn't hold water (or wine) anymore.
Two wine economists (who knew those existed and what an awesome job!) noticed that societies which embraced multiple wives, polygyny, do not consume alcohol. Two notable examples of this in today's world are parts of the Muslim world and parts of the Mormon church.<br />
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Pondering over a glass or two of wine, these economists pondered two questions: "is this ad hoc observation representative of a true phenomenon? Does a real (positive) correlation between monogamy and alcohol consumption exist?" <a href="http://www.wine-economics.org/workingpapers/AAWE_WP75.pdf">I recommend you read this study, "Women or Wine? Monogamy and Alcohol" as it is fascinating.</a> The bottom line is summed up nicely by Mara Squicciarini, one of the co-authors: “We were surprised to find that there is a trade-off between alcohol consumption and the number of sex partners that men tended to keep at any one time."
Notable points in this paper:
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<ul>
<li>Apparently there is a ton of data on "frequency of drunkeness" - data that goes back centuries.</li>
<li>Greek and Roman Empires were the only societies who consumed alcohol in that point in history. They were also the only societies who embraced 'formal monogamy.'</li>
<li>Alcohol consumption did not alter the number of sexual partners a woman had. Slut shaming strikes again!</li>
<li>The Catholic Church may have its issues, but the Church was critical at spreading viticulture around Europe. They were also helpful at spreading breweries around the world too. Servicey!</li>
<li>The Industrial Revolution appears to be the tipping point for both alcohol consumption and monogamy.</li>
<li>Lord Krishna was said to have 16,108 wives and King Solomon had 700 wives and about 300 concubines -- all without Ok Cupid.</li>
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So when you open up that bottle of bubbly with your loved one this evening, you may want to ponder: <i>do we drink because we are monogamous, or are we monogamous because we drink? </i><br />
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<i>Originally published at <a href="http://www.crasstalk.com/">Crasstalk.com </a></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-15522359329039643892013-02-12T13:37:00.000-08:002013-02-12T14:10:41.983-08:00Don't be an Ash This Wednesday<br />
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As a good Catholic girl, this is the time of year I think about how I can be a better person. I think given the recent news of Pope Benedict abdicating this Lent may be a bit more interesting. I think New Year's resolutions are foolish, but for some reason I have no problem with Lenten "resolutions". I was pondering why there was such a difference between the two periods of personal improvement and reflection for me.<br />
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I am religious, but I'm more of a cafeteria Catholic. I find the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrament_of_Penance_%28Catholic_Church%29">Sacrament of Reconciliation</a> rather silly as I don't think I need an intermediary between God and me to obtain his forgiveness. Don't get me started on the Church's views on gays. Despite my picking and choosing of the tenets of my religion, Lent resonates for me.<br />
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Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. I am going to go to church and have the sign of the cross put on my forehead with ashes from the burnt palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. The history of the ashes goes back to a time when during the Lenten season only the faithful were allowed into church. Those who committed serious sins would be forced to wear a hairshirt for forty days. That hairshirt was blessed with palm ashes. I imagine that the wearing of a hairshirt was not unlike wearing a scarlet letter. It marked you as a grave sinner. Today, it reflects the fact that we all sin but are seeking redemption.<br />
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The act of giving something up for Lent is well known. Catholics are asked to give up something; be it an appetite, a distraction or something we love, not to just suffer, but to create a "vacuum" of sorts. It is hoped that this vacuum is filled by the Holy Spirit. Perhaps that is why I like it so much. Notice that it isn't necessarily about improving oneself, it is more about creating a "space" in your everyday life for God to enter. Additionally, we are only asked to do this for 40 days, not permanently. After that period of time it is hoped that you would permanently create this space for God even as you go back to enjoying what you sacrificed for Lent.<br />
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What many are not aware of is that the Catholic church does not merely want us to give up during Lent. The Church wants us also to "give out" and "give in" . By 'giving out' one can express their love of God and Man by making your talents and treasures available. Acts of kindness, volunteerism, donations of goods and services to those in need are very much a part of the Lenten tradition. Some Catholics focus on this aspect of Lent more than the giving up part. In fact at the conclusion of each Mass the priest asks the congregation to "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord." We are supposed to take what we learn each week in Mass and apply it to the outside world. I love that fact -- that the Church really isn't about Mass. It really is about applying Mass to your real life. Way too many Catholics forget that. Priests included.<br />
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The 'giving in' part is especially interesting to me as it is quite Zen. In this age of self-fulfillment we are called to go the opposite way. In order to find your life, your way or your path, you must lose it. You must let go of it. We are supposed to give our life and our trust to God. I also look at it this way: when you cling too heavily to your wants, desires or results, that you often miss an more interesting or fulfilling path that was thrown in your way. This giving in part really feeds into the reasons why we give up during Lent.<br />
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I've tried to give up many things during Lent over the years. Some worked out fine and others not so much. Giving up wine/booze has never worked well in the past as it makes me a rather irritable person. I find I'm much better at doing something than giving up something in order to create that vacuum or space for God to enter. I do this with acts of volunteering that put me in direct contact with those in need.<br />
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This year, in addition to volunteering, I am adding daily exercise to the list. Not to get my fat arse moving, although that is an added benefit; but to clear my head of all the cobwebs and crap that interfere with me creating space or that vacuum for God to enter.<br />
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I know there are a few Catholics/Christians out there. Are any of you giving up something for Lent?<br />
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<a href="http://www.crasstalk.com/"></a>
Pic <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahrosenau/106639716/sizes/n/in/photostream/">via</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-44966902221706299692013-02-08T04:00:00.000-08:002013-02-08T06:29:41.240-08:00Today is National Girl Scout Cookie Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I saw on the morning news today that we are celebrating Girl Scout Cookie Day today. The CEO of Girl Scouts,<b> </b>Anna Maria Chávez<b id="yui_3_3_0_1_1360331195296359">,</b> called it a "girl entrepreneurial" program. She also called it a "parent-supported" program which allowed girls to grow as individuals. Not sure what world Ms Chávez is living in today, but that is not my experience.<br />
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Despite being a Cookie Monster (GS Cookie Coordinator) for my two girls' troops at one time, I'm not a big supporter of the cookie fundraiser. I have issues with Girl Scouts selling cookies to kids and families given the rampant obesity in this country. I also have a problem with many of the ingredients of their cookies. I am not thrilled that the troops get a pretty small portion of those sales either. However, my biggest beef with this program is that it is often <b>parent-driven</b> and not parent-supported.<br />
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I was once a Girl Scout and I went door-to-door and sold cookies to my neighbors. I was happy with what I was personally able to contribute to my troop. Nowadays, parents bring the cookie sales sheet to work and <strike>bully</strike> persuade their colleagues to purchase the cookies to support their daughter's troop. Rarely do the girls actually make an appearance. Not even at delivery. Mom or Dad take care of the whole process from selling, collecting money and delivering. Perhaps this is an entrepreneurial program which teaches the girls how to delegate their responsibilities?<br />
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Upon further reflection, it is really not a Girl Scout cookie issue. It is a parenting issue.<br />
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Probably as a result of our helicopter parenting, we so desperately want our children to be successful (or at least viewed that way) that we do the work they should be doing. Who hasn't gone to some event at their child's school to see a variety of dioramas knowing full well that the parents did half the work of the children's projects?<br />
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I don't mind helping my children with those tasks, but my response is always something like this, "I've already completed 3rd grade. I'm happy to help where you are having difficulty, but this is your project." Do my children's dioramas look as good as the other kids'? Honestly, no they don't - but they did it on their own. The accomplishment is theirs and theirs alone. <br />
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By selling those cookies, writing that essay, or building that diorama mostly <b>for</b> our kids versus supporting them, we are teaching our kids that their best isn't good enough to be successful. We are also teaching them that failure is something that is unacceptable or to be feared. How hollow is that Outstanding Cookie Sales Badge victory if they didn't earn it? Does the A they receive on their Colonial diorama project give them any satisfaction or pride if Mom or Dad did the majority of the designing and gluing of the Colonial home and farm?<br />
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What about when these kids become adults and are actually responsible for their own success and failure? Many of these kids will never had experienced personal failure until adulthood. Failure is part of life, part of learning and growing as a person. I suspect this next generation is going to have a difficult time dealing with the inevitable missteps they will experience in life.<br />
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I have to confess that I did buy some Girl Scout cookies from my neighbor's child, Sophia, despite not liking the cookie program. Why? She dressed up in her uniform, knocked on my door and asked for the sale. Her mother was behind her, supporting her but not doing it for her. She was proud of herself, despite needing some help figuring out what change to give back.<br />
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The accomplishment was hers, as it should be.<br />
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Image <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60882028@N08/6949731061/sizes/n/in/photostream/">via</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-91365570443923359602013-02-06T05:29:00.000-08:002013-02-06T05:59:43.065-08:00Honey Lavender Frozen Greek Yogurt <a href="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/3633845401_8bce206809_m.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="3633845401_8bce206809_m" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4486" src="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/3633845401_8bce206809_m.jpg" height="240" width="240" /></a><br />
Happy National Frozen Yogurt Day! I love making homemade frozen ice cream or yogurt. It is a snap to do and the taste is so much better. You will need to invest in an ice cream maker, but you don't need to spend a lot of money on it. I have this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-ICE-21-Frozen-Yogurt-Ice-Sorbet/dp/B003KYSLMW/ref=dp_ob_title_def" target="_blank">Cuisnart model</a> which runs about $50 on Amazon and I've had it for years. KitchenAid also has <a href="http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KICA0WH-Cream-Maker-Attachment/dp/B0002IES80/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1360156294&sr=8-8&keywords=ice+cream+maker" target="_blank">an attachment</a> that can be used in their stand mixers that has a 2 qt capacity which I am also thinking about getting as the capacity is greater than my Cuisinart. First world problems, but worth it considering given how tasty this recipe is!
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<b>Ingredients</b>
(makes approximately 1 qt of frozen yogurt)<br />
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3/4 cup of local honey<br />
1/4 cup of sugar<br />
1/4 cup of water<br />
2 T dried lavender blossoms (optional)<br />
1/8 t salt<br />
2 cups plain whole fat Greek Yogurt<br />
1 t vanilla extract<br />
1 cup of buttermilk<br />
5 t fresh lemon juice<br />
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Combine honey, sugar and water in a sauce pan over low heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. If you wish to infuse the lavender blossoms, toss them in now and let the mixture cool to room temperature or at least 1 hour. Strain blossoms before going to the next step.
Whisk in the remaining ingredients and toss in the fridge, preferably overnight, but at least six hours. Meanwhile, be sure your ice cream maker bowl is in the freezer and frozen solid.
Place mixture in your ice cream maker and freeze according to instructions that came with your machine. Transfer to a air tight container like a Tupperware bowl and freeze until firmed up.<br />
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<b>NOTE:</b> I'm sure someone will say "Too much fat" with the full-fat Greek yogurt. I personally think it is worth it, but don't go any lower than 2% or you will lose all that creaminess.<br />
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Enjoy with a drizzle of honey and fresh berries or just plain. Stupendous!<br />
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Image via FlikrAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-10072843528096521192013-01-18T06:09:00.000-08:002013-01-24T08:25:28.023-08:00Greek Skillet Lasagne Supper for These Cold Days<a href="http://crassparenting.com/?attachment_id=4052" rel="attachment wp-att-4052"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4058" alt="833149342_538348629b" src="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/833149342_538348629b-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a>
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Who is whining about this brutally cold weather? I know I am not alone in wearing long undies and wool socks in my neck of the woods. This type of weather calls out for comfort foods that remind you of your childhood and warm you up from your toes to nose. My go-to meals in this weather are soups and pasta dishes. On Tuesday at about 5pm, my son asked me to make lasagna for dinner. Given that a proper lasagna takes a good hour to cook and I didn't have the ingredients in the house, I had to improvise.
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Taking a look at my pantry and refrigerator, I formulated a plan. I dug out of my freezer a pound of ground lamb that I purchase this past Saturday at our family's first visit to the<a href="http://www.sonomarketplace.com/" target="_blank"> Sono Marketplace</a>. Sono Marketplace is designed like an indoor European market with stalls to buy local foods, art, jewelery and crafts. I was pleased to find that they had a stall that sold grass-feed beef, pork and lamb from <a href="http://www.percythomsonmeadows.com/" target="_blank">Percy Thomson Meadows.</a> I love lamb and bought a couple pounds of their ground lamb thinking I would make lamb burgers.
Instead, I decided to make a Greek-inspired skillet lasagna of sorts which showcased the beautifully tasty ground lamb.
Ingredients:
<p style="text-align: justify;">1 lb ground lamb (you can substitute ground beef)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">1 yellow onion chopped finely</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">3 garlic cloves, smashed then minced finely</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">2 T Italian Seasoning</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">1/4t ground cinnamon</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">1 28 oz can of fire-roasted tomatoes, chopped</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Half a bag of pre-washed baby spinach</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">3/4 cup of heavy cream or half and half</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">1 cup of crumbled feta cheese</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">1 lb dried pasta (I prefer<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiatore" target="_blank"> radiatore </a>pasta, but any tubular pasta will do, like penne)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Salt and pepper</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In a large, deep skillet brown the lamb until cooked completely through. Set aside lamb and remove all but one tablespoon of the fat from cooking the lamb. Sautee the onions in the reserved fat along with the garlic, Italian seasoning, cinnamon and a bit of salt and pepper. Cook until the onions are translucent and be careful not to scorch the garlic.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Return the cooked ground lamb to the skillet and add the entire can of fire-roasted tomatoes. Simmer for a good 15 minutes or so until the tomato juices have been reduce by half. Then add the spinach and cook until softened. Meanwhile, cook the pasta per the instructions on the box. Drain and set aside.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Place pasta on top of lamb and tomato mixture and stir the pasta into the sauce. Add the heavy cream and let simmer on low for 10 minutes until sauce thickens. Just prior to serving sprinkle the feta cheese on top of the pasta and add salt and pepper to taste.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For a dish like this, I would choose a hearty wine. If you want to go the Italian route, a Chianti would be a nice choice. However, I would probably choose a Malbec, Tempranillo or a Chateauneuf-de-Pape to really bring out the lamb-y goodness.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Full disclosure:</strong> The pic is not mine. My family gobbled up every single bit of this dish before I could snap a shot. Not a single bit of pasta or crumble of lamb left. Damn kids need to stop growing. This pic is via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/clairity/833149342/sizes/m/in/photostream/">Flickr</a>and looks almost identical to my magical meal.</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-15672446326218129322013-01-14T10:35:00.000-08:002013-01-16T10:36:23.928-08:00I Blinked and He Was GoneWhenever I walk by or glance at my mailbox, I still feel nauseous eight years later. I remember the rock by the mail box post that he used to love to stand on because he loved the feeling of almost falling, of losing his balance. I removed the rock not only because it attracted him to that spot, but because it made me physically ill just looking at it.
Last month was the eight year anniversary marking the day my son missed being hit by a lawn maintenance truck by mere inches.<a name='more'></a>
Patch and I were out in the fenced in back yard. He was a real monkey back then, even at two years old, and loved to climb. Patch has autism and one of the things he struggled with at two was personal safety. Many children with special needs do not have an appropriate sense of danger. I had to watch him like a hawk in the front yard, parking lots, and public play grounds. In my fenced in backyard however, I felt like he was safe.
I was closing down my perennial garden for the fall and he was climbing on our swing set. I could hear him sing to himself and laugh at his antics as I cut down the stalks from my flowers. Then I heard a woman yelling her head off and the noise of breaks shrieking.
I turned around and Patch was gone. Gone. I freaked and opened the picket fence gate and saw him there on the opposite side of our street picking flowers. There was a woman out of her car running toward him and a poor landscaper who had his hands in his face. I ran across the street and picked him up. The woman who got there first told me she saw him balancing on the rock and stopped because she thought it odd that a two year old would be out on the street by himself. She saved his life because she stopped her car. We live on bend of a winding Connecticut road, and the landscaper did not see my son jump off the rock and cross the street to pick the flowers. The woman in the car ran out of her car, stood in the middle of the bend and waved down the truck. She could have been killed or injured too.
Turns out my monkey was not only good at climbing ropes and ladders, but picket fences. We immediately tore down our cute, but short, picket fence and put up a more difficult to climb six foot tall one. We installed alarms on our doors so every time a door or window opened there was a chime. Then I called the Police Department because I wanted to put up a sign similar to Blind or Deaf Child ones you have seen previously. Patch was essentially 'Danger Blind' and I thought this might be a good warning to those who took that curve in the road.
I learned from the assistant police chief that signs like Deaf Child often lure child predators to that area. So that was out. However, it began an incredible discussion about safety and special needs children with our town's first responders. In the end, Patch's near miss turned out to be an amazing thing for our town.
In the next installment, I will let you know how my discussion with our town's fire and police departments led to better awareness, training and safety for our special needs kids and adults.
Originally published at crassparenting.comAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-20339713813881058302013-01-09T10:26:00.000-08:002013-01-16T10:28:19.954-08:00June, It is Time to Hand in Your White Trash CardWho would have thought that a mother from McIntyre, Georgia would show more common sense and better parenting skills than a more educated and affluent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dina_Lohan" target="_blank">mother from Long Island?</a><a name='more'></a>
June Shannon, Honey Boo-boo's mother, announced on Jimmy Kimmel that the $20,000 her brood earns per episode goes directly into a trust fund, divided equally between her four daughters and baby Kaitlyn. June claims that the money doesn't even touch her hands. TLC deposits it directly into her girls' trusts funds for her. Her family simply lives off what her boyfriend, Sugarbear, brings in.
<a href="http://crassparenting.com/2013/01/june-it-is-time-to-hand-in-your-white-trash-card/june-gif/" rel="attachment wp-att-3568"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-3568" alt="June Cow/Milk" src="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/june-gif-300x168.gif" width="300" height="168" /></a>
I haven't always been <a href="http://crassparenting.com/2012/09/which-reality-tv-parent-is-the-worst/" target="_blank">kind to June</a>, but color me impressed. June is demonstrating more sense and selflessness than the majority of parents do -- let alone reality television parents.
While I still think she is probably a fame whore, I admire the fact she recognizes that she and her family have had more than their fifteen minutes of <del datetime="2013-01-07T16:48:38+00:00">shame</del> fame. I marvel at the belief that she knows it won't last forever so she must not waste the opportunity to provide for her girls' futures.
Savvy isn't a word I would have thought would have applied to June Shannon. Hats off to you June.
Photo via <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Here_Comes_Honey_BooBoo_title_card.png">Wikipedia</a>.
Originally published on crassparenting.comAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-34754460579327967502013-01-08T13:59:00.001-08:002013-01-08T14:02:16.387-08:00You Know It is Bad When I Feel Bad for the Prostitute<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My husband and I have invested in a couple apartments in an up and coming neighborhood in an adjacent city. By up and coming, I mean it is a place where the recent college graduates come to live because the rents are cheaper, there are fun bars and great restaurants that aren't expensive. A fair number of divorced dads live here too while their ex-wives and children live in a much nicer town just a mile or two down the road.<br />
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Around the corner from one of our units has been this Asian 'massage' parlor. We've owned the unit for six years now and that business has been there long before we purchased our unit. This area has a few of these establishments. They have always ticked me off as they are in eye sight of an elementary school and surrounded by residential areas. Bring the whole tone of the neighborhood down. From a financial perspective, it turns off tenants too. But really, it makes me furious little elementary school kids have to walk by this business to go to school each day.<br />
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When looking at the newspaper online this past weekend, I was pleased to learn that over the end of December the city had shut down a bunch of these businesses as they were (shocker) not actually licensed massage parlors but a front for prostitution. What a boon to the neighborhood. Reading on, I discovered that the business by our apartment had made the mistake of re-opening the 'massage' parlor and resumed their illegal activities. Once again, the business was shut down, but this time the owner, manager and 'masseuse' were arrested.
The Connecticut newspaper posted the pictures and names of the women who were charged with prostitution. You roll the dice you pay the price, right?<br />
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I was ok with them making public their names and pictures until I read further that a 70+ year old man from a very affluent neighboring town was found naked with one of the women arrested and charged with prostitution.
<b>The naked elderly man was not named, pictured not post and he was not charged with anything. </b>
Furious I read on and discovered that another prostitution front was busted after re-opening and the same thing happened: the women were named, pictured and charged, but the men got off scott-free.<br />
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Some say that prostitution is a victim-less crime. I am not one of those people, but that isn't why I am angry. What is good for the goose should be good for the gander. It infuriates me that those men -- the men who paid women to have sexual acts with them -- suffered nothing but a bit of embarrassment by being caught in the act by the police. They are not going through the same public humiliation, nor the same legal process. After their moment of embarrassment, I'm sure they were absolutely relieved that they were not going to suffer any significant consequence.<br />
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Is it because they are men, more affluent, or some other reason? I don't know the answers and I hate the fact I'm asking the question.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-91536441116125524782013-01-03T12:00:00.000-08:002013-01-03T08:54:07.795-08:00How I Got to Be Two Goats Away From Crazy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My sisters Maribeth and Jennifer, along with my two nieces and nephew, paid our family a visit after we started our adventure in raising chickens. Everyone was enthralled with my built-in petting zoo, especially the kids who were all under seven years of age. Each day, the kids would chase around our ten week old baby chickens and discover some of their free-range hiding spots. One afternoon of some particularly fun times of chicken hide and seek, we ran inside to get some lemonade when disaster struck.<br />
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We were inside no more than five minutes, but that was plenty of time. A neighborhood fox had managed to kill eight chickens in very short order. Foxes, we learned after this incident, are surplus killers. That means they kill everything in sight, eat what they want now, and come back later for the leftovers. The kids were devastated. I made the mistake of naming a couple chickens after my nieces, Gigi and Ella, and of course they were among the missing. <br />
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Being a quick-thinking chicken raiser, I went to Craigslist and looked up where I could get some chickens - stat. Craigslist is a surprisingly good source of finding small farm animals.I wanted to replace that bad ju-ju with some nice memories of getting new chickens. I decided that I wanted some that were already laying as I was getting impatient to taste some fresh eggs. My remaining baby chickens had at least ten more weeks to go before laying. I figured that my kids along with my nieces and nephews would enjoy getting the eggs out of nest boxes.<br />
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The next day we headed over to a home in Wilton, CT where the Craigslist ad said I could find some Red Cross chickens that were already laying. Bingo! We drove up to a beautiful Colonial home with an amazing blue stone swimming pool. Behind the pristine pool area, however, was an absolute mess. A former playground set with a tree house had turned into a chicken coop. There was also a stall in back that had two dairy goats. There were at least 100 chickens running amok in this enclosed space.<br />
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As the woman who raised these animals began to wrangle the six chickens were were purchasing, the kids asked her if they could pet the goats. After getting her permission, my nephew took off his Crocs and ran directly into the goat barn, promptly getting goat poop all over his feet. The kid was named Ella and my niece went up and kissed her namesake goat square on the lips. Ew. My son was chasing the 100 chickens all over the enclosure. Squawking ensued. The adults had clearly lost control of the situation.<br />
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Finally, we gathered the children, washed the poop off Daniel's feet, gave my son Patrick's hands a quick wipe down and rinsed out Ella's mouth. My sisters and I carried a chicken under each arm and walked back to the car. I waited until I was out of earshot of the woman who sold us the chickens and said to my sister Maribeth, "Please shoot me if I ever get this crazy with the whole farm thing. Please, promise: YOU WILL SHOOT ME." Maribeth was quiet for just a moment before she smirked and looked me dead in the eye, "Colleen, you are exactly two goats away from crazy." <br />
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Shocked by the reality of what my sister said, I simply said nothing and popped the chickens into the card board box to take them home. During the course of the fifteen minute ride home, the "new" chicken Ella layed an egg and my road to crazy resumed once again.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-70855553903640159252012-12-20T08:14:00.000-08:002013-01-03T08:56:58.603-08:00No Toddler Ever Starved from StubbornnessNOTE: Originally published at Crassparenting.com<br />
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It took a fair amount of biochemistry to have my first child, so I wanted to be sure I did everything the right way. After she was born, I was one of those extremely neurotic parents who had to everything 'just so.' I breastfed for twelve months and my daughter never had a bottle of formula. I introduced solid foods at six months. I made my own baby food from organic veggies and fruits. I was sold a bill of goods that good eating habits started at birth. If you took care to make sure your child developed a taste for healthy food from the start, you wouldn't have to worry about them being picky eaters or junk food junkies.
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<img alt="" class="aligncenter" src="http://parentables.howstuffworks.com/media/images/promos/2011/03/picky_eater.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></div>
Wrong.<br />
<a name='more'></a>Katie, my daughter, ate every vegetable under the sun as a baby. She ate them with gusto. Peas, check. Asparagus, check. Avocado, no issue. Pumpkin, squash, carrots, green beans, yes, yes, yes, yes. I would look over at other parents, smugly, as they struggled to get their child to eat carrots. Then she turned two and a half and something switched off in her brain. She stopped eating all the healthy foods she loved. No idea why, but she stopped eating them cold turkey.
Desperate to have my child eat something healthy, I became a short order cook. I cooked something healthy and delicious for my husband and me. I made that organic homemade baby food for Katie's new sister Megan. Then I struggled to find something to make for Katie that she would eat. Something that would be good for her. I would literally spend several hours each day figuring out and preparing dinner. I drove myself absolutely crazy. To top it off, I was pregnant with my son and exhausted.
At one of Megan's first year check-ups, my kids' pediatrician obviously sensed I was on the edge and asked what was wrong. He listened to my tale of woe and stupidity. He looked me straight in the eye and said this:
<i>"Colleen. I want you to listen to me clearly. No toddler ever starved from stubbornness. You are not a short order cook. It is your job to offer your child healthy choices. It is your daughter's job to choose from those choices. You need to let her do HER job. If she doesn't want to eat them, she won't starve. She will just be hungry. If she gets hungry enough, she'll eat."</i>
I wish I could say that Katie magically resumed eating her carrots, peas, squash and green beans. She hasn't, even at 13. However, despite her stubbornness, Dr Steven West of Bermuda was 100% right. She did not starve.
Image <a href="http://www.parentables.com/">via</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-64116551986984147582012-12-18T08:21:00.000-08:002013-01-03T08:56:16.583-08:00I Told My Child a Bald-Faced Lie After NewtownNote: Originally published at Crassparenting.com<br />
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This was a weekend were I did my best to maintain composure and my usual jolly Christmas spirit. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I felt fragile. I felt that my family was vulnerable. I felt hopeless and sad. I still feel powerless to guarantee safety and protection for my family and friends.
A half hour ago I was in the car drop-off line for my son's school. Most of the time, my son takes the bus but I let him sleep in today so I would <i>need</i> to drive him. Apparently other moms felt similarly, because the line was LONG. Our principal had more than the usual number of school staff greeting our kids. There was also an armed police officer there. My son noticed and commented about it. He is a kid prone to worry and anxiety and he asked me, "Are you worried that I am not safe here?" What a loaded question to have with only one cup of coffee in me.
How did I answer? I lied through my teeth.<br />
<a name='more'></a>"Not at all. Would I ever put you in a position where you were not safe? You have a school that is very safe and filled with teachers and staff that love you guys." That seemed to satisfy him and he went to school with a smile on his face.
Sandy Hook Elementary had safety procedures -- better than what my son's elementary school had as of Friday -- and teachers that love their students. They loved them so much that some sacrificed their lives for their students. The sad fact is this:there is no way to <b>guarantee</b> the safety of anyone anywhere. But that is not a concept that a 10 year old boy is able to grasp. His 45 year old mother is having a tough time wrapping her head around it.
My husband describes my job as a mother as Chief Risk Manager, often followed by the nickname Mama Killjoy when I deem something inappropriate or too risky for my kids. I suspect that I am going to struggle with the urge to wrap my kids in bubble wrap and protect them from everything over these next few months. The harsh reality is that I cannot protect them from everything, and they could literally be taken from me in an instant.
My only defense is that I can make sure that when they leave my protective embrace every day that they know they are loved very much. My only defense is love.
Photo via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/theodorescott/2570991524/sizes/m/in/photostream/">Fickr</a>.
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-55707753538147563492012-12-12T08:23:00.000-08:002013-01-03T08:55:47.550-08:00I Will Never Confess to Being SantaNote: Originally posted at Crassparenting.com<br />
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<br />At the bus stop last week after the kids were picked up by cheerful Mr. Ray, the driver of the bus, the moms discussed Santa Claus. My son Patch is the oldest on this stop at 10 years old. The moms asked me if I had told him that there was no Santa Claus. I looked at them as though they had three heads each. “Of course not,” was my reply.<a name='more'></a>
<a href="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/tracking-santa-on-christmas_1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3055" src="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/tracking-santa-on-christmas_1.jpg" alt="" width="320" height="320" /></a>
I was the oldest of three girls growing up in a suburb of Chicago. My parents did plenty that I question now, but they certainly got the whole Santa thing down pat. I distinctly remember at the age of 11 asking my parents if they were Santa. With a look of puzzled disgust, they both replied that they were not. They reminded me that, as parents, they were not the most generous of people, so why on earth would they give me the toy last year that drove them nuts? They also made it perfectly clear that if one says one does not believe in Santa then Santa does not come for that person. Period. End of story. Naturally, I didn’t speak of this again. When I was a very jaded thirteen year old, I remember hearing something rattle on the roof (probably my parents in the attic). Believe it or not, I thought just for a flash of a second, maybe it was Santa.
I love the fact that I am continuing this tradition. Santa is about giving. Santa is about goodness. Santa is about anticipating something magical. In this brutal dog eat dog world, I like that for a few weeks each year we focus on giving, goodness and magic. Sure the rest of the world is doing their level best to make this all about consumption an<a href="http://crassparenting.com/2012/11/i-hate-the-christmas-elf/">d that annoying Elf</a>, but the spirit of Santa is really above all of that.
One of my bus stop moms asked if I was concerned that I was lying to my children. I have no qualms whatsoever about it. I asked her if they had ever lied to their children about anything. Reluctantly she said yes, but it was because she didn’t want to hurt her kid’s feelings and it wasn’t a big deal. My response to her was, “What’s the big deal about perpetuating the spirit of Santa Claus, even though you are the one giving gifts? What’s wrong about perpetuating the magic and hopeful anticipation of what he brought you?” I don’t see how it is any different than telling your 6 year old that her outfit she picked out herself which is completely mismatched, is beautiful.
My theory is that parents want to take the credit for the gifts they give their children. I think that it is understandable but a bit selfish. Is Christmas really about the giving or is it about receiving the appreciation for what you have given?
I still get presents back in Chicago from Santa at the ripe old age of 45. Each year, I reflect back at the memory of my 13 year old self. Despite knowing full well that my parents had to be Santa, I love to remember that split second of when I thought maybe, just maybe, the magic is real. My adult self now knows that indeed it is real and I am thankful that I have a role to play in this magic.
Image <a href="http://scienficamerican.com" target="_blank">via</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-82296774463784547222012-12-04T08:26:00.000-08:002013-01-03T08:55:25.635-08:00The Spinal Tap Theory of Parenting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/spinal-tap.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2940" src="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/spinal-tap-240x300.jpg" height="300" width="240" /></a></div>
When Katie was a toddler, the usual time outs didn’t work. In fact, they often caused her to laugh right in my face. Nice. Measured, natural consequences rarely worked either. When she would hit her baby sister Megan with a toy, I would remove the toy for a short period of time and give it back later. This would not stop the behavior whatsoever. The only thing that worked to stop that hitting was to give the toy a time out for the entire day up on a shelf where she could not reach but still see it. What a stubborn 2 year old!<br />
<a name='more'></a>During a late night of breastfeeding Megan, I was watching <b>This is Spinal Tap</b> and realized with Katie, natural consequences may have to go to 11.
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EbVKWCpNFhY" width="560"></iframe><br />
Katie is an 11 kind of kid to discipline. I often need to go ‘one louder’ with her as compared to my other two. This means her natural consequences must be more intense than the other two kids’. How does this play out in real life? Here is a perfect example. My kids hate putting away their clean laundry. Over the summer, the kids took to putting just laundered clothing back in the dirty hamper so they don’t have to put it away. That made me seethe with resentment, truth be told, because it demonstrated to me that they do not value what I do for them.
The three of them received a stern lecture about not valuing my time and a consequence of having to re-do the laundry for the clothes they dumped in the hamper. Megan was slightly weepy and said she was sorry. Patrick told me that he hated doing laundry so he would never do it again. Katie said a quick ‘sorry.’ Right then and there, I knew that soon and she would need that ‘extra push over a cliff.’ I didn’t have to wait more than two days before she repeated the offense. This time, Katie was responsible for the entire household’s laundry for a week, including her dad’s smelly work out gear. I also decided to throw back some of the clothes she just laundered into the hamper. She was none too pleased, but it has never happened again.
We live in an age where we are taught to treat our kids equally. I have found that it doesn’t work in my household. Some children need more time and attention (or a different kind of time and attention) for them to be successful. Some need stronger consequences for bad behavior. Each kid is unique, so why the push to treat them all exactly the same?
So I strive to get equal results from my kids, and I don’t worry about treating them equally. I want them all to be happy, healthy and successful. For my threesome, those goals require very different things from me and my husband - each of them has an ’11 issue,’ where they require a bit more out of us. Discipline comes from the word ‘disciple’ which means spreading the teaching of others. The key word is teaching. We all learn in unique ways so it isn't surprising that disciplining a children may require different tactics for each kid.
Stay tuned for my next post on how the movie <b>Waiting for Guffman</b> influenced my views on heteronormativity. (Just kidding) However, you can take a look at a couple of of my other parenting philosophies: <a href="http://crassparenting.com/2012/10/the-i-dont-negotiate-with-terrorists-rule-of-parenting/" target="_blank">The I Don't Negotiate with Terrorists Rule of Parenting</a> and <a href="http://crassparenting.com/2012/09/no-toddler-ever-starved-from-stubbornness/" target="_blank">No Toddler Ever Starved from Stubbornness</a>.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-58674976953928399162012-11-22T16:00:00.000-08:002013-01-16T10:43:00.831-08:00No More Harried Holidays<em>I wrote a version of this 2009 for a parenting magazine. My kids were still quite impacted by their autism at the time and I was still in overwhelm mode. Fast forward to today and I am so happy to report that my kids are really doing well. However, I find the stress of the holiday craziness creeping up on me already. Sigh. Old habits die hard. Re-reading this article this morning, I realized that much of what I discussed in 2009 applies to families with young children - ones with and without special needs. Prioritizing what is important to a family's holiday celebration applies to families of all ages. I hope I remember to find joy this season and not focus on what really doesn't matter.</em><a name='more'></a>
I call it the Holiday Sprint – the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. The night before Thanksgiving, I used to take a deep breath to mentally prepare myself for the craziness that was sure to come. A couple years ago on New Year’s Day, I resolved to never, ever feel that way again. (edit: HA!)
For a parent of children with special needs, these high-stress holidays can often point out to you, in very explicit ways, that your child is different or not progressing like other children their age. It is a poignant reminder that your child is not like the rest, is different, and may always be that way. Ugh. As a good parent, you are obviously doing all you can to assist your children in their developmental progression, but how quickly or typically they progress really isn’t in your control. How you think, react and respond to these stressful situations is completely within your control and that is what you need to focus upon.
<strong>Prioritize</strong> -- By now, I suppose you have realized that you cannot do it all when you have a special needs child. Let me rephrase that… <em>you can do it all, you just cannot do it all at the same time without going crazy</em>. The holidays are no different. You are pulled in a million directions and if you do it all, your friends and extended family may be happy, but, are you? If you want less gut-wrenching stress, I’d suggest choosing your immediate family’s happiness. Schedule your family and friend celebrations in a way that works for you. It is called a Holiday <em>Season</em> for a reason. Spread out the celebrations and say no to those that aren’t going to be relaxing and enjoyable for you and your children. “It's easy to say "keep it simple" but putting that into practice is very hard. For me, it means learning to say “no” to otherwise wonderful things, like parties, that are challenging for my child. It means putting my child's need for routine and consistency ahead of my own fear of disappointing others or being judged or criticized by others,” said Kristine whose son is on the autism spectrum.
Sit down with your immediate family and figure out what is really important to you and your family about the holidays. Do it now before all the craziness starts in a couple days.The answers might surprise you. I guarantee that being miserable is not on that list. Practice this technique throughout the year by not over-scheduling yourself, your family, or even your fun events. A birthday party after a morning of speech therapy and tutoring followed by raking the leaves and dinner out with friends can make for very cranky children and irritable adults.
<strong>Get prepared early</strong> – While you may get some really good deals on gifts with last minute shopping, it is bound to raise your blood pressure and make the holidays more stressful than necessary. Our family’s least stressful holiday season ever was when I was 100% done with my Christmas gifts by December 1<sup>st</sup>. If that doesn’t work for you, choose what you are giving to each recipient by December 1<sup>st</sup>. Come up with two substitute gifts in case the one you want isn’t available. I use this advance preparation technique for other gift giving situations too. Whenever there is a toy sale, I stock up on a bunch of birthday gifts for parties for the next couple months. My “birthday gift stash” eliminates the running around an hour before the birthday party begins and greatly reduces stress levels.
Another area to focus on early preparation is your child. Realize that holidays are a major disruption in their routine and come up with a game plan to prepare your child. “<a href="http://www.thegraycenter.org/social-stories">Social Stories</a> are an excellent way to enable your special needs child to anticipate what will be happening over the holiday season” stated Patti, a speech therapist who works with a variety of children with disabilities. You and your child can practice this technique by using Social Stories to prepare for birthday parties and other social events throughout the year.
<strong>Let go of that vision of a “perfect” holiday (whatever that means anyway)</strong> -- Many of these celebrations can be very over-stimulating for your special needs child. Music, bright, twinkling lights, lots of loud (hopefully happy) voices, uncomfortable clothes, different foods paired with an expectation to behave can be tough for a kid who has social difficulties and sensory issues. Perhaps some accommodations can be made to make your child more at ease in that situation: if your child eats only tuna fish sandwiches, let him eat that in lieu of a more formal meal; let your child wear comfortable clothing versus more dressed up attire. I wouldn’t change everything however. Family traditions are important and should be respected. Choose your battles and look back at your priorities for guidance. I’d just like to remind you that by expecting your child to “go with the flow” (at least a bit) you are making your child a member of your family vs the focus of your family.
Some extended families and friends are not willing to make any accommodations to include your special needs child (or any children for that matter!). Remember, you do not have to attend all family and friends functions. If it is still in your list of priorities to attend that function, then do it. Just control how much time you spend there and try to ensure you leave while it still on a good note. “We do not stay at my mother’s home for dinner during our extended family celebration of Hanukkah,” a mom in Westport, CT sighs. “She just doesn’t get why her four year old grandson with Downs Syndrome cannot sit still at the dinner table with the other ten grandchildren at 8 PM. We are the first to arrive and the first to leave before dinner is even served. I’d like to stay and have dinner with my siblings, but I’d rather leave when everyone is happy.”
You can practice this technique by always leaving on a happy note when at a party or another important celebration -- even if that means you leave very early. Try to make some accommodations for your child to make them more at ease. Think about what traditions are important to you and how you could make your child a part of those traditions.
“Take the time to enjoy your family,” Patti wisely said, “it may not be the holiday that you had pictured or planned, but find the joy in your children and being together.” That is what the holidays, and life, are really about anyway.
Image via my collection of Anne Taintor cocktail napkins.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578980339441526563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977752662757222089.post-40285042313872312742012-11-12T08:28:00.000-08:002013-01-03T08:54:55.178-08:00I Hate the Christmas Elf on a Shelf<a href="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/elf-on-the-shelf-mischievous-ideas.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2766" src="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/elf-on-the-shelf-mischievous-ideas-231x300.jpg" alt="" width="231" height="300" /></a>
Bah Humbug! There I’ve said it. It isn’t as though I don’t love Christmas and the whole holiday season, because I do. It is a time where we head back to Chicago to visit our extended families and it is a fun time with the kids. It just seems that the world is conspiring to make this season more complicated and stressful than it needs to be. Well maybe not the world, but definitely my mother.
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I remember Christmas as a magical time when I was a child, for the most part. I recall my Mom chain smoking in the car on the way to Grandma’s threatening us to behave. Ah memories. This makes me consider if my Mom felt that the holidays were too complicated as well. Then I remember she gave the kids the damn <a href="http://www.elf-magic.com/" target="_blank">Elf Magic Dolls</a> (similar to <a href="http://www.elfontheshelf.com/" target="_blank">Elf on a Shelf</a>), I could care less if she thought Christmas was complicated back then.
I believe in the magic of Christmas. What I don’t believe is that you need to go absolutely “elfing” crazy for a full month before in order to experience said magic. That is what the Elfs do. They make me crazy. The reason is simple: there is no way I can live up to the crazy moms out there who spend hours a day dreaming up antics for their kids elves.
<a href="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/elfmarshmellow1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-2769" src="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/elfmarshmellow1-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>
These antics are called Elfcapades. There are many blogs dedicated to documenting the activities of these elves. Sledding down stairs on a new book. Drinking Aunt Jemima Pancake Syrup with a straw. Hiding themselves along with more gifts. Ziplining from chandeliers and Christmas trees. These elves do something different every day until Christmas comes. In other words, each day I have to dream up something new and magical (along with a treat or small gift) until the elves are magically whisked away on Christmas Eve by Santa. I've bitterly done this for six years, going on seven.
<a href="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/snow-angel-elf.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-2770" src="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/snow-angel-elf-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>
Not that the elves didn’t have a brief bit of value to me. When the kids were younger I was able to use them to ensure good behavior prior to Christmas. The elves, named Maureen, Larry and Curly, were a direct conduit to Santa and the naughty or nice list. The behavior blackmail worked for only two short years. The other speck of joy I received from the elves is when the kids finally figured out that Mo was a nickname for Maureen. There was a moment of pride and happiness when they realized that their elves were actually Mo, Larry and Curly. That was four years ago. Since then, the elves have been nothing but another chore for me during the holiday season.
While there are a <a href="http://blossombunkhouse.com/2011/11/08/101-elf-on-the-shelf-ideas-2/" target="_blank">ton of blogs</a> for <a href="http://elfontheshelfideas.com/" target="_blank">elfcapades</a> out there including this <a href="http://pinterest.com/amberalyse/elf-on-the-shelf-stuff-yeah-he-needs-his-own-categ/" target="_blank">pinterest board</a>, I am happy to report that I am not alone in my distaste for these creatures. The blog <a href="http://www.peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.com" target="_blank">People I want to Punch in the Throat</a> did a lovely job last year with the post O<a href="//www.peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.com/2011/12/over-achieving-elf-on-shelf-mommies.html" target="_blank">ver Achieving Elf on the Shelf Mommies</a>. My Mom was not a fan of that article when I sent it to her yesterday. Said the writer was a bitter complainer.
However, the absolute winner in my books goes to the folks at <a href="http://www.babyrabies.com/" target="_blank">Baby Rabies</a>. Why, you ask? They are the clear winner because they are sponsoring their <a href="http://www.babyrabies.com/2012/11/inappropriate-elf-contest-2012/" target="_blank">2<sup>nd</sup> Annual Inappropriate Elf Contest</a>. I may not be thrilled to dream up magical elfcapades for the 7<sup>th</sup> year in a row for the kids; but sadly, I think I could spend some time thinking about elves doing naughty things. This was one of last year’s top picks and my personal favorite, from <a href="http://adventuremamablog.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Adventure Mama</a>. Kelsey, I tip my hat to you!
<a href="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/elf-on-the-shelf-mischievous-ideas.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2766" src="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/elf-on-the-shelf-mischievous-ideas-231x300.jpg" alt="" width="231" height="300" /></a>
Bah Humbug! There I’ve said it. It isn’t as though I don’t love Christmas and the whole holiday season, because I do. It is a time where we head back to Chicago to visit our extended families and it is a fun time with the kids. It just seems that the world is conspiring to make this season more complicated and stressful than it needs to be. Well maybe not the world, but definitely my mother.
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I remember Christmas as a magical time when I was a child, for the most part. I recall my Mom chain smoking in the car on the way to Grandma’s threatening us to behave. Ah memories. This makes me consider if my Mom felt that the holidays were too complicated as well. Then I remember she gave the kids the damn <a href="http://www.elf-magic.com/" target="_blank">Elf Magic Dolls</a> (similar to <a href="http://www.elfontheshelf.com/" target="_blank">Elf on a Shelf</a>), I could care less if she thought Christmas was complicated back then.
I believe in the magic of Christmas. What I don’t believe is that you need to go absolutely “elfing” crazy for a full month before in order to experience said magic. That is what the Elfs do. They make me crazy. The reason is simple: there is no way I can live up to the crazy moms out there who spend hours a day dreaming up antics for their kids elves.
<a href="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/elfmarshmellow1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-2769" src="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/elfmarshmellow1-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>
These antics are called Elfcapades. There are many blogs dedicated to documenting the activities of these elves. Sledding down stairs on a new book. Drinking Aunt Jemima Pancake Syrup with a straw. Hiding themselves along with more gifts. Ziplining from chandeliers and Christmas trees. These elves do something different every day until Christmas comes. In other words, each day I have to dream up something new and magical (along with a treat or small gift) until the elves are magically whisked away on Christmas Eve by Santa. I've bitterly done this for six years, going on seven.
<a href="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/snow-angel-elf.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-2770" src="http://crassparenting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/snow-angel-elf-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>
Not that the elves didn’t have a brief bit of value to me. When the kids were younger I was able to use them to ensure good behavior prior to Christmas. The elves, named Maureen, Larry and Curly, were a direct conduit to Santa and the naughty or nice list. The behavior blackmail worked for only two short years. The other speck of joy I received from the elves is when the kids finally figured out that Mo was a nickname for Maureen. There was a moment of pride and happiness when they realized that their elves were actually Mo, Larry and Curly. That was four years ago. Since then, the elves have been nothing but another chore for me during the holiday season.
While there are a <a href="http://blossombunkhouse.com/2011/11/08/101-elf-on-the-shelf-ideas-2/" target="_blank">ton of blogs</a> for <a href="http://elfontheshelfideas.com/" target="_blank">elfcapades</a> out there including this <a href="http://pinterest.com/amberalyse/elf-on-the-shelf-stuff-yeah-he-needs-his-own-categ/" target="_blank">pinterest board</a>, I am happy to report that I am not alone in my distaste for these creatures. The blog <a href="http://www.peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.com" target="_blank">People I want to Punch in the Throat</a> did a lovely job last year with the post O<a href="//www.peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.com/2011/12/over-achieving-elf-on-shelf-mommies.html" target="_blank">ver Achieving Elf on the Shelf Mommies</a>. My Mom was not a fan of that article when I sent it to her yesterday. Said the writer was a bitter complainer.
However, the absolute winner in my books goes to the folks at <a href="http://www.babyrabies.com/" target="_blank">Baby Rabies</a>. Why, you ask? They are the clear winner because they are sponsoring their <a href="http://www.babyrabies.com/2012/11/inappropriate-elf-contest-2012/" target="_blank">2<sup>nd</sup> Annual Inappropriate Elf Contest</a>. I may not be thrilled to dream up magical elfcapades for the 7<sup>th</sup> year in a row for the kids; but sadly, I think I could spend some time thinking about elves doing naughty things. This was one of last year’s top picks and my personal favorite, from <a href="http://adventuremamablog.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Adventure Mama</a>. Kelsey, I tip my hat to you!
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