Who's your daddy?

It's funny the things your kids will say, and usually when you least expect it.  No neither of my children have questioned their parentage...   yet.    But yesterday during dinner my eight year old is talking with her eight year old best friend when she abruptly looked at her dad and asked "Who will be my step dad?"  Of course our first reaction is to look at this child we accredit with so much intelligence with a dumb founded look, it's a look we seem to be using more and more these days.  Her dad recovers and responds, "You won't have a step dad ever!"  To which the best friend chirps in and says  "Believe me you don't want a stepmom or dad, I have a stepmom, you don't want her."  The go back to eating and the conversation goes on to include, how healthy milk is, even though it has calories, and that veggies and fruits are good for you too even though they have calories too.   But of course that part of the conversation is a blog for another day in itself.  Let's get back to good old step dad.

As I thought of the question, I began to see that it really wasn't that absurd of a question after all.  Just because I come from a family that hasn't seen a divorce doesn't mean it hasn't become the standard.   How many people do I actually know that are actually in a "traditional" family.  And can we really say what is traditional anymore?  My own kids have several "sets" or "pairings" of grandparents.  There is Grandma and Grandpa (my parents), there is Granny and Granddad (hubby's mom and step dad), there is Opa (hubby's dad) and Oma Donna and Opa Dave (hubby's step mom and hubby).   And it is major crime in my kids eyes if you accidently refer to one of the grandparents by the wrong title.  On reflection it seems most of our friends are in non traditional families.   We have the whole variety it seems, gay parents, step parents, single parents, and adoptive parents.  Does this mean any one of our friends is a better or worse parent than us.  Nope.  It does question your idea of what is the norm now.   So questions such as "Who will my step dad be?" maybe isn't so outrageous after all.

My dog has OCD?

Recently I went with a friend to take her cat into the vet.  While sitting in the waiting room we were talking about how much Iggy really liked the new laser light she had just bought him.   Now this isn't the first laser light that Iggy has had.  We used to use one all the time when we didn't have a fence for our yard.  On cold winter mornings when we just too warm and lazy to take the dog out on a leash, we used the laser light to keep him in the yard.  It is amazingly effective.  For those of you that have dogs, but aren't fenced in, this is an awesome alternative to standing in the cold while your dog christens ever bush, tree and stump in the yard.  

Anyway the receptionist over heard the conversation, and said that she had seen on animal planet that you shouldn't use laser lights with dogs, but it was okay with cats.   When I asked why, she said she wasn't sure, but it had something to do with the fact that cats will forget but dogs won't.   I thought this over for a bit, wondering why it mattered that dogs didn't forget.  When we were in with the vet I asked him.   He kinda of laughed and said it causes dogs to have OCD.  Apparently they constantly look for the light -FOREVER.  So I figure, since my dog is already crazy for it, might as well keep using it.   Even in the months that we have not used the laser light (darn thing disappears every so often, usually to be found in the 8 year olds "stuff") the dog finds his own amusements.   He loves lightening storms, he stands in the sunroom jumping on every flash of light that crosses his path.   The sun shining through the window the right way will provide hours of entertainment.  Who am I to take his favorite pass time away?  It would be cruel I say.   So for now, I guess my dog has just a little more common with the rest of us as he too has the need for psychiatric help.   

Selective, but not cheap

I think by now, everyone should be feeling the effects of our wonderful failing economy, and if you are one of the few that haven't noticed let us all party at your house.  Come on,  we make good money, we are smack dab in middle class here so tell me how do the rest of you do it?  There is a certain style or status quo that over the years I have noticed while living in Charlotte, NC.   I recently heard it referred to as "the charlotte way".  Every driveway has a SUV or two.   Teenagers have new cars?  Um hello people, you don't give the teenager a new car, even if you have lots of extra cash just sitting around.   

Now, don't look at me and think I'm living the "charlotte way"....oh no not me.   I decided years ago that I was too hick to be yuppified.   I've actually come to enjoy the trill of the bargain hunt.  And for me to pay full price for something it had better be needed and soon....otherwise it stays at the store. 

Of course this year with two over sea trips planned for our daughter, I guess you could say we have over extended ourselves.   I know many of my friends have said....I don't see how you do it.  To be honest most days we are not sure either, but as with everything it comes down to a choice.   We drive OLD cars...hey they work and get us from point A to point B, and the best part....they are payed for.   Our teenager gave up getting a driving permit for another year so she could take the Japanese trip.   We won't be taking a real vacation this year, we are eating out less, and there are very few movies indeed that are worthy of a theater experience these days.

  Now Paul still likes to complain that I'm bargaining him into the poor house, but I say, does he really realize how much all those books I read would cost NEW.    Now some might call me cheap because I refuse to pay $50 or even $30 for a pair of jeans, but I say.....I'm just selective.

And all of you "charlotte way" folks, let me know when you have your next attic or yard sale, I'll buy those $50 jeans your kids have grown tired of for a couple of bucks...cash as always.

Here I am, crazy in Suburbia

I live smack dab in the middle of middle class America suburbia, and I can't decide if that is a good thing or not. There are so many "politics" living with kids in a neighborhood like mine. Anyway, I'm 37 years old, although I did recently testify under oath to being 29. See what lying about your age gets ya. I have been married for almost 20 years, I have 2 daughters age 16 and 8, a dog, 3 gerbils and tank of salt water fish. I'm not currently working, but really want to be, but apparently staying at home with your children for 7 years is a really bad career move. Go figure. I do alot of reading, it helps keep me sane, not really, but at least there are no meds involved yet. I'm starting this blog in part as a way for my 16 year old to keep up with home life while she is away next year. She recently got a scholarship to study in Germany for her 11th grade school year. She is very excited, I'm excited for her, but know she will be so different when she comes home, so I'm a bit sad at the same time. But hey, lets face it, all hope is not loss, I will still have the eight year at home, and a few more years to screw her up before she starts making roaming noises.