Carnage in the Living Room

So, as it happens most weekends, there were about 5 little boys in my living room playing video games. Keep in mind, I had to nimbly fend off puppy dog eyes for all of the morning and most of the afternoon to keep them out in the sunshine. The begging consists of wide eyes, clasped hands and much bouncing up and down. And puppy-like whining. But oh, the allure of the GameCube calls to their feeble little hearts and they press their noses up to the windows like teeny Olivers.

Honey and I are cooking in the kitchen, listening to the commentary. I am not sure how I feel about the wishing for "sudden death" and the level of violence in the game. We are usually super careful about the ratings of the video games, but Brother begged and begged for this one and all his friends had it...how bad could it be? Well. Bad enough that I feel guilty for buying it for him, even when it was his choice of a reward for good grades. It is such a tightrope act. The balance between cultivating a peaceful empathy towards others that shuns violence and not sheltering him to the point where when he is finally away from our control, he goes crazy and makes horrible decisions because he was never allowed to experience any vices within a controlled/safer environment. Also, you have to deal with the whole "forbidden fruit is always sweeter" and allowing him to have the same experiences as his peers.

I talk to him about this game and why I don't like some of the aspects. (This is the only one we own that I have any remote problem with.) I talk with him about a lot of subjects that my parents never touched on: religion, racism, sexuality, sexual violence, politics, gender equality, discrimination, gay rights, tolerance/acceptance, the environment and conservation. I have to temper these conversations with his age and putting things in ways he can understand and relate to. I also keep in mind that if I prattle too much, he will start tuning me out before he even hits those hard teen years. But I just want to be open with him. I want him to know that no subject is taboo; that he can talk to me about anything. And that he can disagree with me.

So, in the spirit of 'picking my battles', on the weekends, there is digital carnage in our living room. I hope this position of 'give' will enable his position of 'take' when it comes to The Big Stuff.

Camp Idontwanna

I feel like there are a million things I should be doing...and I don't want to do any of them. Not carve the pumpkins, not make Halloween costumes. Not call DC or find those articles or send that fax. Not finish those two homework assignments that are due. Not rinse out my lunch dishes.

Nothing. I want to do nothing. Blah.

I want to go home to my bed and open the windows so that the cool breeze and the warm sunshine filter in. I want to put on some comfy PJs, arrange some pillows, and prop myself up in bed with a cup of tea and a good book. I want to just relax and not have any responsibilities for a while.

This is impossible. Because I know that even if I went home and even if I settled down with a book that I would have to just get up in a small while and figure out dinner and then I would have to go pick up the kids and wrangle my homework and Brother's, because it has to be done. Kids get hungry. I get hungry. And I want an A, therefore homework must be done. I couldn't turn my mind off, even if I wanted to. In the end, I feel a little selfish even wanting a 'break'. I have a break every weekend, you know? Honey gives me plenty of time to read or nap or even go out if I wanted to. I think what is always pressing is what I have to do next, all the while making sure that I don't take advantage of my sweet husband's willing nature.

UG. Tell me. If you could do anything right now, just for you, what would it be? Let's pretend; shall we?

Won't You Please?

Please, won't you, please?
Please, won't you be...my neighbor.

Hi, Neighborhood of Bloggy Friends! I need some help figuring out better ways to cook delicious things for my family on a budget. I am thinking of tried and true, easy recipes that don't require expensive ingredients or gobs of time. Particularly, I am looking for something to quell the cries of, "Poptart!" in the morning, sang by the wee Bean. As Poptarts are expensive. And not overly good for you. And not what I really want to be shoving into my kids at 7 AM.

Yesterday I made Swistle's Apple Bread and mama mia, it was really so so good. So I am thinking things like that. Quickbreads? Maybe a favorite muffin recipe? Or a good "middle of the week" dessert? Or something that is easily tucked away for lunches? Breakfast-on-the-go-snack-type-foods.

So, can you help me out? You are welcome to post in the comments, but you can email me if you want to be shy/don't want to type all that bologna in that teeny white box. Misty . OurHouse (at) Yahoo (dot) com.