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Not So Perfect Parent BLOG |
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April 2008
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October 2006 ArchivesI interviewed Dr. Pete Stavinoah, a child neurophysiologist, about the importance of Halloween safety. After butchering the pronunciation of his last name, we launched into a dialogue that provided some great Halloween safety information. So, before your little spooks take to the street, consider these tips. 1. Stay with the group - don't let your little goblins wander off on their own. It is also important that an adult or responsi... After years of nurturing a concept that ultimately evolved to “Not-So-Perfect Parent," I am now living my dream. I left the land of familiar and ventured into an unknown realm sacrificing a big office, a big title and more money. I now function from a "work station" that I share with three other colleagues. I have no window, no parking space, and no staff. I am no longer consulted on strategic plans and people are questioning the value of ... I got to sleep late this morning. By "sleeping late," I mean staying in bed until 7:45. However, the best part was not catching up on much needed slumber. Instead, it was feeling the warmth of my little two-year-old's breath. My sweet husband rose to get my oldest off to school while my little one and I tried to pretend the morning had not arrived. I prayed a prayer of gratitude for this precious time with my little boy. He is at the per... I had a "Top Ten" moment this weekend. By "Top Ten," I mean a moment that you want to cling onto and replay over and over again in your memory. I was riding a mini roller-coaster with my two (soon to be three) year-old son. His squeals of delight combined with unrestrained laughter sent my soul soaring higher than the wooden hills we were climbing. I couldn't get enough of his face. I stared at him the entire time - almost oblivious to th... One of my fondest holiday traditions involved Thanksgiving. My grandparents lived in an old Colonial home surrounded by beautiful oak trees. Thanksgiving was a “buttoned-up” event where the children wore their finest and were forced to interpret the proper use of the six forks and three spoons displayed before them. After the obligatory Thanksgiving prayer, my grandmother would ring a tiny bell and dinner would be served by women in uniform... I am impatient. Not about the little stuff like waiting for my seven-year-old to tie his shoe or standing in line for my number to be called - but more for the bigger things in life. I am so anxious to get to the next thing that I often lose site of the blessings within the moment. I want to land the next opportunity and I become frustrated when I feel I'm being held back. I read a devotional recently that spoke to my impatient sp... I am not trying to be mean, but, in my opinion, Girls' Night Out is consistently more fun than Date Night with your husband. You avoid sensitive subjects like money, kids, in-laws, etc. You don't have to shave your legs, you can order what you want, and enjoy flirting with the waiter. I went out with my girlfriend last night and had a blast. We laughed until we cried. We had conversations with other diners. We sampled different wi... There are many who have expressed criticism about Madonna's recent adoption of a little boy from Africa. There is no doubt that Madonna received preferential treatment and that her $3 million contribution to the poverty stricken country of Malawi streamlined the process. Still, this child will be spared the emotional and physical challenges that most orphans around the globe experience. ...A friend of mine forwarded me a copy of this email message. I was suspicious at first that it would be one of these "forward this to twenty of your friends or the world will end" kind of emails. However, instead it is a beautifully written essay about being a parent. I don't know who wrote this, so I cannot give appropriate credit. However, it is written by one who perfectly and eloquently expresses the honor of parenting. Enjoy. ...I am pleased to report that my 20 year high school reunion was a success. I entered with a new attitude and a new perspective. I would be lying if I didn't admit that some time and money went into preparation for this event. However, it is a far cry from the investment I made ten years ago. Now as a mother of two, having a shower is considered a luxury and extra time for an eyebrow wax or a pedicure is simply not an option. ...My 20 year high school reunion is this weekend. I can only hope that it will be more pleasant than my 10 year reunion. After being away for a decade from all of the high-school nonsense that left me with virtually no self-esteem, I felt I had something to prove. During those 10 years, I fantasized about entering into the old gym and hearing a collective gasp as people marveled at my transformation from the ugly duckling into something more ... I find decorating difficult on many levels. First - the details. I am not a detail person and my mind starts swirling when I have to coordinate paint color, with fabric, with window treatments and tile choices. There are simply too many options. I am completely overwhelmed in a fabric store, and I am embarrassed to admit that I get flustered having to consider little touches such as trim tassels. The second challenging thing about ... This has been a bad day. It started at 6:30 am with my 2-year-old clinging onto me while screaming and crying "Don't go, Mommy!!!" He had to be pried away while I ran for the car. Unfortunately, I couldn't get inside my car. I left my keys in the house and had to return to my out-of-control toddler. He grabbed onto my legs and was dragged while I tried to shimmy to the front door. The entire time, I am saying to myself, "What kind of mot... I did one of my appearances today on Good Morning Texas. The subject was guilt. As a parent, I am intimately familiar with this emotion. It is something I live with every day, and I hope the topic resonated with our viewers. One thing I want to make clear, I did not come to Channel 8 from a television background. Prior to my job with Channel 8, I worked in a large not-for-profit for nine years. Although this job is a huge... I remember begging my mother to allow me to shave my legs. I didn't realize that this rite of passage left dark, prickly stubble where my little soft blond hairs use to be. It's the same with coloring your hair. My advice - DON'T START! Unless you are prematurely graying or repairing your hair after a freak paint spill accident, there is no reason to begin this vicious cycle. I put in highlights this summer and have had color changes or c... It begins the moment the little pink line appears on the pregnancy test. An overwhelming mixture of emotions comprised mainly of sheer, unadulterated fear. However, somewhere in this sea of feelings you notice something new and unfamiliar. It starts as a twinge and continues to grow throughout your pregnancy. By the time baby arrives, you are consumed by it. What is it, ladies? GUILT! You berate yourself for caving in and havin... You may wonder why I named this concept “Not-So-Perfect Parent." It’s actually a sadly inspiring story about a real-life event. I had just given birth to my first-born child. It was mid-afternoon and I was still in my pajamas. As I nursed my darling son, my attention wandered to the television. As if to mock me, there stood one of those perfect “can-do” women. ... |
