Category: June 2007

Okay, I don’t know about the rest of you but when it comes to my kids their safety is one of my prime objectives. Here in the states children are required to be in a booster if not a car seat with a five point harness. It is when they reach a certain age, weight and height requirement that these restrictions no longer apply.  Another useful link that outlines guidelines can be found here.

People who know me know that I don’t hide my expressions very well. I went to pick up my children from their home daycare down the road. A grandmother of one of the other children was also picking up her grandchild at the same time. Buckling two children take a few minutes if not more. I turned to look and saw that the grandmother had not even put a seatbelt nor used a car seat for this child. Keep in mind this was not the parent picking up. I know that I would want the safest thing for my child and it appalls me to think that another parent or guardian would not put that child’s safety first. Keep in mind this child was 5 five and clearly needed at least a booster and seatbelt.

I guess I just don’t understand why a parent wouldn’t’t do what is the best interest of any child. This incident appears to have stemmed from lack of concern for the safety of the child as well as laziness.

Some people would say, “Why does it matter to you?” My point is, part of being a parent is acting in the best interest of the children since they obviously cannot (due to their age) act in their own best interest.

My children are in a home daycare that gives then a loving and safe environment.   I needed to make sure that my daycare provider was not going to loose her license if she didn’t mandate car seat usage for this individual.  There are daycare centers and schools that will not allow a child to leave their facility unless there is a proper restraint.  I was not going to loose my daycare provider because a guardian was too lazy to provide proper restraint for their child.

 

Well the new name of my site (Balancing Act) goes back to the age old question of whether a mother should stay home once she has children.  Unfortunately for my husband and I,  we never asked the question since both of us need to work.  I have many friends that are fortunate to be stay at home moms.  Just like working moms they have their good days and bad days.  Frustration levels run rapid no matter what your situation is. 

I have heard everything from, "Well I would never send my children to daycare to… Well we just decided to give up some things in order to stay home."  I don’t know about most of you but Mac and Cheese and peanut butter/jelly sandwiches are a staple in our household.   We are lucky enough the we have stable jobs and we can afford to give our children everything they need.  I can honestly say that daycare has taught my children many things that only that type of environment can teach.  I consider myself lucky that my children are well adjusted.  Though I must admit they are not perfect but I haven’t met a child that is perfect all the time.

I have always tried to create a healthy balance between work and family.  I have told my boss and many of my friends that I have a job to support my family and that I didn’t have a family to support my job.   I go into work early so that I can leave to pick up my children and often say that I was going home to my second job.  A friend kindly reminded me that when she goes home she is going home to her first job.  My hat goes off to my friend for setting the record straight.

So needless to say my balancing act is ongoing as long as I am working full time.  My children and family always come first and that is an easy decision to make.

So the fact is I am pretty new to this whole blog thing so you will have to bear with me while I get adjusted to the protocols and the lingo.

So I understand that I have been tagged and apparently this means that I am to divulge eight things about myself that no one knows.  Well since this is all new to me I am assuming that you really don’t know me at all so here it goes:

1.  Not only did I help start the field hockey team in college but was captain.  They have been nationally ranked the past few years.

2.  I coached 9 – 10 year old girls how to play lacrosse in Maryland.

3.  Coached the woman’s lacrosse team at Eastern State the first year of it’s existence.

4.  I grew up on a third generation large dairy farm.

5.  I have been blessed with two boys ( proudly featured on this site).  I think if anyone else asks why aren’t you trying for a girl I am going to scream.

6.  I listen to all types of music but don’t have the tolerance for gangster rap or heavy metal.

7.  Came down with Spinal Meningitis and had to walk to the hospital when I was 22.

8.  Wish I had pursued a career in music or photography.

Okay these are my eight things.  Because I only follow two blogs I will have to tag  Mary.