An Ode To My Friends:

I went to my friend, Sarah's house today with the kids. She and her husband went to Las Vegas to get married. Today was the party for friends and family to celebrate with them. It was about an hour drive, so that gave me plenty of time to think...I burned three cd's. 

I got The Pussycat Dolls - Doll Domination, Leona Lewis - Spirit and The New Kids On The Block - The Block. They were actually great songs to listen to. The kids and I enjoyed it, so much so, that I actually have one of the PCD songs playing in my head, still. I meant that in a good way.

So, we hung out and introduced ourselves to those who didn't know us. Everyone was eating and drinking, but since I was drving, I only ate and had non-alcoholic beverages for the night. 

Sarah was pretty much busy here and there, which is not a bad thing. We all have to do it, it's part of entertaining. We talked while she was doing her thing.

And as usual, the time comes when you plan your exit and say your goodbyes. This is the part that really sucks, because anyone who really knows me, knows that I don't like the word goodbye or bye. That means it is too final. I like to say see you later or talk to you later, cya and so on.

Usually when you hear me say that, it is because I am on auto-pilot with words. If you ever worked retail and have been on auto-pilot with your words, you may have found yourself messing up and saying have a good night, when it is daytime, because you were so used to saying one thing?

On the drive back to home, I was getting upset with myself for being really bad with connecting with other people. I am awful at sending cards and invites, and even worse at sending thank you's. I have a hard time returning calls, I don't really know why. Probably because I don't have the attention span to just sit there with something held to my head for long periods of time. Alot of times, I don't really know what to say or talk about. Honestly, I really think I have a boring life. Everyone asks me how I am doing, what have I been up to. And my answer is always the same boring answer. I always wish that I had something exciting to respond with, but I never know what to say or no matter how boring it is, make it sound wicked exciting. I am pretty much bad with emailing, although, that is the easiest way for me to contact friends. If it weren't for email, everyone would probably think that I fell off the bottom of the earth. 

I found myself thinking on my way home tonight about how I hadn't seen her in about 2 years and how we have known each other for so long (since Kindergarten or 4 years old) and still have kept in touch with my bad friend etiquette? And then I was upset because I realized that I am like that with everyone and how I didn't want to be with my friends like people usually are with family. You only see them at births and deaths and weddings if you are lucky. 

So, when I got home, I posted a comment on 5 friend's myspace/facebooks and I sent 3 emails, 2 of which I wrote what I was thankful for.

One of the emails was written to Sarah, but as I re-read it, thought it would be more appropriate to send to all of my friends, since this is what I think for all of them. 

So, here goes an Ode To My Friends:

Hey Sarah, Just wanted to say thanks, the kids and I had a great time, I wish Shawn could have made it, he would of had a great time, too. I Loved the theme and the cakes...and everything! You and Shannon really know how to throw a party. :) I can't wait for us to get together again. It's times like these that I find myself driving home and getting upset with myself for not contacting my friends more often than I actually do. Forgive me? Talk to you soon, ~Jeanne

Just got home from Sarah's party in Worcester about 20 mins. ago. Had a great time, thanks Sarah and Shannon! Can't wait to see you guys again soon!!

WTF...my cream in my coffee just curdled up like feta cheese. Just bought the cream yesterday.

Catching up online and avoiding the rain.

Computer, Interrupted

Most of you aren't aware of this, but my computer has been shutting itself off alot lately. This was Shawn's computer prior to it becoming mine. I have no idea why it does this, but it always seems to shut off while I am in the middle of a post or uploading photos. Finally after the One Millionth time of doing this, it finally opened a browser window and said:
Blue screen error caused by a device or driver
You received this message because a hardware device, its driver, or related software has caused a blue screen error. This type of error means the computer has shut down abruptly to protect itself from potential data corruption or loss.
In this case, we were unable to detect the specific device or driver that caused the problem.
Troubleshooting

The following troubleshooting steps might prevent the blue screen error from recurring. Try them in the order given. If one step does not solve the problem, then move on to the next one.
Step 1: Download and install the latest updates and device drivers for your computer
Step 2: Remove any new hardware or software to isolate the cause of the blue screen
Step 3: Scan your computer for viruses
Step 4: Check your hard disk for errors
Step 5: Restore your computer to an earlier state

Advanced troubleshooting

Corrupted error report
Unfortunately, the error report you submitted is corrupted and cannot be analyzed. Corrupted error reports are rare. They can be caused by hardware or software problems, and they usually indicate a serious problem with your computer.
Troubleshooting

Scenario 1: Click here if this is the first corrupted error report for this computer
Scenario 2: Click here if the corrupted error reports are persistent on this computer


Problem caused by computer hardware
You received this message because hardware or software in your computer caused Windows to shut down unexpectedly and restart. This is a serious problem, commonly referred to as a stop error or blue screen.
Troubleshooting

If you have received this error more than once, we recommend that you do the following:
Back up your files to avoid data loss in case of a complete hardware failure.
Contact the original manufacturer of your computer to determine the specific component which is failing.
How do I find my computer manufacturer (OEM)?
Additional technical information


Corrupted error report
Unfortunately, the error report you submitted is corrupted and cannot be analyzed. Corrupted error reports are rare. They can be caused by hardware or software problems, and they usually indicate a serious problem with your computer.
Troubleshooting

Scenario 1: Click here if this is the first corrupted error report for this computer
Scenario 2: Click here if the corrupted error reports are persistent on this computer



Problem caused by antivirus software
Although we have not determined the specific cause of this problem, we know the problem was caused by antivirus software.
Recommendation

To try to solve this problem, follow these steps. One step might solve the problem, but if it doesn't, then go on to the next step.
Update your antivirus software
Check for multiple antivirus programs running on your computer
Contact the antivirus manufacturer
To see a list of Microsoft and third-party solutions for spyware, adware, and antivirus software, go to the following website online.
Security software: Downloads and trials


Problem caused by computer hardware
You received this message because hardware or software in your computer caused Windows to shut down unexpectedly and restart. This is a serious problem, commonly referred to as a stop error or blue screen.
Troubleshooting

If you have received this error more than once, we recommend that you do the following:
Back up your files to avoid data loss in case of a complete hardware failure.
Contact the original manufacturer of your computer to determine the specific component which is failing.
How do I find my computer manufacturer (OEM)?
Additional technical information

Is it possible that my computer just cannot handle the web 2.0? Too many pictures and widgets and stuff to keep up with?

Computer, Interrupted

Most of you aren't aware of this, but my computer has been shutting itself off alot lately. This was Shawn's computer prior to it becoming mine. I have no idea why it does this, but it always seems to shut off while I am in the middle of a post or uploading photos. Finally after the One Millionth time of doing this, it finally opened a browser window and said:
Blue screen error caused by a device or driver
You received this message because a hardware device, its driver, or related software has caused a blue screen error. This type of error means the computer has shut down abruptly to protect itself from potential data corruption or loss.
In this case, we were unable to detect the specific device or driver that caused the problem.
Troubleshooting

The following troubleshooting steps might prevent the blue screen error from recurring. Try them in the order given. If one step does not solve the problem, then move on to the next one.
Step 1: Download and install the latest updates and device drivers for your computer
Step 2: Remove any new hardware or software to isolate the cause of the blue screen
Step 3: Scan your computer for viruses
Step 4: Check your hard disk for errors
Step 5: Restore your computer to an earlier state

Advanced troubleshooting

Corrupted error report
Unfortunately, the error report you submitted is corrupted and cannot be analyzed. Corrupted error reports are rare. They can be caused by hardware or software problems, and they usually indicate a serious problem with your computer.
Troubleshooting

Scenario 1: Click here if this is the first corrupted error report for this computer
Scenario 2: Click here if the corrupted error reports are persistent on this computer


Problem caused by computer hardware
You received this message because hardware or software in your computer caused Windows to shut down unexpectedly and restart. This is a serious problem, commonly referred to as a stop error or blue screen.
Troubleshooting

If you have received this error more than once, we recommend that you do the following:
Back up your files to avoid data loss in case of a complete hardware failure.
Contact the original manufacturer of your computer to determine the specific component which is failing.
How do I find my computer manufacturer (OEM)?
Additional technical information


Corrupted error report
Unfortunately, the error report you submitted is corrupted and cannot be analyzed. Corrupted error reports are rare. They can be caused by hardware or software problems, and they usually indicate a serious problem with your computer.
Troubleshooting

Scenario 1: Click here if this is the first corrupted error report for this computer
Scenario 2: Click here if the corrupted error reports are persistent on this computer



Problem caused by antivirus software
Although we have not determined the specific cause of this problem, we know the problem was caused by antivirus software.
Recommendation

To try to solve this problem, follow these steps. One step might solve the problem, but if it doesn't, then go on to the next step.
Update your antivirus software
Check for multiple antivirus programs running on your computer
Contact the antivirus manufacturer
To see a list of Microsoft and third-party solutions for spyware, adware, and antivirus software, go to the following website online.
Security software: Downloads and trials


Problem caused by computer hardware
You received this message because hardware or software in your computer caused Windows to shut down unexpectedly and restart. This is a serious problem, commonly referred to as a stop error or blue screen.
Troubleshooting

If you have received this error more than once, we recommend that you do the following:
Back up your files to avoid data loss in case of a complete hardware failure.
Contact the original manufacturer of your computer to determine the specific component which is failing.
How do I find my computer manufacturer (OEM)?
Additional technical information

Is it possible that my computer just cannot handle the web 2.0? Too many pictures and widgets and stuff to keep up with?

Corrupted error report

Corrupted error report Unfortunately, the error report you submitted is corrupted and cannot be analyzed. Corrupted error reports are rare. They can be caused by hardware or software problems, and they usually indicate a serious problem with your computer. Troubleshooting Scenario 1: Click here if this is the first corrupted error report for this computer Scenario 2: Click here if the corrupted error reports are persistent on this computer

Problem caused by computer hardware

Problem caused by computer hardware You received this message because hardware or software in your computer caused Windows to shut down unexpectedly and restart. This is a serious problem, commonly referred to as a stop error or blue screen. Troubleshooting If you have received this error more than once, we recommend that you do the following: Back up your files to avoid data loss in case of a complete hardware failure. Contact the original manufacturer of your computer to determine the specific component which is failing. How do I find my computer manufacturer (OEM)? Additional technical information

Problem caused by antivirus software

Problem caused by antivirus software Although we have not determined the specific cause of this problem, we know the problem was caused by antivirus software. Recommendation To try to solve this problem, follow these steps. One step might solve the problem, but if it doesn't, then go on to the next step. Update your antivirus software Check for multiple antivirus programs running on your computer Contact the antivirus manufacturer To see a list of Microsoft and third-party solutions for spyware, adware, and antivirus software, go to the following website online. Security software: Downloads and trials

Corrupted error report

Corrupted error report Unfortunately, the error report you submitted is corrupted and cannot be analyzed. Corrupted error reports are rare. They can be caused by hardware or software problems, and they usually indicate a serious problem with your computer. Troubleshooting Scenario 1: Click here if this is the first corrupted error report for this computer Scenario 2: Click here if the corrupted error reports are persistent on this computer

Stop Error

Problem caused by computer hardware You received this message because hardware or software in your computer caused Windows to shut down unexpectedly and restart. This is a serious problem, commonly referred to as a stop error or blue screen. Troubleshooting If you have received this error more than once, we recommend that you do the following: Back up your files to avoid data loss in case of a complete hardware failure. Contact the original manufacturer of your computer to determine the specific component which is failing. How do I find my computer manufacturer (OEM)? Additional technical information

Computer Corrupted

Corrupted error report Unfortunately, the error report you submitted is corrupted and cannot be analyzed. Corrupted error reports are rare. They can be caused by hardware or software problems, and they usually indicate a serious problem with your computer. Troubleshooting Scenario 1: Click here if this is the first corrupted error report for this computer Scenario 2: Click here if the corrupted error reports are persistent on this computer

Why is my computer blue?

Most of you aren't aware of this, but my computer has been shutting itself off alot lately. This was Shawn's computer prior to it becoming mine. I have no idea why it does this, but it always seems to shut off while I am in the middle of a post or uploading photos. Finally after the One Millionth time of doing this, it finally opened a browser window and said: Blue screen error caused by a device or driver You received this message because a hardware device, its driver, or related software has caused a blue screen error. This type of error means the computer has shut down abruptly to protect itself from potential data corruption or loss. In this case, we were unable to detect the specific device or driver that caused the problem. Troubleshooting The following troubleshooting steps might prevent the blue screen error from recurring. Try them in the order given. If one step does not solve the problem, then move on to the next one.  Step 1: Download and install the latest updates and device drivers for your computer  Step 2: Remove any new hardware or software to isolate the cause of the blue screen  Step 3: Scan your computer for viruses  Step 4: Check your hard disk for errors  Step 5: Restore your computer to an earlier state  Advanced troubleshooting

The Perfect Shopportunity

I have started a new category called "Shopportunities". This category will be for deals, sales or anything retail related.
As a mostly stay at home mom and a sometimes working mom of 2, I have managed to find a few great deals in my time and still stumble upon many. The only problem with that is I always wish I had more money!

So, in celebration of the new category, the first shopportunity will be:
Burger King will give you three free kids' meals for each child registered on their Club BK site. Check the mailer you get - you'll see in the fine print you can get three meals, not just one. Plus you'll get a coupon for another free meal on your child's birthday! With the additional offerings Burger King now has in their kids meals like apples and mac & cheese, Burger King isn't near as unhealthy as it was in the past. Check it out at Club BK.

I have the house all to myself. Listening to my music, my way. Doing housework, chores and miscellaneous what-not's. The only calls I am taking today are from Mel, Jac, Sissy and Shawn. If you are not them, please leave a message. If you are them, I expect to hear from you!

The kids are at school and alas, Shawn has finally left the house for work today...(This is rare, since he works from home.) I am enjoying listening to MY music as loud or low as I want (I normally have to share or have it down so that he can make calls). I am doing housework, chores and miscellaneous what-not's. The ONLY calls I am taking today are from Mel, Jac, Sissy and Shawn. If you are not them, please leave a message!

Just got home from Kevin's Birthday Party and going out for a drink, McDonald's fries and a coffee.

Karma, err...Twitter-Karma, that is

Being a big fan and believer in Karma, I HAD to check out Twitter Karma.
It told me: Showing 881 out of 881
[ 610 only following, 119 mutual friends, 152 only followers ]
And that's when it hit me. At first, I didn't want to follow everyone because well, honestly...I was to lazy to add each and every person. But then after checking out my Twitter Karma, I realized, how selfish of me and one sided of me. That was very unlike me. I am the one who loves anything and everything about social networking, and here I am not reciprocating back to my readers. That was very rude and inconsiderate and so, to each and every one of you, I apologize.
So now that I feel better releasing my thoughts and conscience into the universe, I have now improved my karma...hopefully.
Already, almost immediately after selecting follow on my follower's twitter(s), I have 5 direct messages from them thanking me for following them. When in fact, it should have been me to thank them.
That was a pretty cool experience.

Fish Pedicures...

I read a blog today that talked about a new kind of pedicure called Fish Pedicures.
Apparently in Northern Virginia, it is "unsanitary" to use razors to shave off the dead skin. So this one owner of a salon came up with the idea to use a special kind of fish called garra rufa or also known as Doctor Fish. They were first popular in Turkey and in some Asian countries.
The owner was not sure if the fish would survive in the warm water temperature necessary for a comfortable foot bath, but he decided to try it out anyways.
The owner said "the hot water in which the fish thrive doesn't support much plant or aquatic life, so
they learned to feed on whatever food sources were available -- including dead,
flaking skin. They leave live skin alone because, without teeth, they can't bite it off."
They interviewed a podiatrist who had never heard of this before. Here is what the podiatrist said: "Dennis Arnold, a podiatrist who four years ago established the International Pedicure Association, said he had never heard of the treatment and
doubts it will become widespread.
"I think most people would be afraid of it," he said."
Here is what some customers described it as:
"the best pedicure I ever had", another woman described the tingling sensation created by the toothless fish: "It kind of feels like your foot's asleep", another woman admitted she was nervous as she prepared for her first fish pedicure. But her apprehension dissolved into laughter after she put her feet in the tank and the fish swarmed to her toes. "It's a little ticklish, actually."
It doesn't sound too painful to me. In fact, I think this is actually a really great idea. I would love to see how it works for manicures as well as for pedicures. Hopefully I can find something that cool around here. If/When I do, I will be sure to let you all know what I thought of it myself and where the heck is the hidden gem!

Babysitting. Daniela and Jacob are having a sleepover, AlleyCat and Trevor.

Commenting on this Mashable article : http://ping.fm/P4XIl

I am sad to see Summer leaving...it's getting chilly in the mornings...I'm not a cold weather person.

Just got home from a birthday party in Leominster...a long-ass ride. 1 1/2 hours each way, but it was good to be there!

Sharpie Lamborghini

Have you checked out the Sharpie Lamborghini yet?
Such a great job on creativity and artwork! Like, OMG!! :)

Time flies...The TooheyBugs are home, homework, dinner and then bed. So many things to do in a day, so little time.

I'm heading out to D&D with my friend, Tammy for a nice cold iced coffee! Yummy!!
If you want one, call my cell! ;)

At least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then ~Alice In Wonderland~

Jeanné is on Auto-Pilot today

My thought for the day:
Nothing's going to change destiny.
Whatever's meant to be, will work out perfectly.

Helpful Kids

My thought for the day:

The first place I am going for Fall Foliage Photo Shootin'

The first place I am going for Fall Foliage Photo Shootin' is going to be The Quabbin Resevoir.

A great video has been made:

The Quabbin Reservoir

The Quabbin is such a great place to visit. Not only is it man made, it is incredible. The sky is so clear, the water is as bright and blue ans the sky. Birds flying through the clean air and the sounds all around are as clear as day. Such a peaceful and beautiful place. When I was a kid, my family used to go there and bring lunch to have their. After eating, we would walk around and explore. We actually considered having our wedding here. I was ecstatic about it and Shawn was even interested. But then he decided against it because they didn't close the place for weddings. I didn't care, either way.

This will be the first year that I am actually go Fall Foliage Photo Shootin', but I can't imagine a better place for it. I have a few other places in mind, too. But let's get through this one first!  :)

Is grateful for her friends...thanks to each and every one of you.

I posted a whole blog entry. And where did it go??
I will try to post about it again later. It bugs me because I know it won't have the same quality, quirkiness and substance.
I guess it just wasn't meant to be written that way.

This weekend is overscheduled, but somehow I always make it work.

How Young is Too Young: Latchkey Kids & Sleepovers

I am so glad that someone wrote an article about this. I have recently been wondering about that. What are the rules or laws. What are other parent's views or the "norm" on this issue. What do other parents do about this? These were some of the questions that I was asking myself. Since my children are 6 years old and 8 years old, I knew I still had time to wonder about this. But I also know that the time is coming quicker than I think, when I will have to make a decision on this issue. As Sheila puts it the best:

"While SafeKids.org urges parents not to leave any child under 12 years old home alone, many of us do allow our children to go latchkey for a few hours between school and the end of our workdays, or when we need to run errands. For each of us, it's a subjective and deeply personal choice that we make as parents based on the resourcefulness, maturity, and comfort levels of our own kids."

Thanks Sheila. That was the best way to put it, without stepping on parent's toes and feelings. That was put in a gentle, caring,  classy way. Read on to hear what she says and the resources that she gives to make this situation as safe as possible. What do you think about this issue? Stop by and leave your comments, suggestions and input.

"September 08, 2008

Ages & Stages: How Young is Too Young?

The other day, our little guy was begging me to see a PG-13 movie. He is only 8, so my immediate response was, "No way." But, then I thought about how I allowed him to watch Revenge of the Sith, which was also PG-13. (Like many boys his age, he's a die-hard Star Wars fan.)

This was the first week of school for many, which means another year older for the kids, who'll soon be pushing for more independence. So where do we draw the line in order to stay consistent? And how do you know when your child is ready, or mature enough?

What are your ages and stages for letting your kids stay home alone? Go for sleepovers? Bike to a friend's house, or take public transportation un-chaperoned? And, if you have more than one child, are you consistent when applying your age limits? 

Our Senior Editorial Director, Felice, just faced this dilemma with her 10-year-old son. Felice and her kids live in a quiet, upscale neighborhood about a mile from downtown Boston, but too close for comfort to the universities and major arteries. While her younger daughter is still in extended day through her school, Felice was nervous about letting her son turn "latchkey" for another two years (Safe Kids USA urges parents not to leave any child under 12 years old home alone.)

Luckily, she found a happy solution through Care.com: a thirty-something "minder," who can be her son's surrogate "older brother," picking him up at school, hanging out with him for a few hours, and driving him to sports practice, all while not making her son feel like he's in need of a babysitter.

Check out these topics and sources for more information, or join the conversation by posting a comment! We'd love to hear your experiences and your "rules of thumb" for ages and stages with your own kids (or those you care for.)

Latchkey Kids / Staying Home Alone

While SafeKids.org urges parents not to leave any child under 12 years old home alone, many of us do allow our children to go latchkey for a few hours between school and the end of our workdays, or when we need to run errands. For each of us, it's a subjective and deeply personal choice that we make as parents based on the resourcefulness, maturity, and comfort levels of our own kids.

If you do decide to let your child stay home alone, go over these safety tips from the National Crime Prevention Council (home of McGruff the Crime Dog) with them first:

• Be discreet: Don't let anyone know that you're home alone.

• Lock up: Learn how to properly secure your home so you can get out, but no one can get in.

• Know the numbers: Review the emergency contact list and know how and who to call in case of an emergency. Choose a nearby neighbor as a "safe house."

• Communicate: Check in with your parents when you get home, and call for permission before leaving to go to the park, biking with friends, or to another friend's home.

• Be alert: If something looks suspicious when you get home, like a broken window or the front door is wide open, don't go inside. Go to your safe house.

Check out this MSNBC article with Dr. Ruth Peters, one of America's favorite advice columnists, a regular contributor to The Today Show, and a clinical psychologist by training, for more tips on raising latchkey kids.

Slumber Parties

Slumber parties (or sleepovers) are as American as apple pie, and just as hard to do really well. According to AZCentral.com, home of The Arizona Republic newspaper, slumber parties are most popular among kids 8 to 14 years old, although they can begin at younger ages and stretch out until college.

So, how do you know when your kids are ready to sleep over at a friend's house? And what should you ensure before they go?

• Start with family members. Your children will be more comfortable at their cousins' house, or with their grandparents, than at another family's home, allowing them to ease into sleeping apart from you. It also allows them to learn to shake up their nighttime routines.

• Know your child. Some kids are ready for sleepovers earlier than others--there isn't one true age to begin hosting or sending your kids off to slumber parties. Make sure that they are polite and respectful enough to abide by another family's rules, and that they are confident enough to make it through the night without your support.

• Know yourself. How comfortable are you with your child sleeping over at another home? Make sure to do your homework before the night of the event, ensuring that the other parents will be home, confirming details about activities, any group excursions, and timing for pick-ups in the morning. Review "the rules" and emergency information with the other parents, and make sure you trust them and their judgment.

What are your family's rules, ages and stages for allowing kids to stay home alone? Slumber parties? Biking to a friend's house un-chaperoned, or taking public transportation?

Share them with the Care.com community by posting a comment!

Cheers,
Sheila

Posted at 09:24 PM in Child Care | Permalink

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Comments

As a father of a seven year old, I must tell you: if you watched the film and you think that it would really affect his perspective on life, then just have a conversation and ask him about the film. Talking to him you would figure out a lot of things about his views. Sometimes you have to cross "the line" so your kid can have a real view of the world. Communicate with him so you can help shape that view, do not block it! The world is what it is.
Too young? Well, you are the parent, no one knows your kid better than you,don't draw lines you can't explain.

Posted by: Luis | September 09, 2008 at 08:18 AM

As a parent of three, ages 17,10 and 9, I often wonder myself when to let them do things on their own. My 17 yr old has special needs, but they are mild so it was hard for me to let him do things. My 10 yr old is searching for independence and we are letting him do little things such as ride his bike with a friend to the ice cream shop or to the gas station. He still can't go fishing with a friend by himself because I feel they need to be supervised. We also got the restricted cell phones for our two youngest to use to keep in touch with us in case of emergency.

Posted by: Laura | September 09, 2008 at 09:38 AM

Determining the right age for children to watch certain movies is often very dependent on the child. That said, does anyone have a recommendation on the right age for watching the Harry Potter movies?

Posted by: Mary Lanzo | September 09, 2008 at 09:39 AM

Well... as a mother, it's your kid, it's your decision, whatever you feel is right. Me.. ha, my kid will not be left home alone until he is 19, because I don't need trouble. Sleepovers, well... depends on the parents. Bike to a friend's house? Why bike, I can bring him. And the whole transportation, I say no, ask daddy. I'm a very strict mother, because I grew up not too long ago, and I know what it's like.

Posted by: amanda | September 09, 2008 at 09:42 AM

As a former latchkey kid myself and single mom of a seven yr old boy. I see him becoming a latchkey kid too. It all comes down to how much you trust your child to do as you tell them. I have left my son home alone for 5-10 min while I go to the apartment office, to check the mail, or even to make a quick trip to the corner store. I make sure to explain the rules to him. He's not to open the door to anyone and he knows not to cook anything. Like everyone else has said, you know your child and your childs maturity. Only you can decide what is best or what responsibilities your child can handle.

Posted by: Jonetta | September 09, 2008 at 10:19 AM

My question is what is the "legal" age for children to be home alone after school in Oklahoma? My children are very mature for their age but they're only 9 and 8.

Posted by: Elisha | September 09, 2008 at 12:05 PM

When we were growing up, they did not have PG 13 when I was that age. So a lot of the movies today that are PG 13 were PG movies back then or were rated R if it was real nudity and very bad language. We as parents want the best for our children so we need to know if the movie is suited for him or her before they see it. If my parents or friends see the movie before my child wants to see that movie, I would asked if it is good for her to watch it. 
With latchkey kids, a parent has to know the laws first in their state on what age is it considered to be OK to leave them home for a couple of hours. It depends on the maturity of the child if you can trust them to listen and behave while you are not there.

Posted by: Tina | September 09, 2008 at 12:14 PM

My sons are 11 and 7 and I will leave them home alone for a couple of hours even if it is to go out to dinner with my husband. You have to know your children and know if they are responsible enough to handle ANY situation. Each child will react differently to a stressful situation. Ask your child. Give him scenarios, even scary ones. I know in IN there is not an age limit. Use your own discretion.

Posted by: Gina | September 09, 2008 at 12:25 PM

Hi Elisha,

According to SafeKids.org, the national guideline is not to leave children under 12 home alone. This page on Wiki Answers quotes the Lawson, OK police department about your state in particular:

"In Oklahoma, there is no fixed age when a child can be left alone. Some are unable to take care of themselves even though they may be older than other children." - Lawton (Oklahoma) Police Department

It also cites a California agency that supports allowing children as young as 8 years old to be left home alone for a few hours at a time, such as after school.

Here's the link:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_Oklahoma_latchkey_laws

But again, my strong advice is that you know your child best and if you think your kids are ready, just make sure to follow the proper safety steps. If you're unsure about their readiness, then I would suggest hiring a caregiver for those hours after school, at least to start, as Felice has done with her 10 year old son. Try posting a job on Care.com in either Child Care or Care Gigs to find the right person in your area.

Cheers,

Sheila

Posted by: Sheila | September 09, 2008 at 12:39 PM

Wow! What a great article and great comments from all the readers. I am thankful for reading this and someone having the guts to write about this issue. You are right, it is a deep and personal choice/issue each one of us decides as parents.
For myself, my children are still too young...for me(6 and 8), but this has a been a question I have been wondering about in the back of my head...trying to prepare for when that situation does arrive...which will come before I know it.
Thanks to everyone!

Posted by: Jeanne | September 09, 2008 at 01:03 PM"

Looks like rain today.

Got the kids off to school, tired, sore and still, more work to do! A day's work is never done.

Working the Hyundai Tent at The Westover Air Show this weekend! Stop by and say hi!
See you there! 8)

My car is ready to get picked up!! Whoo Hoo!!

I'm liking it!

I am liking the Google Chrome and Ping.Fm.

Life's Uncertainty

I can't believe we made it through the first week of school. Is it just my kids or does any one else's seem to act up as soon as they start going to school? I have been noticing a trend of my kids behaving well during vacations and weekends. But as soon as they start school, they start to adopt other kid's behaviors, or that is where I think it is coming from, even though the less to be desired attitudes don't work in my house, they still try it. I want to believe that they are just trying to find themselves and testing the limits. But there is something inside of me that is telling me that this "new" behavior is here to stay. Oh Gosh, I hope not. This year it is yelling, last year it was getting in trouble during school, the year before it was leaving class without permission and the year before that it was wanting to wear make-up. What is going on?
I am hoping for another good school year for the kids because last year they got perfect attendance. They missed zero days, even though each of them went to school when they were sick. They still went to school and didn't go to the nurse's office and made it through the day without having to come home. This year we are shooting for perfect attendance again, but this time with zero tardies. So far, mission accomplished.

On another note, my car was hit the first week in August. My husband and I went to a concert and we got home in the wee A.M. hours. We had just gotten home when our neighbors were outside and asked if we heard that. Heard what, I asked. They said someone just hit my car about five minutes ago. We were walking up and down the road in the dark. Finally, they found the tire marks in the road which went on our grass and into the back of my car. Someone hit it and did not leave any information. I have basic car insurance, which does not cover hit and runs. This is not good. I couldn't believe that someone could just hit my car and just run off, pretending like it never happened. Do they have any idea the snowball effect that is happening because of their dishonesty? First of all, this is not only my car, this is a safe, reliable vehicle for my kids to get to their doctor's appointments, school, visit family and friends, travel to work and whatever daily business may occur. They took away from me but ultimately, from my kids. My car is overdue for a grease and oil change and has a July inspection sticker. I haven't done any of those because I wanted to decide what I was going to do with my car. I don't have the money to fix it. I didn't know if I was going to save money to fix it or if I was going to have to sell it. So, I went to Rick's Auto Body to get an estimate. A man came outside and looked at my car. I showed him where and explained what happened. He was walking around to the other side of my car and noticed another damage. I told him not to worry about that because that was from a different accident and I had an insurance check to fix that, but I wasn't worried about that anymore because of the new damage. He introduced himself and said, I am Rick by the way and we shook hands. I said Rick himself? And he said yes. How cool? It is not often that you meet the actual owner. Before going there, I had just been at a friend's house. Her mother offered to pay me to iron her laundry, which I agreed to. The basket was in my car because from her house, I went straight to Rick's Auto Body. He asked me to take everything out of the back and he would take a look at it. So, I went and did exactly that. While taking the basket out, I explained that a woman was paying me to iron her laundry. He said: so you are capable of working, then. I answered yes. He asked me if I had computer experience, if I knew how to type, if I had any office experience. All of which were answered with a big fat yes. So he said that he liked me, he didn't know why, but he was going to talk to the girl that hires and fires about me and ask her to talk to me. How awesome is that?! Then he said he would fix the driver's side door, the back door, put new tires on, an alignment and fix the tail light, so that it would pass inspection for the amount of the check. How awesome? I don't think anyone, including himself has any idea of how much that helped me. Here I was before even going there, wondering how was I going to get a new car if I had to sell mine, feeling down on myself for not having a job and feeling bad for the kids because they would have to walk to and from school, no matter the weather or weather conditions. And with one man and one moment, he changed my whole life's perspective.
The next day I showed up to drop off the check, car, keys and have that interview. I sat down with Sue and we chatted for a bit about my work experience, employment history, work hours and such. It was nice to be able to talk about that but at the same time, nerve wracking. You never know what people are thinking inside their heads.

Just got back from dropping my car off at Rick's Auto Body and A JOB INTERVIEW!!!

getting the kids ready for school.

I Love Google

I Love Google! I just do! Throughout the years of my disorganized online and offline life, Google has always been there, creating new and better ways to simply all aspects of life. Today they came out with Google Chrome. Google Chrome is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier. I was thinking it would be something less to be desired. I am a Firefox Fan, myself. But it turns out, I was wrong. I downloaded it today and have been using since that moment. I have to say... I Love It!

It seems quicker than Internet Explorer and surprisingly, doesn't slow my computer down one bit. My computer seems to shut off whenever it feels like it. This happens whether I use Internet Explorer or Firefox. I know it doesn't have anything to do with the browsers. That's not what I am getting at. When this does happen, if I am using Internet Explorer, I lose EVERY tab I had opened. I guess I could look through the history, but why when you could use FireFox. When this happens and you are using FireFox, it saves everything. So when you go to click on FireFox, it asks you if you would like to restore session or start a new one. There are no words to explain how crucial this is to me, because of my computer's illness.

It is inevitable. My computer did restart itself once, only once. That's right, it is not uncommon for my computer to restart itself as many times as it wants, nor does it feel that it needs to have a good reason why. It must be a Sagittarius, like ME! :)

I reloaded Google Chrome. It saves your Most Visited Sites, Recent Bookmarks and then has a neat little link that says Show Full History. This made it very easy to go find the pages that I had open and was working on, playing with, etc.

I have to say, I like it, I like it Alot!

The other things that Google has come out with that has helped me, made my life easier or tied everything together in one place are; Gmail - Google's own email. It automatically saves typed emails as drafts until you either delete them or send them. Saves all conversations with the person you are emailing and replying in one email, allows you to search, has the best spam filter that I have seen yet and when there is a date or time in the email, it asks you if you would like to add it to your Google Calendar.

Google Calendar is cool because you can make it private or public. You can also specify a person or persons to share your calendar with, emails you reminders if you choose and can save several calendars and you can color code each one.

Google Documents because your documents are web-based, so you can access them anytime you want, anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. I use mine for my resume and other miscellaneous things that I may want to access wherever.

Google Bookmarks - you can give them tags, add them to the notebook as well and just click a little star to bookmark it instead of the semi-lengthy process in Internet Explorer.

I also love their toolbar, it's all right there and you can send pages via your gmail account by simply right clicking and choosing send to gmail.

And last but not least, let's not forget about Blogger. I have never had a problem with Blogger, but wanted something that seemed less amateur. So for a while I was trying WordPress. But quickly found out that they don't allow you the amount of stuff that Blogger allows you for FREE.

And to me, FREE over rules everything else. 8)

The only thing I have not tried, but I will find out soon enough, is when you copy and paste from FireFox, it copies it as the html. I am hoping that Google Chrome will do this as well.

I am still a FireFox fan, but I Love Google!

Today was my kids first day of school. It was a quite interesting day!

is at home. At last.

Jeanne is Wicked Tire-d!

MySpace Mobsters Friend Adds and Friend Trains

Looking for more members to join your mob? Here is a link-dump of places to get more friends for mobsters!

Some sites ask you for your mobsters Id. This is NOT your MySpace Id.

In Mobsters, to find your id#: Click on My Mobster. Then click on stats and look at the url in the address bar. Your id is the last set of numbers in between the quotes at the end of the url.

Mine is: http://profile.myspace.com/Modules/Applications/Pages/Canvas.aspx?appId=104283&appParams=%7B%22show_user_id%22%3A%2234065177%22%7D

So, for instance, my Mobsters Id is: 2234065177

and other sites ask for you MySpace Id.

To find your id# on myspace : The simplest way to find your id on myspace is to go to your profile, for example : myspace.com/yourprofile, and click on add to friends. Look at the url the address bar at the top, your id is at the end of &friendID=90012549. You can also right click on add to friends, click properties, and scroll the url to the right to get your id.

http://mobsterstats.com

http://www.getmyspaceadds.com

http://www.mobsteradd.com

http://turbomobsters.com

http://www.myspacemobster.com

http://mobstarsgame.com

http://www.mobstersadds.com

also, you should check out Mobster Survival Guide