Flying Debris

To those parents who -for whatever reason - allow their child to write their own party invites.

Maybe you think it’s a cute means of personalization, or perhaps it’s your own misguided attempt to teach responsibility - who knows what the fuck you were thinking… Next time please consider the following-

1. I can barely read my own 4 yr olds penmanship - what in God’s name makes you think I could decipher your 4 yr olds handwriting?!
2. Proofread - Proofread - Proofread!!! Why - you might ask? (aside from the head smacking obvious….)

How bout so we can avoid breaking the heart of a little girl who was so excited about attending her fist costume party, she talked of nothing else for a week. Who, on the day of the party, proudly dawned her witches costume, pointy hat in place, and jumping up and down to hurry hurry hurry - only to find the date on her invitation was incorrect. “The party was last Saturday, we’re sorry for the mistake.”

well gee - that makes it all better.

Actually no it doesn’t. Stick your apology where the sun don’t shine - and next time - proofread the invitations or hey - use your many years of writing experience to write the invitations for your child!

asshole

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My oldest step-daughter had our 2nd grand-baby yesterday! It’s her first.
Ella Grace. 7lbs, 10 oz;  21 1/2 inches long.

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little boy: “When’s daddy get here?”

mom: “When he gets off work.”

little boy: “Where’s your daddy?”

Hannah: “At the cemetery.”

yeh - stopped me in my tracks.

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I wish wish wish there was a Sudbury School (or something similar) in this area.

As someone who dropped out of college due to boredom and burn-out caused by “how” we are educated, I would love for my daughter to attend a school like Sudbury. I’ve actually been looking into schooling options for the passed year, hoping to find something - I hate to say better, but it is what it is - something better - different - than public schooling. I shudder thinking of her ‘tied’ to a desk for 8 hrs a day for 12 years listening to teachers drone on and on and on… Schools like Sudbury prove there are better methods of education.

I’m not slighting teachers, the problem stems from - yikes - us actually, as parents and citizens. A combination of “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” - apathy - lack of motivation for demanding improvement/change - generally being sheep.

Public education won’t change before Hannah starts school. But I will continue searching for something different.

“Sudbury Valley School is a place where people decide for themselves how to spend their days. Here, students of all ages determine what they will do, as well as when, how, and where they will do it. This freedom is at the heart of the school; it belongs to the students as their right, not to be violated.

The fundamental premises of the school are simple: that all people are curious by nature; that the most efficient, long-lasting, and profound learning takes place when started and pursued by the learner; that all people are creative if they are allowed to develop their unique talents; that age-mixing among students promotes growth in all members of the group; and that freedom is essential to the development of personal responsibility.

In practice this means that students initiate all their own activities and create their own environments. The physical plant, the staff, and the equipment are there for the students to use as the need arises.

The school provides a setting in which students are independent, are trusted, and are treated as responsible people; and a community in which students are exposed to the complexities of life in the framework of a participatory democracy.”

How could I not want an environment such as this for her….?

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Now this is interesting.

It’s every modern parent’s worst nightmare—a school where kids can play all day. But no one takes the easy way out, and graduates seem to have a head start on the information age. Welcome to Sudbury Valley. 

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probably catch some slack for this one…

*Using this income bracket because it’s the most effected*

Working class family on the low end of the income bracket. In other words you’re just getting by each month, usually juggling a few bills to keep your head above water. Out of nowhere you receive a bill for $40,000 AND if you don’t pay a large portion fairly quick, you’re going to jail.

I don’t know the actual statistics for occurrences, but I’ve known 3 men this has happened to so it’s probably more common than you think.

When a child is born to a single mother, the father must provide financial support for his child(ren). ie., child support.

But-

What if the father doesn’t know he fathered a child?

What if the mother chose not to inform the father?

How could he provide for a child he didn’t know existed?

Currently these factors have no bearing on the father’s responsibility. There is no requirement that a mother notify a father of his child’s birth.

In one case I’m personally familiar with, the mother waited 15 yrs to tell the father he had a child. She was very young (probably didn’t want anyone to know). During her pregnancy she moved half way across the country and severed contact with all former aquaintences.
Let’s estimate.

15 yrs of unpaid child support at say $150/month + interest.

Can you imagine getting slammed with a $40,000 Due Yesterday bill? But that’s not all, you must immediately find the funds for an attorney to represent you in (possibly) getting a reduction on the interest, and work out a payment plan that will keep your butt out of jail. Multiply the threat of jail for fathers on probation or parole.

I’m not proposing an across the board negation of financial responsibility if the father isn’t notified. I do think certain conditions and requirements should be put in place to protect the financial well-being of children currently supported by the father…

The mother must notify father of birth.

Or she must be able to produce evidence showing she made an effort to notify during a set amount of time (say 2 yrs) after the birth.

Failure to meet these conditions would negate entitlement to financial support during the interim between birth and notification.

I firmly believe a father (or mother) has a financail and moral obligation to support their children.

But I also think a mother has a responsibility to notify the father of the birth of his child. Obviously there are exceptions, such as when the mother is fleeing a situation where she fears for her or her child’s safety. This wasn’t the reason in any of the 3 cases I’m familiar with so while it does happen, I don’t think this is the most common reason for a mother failing to notify the father.

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I take excellent care of my 4 yr old daughter. To imply that I don’t, on any level, is a place that the devil himself should fear treading.

H couldn’t wait to make her world debut so she chose express delivery and came 2 months early. She weighed 4 lbs 3 oz and was healthy as a horse. She’s currently 39 1/2″ tall, and weighs 31 lbs.

I don’t know what the “expected” numbers are for her age, and
-I don’t care.

Call me crazy but I prefer to focus on a healthy lifestyle rather than forcing her to fit the “expected” box of physical criteria.

Last week we went for her round of school immunizations. While we were there they checked her weight and height. And according to the woman we now refer to as the nutrition nazi, she’s one notch below the expected height and weight for her age.

She’s always been a notch below the “expected” and the issue is easily resolved when I explain she was 2 months premature.

not this time though-
The nutrition nazi informed me -”all preemies are caught up to their age group by 4 yrs old”. She followed up with a barrage of questions about eating habits and nutrition, all in this down her nose superior tone that implied I wasn’t taking proper care of my daughter.

I let her finish her little tirade, then replied in my sweetest voice…

“interesting theory. But I wonder…considering her oldest sister is 5′ 7″ and weighs 110 lbs, her other sister is 5′ 4″ and weighs 95 lbs, her brother - tall and skinny like their dad. 6′, 170 lbs. Are they all malnourished or could it simply be genetics?”

bitch.

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