Monday, March 8, 2010 by karen.

I just heard about a school in Denver that is rejecting a preschooler due to the fact the child has 2 moms.  http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/22769137/detail.html

I understand the catholic religion pretty well and while same-sex relationships are deemed inappropriate along with many other lifestyle choices, it just seems ridiculous.   I attended catholic school for 8yrs and was raised catholic continuing to attend mass into my mid 20’s.  I was married in the catholic church and had my children baptized.  I was also one of 3 sisters to become pregnant before marraige.  We were still accepted into the church and our children were accepted as well.  Even after a divorce, the church accepts you.  I remember attending school with kids who’s parents were divorced or going through a divorce but they were still able to attend the school.  I am confident there are lesbian/gay teachers in this country working at catholic schools but perhaps the demand for quality teachers is so high the church over looks them.  Where do they get off to simply choose who they are going to throw stones at?   I assume divorce is so common that it is simply accepted in the modern church.  How long until same sex marraiges/relationships are allowed in the catholic church?

Lesbian moms, why even bother to enroll your daughter at a catholic school?  You should know better.  Perhaps the education quality is the reason, but there are many other high-priced education facilities for your child to attend where you and she will be accepted. 

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Thursday, March 4, 2010 by karen.

Public school in Disturbia isn’t quite the same as in a rural area.   Modern school, itself isn’t the same as it was 15yrs ago. 

My 4th grader has racked up 24 tardies this year.  Many are to be blamed on myself, however, it shouldn’t be overlooked that regardless of who’s fault, that number is absolutely absurd!  Today would have been #25 but he just stayed home instead.  I believe I was ‘played’ by him.  I understand he didn’t feel well upon waking up most likely due to the abundance of sugar he consumed yesterday.  It has been determined he has a sensitivity to sugar and highly processed foods.  He was up way past his bed time due to having trouble sleeping from the sugar.  Congrats to him for baking the cake on his own and making the frosting from scratch.   Kudos to me for actually having all the ingredients in the kitchen! 

He informed me he wishes to be home-schooled again and questioned why everyone in school is so immature.  I chuckled as he is probably the most immature boy in his class but I quickly learned his view of immaturity is quite different than mine.

In AZ, the schools are required to submit the students to standardized testing known as AIMS.  His scores last year were good.  I want to see what his scores are this year before deciding to home-school again.  I suspect they will not be as good as last year’s.  I am weighing the pros and cons.    

My goal as a parent is to raise my children to be happy, self sufficient and successful in their future whatever that may be.  I do not measure success in dollars. 

Home-schooling isn’t just a way to ‘get by’.  He was learning more last year and retaining it. The AIMS scores proved it.  Home-schooling has a stigma but it is becoming more & more common due to resources making it easier. 

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Friday, February 12, 2010 by Dana.

How would you feel if your neighbor did this?

1. Don’t care
2. Angry and would let them know it
3. Report them to the HOA
4. Upset but pretend you don’t notice
5. Trip your shrubs like a breasts or a vagina
6. Excited about the traffic increase at your lemonade stand
7. Make a mental note to invite them to more pool parties

Note: You may pick more than 1 of the above.

Posted in Sex, parents, Suburbia, Disturbed | Print | 3 Comments »

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 by Dana.

During a business dinner tonight, a co-worker asked how my coaching activities were going.  I was telling him that my middle child was now on 2 teams, having made his 7^th grade team.  I coach his club team, and I was talking about how so many of the boys on our club team had made their school teams.  This was rewarding for me because the club team had been put together specifically to help get the boys ready for their school team tryouts.  My wife then chimed in with “You’ve coached all the boys that  made the school team, right?”.

I paused to think, and then I realized… yes, almost.  In fact, I have coached 12 of the 14 boys, and the other 2 I have coached against.  I also have coached for or against nearly all the 8^th grade boys and the 7^th and 8^th grade teams at neighboring schools.  It gives me a great sense of accomplishment to have been able to see these boys grow and develop in baseball and in life.  Youth baseball coaches don’t get paid, volunteer large amounts of time, and spend money out of their own pockets for gear… and we don’t ask for anything in return. We do it because we want to, and we do it because we like seeing the boys grow and improve because of our contribution.

If you are a youth sports coach, I tip my hat and extend my thanks to you for all that you do.

If you are a parent, let your coach know that he/she is appreciated. It means a lot to us.

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Thursday, December 17, 2009 by Dana.

Both Karen and I grew up in rural areas where we had many chores to do. For Karen, growing on a working dairy and tobacco farm, the work was very extensive. Neither of us received a regular allowance for our efforts We were just expected to do our part.

As we raise our own 3 boys, we do not give them an allowance either. They certainly have less work to do living in Suburbia, but we do not give them any specific amount for doing the work around the house that they should be doing.

Our thinking is that we pay for our kids to be in various club sports, get various lessons, and give them money to attend social events.  If they want to earn any additional money, they can pet sit for neighbors or get a job (when they are old enough). Is this wrong? Should we be rewarding their hard work for a monetary sum?

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Friday, November 27, 2009 by Dana.

Like any normal set of siblings, they fight.  We have 3 boys, ages 9, 12 & 15.  Sometimes they get into heated arguments, and maybe a punch or 2 is thrown.  But the fights seldom last long.  When it comes to fighting with “friends”, those fights are usually short and mostly just shoving and verbal assaults.So when you see a news article like this one in AZ Central, you have to wonder what parental meltdown is going on here for things to escalate out of control.  We all need to teach kids how to have a thicker skin and stick to spreading bad rumors instead of stabbing the person that just kicked your ass in Guitar Hero.  Oh… and keep the alcohol and sharp objects away from your teen!

Posted in Weapons, Crime, Alcohol, parents, Suburbia, kids, Disturbed | Print | No Comments »

Thursday, November 26, 2009 by Dana.

What did our Thanksgiving Day include:

1. Wife gets up early to go get groceries for Thanksgiving Dinner.
2. Husband and 15 yr old son help put groceries away.
3. Husband & Wife argue over trivial water drips in the kitchen… was the final straw in the “get of my kitchen” bad mood act this morning.
4. Wife storms out of house to walk dogs to cool off.
5. Husband makes amends by chopping up parsley and celery.
6. Upon Wife’s return, Husband and 15 yr old son take 1 hour walk with dog to let wife cool off more.
7. Watching football.
8. 9 yr old son and 12 yr old son fighting over who gets to do what while setting the table.
9. Continued fighting over who stands where while setting the table.
10. 9 yr old makes drinks menus (Making drink menus) and refuses to let anyone read them until all sit.  Everyone gets their own drink instead.
11. Husband intervenes to make 9 yr old and 12 yr old sit in a timeout on the steps.
12. 15 yr old plays on the computer
13. 12 yr old plays guitar
14. 9 yr old plays on Xbox.
15. More watching of Football
16. Wife asks Husband if he is watching football still (it’s not even 1pm yet).
17. Husband helps wife prepare late lunch (when we eat our Turkey Meal)
18. 12 yr old makes mistake of having nothing to do in front of Wife, gets enlisted into making mashed potatoes
19. Husband watches more football. Then argues over going out at the last minute to get a pumpkin pie.
20. Husband goes to get pie.
21. Wife has feast ready… Wife removing delicious bird from oven
22. Family eats… 1 fight over who gets to talk to 12 yr old about his shopping plans.
23. 9 yr old starts fight over who get the wishbone.  Husband decides to not carve it out until of the bird until everyone forgets about it.
24. More football watching… Husband falls asleep on the couch.
25. Husband wakes up to 9 yr old screaming about fairness of game where the 12 yr old and his friend always win.
26. 9 yr old continues on tantrum for a little longer until Wife resolves it.
27. Wife gets off Facebook to sit next to Husband on the couch. Asks if football is over yet (during 4th quarter of game 2 of 3).
28. Wife asks Husband if he wants to go shopping (for nothing in particular)
29. More football watching
30. 9 yr old runs into house claiming someone hijacked the neighbors truck (neighbors are out of town).
31. Wife calls out of town neighbors to see if they were expecting someone to use their truck. Leaves message.
32. 9 yr old runs back in. Claims people are taking stuff out of the neighbors house.
33. Wife runs outside.
34. Husband keeps blogging… oops. I better get out there. brb
35. Husband receives call from neighbor with potentially hijacked truck. All good… truck is being borrowed by friends, and it turns out that the only things took from inside were cooking oil and serving dishes.
36. Wife and Husband window shop on-line after Husband realizes he doesn’t get the NFL network to watch game 3 of the day.
37. Wife takes remote control to watch chick movie on HBO.
38. Husband finishes blog post.

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Thursday, August 6, 2009 by Dana.

So the report is that this FORMER elementary school Assist. Principal is an escort.  I emphasise the word FORMER, because nobody is claiming she was doing both at the same time (as of yet).  So now 2 sources have come forward (to the local news) to out her.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/2009/08/05/20090805n12-escortprincipal08052009-CR-CP.html

I’m guessing that some angry wife found out her husband used her services, and she made him to go with her to the news or lose half of everything in the divorce.

And if there is no proof that she was doing both at the same time… get off her case.  She may have quit to be able to make enough money to pay her mortgage, because everyone knows teachers are underpaid.

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Sunday, October 5, 2008 by Dana.

Would you help your teenager commit a violent crime?  I would hope the answer is an emphatic “NO!”.  Unfortunately, there are losers out there in Suburbia that would!

A piece of westside trash (Glendale, AZ) decided to drive (allegedly) her daughter and 3 other teens to the home in Surprise (just northwest of Glendale) so they could break-in and attack a 15-year girl home alone with her 6-year old brother.   See the story in AZ Central.

What would you say to this person if she was your neighbor?  Or would a neighbor like that accelerate your plans to move out of Suburbia?

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Sunday, August 24, 2008 by karen.

I have been referred to as a MILF for quite sometime now.  While I am always flattered as any person usually is when complimented, sometimes I am annoyed. Does it reduce respect for me as a mom? Am I not considered a ‘good’ mom because of my appearance or lifestyle choices?

The term may have been around for much longer (was it used in The Graduate?), but for my generation it rose to fame from the actress Jennifer Coolidge in the 1999 movie American Pie.  “Stifler’s mom”  quickly became a metaphor for MILF.  Attractive mom’s began hearing this word.  How do you explain the meaning without offending them?  And let’s face it, MILF can be extremely offensive.   Stifler’s mom wasn’t seen as much in the movie as the main characters, but her presence was outstanding and very integral to the movie. In my opinion, she portrayed the modern MILF to a T.

I am 2007 98 KUPD’s MILF winner.   I am not sure if I deserved to be a MILF.  Shouldn’t a MILF be older than 32?   I have a teenager who understands the term and a pre-teen who definitely understands.  I have overheard their friends, commenting on my looks.  Though, I have not heard any of them use the acronym MILF  (probably for fear of getting into trouble).  Unlike Stifler’s mom, I don’t have boy’s old enough or having sex. 

While ‘competing’ for the title of MILF for the radio station, I encountered mom’s of babies and toddlers who were younger than I.  I argued in my head if they are old enough to be MILF’s.  Obviously, they are mothers, attractive, and are desired by many BUT,  their children weren’t old enough to even know how lucky they are to have these women as their mothers.  I decided that these women, while different, expressed a certain personality trait to be a MILF (more than just good looks).  They have confidence, which is defined in several ways.  I like this one:   belief in oneself and one’s powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance.   The contest can be extremely intimidating for a woman who has the battlewounds from pregnancy.  Our hips have widened, stomachs may not have bounced back, our butts are softer, breasts have gotten saggy (or bigger), stretch marks, veins and for some a C-section scar which they feel must be covered/hidden.  Some of us there have had some ‘work’ done to hide some of the battlewounds or fix them.   We all had our reasons, but no one did it to be a MILF. 

This weekend, many of the contestants were asked to promote a MILF calendar at a local casino.  I hesitated to go when I woke up Saturday even though I committed a month before.  I was nervous.  Again, intimidated by these other MILF’s who were newer/younger mother’s than I.  I questioned if I was too old to be doing something like this.  I thought I would be the oldest one there at 32yrs old.  I was aware of 1 MILF who was close to my age, but not sure how close.    I procrastinated getting there hoping something with the kids would come up so I would be forced to cancel.  I even started my youngest on a spelling review expecting him to get upset and make Dana get upset so I would ’have’ to stay home to do it myself.  It obviously didn’t work and he continued to do more school work by choice.  

 I arrived almost 2 hours later than when we were wanted to be there.  I felt pretty good about my appearance.  I have been working out again and watching my diet more closely.  But again, these other MILF’s are models.  Many are pursuing modeling and/or acting, discussing the photographers and agencies they use and appear to be accustomed to working events like this.   I am walking to the entrance of the casino not really knowing what to expect.  All I was told was we would be doing a signing of the calendars and mingle.  Those who wanted to participate in the ’strip’ poker game had already volunteered.  I had agreed to this. 

Because I was tardy, I entered through the front door of the casino to greet a line of people.  Mostly men.  I was directed by a worker as to were to go.  Which, of course, was ‘follow that line of people’.  Now, I know us MILF’s were supposedly a draw to get people to the casino for a poker tournament, but what was this line exactly for?  As I walked confidently along the line of ‘mostly men’, I heard whispers and the typical “daaaamn!’.  (I always roll my eyes when I hear that..with my head turn, of course)  I assume it is my size dd breasts but I like ‘em. :)  I turn the corner to see a long table with 9 beautiful MILFs seated with Sharpies in hand and permanent smiles.   I was shocked.  Were these ‘mostly men’ seriously waiting this long to meet us and receive our signature?  Ok, time to put my game face on.  I find the MILF I know the best and am certain remembers me.  She genuinely smiles at me and is truly excited to see me.  My heart slows down instantly.  I am given a chair almost immediately as if the word got out that I had entered the building.   The 2006 MILF scooted her chair to make room.  I joined the MILF’s with a permanent smile which was surprisingly genuine.   We brought many smiles to the guests in line just by being there.  Was it all just because they want to have sexual relations with us or did they have a certain respect for us?  Or was it  because they had already a few too many?  I really don’t mind the reason.  It was fun for me and obviously for them or they wouldn’t have been there.  Some ‘mostly men’ got in line again to get the May MILF’s signature, which was me.

I asked some of the other MILF’s if they were going to do the ’strip poker’  None of us were too excited for it.  I had come prepared with a couple of bikinis, after all I did agree to do it.  The dreadful announcement came for the MILF’s participating in the game to come to the table.  I had already put my bikini on under my clothes but remained hesitant.  Clearly I am not getting naked, but still it was scary.   Will I lose respect for doing this?  Will some jerk take a picture with his phone and put it on THAT website to focus on my imperfections?  Standing near the table, I saw only 2 MILF’s seated.   It turns out, the casino was pretty upset that only 2  MILF’s were sitting at the table and the manager on duty was pushing the radio station to get more MILFs.  The radio station workers appeared to be in a pickle.  On one side, they respect ‘their MILF’s’ and don’t feel comfortable pushing us to play strip poker.  On the other side, it did appear that they made a commitment to the casino to provide MILF’s for strip poker.  It got very quiet and the remaining MILF’s tried to avoid making eye contact to the radio station or the casino manager on stage.  I knew the MILF’s standing with me on the side didn’t have any bikini’s on to play and we had already stalled too long.  Reluctantly, I walked to the table to play.  I would be stripping to the very same bikini I wear to the public pool with my kids. 

I am part of the ’MILF community’ and receive it as a compliment.   I enjoy motherhood, feeling sexy, and am self-confident.  I am a MILF. 

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