Lela Davidson's Blog, page 24

Forget the Diploma, Oklahoma, Apologize on Principle

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I just watched the Today segment from today. I still say she wrong. She said on the show that she’s not sorry she–at the counsel of her peers–changed her mind, therefore misleading school officials who were opposed to the use of that word. By deciding to use a different word than what she promised to use, what was approved in writing, she intentionally broke a rule. She admitted that For that, she should apologize. This has nothing to do with freedom of speech. If it did, she should have submitted ‘hell’ for approval and fought the good fight on the front end. Those parents who argue they want to teach kids to stand their ground are teaching kids it’s okay to say you’ll do one thing and then do another.

Watch for yourself on TODAY Moms

Related posts:

Hell of an Oklahoma Diploma Dilemma

How I Get My Family Off the Big Comfy Couch

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I bought a new couch last year. It’s a big sectional with an cushy ottoman that practically becomes a bed on movie night. I love it, but if I let it, the couch could consume us–turn our family into a lumpy mush of Whopper-eating-channel-flipping-elastic-waistband-wearing fatties. It’s that powerful, this construction of fabric and foam.

However, I have a secret weapon to get my family and me off the thing. Watch the video to find out what it is.

 

Related posts:

The Family That Laughs Together… Is Happy
Feeding the Family on $100 All Week
Smartass Family Politics

Hell of an Oklahoma Diploma Dilemma

The local high school in Prague, Okla., is withholding its valedictorian’s diploma because of a certain four-letter word uttered after she had graduated. Prague High School doesn’t plan to release straight-A student Kaitlin Nootbaar’s official record until she apologizes for using the word “hell” in her valedictory address. This might not be a surprise in the rural Oklahoma community, but it is odd considering the school mascot appears to be a young Lucifer himself.

Read More on TODAY Moms

Image: Today.com

Related posts:

Parenting Dilemma #8754: Cell Phones
Welcome Class of ’88 – Virtual Reunion Tour
Where Do You Stand on Creationism in Public Schools?

Can You Find Appropriate Back to School Clothes for Girls?

As back-to-school shopping goes into full swing iVoices Sharon Rowley, Brandi Jeter and Melissa Clouthier give their take on how young girls choose to dress today, and how to talk about positive body image and self-esteem with our daughters.

I actually disagree with a lot of what is in this video. For example, I don’t believe that our girls have “no choice” about what to wear. They are free to make good choices and we should hold them to it. And what is “sexy”? Are ankles sexy? Because we girls used to be labeled sluts for showing those. If parents can’t get their daughters to dress appropriately at a social function they attend together (as mentioned in the video), I think that says a lot about the parenting, in which case that child may indeed be using provocative clothing to get the wrong kind of attention.

To me, positive body image includes being proud of your beautiful, vital, young body– not basing every decision on how you will or will not be perceived by others. It’s a fine line, I realize, but I do fear that by lamenting the “sexy” girls clothes, we are letting parenting of the hook for enforcing their own standards.

In our family, the biggest problem as we approach this school year has been finding shorts that are long enough, but not too long. Also, what is acceptable at school is shorter than what I allow. This issue been the subject of tense negotiations. Finally, my daughter broke out the sewing machine and hemmed some longer shorts and pants.

Next year: Uniforms! Cannot wait.

Related posts:

Review: The Daring Book for Girls
Pros and Cons of Putting 16-Year-Old Girls in Wedding Gowns
Tween Girls Beware of Deadly Build-a-Bear Flu

Olympics May Be Over, But Moms Can Still Medal

We’ve watched the world’s best athletes. Sure, we are impressed at the physical prowess, but Olympians have nothing on the greatest athletes of all time – moms. The balancing act of our daily routines rival any elite athlete. Usain Bolt has nothing on a mom in a 100-yard dash to stop her toddler from running into traffic. Relays can’t compete with the “Mom I forgot my lunch/homework/cleats” trips back and forth to school. Synchronized swimming? Try applying sunscreen to two squirmy kids without getting it all over your couch. And just like those gorgeous beach volleyball players, we moms wage a constant battle against sand in underwear—usually someone else’s. Through it all we look good—with or without Romanian gymnast worthy makeup. So let’s give a medal to Mom. Here are some suggestions for new Olympic events in 2016:

Click here to read the rest of this article on TODAY Show Moms.

Image: Polycart, Flickr

 

 

Do You Love Your Job?

I took my daughter to brunch this weekend with a group of girlfriends. Only a few of us were mothers. The others were single women ranging in age from late 20s to early 40s. All but one of us work, full time. I was the only active entrepreneur in the bunch.

Later that afternoon, my daughter wanted to know: “Do you like your job?”

“I love it, why?”

“It doesn’t look like you’re happy in front of the computer when you’re all–” And then she made an unattractive face because I do not use my perky face while drafting, editing, and social-media-ing. Apparently.

I reassured her that I do indeed love my job, and that I am incredibly grateful that I get to do what I love for a living.

“That’s good,” she said. “Because all your friends hate their jobs.”

All your friends hate their jobs.

This was the impression my women friends had on my 12-year-old daughter. It made me sad. Sad for my friends who don’t enjoy their work and sad for my daughter that she’s not meeting more women who love what they do.

All your friends hate their jobs.

Sure, I know a few of my friends are dissatisfied at work, but I hadn’t really thought much of it.

There is nothing worse, in my opinion, than spending the bulk of your day doing something that makes you feel bad about yourself. Been there, done that. Whether you’re caring for young children or aging parents, working for someone else, or building your own business, there has to be something in it for you–something besides the paycheck. That’s what I want my children to know.

All your friends hate their jobs.

I can’t get this out of my mind. Maybe I’m overreacting, and maybe that’s a good thing, because these words from my daughter make me even more determined to do the work I enjoy, and when I can’t–to enjoy the work I do.

And to stop making that face.

What about you? Do you love your job? Our girls need to know how it’s done.

Image: Victor1558, flickr

Listen: Just in Time for Carpool Line

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Getting excited for carpool line? I knew it! Here are a few laughs for your listening pleasure. You can play them from here, or go ahead and click here to bookmark this podcast page on my website. Check back often for additions!

Click the arrows to hear samples from Blacklisted from the PTA, read by yours truly.

Camping, Anyone?

Thank God I’m a Country Girl

The Legend of My Ten-Pound Baby

The Case of the Easter Bunny

Meet Me at the Hotel Room

Date Night at Sam’s Club

Things That Could Go Wrong While Baking

Image: aldren_muya, Flickr

BlogHer12: Bloggers Take New York – Recap in Pictures

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My BlogHer 2012 in New York experience begins with pizza.

With a full two nights of sleep in my own bed between me and BlogHer12, I think I’m ready to share the experience of 4,500 bloggers who never sleep–at least, not in the throes of a blogging conference. The Arkansas contingent (Stephanie McCratic aka Evolved Mommy, Amy James of Everyday Dinners, and me) arrived Wednesday afternoon and promptly began an aggressive campaign of eating. Although we had dinner reservations in just a few hours, we “snacked” on pizza the size of my Toyota. I could not have asked for better travel companions, and Stephanie was especially generous as Amy and I made her our technology bitch with questions like, “But how do you OPEN PhotoShop Elements? Can you break that down?”

iVillage iVoices in New York!

Like last year I had a chance to meet with so many people I interact with online all the time. The iVoices had a great meeting with the staff and editors of iVillage and I got to meet my video co-stars, some of whom I have known for years and never met.

 

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With iVillage iVoices Liz Henry and Sharon Rowley

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The staff and editors of iVillage knew how to make us happy.

When Women Blog, They Bond

Random highlights included our fabulous dinner at Quality Meats (I had three steaks) with their starched white linens, rustic sophistication, and plastic cups. With lids. Cuz Stephanie spills sometimes. I have to say the food was divine, and the free workout from our table to the bathroom and back (three flights of stairs) only added to my enjoyment.

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Stephanie's $14 grapefruit juice comes in a plastic cup at Quality Meats.

The Hilton in midtown New York is different in many ways from Grand Ballroom A at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center and Embassy Suites here in Rogers, Arkansas. Many ways. I will only point out two: Tiffany Blue and chandeliers.

 

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We're not at the Embassy Suites anymore, Toto!

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Backstage passes to Radio City Music Hall.

The BlogHer Rockettes Experience

I’m not one of those bloggers who gets invited to a lot of parties, but I was lucky enough to be included in a Rockettes event sponsored by Centrum and Caltrate! Dragged my sleepy ass down 7th Avenue at 6:30 in the morning to take a dance class with real New York city dancers. We learned a few moves, pulled a few muscles, and had a lot of laughs.

Ushered into a secret doorway with very official VIP access, we made our way through the back hallways and elevators of Radio City Music Hall. I confirmed with the security guard that yes, animals DO live in the basement during the Christmas show season. (Thank you, Wikipedia.)

 

 

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Rockettes dressing room!

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Rockettes show shoes in a plastic laundry basket. Just like home!

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Getting ready to learn Rockettes moves a rehearsal studio at Radio City Music Hall!

 

 

Part of the fun of a blogging conference is meeting celebrities such as the Lorax. Yeah, that’s really him.

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At any conference, it's all about connecting with the right people.

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At CheeseburgHer with Sharon Rowley and Christine Candelaria.

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More iVoices Sharon Rowley, Amanda Dumbmom, and Christine Candelaria.

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Found Kelly Whalen, one of my roomies from last year, on the dance floor!

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Jenny (on the spot) Ingram and me. Now with glow sticks!

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Tracy Beckerman, Ted Rubin, and me.

It’s not a blogger conference until you find Ted Rubin. And we’re not bloggers until we take a picture, check it, and then ask him to pose again, and this time– can he please cover the fat part of our arms? And…. checking…. and… yes! Got the shot! Thanks, Ted.

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Amy Bradley-Hole and me at a sketchy karaoke bar on 35th.

 

It shouldn’t be too surprising, but I’m still shocked when I have to travel far away from home to meet people who live just down the road. I had a wonderful dinner Wednesday night with Amy, Stephanie, and Heather Schisler. Her Passion4Savings site is incredibly successful and she was generous enough to share some tips–both career and coupon.

Saturday night I got to sing karaoke with the delightful Amy Bradley-Hole, who lives her regular life in Little Rock. I’m telling you, Arkansas was represented!

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Accidentally found The Grey Dog, fabulous food in Chelsea.

We spent the tiny remaining energy we had left getting ourselves to Chelsea for some local fare. One fantastic breakfast later, I was still exhausted, but fortified for the trip home. Here I am, with a notebook full of ideas and inspiration, some new friends, and a renewed appreciation for the quiet excitement of my life here in Arkansas. There is so much more to tell, but I’m tired, and I have to get to work on all those action items on my list. And I have to save something for the book, right?

Who Peed on My Yoga Mat – It’s coming in November, watch for it!

 

Off to BlogHer in New York!

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Tracy Becker, Alexandra Rosas, Jessica Bern, and me, looking like a giant, which is pretty funny.

 

Don’t get me wrong, San Diego was nice last year. But New York! Who doesn’t love that? I am off with friends from Arkansas to meet friends from everywhere as we converge en masse on Midtown. We’re meeting up with 4,500 bloggers and brand representatives will gather for three days of hardcore learning and networking. Possibly a few parties and some painful shoes. I can’t wait to finally meet the iVillage iVoices team. I’ll also get to see all the producer/directors of Listen To Your Mother. Plus there will be eating and drinking and learning how to hack a little deeper into my website. Good stuff.

Be assured I am having a good time. For realtime updates, check Facebook and Twitter. And pray the battery life gods are with me!

Some thoughts from BlogHer ’11:

8 Types of Bloggers You Meet at BlogHer
BillMyParents, Track My Spouse – Tomato, Tomahto
Miss You, Babe

 

 

 

 

My Kids Got Creative In Front of a Screen

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Hello, Summertime!

We needed another screen like we needed more dog hair balls colonizing on the wood floor. So why did I accept the Droid Xyboard tablet from Verizon? Because it’s AWESOME, is why. That’s what my kids think, anyway. As for me, I’ve been curious how I’d use a tablet for a while and finding out for free–well, what’s not to like? Except that it was one more screen. I didn’t like that.

It’s been a challenge this summer keeping the kids busy. A few years ago I would have been frantic trying to keep my children safe and fed during the summer while I work. This year they could be self-sufficient, if I let them. However, the activities that are sufficient to entertain them are often not the most worthwhile. I catch myself late in the afternoons from behind my own screen wondering how many hours they have spent in front of a theirs.

Watching TV, playing Minecraft, texting, FaceTiming, and Temple Running.

But it’s hot outside, right? That’s my excuse? Work with me.

I want my children (who are we kidding, they’re teenagers) to have freedom from structure, but I want them to use at least some of their summer free time to be creative. However, seems whenever they’re given the choice, they choose a screen. Which is why I was surprised to find out that adding yet another screen to their inventory actually made them more creative instead of less.

As soon as we the device arrived, I made my 12- and 14-year-old try several learning applications. While they had some fun with 50 Languages, they promptly dismissed the rest of the apps as lame and replaced them with Angry Birds, Angry Birds Rio, and Angry Birds Space.

I’m sorry? What happened to SAT Vocab Prep?

Anyway, I figured I’d let them wallow in avian anger for a few days before I commandeered the tablet.

And then creativity set in.

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I'm not even kidding, she made this. From scratch.

It started with the Magic Piano by Smule. The next day my daughter found sewing videos made my teenage girls. By the end of the day, she had designed and sewn a dress without a pattern. The next day, she and my son looked up the recipe for Panda Express’ orange chicken and made it. Did I mention they are twelve and fourteen?

Sure, we have a desktop, a laptop, and more phones than I can count, but something about this tablet sparked their desire to make and do things they hadn’t tried before. The only reason I can come up with is that the tablet is portable, but also big enough to watch demonstrations.

I’m still not sure how I will use the Droid Xyboard, but I’ve changed my mind about having another screen in the house. If only I could get this thing to do the laundry, I’d be set.