I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!
We bought 99% wooden toys due to the nasty recalls of all the Chinese made toys and they were a big hit with Spence! He absolutely loves the wooden parking garage and has played with it non-stop.
My dad got Spence a plastic art desk/easel, but it is all American made plastic. I couldn't be happier with it. :)
Happy Holidays!
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
Flu shot, schmu shot
So, apparently flu shots are now mandatory for New Jersey preschoolers. Where do I even begin with this?
First off, I have a hard time with the state mandating that I must inject anything into my child. Typically it wouldn't be too big of a deal. I'd say "fill out a philosophical exemption" and be done with it, but NJ only has religious and medical exemptions. True, I don't live in New Jersey, but this sets a terrifying precident. Today it is New Jersey, tomorrow it could be Arkansas.
Secondly, why can the state mandate private preschools? I understand the logic behind vaccinating publicly schooled children. Attend the public's school, abide by the state's rules. But for a privately owned preschool? It just doesn't seem right.
Third, while many organizations push the flu vaccine, it hasn't even been proven truely effective. Many are still preserved with mercury as well, which is one of the culprits of the big vaccine/autism debate.
I, quite simply, am not on board with forced vaccinations, flu or otherwise.
First off, I have a hard time with the state mandating that I must inject anything into my child. Typically it wouldn't be too big of a deal. I'd say "fill out a philosophical exemption" and be done with it, but NJ only has religious and medical exemptions. True, I don't live in New Jersey, but this sets a terrifying precident. Today it is New Jersey, tomorrow it could be Arkansas.
Secondly, why can the state mandate private preschools? I understand the logic behind vaccinating publicly schooled children. Attend the public's school, abide by the state's rules. But for a privately owned preschool? It just doesn't seem right.
Third, while many organizations push the flu vaccine, it hasn't even been proven truely effective. Many are still preserved with mercury as well, which is one of the culprits of the big vaccine/autism debate.
I, quite simply, am not on board with forced vaccinations, flu or otherwise.
So....its been awhile.
I guess you could say I got busy. Or maybe I just didn't have anything to say.
I shall be back later with thoughts on the mandatory flu shots for New Jersey preschoolers.
I shall be back later with thoughts on the mandatory flu shots for New Jersey preschoolers.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Fear
I have a lot of fear in my life and most of it surrounds my child and his entry into this world.
On March 16, 2005, I was 20 weeks pregnant. I was in the middle of my student teaching. My husband was in Iraq. I was at home that evening working on the next day's lesson when suddenly I felt wet. I had a lot of bleeding episodes early in my pregnancy and simply thought that it had happened again. But when I went to the bathroom there was no blood, just a clear fluid. I thought I had wet myself, but a friend (who was about 15 weeks ahead of me in pregnancy) recommended I call the OB on call anyway. The OB on call pointed me to L&D but told me it was probably nothing.
I went to the hospital alone. My parents live too far away for them to come get me and then take me to the hospital and my sister, who lives with me, was taking a night course at her university. Once I got there, a simple swab test was enough to show that I was leaking aminotic fluid. When I lay down on the bed there was a huge gush. My water had fully broken.
No one really gave me any hope that my pregnancy would continue. Once the perinatologist got back from his long weekend he said that 80% of his patients with ruptured water went into labor within a week. He didn't have to go into further detail. I knew exactly what he was saying to me. I began wracking my brain for a name for this ill fated baby. Jake and I hashed it out over the phone, me in the hospital, him in Iraq, for several days before we settled on the name Spencer. Neither of us were totally happy with it, but this baby was destined to die and we needed a name for the death certificate.
Days turned in to weeks, weeks into months. I was in the hospital for 10 weeks before I had a bleeding episode so bad that my OB wanted to do a c-section. Spencer was born 10 weeks premature with underdeveloped legs and lungs, both due to the extreme lack of amniotic fluid he'd faced in the womb.
Everyday that I was in the hospital was a day of fear. Would his lungs work? Would he come out with a horrible deformity because of the lack of fluid? Most of my questions could not be answered by any doctor before Spencer's birth. Some of them could not be answered in the days after Spencer's birth.
I want to have another baby. I want it desperately. Yet I am gripped by fear. Fear of a repeat situation. Fear of having another premature baby. Fear that, should we repeat this sceneriao, we wouldn't be so lucky the second time. Everytime I think about being pregnant again I am panged with panic and fear before I am excited. Will time heal this wound? Who knows. But I sure hope for my sanity that it will.
On March 16, 2005, I was 20 weeks pregnant. I was in the middle of my student teaching. My husband was in Iraq. I was at home that evening working on the next day's lesson when suddenly I felt wet. I had a lot of bleeding episodes early in my pregnancy and simply thought that it had happened again. But when I went to the bathroom there was no blood, just a clear fluid. I thought I had wet myself, but a friend (who was about 15 weeks ahead of me in pregnancy) recommended I call the OB on call anyway. The OB on call pointed me to L&D but told me it was probably nothing.
I went to the hospital alone. My parents live too far away for them to come get me and then take me to the hospital and my sister, who lives with me, was taking a night course at her university. Once I got there, a simple swab test was enough to show that I was leaking aminotic fluid. When I lay down on the bed there was a huge gush. My water had fully broken.
No one really gave me any hope that my pregnancy would continue. Once the perinatologist got back from his long weekend he said that 80% of his patients with ruptured water went into labor within a week. He didn't have to go into further detail. I knew exactly what he was saying to me. I began wracking my brain for a name for this ill fated baby. Jake and I hashed it out over the phone, me in the hospital, him in Iraq, for several days before we settled on the name Spencer. Neither of us were totally happy with it, but this baby was destined to die and we needed a name for the death certificate.
Days turned in to weeks, weeks into months. I was in the hospital for 10 weeks before I had a bleeding episode so bad that my OB wanted to do a c-section. Spencer was born 10 weeks premature with underdeveloped legs and lungs, both due to the extreme lack of amniotic fluid he'd faced in the womb.
Everyday that I was in the hospital was a day of fear. Would his lungs work? Would he come out with a horrible deformity because of the lack of fluid? Most of my questions could not be answered by any doctor before Spencer's birth. Some of them could not be answered in the days after Spencer's birth.
I want to have another baby. I want it desperately. Yet I am gripped by fear. Fear of a repeat situation. Fear of having another premature baby. Fear that, should we repeat this sceneriao, we wouldn't be so lucky the second time. Everytime I think about being pregnant again I am panged with panic and fear before I am excited. Will time heal this wound? Who knows. But I sure hope for my sanity that it will.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Education
It is, unfortunately, necessary for my family's finances that I work. I was able to stay home with Spencer until he was about 8 months old. At that point, I received my college degree, my husband came home from Iraq, and it was time for me to re-join the work world.
What does this have to do with education? I am a teacher. I currently teach 11th grade American History at an inner city school. I love my students. I love my co-workers. And I love the money (which outweighs the other two) which is ultimately why I stay.
I am at an educational conference right now. Two ladies, former teachers, are trying to teach me better ways to present materials and, therefore educate, my students. I know that I am not infallible. You will probably see a multitude of errors just in this blog entry. I am a first year teacher and have about a million areas I can improve on. However, I must say, these ideas suck. They would work in some schools, but most of them will be vastly unappreciated and ineffective in the school I work in.
The state of education in this country is becoming dire and I lay a lot of fault in standardized testing and the mindset that brought us standardized testing. You didn't hear a whole lot of complaints about our children being "left behind" in the good 'ole days. Back then those teachers realized, as I do, that not everyone is the brightest crayon in the box. Some kids are meant to go on to be astronauts, lawyers, brain surgeons, some kids are meant to go on to McDonald's, Wendy's, and Taco Bell. Is there anything wrong with that? I don't think so. Recognize it and move on! Not every child is going to go on to greatness. I once told a friend of mine that I was so worried about the future; I only had 1-2 students from each of my classes that I thought were going to go on to be successful. Know what she said? That's ok. There are more fry cooks in this world than CEOs. I have wise friends. :-)
What does this have to do with education? I am a teacher. I currently teach 11th grade American History at an inner city school. I love my students. I love my co-workers. And I love the money (which outweighs the other two) which is ultimately why I stay.
I am at an educational conference right now. Two ladies, former teachers, are trying to teach me better ways to present materials and, therefore educate, my students. I know that I am not infallible. You will probably see a multitude of errors just in this blog entry. I am a first year teacher and have about a million areas I can improve on. However, I must say, these ideas suck. They would work in some schools, but most of them will be vastly unappreciated and ineffective in the school I work in.
The state of education in this country is becoming dire and I lay a lot of fault in standardized testing and the mindset that brought us standardized testing. You didn't hear a whole lot of complaints about our children being "left behind" in the good 'ole days. Back then those teachers realized, as I do, that not everyone is the brightest crayon in the box. Some kids are meant to go on to be astronauts, lawyers, brain surgeons, some kids are meant to go on to McDonald's, Wendy's, and Taco Bell. Is there anything wrong with that? I don't think so. Recognize it and move on! Not every child is going to go on to greatness. I once told a friend of mine that I was so worried about the future; I only had 1-2 students from each of my classes that I thought were going to go on to be successful. Know what she said? That's ok. There are more fry cooks in this world than CEOs. I have wise friends. :-)
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Before I had a child...
Before Spencer arrived in my life, I knew how I would parent. I knew the correct things to do and say. It is how I was raised. The more I read and research, the more I realize the way I was brought up was wrong on so many levels. Am I horribly emotionally stunted? No. I think I came out on the other side just fine. But, at the same time, I am bound and determined not to make the same mistakes with my child.
I am a hippie (minus the drug part! LOL). I am addicted to cloth diapers. I am a "breastfeeding nazi." I don't vaccinate my son and he is not circumcised. I believe firmly in baby wearing and tote slings and wraps with me to and fro. I hate to leave him and the thought of my upcoming European vacation leaves me with pangs of guilt b/c it means leaving my child with a grandparent for a WEEK! I think co-sleeping is wonderful if it works for your family and we co-sleep part time.
With my ever increasing crunchiness comes ever increasing judgement. I used to be a "whatever works for your family" type of girl, never to cast blame or doubt on a parent unless the committed the worst of parenting faux pas (like putting coke in a bottle). But with time, research, and age, I have come to realize that there are actually wrong ways to parent. It is very difficult for me not to point fingers and tell people they are wrong. Very difficult.
I hope that, in this blog, I can express how I feel, with research to back it up, of course, so that I don't actually end up pointing any fingers. I don't want to make people feel bad, that is never my intent. I just wish people would research and make their own decisions instead of doing what society (or their doctor) says is the right thing.
I am a hippie (minus the drug part! LOL). I am addicted to cloth diapers. I am a "breastfeeding nazi." I don't vaccinate my son and he is not circumcised. I believe firmly in baby wearing and tote slings and wraps with me to and fro. I hate to leave him and the thought of my upcoming European vacation leaves me with pangs of guilt b/c it means leaving my child with a grandparent for a WEEK! I think co-sleeping is wonderful if it works for your family and we co-sleep part time.
With my ever increasing crunchiness comes ever increasing judgement. I used to be a "whatever works for your family" type of girl, never to cast blame or doubt on a parent unless the committed the worst of parenting faux pas (like putting coke in a bottle). But with time, research, and age, I have come to realize that there are actually wrong ways to parent. It is very difficult for me not to point fingers and tell people they are wrong. Very difficult.
I hope that, in this blog, I can express how I feel, with research to back it up, of course, so that I don't actually end up pointing any fingers. I don't want to make people feel bad, that is never my intent. I just wish people would research and make their own decisions instead of doing what society (or their doctor) says is the right thing.
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