People often wonder why kids are “so bad nowadays”. I really do think some of it comes down to parenting.

At both Madison’s school and Will’s school, I see kids coming out of cars with their coats not even zipped! Now, I live in Illinois where it has been hovering between 15-20 degrees all week. Not only are my kids zipped, they have hats, gloves, hoods up etc. Heck, they’d be in boots if there was enough snow for that right now.  We aren’t talking eight graders here either — I’m seeing this will preschools and kindergardeners.  You know, kids who don’t know  better.

Another parent lets their kids out at 8:40 or earlier (this is preschool).  The teachers don’t let the kids in till 8:50.  Again, in 20 degree or less weather, are you nuts?

This isn’t engineering jobs or rocket science people!  I just don’t get it at all.  Another example of this is parents who go to Monday Night Football game and stay out late on Monday night, only to keep their kids out of school the next day because they were too tired to take them.  The best is when these same parents tell their kids to lie and say they were sick.  Seriously?  What are we teaching our kids here?

Another annoyance of mine happens daily at Will’s school.  We are suppose to line up (as parents) behind the orange cone that has your kids’ teacher’s name on it.  Simple, right?  Well, it’s now, what, December?  Parents still aren’t doing this.  They aren’t asking for engineering recruitment here.  They are asking you to stand in line!  You aren’t getting your kid any quicker than I’m getting mine by NOT listening.  Most of the time, the teachers call the kids out who’s parents are doing what they are suppose to.

By no means am I a perfect parent.  I’ve made a ton of mistakes along the way.  However, if I don’t stand in line like I am suppose to, what am I teaching my kids?  If I tell my kids to lie, what am I teaching my kids?  If I don’t follow the rules of the road, what am I teaching my kids?

Kids learn by example.  The watch what you as a parent does.  If you don’t follow the rules, how do you expect your children too?  Madison and I butt heads every single day.  However, it’s for her own good (I hope she sees that when she’s older!).  If I didn’t care, I’d  let her do whatever she wanted.

And unfortunately I see a lot of that lately.

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I know people hate Kate Gosselin. I get that (kinda). That being said — you have to give her credit.  I watch all the haters on Twitter and I’ve actually responded that I’d like to see any of us get on that show.  I can tell you — I’d suck.  I know I’d suck.  Most of us would suck.  Kate is not an actress, she’s not an athlete, she’s a mom.  Think how nerve wracking that show has to be.  The haters who are all about “she needs to stay home with her kids”.  Well, people, do your research.  They practice at her house!  Instead of tearing her down, us moms should be bringing her up.  We should be voting for her because she’s one of us.  Plus, it isn’t like Jon is paying child support for all those kids, so let the woman make a paycheck where she can!  I also hate that last week they made all the women look whiny with their little stories.

I have to say that Pam Anderson annoys me on the show.  It’s how much she can flaunt what she’s got.  I’m not impressed by that.  However, since she’s hot, the audience will keep voting for her.

Who do you like on Dancing With the Stars?  Anybody you hate?

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I got this great chart to help you decipher what sickness is going around in your house. As a mom, I am freaking out about H1N1, and this really helps to figure out what’s going on.  (That being said, always make sure you call your doctor for the proper medical care).

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To General Mills.  In a couple of hours.  Seriously.  Though I do know when I’ll be back again (Monday night!).

I’m excited.  We are a General Mills family.  I should take a picture of all the cereal we have at my house at any given time.  It’s amazing.  Okay, not so amazing since I buy it when it’s on sale or when I have coupons and then I stock up.  However, I am looking forward to seeing my blogger friends.  Here’s a list of all the wonderful ladies I’ll be there with:

• Amanda: Mommy Mandy
• Amanda: Gourmet Mom on the Go
• Brandie: Free Sample Freak
• Elizabeth: Busy Mom
• Erinn: Parenting Our Children
• Gina: The Clan McLeod
• Jennifer: J. Leigh Designz
• Jennifer: The Mom Salon
• Jeri: Pink & Posh
• Jill: Musings from Me
• Julie: Coupon Saving Family
• Julie: Julie’s Journal
• Kate: MomTrends
• Kristin: Our Ordinary Life
• Latricia: 1stopmom
• Leighann: The Full Mommy
• Lindsay: Suburban Turmoil
• Lisa: Growing Up Mo
• Liz: Lizzy Dear’s Life
• Maria: SavingQueen
• Melanie: Little Patch of Sunshine
• Nicole: Being Frugal Is Fabulous
• Stephanie: Katy Couponers
• Toni A Daily Dose of Toni
• Tonya: Small Town Louisiana Girl

If you want to follow this trip with me, the Twitter hashtag for the event is #tabletalk.

Let me honest though, I am slightly worried.  As many of you may remember, when I went to Stouffers in April, I came home to Will being taken by ambulance to the hospital.  I pray that doesn’t happen again.  I know, I know — It was a freak thing and my head knows that.  It’s just everything else that doesn’t seem to get that.  However, I did go to BlogHer, and he was fine, so this isn’t my first event out.

Now, I have to go pack and take a shower (I know, I know, TMI).  Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you all when I get back!

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This is the story of the Craigs, whose children were not injured in a rollover car crash because they were restrained properly, and their advice to other parents on how to prevent injuries in similar accidents.

Copyright © 2011 My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact mythoughtsideasandramblings.com @ gmail.com so we can take legal action immediately.