Blogging World

I have a friend/acquaintance who has a blog, so I decided to check out her links on the side.  I am curious to know if I am just overly paranoid, or if there are really freaks online who will look at pictures of my children (if I put them online) and track us down if I put too many distinguishing characteristics of us on my blog.  I know a lot of people who really put their life stories online, complete with photos and location.  Am I a paranoid freak for not trusting the mysteries of the online world with my life?  I certainly trust the web with my credit card information when I make purchases.

Young & Old

I don't feel old.  I feel like I'm relatively good with technology.  I know how to send an e-mail, write a blog, find pdf directions of how to put the new bed together, download books and music, etc.  I'm getting better at texting, thanks to my friend who has a real job, and can't always talk on the phone.  But do I need to get a Facebook/MySpace page?  I've never even been to those websites, ever.  (Like the people who say, "You have to watch out for pornography on the internet, sometimes it just jumps out at you and you can't get away fast enough."  When does this happen?  In my 15 years online, I've accidentally come across pornography once.  Yep, I was working in elections, looking for a legitimate website four previous, but had since been turned into a porno site.)  Are these two social webistes what separates the generations?  I'm not sure because my husband invited me to join his LinkedIn contacts.  But I haven't joined because I'm not really interested in networking, unless there are people who can tell me how to add more hours into the day so I can do my laundry, or help me keep my house in order while spending time with my children, or decent people to watch my children while I go out during the day, or who can move my name up on the waiting list for the nursing program that's closest to my house).  I feel like I've done pretty well for myself in a new town, and online.  Maybe it's time I recognize that thirty-something is no longer young,  but what is the inbetween called, because I certainly don't feel old.

The Room Saga

A week or two ago, our daughter was in tears at bedtime because one of her friends said her room was "small and oldish."  This is my daughter's friend who has a little of a mean girl slant to her, but also has some great qualities, too.  Our daughter has gotten in with her and another girl and the drama ensues, regularly . . . much too regularly for my comfort in first grade.  

My husband and I subsequently discussed how the room situation for our children is a little out of whack.  Our daughter sleeps in the small room with a twin bed, but the boys' train table and toys in her room and also the four year old's clothes in the closet.  (When we moved to this house, I had intended for the small room to be the four year old's because he's the middle child and I thought he could use his own space, before our daughter needed her own room, but he didn't want to sleep in there alone and we haven't yet changed the closets).  In our discussion we recognized the potentially tough situation we'd be putting ourselves in if we immediately bought her what she needed in order to face her friend.  (One of the other complaints about her room was that she doesn't have a tv in her room, but we refuse to budge on that, ever, so she'll have to get over that one).  Also, how do we address the lesson here that there will always be people who have things nicer and better than you, or people who don't like what you have, so what you need is to be happy with what you have/are, and you'll be fine, etc.  

With that said, we found a smokin' deal on craigslist for a bed, 6-drawer dresser and nightstand.  So we bought it.  We put it together last night and it looks great!!  But there's one problem, we have a twin mattress and the bed frame is for a full.  

Ironically, I think she still likes it.  

Gender equality

On our way home from a picnic yesterday, my four year old asked me, "Mom, is there a Mississippi Road?"

Me: "Yes, there's also a Mississippi River."

Him:  "Is there a Mister-sippi River?"

Me: "No."

Him:  "No fair."

Chop Chop Ziggy Ziggy

Yesterday was haircut day at my house.  I cut the two boys, and then took the scissors to my own hair.  I don't really have the patience to get my hair cut professionally anymore - I hate scheduling appointments, then scheduling a sitter or coordinate with my husband to watch kiddos, and then the cost. . . forget it!!  So I hacked it myself with help from our niece.  I was pleased to have it off my neck and I didn't have to pay from my neck.  Everyone's happy.

Friday night was the auction/raffle for my 4 year-old's preschool, and guess what I won.  You guessed it, not one, but TWO haircuts.

I think the hair gods are trying to tell me something.  

Marathon

Well, I did it!  I successfully completed my first marathon, and I loved it (the running part).  Afterwards, I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself, but the 26.2 was very fun.  I ran most of the race with a friend I've been training with and that was wonderful.  I've never run a race with another person, let alone one I've trained with for four months.  It was a nice capstone.  

My dear friend joined me on the course for a couple of miles which was so much fun.  Our club coach and another member of our team came and ran the last couple of miles with us.  I'm pretty convinced that 26.2 isn't such a big deal (mileage itself), it's being alone with your thoughts for 4+ hours (which is extremely rare in my case), so it was great to have people to run with.  It was also great to see my family along the route.  

Later in the day, I was exhausted, and slept for three hours, and then promptly forgot that we have a hot tub.  That could have helped the recovery a little.  Monday and Tuesday after the race, I could barely make it down the stairs, my quads were so sore.  Wednesday was even better, and after a massage on Thursday (one hour on just my legs), Friday I feel back to normal.  

I think I've found a new/old hobbie.  New, because I've never run that far before, and old because I've always been a runner.  When I was a sprinter in high school, I used to fake injury if our training run was anything over a mile, now 8miles is an easy run.  If my coach could only see me now.

Shades of Gray

I'm in the middle of my 10 day vacation in the Carribean. It's wonderful to say the least. Today we began our day by renting scooters. After about 20 minutes wobbling along streets I didn't know, almost laying it down, and basically being terrified, I decided to go back. No problem, because I had plenty of reading material for the beach.

In my bag, I had the two most recent issues of The Sun. One article in particular struck me, Stories For An Unborn Son. The gist of the piece was this: a woman is a carrier for a certain genetic disorder (hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, or HED) that is passed from mother to son, sometimes. According to the author, it makes life difficult because the particular genetic mutation is that the son is born without sweat glands, and a few other manifestations of the disorder. The author discusses her desire to have a child, be pregnant, etc., but she struggles with the thought of knowingly bringing a child into the world whose life would be very difficult. There are tests available now to determine if a fetus has the disorder, or is merely a carrier (as is usually the case for girls) or does not have the disorder at all (which is possible, too). So she struggles with what she would do if presented with the hypothetical, or the cost of IVF and creating an embryo that does not have the disorder or is a carrier.

This essay reminded me that what we need from other people is love and understanding. I know of a friend who aborted a fetus with a genetic disorder, and whether it was an easy decision for she and her husband to make, or very agonizing, I have no idea, but who am I to say it's horrible, or wrong, etc.? What I mean is this: I think we would better as a community, nation, human race if more people gave each other a little leway for the things they do. Each of us have our struggles, and I think the last thing we need is to add the judgements of others on top.

But here is where I'm stumped. How do I teach this to my children who live in a very black and white world?