New Jersey Moms Blog

The Pluses and Minuses of Facebook

Friends and family have been twisting my arm to join Facebook.  I've managed to avoid it for quite some time. I'm not exactly sure what I was trying to avoid.  Perhaps, I feared that I might become totally addicted to it, like some of my friends.  With two kids still in diapers, I have little free time as it is.  Or maybe it had to do with the whole "reconnect with people from your past," argument.  To be honest, I don't want to reconnect with people from my past.  If they're in my past, there's a reason for it. With that being said, curiosity got the better of me last week.  I joined Facebook.  It's nice.  I'm enjoying it.  I'm not addicted to it, but I can see the attraction for people.  I've also identified some of the downsides of facebook.  I've compiled a list of the pluses and minuses to aid those of you who may still be in the decision-making process of joining.

PLUSES

 -I just found out that my neighbor is taking a shower.  I didn't have to climb a ladder or peek in any windows.  I just logged on to Facebook.

-I know what practically everyone from high school looks like today.

Victoria's Secret......The Scoop

Two weeks ago, I ordered two swimsuits from the Victoria's Secret catalog.  Catalog shopping is supposed to be convenient, right?  It's a quick phone call, followed by a quick delivery.  You never have to leave your home!   

Now, you should know that this wasn't my first choice.  I prefer trying clothes on before making a purchase - particularly swimsuits.  The problem with that is.....I HAVE NO TIME!!  The closest I've been to trying on swimsuits this year is racing by the swimsuit display in Target with a cart full of whiny kids, and a belly full of chicken nuggets, french fries and whatever else was left over from lunch - hardly the right conditions for such a task.

The first "talk" - too much information?

I've never sat down to think about the appropriate time to discuss body parts with my children. I've never given the slightest thought to "names" either.  I guess I should have done a little prep work in this area.  But to be honest,  I really didn't think I'd be faced with it this soon.

My son will turn three in September.  Now, I don't walk around the house naked.  But at the same time, if he comes into the bathroom when I'm showering, I don't sweat it either.  I didn't think he would be inquisitive about anatomy at the tender age of two.  I was wrong.

I was stepping out of the shower today and discovered that, once again, my two-year-old son had found his way up the steps and into my bathroom.   I don't know what happened with the new Spiderman video he was so excited to watch.  But apparently, he lost interest in it.  Back to my story.  I'm in the midst of drying off and I can see the wheels spinning in his head.  I guess what's making him so curious is the fact that I look "different" than he does.  Then it happens.

Keep it movin'!

What is it about seeing someone standing outside her home that makes people want to beep when they drive by, or even worse, stop to have a full-length conversation?  I live on a busy street and this happens to me EVERY time I'm outside. I take care of virtually all of the outdoor maintenance - mowing, raking, weeding, etc.  There is nothing more annoying than trying to mow a lawn and getting interrupted because someone feels the need to pull over for some small talk.  Do these people not realize that I have limited time?  I'm constantly fightin' the clock. Every minute of the kids' naptime is accounted for. 

Last week, I had the lawn mower out.  I had mowed two measly paths before I had to drop everything because a neighbor wanted to "shoot the breeze" for an hour.  There's one repeat offender who has actually forced me to change my schedule when it comes to outdoor maintenance.   I now do most of it during the kids' weekday naps.  It has gotten so bad that occassionally I mow after dark!

Perspective

My husband and I did quite a bit of traveling when we lived in the Southwest.  One of our favorite trips was to Moab, UT.  If you're into off-road biking, you may have heard of Moab. It's home to the famous "Slickrock" trail and is known as the off-road biking capital of the world. I am not into off-road biking. I like a challenge, but I also like my teeth. I digress.

While we were there, we visited Arches National Park.  Early one morning, we hiked up to The Delicate Arch, Utah's most famous arch. The arch is situated so that it doesn’t come into view until you round the very last cliff.  The first time I saw it, it took my breath away.  It was amazing.  Being alone only added to the experience.  We had never heard such silence in all of our lives. For a while, we just stood there, trying to take in the magnificence of God's handiwork. I became very pensive and at one point began singing, "How Great Thou Art." 

The Happiest Place on Earth

We walk in.  I have a baby on my hip and a diaper bag in my other hand.  My husband is escorting our toddler son to "our" table.  I walk up to the counter and place our order.  The manager sees me struggling and offers to take the baby.  He starts making baby talk while giving my 14 month-old son a tour of the place.  I'm smiling on the outside, but inside I'm thinking, "This man should run for public office.  I've never seen anyone work a room like this guy."  My thoughts are suddenly interrupted by the girl who took my order....  

Life's not a day at the beach

It occurred to me this weekend that this might be the first generation that doesn't "have it better" than their parents did.  We took our first day trip to the Jersey shore as a family of four this past weekend.  We were grateful to learn that they weren't yet checking for beach tags in Ocean City.  We weren't sure of the cost per tag, but knew it would have cost us at least another $20.  As I baked on the beach, I was reminded of what someone said to me years ago.  "I love the fact that Ocean City charges for the beach.  It keeps out the rift rafts!" (aka riff raffs)  I sat up as the memory inexplicably popped into my head.  Am I a riff raff?

MOB Mentality

I always wanted to be a MOB (mother of boys).  

Before we were even pregnant, I could picture myself with boys more easily than I could with girls.  I also felt like I had more in common with boys.  I always "clicked" better with male friends.  I'm extremely active - a perfect fit for a boy's excessive energy.  I hate to shop.  I never get my hair or nails done.  I'm also not one for drama.  So, I was completely ecstatic when I found out I was having boys with both of my pregnancies.  They're only 1 and 2 years-old at the moment.  I don't know if they'll live up to all of the male stereoptypes.  Although, they seem to be living WAY up to the whole "high energy" thing.  But as I think about getting older, I begin to worry.  And I'm not the only one.

Miss USA Flap over Carrie Prejean - GIVE ME A BREAK!

I logged on to my computer to catch up on some of the day's headlines.  The chances of getting any information via TV these days is slim-to-none given the avid Caillou and Scooby-Doo watchers in our house.  One of the headlines read "Miss USA Flap!"  Okay, I must admit.  I'm always up for a good slip and fall, or even a wardrobe malfuntion. Whatever it was, I knew it couldn't be nearly as good as Miss Teen South Carolina from 2007.  Bless her soul.  My heart still goes out to that poor girl.  She spoke for a minute straight and never uttered a coherent thought.

I click and wait with anticipation.  Okay, she might be one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen.  Her name is Carrie Prejean and she was representing California in the Miss USA pagaent.  The camera scans down.  Okaaaaay, this video is doing nothing for my self-esteem.  She might be one of the best-built women I've ever seen.  "COME ON!  BRING ON THE FLAP!" 

Doing Without

Women have many more choices than they used to have.  Choice is a good thing, usually.  One of the choices that women have involves whether or not to pursue a career outside of the home.  For those women who choose to work outside of the home I say, "More power to you!"  Unfortunately, too many women I know don't have the choice.  Working outside of the home has become a necessity for them.  One income isn't sufficient for meeting their expenses.  Recently, I've heard stories from friends and acquaintances involving the emotional struggle of dropping children off at daycare centers and even at grandma's house.  They tell heart-wrenching stories of tear-filled dropoffs each weekday morning.  These are women who don't want to work.  I listen sympathetically.  I wish there was something I could do for them.  I even get angry for them.  I blame the economy.  I blame the increase in the cost of living.  I blame the government.  After all, the property taxes in the state of New Jersey are nothing to sneeze at.  But then I start to consider something.