Pumpkin Pie High

There is nothing like it, the pumpkin pie high! It could have been the 6 emptied wine bottles or the champagne but I like to think it's the creaminess of the pie. There is something that takes hold of our tongues on this holiday. I know what you are thinking, but in our family it's the opposite! Every year we end up with a few random visitors at our house and they must leave thinking they've just experienced a day with the Cleavers. We eat, drink, tell jokes, play pinball and eat some more. We never discuss the real issues going on in our lives. I guess we use Thanksgiving as an escape from our realities. Well, this year was a little different.
Since this is only my third post I guess I need to give a little background information. I have to give this info in small chunks because my life can be unbelievable when it's all summarized at once! My parents have been on the babyboomer rollercoaster: started as hippies, moved on to yuppies and now they are just so set in their ways it is ridiculous. Now that I am a parent I find myself struggling with my parents' point of view quite often.
Back to Thanksgiving- It was about 1pm and we were all sitting around discussing very neutral topics and my Mom brings up the whole friendly Pilgrim/Indian relationship, despite all of the evidence, she still believes this big friendly feast occurred. Here's where things get a little rocky. I ask her to please not teach my children stories that are not true. They aren't even old enough to question what this holiday is all about so I figure why even go into it? She then goes into this whole deal about how I always try to ruin things with the truth! How do I respond to that? In the spirit of our family, I get up and walk away. I want my kids to enjoy the holidays just as much as I did/do but I am so tired of history being so terribly misrepresented. What is your opinion on this? Will your kids think that the Pilgrims did nothing but kind acts towards the Natives they encountered? Will they know about the continuous disrespect of a people that were indigenous to a land that was taken from under their feet? I am kind of hoping that I can somehow teach my children about history without damaging their innocent little spirits! Any ideas?

trying to encourage tolerance...

As you will see from my first post, parenting has its challenges that I was not prepared to handle! I am especially passionate though about one aspect of parenting. I have three kids(4,3 and 1) and when those unbearable moments arise, I try to remember the differences between us. I know how to direct my anger, they are still learning. We love our children more than words could ever express, and they feel that through our actions. I respect my children and their stages of development in ways that help me to deal with those situations that make us all vulnerable to pain. I have yet to experience a true temper tantrum so maybe my limits have not been justly tested. I do not want my children to learn that it is OK to say things that are hurtful as long as an apology or show of remorse occurs soon after. Think of the recent Micheal Richards incident. He said words that not only hurt a person, but a whole culture. He then attempted an apology but his words are irreversible. I want my children to make conscious choices about their words and try their best to be accepting of others. With a 4 year old, as many of you know, this is a daily challenge! I have to have confidence that one day my children will understand my words, couple them with my actions, and clearly see how significant the choices we make can be!

Don't get me wrong, I am sure my family would be the perfect candidate for a nanny rescue show but there are some things that hold more value to me than others- Thanks for reading!

Momma? Is this a bad word?

I have three kids. My oldest child, a spunky 4 year old, has been experimenting with bad words. He always asks me first if they are indeed bad. "Momma, is this a bad word...stupid." I try my best to respond in a manner that won't intice him to continue using said word. After picking him up from pre-school the other day he said that he learned some new words at school, or should I say at the large bacterially infected petri dish? The school my son attends doesn't really buy into the whole discipline thing, they look at childhood as one big learning experiment, so basically anything goes, sometimes great sometimes really bad. So back to the new word. I am driving my car nice and straight along the road, my three little angels sitting innocently in their car seats, and I hear "Momma is this a bad word?" followed by a loooong pause. I wait. He speaks. "Stupid fucker." I was NOT prepared for that!! So what do I do? I , the mom, starts laughing, uncontrollably. Did my son just drop the F-bomb? And did I laugh? Now what....how do I redeem my status as Momma?
"Does it feel like a bad word? Why don't YOU try teaching your friends at school some new words?"
"You mean like Saturn or Jupiter?" says Pele*
"Yes, those are some great words," says the relieved Momma.


*names have been changed- and yes my son loves soccer