Shuffle Saturday: I Have a Bully

I have a confession. My second child is a bully. I'll admit it. But he's also one of the sweetest kids I know. He likes to sit next to me on the couch, putting his arm in mine while watching TV. He likes to sing to his baby brother when he's crying and is always very helpful putting diapers in the garbage. But he can be a bully.

It's a part of his personality. When he was 6 months old in the Jumparoo, he'd bounce, turn back to me and give me a "look" that would scare me. And honestly, not a lot scares me. I am a Ghost Hunter after all.

It's when I get reports from my Mother In Law that a parent claims we need to "get him under control" or that we "should just leave" while playing at the playground or Monkey Joe's. And that makes me angry. Thankfully my 6 year old can explain what actually happened, as the three year old and the other child always seem to have a limited vocabulary.

This post is mostly for the parents of the kid who claims he's been picked on. Get the whole story. Maybe your kid fell on his own. Maybe your kid started it. You can't always believe your own child, I know I don't. And you can't always coddle them. They have to grow up. They have to learn to stand up for themselves. They can't always run and tattle on the other kid. This "snowflake" children mentality has to stop. Yes, your child is special, but so is mine.

I insist on the whole story AND make my child take personal responsibility if he is the guilty party. However, if I (or my in-laws) pay to enter a play area, we will not leave because you embarrass us in front of other parents. I can honestly say that the last parent that approached my mother in law is just lucky it was her and not me. I am a bulldog when it comes to my kids. But I also believe they should be punished if they're the instigator.

I really fear the generation my children are being raised in. It seems every child has learned that if he whines and complains, he can get what he wants, even if he's the trouble maker. I refuse to raise my kids with that mentality.

Be the adult. Don't show your kids it's okay to embarrass other parents. Be diplomatic. Be responsible. BE A PARENT.

Salvation Sunday: Vote Your Values--Catholics Need To Vote For Mullen in Senate District 22

Fellow Catholics. There's only ONE choice for us in the Senate District 22 race. That choice is Jeff Mullen.

I was raised a Democrat in a small farming community in West Central Iowa. My parents were raised in very devout Catholic homes. The Kennedy family was viewed as role models (why, I'm not quite sure), but JFK was the first Catholic President. My mom and dad both talk about how the Nuns (Catholic school) came into the classrooms crying to inform the students about his assassination.

My brother and I were raised in a devout Catholic home as well. Mom was in the Ladies Guild, Dad sang in the Choir and quite often served as Lector. We practically had to have a sick note from the Pope to miss Mass on Sunday. But when I got to voting age, I was troubled. I had always been a "Democrat", and registered as such when I turned 18, but I had trouble with the issue of abortion.

As a Catholic, I always believed that life begins at conception. Abortion was just wrong. The Bible tells us "Thou shall not kill", and believing that life begins at conception, that would be murder, right? Having looked closer at the two parties, I eventually switched my party affiliation to Republican while in College. After graduation, I worked for Republicans and even rose through the ranks of the Polk County GOP to be elected Co-Chair at the ripe old age of 25.

In November, my husband, 3 boys ages 6, 3 and 1 and I moved to Waukee. The Senate District 22 race was in my home district and I took an interest in it, after all, I had a bit of a history in the race. Back in 2004, I had helped Pat Ward in her special election to get her elected to the Iowa Senate. I was excited to see what I thought was a strong, Conservative woman in the Iowa Senate and I hoped she would show the Ol' Boys Club that us girls could run along with the big boys. I was, however, disappointed in her performance. She didn't turn out to be the leader I thought she could be. I thought she'd be the one to stand up against Gronstal. The one who would stand up for ALL women's rights, those with AND who had yet to obtain a birth certificate.

On Friday, Jeff Mullen was considered a "candidate we find sufficiently meet our judgment criteria reflecting ability, sincerity and responsiveness in support of our Pro-Life legislative priorities" from the Iowa Right to Life. I've had a few sit down meetings with Candidate Mullen and I believe that he will be the candidate who protects life.

I urge Catholics residing in Senate District 22 to take a good look at this issue. As a Catholic, it is a core belief of ours to protect life. Candidate Mullen will do so. In my opinion, Pat Ward has failed at this issue. We as Catholics have the responsibility to stand up for life. We have the responsibility to vote for those who will protect life.

On Tuesday, I'll be voting for Jeff Mullen (www.jeffmullen.com ), not just for me, but for all of my boys, including my son who is due in August. Candidate Mullen will be a great voice for all of Senate District 22, including those who are not yet born. 

 

 

*Note: This blog post was originally published on the Waukee Patch but has since vanished on their website. 

Make Monday: Make Your (Child's) Voice Heard

*The following is just the views of Sarah Bowman and not everyone at Mommy's Recess*

Tomorrow is school board election day here in West Des Moines. I plan to vote in my first (and I'm somewhat ashamed to say that)school board election tomorrow. I was excited too, thinking I had voted in every election I was eligible for. I DO work in politics, after all.

Then again, I had already graduated high school and have my four year degree...it's just NOW that I THOUGHT the school board elections effect me. But this past year, with barn-gate, my eyes have been opened. I didn't need to have a child in school to have the school board effect me.

Now, I do have a child in the school system. My oldest child started kindergarten this year. But again, with the help of barn-gate, I saw how tax dollars are spent (or misspent). If you pay sales tax, you're effected. If you pay property tax, you're effected.

The people you elect to the school board choose how YOUR money is spent (or, again, misspent).

And for my first school board election, I'm voting for Julia McGuire. Having getting to know her over the past 9 months has been great. And I see that she would be responsible with OUR money as I've seen how responsible she is with HER money.

I believe we need more transparency in Government. ALL Government. That starts with the school board.

Our children can't vote. But we can speak for them. If you have the nerve to expect honesty from those guiding your child's education, if you have the audacity for those who are spending your tax dollars to be held responsible for their decisions, then you need to vote for Julia McGuire tomorrow. She will be honest, she will hold herself responsible and she will be accountable for her votes and actions.

Because Julia doesn't just speak about Character Counts, she lives it.

So tomorrow, vote for Julia McGuire. And write in Sarah Bowman, if you feel so inclined.

Shuffle Saturday: Extreme Couponing or Hoarding

I LOVE couponing. LOVE it. I get up extra early in the morning to grab the Sunday paper from our doorstep and immediately take out the coupons. I then clip the ones I like and pull the Target, Walgreens etc ads. I compare what I have coupons of to what is on sale--to get an even better deal.

It's an obsession. I admit it. So I, like other couponers got excited when TLC was debuting a new show called "Extreme Couponing" and I watched an episode. And then I got mad.

Do I believe in having a bit of a stockpile? Yes. I like having things on hand when I need/want them. Do I think these people take it a bit too far? YES. Like the ladies who dumped the entire display of toothpaste. Or the woman who cleared the shelf of mustard (and then admitted she doesn't even use mustard). Too far. I hate it when I have a coupon (or two) of an item only to get to the store, find the shelf empty and then see someone pushing around a CART FULL of the item I need one of.

One black Friday, Wal-Mart was having a GREAT deal on memory cards for cameras. I knew my dad could use one and being the glutton for punishment that I am, I was there at 5 AM when they opened. I searched ALL OVER for the memory cards only to find the display was empty. A few rows over, a cart was HALF FULL of them. While I had seen carts of items being used as places to hold the items, I assumed that this was the same. I reached in the cart that was half full of memory cards and grabbed two (you can imagine how many small memory cards it takes to fill a cart up to half) only to have a woman say to me, "Um, excuse me. This is my cart." I apologized and asked her, "Would you really miss two of them?" She responded, "I suppose not."

Come on now, people. I understand being proud of a great deal but really people? Think of others before you clear a shelf only to hoard (yes, hoard) more items than you can use. Remember, everywhere you go and everything you do, character still counts. Think of others before you selfishly dump a display or clear a shelf. While it is nice that you might be giving some food to shelters and packages for military serving overseas, having more body wash than you can use in five years time isn't a healthy enjoyment of couponing, it is hoarding.

Shuffle Saturday: Civic Responsibility

*As always, these blog posts are my own viewpoints and in no way are reflective of or endorsed by "Friends of Maplenol Barn" or Save the Barn Committee.*

My kids have had a busy week when it comes to things mommy is involved in. I am on the Board of Directors of Friends of the Maplenol Barn and I am the Communications Director for CAPE PAC. On Thursday, FMB held a fundraising event for the barn called Barn Aid. It was a show of Country stars and good friends. Liam tried to get them to "turn it down" a few times. He had never been at a concert before and, well, he didn't like the loud music. Sean, on the other hand, LOVED it.

Both of my boys got to go backstage and loved it. I tried to explain to my five year old that not everyone gets to go backstage, only special people. He looked at me, smiled and said, "I know. Because I'm special."

They all knew why we were there, though. It was for the barn. And everyone had a great time.

Sean backstage

Liam backstage

On Saturday morning, we got up bright and early, bundled up and trekked downtown for the TEA Party rally. The boys had a great time meeting some of my Political friends and running a bit in the shadow of the State Capitol.

Liam and I discussed taxes, Government involvement and how it all works. And, of course, we got to hear some great speakers.

It's been a busy week but my boys learned about preserving history, how Government works and the importance of being involved in your community!

You can turn your passions into a learning opportunity for your children...no matter what side of the aisle you lean towards.

Shuffle Saturday: Respecting Others

Yes, this is where I get on my soapbox. This week I experienced and viewed a lot of disrespect from others. What is wrong with people these days? When did respect for others go out the window?

The first example of this was when I was informed that a friends "Save the Barn" sign had been defaced. They took green spray paint and painted over the "N" so that it said "Save the Bar" and over the website, it said "Happy St. Pat's". Like I've said before, I value free speech. I will defend my right to free speech as well as others right. However, free speech means you have the right to say what you want. Infringing on others free speech (by defacing signs) is NOT an example of free speech. That is flat out vandalism. That is disrespecting others.

On St. Patrick's Day, my dad came to visit and we ventured downtown to watch the parade. I had never had the opportunity to see the parade in the 9 years I've lived in Des Moines because I had always been working, so I was excited too.

Dad came over and we loaded up all three boys in the van and were on our way. We were lucky enough to find a parking spot and after feeding the meter and loading up the double stroller, we were on our way.

We walked to where the parade route was and waited for the police to close the street so we could get up front so Liam could get candy (as this is what is important to a preschooler at a parade). The street was packed with people watching the parade, joining in the festivities that is St. Patrick's Day. I noticed two very large women, each with a empty grocery bag. I looked around but didn't see any children with them. Strange, I thought.

The parade began and then I saw what these women were doing. They were taking turns gathering candy. Yes, grown women gathering candy from children at the parade. While one was getting candy, blocking out the children with her girth, the other was sitting on the metal folding chair they had brought smoking a cigarette. I'm not kidding. They had to have smoked a pack between the two of them. When one was finished smoking, she'd get up and trade places with the other.

Now, the parade route is surrounded with children. And yes, I understand it is outdoors and in a public place. But come on. First of all, do you really need that candy? No. I'm sure your doctor would agree with me. Secondly, do you need to smoke around small children? No.

Every time they would light up, I would move further away from them, giving them a disapproving glance. Children are present. Their perfect little pink lungs are being effected by her choice to smoke. My children who are enjoying a public parade shouldn't have to be subjected by someone else's choice to smoke. If you want to smoke, fine. But don't do it around my children.

If you don't believe me, I snapped a picture. I think people should be more respectful of others. They didn't need the two full bags of candy. More importantly, they didn't need to smoke around so many children. Think of others. That's all I ask.