It's been a long time since I've updated. In reality, there is no good reason. I didn't have any personal tragedies, no epic battles with depression, no whirlwind adventure.
All I did was buy, repair, and move into a house. Pretty humdrum in the grand scheme of things.
I also joined BzzAgent, which is a marketing company that has people test products and services and give real, honest feedback about it. I've been part of 3 tests so far, 1 was great, 1 was "meh" at best, and the third is still going on, and I haven't had need to use the product yet.
There are a few things I've been putting together, but thanks to the whole Mom/Moving/Life thing, I don't know when or even if they will appear. Man, I suck at this blogging thing.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Hi, I'm Tonee. I'm a survivor of suicide.
On January 17, 2012, my dear friend Brad was found dead at his alma mater, John Marshall High School, in Cleveland. He was 25. It took over a year for his family to let some of his friends know that his death was ruled a suicide, not accidental.
I missed his funeral. I had a two month old and an ice storm rolled in down here, so I just couldn't justify the 2+ hour drive. It's something I regret, even though I know my daughter's safety was my top priority.
I don't have a whole lot of pictures of the two of us together, but I do have a lot of memories. Recently, I've caught myself crying just thinking about him because I know how much fun he would've had with my daughter. He met my husband once, before we were married, and missed our wedding. He regretted it, but life doesn't always accommodate what you want. I wish he'd have met her.
Brad's death, even before I found out it was suicide, has impacted me in a way no other death has ever affected me. I've lost many older relatives. I've lost a childhood friend to war. But Brad - losing him at all, let alone to suicide - has hurt me every day since January 2012.
Part of me feels guilty.
He and I battled depression together, so was there something I could've done to make it better? Could I have been there more to help make him stronger?
Part of me hates him.
I hate him for not holding on. There's so much more to life than the pain, and I hate him for not holding on long enough to find that out. I hate him for not taking the medication the way he was supposed to take it. I hate him for quitting. I hate him for leaving us all behind.
Brad, like many suicides, was loved. He had a network of friends who loved him. Parents, a baby brother, cousins, aunts, uncles...the list goes on. Brad. Was. Loved.
Most suicides are people who are loved. The sane, rational, educated side of me knows this. I know I couldn't have fixed it. Once someone really decides to do it, there's nothing that can really be done to stop it. We can try, but really, it's all up to them. Some people reach out, to friends, family, or the suicide hotlines. And they survive. They keep fighting. Slowly, but surely, they find their way back to themselves and their lives go on.
Some people don't. Brad is one that didn't.
I miss him every day. I still cry because he's gone. But, every day, it gets a little better. I'll see something or hear a joke that reminds me of him and I'll giggle or grin instead of sob.
I was able to play Bully again for the first time since he died. He introduced me to that crazy ass game, and we spent hours playing it. I didn't cry, I had fun. Things associated with him are starting to get fun again.
I de-friended him on Facebook, though. I couldn't handle seeing all the posts to his wall about how much he is missed. That was just too much.
But that's OK. A link on a social media website doesn't validate a friendship, or taint my memories.
Although I do find myself wanting a clove cigarette from time to time after not touching one for years. I'll blame his influence on that one. Someday I might even light one up despite it being many years since I've had one, just for him.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Mommy's Night Off
I finally convinced Nate that being a stay at home mom is harder than he seems to think it is. He finally believes (for whatever reason) that being on duty 24 hours a day 7 days a week is very grinding. As a result, we've started doing "nights off." Usually it's Mommy's Night Off, where he takes the kiddo over to a friend's house. The guys play video games and she runs around and eventually falls asleep until it's time to go home. It's also good for her to learn to sleep somewhere other than her own bed. I get to do whatever I want on those evenings. Starting next week, we're having a Daddy's night off in the mix where baby and I do our thing, and he goes out with friends and does his thing, guilt-free. It's taken us 18 months, but we finally figured out that having time alone without being on parent duty is necessary to our mental well being.
Tonight is Mommy's night off, as was last Saturday. Last week I went to a movie completely alone for the first time in my life. It was AMAZING. Seriously, if you've never gone to a movie completely alone, go do it as soon as possible. For that matter, take yourself out to dinner, too. I did that for the first time when I was 20, and I loved it. I still do love it, but due to being a one income family, it doesn't happen as often. And I don't mean running into McDonald's. Do at least Olive Garden on your own. Someplace with a waiter/waitress. It's liberating to just be on your own time table.
So far tonight I've left the house long enough to buy a really big bottle of wine (Woodbridge, so mid-range Mondavi. Cabernet Sauvignon if you care, because it's my favorite type of wine.) I've had four full glasses, and I'm feeling damn good. I rarely drink anymore. Being pregnant and then breastfeeding for a year killed my drinking abilities. OK, so I didn't breastfeed in the normal way. I was intimate friends with a breast pump, but still, for the first year of her life my kid had maybe a grand total of 20 ounces of formula. I'd say that's something to be proud of because breastfeeding and pumping is fucking hard. It shouldn't be, but it is.
I should add that I have zero problem with mommas who formula feed their kids. I have a lot less parental judgement than many. If you can breastfeed, please do. If not, there's no shame in formula. Frankly, I'm very surprised with myself that I EP'd (exclusively pumped) for as long as I did. Really, my only parental judging comes from people who can't properly use a car seat. Seriously, it's called a CHEST CLIP not a fucking belly clip.
Don't drink and blog, kids. It results in really messy entries. Do I care right now? No. I'm going to keep going.
Something I've been asked repeatedly is "What kind of parent are you?" Honestly, I'm still working up an answer to that question. I'm thinking that when I'm sober I'll have to spell it out.
For now, I'm going to go drink a glass of water so the hangover tomorrow doesn't kill me. Eventually, though, I have a couple of semi-serious topics I want to write about. I just want to be sober and able to cry when I write them.
Tonight is Mommy's night off, as was last Saturday. Last week I went to a movie completely alone for the first time in my life. It was AMAZING. Seriously, if you've never gone to a movie completely alone, go do it as soon as possible. For that matter, take yourself out to dinner, too. I did that for the first time when I was 20, and I loved it. I still do love it, but due to being a one income family, it doesn't happen as often. And I don't mean running into McDonald's. Do at least Olive Garden on your own. Someplace with a waiter/waitress. It's liberating to just be on your own time table.
So far tonight I've left the house long enough to buy a really big bottle of wine (Woodbridge, so mid-range Mondavi. Cabernet Sauvignon if you care, because it's my favorite type of wine.) I've had four full glasses, and I'm feeling damn good. I rarely drink anymore. Being pregnant and then breastfeeding for a year killed my drinking abilities. OK, so I didn't breastfeed in the normal way. I was intimate friends with a breast pump, but still, for the first year of her life my kid had maybe a grand total of 20 ounces of formula. I'd say that's something to be proud of because breastfeeding and pumping is fucking hard. It shouldn't be, but it is.
I should add that I have zero problem with mommas who formula feed their kids. I have a lot less parental judgement than many. If you can breastfeed, please do. If not, there's no shame in formula. Frankly, I'm very surprised with myself that I EP'd (exclusively pumped) for as long as I did. Really, my only parental judging comes from people who can't properly use a car seat. Seriously, it's called a CHEST CLIP not a fucking belly clip.
Don't drink and blog, kids. It results in really messy entries. Do I care right now? No. I'm going to keep going.
Something I've been asked repeatedly is "What kind of parent are you?" Honestly, I'm still working up an answer to that question. I'm thinking that when I'm sober I'll have to spell it out.
For now, I'm going to go drink a glass of water so the hangover tomorrow doesn't kill me. Eventually, though, I have a couple of semi-serious topics I want to write about. I just want to be sober and able to cry when I write them.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Struggles
I've dealt with depression for years, both with and without medication. Somehow, no matter what drugs I'm taking or not taking, I get hit with a bout that I just can't shake about every 15 months.
Right now, I'm not on any medications. I stopped them in January after their effectiveness was just not there. We (my doctor, husband, and I) decided it would be worth a trial run without them. I do have a one month supply stashed if I should need to start back on them, but so far so good.
Until the last six weeks or so.
I've been feeling off. I try to do things out and about with my kid, try to keep my house clean, try to just live my life, but I feel off. I can feel myself being isolated. Now, the tricky part is figuring out if it's all in my head, if I'm unconsciously isolating myself, or if other people are isolating me for whatever reason. It's all happened to me before. The challenge is that when I'm slipping, I can't tell the difference. I know it's happening but I can't figure out the cause. In turn, that makes it even harder for me to pull myself back out of the depression. It's all a cycle, and it sucks.
So I've been isolated. Despite trying my hardest not to be, I am. Nate's noticed it, and he's trying to figure out how to deal with me when I'm like this. So far the most effective method has been him just flat out telling me, "Hey, you're being crazy." I hate it when he calls me crazy, so I think it's dramatic enough in its simple way to stop me in my tracks and help me get myself together.
You see, I have something called dysthymia. It's not as severe as many forms of depression, but it lingers. On and on and on. I think part of the curse of it is that since it isn't as severe, you can tell something isn't right. You KNOW you're messed up and you're powerless to stop it. There are therapies, medicinal and not, that treat it. I'm trying a nonmedicinal form, and it's more successful than not.
This is just a rough patch. But hey, at least I know it's happening and I can do my best to plow through it.
There's an old saying that if you wag a dog's tail, you'll make it happy because of the association with tail-wagging and happiness. I don't know if that's true or not, but that's what I'm trying for myself.
Honestly? It's working a little bit better every day.
Right now, I'm not on any medications. I stopped them in January after their effectiveness was just not there. We (my doctor, husband, and I) decided it would be worth a trial run without them. I do have a one month supply stashed if I should need to start back on them, but so far so good.
Until the last six weeks or so.
I've been feeling off. I try to do things out and about with my kid, try to keep my house clean, try to just live my life, but I feel off. I can feel myself being isolated. Now, the tricky part is figuring out if it's all in my head, if I'm unconsciously isolating myself, or if other people are isolating me for whatever reason. It's all happened to me before. The challenge is that when I'm slipping, I can't tell the difference. I know it's happening but I can't figure out the cause. In turn, that makes it even harder for me to pull myself back out of the depression. It's all a cycle, and it sucks.
So I've been isolated. Despite trying my hardest not to be, I am. Nate's noticed it, and he's trying to figure out how to deal with me when I'm like this. So far the most effective method has been him just flat out telling me, "Hey, you're being crazy." I hate it when he calls me crazy, so I think it's dramatic enough in its simple way to stop me in my tracks and help me get myself together.
You see, I have something called dysthymia. It's not as severe as many forms of depression, but it lingers. On and on and on. I think part of the curse of it is that since it isn't as severe, you can tell something isn't right. You KNOW you're messed up and you're powerless to stop it. There are therapies, medicinal and not, that treat it. I'm trying a nonmedicinal form, and it's more successful than not.
This is just a rough patch. But hey, at least I know it's happening and I can do my best to plow through it.
There's an old saying that if you wag a dog's tail, you'll make it happy because of the association with tail-wagging and happiness. I don't know if that's true or not, but that's what I'm trying for myself.
Honestly? It's working a little bit better every day.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
I'm *that* Mom
So tonight has been the first time since before my kid was born that I've been home alone. I begged and pleaded and my darling husband finally took the kid out without me so I could be home alone. I've done nothing but play computer games since I upgraded my graphics card this week. It's been a glorious evening.
Yesterday evening was a graduation party for my friend Jill, who finally completed her bachelor's degree. It was a great time, and I think I earned the title of "That Mom."
You see, it started raining. We were at a park, so mud puddles formed quickly. The bigger kids (ages 4-7) started playing in the puddles. Of course, I let Addy join. I had the means to dry her off and make her comfy in the car, it was hot as hell outside, and I thought it'd be funny. Ultimately she was drenched head to toe and got herself, me, and everyone she came in contact with muddy. And she giggled, laughed, and squealed with delight the entire time.
That's right, I let my 18 month old play in a mud puddle until she was a mess. And I laughed with her.
Mud puddles are AWESOME.
I also let her eat a brownie AND a cookie. She also ate real food, and I think she realized what a treat those sweets were because I've never seen her actually savor food before.
As far as parenting goes, I decided while I was still pregnant that I was just going to roll with it and do things the way that felt right to me. I do some research, chat with other parents, and then go with what feels like the best fit for my family. This has led to a very difficult age in child rearing actually being fun. Yes, she still has epic drama queen meltdowns if I put the wrong shoes on her, but that's what toddlers do. They freak the eff out over everything. They're starting to form their own little opinions and still lack a good way to express them. You'd be frustrated and prone to melt downs, too if you hadn't developed good communication skills.
So there you have it. My kid has eaten junk food and played in mud puddles. And we loved every minute of it.
Yesterday evening was a graduation party for my friend Jill, who finally completed her bachelor's degree. It was a great time, and I think I earned the title of "That Mom."
You see, it started raining. We were at a park, so mud puddles formed quickly. The bigger kids (ages 4-7) started playing in the puddles. Of course, I let Addy join. I had the means to dry her off and make her comfy in the car, it was hot as hell outside, and I thought it'd be funny. Ultimately she was drenched head to toe and got herself, me, and everyone she came in contact with muddy. And she giggled, laughed, and squealed with delight the entire time.
That's right, I let my 18 month old play in a mud puddle until she was a mess. And I laughed with her.
Mud puddles are AWESOME.
I also let her eat a brownie AND a cookie. She also ate real food, and I think she realized what a treat those sweets were because I've never seen her actually savor food before.
As far as parenting goes, I decided while I was still pregnant that I was just going to roll with it and do things the way that felt right to me. I do some research, chat with other parents, and then go with what feels like the best fit for my family. This has led to a very difficult age in child rearing actually being fun. Yes, she still has epic drama queen meltdowns if I put the wrong shoes on her, but that's what toddlers do. They freak the eff out over everything. They're starting to form their own little opinions and still lack a good way to express them. You'd be frustrated and prone to melt downs, too if you hadn't developed good communication skills.
So there you have it. My kid has eaten junk food and played in mud puddles. And we loved every minute of it.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
2 Down...
As of Saturday, I have hiked all of the trails in 2 of the MetroParks. I've hiked them all in Inniswood Metro Gardens (a super-easy one, given) and now I've hiked them all in Three Creeks (another easy one).
I have one trail of less than 1.5 miles left to hike up at Blendon Woods, and one paved trail of about 2 miles to do at Walnut Woods and I will have those parks checked off the list.
There are still many, many miles to go, however. I'm so excited for consistently nice weather. The paved trails allow me to cheat at put the kid in the stroller, whereas putting her in the carrier lets me burn some extra calories. It's win-win.
I've been reading a lot again, and I'm grateful for every page. I just recently finished Stiff by Mary Roach, and The Midwife by Jennifer Worth. Next up, Bonk by Mary Roach and part 2 of Jennifer Worth's Memoirs.
I've also reactivated my account over on Find A Grave. I've already helped a couple of people track down stones for their research, and I'm hoping to get a lot more active with that now that the weather is nice and my kid walks. It's so much easier navigating a cemetery when your companion is capable of walking alongside you.
That's all I have today, a couple of quick, silly updates. If I ever have time again, I'll actually put together something of substance to share.
I have one trail of less than 1.5 miles left to hike up at Blendon Woods, and one paved trail of about 2 miles to do at Walnut Woods and I will have those parks checked off the list.
There are still many, many miles to go, however. I'm so excited for consistently nice weather. The paved trails allow me to cheat at put the kid in the stroller, whereas putting her in the carrier lets me burn some extra calories. It's win-win.
I've been reading a lot again, and I'm grateful for every page. I just recently finished Stiff by Mary Roach, and The Midwife by Jennifer Worth. Next up, Bonk by Mary Roach and part 2 of Jennifer Worth's Memoirs.
I've also reactivated my account over on Find A Grave. I've already helped a couple of people track down stones for their research, and I'm hoping to get a lot more active with that now that the weather is nice and my kid walks. It's so much easier navigating a cemetery when your companion is capable of walking alongside you.
That's all I have today, a couple of quick, silly updates. If I ever have time again, I'll actually put together something of substance to share.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The MetroParks Project
I keep getting asked why I've decided to hike all of the public hiking trails in the MetroParks system (except the Greenway Trails). Honestly, I have no idea why. I have always really loved the MetroPark system, and being outside is my best form of exercise. Not to mention I have a little kid who loves outside and all it entails.
I guess that's my reason, then. I want to be outside, I want my kid to be outside, and I want to show appreciation for the system in some small way.
I'm around 20% done with the just shy of 100 miles of public hiking trails.
I haven't set a deadline for completion because I never know for sure when I'm going to get a chance to pop out and hike a trail. It'd be my luck I'd be one trail from completion and it'd flood out or my car would break down or some other force beyond my control would make me miss the deadline.
So this is a life goal. The sooner I complete it, the better, but there will always be more.
Earlier this week the Buckeye Trail at Walnut Woods opened. Land was recently purchased for a new park just off of 104 a little south of where I currently live. New parks mean New Trails.
I'm still trying to find out about Rocky Fork.
As part of this project I've put together a little binder. I have printed maps of each park with a trail list that I can check off as I finish, and a pocket for a copy of the official maps available at the parks. I'm trying to figure out what other sort of data I want to accumulate throughout this project. Maybe once Addy is older we'll add a flora/fauna checklist or similar. Suggestions are very welcome on that topic.
There you have it. I want to hike them because I can. I want to collect some sort of data while doing so, but I haven't decided what that will be. I want to teach my kid to appreciate nature from a young age.
I guess that's my reason, then. I want to be outside, I want my kid to be outside, and I want to show appreciation for the system in some small way.
I'm around 20% done with the just shy of 100 miles of public hiking trails.
I haven't set a deadline for completion because I never know for sure when I'm going to get a chance to pop out and hike a trail. It'd be my luck I'd be one trail from completion and it'd flood out or my car would break down or some other force beyond my control would make me miss the deadline.
So this is a life goal. The sooner I complete it, the better, but there will always be more.
Earlier this week the Buckeye Trail at Walnut Woods opened. Land was recently purchased for a new park just off of 104 a little south of where I currently live. New parks mean New Trails.
I'm still trying to find out about Rocky Fork.
As part of this project I've put together a little binder. I have printed maps of each park with a trail list that I can check off as I finish, and a pocket for a copy of the official maps available at the parks. I'm trying to figure out what other sort of data I want to accumulate throughout this project. Maybe once Addy is older we'll add a flora/fauna checklist or similar. Suggestions are very welcome on that topic.
There you have it. I want to hike them because I can. I want to collect some sort of data while doing so, but I haven't decided what that will be. I want to teach my kid to appreciate nature from a young age.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Heading towards Normal
Slowly but surely, the weather around here has been improving, meaning we've been going outside as much as possible. It's been glorious!
We spent one afternoon knocking off an easy set of trails from the list (Inniswood) and as of earlier this week, the Buckeye Trail at Walnut Woods is opened, so that's next on our hit list. I have a special appreciation for the paved trails since I can cheat and toss the kid in the stroller for those.
A friend of mine recently turned me onto the show Call The Midwife. I'm hooked. Once I finish the book I'm current working on (Stiff by Mary Roach) I'll be reading the first of Jennifer Worth's memoirs, which are the basis for the show.
Overall, my life is a fairly steady routine.
The biggest thing is that this Saturday is Walk MS, and I'm woefully behind on my fundraising goal. If you wanna chip in towards a world free of MS as part of my fundraising effort, please, click here.
That's all I've got, really. Check out the MetroParks page to see the updated tally.
We spent one afternoon knocking off an easy set of trails from the list (Inniswood) and as of earlier this week, the Buckeye Trail at Walnut Woods is opened, so that's next on our hit list. I have a special appreciation for the paved trails since I can cheat and toss the kid in the stroller for those.
A friend of mine recently turned me onto the show Call The Midwife. I'm hooked. Once I finish the book I'm current working on (Stiff by Mary Roach) I'll be reading the first of Jennifer Worth's memoirs, which are the basis for the show.
Overall, my life is a fairly steady routine.
The biggest thing is that this Saturday is Walk MS, and I'm woefully behind on my fundraising goal. If you wanna chip in towards a world free of MS as part of my fundraising effort, please, click here.
That's all I've got, really. Check out the MetroParks page to see the updated tally.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Sick Kids Wreck Days
It's been close to 10 days of sickness in the Keating household. Just as it seems like Addy is healing up, she relapses. Poor kid has been fighting a cold with a disappearing/reappearing fever for the better part of 10 days. Fortunately the fever has been gone for 7 of those days, but the runny nose and now cough from the post nasal drip just won't go away.
We've been cooped up in the house because of this, and I'm going insane. The weather is finally feeling good, so I'm desperate.
I did something silly that I've been procrastinating on for a very long time. I took my work bag from my last job and finally cleaned it out. I put all the papers from the old job into recycling, I threw away all the expired alcohol wipes, and even put the bag itself into the washer. Now I have a binder filled with page protectors and a pretty (but worn) tote bag that no longer has a job.
There hasn't been much going on thanks to the sick kid. I started watching Call the Midwife, my Degrassi addiction is still in full force, and...yeah, that's it. I have several books on reserve at the library, so that's cool.
Eventually, I will sit down and make a list of interesting topics I could blog about. Actually, I'll say it's happening soon, but I'm reserving the right to use the Joe Peacock definition of "soon."
Sunday, March 31, 2013
This & That & some ancient Jews
There are quite a few things going on in my universe recently, but I can never seem to find the time or the words to talk about them properly.
The weight loss is continuing, although it has dramatically slowed down. I blame myself for being less active recently. We had a cold snap and I hate the cold, so I went into lazy mode and hid in the house. The weather seems to be improving finally, so hopefully that will change.
Addy is sick. She woke up on Thursday a snotty mess and has gotten worse each day. Yesterday wasn't too bad, but now she's running a fever that won't quite break even with medicine. It lowers, but doesn't break. She's currently sleeping way earlier than her usual naptime. I'm guessing she's just got a nasty cold, but if the fever doesn't break today I'm calling the doctor first thing in the morning. I live in fear of an ear infection. I'd rather go in and be told it's just a cold than ignore an ear infection and have an ear drum rupture.
Other than my impromptu trip down to Slate Run, I haven't been to a park in a while and once again I'm blaming the cold. I did realize that I have one trail left up at Blendon Woods and 3 very short trails left in Three Creeks. Hopefully those will get knocked off the list soon. I don't want to drag a sick kid out of the house unnecessarily, though.
Of course the Gay Marriage debate is raging right now. I'll say one sentence and move on: I fully support equal marriage amongst consenting adults, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
I've been very behind of a lot of news recently and the part of me that is used to being plugged in all the time feels very deprived and ignorant. At the same time, the part of me that loves the happy little bubble consisting of me taking care of my kid is quite blissful. Ahh, to be worldly and self-absorbed all at once.
This past Tuesday, Addy and I went to Cinci to meet up with some friends at the Children's Museum. Now, my love of the Cinci Museum Center is well documented. I love the building, I love the museums, and I love the people. Until now, however, I'd never had an excuse to go into the Children's Museum. I now have a walking, exploring, mischievous toddler on my hands. We didn't even get a chance to explore the entire Children's Museum it's so big! I'm really excited to get Nate down there with her to play and explore. He still hasn't made it down there with me.
I also checked out the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. I know that's strange to many since I am a pretty vocal secular humanist, but whole college life once I abandoned theater was about archaeology. I had to see one of the coolest archaeological finds in global history. The exhibit was great, even for those of us who don't subscribe to the religions. There are many wonderful pieces, from pottery to mosaics, that highlight life in the 1st century BCE. It's there through April 14, so if you get a chance and you like history, go see it. The 10 scrolls are super cool to see, too.
That's really all I've got for now.
The weight loss is continuing, although it has dramatically slowed down. I blame myself for being less active recently. We had a cold snap and I hate the cold, so I went into lazy mode and hid in the house. The weather seems to be improving finally, so hopefully that will change.
Addy is sick. She woke up on Thursday a snotty mess and has gotten worse each day. Yesterday wasn't too bad, but now she's running a fever that won't quite break even with medicine. It lowers, but doesn't break. She's currently sleeping way earlier than her usual naptime. I'm guessing she's just got a nasty cold, but if the fever doesn't break today I'm calling the doctor first thing in the morning. I live in fear of an ear infection. I'd rather go in and be told it's just a cold than ignore an ear infection and have an ear drum rupture.
Other than my impromptu trip down to Slate Run, I haven't been to a park in a while and once again I'm blaming the cold. I did realize that I have one trail left up at Blendon Woods and 3 very short trails left in Three Creeks. Hopefully those will get knocked off the list soon. I don't want to drag a sick kid out of the house unnecessarily, though.
Of course the Gay Marriage debate is raging right now. I'll say one sentence and move on: I fully support equal marriage amongst consenting adults, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
I've been very behind of a lot of news recently and the part of me that is used to being plugged in all the time feels very deprived and ignorant. At the same time, the part of me that loves the happy little bubble consisting of me taking care of my kid is quite blissful. Ahh, to be worldly and self-absorbed all at once.
This past Tuesday, Addy and I went to Cinci to meet up with some friends at the Children's Museum. Now, my love of the Cinci Museum Center is well documented. I love the building, I love the museums, and I love the people. Until now, however, I'd never had an excuse to go into the Children's Museum. I now have a walking, exploring, mischievous toddler on my hands. We didn't even get a chance to explore the entire Children's Museum it's so big! I'm really excited to get Nate down there with her to play and explore. He still hasn't made it down there with me.
I also checked out the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. I know that's strange to many since I am a pretty vocal secular humanist, but whole college life once I abandoned theater was about archaeology. I had to see one of the coolest archaeological finds in global history. The exhibit was great, even for those of us who don't subscribe to the religions. There are many wonderful pieces, from pottery to mosaics, that highlight life in the 1st century BCE. It's there through April 14, so if you get a chance and you like history, go see it. The 10 scrolls are super cool to see, too.
That's really all I've got for now.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Where is Spring, exactly?
Today is March 20, the official start of Spring. Someone forgot to tell Ohio's weather.
It's currently 39 degrees fahrenheit at my house. This time last year, it was a record-breaking 84 degrees fahrenheit. I'd be perfectly content with a high temperature somewhere in between, say 55 or so right now.
Normally this time of year I can shut my heat off during the day to save power, I can sometimes even open a window. Instead I'm bundling myself and my kid up just to make it to the car.
I'm miserable in the cold. I want my Spring warmth. I want to put a big dent in the hiking goal, and I can't do that with the kid in tow when it's this cold.
Although, we did venture out yesterday. I knocked out 3 little trails down at Slate Run and found out that the Buckeye Trail in Walnut Woods still isn't open.
I also went over to Batelle Darby on Saturday and knocked out a trail over there. Yes, I also visited the Bison.
My weight loss has slowed down, and I have only myself to blame. I spent a week hiding from the cold and eating junk food. Fortunately I only set myself back a little bit. My ultimate goal is still very achievable in a healthy way. Despite the set back, I've noticed that my clothes aren't bursting at the seams to hold in my girth, so there has to be at least a little change happening.
On a related note, my poor kid is trapped in between clothing sizes. She's comfortably in 24m/2T shirts. However, she's all torso, so while 18m pants are the perfect length for her, they don't accommodate her belly. 24 month pants fit her belly, but are comedically long. I want shorts weather to show up so my kid doesn't need all of her clothes cuffed up at the bottom!
It's currently 39 degrees fahrenheit at my house. This time last year, it was a record-breaking 84 degrees fahrenheit. I'd be perfectly content with a high temperature somewhere in between, say 55 or so right now.
Normally this time of year I can shut my heat off during the day to save power, I can sometimes even open a window. Instead I'm bundling myself and my kid up just to make it to the car.
I'm miserable in the cold. I want my Spring warmth. I want to put a big dent in the hiking goal, and I can't do that with the kid in tow when it's this cold.
Although, we did venture out yesterday. I knocked out 3 little trails down at Slate Run and found out that the Buckeye Trail in Walnut Woods still isn't open.
I also went over to Batelle Darby on Saturday and knocked out a trail over there. Yes, I also visited the Bison.
My weight loss has slowed down, and I have only myself to blame. I spent a week hiding from the cold and eating junk food. Fortunately I only set myself back a little bit. My ultimate goal is still very achievable in a healthy way. Despite the set back, I've noticed that my clothes aren't bursting at the seams to hold in my girth, so there has to be at least a little change happening.
On a related note, my poor kid is trapped in between clothing sizes. She's comfortably in 24m/2T shirts. However, she's all torso, so while 18m pants are the perfect length for her, they don't accommodate her belly. 24 month pants fit her belly, but are comedically long. I want shorts weather to show up so my kid doesn't need all of her clothes cuffed up at the bottom!
Sunday, March 10, 2013
A Taste of Spring
We're finally getting a taste of spring here in Columbus, and I couldn't be happier about it. Usually by mid-February, I'm a wreck and so sick of the cold that I'm going crazy.
March showed up with 6.9 inches of snow that, fortunately, melted pretty quickly. Each day it's been getting warmer and my soul has been perking up. Yesterday it was above 60! Today it's supposed to be above 65! Hallelujah!
I'm currently sitting in a silent house (Addy's asleep), enjoying my lunch and the breeze coming through the living room window. Once I'm done with this, I'm going to bake chocolate doughnuts to share with the guys.
Every Sunday my best friends get together and have our own version of family dinner. Everyone takes turns cooking (or paying for takeout) and we hang out, eat, play games...you know, things normal families do without the drama.
These weekly gatherings are what started the Nerf arms race, which is on temporary hiatus because Tim took a dart to the eye. We're adults, you think we'd be smart enough to wear eye protection.
Now we're on a board games kick. Last week we played 13 Dead End Drive. Remember that game? It's effing AWESOME. This week it's hard to say what we'll do, but I'm going to take a couple of my board games over.
I'm a board game junkie.
March showed up with 6.9 inches of snow that, fortunately, melted pretty quickly. Each day it's been getting warmer and my soul has been perking up. Yesterday it was above 60! Today it's supposed to be above 65! Hallelujah!
I'm currently sitting in a silent house (Addy's asleep), enjoying my lunch and the breeze coming through the living room window. Once I'm done with this, I'm going to bake chocolate doughnuts to share with the guys.
Every Sunday my best friends get together and have our own version of family dinner. Everyone takes turns cooking (or paying for takeout) and we hang out, eat, play games...you know, things normal families do without the drama.
These weekly gatherings are what started the Nerf arms race, which is on temporary hiatus because Tim took a dart to the eye. We're adults, you think we'd be smart enough to wear eye protection.
Now we're on a board games kick. Last week we played 13 Dead End Drive. Remember that game? It's effing AWESOME. This week it's hard to say what we'll do, but I'm going to take a couple of my board games over.
I'm a board game junkie.
Friday, March 8, 2013
This & That
I've updated the MetroParks page. Yesterday we walked the Sweetgum Trail over at Walnut Woods, and I found out that the Buckeye Trail is now open. So, 2.6 miles checked off and 2 miles added to the list. I'm still trying to find out if Rocky Fork is officially open.
I realized that maybe I should start taking pictures from the trails, but then I also realized that I've typically got a 23lb toddler strapped to me while I'm hiking, so snapping pictures isn't always easy. I'll figure something out. Maybe I'll snap pictures from observation decks or of trailhead signs. Something.
We also took a trip out to the Ohio Statehouse earlier this week. Flat Stanley had a blast, and Addy acted indifferent except when she squealed at other people. Flat Stanley also saw the Dispatch building and the oldest church in the city. I created a twitter account for him, so if you feel like checking it out it's @CbusFlatStanley. I think I've only tweeted a couple of times from that account so far since I tend to take the Flat Stanley pictures with my camera, not my phone, but I'll work on that, too.
As of my last weigh-in, I have lost just shy of 15lbs. I have a weigh in later, but I don't know if I'll be able to blog later, so for now that's the number you all get.
Since I can't think of anything remotely relevant to say right now, here are a couple of pictures of Flat Stanley's adventures so far:
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| Outside of the Dispatch building |
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| In front of the Statehouse |
Friday, March 1, 2013
Flat Stanley Is On The Loose
A friend of mine is a teacher in Minnesota, and her class is doing a Flat Stanley project.
It's a project based on a children's story. In the story, Stanley gets smushed by a billboard and is flattened. His parents then fold him up and put him in an envelope to go visit a friend in California. The project has the kids create their own Flat Stanleys and send them out into the world as a way to learn geography, history, and a little bit about another place.
Since I live in the capital of Ohio, I felt it was my duty to host a Stanley. He showed up yesterday, and he is awesome. Today he visited my mom at the school bus compound, and he got a great view of the city skyline. Over the next week I have big plans for him to showcase some fun things in the city. I think that, in addition to emailing the pictures to my teacher friend, I'll share his adventure here, too. I'm thinking I might even frame him with my favorite picture from the adventure once all is said and done.
It's a project based on a children's story. In the story, Stanley gets smushed by a billboard and is flattened. His parents then fold him up and put him in an envelope to go visit a friend in California. The project has the kids create their own Flat Stanleys and send them out into the world as a way to learn geography, history, and a little bit about another place.
Since I live in the capital of Ohio, I felt it was my duty to host a Stanley. He showed up yesterday, and he is awesome. Today he visited my mom at the school bus compound, and he got a great view of the city skyline. Over the next week I have big plans for him to showcase some fun things in the city. I think that, in addition to emailing the pictures to my teacher friend, I'll share his adventure here, too. I'm thinking I might even frame him with my favorite picture from the adventure once all is said and done.
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| Stanley checking out the school buses |
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| Stanley getting a great view of the skyline |
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
More MetroParks Love
I've been kicking around an idea for a while, and I'm pulling the trigger.
I want to hike every single trail in every single Columbus MetroPark.
I thought of maybe doing it all within a year, but I have a kid to think about, so I'm going to call it a 5 year goal. This could get interesting considering one new park is partially open, another opens later this year, and they just bought land for yet another new park. Maybe I should call it a lifetime goal?
Either way, I'm going to have to figure out a way to track which trails I've done. Maybe I'll just keep a check list of all the trails and check them off one by one.
I'm not yet counting the Greenway Trail system. That's a goal for someone without a toddler.
So, there's my goal. I want to hike them all, with or without my kid strapped to me.
Let the adventure begin!
EDIT: I've added a page. I've listed every park and trail (with a few exceptions, explained there). I've also totaled up miles per park, and added a running tally at the bottom. Go me! I'll update that page as I complete trails or as new parks/trails open up.
I want to hike every single trail in every single Columbus MetroPark.
I thought of maybe doing it all within a year, but I have a kid to think about, so I'm going to call it a 5 year goal. This could get interesting considering one new park is partially open, another opens later this year, and they just bought land for yet another new park. Maybe I should call it a lifetime goal?
Either way, I'm going to have to figure out a way to track which trails I've done. Maybe I'll just keep a check list of all the trails and check them off one by one.
I'm not yet counting the Greenway Trail system. That's a goal for someone without a toddler.
So, there's my goal. I want to hike them all, with or without my kid strapped to me.
Let the adventure begin!
EDIT: I've added a page. I've listed every park and trail (with a few exceptions, explained there). I've also totaled up miles per park, and added a running tally at the bottom. Go me! I'll update that page as I complete trails or as new parks/trails open up.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
My Kid Walks!
Addy took her first steps on January 9, and every day would take a few steps, fall over and crawl where she wanted to get. Gradually she walked more and more, to the point she doesn't crawl around the house at all.
I'm excited. She still crawls when we're at other places, but even that tendency is starting to fade away. My little girl is really becoming a toddler, which is exciting and terrifying. She's been a climber since before she could even crawl, and she's now getting downright daring.
She's also starting to show preference between items. She prefers one book over another, one shirt over another, etc. Most recently she's starting bringing me jackets (if they aren't put away properly) and freaking out until I help her put them on. She wore a denim jacket all day (including nap time) one day last week. She brings me a pair of her shoes and says "Shoes! Shoes! Shoes!" until I help her put them on her feet. She's preferring her white tennis shoes this week, and will even walk with them on, which is a first. Usually shoes on her feet would inspire her to crawl. Last week, she wanted to only wear her pink cowboy boots.
Sad Puppy is still her absolute favorite toy above all others. She'll throw anything down, including forbidden items, if presented with Sad Puppy.
So, I guess today I'm realizing more and more how fast they grow up. When you aren't a parent, you don't fully get it when people say that. Damn you, general knowledge for being correct!
Earlier this afternoon, Addy was standing in front of her rocking chair and watching Sesame Street, and I realized she's starting to look like a kid more than a baby, too.
I blame the tennis shoes.
I'm excited. She still crawls when we're at other places, but even that tendency is starting to fade away. My little girl is really becoming a toddler, which is exciting and terrifying. She's been a climber since before she could even crawl, and she's now getting downright daring.
She's also starting to show preference between items. She prefers one book over another, one shirt over another, etc. Most recently she's starting bringing me jackets (if they aren't put away properly) and freaking out until I help her put them on. She wore a denim jacket all day (including nap time) one day last week. She brings me a pair of her shoes and says "Shoes! Shoes! Shoes!" until I help her put them on her feet. She's preferring her white tennis shoes this week, and will even walk with them on, which is a first. Usually shoes on her feet would inspire her to crawl. Last week, she wanted to only wear her pink cowboy boots.
Sad Puppy is still her absolute favorite toy above all others. She'll throw anything down, including forbidden items, if presented with Sad Puppy.
So, I guess today I'm realizing more and more how fast they grow up. When you aren't a parent, you don't fully get it when people say that. Damn you, general knowledge for being correct!
Earlier this afternoon, Addy was standing in front of her rocking chair and watching Sesame Street, and I realized she's starting to look like a kid more than a baby, too.
I blame the tennis shoes.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Balsamic & Onion Pot Roast with Roasted Red Potatoes
I found a recipe for Balsamic & Onion Pot Roast indirectly on Pinterest. It was linked on a blog I found via Pinterest, and it is quite possibly the best pot roast I've ever had. I tweaked the recipe a very tiny bit, and my husband ate most of a 3lb roast in one sitting. (yeah, it's that good).
Here's the Link: Kalyn's Kitchen: Balsamic and Onion Pot Roast
What I changed was minor and can be ignored, but I kinda forgot to decant part of the fat from the broth at the end, but I had trimmed the roast very well, so there wasn't really any to decant.
Also, I used a 5qt cooker and 8 hours was a touch too much. Next time I'm pulling it at 7 hours.
I paired her pot roast with roasted red potatoes, and here's what I did with those. I cooked these for just the two of us with plans for leftovers, so adjust as necessary:
6 medium red potatoes, diced in medium to large chunks
3 tablespoons of butter
1/4-1/2 c fresh chopped parsley
salt to taste (optional)
In an 8x10 glass baking dish, put 2tbs of butter in the bottom of the pan.
Put the pan in the cool oven, and turn it on to 350 degrees to pre-heat. After 3-5 minutes, just as the butter melts, pull the pan out.
Put in the potatoes, and stir them to coat in the melted butter. Add the parsley and a little bit of salt (if desired) and stir/toss them some more.
Make sure all the potatoes are very well coated. Put back in the oven for about 45 minutes, checking it fairly frequently after 40 minutes. I've made these 100 times and they cook for a different amount of time every time.
Test them by poking one with a fork. The potatoes should be sturdy enough to be poked with a fork, but starting to get soft. If it's tough to poke the fork in, wait another few minutes and check it again.
Depending on your personal preference, here is where the 3rd bit of butter comes in. Sometimes I leave them in to where they're starting to get just a touch dry. If this is the case, add that last bit of butter and mix well. That extra butter will help soften them back up and make them extra tasty.
TIP: leave the skins on the potatoes, they're tastier and prettier that way.
Here's the Link: Kalyn's Kitchen: Balsamic and Onion Pot Roast
What I changed was minor and can be ignored, but I kinda forgot to decant part of the fat from the broth at the end, but I had trimmed the roast very well, so there wasn't really any to decant.
Also, I used a 5qt cooker and 8 hours was a touch too much. Next time I'm pulling it at 7 hours.
I paired her pot roast with roasted red potatoes, and here's what I did with those. I cooked these for just the two of us with plans for leftovers, so adjust as necessary:
6 medium red potatoes, diced in medium to large chunks
3 tablespoons of butter
1/4-1/2 c fresh chopped parsley
salt to taste (optional)
In an 8x10 glass baking dish, put 2tbs of butter in the bottom of the pan.
Put the pan in the cool oven, and turn it on to 350 degrees to pre-heat. After 3-5 minutes, just as the butter melts, pull the pan out.
Put in the potatoes, and stir them to coat in the melted butter. Add the parsley and a little bit of salt (if desired) and stir/toss them some more.
Make sure all the potatoes are very well coated. Put back in the oven for about 45 minutes, checking it fairly frequently after 40 minutes. I've made these 100 times and they cook for a different amount of time every time.
Test them by poking one with a fork. The potatoes should be sturdy enough to be poked with a fork, but starting to get soft. If it's tough to poke the fork in, wait another few minutes and check it again.
Depending on your personal preference, here is where the 3rd bit of butter comes in. Sometimes I leave them in to where they're starting to get just a touch dry. If this is the case, add that last bit of butter and mix well. That extra butter will help soften them back up and make them extra tasty.
TIP: leave the skins on the potatoes, they're tastier and prettier that way.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Columbus MetroPark Love
I absolutely love the Columbus MetroParks system. I've loved it as long as I can remember. I still love it even though I nearly stepped on a black rat snake down in Three Creeks that one time. Yup, I nearly stepped on a snake and I still love my park system.
To me, exercising isn't the boring crap in a gym. Seriously, push ups and weight lifting and running suck. They're boring. To me, exercising is being active outdoors. One of my favorite things to do in the world is to hike in the woods. Be it an easy paved trail through the parks, or a more rustic trail, I love it. Every week, weather depending, I've been heading out to a MetroPark and hiking around with the kid strapped to me in her carrier. It's the FatAss Momma version of backpacking. Sometimes it's a short 30 minute trek, sometimes longer, but I always have fun and Addy has started looking around and being interested in the things around us as I walk. My goal is to hike at least 1 trail in every single MetroPark. So far, I've done all of the trails except for 2 in Blendon Woods, and yesterday I went up to Highbanks and hiked part of two trails. It was muddy and getting dark, so I only got a 2.2 mile loop done.
I love it. Absolutely love it. I'm looking forward to Addy being a more reliable walker so I can let her toddle along the paved trails a bit. I want to share a love of nature with her.
These parks are how I'm starting to shed my sedentary lifestyle, slowly but surely. I try to get out and do a minimum of 45 minutes hiking at least once a week. This week I've gotten out twice, for a 30 minute and then a 45 minute hike. Today I'm not going out because it's way too cold to drag myself and the kid out there. We'll see how the weather is tomorrow.
There are some absolutely beautiful spaces here in Central Ohio. If you're nearby, I urge you to check out at least one of the MetroParks. It's worth it, I promise.
To me, exercising isn't the boring crap in a gym. Seriously, push ups and weight lifting and running suck. They're boring. To me, exercising is being active outdoors. One of my favorite things to do in the world is to hike in the woods. Be it an easy paved trail through the parks, or a more rustic trail, I love it. Every week, weather depending, I've been heading out to a MetroPark and hiking around with the kid strapped to me in her carrier. It's the FatAss Momma version of backpacking. Sometimes it's a short 30 minute trek, sometimes longer, but I always have fun and Addy has started looking around and being interested in the things around us as I walk. My goal is to hike at least 1 trail in every single MetroPark. So far, I've done all of the trails except for 2 in Blendon Woods, and yesterday I went up to Highbanks and hiked part of two trails. It was muddy and getting dark, so I only got a 2.2 mile loop done.
I love it. Absolutely love it. I'm looking forward to Addy being a more reliable walker so I can let her toddle along the paved trails a bit. I want to share a love of nature with her.
These parks are how I'm starting to shed my sedentary lifestyle, slowly but surely. I try to get out and do a minimum of 45 minutes hiking at least once a week. This week I've gotten out twice, for a 30 minute and then a 45 minute hike. Today I'm not going out because it's way too cold to drag myself and the kid out there. We'll see how the weather is tomorrow.
There are some absolutely beautiful spaces here in Central Ohio. If you're nearby, I urge you to check out at least one of the MetroParks. It's worth it, I promise.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Fatass Update
I've been doing very well with sticking to a maximum number of calories each day, and as a result, I've made smarter snacking choices. It's funny, I still indulge in junk food every once in a while, but now that I'm a month in, I no longer feel deprived. Heck, I even indulged in some McDonald's the other day. (Those large fries were totally worth the 500 relatively empty calories).
So, I'm down 10.3 lbs overall as of this past Friday. You can't really see it yet, but I've noticed that my clothes are starting to fit just a little bit better, which is motivation enough for me right now.
I was asked why I'm doing this, and I could tell you the noble reasons of just wanting to be healthy and wanting to set a good example for my daughter, and those are true. I can say that I want to prove that I can control myself, and that is also true, but I'll give you the true, original reason I decided to start making better choices:
I want my existing clothes to fit again. I'm cheap & lazy and don't want to have to go buy a bunch of new clothes. I have some awesome tshirts and comfortable jeans that just don't fit my fluffy self. I worked hard building my crazy tshirt collection, damnit!
I did purge out some pieces that are just inappropriate for me or that will NEVER fit again no matter how much weight I lose (post pregnancy/breastfeeding boobs, anyone?). I also got rid of those pants that I couldn't figure out why I still had them. I still probably own too many clothes, but I'm not purging anything else until I know for sure what kind of weight I maintain.
I've found that sticking with this for the just over a month that I have that little changes have been the biggest help. Bored? Take a short walk. I dance around to music while doing dishes. I dance around a lot, actually, now that Addy can somewhat walk and spends more time on her feet.
I honestly am looking forward to her walking more because I think chasing her around will do wonders for building up a more active lifestyle.
So, I'm down 10.3 lbs overall as of this past Friday. You can't really see it yet, but I've noticed that my clothes are starting to fit just a little bit better, which is motivation enough for me right now.
I was asked why I'm doing this, and I could tell you the noble reasons of just wanting to be healthy and wanting to set a good example for my daughter, and those are true. I can say that I want to prove that I can control myself, and that is also true, but I'll give you the true, original reason I decided to start making better choices:
I want my existing clothes to fit again. I'm cheap & lazy and don't want to have to go buy a bunch of new clothes. I have some awesome tshirts and comfortable jeans that just don't fit my fluffy self. I worked hard building my crazy tshirt collection, damnit!
I did purge out some pieces that are just inappropriate for me or that will NEVER fit again no matter how much weight I lose (post pregnancy/breastfeeding boobs, anyone?). I also got rid of those pants that I couldn't figure out why I still had them. I still probably own too many clothes, but I'm not purging anything else until I know for sure what kind of weight I maintain.
I've found that sticking with this for the just over a month that I have that little changes have been the biggest help. Bored? Take a short walk. I dance around to music while doing dishes. I dance around a lot, actually, now that Addy can somewhat walk and spends more time on her feet.
I honestly am looking forward to her walking more because I think chasing her around will do wonders for building up a more active lifestyle.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
The Mommy Wars Are Stupid
In many parenting situations, I'm a live and let live kinda mom. I try not to be the parental equivalent of a Bible thumper, but there are a few things that just bother me to the point I want to smack parents around.
Improper Car Seats
The recommendation is no longer that your kid stay rear facing until 12 months of age or 20 pounds. The recommendation is now 2 years of age, period. The reason is simple: INTERNAL DECAPITATION. There are bones not fully developed until age 2, and in the crazy physics of a car crash, a rear facing seat, properly installed, absorbs the impact instead of your child's neck. The AAP recommendation is everywhere, and the new car seats that my husband and I bought had the recommendation on the display tags, on stickers by the straps, and in the booklet teaching you how to install the damn things. The paperwork from our pediatrician says it, the pediatrician told us to wait until 2 years old to turn her around, and a quick google search will pull up the AAP recommendation and a whole bunch of articles about the change. So, when my Facebook feed is filled with people flipping their children that are less than a year old, I get pissy. (Here's the statement from the AAP, complete with a link to the technical specifics: http://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/state-advocacy/Documents/Child_Passenger_Safety_SLR.pdf )
I also get pissy over the chest buckle being on the belly instead of the chest, and people putting their puffy coated children in the car seat. With something so critical to your child's safety, wouldn't you want to know how to use it properly?
Vaccinations
I chose to vaccinate my child. I did the research, I weighed the pros and cons, and I made an informed decision for my child. Personally, I don't understand why people choose not to vaccinate, but it is a choice that is made, so whatever. What gets me pissed off is when the anti-vaxers tell me I've given my child cancer, or Autism, or have caused her to be mentally retarded or otherwise abused her by choosing to vaccinate. I get really, really, really pissed off when the Sanctimommy berating me for vaccinating my daughter has a daughter with pierced ears. Apparently my medical needles are unacceptable but your "looking pretty" needles/piercing guns are fine? Bite me, bitch. (For the record, I don't care if you get your kid's ears pierced young. We've just decided to wait to see if she wants it done and I want to her care for them herself.)
Breastfeeding Vs. Formula
As long as I'm feeding my child appropriately and not putting Mt. Dew in her bottles, it's none of your business how she is nourished. You want to nurse in public? GO FOR IT! Wanna whip out a bottle of formula instead? GO FOR IT! Feed your child, let me feed mine, and let's move on. Instead of worrying about whether my boobs function properly (I worry about that enough for myself, thanks) why don't you worry about the lady over there who just dumped Mt. Dew in her toddler's bottle. I think she deserves your rage a hell of a lot more than me.
While we all are told, countless times, that breast is best, it isn't the only option, and for some, it isn't best. Happy mommy who formula feeds is a hell of a lot better than the stressed out wreck. Make your choice, and be happy with it. What's important isn't that you breastfed for that first year (and if you did, I salute you because that shit is HARD.) What's important is that your child was nourished, happy, and healthy. And you didn't go crazy resenting him.
I just realized that I could go on and on and on over these Mommy Wars. They're FUCKING STUPID. Unless the debate in question is an actually dangerous debate (see: CAR SEATS AND THEIR PROPER USE) the rest is all opinion. Find the parenting style that works for you, and roll with it. Oh, and while you're memorizing Dr. Sears, find some time to respect those of us who decide to give it our own try. My kid seems pretty damn happy considering I've been winging the small stuff for the past 14.5 months.
Improper Car Seats
The recommendation is no longer that your kid stay rear facing until 12 months of age or 20 pounds. The recommendation is now 2 years of age, period. The reason is simple: INTERNAL DECAPITATION. There are bones not fully developed until age 2, and in the crazy physics of a car crash, a rear facing seat, properly installed, absorbs the impact instead of your child's neck. The AAP recommendation is everywhere, and the new car seats that my husband and I bought had the recommendation on the display tags, on stickers by the straps, and in the booklet teaching you how to install the damn things. The paperwork from our pediatrician says it, the pediatrician told us to wait until 2 years old to turn her around, and a quick google search will pull up the AAP recommendation and a whole bunch of articles about the change. So, when my Facebook feed is filled with people flipping their children that are less than a year old, I get pissy. (Here's the statement from the AAP, complete with a link to the technical specifics: http://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/state-advocacy/Documents/Child_Passenger_Safety_SLR.pdf )
I also get pissy over the chest buckle being on the belly instead of the chest, and people putting their puffy coated children in the car seat. With something so critical to your child's safety, wouldn't you want to know how to use it properly?
Vaccinations
I chose to vaccinate my child. I did the research, I weighed the pros and cons, and I made an informed decision for my child. Personally, I don't understand why people choose not to vaccinate, but it is a choice that is made, so whatever. What gets me pissed off is when the anti-vaxers tell me I've given my child cancer, or Autism, or have caused her to be mentally retarded or otherwise abused her by choosing to vaccinate. I get really, really, really pissed off when the Sanctimommy berating me for vaccinating my daughter has a daughter with pierced ears. Apparently my medical needles are unacceptable but your "looking pretty" needles/piercing guns are fine? Bite me, bitch. (For the record, I don't care if you get your kid's ears pierced young. We've just decided to wait to see if she wants it done and I want to her care for them herself.)
Breastfeeding Vs. Formula
As long as I'm feeding my child appropriately and not putting Mt. Dew in her bottles, it's none of your business how she is nourished. You want to nurse in public? GO FOR IT! Wanna whip out a bottle of formula instead? GO FOR IT! Feed your child, let me feed mine, and let's move on. Instead of worrying about whether my boobs function properly (I worry about that enough for myself, thanks) why don't you worry about the lady over there who just dumped Mt. Dew in her toddler's bottle. I think she deserves your rage a hell of a lot more than me.
While we all are told, countless times, that breast is best, it isn't the only option, and for some, it isn't best. Happy mommy who formula feeds is a hell of a lot better than the stressed out wreck. Make your choice, and be happy with it. What's important isn't that you breastfed for that first year (and if you did, I salute you because that shit is HARD.) What's important is that your child was nourished, happy, and healthy. And you didn't go crazy resenting him.
I just realized that I could go on and on and on over these Mommy Wars. They're FUCKING STUPID. Unless the debate in question is an actually dangerous debate (see: CAR SEATS AND THEIR PROPER USE) the rest is all opinion. Find the parenting style that works for you, and roll with it. Oh, and while you're memorizing Dr. Sears, find some time to respect those of us who decide to give it our own try. My kid seems pretty damn happy considering I've been winging the small stuff for the past 14.5 months.
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