A Hot Car

I have been talking about this a lot lately as a result of all the recent news coverage over leaving children in the car.  I have tried to reason with those who swear it could never happen to them. "who could forget their child?"  Well I can and I did!

         My daughter Sarah was 6 years old and had stayed home from school sick that day. I was cleaning houses which allowed her to go to work with me since most of the time was spent in my car driving anyhow.   I went about my normal day with Sarah at my side. she helped me clean a few houses when she felt like it but she mostly slept.   It was a hour ride home and she crashed out hard so hard that I forgot she was back there. I was jamming to the radio and thinking about what I was going to make for supper.  I stopped at the little local store where my Mom works just like I did everyday. I pulled in cut the engine off and walk inside. I grabbed the items I needed and started talking to my mom and the other lady who worked there. This had become part of my normal routine. We talked a few minutes maybe even 20 to be honest I dont know how long it was. The entire time my Tahoe was in sight with doors unlocked, key in the ignition , windows rolled up and my daughter inside. I had forgot she was in the back seat asleep. She was never with me when I went to work and I was even thinking about how I needed to hurry so I wouldn't miss the  school bus and it never dawned on me she was sleep in the car.  My daughter woke up and began to panic because she was getting extremely hot. She climbed out of her seat and decided she was going to turn the air on.
                     I stood there laughing, listening to gossip and retelling some gossip of my own when a strange man come walking in. He looked around the store and seeing I was the only costumer he reached out his hand. I instantly recognized  my Keys  and thought I must have dropped them in the parking lot.   Then I suddenly felt like I was punched in the stomach, I remembered. He said " you left your daughter in the car and she was hot and trying to start the car. I rolled the windows down for her, here is your keys"     Oh my god , how could I forget my daughter was in the car! oh my god this man might have just saved my daughters life.

               Before that day,  like so many other parents I would have swore there was no way I could forget my child was in the car.  It happen to me and it happens to other parents every day.  You can think about how you could never forget your child but unless you are using some type of system to ensure this, chances are one day you might find yourself in my shoes or worse.  52% of all vehicle related deaths involving children  are from being forgotten in a vehicle.  In 2013 44 children died from being forgotten in a car.    I think its time instead of pointing fingers and claiming how we are so much better than that , we start thinking of ways to put a end this!

   Some parents are claiming to not leave car seats in the car when a child is not using it.  Most children who are forgotten in cars are under the age of 2 and  many of the parent have claimed that seeing a car seat especially rear facing seats was nothing unusual since they left the seat in the car at all time.

   Some parents are buying small mirrors that hang in the back seat that allow the driver to see the child with the rear view mirror.

 Some parents are using a stuffed animal that rides in the car seat when the child does not. When The child is placed in the seat the stuffed animal goes in the front passenger seat as a reminder  that the baby/child is in the seat

   Some parents are using the no distraction method  since many parents who forgot their child was in the car claimed to have been distracted by either the radio, cell phones, or work related stress. , when the child is with you there is no radio ( number 1 claimed distraction) No  talking on cell phones ( number 2)  .

    I was riding down the road the other day with my mom, when I looked down and seen a Big Orange Light that said Passenger2 Air bag on.

  I thought if my car can tell me when I have a front passenger why cant it tell me when I have a rear passenger?  The sensor in the front seat is designed to detected a certain amount of weight before turning the air bag on.  A sensor similar to this could be installed in all rear seats  when 10+ pounds is detected  a big orange light would show on the instrument panel indicating you have rear passengers. When you turn the ignition off the light would flash and make a couple beeps alerting you that you have back passengers. Maybe even a feature where you can not lock the car doors (with remote) when back passengers are detected unless you open 1 rear door first.  The feature could be disabled with a key switch ( for non-parent owners)  much like some cars allow for passenger air bags.

  We have child safety locks installed to keep kids in our cars why not install something that helps us remember to get them out? 

        Many people will say that's stupid and is not needed but had this feature been installed in my car I wouldn't have forgot about my child sleep in the back seat and how many other children could have been saved ? 

                              

For sale !

                           Will Be Sold to Highest Bidder! !

I have for sale today 1 gentle used family. The Family is a 2000 model with some 1979 parts.  The family is in near mint condition with a few minor scratches and dings, that is to be expected with this model of Family.  This family is a 4 unit family which includes 1 husband 2 sons and 1 daughter.  All will be shipped together and I will not part them out you have to take them all!
                 Let me tell you a little about what you would be getting, 1. 1979 model husband, He is a good worker but does require some of encouragement.  He makes great use of that old recliner nobody else wants to sit in.  He will keep the grass mowed ( call today and I will throw the lawn mower in for free) He makes sure you feel needed by leaving little jobs for you to do.   He requires very little maintenance  and has been properly trained to put the toilet seat down.   He is great for the person who likes dirty socks in the floor and long naps on the couch. As a bonus he will play video games at night and leave you to sleep alone.
     up next we have the second unit a 2000 model son.  He is a little used with a few wear and tear spots on him but nothing a little soap will not buff out.  He is very quiet and well mannered. With him you will never need to waste another container storing left overs, there will be none.  If you are trying to cut back on snacks and soda this is the unit to have. He will consume everything so fast you will not have time to eat anything. You don't have to buy him pants because he will wear shorts with his socks pulled up to keep his legs warm ( I guess that's why he does it) . He is a great looking unit and is fully trained for taking care of himself with small reminders.  Like the husband unit he will make you feel very needed by leaving little jobs for you to do.

 The third unit is a 2004 model son. This unit is so cute you will over look his attitude.  (due to company policy I do have to warn you that sometimes his asshole attitude may effect you or others around you. please take caution with this one ) He is a easy eater since he will only eat chicken ( just not Tyson chicken, or any chicken with a bone in it)  He is very entertaining , He likes to dance like Michael Jackson ( a great crowd pleaser, imagine your next cookout with your very own dancer)  He loves star wars and is willing to teach you anything you don't want to know.  He is partially trained , He  forgets to put the toilet seat down and may or may not do jumping jacks while using the toilet.  He should be easy to finish training with a little effort. 

The last and final unit is a 2007 model daughter.   This unit comes preloaded with tons of  sass and music.  ( I will throw in 1 frozen dvd with this unit)  This is the perfect unit for any person wanting to brush up on their arguing skills.  She does require a little more maintenance than the other units but gives the best kisses at the end of the day.   She has had very little training so you can make her your own.  like the other units she can make you feel very needed by leaving little jobs for you and if you are feeling to much love she will remind you easily that she hates you.  

      All 4 units together for 1 low price!    I can ship or meet locally at the nearest Wal-Mart
please contact me today if you are interested in buying this family.  I wouldn't be selling except I need to money for a beach trip.  please make offer !!!!! 

Potty Training Tips from the Bad Mom

                                               Potty Training Tips                                                 

1. Forget the cute little potty it  will be used for everything but a potty.

2. Pull ups only make it easier to run through the house naked

3. Placing poop in potty by hand counts in the eyes of  a 2 year old

4. Having your daughter clap and cheer through walmart yelling yay mommy pee in potty is very embarrassing

5. Dora panties can be used as a hat, mask or a cover for brothers monster trucks

6.Trying to catch their own pee is normal

7. Little girls with brothers will try to stand up and pee at least once or like Sarah a couple times.

8 nobody cares if the flowers fade when wet on the pull up

9. telling your daughter she just peed on Dora can cause a melt down

10. having your child yell bye bye mommy poopy in a public bath room isn't funny.

11. nobody is comfortable with their child wanting to wipe mommy or daddy's butt.

12. sometimes a potty training child just really needs to see the wall color of every bath room from your house to walmart.

13.pooping in the little potty for the Dora doll house Still counts !

14. If your child isn't getting it at first , don't worry I have yet to hear of a teenager not patty trained - they will get it eventually!   

 

 

Fathers day

With fathers day just around the corner I am reminded of how I learned what a real father was. I spend most of my  life knowing there was a difference between the words Dad , Daddy and father, but didn't know what a real daddy could be .Like most women I knew, I  thought the men they showed on movies as daddies were some made for tv type of person that didn't really exist. Dads like Danny Tanner, Bill Cosby and Tim Taylor didn't exist in the world I grew up in except on TV. The men in my life would be  compared more to fathers like Al Bundy and  Homer Simpson. 
         The Fathers I knew  were not care givers, They didn't make bottles or change diapers, They didn't go to school functions or know what their child was allergic too. They "Baby Sat their own kids on occasion but looked at the child as part of the woman's job. No I didn't grow up in the 1940's where this type of behavior  was expected. I grew up in small town USA where Men worked and woman raised children.  I had never met a stay at home dad before. Sure I knew plenty of men who didn't work, but they weren't stay at home dads they were drunks and lazy bums.  The women, even the ones working were still responsible for caring for the house and children. 

   A father was what you became when your child was born, A daddy was a man who stepped up and  provided for his family and  a Dad was when you got to old to say daddy .  My own father was a great daddy, the best Daddy in my eyes of course. He provided for his family, took me fishing and taught me to shoot a gun.  As great as he was he wasn't involved in my life the way my Mom was.  My mom made sure I brushed my teeth, combed my hair, told me all about life and taught me right from wrong and kissed my scraped knees.
 
          When I had children of my own, I fell right into being a stay at home mom like there was no other option. I raised the children and My husband worked long hard hours to pay the bills.  We had a system and it worked great, until my husband lost his job.  Suddenly My whole world was flipped upside down. I have never thought about my husband being around 24/7 and having his input on everything with the kids. I only needed his input when the kids weren't following my rules. " Don't make me call your daddy!" My husband was a weapon that I used to make my kids listen because he was rarely home.  Our system was now broken and I felt like he was over stepping his boundaries. The house and kids were my place that's who I was, I was the mother.  Suddenly all my rules were being broken and I felt out of control.   I didn't know who this man was but he wasn't my husband. My husband had a job and couldn't even tell you what my kids done that day. This man who was playing babies with my daughter, talking to my oldest son about girls and shaving,  and helping my middle son wash his hair, was a man I had never met before.   I felt like I was losing my spot in the family, my spot  as mother. If I wasn't a mother than who was I?  Who was this man, who was trying to undo everything I had done?  My marriage became very rocky as we tried to find our new places with each other. My husband seemed to settle right into being a mom like man. I on the other hand was falling apart inside. I had put all my eggs into the basket of being a mother and giving my kids 100% I didn't know how to do anything else. I became embarrassed over my husband taking care of and playing with the kid all day. I would lie and say he was working because I didn't know what else to say  What do you even call a man who pretends to be a mom?  Even though we still had money coming in there was talk about me going to work.  The thought of me working while my husband stayed at home with the kids was unsettling to me. I didn't want everyone to think my husband was lazy and wouldn't work.  Luckily My husband came into a opportunity to go back to work before that thought got too far.  As soon as he went back to work I regained the reins over my family, I set down all the rules again and felt like queen on my mother throne.
                       A couple months after regaining my motherly power I found a facebook page called The Madness of Mommyhood.   The Madness quickly became my go to page. I loved everything about the page, The laughs, the stories, the advice and even the trolls.  One day something came across my news feed from The Madness of Mommyhood called Dear Dad. I cant remember the exact question but it had something to do with a father not doing what the mother wanted him to do.  I hadn't never seen Dear Dad before so I was confused when I seen the name Brian at the bottom . A man  giving parenting advice to mothers, ha ha  I laughed  to myself (sorry Brian).  Then something happened when I read his advice. .  He had without even knowing it, wrote his advice straight to me.  I read every word knowing I was the type of mother he was talking about. I used words like "My Kids"  " Mine" I made decisions for "My" children and just excepted my husband to follow in suit.  I was so hung up on what I thought a mommy was I never stopped to ask or even allow  my husband to be the kind of dad he wanted to be.   The more I read advice from Brian the more my eyes opened to what a dad could be.   Then I seen other names begin to  pop up in my news feed. Names like Chris, Adam, Brent, Brandon, John, and Jeremy.  These were all dads who were giving parenting advice to women just like me. Women who felt like being a mother gave them some type of control over their family and it wasn't long until I was following every post.   
                 One day I was asked to join the Madness of Mommyhood team as a administrator  and with that I  had the pleasure of getting to know these men on a personal level.  I started liking each one of their pages and learning more about their lives. These were men who were sitcom worthy fathers. They were openly setting a example of  what a daddy should be. As the amount of daddy pages I liked grew, so did my opinion on what made a man a daddy.  A daddy wasn't a man who stepped up and paid the bills A daddy is the man who will watch frozen 10 times because his daughter wants to or a man who will make motor sounds for his sons match box car. A man who stands up and does what is right for his child even if that means letting a bunch of boy scouts camp in his yard or making  little lunch box notes to just brighten their day. A good Daddy is any man who does what he needs to do for his child with a smile on his face.
               My husband is a good daddy I just needed a few dads to show me that is was okay to let him be one.!
 This fathers day  go check out some daddy pages and give them the credit they deserve  and introduce your child's father  to some parenting  pages, let them see the person they are capable of being and let them be it.......


here are some of my favorite daddy  pages 
The cook at Home Dad -https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=401581083213284
The Funny Conversations -https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=585012461516616

DadNCharge- https://www.facebook.com/DadnCharge?fref=nf

Fodder4Fathers- https://www.facebook.com/fodder4fathers?fref=nf

Dad on The Run-https://www.facebook.com/DadOnTheRun?fref=nf

Designer Daddy-https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=159917914026713

Parenting by the Beard-https://www.facebook.com/BeardedParenting

The Daddy Files-https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=217264381619325

One Funny Dad-https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=175736639147326


True Confessions of a Stay at home Dad-https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=327885347257096


Confessions of a Bad Mom- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=264338933731200