Everyday Mom

Do you like yard sales, rummage sales, garage sales, or whatever they’re called where you live?  I don’t particularly care for them, despite the fact that I spent nearly every Saturday morning when growing up going from sale to sale.  I even enjoy going “yard saling” from time to time just for fun.  It’s having my own sale that seems like a necessary pain in the butt!  Our neighborhood has a group sale in the summer and again in the fall.  I always say that I am not going to participate because it requires hours of work for only a few bucks.  Of course, I never stand by my word and end up putting some stuff out (some of which has been out multiple times–proof that noone wants my junk).  I don’t know why I feel compelled to participate, I just do.  I also always claim that I am not dragging the sale items back into our house.  I claim that if it doesn’t sell, it’s going to the trash or charity or anything but back in here, but does that happen, no!  I drag it back in, put it in the basement, and complain the whole time. 

This year, however, has not been so bad.  Our neighborhood sale started today, Friday.  I rarely start mine on Friday because I always have to work.  Lucky for me, I was not very busy this morning and was able to put stuff out and experience the Friday traffic.  As in past years, I started with the attitude that the stuff had to go because it is not coming back in this house.  Usually, I get so mad that people want to barter over $.50 and refuse to take what they are willing to give me.  Not this year–this year, I was givin’ that crap away.  LOL!  My stuff was priced to sale.  I made $150.00 this morning and got rid of a lot of  it.  I was willing to barter and not too proud to take pennies if that’s what they were willing to give.  I am actually looking forward to tomorrow morning.  I might succeed at getting rid of all of it or at least only leave a few things to take to Goodwill.  I might even scour the house tonight for some more stuff to liquidate!  One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right!

I’m really on the fence about this one, and I’m sure it will be the start of another heated debate on the subject.  I wonder what you think.  This week, the Indiana Supreme Court reversed a mother’s conviction of battery on her son.   Their decision states that she was exercising reasonable parental discipline when she whipped her 11-year old son with a belt or extension cord.   There 4-1 decision claimed that the mother did not cross over the boundary into criminal conduct.  The Court felt that the State did not do its part in proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the mother misused her parental discipline privilege. 

The case came to light when the boy showed bruises he received as a result of the beating to his school nurse.  The nurse then called the authorities, and the mother was arrested.  She indicated that the boy was being disciplined when he was asked to pull down his pants and have his bare bottom whipped.  He was also hit on the legs and arms as he squirmed trying to avoid being hit.   She was later convicted and sentenced to one year in jail with 357 days of the sentence suspended.  The conviction was upheld in the state Court of Appeals and recently overturned in the Indiana Supreme Court. 

The decisions to overturn the previous court ruling set a really big precedent stating that parents have a legal privilege to dicipline their children as long as punishment is reasonable and not likely to cause serious or permanent harm.    The one dissent was concerned that abusive parents often claim that they had the right to discipline their child and that such a decision would make it much more difficult to protect children in abusive situations.

I tend to agree with the dissent in this case.  However, I am very much in favor of strong discipline up to and including spanking.  I think a firm hand is sometimes required when it comes to steering your children in the right direction.  I’ve spanked both of my children and will likely have to again.  My children are fully aware of the rules and standards we have set for them and are equally aware of the consequences.  That said, I agree with the dissenting opinion in this case because I’m not confident that all parents are interested in what is right for their kids.  I’m afraid that the motive for spanking, whipping , beating , etc. is too varied to just say it’s okay as long as it isn’t serious or permanent.  I’m confident that in this case the evidence may have required the Justices to overturn the conviction, but I’m afraid the decision may truly cause more harm than good as more and more abusive parents use the decision to claim their “‘parental discipline privilege”. 

I’m just one everday mom trying to do her best to love her children and raise them to be good people.  This ruling scares me that some parents (who don’t always have what’s right for their children as a top priority) now have the okay to do whatever they want and use a court ruling to defend some special privilege that they don’t then balance with the responsibility to care for and nurture their children.  What do you think?

Okay, here’s my new favorite thing–Ziploc Zip’nSteam steam cooking bags for the microwave.  I had seen them on television and in the store, but I had not purchased any.  I don’t know why.  Steaming veggies is healthy and quick, and these bags certainly are a great idea for people on the go.  I guess sometimes we just don’t think to make a change assuming that the way we do things must be the best way.  I have a micro steamer pan that I’ve used for veggies.  I also use it for tons of other things.  Recently, I’ve been buying the frozen vegetables and vegetable blends that come microwave ready in the steam bags.  They are super convenient.  What would be even better is if you could season the vegetables prior to cooking or blend them with other things like meats for a quick recipe.  “That’s a super idea”, says Ziploc because that’s what is so great about the Zip’nSteam bags.  During a recent visit, my mother-in-law made a quick lunch using these micro-steam bags.  It was awesome.  I was so impressed with how quickly she was able to toss a few things together and make a yummy and healthy side dish.  She mixed potatoes, carrots, and broccoli with some seasonings and within minutes we had fresh veggies.  At the table, we used some spray butter to taste.  I was impressed and vowed to try the bags when I got home.  I’ve now used both the medium and large bags with various ingredients.  It has really saved time and has allowed me to cook fast and fresh.  It is wonderful to know that my kids are not always eating from a can or living on PB&J when we are in a rush.  I can get the bag ready early in the day and just toss it in the micowave when we are ready for a delicious hot meal.  Again, I like having the ability to decide which ingredients are the bag.  

Give them a try.  I know you will like them too.  To get started, try some of the recipes included in the package like Zesty Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chives, Shrimp with Honey Mustard, Gingered Broccoli with Almonds, or even Chocolate Apples!  Yum!

Did anyone hear about this?  I just read a news story on MSN about a 10 year old boy whose recent death was caused by dry drowning.  I had never heard of such a thing before, and quite frankly I wish I hadn’t.  Additionally some 350+ people died from “die drowning” last year.  More than an hour after this 10 year old little boy from South Carolina got out of the swimming pool, he died.  His mother had taken both him and his sister swimming to a local pool in Goose Creek, South Carolina.  Sadly, it was the first time he had ever been swimming.  At some point during his swim, water got into his lungs.  How did this happen?  The news article doesn’t clearly say, but I am now very concerned.  I tease every summer about how much pool water my kids ingest.  They come up from under the water gagging and choking, and they must go potty a 100 times!  Could this happen to them?

The scary part is that the mother never had a real clue that anything was wrong.  Just before they left the pool, the little boy had an accident in the water.  She got him out, dried him off, and the three of them walked home together.  He physically walked home from the pool!  His mother gave him a bath and cleaned him all up.  After the bath, he told her he was tired (What kid isn’t after swimming and having a nice warm bath?).  So, she let him lay down to rest.  Later, she went to check on him and found him lifeless with a spongy white material all over his face.  He was rushed to a hospital, but it was too late.  The water in his lungs had severely decreased the oxygen levels to his brain and other parts of his body, and he basically drowned.  It was so horrible to read, but it really made me think.  Were there signs that she could have noticed if she had known what to look for?

 The news story listed a few.  Read them and be aware.  Summer is here and our children will be drawn to the water.  I will definitely be a more watchful parent when it comes to water play.

1.  Difficulty breathing–Is your child having trouble breathing.  Are they breathing heavy, is it labored, are they short of breath. 

2.  Extreme Tiredness–This happens when your brain lacks oxygen.  If they need to sleep immediately or are having trouble functioning, that should be a concern.

3.  Changes in Behavior–Is your child doing things that they wouldn’t normally do?  Are they acting out unnecessarily?  Are they having accidents, like this little boy, that would be uncharacteristic for them?

If you suspect that something is wrong, don’t wait.  Get your child to an ER.  A doctor will be able to quickly determine if there is a life threatening issue.  Most importantly, watch you kids at play, especially in the water.  We all want them to have fun in the summer sun, but we are responsible for keeping the fun safe.

Well, my Dad is finally home from the hospital, yet again.  I thought he had been doing a bit better until we went to visit over Memorial Day weekend.  During our time with him, he was not well.  He was very weak and continued to complain that he was having a great deal of trouble eating.  He slept during most of our first visit and with poor weather on his side, he was unable to go fishing with the kids during our second visit.  His spirit was so down.  I had a really hard time keeping my composure.  I didn’t want to cry in front of him or my husband and children.  Man was it hard to keep it together.  I really wanted to just break down.  I’m an emotional person as it is normally.  I cry over sad or touching commercials and can never get through an episode of Little House on the Prairie without needing  a tissue.  Try to imagine me not crying seeing my Daddy so sick!

He had a doctor’s appoint this past Thursday and was readmitted to the hospital.  After running some tests, his oncologist has decided that he was malnourished and basically starving to death.  The lining of his colon has been damaged by radiation and is unable to absorb any nutrients from the food that he consumes.  He has been put on IV feedings and is only allowed to take in liquids through his mouth.  In just four days on this feeding regimen, he had put on nearly 5 pounds.  I don’t know how that is possible, but that’s what he says.  He’s been released with the IV insert and the help of a home health nurse.  Chemotherapy has been put off yet another two weeks while they let his colon take a break and his body bulk up.  He just isn’t ready for round two yet. 

On the brighter side, he is feeling a bit better and can move around without feeling so tired.  His color is back, and he sounds more energized.  I guess if you go from 0 calories per day to 3000 calories per day, you’re bound to feel better.  We’ve rescheduled our fishing trip.  Hopefully this time he be up to the outing! 

Thanks for reading.  Knowing that I have all of you to share with is a huge help to me!