Okay, I am thinking about doing something different with this blog.
Instead of responding to articles or posts I read online, I am going to set this up as sort of a diary. You will all still hear about those things I read online, but I'm going to have daily goals for different things. You know how every year, people resolve to lose weight, have a cleaner house, live healthier, save more money, etc...
Well, I am going to do all that. I plan on using this blog to help me and others who want similar goals. I will do the unthinkable and post my weight, post pictures about how messy my house is, AND all that jazz.
So, if you read this, start commenting. This way I stay motivated.
Still trying to figure out how I am going to set this up. If you have any resolutions you would like me to add to my list, just comment. I'm a big believer in starting small and working your way up. Well, I'm also a big believer in massive over takings, but you are lucky that I have a 3 month old who hates to be laying down and left alone for any length of time (makes it hard to pee), so none of that will be happening.
Look out for a new layout soon.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
Breastfeeding in Public Drama
Okay, so I have an opinion on everything. Well, just about everything, but my husband says that I really should just take out the "just about" part and leave it at everything. Back to the debate though...
Back story:
I was reading posts on Cafemom trying to pass the time as I was breastfeeding. I came across a post telling all the breastfeeding mommies about a nurse-in at Target in the near future. I replied saying I would show up if I remembered.
For those not in the know: a nurse-in is something moms do when a store, mall, gym, etc. tells a mother that she cannot breastfeed there or give her a hard time because she doesn't want to squeeze her several kids into a changing stall or bathroom to breastfeed her baby. I've never attended one and to be honest, I thought most of the time that going to one was going a little overboard.
So I did my research. I read several articles online and read many responses. I read over and over again about how mom's were harassed to varying degrees for breastfeeding. Some used covers while some did not. Some sat in the open while some did find secluded areas. Most of it seemed trivial. It really does seem trivial if you stand back far enough. But take a step back further...
Okay, some more back story. I thought about my own experiences. No one ever told me to find a private spot. Most people just avert their eyes even though I use a cover in public and whenever there are men who are not my husband in the room. I will admit, I even felt embarrassed when a waiter tried to hold a conversation with me while I was breastfeeding Keira recently even though I was using a cover. And I have a friend who shall not be named who has brought up a woman at our church (I haven't gone in a while so I haven't witnessed this). My friend (let's call her Spunky) was shocked that this woman didn't go to the nursery or use a cover. Spunky wasn't the only one who wasn't shocked. No one bothered the woman who was feeding her baby though. Then I thought about my husband, who is always quick to find me a blanket to cover up when I go to feed our baby girl and someone else is present.
So when he got home, I asked him about it. At first, he thought I had an agenda. Like I wanted to change his mind on something. Honestly, I just wanted his opinions and I really wanted to know his thought process. As it turns out, he's a lot like the "normal" Americans. The ones who shred magazines for posting a picture of a baby breastfeeding because it's showing a breast that is not being used to seduce men. Okay, that's the Cafemom talk coming out of me. Though quite a few people wrote in about this picture saying it was indecent even though it was a baby magazine and the magazine was promoting breastfeeding much like the government is now.
Let's be honest people, even though more and more people are breastfeeding now, there are still several people out there who are against it saying it's "gross." There are quite a few moms who don't have the support and give up because of that (though admittedly many moms stop for other reasons). We live in a society where children who were breastfed have parents who don't want their children to see it happen with other children.
One of my foster parents was raised in Korea where it was so normal that most new moms didn't wear stuff to cover their boobs in public and no one thought anything of it. It wasn't considered sexual or anything. The moms would just plop down anywhere and everywhere and take care of their baby's needs.
So here's my thoughts. Is there a problem with a mom covering up? No. Is there a problem with wishing a mom would cover up? No. Is there a problem with asking her? YES! There are too many other problems that come along with breastfeeding naturally from trying to teach a child to latch to worrying about producing enough milk to trying to figure out if you have a clogged duct and what to do if you have one. Don't EVER add to a mother's stress.
Also, the whole "There are kids here" excuse is just plain stupid. It's NOT sex. Children learn by seeing. When you potty train a child, you often show them what to do with cartoons, books, and dolls or even by going in front of them. Kids play house as make-believe to learn how to be parents (well, they actually learn once they become parents, but it shows you what they think of your parenting to make you a better parent). They learn to speak by listening to you speak. They learn to write by copying your writing. They learn your attitudes and those are often slightly different but similar to your own. Do you really want your son or daughter to think that there is something "secret" or even "wrong" about something that is natural?
My son sees me breastfeed all the time. There's nothing secret about my boobs. I highly doubt there's a sexual thought in his brain about it. For all he knows, that's the only reason they are there. I think he's more confused as to why he and his dad have nipples since they can't use them for anything.
So my new thoughts on this debate are this: America needs to change it's views on breasts. Becoming a mother is hard enough whether it's your first or your fifth with how much a new baby demands. And let's be honest, a baby's needs are more important than any stranger. If you see a mother breastfeeding in public with or without a cover and it makes you uncomfortable, avert your eyes. She probably expects you to do that anyway. If your five year asks why she's doing that, just say she's feeding her baby (it's not rocket science). Don't say it's "gross" or that she should "cover up" (especially when most older baby's hate blankets since it makes them hot or whatever) or say she should take the extra time to pump when in all honesty she may have a baby like mine who is hungry ALL the time making it impossible to pump.
There, I got a new cause today. And you go to read about it. In case you were wondering, I will attend the Target nurse-in if I remember AND I will probably use a cover since I am shy and my baby doesn't care about it yet. However, I will never feel embarrassed when I see another mom breastfeeding without a cover and there are men there. Those men should know better anyway.
Do your research people. And help stick up for the rights of babies who deserve the best food and to be comfortable no matter where they are or who is around (using common sense of course: No breastfeeding while driving please).
Back story:
I was reading posts on Cafemom trying to pass the time as I was breastfeeding. I came across a post telling all the breastfeeding mommies about a nurse-in at Target in the near future. I replied saying I would show up if I remembered.
For those not in the know: a nurse-in is something moms do when a store, mall, gym, etc. tells a mother that she cannot breastfeed there or give her a hard time because she doesn't want to squeeze her several kids into a changing stall or bathroom to breastfeed her baby. I've never attended one and to be honest, I thought most of the time that going to one was going a little overboard.
So I did my research. I read several articles online and read many responses. I read over and over again about how mom's were harassed to varying degrees for breastfeeding. Some used covers while some did not. Some sat in the open while some did find secluded areas. Most of it seemed trivial. It really does seem trivial if you stand back far enough. But take a step back further...
Okay, some more back story. I thought about my own experiences. No one ever told me to find a private spot. Most people just avert their eyes even though I use a cover in public and whenever there are men who are not my husband in the room. I will admit, I even felt embarrassed when a waiter tried to hold a conversation with me while I was breastfeeding Keira recently even though I was using a cover. And I have a friend who shall not be named who has brought up a woman at our church (I haven't gone in a while so I haven't witnessed this). My friend (let's call her Spunky) was shocked that this woman didn't go to the nursery or use a cover. Spunky wasn't the only one who wasn't shocked. No one bothered the woman who was feeding her baby though. Then I thought about my husband, who is always quick to find me a blanket to cover up when I go to feed our baby girl and someone else is present.
So when he got home, I asked him about it. At first, he thought I had an agenda. Like I wanted to change his mind on something. Honestly, I just wanted his opinions and I really wanted to know his thought process. As it turns out, he's a lot like the "normal" Americans. The ones who shred magazines for posting a picture of a baby breastfeeding because it's showing a breast that is not being used to seduce men. Okay, that's the Cafemom talk coming out of me. Though quite a few people wrote in about this picture saying it was indecent even though it was a baby magazine and the magazine was promoting breastfeeding much like the government is now.
Let's be honest people, even though more and more people are breastfeeding now, there are still several people out there who are against it saying it's "gross." There are quite a few moms who don't have the support and give up because of that (though admittedly many moms stop for other reasons). We live in a society where children who were breastfed have parents who don't want their children to see it happen with other children.
One of my foster parents was raised in Korea where it was so normal that most new moms didn't wear stuff to cover their boobs in public and no one thought anything of it. It wasn't considered sexual or anything. The moms would just plop down anywhere and everywhere and take care of their baby's needs.
So here's my thoughts. Is there a problem with a mom covering up? No. Is there a problem with wishing a mom would cover up? No. Is there a problem with asking her? YES! There are too many other problems that come along with breastfeeding naturally from trying to teach a child to latch to worrying about producing enough milk to trying to figure out if you have a clogged duct and what to do if you have one. Don't EVER add to a mother's stress.
Also, the whole "There are kids here" excuse is just plain stupid. It's NOT sex. Children learn by seeing. When you potty train a child, you often show them what to do with cartoons, books, and dolls or even by going in front of them. Kids play house as make-believe to learn how to be parents (well, they actually learn once they become parents, but it shows you what they think of your parenting to make you a better parent). They learn to speak by listening to you speak. They learn to write by copying your writing. They learn your attitudes and those are often slightly different but similar to your own. Do you really want your son or daughter to think that there is something "secret" or even "wrong" about something that is natural?
My son sees me breastfeed all the time. There's nothing secret about my boobs. I highly doubt there's a sexual thought in his brain about it. For all he knows, that's the only reason they are there. I think he's more confused as to why he and his dad have nipples since they can't use them for anything.
So my new thoughts on this debate are this: America needs to change it's views on breasts. Becoming a mother is hard enough whether it's your first or your fifth with how much a new baby demands. And let's be honest, a baby's needs are more important than any stranger. If you see a mother breastfeeding in public with or without a cover and it makes you uncomfortable, avert your eyes. She probably expects you to do that anyway. If your five year asks why she's doing that, just say she's feeding her baby (it's not rocket science). Don't say it's "gross" or that she should "cover up" (especially when most older baby's hate blankets since it makes them hot or whatever) or say she should take the extra time to pump when in all honesty she may have a baby like mine who is hungry ALL the time making it impossible to pump.
There, I got a new cause today. And you go to read about it. In case you were wondering, I will attend the Target nurse-in if I remember AND I will probably use a cover since I am shy and my baby doesn't care about it yet. However, I will never feel embarrassed when I see another mom breastfeeding without a cover and there are men there. Those men should know better anyway.
Do your research people. And help stick up for the rights of babies who deserve the best food and to be comfortable no matter where they are or who is around (using common sense of course: No breastfeeding while driving please).
Monday, December 5, 2011
How I Coupon
Okay, I am still learning. I haven't been able to spend over $100 and only pay $10; but I honestly don't see that in my future. Well, unless Harris Teeter will finally add me to their thing-a-majig and start sending me those e-mails telling me about the special days.
Anywho... Here is what I do.
I get coupons from everywhere. I print them offline, I check every box we buy, and I buy the newspaper. For ones online, I get e-mails from coupons.com, I check out a few blogs including hip2save.com (she lives in my town), I check out stores websites (some will even let you send coupons straight to your card), and I recently started using savingstar.com (it sends coupons to your card that will not be taken off at check out but later sent to you through a few different online places such as paypal). I even sign up for e-mails from places because they will send out coupons on occasion in their e-mail.
I do NOT use all of the coupons I get. That's just insane. I use the ones that are a good deal or if I'm obviously buying it anyway. If I miss out on a deal, then I wait and see if another one comes along.
To stay organized, I downloaded an app on my iPad. They have all sorts of ones for smart phones as well. Some are free and some cost money. Some even let you scan it right up instead of typing it out. Mine lets me type it on my computer than it "shares" it with my iPad via e-mail. So I type it all up, send it in, and it's there. It tells me when some of my coupons have expired are or going to within a certain day limit. It also lets me search for a coupon if I think I have one.
My actual coupons I keep in a zipper binder with card holders. I've got several sections: one for frozen, refrigerated, baking, health, beauty, etc... This way it's easier to find when I go to look for it.
I ended up buying a second binder since so many people are giving away coupons right now to use for when I actually go to the store.
So, before I go to the store, I grab my binder and either a flyer or I pull up the weekly ad for the store and I go through it. I use my iPad to see if I have any of the items (especially buy one get one free sales) and I pull those coupons out. I mark it in my iPad. I write a list down and stick it in a page holder thing and put it in the new binder I got. This binder is not fancy or zippered or anything.
I still bring my iPad, the huge binder and everything with me. But only my iPad and the smaller binder go in the store.
Things you should know... Print out all the coupon rules for all the stores you shop at. You'll learn things you didn't know, such as many stores will let you combine store coupons and manufacture coupons. Just because you have a coupon does not mean you have to use it. You can even check to see if the store brand is still cheaper. You may spend more money at first "stocking up" supplies, but this means that you will save money later when normally you would need cereal and it's not on sale for less than a dollar (or something like that).
It takes time. Not everyone has to do it. It all depends on if you want your shopping to save money or if you want it to go quickly.
Oh, and those people on that show... It's not like that. They are special because the tv is there, so stores do special things for them.
Anywho... Here is what I do.
I get coupons from everywhere. I print them offline, I check every box we buy, and I buy the newspaper. For ones online, I get e-mails from coupons.com, I check out a few blogs including hip2save.com (she lives in my town), I check out stores websites (some will even let you send coupons straight to your card), and I recently started using savingstar.com (it sends coupons to your card that will not be taken off at check out but later sent to you through a few different online places such as paypal). I even sign up for e-mails from places because they will send out coupons on occasion in their e-mail.
I do NOT use all of the coupons I get. That's just insane. I use the ones that are a good deal or if I'm obviously buying it anyway. If I miss out on a deal, then I wait and see if another one comes along.
To stay organized, I downloaded an app on my iPad. They have all sorts of ones for smart phones as well. Some are free and some cost money. Some even let you scan it right up instead of typing it out. Mine lets me type it on my computer than it "shares" it with my iPad via e-mail. So I type it all up, send it in, and it's there. It tells me when some of my coupons have expired are or going to within a certain day limit. It also lets me search for a coupon if I think I have one.
My actual coupons I keep in a zipper binder with card holders. I've got several sections: one for frozen, refrigerated, baking, health, beauty, etc... This way it's easier to find when I go to look for it.
I ended up buying a second binder since so many people are giving away coupons right now to use for when I actually go to the store.
So, before I go to the store, I grab my binder and either a flyer or I pull up the weekly ad for the store and I go through it. I use my iPad to see if I have any of the items (especially buy one get one free sales) and I pull those coupons out. I mark it in my iPad. I write a list down and stick it in a page holder thing and put it in the new binder I got. This binder is not fancy or zippered or anything.
I still bring my iPad, the huge binder and everything with me. But only my iPad and the smaller binder go in the store.
Things you should know... Print out all the coupon rules for all the stores you shop at. You'll learn things you didn't know, such as many stores will let you combine store coupons and manufacture coupons. Just because you have a coupon does not mean you have to use it. You can even check to see if the store brand is still cheaper. You may spend more money at first "stocking up" supplies, but this means that you will save money later when normally you would need cereal and it's not on sale for less than a dollar (or something like that).
It takes time. Not everyone has to do it. It all depends on if you want your shopping to save money or if you want it to go quickly.
Oh, and those people on that show... It's not like that. They are special because the tv is there, so stores do special things for them.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Science?
Science is a state of knowing. Look it up. That's all it is. There are rules to science. In order for someone to really know how something works, it must be repeatable. This world coming into existence is not something we can recreate however, so everything you hear about how the world began is consider a theory.
Okay, I am all about everyone believing whatever they want to. Everyone has that right.
So, I was a little annoyed when on a hilarious show I watch called "Big Bang Theory" my favorite character said that evolution isn't a theory. It is. When you learn about it in school, it's called the "theory of evolution" because there's no way to prove it. You can't recreate it. No one who is living today can come out and say they saw the world come into being without being diagnosed and heavily medicated by some professionals.
I will admit, creation is a theory too. It totally is. If you believe in God, then honestly, you have to admit that He didn't come into your room last night and create a little world for you as proof. It's about trust.
Anyway...
Someone on Cafemom posted about how someone in the government wants them to teach all sides of how the world came into being and letting the kids pick on their own which makes the most sense to them. Makes sense to me. Obviously, doing this in Kindergarten is asking a little much. Most kids will go with what their parents believe. However, in high school, most kids already have their own opinion as to whether they believe in God, Buddha, or no one (or one of the million other choices out there).
I myself plan on teaching my children everything I know and letting them make up their own minds. My son is 5 now. Does he know the theory of evolution? Well, sorta from "Land Before Time" however I doubt that makes any sense to him at the moment since it didn't to me at his age and it was my favorite movie. Does he know what I believe? He knows that I believe that God created this world, however, he believes that aliens created the stars. There's really no reasoning with a 5 year old.
But in a few years when he starts to grasp history and that there was a time before a few weeks ago or even a year ago... I will tell him about the different theories. Heck, I'll even tell him what I know of different religions (based on facts not things I've heard) once he understands that different doesn't just mean boy and girl or tall and short or "yellow and Dad's yellow" as he calls our skin tones.
It's just like sex ed, dumb it down to their age. If they aren't ready, then don't talk to them about it, encourage their parents to do it unless it's obvious this is something they want you teaching their child.
Okay, and another thing. Separation of Church and State. That was meant to keep one from controlling another. Like back in the day when the Pope controlled countries by threatening Kings and Queens or visa versa. It's got nothing to do with science or what children should learn in the public school program.
Oh, and another thing. The only reason a lot of schools don't have different programs is because of money. Any school (including a public school) can decide what they want their preferences to be. However, the government decides which curriculums it will pay for and many schools don't want to pay for their own.
Do your research people. Honestly. And don't judge others for wanting everyone to get a better education. Just because someone learns about God at a young age does not mean they will believe in God the rest of their life and it's the same for the other situation. You as teachers are there to teach children everything that you know to the best of your abilities; and for sticky situations like this? Do what your boss tells you is your job obviously (don't go crazy and get yourself fired). You as parents are there to pick your own teachers or even become the teacher yourself.
There. I said it.
Okay, I am all about everyone believing whatever they want to. Everyone has that right.
So, I was a little annoyed when on a hilarious show I watch called "Big Bang Theory" my favorite character said that evolution isn't a theory. It is. When you learn about it in school, it's called the "theory of evolution" because there's no way to prove it. You can't recreate it. No one who is living today can come out and say they saw the world come into being without being diagnosed and heavily medicated by some professionals.
I will admit, creation is a theory too. It totally is. If you believe in God, then honestly, you have to admit that He didn't come into your room last night and create a little world for you as proof. It's about trust.
Anyway...
Someone on Cafemom posted about how someone in the government wants them to teach all sides of how the world came into being and letting the kids pick on their own which makes the most sense to them. Makes sense to me. Obviously, doing this in Kindergarten is asking a little much. Most kids will go with what their parents believe. However, in high school, most kids already have their own opinion as to whether they believe in God, Buddha, or no one (or one of the million other choices out there).
I myself plan on teaching my children everything I know and letting them make up their own minds. My son is 5 now. Does he know the theory of evolution? Well, sorta from "Land Before Time" however I doubt that makes any sense to him at the moment since it didn't to me at his age and it was my favorite movie. Does he know what I believe? He knows that I believe that God created this world, however, he believes that aliens created the stars. There's really no reasoning with a 5 year old.
But in a few years when he starts to grasp history and that there was a time before a few weeks ago or even a year ago... I will tell him about the different theories. Heck, I'll even tell him what I know of different religions (based on facts not things I've heard) once he understands that different doesn't just mean boy and girl or tall and short or "yellow and Dad's yellow" as he calls our skin tones.
It's just like sex ed, dumb it down to their age. If they aren't ready, then don't talk to them about it, encourage their parents to do it unless it's obvious this is something they want you teaching their child.
Okay, and another thing. Separation of Church and State. That was meant to keep one from controlling another. Like back in the day when the Pope controlled countries by threatening Kings and Queens or visa versa. It's got nothing to do with science or what children should learn in the public school program.
Oh, and another thing. The only reason a lot of schools don't have different programs is because of money. Any school (including a public school) can decide what they want their preferences to be. However, the government decides which curriculums it will pay for and many schools don't want to pay for their own.
Do your research people. Honestly. And don't judge others for wanting everyone to get a better education. Just because someone learns about God at a young age does not mean they will believe in God the rest of their life and it's the same for the other situation. You as teachers are there to teach children everything that you know to the best of your abilities; and for sticky situations like this? Do what your boss tells you is your job obviously (don't go crazy and get yourself fired). You as parents are there to pick your own teachers or even become the teacher yourself.
There. I said it.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Discipline Going Too Far
Okay, I'm not going to start telling people how they should discipline their kids. I'm not against spanking, time outs, or grounding. I think every family is different and every child is different. I do have advice based on books I've read and Nanny 911.
I just watched a video online from some news people on a family court judge who beat his daughter. His teenage disabled daughter nonetheless. She's an adult now and she released the video. I'm not sure why she did this. The judge apparently caught her stealing media online. He spanked her with a belt. Now, like I said, every family has different needs. However, watching the video, this father did go way too far.
It is NEVER okay to punish your children out of anger. Seriously.
Now, I know that I've done it. I've gotten fed up with my son and put him in time-out only to realize that I was out of line. It's tough being a parent. People in general get angry with each other, so it's understandable that even the most patient person has a line when it comes to children. However, the smartest thing to do is to tell your child, "We will deal with this." and go calm down.
Then, once you are calm and everything makes sense in your head, you can go back and use whatever punishment you think is necessary so long as you really are not abusing your child.
The reason this makes me so angry is that this person is supposed to help families come together, help protect children, and be an example. He's being an example alright... a very bad example.
Mind you, I don't know this person from Adam. I don't know if the child is very strong-willed like I was. However, if I ever caught my son stealing online (or doing something else against the rules of my household), then he will be grounded, he will have his license taken away, and he will lose all screen privileges. He would also get one of my famous "talking-to's" that he already avoids when he's about to get into trouble. Oh, and I would make him turn himself in. I'm sure a normal judge would be more than happy to make a teenager do lots of community service. Maybe an overnight in a jail cell would scare him as well. However, I would not do this out of anger. I would do this to show him that there are consequences and at 16, lots of those consequences won't be coming from me.
Of course, we'll have to see how things really are when my son is 16. However, I can promise that I will try my hardest not to let my emotions get involved.
I just watched a video online from some news people on a family court judge who beat his daughter. His teenage disabled daughter nonetheless. She's an adult now and she released the video. I'm not sure why she did this. The judge apparently caught her stealing media online. He spanked her with a belt. Now, like I said, every family has different needs. However, watching the video, this father did go way too far.
It is NEVER okay to punish your children out of anger. Seriously.
Now, I know that I've done it. I've gotten fed up with my son and put him in time-out only to realize that I was out of line. It's tough being a parent. People in general get angry with each other, so it's understandable that even the most patient person has a line when it comes to children. However, the smartest thing to do is to tell your child, "We will deal with this." and go calm down.
Then, once you are calm and everything makes sense in your head, you can go back and use whatever punishment you think is necessary so long as you really are not abusing your child.
The reason this makes me so angry is that this person is supposed to help families come together, help protect children, and be an example. He's being an example alright... a very bad example.
Mind you, I don't know this person from Adam. I don't know if the child is very strong-willed like I was. However, if I ever caught my son stealing online (or doing something else against the rules of my household), then he will be grounded, he will have his license taken away, and he will lose all screen privileges. He would also get one of my famous "talking-to's" that he already avoids when he's about to get into trouble. Oh, and I would make him turn himself in. I'm sure a normal judge would be more than happy to make a teenager do lots of community service. Maybe an overnight in a jail cell would scare him as well. However, I would not do this out of anger. I would do this to show him that there are consequences and at 16, lots of those consequences won't be coming from me.
Of course, we'll have to see how things really are when my son is 16. However, I can promise that I will try my hardest not to let my emotions get involved.
Just Because I Have To
Okay, I apologize in advance. This post is going to go all over the place. And yes, I know I am complaining.
All I want is some adult conversation and to not be needed for an hour. Longer would be nice, but an hour would be awesome in and of itself. I sit around my house all day taking care of two kids. I know, it sounds easy, right?
Well, I have a soon to be 5 year old who now sleeps and night and is up all day. And a daughter who seems to be going through a constant growth spurt who stays awake all night. I should also add here that she needs constant human contact, so I'm lucky if I get to eat my microwaved food while it's still hot. I've been living off of pretzels and cheez-its. I'm not joking. I also survive on soda since I really, really need the caffeine and we need to buy coffee filters. Oh, and even if we did buy them, I wouldn't want to drink it since it is hot and I am constantly holding my daughter and I'm afraid that I would spill since I do that a lot and she would get burned.
I will admit it. I am jealous of my husband. He gets to leave the house and talk to other adults. I know his life isn't all fun and games, but it's really hard to imagine that it's not when I am so tired. I know he works hard and he's trying really hard to keep up on all his school stuff.
My husband left me the car yesterday when he went to work, just in case I wanted to go somewhere. Sounds nice, right? I really could have left and seen people. Here's the problem: I'm deathly afraid of cars. I'm not kidding. I was in two accidents and for some reason, I freak out at the idea of getting in the car. If I'm driving, I have to force myself to remain calm. I only drive when the roads are empty. You'd think it would end there, right? No. It doesn't. I'm afraid to let other people drive me or even my kids. I'll admit that when my husband takes my son somewhere without me, I freak out. I sit in the house and try to take my mind off things. But if anyone knows how the female brain works, they know it's hard. I can't barely sit there calmly while my husband is driving me. He's the only one who can handle my "backseat driving." I'm constantly reminding him of stop signs and stuff. Don't get me started when someone else is driving. I bite my ton and pray the entire time.
Should I go see someone about that? Yes. I really should. However that requires time and money. We aren't exactly making what my husband made in the military. When he was in the military, I could have seen someone, but that means that my husband would have to ask for time off and it is pretty much impossible to tell them that something else out there is more important. Honestly, what's more important than the safety of our Marines? So I didn't go because again, I would have to find a sitter and drive my husband in to work (rush hour) and then drive myself in to appointments. No thank you.
Let's be honest. Most of the women around here suck. They really do. I think I met a few great ladies and I really hope so because I need friends. I need someone I can talk to. Someone who understands that it gets annoying to never be able to stop and just take a break.
So while I love my family and my life, I am tired. I am so tired of trying to stay awake since one kid or another is always awake. I'm tired of having to try to remember everything. I'm tired of having no one to talk to. I'm tired of my house being a disaster.
Yes, I am working on changing this. Thank you for letting me rant. I'm sorry if you actually read this all. I just really needed to get it all out of my system.
All I want is some adult conversation and to not be needed for an hour. Longer would be nice, but an hour would be awesome in and of itself. I sit around my house all day taking care of two kids. I know, it sounds easy, right?
Well, I have a soon to be 5 year old who now sleeps and night and is up all day. And a daughter who seems to be going through a constant growth spurt who stays awake all night. I should also add here that she needs constant human contact, so I'm lucky if I get to eat my microwaved food while it's still hot. I've been living off of pretzels and cheez-its. I'm not joking. I also survive on soda since I really, really need the caffeine and we need to buy coffee filters. Oh, and even if we did buy them, I wouldn't want to drink it since it is hot and I am constantly holding my daughter and I'm afraid that I would spill since I do that a lot and she would get burned.
I will admit it. I am jealous of my husband. He gets to leave the house and talk to other adults. I know his life isn't all fun and games, but it's really hard to imagine that it's not when I am so tired. I know he works hard and he's trying really hard to keep up on all his school stuff.
My husband left me the car yesterday when he went to work, just in case I wanted to go somewhere. Sounds nice, right? I really could have left and seen people. Here's the problem: I'm deathly afraid of cars. I'm not kidding. I was in two accidents and for some reason, I freak out at the idea of getting in the car. If I'm driving, I have to force myself to remain calm. I only drive when the roads are empty. You'd think it would end there, right? No. It doesn't. I'm afraid to let other people drive me or even my kids. I'll admit that when my husband takes my son somewhere without me, I freak out. I sit in the house and try to take my mind off things. But if anyone knows how the female brain works, they know it's hard. I can't barely sit there calmly while my husband is driving me. He's the only one who can handle my "backseat driving." I'm constantly reminding him of stop signs and stuff. Don't get me started when someone else is driving. I bite my ton and pray the entire time.
Should I go see someone about that? Yes. I really should. However that requires time and money. We aren't exactly making what my husband made in the military. When he was in the military, I could have seen someone, but that means that my husband would have to ask for time off and it is pretty much impossible to tell them that something else out there is more important. Honestly, what's more important than the safety of our Marines? So I didn't go because again, I would have to find a sitter and drive my husband in to work (rush hour) and then drive myself in to appointments. No thank you.
Let's be honest. Most of the women around here suck. They really do. I think I met a few great ladies and I really hope so because I need friends. I need someone I can talk to. Someone who understands that it gets annoying to never be able to stop and just take a break.
So while I love my family and my life, I am tired. I am so tired of trying to stay awake since one kid or another is always awake. I'm tired of having to try to remember everything. I'm tired of having no one to talk to. I'm tired of my house being a disaster.
Yes, I am working on changing this. Thank you for letting me rant. I'm sorry if you actually read this all. I just really needed to get it all out of my system.
Birthday Parties
Planning is something that I have turned into a hobby. I go into every detail of everything I can and I plan it all out. Now, I may not stick to the plan since I do kind of live in the moment; but I like having one there just in case.
Birthday parties are one of those things that I love planning and hate planning at the same time. I love researching ideas and coming up with something that is almost original (well, I do get my ideas online after all). I hate second guessing my decisions and trying to get my husband to give me an opinion on those details that he really doesn't care about since I just can't make up my mind.
This year, I have something considerably smaller planned for my son's fifth birthday. Last year, we went all out. He was into superheroes in a major way. We did a superhero training camp. We set up inside our house with "pow" and "kachow" type signs we made. We made each kid a cape (it was cheap and not pretty, but it worked). We made Gotham City in our backyard. I'm not kidding. I went around and got several boxes from Walmart and Sears and I painted them black with yellow windows and made a Gotham City sign. The kids had a blast running between them and knocking them down. I even made my husband dress up as Batman and do photos with the kids. He had fun though.
This year, we are doing Phineas and Ferb. My son still loves superheros, and pirates, and Toy Story (previous themes), but I want to do something different each year. This year, we're letting the kids do a craft; we're giving them funky colored fedora hats like Agent P, and we are going to do air guitar with the songs from the cartoon with plastic balloon type guitars. There are a few other ideas, but I'm trying to keep it so kids from all different age ranges can participate. Now, I'm just trying to come up with food, cake, and whether or not we will do a pinata.
Birthday parties are one of those things that I love planning and hate planning at the same time. I love researching ideas and coming up with something that is almost original (well, I do get my ideas online after all). I hate second guessing my decisions and trying to get my husband to give me an opinion on those details that he really doesn't care about since I just can't make up my mind.
This year, I have something considerably smaller planned for my son's fifth birthday. Last year, we went all out. He was into superheroes in a major way. We did a superhero training camp. We set up inside our house with "pow" and "kachow" type signs we made. We made each kid a cape (it was cheap and not pretty, but it worked). We made Gotham City in our backyard. I'm not kidding. I went around and got several boxes from Walmart and Sears and I painted them black with yellow windows and made a Gotham City sign. The kids had a blast running between them and knocking them down. I even made my husband dress up as Batman and do photos with the kids. He had fun though.
This year, we are doing Phineas and Ferb. My son still loves superheros, and pirates, and Toy Story (previous themes), but I want to do something different each year. This year, we're letting the kids do a craft; we're giving them funky colored fedora hats like Agent P, and we are going to do air guitar with the songs from the cartoon with plastic balloon type guitars. There are a few other ideas, but I'm trying to keep it so kids from all different age ranges can participate. Now, I'm just trying to come up with food, cake, and whether or not we will do a pinata.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
FuzziBunz One Size Review
It's about high time that I wrote some reviews on cloth diapers. I figured that I would start with the ones I use most often. I use them the most because I have more Fuzzibunz than anything else. I bought them on sale where you buy six and you get two for free. They are all one size. Six of them we bought with the hemp inserts and two came with the usual microfiber.
These are pretty good diapers. The instructions are a little confusing to people like me who have never seen them let alone any other cloth diaper before. For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, they have elastic around the legs and the back like the kids pants that you can resize the waist on. This way, it doesn't have those snaps on the front that can look a little ugly or can come unsnapped when you try to stuff them.
My daughter isn't exactly a heavy wetter, so those hemp inserts aren't exactly needed. Who knows though, they may come in handy later. On the smaller settings, which we are using right now, they seem to be harder to stuff than the microfiber inserts. So if you are strapped for money, get the microfiber which is cheaper anyway. Unless you have a heavy wetter. I'm told that hemp is awesome for heavy wetters.
The diaper comes with the insert (whichever one you choose) and an extra set of elastic things. I haven't had to use those yet. My daughter is only 8 weeks old after all. We haven't had to change the settings yet since we got them and I was trying to figure them out. We'll see how they hold out in the long run.
Also, the inside of the diaper is sticky. Kind of annoying at first when you are trying to rush through everything because you have a newborn who doesn't exactly understand "hold on a second," but it's pretty handy when you do pre-stuff your pockets since it doesn't let the inserts slide around.
If you like pockets, then go ahead and give these a try. They even have new ones with little sayings on the back. My daughter has one that makes her little butt say "Does this make my butt look big?" Very cute.
These are pretty good diapers. The instructions are a little confusing to people like me who have never seen them let alone any other cloth diaper before. For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, they have elastic around the legs and the back like the kids pants that you can resize the waist on. This way, it doesn't have those snaps on the front that can look a little ugly or can come unsnapped when you try to stuff them.
My daughter isn't exactly a heavy wetter, so those hemp inserts aren't exactly needed. Who knows though, they may come in handy later. On the smaller settings, which we are using right now, they seem to be harder to stuff than the microfiber inserts. So if you are strapped for money, get the microfiber which is cheaper anyway. Unless you have a heavy wetter. I'm told that hemp is awesome for heavy wetters.
The diaper comes with the insert (whichever one you choose) and an extra set of elastic things. I haven't had to use those yet. My daughter is only 8 weeks old after all. We haven't had to change the settings yet since we got them and I was trying to figure them out. We'll see how they hold out in the long run.
Also, the inside of the diaper is sticky. Kind of annoying at first when you are trying to rush through everything because you have a newborn who doesn't exactly understand "hold on a second," but it's pretty handy when you do pre-stuff your pockets since it doesn't let the inserts slide around.
If you like pockets, then go ahead and give these a try. They even have new ones with little sayings on the back. My daughter has one that makes her little butt say "Does this make my butt look big?" Very cute.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Change Number 1
"Why don't you change it?"
A quote I heard recently in reference to someone who doesn't like her life. Okay, it's from Grey's Anatomy, but it's still an awesome quote. And it's true too.
Okay, so I love some major parts of my life, but there are some parts that I could do without or even with a change. And I am going to change it.
Change number one: Get a Cleaner House
Okay, I have been working on this one for quite some time. But it's still something that drives me bonkers. I started with doing some organizing and actually trying to get the house cleaner before I get to bed. It's still a disaster, but it's getting somewhere. I'm building up my ability to work very quickly while the baby "naps."
Those of you who have had a needy baby understand this. Those of you who haven't had one yet... It's hard. My husband who is the first to complain when the house isn't very clean (okay, he is understanding to a point) has even been letting the house slide along with me. He watches as I try to get one sink full of dishes done while the baby cries. He even tries holding her which only works half the time. We've tried the baby wearing. It only works when my husband is wearing her. There are even times we can't stand in one spot or she'll cry bloody murder.
So, where are these wonder robots to help us clean that we were promised by the Jettsons?
A quote I heard recently in reference to someone who doesn't like her life. Okay, it's from Grey's Anatomy, but it's still an awesome quote. And it's true too.
Okay, so I love some major parts of my life, but there are some parts that I could do without or even with a change. And I am going to change it.
Change number one: Get a Cleaner House
Okay, I have been working on this one for quite some time. But it's still something that drives me bonkers. I started with doing some organizing and actually trying to get the house cleaner before I get to bed. It's still a disaster, but it's getting somewhere. I'm building up my ability to work very quickly while the baby "naps."
Those of you who have had a needy baby understand this. Those of you who haven't had one yet... It's hard. My husband who is the first to complain when the house isn't very clean (okay, he is understanding to a point) has even been letting the house slide along with me. He watches as I try to get one sink full of dishes done while the baby cries. He even tries holding her which only works half the time. We've tried the baby wearing. It only works when my husband is wearing her. There are even times we can't stand in one spot or she'll cry bloody murder.
So, where are these wonder robots to help us clean that we were promised by the Jettsons?
Friday, October 28, 2011
How to Have a Smart Child
I recently read an article about different things that factor into your child's IQ. Everyone wants to believe their child is a genius.
My husband will tell you that I totally buy into all the things that can make my child (well, now children) smart. I bought the dvd's that can teach my baby to read. I have several different puzzles, books, flash cards, and school style books to teach my son the alphabet and numbers. I buy games to try to re-enforce learning. My favorite channels to turn to for cartoons are the ones that teach him things.
Honestly, there's only one thing we as parents can do to ensure our children are smart. We can teach them the love of learning. It's not hard. Encourage questions (as annoying as it can sometimes be). Spend time with your child learning something new by doing things like looking up a question on the internet or reading a book.
What age is the best time to do this? Well, now. Okay, it's hard to do this with a 7 week old who doesn't really have questions. But with a 5 year old, it's easy. The earlier you start, the easier it will be.
Okay. Maybe my advise isn't the greatest. My child isn't a genius. I haven't tested his IQ level so he really might be. But I do have a child who comes up with some fairly decent questions, who loves to read, who wants to cook, and who asks to do more school work. Albeit, his "school work" is easy since it's basically like coloring, but it's how preschoolers to do work.
My husband will tell you that I totally buy into all the things that can make my child (well, now children) smart. I bought the dvd's that can teach my baby to read. I have several different puzzles, books, flash cards, and school style books to teach my son the alphabet and numbers. I buy games to try to re-enforce learning. My favorite channels to turn to for cartoons are the ones that teach him things.
Honestly, there's only one thing we as parents can do to ensure our children are smart. We can teach them the love of learning. It's not hard. Encourage questions (as annoying as it can sometimes be). Spend time with your child learning something new by doing things like looking up a question on the internet or reading a book.
What age is the best time to do this? Well, now. Okay, it's hard to do this with a 7 week old who doesn't really have questions. But with a 5 year old, it's easy. The earlier you start, the easier it will be.
Okay. Maybe my advise isn't the greatest. My child isn't a genius. I haven't tested his IQ level so he really might be. But I do have a child who comes up with some fairly decent questions, who loves to read, who wants to cook, and who asks to do more school work. Albeit, his "school work" is easy since it's basically like coloring, but it's how preschoolers to do work.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Basic History Lesson: Halloween
Okay, I know I'm going to see many things posted on Facebook about this holiday. I understand that everyone has a right to their opinions and I respect that.
Here is how I see it:
Halloween started out as a holiday for pagans. Yes. Back in the day, the pagans we speak of used to celebrate the end of harvest and the beginning of well death. They thought that the world was going to be dead. They weren't that smart. We already knew that seeing as how they would test to see if someone was a witch by holding them under water for several minutes. If they drowned, they weren't a witch. If they didn't drown, they were. Brilliant, right?
Back to the history lesson- On this day, because the world they saw (all the plants and stuff) died, they would try to appease their gods by doing sacrifices and stuff. When you get a group of people together for any occasion, it turns into a party. We even eat at funerals and sit around and talk. That's not the best type of party, but this wasn't that type of funeral. They ate food, sat around fires, and told stories. Part of this story telling was wearing masks.
Later, when people lived in cities, not villages; the tradition started with the poor begging for food on this holiday. They went around house to house to beg for food. During this time, people were even more superstitious. People actually thought there were vampires and werewolves. To ward off the demons, they put out gourds with candles in them so it wasn't dark outside their doors.
In the US, it eventually became an actual celebration. People were now smart enough to know that winter was only a season and that spring would come. There was no need to sacrifice an animal. But we as people love to celebrate. So instead of sending out the poor to beg for food, we sent out kids to beg for candy. Instead of wearing masks to tell stories, we wore masks for fun.
And the term "trick or treat" was actually started in Canada in the 1800's some time.
For those of you who will still declare that it is a holiday about Satan. Please stop and realize that Christmas was the same holiday, but for a different group of people. These people were just further south where winter started in December instead of October. The reason we bring Christmas trees into our houses is because they thought they were protecting life by bringing it in the house and keeping it alive all winter. The reason that it's celebrated as a Christian holiday now is because Rome knew that they couldn't change everything about a new culture they took over, so the religious people would turn as much of it as they could into something religious if they couldn't outlaw it altogether.
I will once again dress my son up and this year my daughter. We will go trick or treating and get tons of candy. I will take pictures. We already got pumpkins and put candles in them. We will watch scary movies that I know my son can handle (they are his favorite scary ones already). I think it's important to show my son how to handle fear. Fear is natural and does NOT come from the devil. Even Jesus was afraid when he knew death was near, or at least it was preached by several pastors during Easter about the passage where Jesus begs His Father to not make Him drink from the cup. And even more important. It's fun. There's so much going on now in the world let alone just the life in my household that I think it's important set aside times to do things as a family and just have fun.
Now, you can disagree with me all you want to. I will not reply to people's posts or articles. This is just to show you that I have done research. I've dumbed it down the way I always do (it annoys my husband sometimes) since I really don't care for actual dates or names or places.
Here is how I see it:
Halloween started out as a holiday for pagans. Yes. Back in the day, the pagans we speak of used to celebrate the end of harvest and the beginning of well death. They thought that the world was going to be dead. They weren't that smart. We already knew that seeing as how they would test to see if someone was a witch by holding them under water for several minutes. If they drowned, they weren't a witch. If they didn't drown, they were. Brilliant, right?
Back to the history lesson- On this day, because the world they saw (all the plants and stuff) died, they would try to appease their gods by doing sacrifices and stuff. When you get a group of people together for any occasion, it turns into a party. We even eat at funerals and sit around and talk. That's not the best type of party, but this wasn't that type of funeral. They ate food, sat around fires, and told stories. Part of this story telling was wearing masks.
Later, when people lived in cities, not villages; the tradition started with the poor begging for food on this holiday. They went around house to house to beg for food. During this time, people were even more superstitious. People actually thought there were vampires and werewolves. To ward off the demons, they put out gourds with candles in them so it wasn't dark outside their doors.
In the US, it eventually became an actual celebration. People were now smart enough to know that winter was only a season and that spring would come. There was no need to sacrifice an animal. But we as people love to celebrate. So instead of sending out the poor to beg for food, we sent out kids to beg for candy. Instead of wearing masks to tell stories, we wore masks for fun.
And the term "trick or treat" was actually started in Canada in the 1800's some time.
For those of you who will still declare that it is a holiday about Satan. Please stop and realize that Christmas was the same holiday, but for a different group of people. These people were just further south where winter started in December instead of October. The reason we bring Christmas trees into our houses is because they thought they were protecting life by bringing it in the house and keeping it alive all winter. The reason that it's celebrated as a Christian holiday now is because Rome knew that they couldn't change everything about a new culture they took over, so the religious people would turn as much of it as they could into something religious if they couldn't outlaw it altogether.
I will once again dress my son up and this year my daughter. We will go trick or treating and get tons of candy. I will take pictures. We already got pumpkins and put candles in them. We will watch scary movies that I know my son can handle (they are his favorite scary ones already). I think it's important to show my son how to handle fear. Fear is natural and does NOT come from the devil. Even Jesus was afraid when he knew death was near, or at least it was preached by several pastors during Easter about the passage where Jesus begs His Father to not make Him drink from the cup. And even more important. It's fun. There's so much going on now in the world let alone just the life in my household that I think it's important set aside times to do things as a family and just have fun.
Now, you can disagree with me all you want to. I will not reply to people's posts or articles. This is just to show you that I have done research. I've dumbed it down the way I always do (it annoys my husband sometimes) since I really don't care for actual dates or names or places.
Friday, August 5, 2011
My Cloth Diaper Facts
Okay, a long time ago (well, I guess not really that long ago), my son turned 18 months old. From watching other moms in my hometown, I knew this was a good age to start potty training. I bought the pull-ups, several books for my son and myself, the potty chair that sang different songs, the whole-shebang. I had used disposable diapers with my son and I preferred Huggies since they fit him better and had fewer rashes than Pampers did (everyone has a different favorite).
If you had asked me about cloth diapers the first time I was pregnant, I would have thought you were nuts since I'd never even heard of them. If you had asked me by the time my son was 18 months old, I would have been able to tell you that I saw advertisements for cute looking ones in Europe. By the time I was done reading the potty training books for adults, it was clear to me that a lot of people seem to be confused when it comes the whole potty area of children.
One book talked about how you can start "potty learning" or "early communication" at 4 months old. It's a different style than the potty training that most of us are used to, but very similar to watching for signs of a baby being hungry before they start crying. Doesn't seem that hard, but it doesn't sound like something for me.
What is confusing is the whole "wait to start potty training until your child can remove his/her pants by themselves." My son will be 5 in about 3 months and he still can't unbutton or button any of his jeans. Albeit, he can slide out of most of them in a hurry, but he'll still come out of the bathroom stall in public places holding his pants with one hand and asking for your help no matter how many strangers are there.
Then there's the whole issue about how back in the day, if your child had a diaper rash, you were called unfit and your child was taken away. I'm not entirely sure how true this statement was or if it was a state by state thing... I had read it in one of my books. My son had diaper rashes. Not all the time, but once he started to get one, it would get ugly quick and turn into a yeast infection and he spent the next 24 hours bare bottomed with anti-fungal stuff on his butt to get rid of it. While a diaper rash happens any time a wet diaper is left on a baby for too long, it's become too common meaning that parents don't know that the diaper is wet and are leaving those wet chemicals on their babies butts and helping diaper rashes turn into worse problems like chemical burns. Do cloth diapered babies get rashes? Yes, but it's supposed to be less common. In fact, if you have tons of issues with rashes, doctors will often recommend cloth diapering.
Okay, here's the reason that hubby and I decided to cloth diaper. Money. We aren't rich and we are learning to cut corners in certain areas. I have heard tons of people claim how much diapers can save you. I have heard just as many people tell me that it really won't save me money. Here's the fact FOR ME. You'll have to do research in your own area to find out if that's right for you.
I bought so far for a newborn (7-12 pounds) 24 prefolds at $1.50 a piece, 1 used diaper and 4 used covers for $28, and 1 new cover for $13, and two snappies at $3.95 a piece. That brings my total to $84.90 for the bare minimum that we could need for up to 12 pounds. Factor in the two dollars I spent on wash clothes to use as wipes and that's $86.90. After that, we can use One-Size (I already bought a few of those, but that's a whole nother math) and those will last us until we potty train.
A box of 192 Huggies diapers will cost $32.80 (including tax) from Walmart (the cheapest place to buy diapers in my town). Huggies wipes will cost $13.34 for one of those big boxes that last us about a month. Let's say I use 12 diapers a day... For 3 months (about the time an average baby weighs 12 pounds), Huggies will cost roughly $196.80 though there will be a few leftover (you can't buy half a box of diapers). The total cost will be $236.82 for disposables.
The total cost for cloth? If you want to factor in water (our bill is about $90 a month for water, waste, and drainage) you can. I won't seeing as how I can toss the dirty diapers in with our normal wash which I do two out of three days a week anyway. I will factor in soap since I'll have to buy a special kind... All free and clear costs about $11.74 with taxes. That's for 96 loads of normal laundry. For cloth you only use 1/4-1/2 so say I went overboard, that's 192 cloth diaper loads which is more than I need for 3 months of just cloth. That brings my total to $98.64.
That's a difference of $138.18. I can pay two water bills with that and still have change. I can go grocery shopping for a week and buy fresh fruits and veggies with that. I can get my son all the pants he'll need this winter. The list goes on with what I can do with that money. More than likely, it'll be used to fill up my husband's car as he goes back and forth to work or it'll be used at a drive-thru on one of the days we shop each month.
If you had asked me about cloth diapers the first time I was pregnant, I would have thought you were nuts since I'd never even heard of them. If you had asked me by the time my son was 18 months old, I would have been able to tell you that I saw advertisements for cute looking ones in Europe. By the time I was done reading the potty training books for adults, it was clear to me that a lot of people seem to be confused when it comes the whole potty area of children.
One book talked about how you can start "potty learning" or "early communication" at 4 months old. It's a different style than the potty training that most of us are used to, but very similar to watching for signs of a baby being hungry before they start crying. Doesn't seem that hard, but it doesn't sound like something for me.
What is confusing is the whole "wait to start potty training until your child can remove his/her pants by themselves." My son will be 5 in about 3 months and he still can't unbutton or button any of his jeans. Albeit, he can slide out of most of them in a hurry, but he'll still come out of the bathroom stall in public places holding his pants with one hand and asking for your help no matter how many strangers are there.
Then there's the whole issue about how back in the day, if your child had a diaper rash, you were called unfit and your child was taken away. I'm not entirely sure how true this statement was or if it was a state by state thing... I had read it in one of my books. My son had diaper rashes. Not all the time, but once he started to get one, it would get ugly quick and turn into a yeast infection and he spent the next 24 hours bare bottomed with anti-fungal stuff on his butt to get rid of it. While a diaper rash happens any time a wet diaper is left on a baby for too long, it's become too common meaning that parents don't know that the diaper is wet and are leaving those wet chemicals on their babies butts and helping diaper rashes turn into worse problems like chemical burns. Do cloth diapered babies get rashes? Yes, but it's supposed to be less common. In fact, if you have tons of issues with rashes, doctors will often recommend cloth diapering.
Okay, here's the reason that hubby and I decided to cloth diaper. Money. We aren't rich and we are learning to cut corners in certain areas. I have heard tons of people claim how much diapers can save you. I have heard just as many people tell me that it really won't save me money. Here's the fact FOR ME. You'll have to do research in your own area to find out if that's right for you.
I bought so far for a newborn (7-12 pounds) 24 prefolds at $1.50 a piece, 1 used diaper and 4 used covers for $28, and 1 new cover for $13, and two snappies at $3.95 a piece. That brings my total to $84.90 for the bare minimum that we could need for up to 12 pounds. Factor in the two dollars I spent on wash clothes to use as wipes and that's $86.90. After that, we can use One-Size (I already bought a few of those, but that's a whole nother math) and those will last us until we potty train.
A box of 192 Huggies diapers will cost $32.80 (including tax) from Walmart (the cheapest place to buy diapers in my town). Huggies wipes will cost $13.34 for one of those big boxes that last us about a month. Let's say I use 12 diapers a day... For 3 months (about the time an average baby weighs 12 pounds), Huggies will cost roughly $196.80 though there will be a few leftover (you can't buy half a box of diapers). The total cost will be $236.82 for disposables.
The total cost for cloth? If you want to factor in water (our bill is about $90 a month for water, waste, and drainage) you can. I won't seeing as how I can toss the dirty diapers in with our normal wash which I do two out of three days a week anyway. I will factor in soap since I'll have to buy a special kind... All free and clear costs about $11.74 with taxes. That's for 96 loads of normal laundry. For cloth you only use 1/4-1/2 so say I went overboard, that's 192 cloth diaper loads which is more than I need for 3 months of just cloth. That brings my total to $98.64.
That's a difference of $138.18. I can pay two water bills with that and still have change. I can go grocery shopping for a week and buy fresh fruits and veggies with that. I can get my son all the pants he'll need this winter. The list goes on with what I can do with that money. More than likely, it'll be used to fill up my husband's car as he goes back and forth to work or it'll be used at a drive-thru on one of the days we shop each month.
Friday, March 25, 2011
School and Allergies
Alright, I don't know how many of you had heard about the incident in Florida where parents of a child with food allergies was asked to home school (I don't believe the school itself did this because it's illegal, but I could be wrong). Many people are throwing out opinions like "Parents should be teaching their children to be kind to those with allergies. It's not that hard to follow an allergy list."
Here's my opinion. It is that hard. Not so much at home (this depends on the amount of allergies the child has) but in a school setting where there are 20 or more students per room, how many do you think have allergies and to how many things and to what degrees?
For me, at home, having a child with mild allergies to dairy, eggs, peanuts, and ham (this includes baked goods) is not that hard. Even if he has something he's allergic to, it just means we're going to have to deal with diarrhea. The doctors even told us he may grow out of it, so in a few years when my son is attending school, I will test him again. Of course, I'll tell the teachers to avoid it so they don't have to deal with his messes, but if he ends up getting some, it won't be the end of the world.
For others, that is harder. There are some who will quite literally die if there was contact between their allergy and a spoon used to stir the dish. Obviously, they'll have to be a lot more careful about where the food came from, who made it, how careful were they, etc.
Honestly, I don't understand why food served in a school should be any harder to figure out than food served at McD's. Now mind you, it was mind blowing when I was reading the allergen list at one of our favorite drive-thrus (they have milk in their french fries) and it is a lot to take in until you start crossing off things my child wouldn't eat anyway...
They should have a simple sticker system showing what allergens (at least the basic 8) are in the foods they serve so that the child with allergies can learn to spot them himself. My son knows if I pull down the jar of peanut butter, he's getting the almond butter. If I pull out a gallon of milk, he's getting any number of non-dairy milks. He does get some of his allergens (again, not life threatening) but that is my choice as a parent.
To other parents (those with children without allergens), it's really not that hard to find allergy free stuff. In fact, Starbucks (number 1 coffee shop) sells allergen-free cookies right on it's counter top (you'd have to buy them one at a time) and if you're looking for dairy-free, egg-free, peanut-free cookies then Oreos (yup) is awesome.
Here's my opinion. It is that hard. Not so much at home (this depends on the amount of allergies the child has) but in a school setting where there are 20 or more students per room, how many do you think have allergies and to how many things and to what degrees?
For me, at home, having a child with mild allergies to dairy, eggs, peanuts, and ham (this includes baked goods) is not that hard. Even if he has something he's allergic to, it just means we're going to have to deal with diarrhea. The doctors even told us he may grow out of it, so in a few years when my son is attending school, I will test him again. Of course, I'll tell the teachers to avoid it so they don't have to deal with his messes, but if he ends up getting some, it won't be the end of the world.
For others, that is harder. There are some who will quite literally die if there was contact between their allergy and a spoon used to stir the dish. Obviously, they'll have to be a lot more careful about where the food came from, who made it, how careful were they, etc.
Honestly, I don't understand why food served in a school should be any harder to figure out than food served at McD's. Now mind you, it was mind blowing when I was reading the allergen list at one of our favorite drive-thrus (they have milk in their french fries) and it is a lot to take in until you start crossing off things my child wouldn't eat anyway...
They should have a simple sticker system showing what allergens (at least the basic 8) are in the foods they serve so that the child with allergies can learn to spot them himself. My son knows if I pull down the jar of peanut butter, he's getting the almond butter. If I pull out a gallon of milk, he's getting any number of non-dairy milks. He does get some of his allergens (again, not life threatening) but that is my choice as a parent.
To other parents (those with children without allergens), it's really not that hard to find allergy free stuff. In fact, Starbucks (number 1 coffee shop) sells allergen-free cookies right on it's counter top (you'd have to buy them one at a time) and if you're looking for dairy-free, egg-free, peanut-free cookies then Oreos (yup) is awesome.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Cloth Diapering
Okay, the facts are out there for everyone to find. Disposable diapers are almost equal to fast food containers in dumpsters everywhere. Disposables have those tiny beads that can't be healthy. They use bleach (I don't use chlorine bleach unless I have to) and that's making fish in the Great Lakes infertile. There's all sorts of reasons for not wanting to use disposables.
There's also plenty of reasons not to cloth. Having to wash poop out of clothes (though I believe every parent does at least once in their life) is gross. What are you supposed to do with the poop? Does it actually save money? What about when you are out in public? What about the convenience of disposables? Both parents might work...
Here is my decision and my answers to these questions (again, you can find them anywhere online). I'm going to try really hard to attempt to cloth diaper. I didn't even consider it when I was pregnant with my first. When I heard about it, I thought: "Gross. Really? Are people so against convenience?" Then I started doing research on potty training for a class I was taking online. It was about whether to potty train when the child is ready or to start when you think it's proper (I won't get into it). What was interesting to me and my husband was the amount of things that go into a disposable diaper (known as a sposie in the cloth diapering world) and it grossed us out. We were grateful we were potty training.
Now, to get to the whole poop issue... You are actually not supposed to toss feces in the trash ever, even if it's wrapped in a disposable. I know... I've totally done it hundreds of times. But, when using a cloth diaper, you can buy flushable liners made to catch poop. You can also buy a little hose (like the one on your kitchen sink) made to attach to the toilet to rinse off diapers for about $15. I think I'll go with the flushable liners, but I like convenience.
We have friends who told us they were buying us disposables no matter what (and one husband who said we can't come over if our child is in rags), so we probably will use the "sposies" when we leave the house until we feel comfortable and find a system that works great for us.
Does it actually save money? It can. If you are military and you live on base, then yes, it does. You don't pay utilities, therefore the only cost is the upfront cost of diapers and soaps and a few accessories. You can also buy used to save money if you are fine with that (I'm still deciding). In our house, saving money is only a plus. We are doing it for health reasons.
Now, I have been introduced to females in this world who think you are evil if you disagree with them on anything from breastfeeding vs formula, binky vs thumb, circumcising vs intact... This is one of the same topics to me. If you feel like using disposables will make your life easier therefore make you a better mother, than who am I to judge you? I'm just pointing out answers to questions I've gotten recently and reasons why our family will from here on out be trying to CD...
More on this topic once I start buying and using fluffies (cute nickname, right?).
There's also plenty of reasons not to cloth. Having to wash poop out of clothes (though I believe every parent does at least once in their life) is gross. What are you supposed to do with the poop? Does it actually save money? What about when you are out in public? What about the convenience of disposables? Both parents might work...
Here is my decision and my answers to these questions (again, you can find them anywhere online). I'm going to try really hard to attempt to cloth diaper. I didn't even consider it when I was pregnant with my first. When I heard about it, I thought: "Gross. Really? Are people so against convenience?" Then I started doing research on potty training for a class I was taking online. It was about whether to potty train when the child is ready or to start when you think it's proper (I won't get into it). What was interesting to me and my husband was the amount of things that go into a disposable diaper (known as a sposie in the cloth diapering world) and it grossed us out. We were grateful we were potty training.
Now, to get to the whole poop issue... You are actually not supposed to toss feces in the trash ever, even if it's wrapped in a disposable. I know... I've totally done it hundreds of times. But, when using a cloth diaper, you can buy flushable liners made to catch poop. You can also buy a little hose (like the one on your kitchen sink) made to attach to the toilet to rinse off diapers for about $15. I think I'll go with the flushable liners, but I like convenience.
We have friends who told us they were buying us disposables no matter what (and one husband who said we can't come over if our child is in rags), so we probably will use the "sposies" when we leave the house until we feel comfortable and find a system that works great for us.
Does it actually save money? It can. If you are military and you live on base, then yes, it does. You don't pay utilities, therefore the only cost is the upfront cost of diapers and soaps and a few accessories. You can also buy used to save money if you are fine with that (I'm still deciding). In our house, saving money is only a plus. We are doing it for health reasons.
Now, I have been introduced to females in this world who think you are evil if you disagree with them on anything from breastfeeding vs formula, binky vs thumb, circumcising vs intact... This is one of the same topics to me. If you feel like using disposables will make your life easier therefore make you a better mother, than who am I to judge you? I'm just pointing out answers to questions I've gotten recently and reasons why our family will from here on out be trying to CD...
More on this topic once I start buying and using fluffies (cute nickname, right?).
Family Update
Okay, I think all those who would read this already know I'm pregnant. I'm about 15 weeks along. I should find out more precisely at the doctors appointment next week.
My son, 4 now, is happily enjoying his days just playing and watching tv. Next year we have the option of sending him to pre-school this upcoming September. If we have the money for it and I like the interviews at the school, then I will send him.
My husband is now working as a nurse at a local clinic. He loves it most of the time, though sometimes the drama gets to him (that's what happens when only one other male works with you). He's also going to school and doing well there.
Hopefully, next year, we'll move to an awesome place where my husband is going to a great medical school, but we'll see. That is the plan so far though.
By the way, ever since January, my house has gone back and forth between the nice and clean that we got used to for a while and the messy craziness that can happen when I'm exhausted but everyone else is not... Food has also been an issue, but I'll talk about it in my other blog.
I'm sorry I don't have more at the moment, but I'm exhausted and trying to think of a topic.
My son, 4 now, is happily enjoying his days just playing and watching tv. Next year we have the option of sending him to pre-school this upcoming September. If we have the money for it and I like the interviews at the school, then I will send him.
My husband is now working as a nurse at a local clinic. He loves it most of the time, though sometimes the drama gets to him (that's what happens when only one other male works with you). He's also going to school and doing well there.
Hopefully, next year, we'll move to an awesome place where my husband is going to a great medical school, but we'll see. That is the plan so far though.
By the way, ever since January, my house has gone back and forth between the nice and clean that we got used to for a while and the messy craziness that can happen when I'm exhausted but everyone else is not... Food has also been an issue, but I'll talk about it in my other blog.
I'm sorry I don't have more at the moment, but I'm exhausted and trying to think of a topic.
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