And Now A Little Fun
Monday, March 31, 2008
Crystal tagged me over the weekend. She's one of my first Virtual Friends, we were on the same e-mail loop for a long time and then she started a blog! (Good thing, too, since I unsubbed from the list!)

The rules are:

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

What I was doing 10 years ago: Ten years ago I was on bedrest waiting for my first child to be born. I was on bed rest for 12 weeks! We didn't have a real bed, but an air mattress on the floor and mostly I remember reading Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series, teaching myself to crochet, and having my rear end fall asleep. We didn't have cable or internet back then and husband worked 12 hour shifts.

Five things on my To Do List today: (not in any particular order)
1. Plan and cook dinner, maybe a cake (haven't really planned dinner very well for two weeks now!)

2. Track down life insurance policies. (FILG's, despite everything being "just too difficult" for her to think about, has managed to cash in a life insurance policy - before we even had the ceremony with the townspeople and spread the ashes. More power to her.) I think there may be another insurance policy, but I don't have the documents, only payments recorded on bank statements. Googling the name as it appears (abbreviated) on the statement is not helping me so far, so I've got some research ahead of me.

3. Conquer Mt. Fold Me

4. Work on my writing assignment before this week's new shows air.

5. Correspondence. Return phone calls and go buy some stationery with my letter on it for thank-you notes. (Anyone have a suggestion for a chain store with cute stationery?)


Snacks I enjoy: Chocolate, what else? Laughing Cow cheese on a Wasa cracker is good too, and good for a diet!


Things I would do if I were a billionaire: Buy a house. I also want to start a housing community for abused women. It would have apartments and on-site childcare. The residents would be required to take classes in order to live there - cooking nutritious meals, job training, computer literacy, etc. The goal being to support them, help them have a safe place to leave their children, and get them on their feet. Also no boyfriends or men could live with them while they were there. (I don't know if this is even legal in America, but that's my dream!)


Three of my bad habits:
1. Biting my nails.
2. Procrastination
3. I'll post that later (see #2)


Five places I have lived:
1. Colorado
2. Texas
3. Motel (yeah, I can cook ANYTHING in a crockpot now. That was my kitchen for 6 weeks.)
4. New Mexico
5. South Carolina


Five jobs I’ve had:
1. Department store clerk
2. Jewelry beader
3. Telemarketer
4. Door-to-door saleswoman
5. Discovery Toys consultant


People I want to know more about (a nice way of saying TAG!):
Honestly, these last three weeks I haven't kept up with Bloggyland, just browsed a few random posts here and there. So I don't know who has been tagged! So tag yourselves and leave me a note so I can come check it out!



***UPDATE***

MomUnscripted has put hers up!

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/31/2008 12:20:00 PM | Permalink | |
It's Getting Ugly
Friday, March 28, 2008
...and I haven't even said a word to FILG (Father-in-Law's Girlfriend). Tomorrow is the final event, scattering the ashes off the pier.

Since she won't return my calls, here's an open letter:

Dear FILG,

Whatever problems you have with me, I don't care about. Be mad. Tell inaccurate yet entertaining stories. Whatever.

But, leave my children out of it. They have done nothing to hurt you. They still think of you as a friend. So stop using them to make your point and stop putting words in their mouth in order to vilify me. You are a mother. You should know better than to go after a woman's children.

As far as your proposed "solution" of fraudulently creating sales slips for items and predating them to before the surgery? You know, in order to defraud the creditors? We want no part of that. Keep the darn things. I think there's already been enough lies and deception, don't you? And I bet I don't even know the half of it.

All I ask is to be allowed a few keepsakes for my children, and the other children and grandchildren who were not able to make it to the funeral. I'm sure they would like some small thing to remember their grandfather by. If you cannot even find it in your heart to grant them a few tokens, I guess we'll make do with pictures.

Oh, and for future reference, you might want to know that it's generally considered tacky to brandish your own will at the the reception after the funeral and make a production of signing it, latching onto the funeral guests to be witnesses and sign their names. The grieving family members might even be offended.

BTW - like it or not, I am an actual family member. Have been for almost 11 years. Sorry if you find that shocking.

May you be filled with God's mercy,
Milehimama

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/28/2008 08:04:00 PM | Permalink | |
Catholic Radio
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
...is it coming back to Denver? Several years ago, we had a Catholic station in the Mile Hi City, but it went off the air.

From my e-mail today:
The Catholic Radio Network (CRN) has an agreement to buy a Denver Radio Station

With the blessing and support of Archbishop Chaput, The Catholic Radio
Network ( http://www.kexs.org ) recently entered into an agreement to buy a
station in the Denver market. The Catholic Radio Network is a non-profit
501(c)3 organization, and it owns and operates stations in Kansas City, MO;
Wichita, KS and Pueblo/Colorado Springs, CO. Denver's new Catholic radio
station will be an EWTN affiliate station. There will be a series of
informational meetings at the John Paul II Center, located at 1300 S. Steele
Street in Denver, CO 80210 on each of the following evenings:

Wednesday, March 26th at 7 PM
Thursday, March 27th at 7 PM
Friday, March 28th at 7 PM

If you are interested in Catholic radio and/or helping with this endeavor
please feel free to attend one of these meetings.

Annunciation Radio is now working behind the current efforts, success, and experience of the The Catholic Radio Network (CRN) to bring Catholic Radio to Denver in the near future, Please support the efforts of the Catholic Radio Network to bring Catholic Radio to Denver.


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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/26/2008 12:37:00 PM | Permalink | |
Struggling
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Later today is the funeral for my FIL. It's 1 am here, and I am still awake.

I am dreading tomorrow - not just the funeral part but I am having such a hard time being around my FIL's girlfriend. See, she pulled the plug without consulting the family. She did not call his sons to be with him. She did call several of her friends and relatives to say their final goodbyes, though.

It was by accident that I stumbled into the room (I wasn't expecting to be at the hospital until several hours later). By the grace of God, I was able to make it home and send husband dear to the VA so he could at least be with his father when he died.

I cannot possibly hear her tell how hard it was for her to get the hospital to release the body and how rude the funeral director was to her and how complicated everything is one. single. more. time. without losing my mind (and definitely my temper).

My heartfelt prayer:

Oh God, please, take this anger away. Remove the hatred from my heart and help me to see this woman as Your creation whom You love. Help me forgive her so I can be a witness to her of Your love. I am a sinner too, help me to forgive her as You have forgiven me. Oh, God, please help me!

Yeah. I'm not always funny and helpful. I am lost, too.

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/25/2008 01:11:00 AM | Permalink | |
Enjoy
Saturday, March 22, 2008

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/22/2008 11:10:00 AM | Permalink | |
Be back later
Tuesday, March 18, 2008

My FIL's girlfriend decided to remove all life support and feeding today. Husband dear was able to make it to the hospital and is with his dad now.

My FIL is still alive, though, even without the machines. He still has not awakened.

My heart is breaking.

I'll be back some other time, I know not when.

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/18/2008 05:17:00 PM | Permalink | |
Brave New World
Ahh, Britain. Home of Stonehenge, Tudor castles, and Big Brother with a camera on every corner.

Their latest crime prevention measure? They are kicking around the idea of putting children's DNA in a criminal database - but only the ones, identified by behaviors at age 5 or so, who are likely to become criminals.

If we have a primary means of identifying people before they offend, then in the long-term the benefits of targeting younger people are extremely large,' said Pugh. 'You could argue the younger the better. Criminologists say some people will grow out of crime; others won't. We have to find who are possibly going to be the biggest threat to society.'

snip

Last week it emerged that the number of 10 to 18-year-olds placed on the DNA database after being arrested will have reached around 1.5 million this time next year. Since 2004 police have had the power to take DNA samples from anyone over the age of 10 who is arrested, regardless of whether they are later charged, convicted, or found to be innocent.

Do people really think that invading children's privacy, treating kindergarteners like criminals, and making teachers into judge and jury over a students possible future actions is a good thing? What could a five year old possible do that would indicate he is going to become a lifelong violent criminal? Any terrible action that I can think of is a more likely indicator that better parenting, a different educational approach, or some other intervention is needed - not that he's the next Hannibal Lecter.

Well, at least we don't have to worry about that here. As long a kid can pass the DNA test before birth and survive any "choices" his parents might make regarding sex, number of babies, and genetic disorders, he might be ok.

H/T Second Hand Smoke.

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/18/2008 09:32:00 AM | Permalink | |
Por La Madre
Saturday, March 15, 2008
This one's for you, Mom!

Seven Places to Stay in Dubai

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/15/2008 04:47:00 PM | Permalink | |
FIL Update #5
Friday, March 14, 2008
I'll be posting updates about my FIL over here from now on. It should have an RSS feed enabled - let me know if anyone has problems subscribing!
 
posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/14/2008 01:06:00 PM | Permalink | |
Little House Casting Call
No, this is not for real. This is the nerdy homeschool mom's version of fantasy baseball.

Entertainment Weekly magazine features a review by Ken Tucker of the miniseries John Adams. (7 part miniseries on HBO starting March 16.) Laura Linney did such a wonderful job as Abigail Adams that EW comments:

Clearly, what this country needs is a feature-film franchise based on the Little House on the Prairie books, with Linney as Laura's mother.

Who should round out the cast?

I think they should probably cast an unknown as Laura - or perhaps Abigail Breslin.

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/14/2008 06:51:00 AM | Permalink | |
FIL Update #4
Thursday, March 13, 2008
FIL is doing about the same. A CT scan has revealed that he did have a stroke at some point. The doctors offered a procedure to help with the swelling in his brain, but it involved removing a piece of his skull. He's not going to have that done at this time. Right now, we're pretty much waiting for him to wake up so the neurosurgeon can better assess the damage.

In other family news... the key has passed and been flushed. But not before we took four X-rays. Sigh.

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/13/2008 11:59:00 PM | Permalink | |
Copycats
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Here is copy of the comment I left on a blog post that copied a huge portion of my post for homemade hamburger helper.

Sorry, but linking to my main site and then copying the article and posting it on your own is not something I allow. I want click-throughs, people!

Anyway, said blogger is a Frugal Hacker, but I could not find a contact or email on their site. So I commented on the post and am copying the comment here, for posterity.

Thank you for linking to my blog. However, my posts are copyrighted. I would be happy to allow you post an excerpt with a link to the full article, but I am asking you to remove the copy of my entire post.

Thanks.


Anyone else been copied? What did you do?

UPDATED TO ADD: The blogger in question is complaining that you all are tracking her down and bashing. Now, now, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all!

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/12/2008 01:45:00 PM | Permalink | |
Blogging will Be Light Today
An Interview with Mama by a four year old child:

Mama: I'm tired.

4 YO: Why?

Mama: I was up late. I was at the Emergency Room until 4 am.

4 YO: Why?

Mama: Because the 7 year old child who should know better ate this:


4 YO: Why?

Mama: Because children are childish. I hope she poops soon.

 4 YO: Why?

Mama: Because there are only two ways for the key to come out at this point. Poop or surgery.

4 YO: Why?

Mama: Because by the time we went to two different emergency rooms and waited for four stinkin' hours to get a bed, the key had already moved past her stomach.

4 YO: Why?

Mama: Peristalsis.

4 YO: [Blank stare]

4 YO: [Regaining her composure] Why?


Maybe I'll print up some worksheets on the digestive system and at least get a week's science class out of this deal.

(Note: That's not her actual X-ray, I got it off Google. Apparently, this has happened before...)

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/12/2008 01:29:00 PM | Permalink | |
FIL Update #3
Tuesday, March 11, 2008

He is still in the surgical ICU, but they stopped his sedation drugs. It could take up to a week for him to wake up, though.

He's looking better, and the fluid is clearing out of his lungs. Slowly they are removing machines and lines from him, although he's still on TPN (food goes directly into his stomach). After he wakes the doctors will be able to better evaluate if he had any brain damage and then on to his intestines. His kidney function is great, though.

I can see he's starting to wake up - his eyes move like he's dreaming.

He's at the VA hospital. When you walk in, there is a plaque on the wall that says:

The price of freedom is visible here.


So true.

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/11/2008 09:58:00 AM | Permalink | |
Sick
Monday, March 10, 2008
We've all been battling a cold/flu.

Miss C cried all day yesterday. (And by "all day" I mean 14 hours straight, except when she was sleeping for 10 minutes at a time.)

Today promised more of the same, so we went to the doctor. Poor baby! She has bronchitis.

Believe it or not, out of 7 children we've only had one round of antibiotics ever, when Miss V got impetigo. It's Miss C's turn, I guess!

I got a great deal, though. She's on amoxicillin, which is $4 at Target. In Sunday's paper, there was a coupon for a $10 gift card at Target with any new or transferred prescription. We have insurance, and our copay is 25%. So I paid $1 and got $10 back! I bought the kids a sprinkler for Easter.

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/10/2008 01:38:00 PM | Permalink | |
FIL Update #2
Saturday, March 08, 2008


Yesterday, the doctors were able to close up my FIL's chest, and removed one of the pumps. His heart is beating a lot more on its own. He still has machines breathing for him and supporting his heart, but the doctors are more hopeful.

After he heals a little bit and his heart is able to take over completely, he has a few more hurdles. The docs are worried that his intestines may have been deprived of oxygen, as well as other internal organs. It will be a few weeks, though, before we can find out whether his brain was damaged during his crisis.

Thanks for your prayers!

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/08/2008 10:32:00 AM | Permalink | |
The Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Thursday, March 06, 2008
I posted a while back that husband dear grudgingly agreed is trying out an anti-inflammatory diet. He had been having severe muscle pain in one leg, as well as numbness and tingling in his fingertips.

After three weeks, he successfully gave up Coca-Cola (a love affair that lasted for years) and actually lost 5 pounds! (This is not a weight loss diet, so that was a happy side effect!) Also, his limp is gone.

Here are the bare bones of the plan:

Eat:
Low fat or no-fat dairy, esp. cultured dairy
soy products (tofu, edamame, tempeh)
fish (esp. sardines and salmon)
avocados
nuts
whole grains
green leafy veggies
sweet potatoes
root vegetables (parsnips, turnips, rutabagas, etc.)
fresh or frozen veggies (not canned)
berries
pumpkin seeds
flax seeds
canola oil
olive oil

Avoid:
corn oil
High Fructose Corn Syrup
fried foods
hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats
trans fats
canned food (except tomatoes)
peanuts
White, floury potatoes (small waxy potatoes are okay)
artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or saccharin
artificial colors
MSG
Lunchmeat, hotdogs containing nitrates and nitrites

Cut back on:
Red meat (unless very lean)
White flour
White sugar
White rice
Basically, refined grains and carbs.
Corn and peas

Drink:
water
green tea
unsweetened fruit juices

If no improvement after a month, eliminate fruits and veggies from the Nightshade family - eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes.

Supplements we are using:
Vitamin C (1000 mg)
Vitamin E (400 IU, natural mixed tocopherols)
Selenium (200 mcg)(works with vitamin E)
Fish oil
Aspirin (81 mg.)
Ginger

Other supplements recommended:
Turmeric (aka curcurmin)
CoQ10 (60-100 mg with largest meal)
Alpha lipoleic acid 100-400 mcg.
Folic acid (400 mcg)
Vitamin D (no iron formula) 1000 IU

Recommended proportions for men:
40-50% carbs
30% fat
20-30% protein

I'm not so nifty as to plan out what percentage of carbs each meal has. We just try to follow the guidlines. I bought a bag of pre-frozen chicken breasts and make those for his lunch if we don't have leftovers.

Sample Day for husband dear #1:
Breakfast:
Simple Harvest hot cereal (so good!)

Lunch:
Grilled chicken breast (we've got a little George Foreman grill)
Topped with garlic and diced tomatoes
Brown rice
Leftover veggies like broccoli, spinach, etc.

Dinner:
Lentil enchiladas
Spanish rice (brown rice again)
Beans (Well, I serve them but he doesn't really eat them.)

Snacks:
Red pepper, green pepper sticks
Orange
Tangerine
Golden delicious apple
Mango
Cucumber/Onion summer salad
Zipfizz Energy drink (these are a powder I get at Sam's Club. It's better than Coke and actually full of vitamins thrown in with the caffeine.) (Then again, anything is probably better than Coke!)

Sample #2:
Breakfast
Orange (He doesn't eat breakfast. This is probably the hardest change for him.)
Blueberry Muffin (I figured out how to make a tasty, healthy one with less than half a gram of fat in each one. It does have sugar, though.)

Lunch:
Whole wheat pita, spread with Laughing Cow Garlic cheese
3 oz. turkey lunchmeat (all natural, no nitrates) (Holy Cow! That stuff is expensive!)
Baby spinach leaves, red onions.

Dinner:
Stir fry (tofu)
"Fried" rice with veggies (using a little sesame oil) (I've learned that brown rice doesn't really make a good fried rice, but he likes the mix ins and change from plain steamed brown rice.)

Snacks:
The same! Fruits and veggies. Yes, he'll eat 5-6 pieces of fruit per day. Also cheese sticks are popular. He loves cheese, and a cheese stick has great portion control.

We've started eating 3-4 non-meat meals a week, which is so hard for him as he's definitely a carnivore. He's trying hard!

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/06/2008 12:24:00 PM | Permalink | |
FIL Update #1

My FIL is doing better. The doctors are quite please with the way his heart looks. I don't know if they will be closing him up today or not, but he is more stable.

They predict that he will continue on the heart and lung machine for several weeks, then they will be able to evaluate his kidney and liver function, then they will bring him out drug-induced coma and be able to assess his brain function. Right now, they don't know if he has major brain damage or no damage at all. It's going to be a long road.

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/06/2008 11:56:00 AM | Permalink | |
The People's Republic of California
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
...has determined that homeschooling is illegal.

Kill your children? No problem.

Teach your children? No way.

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/05/2008 09:12:00 PM | Permalink | |
Prayer request
My FIL is very, very ill. He had surgery yesterday, which went fine, but later in the afternoon his blood pressure jumped and he ruptured his aorta. He is in ICU and still attached to a heart and lung machine, and his chest has not been closed from the emergency surgery to repair his artery.

He's been touch and go for 24 hours now, so any prayers are appreciated. We are doing the 9 hour novena to the Infant of Prague.

He has never, to my knowledge, been inside a church nor is he baptized. However, he is good friends with a local priest who is going to be stopping by some time today.

Husband dear has been going down to the VA alone, as our two littlest ones have the flu - and I don't have anyone local to watch the other children, anyway. I so wish I could be with him there!

Divine Infant of Prague, dearest Jesus, You who so lovingly said: "Ask and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you," have mercy on me now and throught the intercession of our most holy Mother, I humbly ask You to grant me the grace I need:
Help B get better and know You, love You, and serve You.

Divine Infant of Prague, dearest Jesus, You who so compassionately taught: "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believe," have pity on my now. I do believe, help me. Increase my weak faith and through the Blessed Mother's intercession, I humbly ask You to answer my request:
Help B get better and know You, love You, and serve You.

Divine Infant of Prague, dearest Jesus, You who once said to the Apostles: "If you have faith even like a mustard seed, you will say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,' and it will obey you," hear my prayer, I humbly ask. Through the intercession of Mary most holy, I feel certain that my prayer will be answered.
Help B get better and know You, love You, and serve You.
Amen

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/05/2008 04:56:00 PM | Permalink | |
WFMW: Advice Edition

Today's Works for Me Wednesday is another backwards edition - I ask you, my faithful readers, for advice.

When Miss E was two years old, she had a total meltdown at McDonald's playland. Rolling on the floor, screaming, kicking... it was all there. Another mother felt the need to let me know that she was throwing a fit because she felt abandoned, and it really wasn't good to let her cry like that, and I should make sure poor, fussy Miss E knew she was heard.

I told the woman that when I started parenting by public opinion poll, she'd be the first to know and went back to studiously ignoring both the toddler and the interloper.

Well, folks, that day is today!

Here's the situation:

In our home, we do not allow girls to play in the boys' room or vice versa. (Exceptions are made for family members, obviously.) They may be little, but I want this to have always been our rule. It's much easier to reinforce a standing house rule than it is to suddenly create a new one after there has been a problem with a fifteen year old!

Anyway, my children are also so very, very often reprimanded for making the "best buddy" club. The Best Buddy Club is a way of excluding whichever sibling is not liked at that moment. Basically, one of the kids will taunt the disfavored one by saying "You're not in my Best Buddy Club" until the outcast starts crying. Then they feel sorry for the crying brother or sister and let him or her in the Best Buddy Club so they'll feel better. Generally, there is enough whining, crying and tattling accompanying this game to drive me out of my ever-loving mind.

They are not allowed to have the Best Buddy club because families stick together no matter what, and kids don't make other people feel bad in our family. That's my job.

Now, my children have started the dreaded "No Boys Allowed" and "NO Sisturs" signs posted on their door. Should they stay or should they go?

It is a house rule, but we also don't exclude. Talk amongst yourselves!

If you have more advice to give, head over to Shannon's.
 
posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/05/2008 12:39:00 PM | Permalink | |
Vindication
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Yesterday I got my first paycheck for my writing - and even better, husband dear was here when I opened the mail so he actually saw the check.

It's not all that glamorous of a job - I write episode recaps for some reality shows. But, it is paid work and it is a foot in the door, so to speak. I won't provide a link, though, because I use my real name which has not been revealed here. I had to choose between providing candid and pictorial accounts of life with my kids, or using our real names. I went with the pictures.

See, honey - I told you I had to watch Bravo!

Now I just need to figure out if I can write off my cable and internet bills....

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/04/2008 10:39:00 AM | Permalink | |
The Secret Life of Soccer Moms
TLC has a new reality show, The Secret Life of a Soccer Mom. The show goes like this:
Mom gave up a dream job or fulfilling career in order to rear her little sprouts. She often wonders what coulda been. Tracey Gold gives them the opportunity to find out. All the mom has to do is lie to her family on a consistent basis while she sneaks off for a week of work experience in her chosen field.

I did not watch the whole show. There was a much more interesting program on the Science channel about the Microsoft vs. Netscape debacle of the late nineties... I guess that tells you how interesting I found it! I flipped over during the Sonic commercials.

Usually I love TLC's reality programs. Love me some Jon and Kate, love me some Roloff fun! I did not care so much for this one. The mother in the show is a control freak. Not only does she lie to her husband about going to the spa (she is really working on dresses for a fashion show), host Tracey Gold encourages it by calling unexpectedly during the family breakfast. "Who was that?" her husband asks. "Um, uh.... Helen. Yeah, Helen." Mom is not very good at lying.

She has a flock of assistants taking over her duties at home, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children. Apparently, the family doesn't like the fake-mom's cooking, because they think dinner tastes weird. Mom covers by blaming it on a new sauce packet that contains onions.

The mother's attitude towards her husband is revealed in an interview with her school aged daughter, Kayla. "My dad is clueless, because he's a man and they do not know how to do anything," she says. BTW - the dad is a medical doctor, not exactly the typical sitcom ignoramus! This is a shining example of why mothers at home should watch how they talk about their man! Do we want our daughters to see men as friends and partners, or as clueless children who must be managed and manipulated?

A large part of the show seems to be knowing laughter at ho incompetent the dads are and how easily the moms get away with lying to their whole family. I suppose most people would not have a problem with that, but how would the moms feel if they suddenly found out their husbands had been ditching work, hiring people to cover for them, and taking scuba diving lessons all week? How would she feel if he told her he was going on a business trip to Cleveland, but really went on casting calls in Hollywood - and had his secretary, sister, and the dry cleaner lie for him?

I probably will be skipping this one. Future episode feature a mom who dreams of being a cop and one who dreams of being a chef. I don't know what fibs they use as an excuse to get out of the house. I think this show, instead of encouraging an often lonely and marginalized demographic of stay at home moms, actually celebrates their dissatisfaction. Instead of helping women see value in their vocation, their teased with a carrot of career satisfaction - all while driving a wedge between themselves and their loved ones.

And... while I'm on the subject of reality shows.... Housewives of Orange County? You're not a HOUSEWIFE if you are not married and don't stay home taking care of your family and your house. But I guess Spoiled Divorcee Workaholics isn't as catchy of a title.

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posted by Milehimama @ Mama Says at 3/04/2008 09:42:00 AM | Permalink | |