One of the popular social networking site for moms, Maya's Mom was bought out by Babycenter yesterday and MyBlogLog was recently acquired by Yahoo. Wow! Isn't this exciting to think that maybe your idea will become this successful too?
If you are a mom NOW is the time to start your very own home business. There are so many great free resources out there for moms who want to start a home based business online. Here are just a few, Work At Home Based Business Online Moms and Jobs For Stay At Home Moms.
Here are a few extra articles that you may want to browse through. :)
Nell over at Casual Friday Everyday video'd her day as a work at home mom so I thought it would be fun to do this too and show all of you how my day goes as a work at home mom. I did the video this morning without showering or putting on makeup. Hey, it's supposed to be realistic right? :) The video is not of great quality. I don't know what happened after I uploaded it to youtube. I guess I need something better than a Kodak P850.
*Oh and if your not real sure you want to spend any extra time clicking on and watching the video, might I suggest a bonus to make you want to watch is my Southern hillbilly(Appalachian) accent. ;) There are also 2 posts up here today. The latest one explaining my last post.
Yesterday when I wrote the post Too Cool For Rules I sort of meant it tongue-in-cheek. I shouldn't have to explain myself because this is my blog but I do want people to know that we are not idiots and we certainly aren't bad parents. We just believe a tiny bit in what is defined as "anarchist parenting". Anyway, I said a tiny bit because as usual there is more to it than that but some of our beliefs coincide with AP. We also OBVIOUSLY understand that much of this doesn't apply to the world we are currently living in. And it certainly can't apply when your child is in the public school system. But it's nice to actually be able to talk about it which is exactly what I was doing.
We live in a screwed up world where everybody is an expert and everybody is afraid of breaking rules and we're all so worried about what everyone else does and has, that we can't think for ourselves anymore.
Ultimately, that post was about my thoughts and our ongoing discussion as parents. When it comes down to it, all we want our children to really learn is that it's OK to be late and to not get so caught up in freaking out over being late IF and WHEN it happens. Haven't you ever heard of "better late than never"?
I guess saying f**k authority freaks some people out. I guess those people never break rules and get to their required destinations 30 minutes early. Yeah, OK. That's so not how we are. I wonder if there is anyone on this planet who hasn't wanted to say f**k the rules every now and then?
PS. Don't take everything you read on the Internet so seriously. And now go watch this video. It's funny! But don't hate me. I didn't make it.
We are basically an anti-rules family. We don't go with the flow and generally don't do things traditionally like most people. We don't break the law. We just do our own thing. I imagine we are not the only family that is like this. Neither Hot Daddy or I currently work outside of the home so our daily schedule is quite flexible or was until our son started kindergarten a couple weeks ago. Of course once Hot Daddy finishes up his Ph.D then he will get back to working outside the home teaching at a university unless of course we hit the lottery or one of his or my several online businesses make us rich. The latter will probably not happen but wishful thinking is fun!
And, now I bring you the current battle between Hot Daddy and I. Please tell me I'm right or wrong or tell me were both crazy and to just get over it already.
The point of my post is rules and rules have been an issue between Hot Daddy and I every morning before Future Bam goes to school. Basically Hot Daddy doesn't mind if FB is late. He says children shouldn't feel rushed and shouldn't be brainwashed into thinking that they are going to get into trouble if they are late or don't feel like going to school because after all it's only kindergarten. I agree that children shouldn't feel like it's a big deal to be late every once in a while but when a child attends a public school it is our responsibility to get them there on time and to help them go by the rules of the school. Yes, I hate that I am having to listen to "the school" in regards to MY son.
Hot Daddy doesn't want our children growing up thinking that they have to always go by rules imposed on them by someone else (anyone outside of us as parents). He thinks that if we bring our boys up this way that they will feel like they have to rush to get everywhere or that it's the end of the world if they are late. Basically he wants to teach our boys to f**K authority! To do what they want and to not feel like they have to go along with the crowd.
I, too, want some of the same things for our boys but I also realize that at some point our kids have to learn that sometimes they have to do things they don't want to do. I do want them to think outside the box, to feel like they can do what they want and not what someone else tells them they have to do BUT while they are in the public school we have to come up with a solution. We can't use the school as an example if we want to keep our kids there.
I'm all for f**king authority to a point but there's only so far you can go when your kid is in school. I can hear HOT Daddy now as he reads this post, "Hey! Your making too big of a deal out of this! He's only in kindergarten!" Why, yes, I guess I am. :)
*Don't go too crazy on me. For the record, FB has not missed any school and has never actually been "counted" late. It's just one of those married couple battles of I'm right-no-I'm right. LOL.
**Edited To Add**: Want to win a twice-a-month subscription to the Tessy & Tab Reading Club for your kids! ($48 value) Check out the contest and learn all about the duck & kangaroo at Mom Reviews
I have a love/hate relationship with the Internet these days. I feel like I'm being pulled to the computer all hours of the day just keep myself up to speed on the latest internet marketing crap or to do whatever needs to be done for the day on the one too many blogs and sites I'm running. I honestly cannot focus and ultimately that is what I need to kick this problem.
Maybe I'm just upset because I HAVE to do this everyday to pay the bills. And, sometimes when you HAVE to do things you begin to not want to do them and that sucks! Burnout is what happens when you run a home-based business all on your own with no boundaries. I know it's my fault. I know I should be lucky. I know I'm complaining about making money. Really, I know I should be grateful. I am but I need to talk about this anyway.
When I first started my online home business back in 2003 I was passionate about it. And now, not so much. I still like what I do and I like the fact that I can be at home and do it whenever time permits BUT something is missing. I need to get back to my happy place.What happened? Anyone else feelin' this?
I know I'll get over it. But for now I just want to unplug if only for a few hours.
Last night after I put the boys to bed I watched Fracture. I knew I would like Fracture because I love psychological thrillers. Fracture is all of that and more.
I'll give you a brief overview of the movie because if you haven't seen it I surely don't want to be the one to spoil it for you. Basically, an older man (Anthony Hopkins) finds out that his wife is cheating on him then he is accused of murdering her. Along comes a young and flawlessly HOT lawyer(Ryan Gosling) who doesn't like to lose. Here is where the interesting twists and turns begin! The characters will keep you guessing until the movie ends.
Ultimately Ryan Gosling outshines everyone in Fracture including Anthony Hopkins. Everything about him exudes confidence. After seeing Fracture, I think I've found my new favorite pretend movie star boyfriend. Ryan Gosling sure has come a long way since Remember The Titans. So whether you like Gosling or not you should see Fracture because it's freakin' brilliant!
**Oh and If you want to hear your child's name in their very own personalized music CD then enter the Name Your Tune Contest. Deadline is Monday night!
Now it's time to talk crushes and bullies in kinder-freakin'-garten!
There is already a child at our son's school that is causing problems with the ENTIRE class! The kid is going around jumping on, crawling on and just basically being a pest to all the other kids in the room including our son so I guess he is really not your typical bully but a pest/problem child of sorts. I told FB that if this kid bothers him again to give the kid a warning. If the warning doesn't work and the kid continues to jump or crawl on him then it's ok to push him away or even punch him away. I don't like the thought of having my child having to hit another child. This simply should not be going on BUT at the same time this may be the only thing to work. :( Yes, I'm fully aware that saying this will probably bring the trolls out!
And last night before bed FB asked me what a crush was. Then he proceeded to say that a girl in his class said she had a crush on him and he had to run from her because she tried to kiss him. OMFG! I guess I should be happy that he's quite the ladies man but little girl's need to keep their mouths away from my son. Germs! Ewww!
If you have a child in Kindergarten this year I'd love to hear what you are going through!
* Don't forget to enter the Name Your Tune Personalized Kids CD Contest . It ends Monday August 27, 2007 11:59pm EST. Two parents will win a personalized music cd for their child!
I am guilty of buying my two boys too much stuff. There, I said it. OtherMoms are talking about it too. Our home is overflowing with junk. However, I haven’t always been this way. There have been plenty of times when Hot Daddy and I were new parents and we barely had enough money to buy food & diapers.
But now I buy a little something for the boys almost every time we go somewhere even if it’s just a quick trip to the grocery store. I don’t buy extravagant gifts or anything like that but I do catch myself and HOT Daddy (he’s really bad for it) buying the boys something like a book, a hot wheels car, or sometimes a movie when we go into a store. For example, a couple days ago I went to get school snacks for Future Bam and ended up buying him one of the very few Sponge bob DVD’s that he didn’t already have and his little brother got a Disney Cars toy.
Obviously I know this is a very bad habit and I don’t want the boys growing up thinking that they can have any material object any time they want it. I was not raised that way and I don’t want my boys to be raised that way but it’s hard to not give in to a tiny little toy that puts a smile on their face when we go shopping. For the most part we buy things that cost a $1 or $2 but those costs do add up and could be put to better use. I’m not sure what “better use” yet. Maybe some of you could give me some ideas on how to spend the money better if I do in fact stop spending it on junk. I know I could be paying more towards our debt but really is that $2 going to make a difference?
So, let’s hear it. I’m really interested in hearing how many of you buy your kids too much stuff? Do you buy your kids something every time you go somewhere? And if you do buy too much is it because you feel guilty? I know that is part of my reasoning. Honestly, when Hot Daddy and I have been really busy for a week or two and haven’t really gotten to spend a lot of real quality time with the boys I try to make up for it and I guess that’s where the buying stuff comes in. At least I am being honest and acknowledging this problem but in the grand scheme of things it probably doesn’t even matter. What do you think?
A couple of weeks ago we reviewed the Name Your Tune CD over at AmomsReview.com and we liked it so well that we wanted to give 2 of you the chance to win a personalized Name Your Tune CD for your child right here on the Petite Mom blog. To learn more please fit a visit to the Name Your Tunes website.
How To Enter Petite Mom's Name Your Tune Contest:
1.) First you must visit this link and tell me in a brief post on your blog what Name Your Tunes song is your & your child's favorite. Your blog entry must include a link back to the Petite Mommy blog (http://www.contestformoms.com/ablog.htm) & must mention this contest!
2.) Once you have posted come back here and leave a comment telling me you have entered and where I can find your post. Please include your email address so we can contact you should you be a winner.
3.) Open to residents of USA & Canada, 18+, void where prohibited. Deadline is August 27, 2007 11:59pm EST. Two winners will be announced shortly thereafter!
4.) If you don't have a blog you can still enter. Just leave a comment on this post. Please remember to include your email address.
I think that's it. Share the love and tell everyone about this contest!
*If you can't wait to win and want to go ahead and purchase a cd today then use the following coupon code in checkout and you will get a discount: NNHOL2005
*This is a quick update to let all of you know that I am redoing the blog template. It's gonna be simple. I'm just adding a third column and making it look neater so everything is easier to get to. I haven't added everything back in but I'll get to that tonight. Have a great Sunday. *
>Go to the Mom blog Homepage
Here are a few quotes as said by our new kindergarten boy.
I asked my son about the most important thing he has learned so far in Kindergarten. His response, "To sit down and zip your mouth". Nice! He's turning into a robot already.
While picking up FB from school his teacher said he had gotten into trouble that day so I asked my son what he got into trouble for. His response, "Laughing". Another Nice! We teach our kids from birth that laughter is a natural, wonderful emotion and that laughter really is the "best medicine" and when the kids go to school they are taught to suppress these emotions because it's too noisy. I wonder if this is why so many kids are depressed/anxious these days????
Maybe we should have homeschooled. I know, it's not too late but other than the "frikkin' rules" everything is going great and our son is so excited about school.
Recently our 6 year old son expressed interest in making some extra money by starting his own business . I love the fact that he is interested in what I am doing and that he wants to be an entrepreneur. I also think it's great that he just wants to make money so that he can save it to help us buy our own home and a new car. Right now he is set on a black hummer for his daddy. ;)
So what do you think of kid entrepreneurs? Is it just a fun way of making some extra money like babysitting, yard work or more?
I bought 3 domain names for my son today and the hubs is currently installing wordpress for Future Bam. I will do a lot of the work for him at first and until he can read well on his own. However, all of his ideas will go into the sites. I'm really looking forward to being a co-worker with my 6 year old son.
Sooo.... Future Bam's first day of kindergarten went very well. He loved it and said all he did was "play" and "have fun". Hearing this has sort of restored my faith in what kindergarten is really supposed to be. More on this as the year goes along. This morning I took FB into his classroom and when I reached down to give him a kiss he sort of snubbed me. Wow, all grown up after one day. So I guess it's OK to starting crying now, huh?
Here are some back to school kindergarten resources that I hope you will check out if you need help in getting prepared for back to school or want to know how to prepare your child for their first ever day of school-these worked for me.
P.S. *Edited to Add: If you are a mom looking for a paid blogging/writing job them please check our newest list of real work at home blog jobs over at http://www.HomeJobsForMoms.biz ;)
Today was our sons first day of kindergarten. Yes, I took that photo at 8am this morning. Future Bam is at school as I am writing this. As we said our goodbyes this morning in his classroom, future Bam was happy, eager, and excited. I hope this is how he comes home-happy, eager, and excited to return for another day and many years to come.
Luckily no tears were shed as we parted but as I looked at him for the last time before I closed the classroom door, I could feel myself getting emotional. It didn't help any when I looked over at Hot Daddy and I could see that he was feeling it too.
It's hard to let go of your children. I keep wondering if I have told my son all he needs to know and if I have prepared him enough to go it alone. I would be lying if I didn't say that today was heartbreaking yet also freeing for the both of us. He needs to go out in the world and learn. I need to really focus on my goals and business and by sending him along to school rather than homeschooling I'm able to do this.
It sure is quiet around here though. With only our 3 year old at home it is a whole lot different since you'd never know he was even here. He is the lone player.
I also kept telling myself that people and the world are inherently good and that I really should not worry. Am I kidding myself?
4 hours down, 3 hours to go until this BIG first is over :)
Basically this post is here to direct you to my OTHER blog today, so PLEASE go over and read why I may no longer be very well liked in the blogosphere(As if I ever have been). ;)
P.S. Our son starts Kindergarten on Thursday. However shall I survive this? We went to the open house today and he got to go into his room. It was bittersweet.
I took Future Bam to the library today. He wanted to check out a few books( because ya' know it's the library and that's what you do there) and I wanted the Harry Potter books( Yes, I am one of few who have not read them but I'm trying) so off we went.
As I was browsing the titles I never came upon any Harry Potter books. So I went to the front desk clerk and asked her if the library carried the Harry Potter books. She said "Yes!" (of course the library has Harry Freakin' Potter books. Why wouldn't they?) and I said, very stupidly of course, "Well I looked in the P's and didn't see any" and then I realized Oh My God I should be looking in the Rs. I'm sure she thought I was a complete idiot as I babbled on about why I was looking in the wrong place. It truly was one of those mommy brain moments. Unfortunately I have those moments often these days.
Anyway, the Harry Potter book that I needed to read first was out so I saw no reason to skip ahead to the others. I settled for Cosmic Jackpot: Why Our Universe Is Just Right for Life instead. Like I really have time to be reading for leisure since I have about a billion books to review.
On our way out the door I saw a sign about homeschooling meetings so I asked the front desk clerk ,who at this point was absolutely convinced I was brainless, for more information about these meetings( No I'm not homeschooling!) and she said I don't think you should homeschool. And with that I said Thank You and walked out the door.
Ya think her answer had anything to do with my scene with the dewey decimal system because you know if I can't find my way around a library and check out a book for myself then I'm clearly not cut out for teaching my child. Heck, I should be lucky that he can do anything on his own.
Is there a pill I can take for Mommy brain?
P.S. I will not be doing a photo of the day due to recent events that I will talk more about later. Not that me not showing a photo a day is really going to affect you in any way. My photos will now have ugly words across them. Isn't that great?
A couple nights ago Future Bam (the 6 year old) and I were playing Spongebob Monopoly. As he landed on the highly coveted Free Parking space he said, "That's HOT!"
Well, I almost freaked. What the hell? Where did my child hear that at? Is Drake & Josh and Spongebob talking to Paris Hilton these days? Oh well, atleast he isn't saying some of the obscenties his baby brother yells out from time to time.
P.S. I've got a big issue of picture stealing and hot linking(you see the image above now has my domain name on it. I did that with some but not all my photos throughout my years of being online) that I want to share with all of you so stay tuned. It's NOT pretty.
Self Promotion: Today is the last day to enter the emealsforyou.com contest over at our Mom Product Reviews site, AmomsReview.com Just leave us a comment! We've got five to give away!
And if you simply can't get enough blog contests or any type of online contests go to our Free Contests & Sweepstakes blog at ContestForMoms.com I promise there is something for every mom ! We are always accepting new contests so send yours our way! I know I've said the former several times here but it never hurts to say it again and it certainly won't hurt you! ;)
To The Customer Service Lady In The Department Store owned by Bon Ton, Inc.
I'm sorry that my 3 year old was taking a full blown fit while we were shopping in your store for our school boy. Oh wait. I'm not sorry. You should be sorry. Oh, why did you have to have the Disney cars toys so close to the back to school clothes? Don't you think that is just a little bit evil on your part? Want to know how you could really please and possibly make lifetime customers of the moms with more than one kid who have to drag both kids into your store? Eliminate the toys in the clothes section. Keep them freaking separate. You already make enough millions off the clothes so give us a break.
Futhermore, I probably won't be back to your store. Or you may just not let our crazy family in since the mother of all tantrums happened in your store and you don't seem to deal with those very well. I'm sure you thought we were crazy horrible parents who couldn't control our kid. I'm sure gossip ensued after we left but let me assure you that our cranky tired steroid-filled 3 year old son simply isn't like this on a regular basis. It was just one of those days when things weren't going well. I'm sure you've had them. And as the day ended things were going as horribly as they could possibly get and I don't know if anything worse could happen. I nearly tripped over my son going out the door because he decided to flop down in the floor after I took him out of the store stroller.
Why did you have to come out and ask us where we worked and did we go to college while we were in the process of a tantrum? Is that your business? Did you assume we were uneducated simply because our child was having a tantrum in your store? Doesn't everyone's child have a fit every now and then? And, why did you tell my son that all the toys were gone when clearly they were right beside you and in his view. Are you stupid? Maybe you should worry about yourself.
Have a great freaking day.
P.S. Customer Service sucks at your store and it's not just me. I found some reviews online ;) I'm even more upset now that I see your rival department store sells the same exact clothes cheaper. I can promise you I won't be back.
instead. Like I really have time to be reading for leisure since I have about a billion books to review.
