Search Results for: blog whos going to take my side

The Not-So Wonderful Side of Technology

I’m no tech junkie. I don’t own a smartphone. I don’t allow my kid to play video games. I am anti-Facebook and I don’t text. However, this is not to say that I don’t embrace the wonders of technology. For example, I am hugely grateful for television remotes and I couldn’t make a living without a laptop. In addition, I don’t think I could live without a telephone answering machine. In fact, without the simple technological wonder, I wouldn’t be able to listen to my grandmother’s voice whenever I felt the need. My dear, sweet grandmother who died nearly five … Continue reading →

Who Are You and What Have You Done with my Child?

For a child who doesn’t handle change well, divorce can be a huge setback. They are experiencing so many changes all at once that they can easily be overwhelmed with the emotion of everything. As young children they have not yet learned how to express what they are feeling and as a result often lash out. This is common even in children whose parents are still together. However, a divorce is often the trigger because of the intensity of the changes that they are going through. I remember how hard those first few months were for my son. All of … Continue reading →

Tooth Fairy Takes a Hit

Apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought $20 for a single tooth was outrageous. After all, the Tooth Fairy isn’t Santa. Well, unless you’re in my daughter’s first grade class, then Saint Nick and the winged enamel collector share the same bank account. But that’s not the case in most of the country. According to CNN, the Tooth Fairy is floundering in today’s sluggish economy, and kids are beginning to take notice. The cable news network cites a recent survey which found that the going rate for freshly fallen teeth has seen a 40-cent decline this year, from $3 … Continue reading →

What to Consider When Getting a Bird

Now that I’ve covered the things we should think about when adopting America’s two most beloved pets, cats and dogs, it’s time to branch out into the other many species of pets commonly available. Today I’m going to go over the basics of what to think about when getting a bird. It’s hard to cover the details required when considering getting a bird, because unlike most breeds of cats and dogs, different types of birds often require very different types of care. Still, there are some universal ideas to ponder when determining whether or not your lifestyle is appropriate for … Continue reading →

Homeschool Questions: What If My Kids Feel Left Out

I am really excited about beginning our homeschool journey in the next school year, but our front yard IS the bus stop! I plan to take my kids on a field trip on the first day of school, and do some creative things to make sure they are happy with the decision, but I know that the question of “Why do they go and I don’t?” will arise. …. Did you run into this when you began homeschooling? Where there other areas where you would have done things differently? I do not have first hand experience with kids feeling left … Continue reading →

What’s Going On with the Hollywood Writers Strike?

While Marcia Cross was lobbying Congress and Eva Longoria was fending off pregnancy rumors leaders from the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers finally began talking to each other again this week. Their informal meetings have not yielded much in the way of good news, but at least they’re talking. An announcement made a couple of days ago said the warring parties would begin with informal bargaining and work their way to “full negotiations” in hopes of ending the nearly 3-month-old strike. So where do fans of TV and TV award shows stand … Continue reading →

“My Son Has Juvenile Diabetes and Autism.” A Mother’s Interview

The following interview is with Ammey, a mother whose children have multiple medical and cognitive conditions. Of particular interest to me is her situation with her oldest son, Khy, who has both juvenile diabetes and autism. Ammey responded to my blog, Do You Have BOTH Juvenile Diabetes and Autism in Your Family? Here is her story. 1. Tell us a little about your family. My name is Ammey, and I’ve been married for thirteen years to my husband Mikel. We have three children: Our son Khy is 14, Kaine is 11, and Lilli is four. Khy has autism, asthma, type … Continue reading →

“When Are You Going to Have Kids?” – Part II

Yesterday I wrote about a common question Wayne and I get: When are you going to have kids? Well, most of my answers quench people’s curiosity and the matter’s dropped. Others, however, like close friends and relatives, lure me into giving more in depth responses. Like when they question, “But haven’t you wanted to be pregnant? To experience it?” Nope A major part of me abstaining from motherhood is because if I did get pregnant we’d be facing a mighty big meltdown. I don’t do needles. I don’t know words strong enough to sum up my terror of doctors and … Continue reading →

Mystery Shopping: The Tax-Man Cometh!

Disclaimer: Julie is not a tax professional. As a matter of fact, she did so poorly in Accounting that it didn’t even count toward her college degree. Please check with your tax professional about your finance. This blog is for informational purposes only. I’m doing my taxes using TurboTax and crying in my… well, green tea, but you get the point. Mystery shopping can be good money. But you’re an independent contractor. That means that you pay your own taxes. Generally, when you’re an employee, a company is matching what you’re putting into Social Security and Medicare taxes. That terrible … Continue reading →

Mystery Shopping: The Ten-Foot Pole List

Pay has steadily declined in mystery shopping. The good shops are still out there. But so are the bad ones! Some companies apparently don’t have a clue about what it takes to do a shop. Or they do, but shoppers are selling themselves short so they continue to underbid and underpay. In an effort to help you dodge these shops (especially when you’re first starting), here’s my personal “Top Ten Wouldn’t Touch it with a Ten-Foot Pole” list. Please note that if you do accept one of these shops, you need to complete it no matter how much it isn’t … Continue reading →