It's a peanut butter sandwich day

My children are some of the pickiest eaters on the planet! I blame myself completely. I am a picky eater and I know this about myself. I tried to introduce my girls to a variety of foods when they were little so that they would eat more as they got older. I'm not sure where I went wrong but it didn't work and now they eat nothing.

I like hamburgers and casseroles and fried chicken...they will have nothing to do with any of them. Yesterday I put a roast in the crock pot because I was tired of eating frozen chicken nuggets and fries...my girl's favorite meal. You would have thought I was beating them the way they were acting. They screamed and cried and refused to eat. Even when you know that there is nothing wrong with offering them good food, they have this unique way of making you feel like crap for trying to feed them. It's an unusual concept to process but they do it.

I have had a long day so I have decided to be 'lazy mom' today and give them peanut butter sandwiches (no jelly...they hate it), chips, and strawberries. They couldn't be happier.

I guess it goes to show you that we, as moms, don't have to always go above and beyond with everything. Simple peanut butter sandwiches are enough to make our kids smile...and that makes me smile.

Irritated with the school...again!

I need to vent a little frustration. My daughter's school offers free flu-mist to all students who have a signed consent form. My oldest has recieved it every year since Kindergarten. When my five year old brought home the form, I happily signed it. I am greatful for this servive because it keeps me out of the doctor's office. (With three kids, I am there enough as it is.) This past week, the mist was given out. The oldest recieved hers with no problem...she is just happy it's not the shot. My youngest, however, came home without her flu-mist and a note from the nurse. "Your child DID NOT recieve her flu-mist vaccination because she refused it." What!?! She refused it? She is five. I didn't know that she held that much control with her health. I thought I did. I guess she has become the authority and I am the child now. I am outraged by this. Needless to say, the school will be getting a wonderful note from me.

Before I get in trouble here...I know that it a nice thing for the school to give this for free and I should feel lucky that it is even offered. I am. The reason I appreciate this so much is because my hubby it still out of work and with his job, went our insurance. I don't just appreciate it, I need it for my kids. Now, I have to wait until the 'make-up' vaccination are given out in November. I guess I'll just hope that my child doesn't get sick until then.

How to Save Your Family Money
These are all of my best tips to save money in your household.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1579851/how_to_save_your_family_money.html

Being the Best You
This article is about how to be the best that only you can be and how I did it.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1506482/being_the_best_you.html

Advice from a Veteran Mom
This is a blog about tips to parenting and things to make being a mom easier.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1423077/advice_from_a_veteran_mom.html

Our kitten died today

It's a somber day in my house today. Our kitten died last night while we were sleeping. We found her alone under our back porch about 2 weeks ago. After trying for a few days to find her mommy, we decided to keep her and try to nurse her back to health. I already had four cats so one more didn't seem that challenging.

After much debate, we named her Onyx. She was black and gray with almost a stripe pattern to her fur. I had to feed her with a medicine dropper but she didn't eat much. She still ate very little. One of our older cats had 5 kittens last year so I thought I would be able to take care of her but I was wrong. I guess there really is nothing like a mother's love...and Onyx's mother wasn't here.

Needless to say, my three little girls were upset, my oldest (age 9) took it the hardest. My five year old told me to take her to the doctor. It was hard for me to tell her that when you die, you never wake up. It has been a few hours and the girls seem fine now. They have been amusing themselves with our other cats.

I feel awful and I wish there was something more I could have done for her. I know that she is happy and running around in kitty heaven but I am still sad for the loss that my girls had this morning. I regret that I didn't even take a picture of her. The picture above just looks like her. If you pray, say a little prayer for our kitty. She will be missed.

Be straight with your kids

One of the things that irks me about parents is their inability to be honest with their kids. I'm not telling you to send out a memo every time you have sex with their father. I'm talking about the everyday scenarios.

I was changing the other day and my five year old came into the room and saw my cesarean scar. She asked me how I hurt myself and I told her that it was where she came out of me. Trying to keep in mind her age, I explained to her that she and her two sisters were too big to come out of my 'bottom' like most children, so they doctors made a special place just for her to come out safely. Thank God she didn't ask me how she got there...phew!

There are ways to give your kids the answers they are searching for without being inappropriate and/or brushing them off. If you tell your kids that you will tell them when hey are older, they will want to know even more and continue to bug you. Just be straight with them and as they get older, they will appreciate your honesty and be straight with you.

Picture courtesy of AllPosters.com

The schools are ridiculous!

My middle daughter started Kindergarten this year...that gives me two in school now. I took advantage of the sales at the end of the year last year to save money on two new backpacks and lunchboxes , and the supplies on the 'generic' lists that were sent home. I though I was doing ok until school started this year. On the first day of school, I was presented two more lists that included a few different items that my children needed. Ugh...back to the store! I was also given the school fess...$25 a child! My running total is now $125...just for my children to attend public school! When you tack on things like coupon book sales, the Mayfest at the end of the year, and other numerous fundraisers, parents spend a lot of money on something that is supposed to be free.

I thought the nightmare was over until my oldest child brought home a letter asking for more money to help cover the costs of school parties, another workbook, and the teacher's Christmas present. I don't understand why it costs so much. Isn't that what the school fees are for? The thing that really sent me over the edge was the last sentence of the note, "Thank you for being an active part of your child's life." What the hell? I thought being an active part of her life was teaching her and helping with her homework and actually getting her to school. I feed her, clothe her, and keep a roof over her head. I was offended by this statement. Whoever wrote this letter was an idiot. To even hint that I wasn't an active part in my child's life if I didn't pay for a cupcake party is ridiculous and insulting.

That is as far as I will go with my rant today guys. I'd love to know how you feel about this. Do you have the same issues?

Picture courtesy of Allposter's.com