Choices

With all of the daycare crap that has been going on along with trying failing to adequately balance home/work life, I started sinking into depression and self-pity. It got so bad that I drove home in tears last night. No real reason why - I just needed to cry. I know I can't control everything, and I try not to, even though it is an inherited trait. The lack of control over the daycare situation was really getting to me. At the moment, things are in limbo and I don't want to make any rash decisions. So instead I thought about it for a while during my nightly rock-G-to-sleep routine and I made a  non-rash decision. I decided to choose better. Better what? Better everything.

In addition to the stuff going on in my own world, I am also inspired by The CHASE Project. Chase is a friend of a friend (we've not actually met). She spent the past year making positive changes to her life and reflecting on them via her blog. You should check it out if you need some inspiration to bring some true positivity back! Be sure to check out just what the CHASE Project is.

My first choice this morning was breakfast. It was a 50/50 success. I still drove through McD's, but I got a bottle of water instead of a Coke. Actually, sugar is a huge issue with me I'm going to call it a 70/30 success.

Next up? Snack. I had a chocolate chip cookie. A BIG chocolate chip cookie. It was a very minor victory for me. Though I love chocolate chip cookies, the coffee shop I stop at - for water today! - also has chocolate croissants. They aren't really a croissant, but more a croissant-like pastry filled with chocloate, drizzled with chocolate and what I assume is honey. Whatever it is, it's GOOD. Good tasting, bad for the wallet and waist. Would you agree with a 30/70 success? For now, that's what it is.

For lunch, I ate the frozen meal I brought today last week, which saved me money and hopefully helped to whittle down my waistline. I still haven't had a Coke. Keep in mind, growing up we drank so much Coke in my house that my brother termed it the "Liquid of Life." I also recently read that caffeine can hasten the development of type II diabetes, so no coffee for me today either.

What's up for the rest of the day? The afternoon snack I brought (strawberries, starfruit and some cashews - nicely balanced!), dinner (spaghetti with veggie sauce and meatballs - also balanced) and my 3rd snack of the day, which has yet to be determined. I'm thinking more strawberries and a small glass of vanilla almond milk.

Better choices aren't just for eating. Today, I choose to not get frustrated with Hubby's ADD. I choose to put off chores that call my name in favor of on the floor playtime with Griffin. I choose to go to bed at a reasonable hour: reasonable being after my Wednesday night TV time (the only day I really watch anything), so 9:30. Well, I need to shower too, so we'll make that 10pm. I choose to make dinner, eat dinner and make Griffin's bottles while watching TV from the kitchen so I can get to bed on time.

With my new choices, I'm hoping to finally get a grip on not only being a working mother, but enjoying it.

Thoughts? Criticisms? Suggestions? Comment! I love reading 'em!

Don't Mess With The Mama Bear

With all of the daycare drama and a nasty case of bronchitis, I have neglected blogging. But today, oh today, I have quite a story for you. It is a tale of injustice, incompetence and underestimation, where lowly subjects enslaved by "the man" rise up not only for their families, but for the common good. (Damn! I sure make mothering in suburbia sound EPIC...)

My acupuncturist calls a parent's anxiety over and desire to protect a child "Mama Bear." She says it's instinctual like a mother bear protecting her cub, and fighting to the death if need be. This instinct in me spurred my actions in the following story (as well as others. so. many. stories. with. daycare.)

Read on...

As you may recall, a parent of one of the babies in G's class called licensing to report that the ratios for babies were all out of whack at her child's daycare.*whistle. look around the room.* An inspection ensued. New Management, also known as the Fourth Reich, thought the appropriate solution was to threaten to fire the lead infant teacher. *cue head scratching* In the end, they did not fire the teacher, who for the purpose of this story, we shall call Ms. F., but instead threatened again to fire her because Ms. F was throwing a birthday party for her own children, at her own home, and had invited some kids and their parents from the center because her child is enrolled at the center and that's where her friends are.

The reason? It is against NMFR's (New Management, Fourth Reich) policy. Which was never stated previously. 'Cause they never gave the employees a new handbook. And told them to go off of the old owner's handbook. In which outside activities/relationships with parents were fine. Anyone else notice a problem here? So, NMFR told her they would discuss it further later, which never happened.

Now, last Friday night there was a parent's meeting that I, naturally, attended. The meeting in itself was a joke. Every concern a parent brought up was answered by NMFR with "We're fixing that." The meeting ended when the parents were in an uproar and NMFR quietly slipped out and disappeared. Then two teachers who have obviously partaken of the kool-aid, handed out survey forms to rate the center. Oh me, oh my! Talk about sloppy, lazy work! The very first section was "indicate your child's program" with four options that you could check off. Each option was "offered program." Helpful, right? Oops! Sorry, tangent started there...moving on to important story details...

The agenda for the meeting had a section, which by the way was never spoken about during the meeting, saying parent/teacher relationships should be cordial, but outside activities such as birthday parties, outings, etc., are "not encouraged." K. So they aren't encouraging it. They also aren't saying you can't do it.

Sunday, was Ms. F.'s kids' party.

Monday, Ms. F. was out sick.

Tuesday, Ms. F. was suspended until further notice/a meeting with NMFR was set up to discuss things (ie. more than likely fire her). I was livid. As were two other parents whom I happen to have become friends with. Well, I had to call the director yesterday while I was home recovering from my own brand of the plague about a separate issue. I was tired. I was pissed. I had had enough of NMFR's shit. I let the director have it. In addition to the numerous other complaints, I took major issue with suspending Ms. F. over a birthday party.

Director's one argument in favor of suspension:

NMFR has policies as every company does, and must enforce them.

My arguments:

1. Yes, they have policies, but they are not stated and given to employees. I have never received a new parental handbook and am going off of old managements. Have you received a new employee handbook?

Answer: - silence -

2. The only thing stated about outside activities was on the agenda from the parent's meeting on Friday, which said they are "not encouraged." Besides the fact that Ms. F. was not at that meeting to receive it, "not encouraged" does not mean "do not do this," and was given to parents not teachers.

Answer: "Not encouraged," to the director and NMFR, meant "do not do this."

Counter Argument: It's ambiguous. I interperet "not encouraged" to mean that NMFR doesn't like it so if something happens outside of the center, don't come crying to them about it. It's also putting a rule in place and trying to enforce it retroactively. FAIL.

3. When Ms. F. walks out the door and off of NMFR's property, she is no longer an employee. She is a private citizen. As such, she has every right to do whatever she wants with whomever she wants.

Answer: -silence-

4. "Do you even know if anyone went? I didn't."

Answer: -silence-

The outcome? Within two hours of our conversation, Ms. F. was reinstated without the aforementioned meeting and with no restrictions or warnings (and I'm sure no apologies either). Coincidence? I'll leave that up to you to decide.

Moral of the story?  Don't mess with my son's care. I'll go Mama Bear on your ass.

Adventures in Eating

Well, our little (big) boy is certainly enjoying eating solids. Not only does he love to eat, but he loves to feed himself! (Photos are from the cell phone - sorry for the poor quality)




Nom nom nom!



Griffin's Likes and Dislikes: Food Edition

Rice Cereal - "Yummy!"
Oatmeal - "Super yum!" (Sadly, it hurts his tummy, so no more for now)
Avacado - Yummy and produces a squishy green smile - what more can a boy ask for?
Sweet Potatoes - "More, please!"
Prunes - "If this is the only way I get rice cereal, I'll eat it - just gimme more cereal."
Peaches - "Ew!" Refused to eat the cereal that was in the same bowl after getting a taste.


Is there something on my face?