Smoking in the car with your kids?

As a child who grew up with a smoker who didn't quit smoking until I was well out of the house in college, I can tell you it is a disgusting experience to be locked in a car with a parent who smokes whether the damn windows are up OR down.   As an adult and now a parent myself, when I see adults smoking in the car with children, I'm thinking, who the hell are you to take your addiction and put your children in a position where they have no choice.  Especially with all the hardcore medical research out there telling us the impact of not only smoking, but second hand smoking and now third hand smoke!  Yes, denial is a powerful thing.

 Smoking is one of the hardest addictions to give up.  It is and I get that.  I watched my Dad try to quit several times throughout my life.  And I'm not saying that people have to quit.  They may not want to quit.  But placing others, namely children whose bodies are still developing, is downright irresponsible, neglectful and selfish.

Thankfully, some states are moving to tackle this issue, mainly related to smoking while having children in the car.  Maryland is close to passing this into law.  It's about time.  Nice job Maryland!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/md-senate-passes-bill-to-ban-smoking-in-cars-holding-young-passengers/2012/03/14/gIQAFxv3CS_story.html

Fell off the Wagon

Finding out we were expecting our second child a few months ago sent my mind in a bit of a tizzy...oh my god, was I going to go through this all over again?!?!?!  My daughter had just hit an awesome stage.  She could go out and do stuff, talk, tell me what she wants, interact and here I was getting ready to go down the sleepless nights, breastfeeding on demand, cluster feeding, a gazillion diaper changes a day, leaky boob path.   Crap!  And I can't go out and really enjoy an evening of wine...double crap!  But I have come to a different place and am looking forward to adding another little girl to our family, yes, another girl, so not a lot of shopping that needs to be done here!  Just a few more months to go!!

steals and deals on TODAY!

boxer briefs, jewelry, body care products, dvd collection for the little one and backpacks....

http://hip2save.com/2011/12/13/steals-and-deals-body-shop-ties-bracelets-and-more/

Dad in jail after hosting party for his teenager

This article is a wake up call for parents everywhere.  It happens and we all know it happens, we were all teenagers once too even though your kids probably don't believe that.  It probably happens more than parents would like to think it happens and the topic of allowing kids to drink in one's own home continues to be debated with the rational being, "at least it's in my home and I know what is going on."  These particular parents allegedly allowed the party, alerting neighbors of the party, but did not allow alcohol and had no idea that someone had secretly brought some into the party. 

My daughter is far from this stage, but I know we will be faced with it at some point.  I hear about this dilema often in my practice amongst parents.  There are even some high schools where I live that have parents sign a contract with the school that they will 'not serve alcohol to their children or any other students.'  I don't know how enforceable that is, but perhaps it's just the fact that they signed it that the schools feel may make the parent second guess themselves if they decide to serve alcohol in what they believe to be a 'supervised setting.'  There is lots of liability involved in serving minors and minors who have driven a car to your home and will encounter other drivers on the ride to wherever they plan to go when they leave your house.  Teenagers are impulsive by nature and there is a biological reason for that, and adding alcohol to the mix is a combination that can be deadly and have far reaching impacts for many.

http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/07/9281032-are-parents-responsible-for-teen-drinking-even-if-they-dont-know-about-it

Angry commenters

For all my fellow bloggers out there who have recieved them, and just for those who secretly or not so secretly like to read the comment sections of controversial articles because it seems to raise the 'freak flag', or 'angry freak flag' in many amongst us.   This article hits the nail on the head!  Thanks Katie Roiphe, I'm sure you've ruffled some feathers, but good for you!

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/roiphe/2011/12/what_s_wrong_with_angry_commenters_.html

Bad Parents, the year in review

We all screw up.  Okay, maybe you don't, but I do.  Here's the years review of parenting 'oops' by the Huffington Post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/06/worst-parenting-fails_n_1129372.html?ref=parents

With blogs, the interent, being able to take videos on our phones, we can look forward to this becoming a yearly tradition and hope we don't find ourselves on it.  Happy 2011!

Steals and Deals on again TODAY!

shaving kit, cashmere scarves, necklaces sold at Barney's, Fred Segal and Bendel's, Ipad holder with speakers and speaker/charger for ipad and ipod....great stuff!  Most things will be delivered by 12/23!

http://hip2save.com/2011/12/02/steals-and-deals-wallets-scarves-electronics-and-more/