Support AND Oppose...

There is a "big" homework debate going on around here... well... in the "township" that borders the city that I live in... I have friends whos children go to a particular "township" school that is having the debate and my friends have kinda been "asking" my opinion on homework... I think I have made some of them a bit disappointed in my responses to their questions/statements... I thought I would share SOME of the questions I have been asked...

Do you think it is unfair to give children homework? NO... Not if the homework given is used as a "tool" by the teacher to reinforce the days lessons... I think it is a good way for the teacher to gauge how well students are understanding the lesson(s) that have been taught during the day... Yes.. if the homework is given because the teacher did not have the time during the day to teach the lesson and gives the child(ren) the lesson (that SHOULD'VE been taught DURING SCHOOL) and expects them to "teach themsleves"

Do you think they should be given EXTRA CREDIT if they DO the homework? Absolutely NOT... homework should be given a "grade" (check if it is done... check minus if it is not)... but not an EXTRA CREDIT GRADE...

Do you think they should be given the chance to get the homework done IN SCHOOL? No... HOMEwork should be done at HOME... if HOMEwork IS allowed to be done during class than it should be called "CLASSWORK"...

Like I said... I think I have kinda "disappointed" a few of my friends by my answers... but then again I have been "reminded" by some of the friends that "I" don't attend that particular school... and I POLITELY tell them they are absolutely right... BUT... THEY don't attend the school either... THEIR CHILDREN DO... and I ask them... are you TRULY "upset" because your child is bringing home HOMEWORK... or are you upset because YOU are the one that ends up DOING IT?

Tuesday's "TIP"...

Today is "Tip Day" here at According to Lala...

Sometimes kids (and adults) have trouble remembering RIGHT and LEFT... here's an easy way to help remember quickly... and it's a great way to teach little one's... put your hands out in front of you (palms facing away)... stick out "your" thumb on each hand... See which hand makes the "L"??? THAT is the LEFT hand... so the other one is the RIGHT...

I have taught both my children RIGHT and LEFT using this technique... try it with your little one(s)!!!

An "OCs" Dream Come True...

OK... I think I may have died and gone to "OC HEAVEN" yesterday... we spent the afternoon at the most WONDERFUL PUMPKIN PATCH EVER... When we pulled in and I saw all those pretty pumpkins NEATLY LINED UP IN ROWS (straight rows BTW)... I thought I would cry... it doesn't take MUCH to make me HAPPY... but THIS certainly did!!!

Favorite "Foto" Friday...

This is one of my FAVORITE "fotos" of my son Nick... it was taken in 1995 at my Father's Retirement Ceremony from the Coast Guard (30 years)... Nick was 7 years old... We were living in Richmond VA. at the time and saw my parents frequently... Nick and my Dad have always been great "buddies" (Nick was the only grandchild for 14 years)... Nick loved wearing my Dad's hat because it had lots of "scrambled eggs" (oak leaf motifs embroidered in gold) on the brim... I remember on this day Nick was having a ball talking to all the "Army" guys (at this age ANY military person was an "Army Guy" to Nick)... Even though the years have passed and Nick has grown up he and my Father remain great friends!

SURVIVOR: China RECAP

Tonight was SURVIVOR night!!! And what a night it was!!!

Zhan Hu... Spent most of the show making a firepit... well... not all of Zhan Hu... just a few... the others spent their time WHINING about being hungry... Dave (the "reluctant" leader) tried to delegate some "tasks" to the other members of the tribe... but "poor" Ashley (the easily overwhelmed multitask challenged WWE Diva) couldn't even handle breaking up a few sticks... They were totally out of sync at the competition and lost the luxury of winning fishing gear and a fishing boat... although they DID "win" a totally flooded camp... but a totally DRY firepit (Dave was SO PROUD of himself)... what I wondered after the challenge and return to camp is WHY they didn't move up to "dry land"... because it was only a few steps away??? Jamie was "kidnapped" after the challenge and had to go spend time with the Fei Long tribe until the next challenge... she was given a "secret message/clue" to a hidden immunity idol in the Fei Long camp and had to choose someone to give it to before she rejoined Zhan Hu at the Immunity Challenge...

Fei Long... An early alliance was formed between Amanda, Todd the Weasel and Aaron (leader of Fei Long)... "JR" lays around the entire show... and argues with Aaron (who is getting sick of "JR's" laziness)... "JR" reveals that he is a "bad boy" in the "Poker Community" and he is using a "poker bluff strategy" for the time being... James (the gravedigger) continues this episode pushing down the bamboo trees WITH HIS BARE HANDS!!! Leslie (the "not religious" Christian Radio Host) is feeling sick... she misses reading her bible and knows if she could just read it she would feel better... Fei Long wins the 1st challenge (mud wrestling basically) gets fishing gear and a fishing boat... and "kidnaps" Jamie from Zhan Hu until the next challenge... JR and Aaron misbehave like 12 year olds in front of Jamie (although she acts like she's not listening)... Jamie reads the directions in the secret message and decides to give the immunity idol clue to "non religious" Leslie (who then thinks the clue is a gift from God to make her feel better)... SILLY SILLY Leslie decides to share the info with WEASEL TODD because she feels she needs to "share" the info with someone "witty" in the tribe... DUMB DUMB DUMB Leslie...

The Immunity Challenge I think is one of the best yet on SURVIVOR... I loved the "story log" concept and of course Zhan Hu just couldn't pull out a win... although they were ahead for a split second... "Leader" Dave tuckers out and causes them to fall behind and ultimately lose the Challange... Fie Long wins... running like a well oiled machine (lead by James and Aaron)... did you happen to SEE James grab that story log all by himself and crash through the GONG??? FABULOUS!!!

Tribal Council turned into "Tribal Therapy" headed by Jeff... Dave the "Hard Worker" and Ashley the "overwhelmed multitasking challenged WWE Diva" on the block... suprisingly PG kept her mouth shut... Ashley ends up going home...

*** Just a little side note... I KNEW who was going home tonight... quite by accident... one of my husband's coworkers went onto Ashley's website... in it she "messes up" and made a "SPOILER STATEMENT" that she hated being the 2nd person voted off of SURVIVOR... ASHLEY ASHLEY ASHLEY... not a smart thing to do... and Shame on you Mark Burnett for not catching the little spoiler!!! ***

Ashley made a parting statement... calling Dave a "tool"... WTH does THAT mean???

Can't wait for next Thursday... hopefully James will push down some more bamboo trees!!!

"MY" (New) Ringtone...

OK... so I am NOT a cellphone user... I will probably go kicking and screaming into cellphone usership at SOME point... but for today... I am PROUDLY "cell free"... BUT... ALL of my friends... Son... AND Husband are cellphone carriers and users (even my nephew in 8th GRADE carries/uses a cellphone... but that is another story for another time)...

I typically talk to my husband once a day while he is at work... I call his CELLPHONE... since he works in a SECURE LOCATION it is easier to call him on a non-secure line... so the cellphone it is... anyway... so I call him yesterday... dial the number... and that sexy automated voice chick comes on with the shpeel "Please hold while the party you have dialed is being reached"... and the ringtone music comes on... THAT is when I am thinking "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS???"... My husband has FERGIE-BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY as a RINGTONE???!!! THAT is SO GAY... (don't get all righteous... it's what I thought)... anyway... so my husband answers... and I IMMEDIATELY say to him "What the HELL kind of ringtone is THAT?"... he immediately starts laughing... and tells me that every person in his "phonebook" has a different ringtone (that way he knows who is calling by the music)... Hmmmmm... OH... OK... I'm thinking... "but you are a MAN... WHY would you have FERGIE as one of your RINGTONES??? And WHY did you pick THAT for MY RINGTONE???"... After my husband stops laughing again he TRIES to justify why he picked FERGIE for "my ringtone"... and BTW did a HORRIBLE job trying to convince me of his reason... so I say to him "OMG... that is SO LAME... I don't want FERGIE as "my ringtone"... and I hope the guys at work are SO MAKING FUN OF YOU!!! Because if I was a guy... I would so be MAKING FUN OF YOU"... so we have a quick chat like usual and hang up...

A bit later I get an e-mail from my husband asking me to call him on his cellphone... WHAT??? And have to listen to THAT RINGTONE again... but hey... if my husband wants to be made fun of... then I'll call... so I dial... and that sexy automated voice chick comes on with the shpeel "Please hold while the party you have dialed is being reached"... and MY RINGTONE COMES ON...

She's a very kinky girl... the kind you don't take home to Mother...

OMG... I LOVE "MY NEW RINGTONE" !!!!!!

A MEMORY... And A REMINDER...

It started when I was 15 years old... I was sitting in Ms. Sawyer's Typing Class... we had just done an exercise of typing oral dictation... and were handing our papers forward... and I feel this "tap tap" on my shoulder... I turn around and the girl behind me (who I didn't "Know"... but "knew of") says "Do you know you have GRAY HAIR?"... OH GOD... I KNEW it was coming... sometime in my future... but NOW??? In Typing Class??? So I responded "Um... I have GRAY HAIR?" (trying to act non-chalant) "YEP... I counted FIVE GRAY HAIRS on the back of your head... but they are hardly noticeable"... OH REALLY... well they must have been NOTICEABLE ENOUGH because YOU saw them... I spent the rest of the day at school obsessing about the "hardly noticeable" 5 GRAY HAIRS on the back of my head... and from THAT DAY FORWARD I started "coloring" my hair... PREFERENCE by LOREAL Color 5MB

Last night we were sitting at the kitchen table... and Lilley-Kate says "Mommy... you have WHITE hair"... I looked at her dumbfounded... then looked at my husband and son (Nick)... who are TRYING not to bust out LAUGHING... "I have WHITE HAIR?" I ask her... "Yep... right here (and she proceeds to point to each side of her head around her ears) and right here"... "Thank you for telling Mommy" and we continue dinner and THEN Lilley Kate says "Mommy... don't be sad... it's NOT REALLY WHITE... just A LITTLE WHITE" ( I THINK this was her way of telling me it was NOTICEABLE... but not REALLY NOTICEABLE)... "OH good" (I say sounding relieved) "Because if it was REALLY WHITE I would be worried"... So last night I colored my hair (for probably the millionth time since that afternoon in Typing Class)... PREFERENCE by LOREAL Color 1/2 5MB and 1/2 4 ... I don't have the heart to tell Lilley-Kate that she probably won't be able to "escape" the "white hair"... it runs in the family...

Tuesday's "TIP"...

Today is "Tip Day" at According to Lala...

When my son was little it was his "job" to set the table for dinner (and Lilley Kate is currently learning the "art" of table setting)... sometimes it can be confusing to kids (and some adults too) as to WHICH side of the plate to put the silverwear... Here is a little "trick" I came up with...

Placing the plate in front of you on the table... the FORK goes on the LEFT (fork and left both have 4 letters)... The KNIFE goes on the RIGHT (knife and right both have 5 letters) and the SPOON goes on the RIGHT (spoon and right both have 5 letters)... once your kids can remember that they can EASILY set the table!!!

Have a great Tuesday!!!

May I Have This Dance?

Both my husband and I will be watching DANCING WITH THE STARS this season (as we have every season)... Here's one reason why...

One of the most romantic things my husband has EVER done for/with me is taken Ballroom Dancing lessons... now... if you KNEW my husband you'd know why this meant so much to me at the time... (remember Elaine "dancing" at the wedding reception on Sienfeld? Well... picture THAT in a male version... OK... NOW you have an idea... NOT a "natural born dancer")... growing up a "proper Southern young lady" I was taught at COTILLION how to do a proper waltz... one of my FAVORITE ballroom dances... and I had always told my husband of my "desire" to waltz with him... so unbeknownst to me (until he came home one day and "announced" very proudly) he signed us up for Ballroom Dancing Lessons!!! It was fun (and at times funny)... and he tried SO HARD... even taking the time at home to practice... we would move the kitchen table and dance on the linoleum floor (the closest thing to a dance floor in our house at the time)... surprisingly.. he really got "into it" and at one point said to me "This is kinda fun" (OMG... did he just SAY THAT???)... we took Ballroom Dancing Lessons for 2 1/2 years... we learned to waltz together... and occassionally he will still take me in his arms and we will waltz around our kitchen on the linoleum floor... and he will look at me and say "This is STILL KINDA FUN"...

Unfortunately due to his work schedule the lessons had to stop... but hopefully one day soon we can get back to the "Ballroom"... until then... we'll just dance the waltz on the linoleum floor...

Yes! I DO Sew...

I've been asked a couple of few times whether or not I sew (I think it is the result of visiting a few of the FABULOUS sewing blogs out there)... Well... yes... I DO sew thank you for asking... mostly I APPLIQUE on pre-made garments... I have sold my "designs" on eBay... (under the seller ID Lilleybugglane)... and to friends around town... I remember sewing as a little girl... my Mother would give me her scraps from her "Stretch and Sew" projects and I would make clothes for my Barbies and little pillows that I would give away... when my son was little I would sew for him... and when my daughter was born I started sewing again for her... so I thought I would share some of my "designs"... and answer a frequently asked question... "Do you sew?"... I WISH I sewed "better"... and I wish I was a bit more adventerous... but I'm pretty satisfied with what I can do... so yes... I DO sew!!! :o)

Learning "THE Look"...

I am trying to teach Lilley-Kate my disapproving look... like when she misbehaves... or is "ugly" (not nice) to someone... I give her "THE Look"... you know the one... probably the one very similar to the one we all had growing up... right? Well... there are times when Lilley-Kate can read that look from the next room... and other times when I takes her about 10 minutes to realize I am giving her the look... Just a bit ago she was "ugly" (not nice) to the dog... Abbie was laying in the Living Room... snoring like a buzzsaw (LOL) and Lilley-Kate walked in and said "Abbie... get into your kennel... you are in my way"... so I go into the Living Room (as Abbie is walking OUT of the Living Room) and stand there giving "THE Look" to Lilley-Kate... she looks straight at me and then away... setting up her Barbies... occassionally looking back at me (yes... I haven't moved and I am still giving her "THE Look"...)... she looks back... I'm still there... the Barbie's are ready for tea... she looks back... I'm STILL there with the SAME LOOK ... finally she sighs... gets up... goes into the Family Room (where Abbie is now laying... again snoring like a buzzsaw) and kneels down and whispers "Sorry Abbie" (Abbie responds by thumping her tail twice on the floor... but doesn't even open her eyes!!! )... Lilley-Kate comes back into the Living Room and says "Mommy... I told Abbie I'm Sorry... you can go now"... to which I respond "Thank You" and turn around and leave the room... the Barbie's sound like they are having a fun tea... I think I'll go join in the fun!

Two Steps Behind...

I hate it when I wake up late... UGH... the whole rest of the day I feel "off beat"... kinda like I am two steps behind everyone else... it happened today... my alarm was set for 7AM... as it usually is... well... I "jolt" awake and look at my clock and it read 8:15AM... WHAAAAAAAAT??? I have 45 min. to get showered, dressed, get Lilley-Kate ready for school and get her TO SCHOOL on time... well... I FOCUSED FOCUSED FOCUSED... and got her to school ON TIME!!! But... the whole rest of my day has felt like I have been running to catch up... TGIF!!!

Favorite "Foto" Friday...

Friday's will be "Favorite "Foto" Day" at "According To Lala"... I will share photos that are my personal favorites ...

I love this photo of my daughter Lilley-Kate... she was 2 1/2 at the time and just so sweet... this photo was taken at my In-Laws house on Father's Day... I remember she was trying to peer into the fishpond next to the porch... but couldn't quite see over the railing... I said her name and she looked at me and I snapped the picture... I loved it so much I had little wallet hardcopies made... turned them into magnets and gave them to all the relatives...

SURVIVOR... First Impressions... First Episode

TONIGHT was the night!!! SURVIVOR CHINA premiered!!! WOOHOO!!!! Thougth I would give you MY impressions on the show and some of the SURVIVORS... Please feel free to politely contribute by leaving a comment in the comment section... I will recap after every episode... :o) (Yes... I am a TOTAL SURVIVOR FREAK!!!)

First of all LOVED the opening Images... Glad they didn't change the theme music too much...

Thought the SURVIVORS looked a little "too dressed up" when they were heading to meet Jeff... (we would later find out that one was actually BRALESS... as she "announced" to the group when Jeff told them they wouldn't be taking their luggage... DUH)

Buddhist Ceremony... Jeff ASSURED them that it was NOT a WORSHIP ceremony... but that the CHINESE PEOPLE wanted them to feel WELCOME... so they would INCLUDE them in the ceremony... OF COURSE... COURTNEY... the waitress from NYC was disrespectful and complained the whole time... BUT... the SHOCKER was LESLIE... the CHRISTIAN RADIO HOST who WALKED OUT of the ceremony quoting a Bible Verse... because SHE felt it was a WORSHIP ceremony... when she was questioned about it by Jeff her response (and I quote) ' I am not a religious personn but I do have a realtionship with Jesus Christ and I will not but my face to the floor for anyone but him... I just felt it was worshipping'... OK LESLIE... You're NOT religious??? Then WHY are you a Christian Radio Host... and lets just HOPE your "bosses" at the station weren't watching the show *** Let me say at THIS point... IF you have sound beliefs and are SECURE in what YOU believe... then you should not be afraid of other "religions"... and even if you disagree with someone elses religion... you should still be RESPECTFUL****

Tribe Names... Zhan Hu and Fei Long

Thoughts on some of the SURVIVORS:
Denise... the lunchlady... MULLETS are OUT
Chicken... Chicken farmer from VA... did you NOTICE that he pulled a CELLPHONE from his vest and gave it to Jeff before leaving the temple??? (run it back on your TiVo if you missed it)
James... Gravedigger from Louisianna... did you see him PUSHING down the bamboo trees with his BARE HANDS?
Jean Robert... Professional Poker Player... "HEY JR... HIKE UP YOUR BRITCHES... PLEASE!"
Todd... Flight Attendant... WEASLE
Ashley... WWE Pro-Wrestling Diva (LOL... yea... she looked like a DIVA dry heaving and laying in the dirt)... HUGE boobies (which I think are what saved her from going home tonight)
Frosti... Athlete... YOUNGEST Survivor (age 20)... a bit full of himself (WHO the hell would actually want someone to call them FROSTI???)

I thought it was HILARIOUS how by the challenge they were all pretty much down to their underwear... WHY would you wear FISHNETS... little KITTEN HEELS... and NO BRA coming onto SURVIVOR??? The exchange between JR and Todd was a bit "odd"... when JR questioned Todd's occupation and then JR says he thinks Todd is "fishy"... INTERESTING exchange between James and Leslie... LOVED his response to her question "What do you do?"... "I bury people"... Felt a bit "sorry" for James in the little "interview" when he said he'll have trouble strategizing... thinking that was so far from the truth...

Fei Long ends up going to Tribal... they decide to vote out KNOWLEDGE and AGE and keep the BIG BOOBED PUKING WRESTLING DIVA... DUMB DUMB DUMB... so Chicken is the first to go... and DAVE and PG as leaders??? UM... ok... like THAT is going to work... thinking not so much... IMO... Fei Long is in trouble...

So... there you have it... my notes from the first episode of SURVIVOR:CHINA...

Already looking forward to next week!!!

THURSDAY NIGHT TV...

You KNOW where I'll be EVERY Thursday starting tonight??? On the couch with my stack of magazines watching TV!!!!

SURVIVOR (CBS) starts tonight!!! WOOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!! I'm anticiapting this season to be THE BEST one yet!!! I think both my husband and son would do fabulous as contestants on SURVIVOR... my Husband because of his military and survival skills... my son because he LOVES to try new things... and both my husband and son are FABULOUS strategists... I wouldn't mind being on SURVIVOR... but I'd want them to build me a little hut like Ginger and MaryAnn had on Gilligan's Island first...

The First 48 (A&E)... I LOVE watching crime shows... and especially the "medical aspects" of crimes... this show can be a bit graphic... I find it very interesting the process of solving crimes and how the clues and leads that are found direct the detectives to solving the crime

Dallas SWAT (A&E)... Again... the whole "men in uniform" thing... LOVE IT... PLUS of course there is RICH EMBERLIN... I love to see how they break down doors (although the Dallas SWAT could use some practice with the 3 point pull... they can never seem to get that right) and go storming in to catch the badguys... I'll tell ya... if I was a criminal... and Dallas SWAT came a callin'... RICH would definitely be the one I'd want stormin' through my front door! TONIGHT will be especially good... because a new SERGEANT is coming into SWAT and Clagget is retiring (I just hope they don't attempt the 3 point pull)...

I've already sent out my "mass e-mail" to all my friends... NO PHONE CALLS... unless of course it is an EMERGENCY (I have an "emergency ring")... then of course I will answer the phone!

My Wednesday Night "Hotties"...

OK... I admit it... I LOVE watching television... typically once Lilley Kate is in bed and the house is straightened up I literally PLANT myself on the couch (usually with a stack of magazines to browse through) and spend the rest of the night "relaxing" (watching television)... and NOW that the new seasons have started... WEDNESDAYs are one of my FAVORITE TV nights...

KITCHEN NIGHTMARES (FOX Network)... LOVE(D) it (first episode aired last night)... I especially LOVE Chef RAMSEY... I'm not only a sucker for a man in uniform (my husband will atest to THAT fact)... I'm also a sucker for a man with a BRITISH accent... I was a faithful Hell's Kitchen watcher last season... Last night was "Classic" Gordon... I LOVE everything about him!

DINNER IMPOSSIBLE (FoodNetwork)... LOVE it... not only because of the whole "James Bond" show format... but because of Chef ROBERT IRVINE... LOVE HIM and the British accent is just the GRAVY on the top! I mean who wouldn't LOVE to have a BUFF Chef cooking for THIER event???

So... Wednesday Night's I have deemed my British "Hottie" night... of course... my husband spent last night walking around the house sporting a "British" accent... but he sounded more like Austin Powers than Chef Ramsey or Irvine!

Does It Make Me "Special"?

I read an interesting article today about the "death" of certain languages... in the article there was a little poll... the question was... How Many Languages Can/Do You Speak? A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4 or more...

Well... I speak English fluently (the language I grew up speaking)... I "speak" Sign-Language (another language I grew up "speaking" (although I am a much "better" lipreader)... I should say at this point that I am hearing impaired due to inherited deafness in my family)... I also speak fluent Spanish (I started taking Spanish in school in 6th grade)... and I am "fluent" in "conversational" German... I am also "fluent" in "Pig Latin" (although that is only an "official" language to those that know it... mainly parents... LOL)... and I can say these three phrases "I am an American"... "Where is the American Embassy"... and "I Need a Lawyer" in Dutch/Swedish, Italian, Turkish, Portugese and French (I traveled in Europe and was required to know those three phrases in each country I visited)... so... I clicked on "D" and hit submit...

Well... come to find out... that puts my in a very small category... less than 4% of the population of the United States speak 4 or more languages ... if you don' t count ENGLISH it still put me into 16% of the population (that spoke 3 languages)...

Does it make me feel "SPECIAL"?... Um... not particularly... just kinda nerdy (which most of my friends tell me I am)...

Know Your Strengths...

One of my Favorite little sayings is...

"To Be Happy... Don't DO Whatever you Like... LIKE Whatever You Do"

I'm a firm believer in "knowing your strengths"... doing "what you know"... I think the KEY to being TRULY successful and Happy... is finding something you are (really) good at... and enjoy... and building off of that...

If you have a "knack" at having great parties and love all the prep... you'd probably be a GREAT Party/Events Planner... you probably wouldn't make a great heart surgeon

If you LOVE to read and LOVE books... you'd probably make a GREAT Librarian or Literacy Teacher... you probably wouldn't make a great mechanic (unless you had a GREAT book to tell you how to be a mechanic... LOL)

If you LOVE to cook... you'd probably make a great chef... or caterer... you probably wouldn't make a great interpreter

If you have a "knack" for decorating... you'd probably make a great interior designer... you probably wouldn't make a great seal trainer

I know quite a few people that really don't like their jobs... I mean REEEEEEEAAAALLLY don't like their jobs... they hate going to work every day and doing what they do for a living... I have heard MANY of them say (in conversation)... "You know... if I could do ---- and make a living at it I would be totally happy"... I always feel sad when I hear people say that...

I also know some SAHMs that really don't like... and I mean REEEEEEEAAAAALLLY don't like... that they have "given up" their (professional) careers to raise their children... they feel like "second class citizens" amongst their "professional" friends... I always try to tell them that being a stay-at-home Mom is one of the MOST-IMPORTANT JOBS on earth... I mean WHAT could be MORE IMPORTANT than raising GOOD HUMAN BEINGS? And if you really stop to think about it... it's only temporary (if you stay home until your kids are in/start school)... and NOW (during the time that you are a SAHM) is the PERFECT time to "build on your strengths"... find out what you're good at... REALLY LIKE... and make it work for you...

I am Happy... not only because I "do what I like"... but I TRULY "like what I do"...

Tuesday's TIP...

It's another "Tuesday's Tip" at "According to Lala"... here's one for all the Moms of "little ones" (and not so little ones)...

We are all for giving our children choices (me included)... BUT... I am not for giving children unlimited choices... so here is how I approach "choices"...

Give your child no more than 3 choices... BUT... make those choices choices that YOU would be alright with (nomatter which one they choose)... for example... For snack after school I usually offer her three choices like cut up apple... cinnamon toast... or cheese and crackers... so nomatter which my daughter chooses... I'm ok with any of the three... and my daughter feels good because she got to make a choice as to what she wanted for snack... another example... when we are going to take a little carride... I give my daugther the choice of taking books... coloring book and crayons... or her favorite little Kelly Dolls... see? Any of those three would be fine with me... but SHE GETS TO MAKE THE CHOICE...

I've used this little approach with both my children... revising the choices as they have gotten older (for example... when my son was younger he could either do his homework in his room... or at the kitchen table... he could mow the lawn before OR after dinner... ect.)

Give your children choices... BUT... LIMIT the choices you give... they'll be happy... and so will you!

To Whom It May Concern...

Hello... please let me take a minute of your time to tell you about my day... I went shopping... for my 5 YEAR OLD... and can I tell you that I am DISGUSTED in the selections that YOUR store/YOUR buyers and YOUR designers are offering for my 5 YEAR OLD to wear.... I understand being on the "cutting edge of fashion"... but she is 5 YEARS OLD... NOT 15... NOT 20... NOT 25... 5... she's a LITTLE GIRL... a LITTLE GIRL who should NOT be wearing a shirt that says on the front "I Know Your Boyfriend's Phone Number" (and she won't because I DIDN'T BUY IT)... She also should NOT be wearing terrycloth sweat/trackpants that say "CUTE" across the bum (and she won't because I DIDN'T BUY THOSE EITHER!)... I also DIDN'T BUY the sheer peasant top you offered with the satin camisole underneath... OR the jeans that had the FAUX LEATHER chaps on the front... OR the LOW-CUT jeans (the ONLY ones BTW I could find that had NO EMBELLISHMENTS on them)... OR the brown leather Mary Janes that had a 2" heel on them (and I know b/c I carry one of those little tape measures around with me in my purse...)... OR the little pink top that had a heart that said "Meet Me After School" on the front!!! And just so you know... if any of your employees call you and tell you that there was a "crazy woman" in YOUR store today "bitching" about the clothes you are carrying... THAT WOULD BE ME... because I complained to EACH and EVERY employee in those particular stores... I went to a total of 5 stores today... and THREE of those stores (2 actually being MAJOR DEPARTMENT STORES) had NOTHING I would even CONSIDER putting on my 5 YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL.... So... The next time you have one of your little "buyers meetings"... you MIGHT want to keep in mind those of us who DO NOT have ANY DESIRE to dress our CHILDREN as prostitots... and until you realize THAT... I WILL NOT be giving you one red cent... although sadly I do not think it will change your selection/styles that you offer... at least I will KNOW I am doing the RIGHT THING... Thank you for your time... Sincerely... "Mrs. Lala"... P.S. OH... and Start carrying MORE PETITES... not everyone has an inseam that is a MILE long!