In Defense of Daddies

Last week I shared a log from my friend Amanda, who is currently making her way through the trenches. This log not only illustrated the daily grind of raising the very young, it also provided a chance for others who are struggling with the trials of parenting to identify with a shared experience.



I also posted that Amand decided to start a blog of her own: http://www.amanda-inthetrenches.blogspot.com/



And now there is one thing more I'd like to share....



As a part of the log, Amanda not only vented about the hardships of struggling to help a sick baby, the challenges of juggling baby and toddler, but also the the difficulty we sometimes have communicating our frustrations to our willing partners.



Unfortunatley, the last element may have not done proper justice to her husband, who is so much more than perhaps the log illustrated. So, in his defense, it must be said that he is a pretty awesome dad.

Boundless energy for the toddler, sweet attention for the little man, and a calming port in the choppy seas of parenting for his wife. From my own experience, I can tell you that Mike and Amanda are a great couple whose interaction at the annual Newlywed Game is legendary. Really, if there's a chance they can't make it....we all look to reschedule.

As a casual acquaintance of Mike's, I couldn't even say anything more that would really do his fathering justice. If you are interested to learn more what a great dad he happens to be, stop by Amanda's site where she has compiled a pretty endearing list.

And in another related note, I am a firm believer in a dad's right to spend some time on the golf course, or at the batting cage, or even just watching a game with his cronies. I actually have to encourage my husband to take some time for himself once in awhile (homeboy is a homebody). Just as much as I appreciate some time with the girls, a solo shopping excursion, or even a drive to anywhere without having to listen to Lori Brukner sing "Victor Vito", it is important to enjoy some down time away from the masses.

Finally, if you have figured out a formula for effectively rationing your time with children, spouse, friends, extended family, and even yourself....feel free to let us all in on it.

Just To Torture You....

If you are unfamiliar with the crazy new kid show Yo Gabba Gabba, (or, you are a closet fan), then you must turn up your volume and enjoy the clip below.

Common reactions include:

1) And in what decade was this cartoon filmed?
2) Is this a foreign film?
3) Is this intended for adults, or simply to frighten small children?
4) I always wondered what happened to the guy from Police Academy who made cool sounds with his mouth.

****Warning: This will be stuck in you head for the entire day.....yummy yummy.

The Television Turnout

After some serious begging and pleading on my part, I finally managed to convince a ton of you to submit your guesses for the TV Trivia Contest (and subsequently force you to acknowledge the fact that we all know a little too much in this department).

Needless to say, the final results were extremely close and, in the end, the winner was the only one who managed to get 90% of the answers correct.

Congratulations to the winner: Stunning Stacey of South Jersey (who also happens to be today's Profile of a Parent)

As promised, I will devote an entire day to all things Stacey (she may not consider it a reward, but I do) and that will all go down this Friday.

Until then, the answers were as follows:

1) When someone calls your home, does your family erupt into a chorus of, “The phone, the phone is ringing”? THE WONDER PETS

2) When your child is introduced to a Spanish speaker, can they carry on a conversation so long as it involves using a map, a backpack, and climbing a mountain? DORA THE EXPLORER

3) When you head to the beach this summer, will your family’s only means of traveling from the dunes to the water involve rolling? THE WIGGLES

4) If someone were to introduce you to their new friend, would Caillou seem like a perfectly reasonable name for them? CAILLOU

5) When visiting a farm, do you expect to hear the voice of Mel Brooks coming from any or all of the sheep? JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLY WINKS (A lot of you chose Back at the Barnyard -which I had never heard of - and so I did some research. Mel Brooks does not offer any voice overs, but Wanda Sykes apparently serves as the voice of Bessy the Cow)

6) Have you ever been at the deli line and, after finding that your ticket number was number 9, remarked, “Hey, that’s the number of the day”. SESAME STREET

7) Have you ever accused your car (or any other mode of transportation) of being cheeky? THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE (many of you went for Charlie & Lola, but that doesn't have to do with transportation)

8) Do you find yourself spending more than a little time wondering how two engaging, brother and sister rabbits can lead such fulfilled lives while never ever producing any evidence of parents? MAX AND RUBY

9) Even though you’d publicly denigrate the show for its nonsensical contribution to childrens television, does a laughing baby framed in the sun make you feel warm and fuzzy inside? TELETUBBIES

10) Would a check of your iTunes file unearth the song “There’s a Party in my Tummy (So Yummy, So Yummy)? YO GABBA GABBA

The Latest Poll

Last Friday I admitted to a bit of slogging (slacking on my blogging), which had more to do with overscheduling myself than any real slothfulness.

A fallout victim of my negligence was the weekly vote, which is a close sister to last week's vote.

If you are a parent who is infamiliar with the movies of the 80s, one of the following is probably the case:

1) You are a very, very young mother.

2) You are a mother of many, many children and the 80s were really just a blur.

3) You were a little too carefree with the Aquanet, or you delighted too much in the tasty treats of the Easy Bake oven: both of which surely left you with a sizeable brain cloud.

4) "Safety Dance" or "Papa Don't Preach" is blaring from your under-the-cabinet kitchen radio and you really can't think clearly.

5) Given your refusal to give up leg warmers, jellies, banan clips, and flourescent clothing, you believe we are all still living in the 80s.

Monday's Meal- It's Cinco de Mayo

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, I descided it might be more appropriate to provide a potent potable in lieu of an actual meal.

I am in no way suggesting that this is all you consume today....

Chips, salsa, and a little guacomole make nice side dishes.


The Best Margarita Ever:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup Good Tequila (Cuervo Gold, 1800, etc. are all fine)
1/2 cup Grand Marnier
1/3 bottle of beer (Coors, Bud, Miller High Life--- shout out to JD and the ghetto beer)
1 can frozen lemonade from concentrate (try to get one that has little or no pulp); if it is too sour
just add some sugar
1 substantial squirt from a real lemon (or, 1 Tbsp of lemon juice)
1 substantial squirt from a real lime (or, 1 Tbsp of lime juice)
Ice

Directions:

1) Fill the blender with half ice, half water to the top (this creates a very chilled margarita, instead of a frozen one)

2) Throw in all the ingredients and blend until the ice is shredded...a couple of good pulses.

3) Sugar to taste and pour in margarita, rocks, or martini glasses with no additional ice added

Source: http://www.ozols.com/

Quote of the Day

"What's done to children, they will do to society." ~Karl Menninger

Picture of the Day

A plate full of tater tots, PB &J, and diced fruit,

coupled with a refreshing sippy cup filled with milk

...His mama had clearly made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

Send your favorite kid pictures to: dalessandrochristine@gmail.com