This past weekend really sucked. You see my driving privileges have been suspended because I have  seizures and by law I can’t drive until I have been seizure free for at least six months. It is driving me crazy that I can’t drive.  I can’t wait to put my four kids, three dogs, and husband into my Yukon for the 14 hour trip to Colorado this Christmas just so I can drive. Yeah that’s right… I am looking forward to that hell.

So you are wondering why this weekend was so bad… well, on Saturday evening, my husband decided he wanted to pass a kidney stone. The poor guy was curled up in the fetal position with pain. I felt so bad for him. It was obvious  he needed medical attention and quickly. No problem, I will just take him to the ER. Well no, I can’t do this legally. I know, I will call my sister… no that won’t work either, she just left on an out of state trip. Well I am left with 3 choices:

1. I can call an ambulance to take him, but how will he get home?
2. I can let my 14 year old drive???????????
3. I can break the law and drive him myself.

I chose the latter.

So we get to the ER without a hitch and sure enough he has a kidney stone that requires the attention of a urologist.  We were sent home with plenty of Vicodin with the instructions to report to the urologist  first thing on Monday morning.

Sunday night I make travel arrangements with a friend to transport us to the doctor so I won’t have to worry about it on Monday morning. I wake up early so I can call the doctors office when they open. After calling 6 doctors and being put on hold for 45 minutes, I finally got through to someone.  We got my honey to the doctor without a incident  and he got the needed advise of the kidney stone “specialist”.

Several hours after we got home, I am proud to announce that my hubby gave birth to his 3mm kidney stone. He is feeling better and I am so glad.

Through this ordeal I have realized that I really, really, really, really miss my independence. My husband and I have spent the last 792 hours together and while I love him dearly, I can’t wait to be by myself. I can’t wait to drive somewhere even if it is just to the 7-11.  Only 149 days left….

As parents we have many jobs. There are the obvious ones like providing them a safe place to live, feeding and nourishing them, clothing them, and loving them. Sure there are kids out there that don’t even have these basic needs met but I think we can all agree this list is pretty accurate of a child’s basic needs. But what about the more complex needs? What about the needs that produce self-sufficient members of society?

I often wonder if I shelter my children to much and probably by today’s standards I am  more strict than most parents. I see kids walking around our neighborhood at 9 and 10 o’clock at night. This really bothers me. I would never let my young kids wonder the neighborhood that late at night. Am I too strict? Am I not allowing my children enough freedom? Maybe so, but I don’t think I am going to change my mind.

As the mother of 4 children, I see a lot of kids come and go from our house, which is great because if the whole neighborhood is at my house, I know where and what my children are doing. I want to be the cool house that all of the kids go to. The money that I spend on snacks and sodas will be well worth it.

With all these kids that come and go it amazes me that most of these children do not do daily chores. Their parents do everything for them.  It also amazes me that these kids also get an allowance for things that I would consider being a contribution to the family. Really?  I do not give my kids an allowance.

I give my children chores because I want them to be self-sufficient members of society when they leave my home. I want them to be able to know how to do laundry, wash a dish, prepare a meal, and live in a filth free house. If I do not teach them this, how else would they know?

Since my children were walking, they have all had age appropriate chores. Destiny, our 14 year old, cleans the kitchen after every meal. Ethan, who is 10, is responsible  for the trash and recycles. Amber, our 9 year old, gathers and sorts the laundry and Anah, who is 6, sets and cleans the table after every meal. They all take turns helping me in the kitchen and Ethan helps me with the yard work since dad is allergic to grass.

As my children have grown, their responsibilities have increased more and more. Am I wrong for making my kids pitch in? I don’t think so. What is your opinion on children doing work around the house and should they be paid for doing said work?

Sandy

Stay tuned for more as I chronicle my journey from extreme poverty and abuse to my new life of love and happiness.

]]> http://www.time4mom.net/preparing-children/feed/ 4 http://www.time4mom.net/crazy-drivers/ http://www.time4mom.net/crazy-drivers/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:03:13 +0000 Sandy http://www.time4mom.net/?p=42

Picture this… you are sitting in rush hour traffic, it is bumper to bumper and you are listening to the tunes on your favorite radio station.  The road ahead is merging from three lanes down to two. Everyone is being patient and things are going great until some jerk passes the rest of us by doing 90 on the right shoulder. What are you so special that you don’t have to sit in traffic like the rest of us? Get off your high horse!

I know that we have all seen this. I will say this now, if you are guilty of the violation, don’t do it again. You are being a real jerk. Your time is no more valuable than mine.  You are not that freaking special.

Do you have any driving pet peeves? I feel better now that I have vented to the world.

Okay Ladies, I am sure you are all in agreement with me when I say that your finding a good hairstylist is like trying to find a good gynecologist.  It takes a special person to perform both of those tasks. There are questions like, do I choose female or male, a seasoned veteran or the new kid on the block?

I recently moved from the Minneapolis to San Antonio and I left behind the best hair stylist  in the world.  Nancy if you are listening, I miss you so much. I have been in the San Antonio area for almost a year now and have yet to get a decent haircut.

My first experience was at an upscale salon. The girl looked hip and young and her hair looked great.  This was promising. The whole time I was in the chair she did not speak one word to me. She cut my hair how she wanted and let me tell you… it was not good.  I actually paid $80 for that haircut and cried all the way home.
Now I will bring you to my latest adventure.  I told the woman what I wanted. I showed her a picture of my hair when Nancy cut it and I asked if she could do the same. She said, “yes, no problem”. She used a razor, as did Nancy, and I was feeling pretty good that I had found someone I could go back to until I heard, “Oh my gosh, I did not just cut your hair that short”… yeah, she did.   I have a bald spot in the back of my head.

My question to you is, where are all the good hairdressers in San Antonio? I need you. My hair needs you.