End of Year DVD: Thanks for the Memories that Seared My Corneas
Posted
July 3, 2009 at
12:29 am by
Ami
End of year DVDs are a popular classroom memento. After all, who doesn’t love a nice reminder of the highlights of the past school year? The classmates. The holiday parties. The science fair. The couch sex.
Yes, the couch sex. An Elk Grove, California teacher sent home a DVD that included a homemade sex scene. It’s unclear what precisely was on the DVD, since the parents only watched a few seconds before removing the DVDs from their players and immediately destroying the discs (*cough* yeah, right *cough*). Although the school district tried to keep the teacher’s identity under wraps, news agencies soon ferreted out her name and splashed it across the paper. The woman in question teaches the fifth grade, and the video was sent home to her 24 students. When the teacher realized what had happened, she phoned each family (in hysterics, of course) to apologize and asked that they destroy the video immediately.
The parents interviewed seemed more bemused than anything. One father reported that the DVD necessitated an impromptu discussion of the birds and bees that lasted until midnight. Nobody seemed to be out for blood, though. So far, other than presumably wanting to crawl under a rock and die, the teacher has come out unscathed. It looks unlikely that they’ll fire the teacher. As legal defense expert Ken Rosenfeld so eloquently stated, “It’s felony stupid, but it’s not a crime.” I personally think she’s already been punished enough, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she quit. I’d personally change my name, undergo painful reconstructive surgery and start a new life as a sheep farmer in Siberia before I went in front of those students again.
Tags: California, DVD, Education, sex tape, teacher Comments (0) |
When your child isn’t playing nice.
Posted
June 30, 2009 at
8:43 pm by
Trish
This morning we had parent/teacher interviews with both the girls’ teachers. I wont reveal the details of the discussions obviously but I will say that there is an issue with one of our children that is of some concern and we will be monitoring things closely, as will her teacher.
One of our kids is not playing nicely with some of her fellow students. She is doing well academically, but there are some shenanigans going on during the recess and lunch breaks that need to be addressed quickly.
My younger brother struggled to get along with some of his peers, and his troubles were exacerbated by a general lack of interest in school and a sometimes difficult relationship with his teachers (who were not at all curious about why he might not like school so they just stuck him in the corner and told him to be quiet… thank goodness modern education allows for different learning styles in students… but I digress). continue reading…
| Tags: school Comments (3) |
Sky High Prices Lead to Summer Crisis
Posted
June 27, 2009 at
4:36 pm by
Kymberly
A few years ago I wrote a column about how that upcoming summer’s gas was predicted to top $2.50 per gallon. At the time that seemed outlandish. Now it just sounds quaint.
Gas. My husband once noted, dryly, that I was less “stay at home mom” and more “gassing around three counties mom.” He had a point. In truth, we weren’t so much raising our children in the country, as raising them in their car seats. I once asked our pediatrician about the risks of curvature of the spine from the hours spent in the car as we commuted to distant parks, playgrounds, shopping venues, and the homes of friends. She assured me my babies would be fine. (A little shorter than nature intended, maybe, but otherwise just fine).
This year, finances are tough and seem poised to get tougher everyday. Like most anyone with an ounce of sense, we will be looking long and hard at how much we spend on gasoline (and other luxuries like, oh say, food) and adjusting our expectations accordingly. If we lived anywhere near close to anything other than cows, I’d make outlandish claims to walk or bike everywhere I needed to go this summer. In fact, since we are approximately 100 miles from everywhere I CAN make wild, outlandish claims like that, and then act disappointed when I realize it won’t really work. So consider that done.
| Tags: cheap, simple, summer Comments (0) |
Michael Jackson: Remembering the King of Pop
Posted
June 26, 2009 at
7:05 pm by
Hillary
When I heard Michael Jackson died, I felt like part of my youth had permanently disappeared.
For me, learning of his death is now one of those moments where I’ll always remember what I was doing at the time. I was at Kohl’s, looking for shoes. I had to put down the Dana Buchman flats and fire up my BlackBerry to make sure what I overheard was, in fact, true.
Being a forty-something woman, Michael’s music was a huge part of my teenage and college years. I went through a phase where I wanted to be a “Thriller” dancer. I practiced that damn Moon Walk for hours after seeing him slide backwards during a “Billie Jean” performance. I consumed alcohol more than once listening to “Bad.” The jukebox (yes; I am dating myself now) at my favorite neighborhood pub had lots of classic Jackson Five tunes.
And, who could forget the lip-sync in college where my whole sorority performed “We are the World.” I was Ray Charles. Ah, good times. Why we didn’t win that talent show, I’ll never know. continue reading…
| Tags: Michael Jackson, pop music, stars who die too young Comments (8) |
Unsolicited advice for Jon and Kate
Posted
June 23, 2009 at
11:48 pm by
Marge
The Interwebs have been aflutter over Jon and Kate 
Gosselin. Who did what to whom? How much of a role did the cameras play in the disintegration of their relationship? Did their greed compromise their judgment as parents and as life partners? Who cheated on whom? It’s easy to point fingers, especially since they’ve chosen to live their lives so publicly.
I have no great sympathy for their claims that the media should back off, respecting their privacy as a family. When you open your life as they have (and as I have on my blog), you have to take the good with the bad. There will be those that love you no matter what. There will be people who will celebrate every stumble and heartbreak you experience. Others will question everything you do. It’s part and parcel of the deal.
In the end, though, what we have is a couple who is ending their relationship in a very public way. Regardless of my opinions about their relationship and parenting choices, I can’t help but watch their faces and see so much that is familiar.
I saw it months ago, the lack of physical contact, the emotional detachment, the harsh words that were only half-joking. They got further and further from each other. Soon, that interview couch could not have been long enough.
Eyes were swollen. Walls were up. The end was near. continue reading…
| Tags: Divorced Parenting, John and Kate Plus 8, Jon and Kate Gosselin, parenting after divorce, parenting-advice, TLC Comments (9) |
Foodies be Dam#$d - Just Shut Up and Eat It Already
Posted
June 23, 2009 at
4:28 pm by
Kymberly
Yes. I know how to cook.
No, I do not believe “Miracle Whip” and Kraft macaroni and cheese are their own food groups.
Yes, I get that your homemade sauce stewed from tomatoes you grew your very own self with seeds you obtained from Tibetan Monks on your epicurean tour of the world last year are the epitome of all that is good and decent in the food world.
I understand that you are far too good for “pedestrian” fare such as turkey on Thanksgiving or ham for Easter. It’s something gamey under glass all the way for you. I get that a store-bought cake for any occasion may, in fact, prove fatal.
I understand that the award winning cooking blog that garners something like 10,000,000 hits per minute with family friendly dishes that readers rave about is beneath you. You wouldn’t touch barbecued meatballs, oatmeal crispies, or “smashed potatoes” with a ten foot fork.
You live to post snide comments on recipe pages and sniff over store-bought sauce. You have a larder full of high quality cooking wines and you’re not afraid to use them.
We get it, we do. You’re better than us. More educated. More refined. You have an exquisite palate and mad kitchen skilz.
But please, oh please, could you just shut up about it already? The rest of us just really want to cook - and eat - in peace and sometimes only an authentic, old-fashioned, straight-from-the-freezer-case tator tot will do.
| Comments (3) |
The elderly putting children at risk
Posted
June 20, 2009 at
7:28 pm by
Jessica
Photo by Flo Holzinger
continue reading…
| Tags: children hit by car, Diya Patel, driving safety, elderly drivers, renewing drivers license, right to drive, senior citizens Comments (5) |
Wednesday Coffee Talk: Is it ever OK to hit your kid?
Posted
June 17, 2009 at
10:57 am by
Prescott
With all the Kate Gosselin spanking Leah “controversy” floating around the internet today, I thought it would be a good time to introduce a new feature, the Wednesday Coffee Talk. Each week I’ll throw out a topic for all of us to chew on and mull over in the comments.
This week: Is it ever OK to hit your child? I’m sure many of us have tales of being routinely spanked or even smacked around when we were younger — did it affect your life as an adult? Did it form your spanking policies with your own children? And has the use of spanking as discipline really declined, or is it just that the anti-spanking crowd has been given a bigger voice with the advent of the internet?
Discuss.
| Tags: corporal punishment, spanking, wednesday coffee talk Comments (36) |
Every kid loves a gay penguin
Posted
June 12, 2009 at
5:51 am by
Jessica
A California school district recently adopted a new tolerance curriculum which includes a book, “And Tango makes Three”. The story — about gay penguins, is geared towards Kindergartners. The curriculum is being billed as age appropriate and claims to teach tolerance about human differences and helps to thwart bullying. The curriculum changes in every grade to correlate with grade level, eventually challenging what children may consider the “normal” family. Every few years the “Gay Penguin” debate resurfaces as parents and school administrators struggle for authority over whether this instruction can be mandated by school officials or if parents have the right to a) know about it and b) opt their children out of it if they deem the material to be inappropriate.
The additional controversy taking place in California is that parents aren’t able to opt their children out leaving parents to challenge the school district with threats of law suits.
According to World Net Daily, the parents claim the California school district is violating federal law, under the following regulations:
Under the regulation, parents must be notified and given an opportunity to opt-out, if the evaluation addresses topics such as:
* Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent;
* sex behavior or attitudes;
* religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student’s parent, etc.
In the past, debates have centered around this “opt out” policy which allows parents the option — to have their children pulled out of controversial subjects, especially in earlier grade levels. continue reading…
| Tags: and tango makes three, bullying, gay penguin, gay-rights, tolerance Comments (61) |
Awful, Very Bad, No Good, Terrible Twos
Posted
June 7, 2009 at
8:03 pm by
Maureen
My son turns two in August. He’s been exhibiting a lot of behavior that falls squarely into the “terrible twos” category since about 17/18 months. I’ve been told this is normal. I’ve been told it gets better at two, then bad again at three. I’ve been told “just wait until two.” Whatever the answer, I’m hoping it either ends soon or I’m granted about 500 more patience points by the divine.
Seemingly overnight, my son transformed from a kid we could take anywhere—WOULD take anywhere thanks to his perfect restaurant behavior—into a child that can’t handle sitting in a shopping cart for five minutes while in Target because all he wants to do is squirm and run around and knock things over.
| Tags: discipline, Parenting, terrible twos, toddler behavior, toddlers Comments (2) |
Can you tell me how to get this stick out of my ass?
Posted
June 3, 2009 at
12:02 pm by
Tracy
So, I got my toddler something I thought she’d enjoy so much she’d burst: Old School Sesame Street.
I myself was fully prepared for Ernie and Berts cozy basement apartment, Oscar and his mood swings, and whatever else was thrown at us as we passed a lazy Sunday away. I wasn’t however, prepared for the warning that reminded me that THIS box set was for ADULTS only thank you very much. After all, who wants their kids exposed to the idea that befriending strangers doesn’t equal cookies and milk, but most likely child molestation. Or the fact that Cookie Monster not only smokes a pipe, but eats it too! And Oscar is far too grouchy and perhaps needs a stint in the psych ward for mood stablizers before coming back on the air. Yep, S.S of the past was filled with too many secret gays, addicted puppets, and cows that move way too fucking slow. continue reading…
| Comments (6) |
Nadya Suleman Writes A Book & Gets A Reality Show…Hooo Boy!
Posted
May 31, 2009 at
10:28 am by
Kris
I had almost forgotten about the once-infamous “Octomom”, i.e. Nadya Suleman. Then I got this article via Google Alert. We all knew it was coming-it was only a question of when. When is the reality show coming to a network near you????
Nadya Suleman, the mother of octuplets born Jan. 26, has inked a deal with the British production company Eyeworks, which plans to begin filming a reality TV series based on the controversial single mother and her 14 children.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m a little burnt-out on the big-family-I-Gave-Birth-To-A-Million-Kids shows. It’s losing its appeal, its freshness, its ability to cause morbid fascination. At least for me.
| Tags: nadya suleman, octomom, reality-shows, reality-tv Comments (10) |
Jon - Kate = Still Annoying as He#$
Posted
May 27, 2009 at
1:42 pm by
Kymberly
I have a confession to make. I am not a rabid watcher of Jon and Kate + 8. I know, it’s amazing I can even hold my head up in polite society. I don’t know how I make it through the day, so bereft am I of hot conversational topics such as “is she or isn’t she OCD?” and “is he or isn’t he boffing a 23 year old?”
I’m not a rabid fan of the show but catch it from time to time because my 10 year old daughter (who may in fact represent the show’s true demographic) is. I’m so rank amateur that I cannot even name all the ‘tups’ and define the two older girls as “the one that makes me actually want to slap a child” and “one who genera lly doesn’t.” continue reading…
| Tags: 8, Gosselin, jon and kate plus eight Comments (9) |
The herd immunity myth
Posted
May 27, 2009 at
1:15 pm by
Jessica
Every few years, I write on the very important topic of immunizing your children on time. As new reports and news stories become available, it allows me the opportunity to advocate for a very important cause - child vaccinations.
In recent years, well meaning parents enlightened and emboldened by mere conjecture and rumors have started to reject and refuse life saving immunizations for their children. Science concludes that much of the decisions to not vaccinate children is based on misguided trends and misinformation.
Much of these rumors started with outspoken celebrities, because they’re so much smarter than everyday people don’tchya know? Celebrities love selling parents on the demerits of vaccinations as the root of all evil, i.e.; Autism. Never mind that scientist after scientist has completely refuted this claim, parents are so afraid that their kids might turn out to be freaks (like my Asperger* son), that they’re willing to make these hasty decisions in fear and loathing often relying on a false sense of security that “herd immunity” will prevail. Recent outbreaks of various, once eradicated or nearly eradicated diseases have only furthered the lack of evidence to support the herd immunity theory. continue reading…
| Tags: Autism, herd immunity, immunizations, MRR, outbreak, pertussis, vaccinations, whooping cough Comments (69) |
Granted, it was bound to happen
Posted
May 26, 2009 at
7:43 am by
Tracy
After I gave birth to my daughter, I waited patiently for my stomach to go back to normal. I breast fed, and pumped like a sleep deprived zombie, all the while clucking inside as my uterus worked at cramping, and contracting, thus bringing my belly back to size.
Fast forward almost two years.
I’m standing in the kitchen at a friends daughters 2nd birthday, wearing a pretty black sundress from the Gap with one of those waists that poofs out, but in a cute way that makes you feel like a little girl at a picnic, and not so much a fat tub of lard. I’m observing the hostess, her mother, and friends cook, all while attempting to put out a small fire in the oven, when I’m ambushed. continue reading…
| Comments (9) |
GLEE is for Me!
Posted
May 25, 2009 at
11:47 pm by
Cin
Okay I am officially over the burning of my Rack of Lamb last week. You may think I’ve been obsessed with AMERICAN IDOL since it is all I’ve written about lately. Not true. I have MOTHER’S DAY issues. And although I ordinarily function better in my blogging life than real life, the weeks surrounding Mother’s Day, which falls the same week as Ma’s birthday, are the opposite. In the real world my Daughter spoils me ridiculously and it is awesome. She gives me the energy, and genuine joy, to keep smiling and give the impression to those around me that all is well. But when I sit down to write, my laptop knows the truth and as I stare at the monitor and try to type something chipper, it stares right back and calls me a liar. Sooooo I just don’t write much until I get past the funk. This year what brought me out of the dark was “Glee“.
Having not watched much over the last couple of weeks but IDOL and DANE COOK, I finally watched “Glee” on DVR. I can sum it up in 13 words: “Fame” meets “American Pie” meets “Rent” meets “Boston Public” meets “Hairspray” meets “Carrie”. Sounds good, right? continue reading…
| Tags: fame, FOX, glee, premier episode glee, show choir Comments (19) |
Live blogging the Jon & Kate season premiere
Posted
May 25, 2009 at
7:11 pm by
Prescott
I had so much fun live blogging the Jon & Kate Season 4 finale that I thought I would do it again and add my commentary to the much anticipated Season 5 premiere when JON AND KATE FACE EACH OTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME! Dun-dun-DUNNNN! Although I have a feeling Kate has had a teensy chat with Jon about his latest antics before tonight’s episode was filmed.
7:59: OK, on the couch, remote in hand, glass of wine by my side (beer seemed inappropriate for a guy settling in to watch Jon and Kate)
8:01: Turning Five AND THE FUTURE…
8:02: Didn’t sign up for the public scrutiny, Jon? What did you expect being on TV?
8:03: Uh, oh, Kate’s mad…
8:04: Is it just me, or does Jon seem like he’s had a drink or two?
8:05: I’ve got a solution — don’t be on TV and don’t go on national book tours.
8:06: Kate: “I have a lot of anger.” And you wouldn’t like Kate when she’s angry.
8:07: The new set is certainly an, uh, improvement — it looks so, uh, different.
8:12: Year long planning for a birthday party? That’s about 51.5 weeks longer than we spend.
8:14: Sorry, hard to feel sorry for Kate having to deal with Jon’s weekend off since presumably she has the same off camera help that he has.
8:15: Looks like the kids have developed the same vocabulary my 6-year-old has (who is currently chanting “pooper weiner” as I type) continue reading…
| Tags: jon and kate season 5 premiere, Jon-and-Kate-plus-8 Comments (49) |
American Homophobia Season 8 Finale: the Most Fun Ever Had with Intolerance
Posted
May 20, 2009 at
10:38 pm by
Cin
You know how you suspect something wrong but you don’t want to believe that such a thing could really happen? I suspected that fear would push the voters away from Adam Lambert back in April when I wrote this post at my family blog. Please check it out to see what I mean. But suspecting it and preparing myself for the disappointment of my favorite contestant losing did not prepare me for the injustice. A loss to Danny Gokey or Allison would have been understandable. But a loss to Kris Allen is inexcusable. Less a tribute to Kris’ performances and more an example of hatred and intolerance, never before has the flaw in the American Idol voting system been so obvious.
I often hear people saying, “American Idol is fixed.” I don’t believe that for a minute. The votes are counted properly. But there is no way that the votes are cast SINCERELY. Here is where the integrity of the show is lost. And where the truly invested viewers are duped. continue reading…
| Tags: adam lambert, American-Idol, anti gay, homophobia, intolerance, season 9 finale Comments (20) |
Catholic School Fires Teacher for Overnight Stay
Posted
May 20, 2009 at
8:56 pm by
Ami
It’s no secret that Catholic School teachers aren’t always nuns these days, but who knew they were saints? Well, they’re apparently supposed to be, anyway. I caught an article today about an unmarried, male Catholic school teacher who was fired after staying at his girlfriend’s house overnight. The man had too much to drink and didn’t want to drive home. As somebody who sends her kids to Catholic school, I say, “The children! Won’t somebody think of the children?! Fire that monster!”
Okay, I’m kidding. I think the decision to fire this teacher is ridiculous. Is the Church within their rights to fire him? I don’t believe so. He signed a contract stating he would behave morally and in accordance with church teachings, and there is no evidence he did otherwise. He simply went on a date with his girlfriend and slept over. And isn’t it better to stay the night than to leave while drunk and cause an accident? What if he had killed somebody? Isn’t drunk driving a sin in the eyes of the Church? It makes me wonder, too, how they found out about his overnight stay. Nosy old biddy peeking through her curtains? Tracking device slipped into his bible cozy? How?
Suppose the man isn’t telling the truth, and he did have sex with his girlfriend that night. I hate to be the one to break the news, but it is possible to have sex during daylight hours. Heck, the man could have “gone to his girlfriend’s house,” so to speak, every day at 4 pm with nobody the wiser and his job secure. It’s this sort of emphasis on the appearance of propriety rather than common sense that drives me batty.
Interesting side note: I couldn’t locate the article when it was time to write my blog, so I googled “Catholic school” and “fired” and got distracted by articles on two other CS teachers (both female) who were fired over the past few years for 1) having in vitro fertilization and 2) marrying a divorced man. Are these valid reasons for termination, given that the women signed contracts agreeing to follow the teachings of the church? What do you think?
| Tags: Catholic School, cohabitation, controversy, fired, morality clause, parochial, teacher Comments (8) |
Now for my Imperfect & Impolite American Idol Review
Posted
May 20, 2009 at
10:36 am by
Cin
The last few weeks on Idol have been stupid. AlthoughKris seems to be a really sweet kid and I did enjoy his joy, ( I have said before, I am a junkie for the happiness and dream reaching factor here) Danny is a more exciting and more talented performer. Before that, Allison should not have left. And if I wanted to be a real brat, Kris should have left before Matt G.
Obviously I haven’t been the only one miffed.. did anyone comment here after Danny left? I wasn’t being pouting because my choice for the spot did not win. I simply had nothing good to say. I immediately started seeing these crazy mean K fans popping up saying vicious, hateful things about Adam. It was too much negativity for me. Fun’s fun, but closed minded bigotry is for assholes. continue reading…
| Tags: adam lambert, american idol finale Comments (20) |
