How do you feel about this article?
The last word: Advice from 'America's worst mom'
Last week two of my kids were asked to participate in a group carrying flags in the upcoming parade. The older gentlemen who has volunteered to organize and wants to oversee this group, called and arranged a time with my 16 yr old to meet. After the conversation, she handed the phone back to me, indicating that he wanted to talk to me. He told me he had arranged to meet at 4:30 at the horse arena where we keep our three horses, and hoped that I could be there to meet him. I told him, I would send my 16 yr old and my 10 yr old over. He sounded skeptical like he didn't want to babysit and expected me to be there to oversee and help them. Little does he know - I don't do anything with our horses! They are L's passion and most of the kids have adopted the same. It is something they get up early and do on their own! They often make arrangements to get their work done early so they can go on a ride together, but it is not something I have encouraged! In fact, we have not paid for any of the three horses we have! L is so responsible and good with them, locals call her the "horse whisperer" that others have asked her to care for and adopt their horses! The first two we did legal trade work for, but they were really given to us because the family that had them had all grown up, and the parents didn't have a desire to keep them around with no one to ride them. We were the fortunate ones who were fortunate by the grace of God to be there and they offered to give them to us for trade. B agreed to do the work, and so L got her first two horses. Since then, one of the two, Lady has passed away - See my blog post November/December of 2009. Two other horses have come to her, now making three healthy horses she loves to ride!
As I read this article, I so relate! J was just little, when I had to stop the car on the side of the road one day because he refused to keep his seat belt on. B was driving, and pulled to the side of the road in Midvale area of Salt Lake City. I got out, lifted J from the car, put him on his rear on the curb, and got back into the car saying that if he didn't keep his seat belt on, he couldn't ride in the car and would have to walk home. OF COURSE I was not intending on leaving him there! OF COURSE he would cry and insist that he would put his belt on and obey the rules! He did! He was jumping up and down, begging, promising to obey the seat belt rule. I didn't yell, I didn't beat, I didn't do anything mean. I simply lifted him from the car. That afternoon when I got home, there was an urgent note from the police that we needed to call them immediately! I did to which, they immediately came to our house indicating that a lady driving by had signed a complaint that I was abusing my child! Wow! I did not do anything to him! The police checked him for bruises, and indicated that they were sincerely sorry for the hassle, but that in this day and age, people all think they are better parents than the actual parent! They apologized for the lady being so nosy that she would jump to conclusions which were so wrong and even press charges against me for something they didn't see as anything wrong either! I didn't hear more of the complaint, or of the lady, but it certainly left a memory of terror in my heart!
Yesterday at church, one of the comments was about giving in to peer pressure. I couldn't help but consider all the negative connotations and blatant comments I have had about being pregnant with number 8. I keep wanting to come up with some good come back when thoughtless people pass judgement and say something like "Well, are you going to be done after this one?" That is none of their business! I don't think that there is any rule that says we have to vote on whether or not it is appropriate or right for me to have a baby! NONE of their Business! I am so grateful for the many blessings I have been given, and seven of the greatest of those are the beautiful, smart, responsible, kind, loving, outstanding young people in my home! I am thrilled to welcome another one here soon!
So to follow up on the first story, I just got an email from someone else involved in the parade this weekend, who heard from this gentlemen regarding my kids: She wrote "__________ came by last night and had the nicest things to say about your children. He is excited about this parade and was impressed by them and their enthusiasm." I am too! I am grateful for their independence and their dependability! I am grateful for their amazing talents and capabilities! I realize that I stand in the way too often of opportunities that could drastically change their lives. My responsibility as their parent is to watch out for them, to love them, to help them in their journeys! I love being a part of their adventures, and can't wait for what lies ahead! Now at 19 I am preparing to send that same little one who wouldn't wear a seat belt to Taiwan! Talk about independence and adventure. I am thankful to know that he is prepared!
The last word: Advice from 'America's worst mom'
Last week two of my kids were asked to participate in a group carrying flags in the upcoming parade. The older gentlemen who has volunteered to organize and wants to oversee this group, called and arranged a time with my 16 yr old to meet. After the conversation, she handed the phone back to me, indicating that he wanted to talk to me. He told me he had arranged to meet at 4:30 at the horse arena where we keep our three horses, and hoped that I could be there to meet him. I told him, I would send my 16 yr old and my 10 yr old over. He sounded skeptical like he didn't want to babysit and expected me to be there to oversee and help them. Little does he know - I don't do anything with our horses! They are L's passion and most of the kids have adopted the same. It is something they get up early and do on their own! They often make arrangements to get their work done early so they can go on a ride together, but it is not something I have encouraged! In fact, we have not paid for any of the three horses we have! L is so responsible and good with them, locals call her the "horse whisperer" that others have asked her to care for and adopt their horses! The first two we did legal trade work for, but they were really given to us because the family that had them had all grown up, and the parents didn't have a desire to keep them around with no one to ride them. We were the fortunate ones who were fortunate by the grace of God to be there and they offered to give them to us for trade. B agreed to do the work, and so L got her first two horses. Since then, one of the two, Lady has passed away - See my blog post November/December of 2009. Two other horses have come to her, now making three healthy horses she loves to ride!
As I read this article, I so relate! J was just little, when I had to stop the car on the side of the road one day because he refused to keep his seat belt on. B was driving, and pulled to the side of the road in Midvale area of Salt Lake City. I got out, lifted J from the car, put him on his rear on the curb, and got back into the car saying that if he didn't keep his seat belt on, he couldn't ride in the car and would have to walk home. OF COURSE I was not intending on leaving him there! OF COURSE he would cry and insist that he would put his belt on and obey the rules! He did! He was jumping up and down, begging, promising to obey the seat belt rule. I didn't yell, I didn't beat, I didn't do anything mean. I simply lifted him from the car. That afternoon when I got home, there was an urgent note from the police that we needed to call them immediately! I did to which, they immediately came to our house indicating that a lady driving by had signed a complaint that I was abusing my child! Wow! I did not do anything to him! The police checked him for bruises, and indicated that they were sincerely sorry for the hassle, but that in this day and age, people all think they are better parents than the actual parent! They apologized for the lady being so nosy that she would jump to conclusions which were so wrong and even press charges against me for something they didn't see as anything wrong either! I didn't hear more of the complaint, or of the lady, but it certainly left a memory of terror in my heart!
Yesterday at church, one of the comments was about giving in to peer pressure. I couldn't help but consider all the negative connotations and blatant comments I have had about being pregnant with number 8. I keep wanting to come up with some good come back when thoughtless people pass judgement and say something like "Well, are you going to be done after this one?" That is none of their business! I don't think that there is any rule that says we have to vote on whether or not it is appropriate or right for me to have a baby! NONE of their Business! I am so grateful for the many blessings I have been given, and seven of the greatest of those are the beautiful, smart, responsible, kind, loving, outstanding young people in my home! I am thrilled to welcome another one here soon!
So to follow up on the first story, I just got an email from someone else involved in the parade this weekend, who heard from this gentlemen regarding my kids: She wrote "__________ came by last night and had the nicest things to say about your children. He is excited about this parade and was impressed by them and their enthusiasm." I am too! I am grateful for their independence and their dependability! I am grateful for their amazing talents and capabilities! I realize that I stand in the way too often of opportunities that could drastically change their lives. My responsibility as their parent is to watch out for them, to love them, to help them in their journeys! I love being a part of their adventures, and can't wait for what lies ahead! Now at 19 I am preparing to send that same little one who wouldn't wear a seat belt to Taiwan! Talk about independence and adventure. I am thankful to know that he is prepared!