I know how you feel. I am dreading the first day of school when I receive all these forms that must be filled out in triplicate for each of my children. This year I have a plan to side step all that! Let me know if there is anything you think I should add. http://mommas-world.blogspot.com/2007/08/mommy-homework.html

sorry, ment Robyn not Loralee but it doesn't really matter. I just think we need to be a little nicer to each other. Typed words can some times be read wrong or not reflect the writters actual expression/feelings.

Is this gang up on Loralee day? I think everyone needs to relax a little. I have no idea who Loralee is but I believe there are people out there who did not know about the reverse number look up on Google. I knew about the yellow.com and yellowpages.com reverse look ups but did not know Google was also doing this. My sister is single, lives in a state where she is far away from any family member. She has an unlisted, non-published number which she pays extra for. She also signed up for the Do Not Call list. Yet, her information was right there on Google, yellow.com and yellowpages.com. I accidentally found out when I was ordering flowers for her birthday this year. I was at work and did not have my address book with me. I absent mindedly did a reverse number look up on-line not remembering she had the unlisted, non-published number. I explained the situation to my sister and she was furious! She called the phone company and still had to go to the web sites to take her information down herself.

I have to add, my children have never driven with me during rush hour madness.

My children have told me DC is normal... "Mom, in VA they will drive right over you and in PA they drive so slow you want to drive over them. DC is normal. They are not too fast or too slow."

My wait list was always the daycare centers. I have three children and I am a single mom. Staying home is not an option for me. I must have daycare. The daycare who has a spot open is the one you pounce on and you will pay them whatever they ask. Rules of Supply and Demand.

I never thought of it as sexist until now. My thoughts were he was older. Dora being a young little girl wouldn't just wonder around alone or try to drive a car or anything. Sort of a hidden safety message for little girls who wanted to be like Dora. Then again it has been a few years since I watched one of those shows. Last month we gave away all of our Dora and Diego movies.

What in the world goes on Tuesday mornings during rush hour that makes it take twice the “normal” drudge on the beltway and the GWP (George Washington Parkway). I am not talking about “Oh, it was slow one Tuesday morning.” It is ridiculously slow and aggravating every Tuesday morning all year round. Any ideas?

I they should include this list at the entrance of all DC Metro area fairs. It is all so true!

So many different types of viruses are passed around during the school year. Last year I received a note from the school stating my child had missed 10 days during the school year. All but one of those days was due to a virus. The school knew she was sick with a virus each time. I sent in notes for the first five (only allowed 5 parent sick notes per year). Then for the other five separate occasions had to take a day off work each time to take her to the doctors office. All this for him to tell me what I already knew “she has a virus” pay $20 co-pay, continue what you are already doing (liquids, bland food, etc.). She cannot go to school or daycare for a few days and you must take off work. Then to receive a formal letter pretty much saying my daughter is not complying with the school attendance policy is just the icing on the poopie cake. I have three children and you know if one gets it they pass it on to each other and then eventually Mommy gets it. I am only given three weeks of vacation/sick leave per year. Due to the school requirements of having a doctors note I must save all of my vacation and sick leave for virus related doctor appointments. It is madding but what else can you do? I am going to follow that link to read the article.

Like you I had never heard of this type of breast cancer. I would have thought it a simple infection of some sort. Thank you for sharing this hear or I would have never known about it. Sometime this week I will make a post on my blog regarding Inflammatory Breast Cancer to alert others I know.

I know several families who have adopted children from other countries and every one of them take their children to a weekly heritage class. It not only helps the children but also the parents. Hannah is 5 years old now and Mary & Martha are 6 & 9. The classes have actually helped the parents bond with their children in a way they would have never known. The girls really enjoy the time in classes as well. Martha said “It is just like Girl Scouts but boys can come too.” All of these girls were adopted during or just after their first year. My children are not adopted nor are we from China but my goodness do they have a great love of all things of the orient. All parents have their trials and turbulence no matter the age, gender or culture of their children. We can only do the best we know how and try to make it through as best we can.

I wonder about old toys we have such as the 1950s Barbie Dolls and her accessories. The toys made well before people were aware of lead paint issues. I have a ton of old Barbie’s which have been passed down over the decades. Maybe I should just put them up on a high shelf for “looking” and not for handling

We lived in the DC Metro Area for 20 years. My oldest has graduated from high school but I still have two girls in school. The school supply list plus the toiletries, tissues and such all added up to an extreme expense. Thank goodness I only have two in school right now. We moved out of state and in a more rural/country setting. I am still recovering from the new school supply list … “4 pencils, 1 pencil pouch, 1 back pack - We (the school) supply all other items such as crayons, folders, scissors, etc.” They didn’t ask for tissues or some note book only available in Japan on Tuesdays when it was raining. http://mommas-world.blogspot.com/2007/08/back-to-school.html

Best bargan ever... My friend Linda received a coupon for a free package of mini M&Ms. In her free bag of mini M&Ms she found a certificate. Apparently she won 8 tickets to the Phillie's Baseball game (Philadelphia major leage). We were visiting her the weekend of the Phillie's game and she told us we were all going to the game and how she got the free tickets. She was tickled to pieces. We go to the game and not only did she win the free tickets her young son and husband were to through out the official first pitch. That was exciting! Then they did some sort of drawing based on seat numbers. She won a beautiful 2 kt emerald and diamond ring!! I tried to get her to switch seats with me before they came to give her the ring but she wasn't bugding. We still laugh about it.

A few months back there was a Mommy Blogger who was asked to appear on Good Morning America, the topic Cocktails and Play Dates. This Mom and her Mom pals would have a glass of wine while their children played. No one was driving, it was one glass of wine, catching up and chatting while the children were playing. They were not drinking to get stupid. The show lead her to believe this was a peaceful interview but she was in for a surprise. The Good Morning America host and a woman Psychologist (or some sort) ganged up on her. After the show there were attempts to apologize to the Mom saying things like - We wanted the general public to understand they should not get drunk and stupid while caring for children. Myself, I see it no different than having a home Christmas party with friends and relatives. The children are there doing their activities with some adults drinking responsibly while chatting or what have you. With that said I am still appalled when I read the article you mentioned. As you said this mother is not teaching her child how to cope with stressful situations and he will catch on as he grows older. My greatest astonishment after reading the article was the fact that she does not care that Pot is ILLEGAL! ILLEGAL!! She could have her child taken away from her! Breaking the law like that is not going to help her or her child. Sipping a glass of wine for an hour while chatting with your friends in your own backyard is ok so long as you are over 21 years old. No matter what your age or how minimal you think your consumption is…Pot is ILLEGAL! It is even against the law to have it in your possession! If the police find it in her house they can take her house and her child away from her! The majority of the comments over there seemed like half the US smokes Pot. They are ok with the Mom smoking it and see nothing wrong with it. I am very surprised. Sorry for all the exclamation marks but this really upset me!

My daughter Snow White acting out one of her made up plays. Momma's World Shannon TreesNSnow@yahoo.com

My daughter Snow White has been making up stories whenever the mood hits her. It is usually when I have no video camera with me. Mine is as old as she is so it is not exactly portable. Her stories are very elaborate so there is no way I could remember the whole story and write it down when I get home. I would love to record her stories now so she can see later on that she has always been very creative. This little bitty camera could fit in my purse! Due to it’s size I could always have it handy when the mood strikes her to tell one of her made up stories. I have an Elizabeth Arden Give Away at my blog. It is not as Grand as this camera but you are more than welcome to enter! http://mommas-world.blogspot.com/2007/07/elizabeth-arden-give-away.html Shannon TreesNSnow@yahoo.com

For such small people they leave an enourmous empty space when they are not with you. {vertual hug}

My daughter Snow White has been making up stories whenever the mood hits her. It is usually when I have no video camera with me. Mine is as old as she is so it is not exactly portable. Her stories are very elaborate so there is no way I could remember the whole story and write it down when I get home. I would love to record her stories now so she can see later on that she has always been very creative. This little bitty camera could fit in my purse! Due to it’s size I could always have it handy when the mood strikes her to tell one of her made up stories. I have an Elizabeth Arden Give Away at my blog. It is not as Grand as this camera but you are more than welcome to enter! http://mommas-world.blogspot.com/2007/07/elizabeth-arden-give-away.html

I remember those days with my own children. It is difficult to keep a straight face! You don’t want to laugh but sometimes you just cannot help it. I have come across this with my children and here are two examples of how I deal with it. http://mommas-world.blogspot.com/2007/07/mommy-sanity-check.html http://mommas-world.blogspot.com/2006/09/just-peek-in-mommas-world.html

I wrote a post about how many teenagers and college students do not know how to operate a washing machine or a dryer. I am amazed at how many young adults do not know how to cook or clean. It does not surprise me to hear a girl going off to college has not familiarized herself with changing diapers. When I was a teenager babysitting was a means of pocket money (I made a killing being the oldest babysitter in the neighborhood). Changing diapers is the yucky side of babysitting so I do not blame sitters for not wanting to participate. These days teenagers do not need the extra money made by babysitting.

I have boxes, yes, boxes full of photos that need to be written on the back (who, where, when) and then placed into frames and photo albums. I have been working on them when I sit down to watch TV which isn’t very often. This project started in January and I only have three albums filled and a few frames. I am afraid to take more pictures since I have used up just about all the memory on my computer and I don’t want to add to the boxes and boxes of photos.

While driving with Snow White in the car another driver cut me off and almost hit our car. I yell “You Delicious Frosted Cupcake!” Snow White did not approve. She let me know although I did not use ‘bad words’ I still sounded like a crazy nut. he.he.he I like your list :-)

I spent a good deal on my daughter's birthday/slumber party. I also spent a great deal of preparation time and exhausted myself during the party. http://mommas-world.blogspot.com/2007/04/efforts-and-costs-of-at-home-birthday.html I really like your idea with the hotel. I think we might try this next year! Thank you for the great tip!