Parenting An Intense Child - Parent Rant

How many sleeps until Halloween

nospam@example.com (L.C.) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:55:39 -0700

Well, just because I did the Christmas Sleeps Countdown, I figured I owed it to the ghosts and ghouls to do one for Halloween as well...

So if your parenting Also involves counting down until Halloween.... I've got that too! And yes, I saw the Halloween stuff on the shelves somewhere around beginning to mid August! AS IF I would even consider buying a costume that far in advance. If your kids are anything like mine they'll change their minds 200 times before Halloween eve!... but here's how many sleeps until Halloween 2007

Sleeps until Halloween 2007

Have fun with this

How many sleeps until Christmas

nospam@example.com (L.C.) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:41:08 -0700

How many sleeps until..... The ongoing Parenting Nightmare!

Last year I did a little rant about department stores bombarding us with Christmas before we'd even stopped wearing summer clothes.

Given, I have not seen a Christmas decoration in a store yet... but I expect to any day now. After all, it is September!

So, for those parents out there that are interested in keeping track, you can get an up to the minute update of "how many sleeps until Christmas" 2007 right here.

Now you can always be right up to date!

If your list of things to keep track of includes the number of sleeps to Halloween, click here because I have it all covered for you!

Angelina.... Madonna... Me - and Jessica Simpson

nospam@example.com (L.C.) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:26:27 -0700

I heard on the news the other day that Jessica Simpson is the latest and greatest to join the ever growing list of celebrities that are becoming parents by way of adoption - or want to adopt children.

I don't remember the exact quote but it was to the effect of "ever since I was 11 years old I wanted to adopt a child from Mexico. I want to adopt before I have my own child"

Keyword here "own child".

Reality check Jessica - when you adopt, the child you adopt becomes "your own child".

Will this catch on like the movement to "pocket puppies" that have become so popular since the rumor rag cover stars started carrying around their pooches in their purses?

Parenting, is not something that should be turned into a FAD or fashion accessory and it honestly scares me to think that some ditsy followers of these people are going to hop on an adoption bandwagon so they can have their pocket puppy and international adopted baby in their own personal collections!

When our family chose to adopt 3 children, it was because we wanted a family and we had the time and love for it. Not so that we would have children to "show off" or so that we would be a part of some kind of movement.

Don't get me wrong. I think adoption is a wonderful option when building your family, either in addition to biological children or not. There are thousands of "home grown" kids waiting to be adopted in North America as well as internationally and there are pros and cons to both.

But there are also literally thousands of people waiting (probably not so patiently) to adopt a child into their family that are doing it for the right reasons - I just have my doubts that "all" of these wannabe mommies really "want to be" mommies. Let's not start a trend of "trophy children" that are more valuable by their international status!

My rant is over for today - Visit the rest of my Parenting Blog for a less political view on life

92 Sleeps until Christmas!

nospam@example.com (L.C.) — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 09:17:26 -0700

This little rant was from 2006 - If you're looking for the actual number of "sleeps until Christmas" for 2007 I've added a little countdown in How Many Sleeps Until Christmas. If you want to read the rant, which seems relevant for any given year - read on!

HO HO HO Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all that C R A P.

Christmas comes earlier every year it seems and frankly, I'm getting tired of it.

I've gotten used to fall and winter catalogues in early summer, I've gotten used to Halloween at back to school shopping and I thought I'd gotten used to the Christmas ornaments taking up multiple aisles before the last trick-or-treater had been tucked into bed ... but this is ridiculous. Yesterday, the 2nd day of fall, the 23rd of September, while out purchasing 'flying insect spray' I was bombarded with several aisles of Christmas decor and decorations.

Hey, I'm into the holidays as much as the next person. I truly enjoy the season and look forward to pretty much everything about it but come on people... IT'S SEPTEMBER for crying out loud. I haven't even worn a sweater yet!

Frankly I'm tired of the commercialism. With 3 kids I do my best to limit the amount of television commercials they are exposed to because they just bring on the giant cases of 'gimmie's' (even worse for my intense kids) but I thought I was safe bringing them to stores for at least another 5 to 6 weeks before Santa Fever kicked in but no. The push has already started. (Check out my parenting tip for dealing with "the gimmies").

Who exactly are these stores targeting by putting this stuff at the front of the store right next to hallo ween costumes and trick or treat candy? It's not the adults is it? It's children. Your children and my children see this stuff in the stores and start with the Santa talk and 'how many sleeps till Christmas" and the never ending "gimmie's".

As far as I'm concerned, it really sucks the joy out of the holidays for me. By the time the season actually arrives, I'm so tired of looking at it I can hardly wait for it to be over. This year I'm not going to let these over anxious merchandisers ruin my holidays. I will NOT be shopping at any store that has Christmas decorations out before October 31st. So Zellers - you're off MY Christmas list!

Well, it's 92 sleeps until Christmas (in case you were wondering). Start counting down - that's what the stores want you to do! Or do what I'll be doing. Steer clear of these stores - and maybe even write a letter to let them know of your displeasure.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
-- Margaret Mead