Because we are concerned parents and we all can use a friendly reminder

 

 Halloween should be a fun filled night lets all remember that, but it doesn't hurt to run through some rules and guidelines with our kiddos. After all we love them and want to keep them safe. The Ugly Truth Of Motherhood bids you all spooktacular Hallows Eve and Halloween, lets all remember to pull out those favorite treats of ours, after all we did go to extreme measures to dress them and walk them from here to kingdom come.

Child Safety

NEVER eat any treats until they are examined by an adult at your home. Trick or Treat with friends or with adult supervision. Don't go alone. NEVER enter the house or car of a stranger. Trick or Treat in the late afternoon or early evening. Trick or Treat in your own neighborhood, and visit only houses that you parknow. Stay on streets that are well lit and only cross the street at the corners. NEVER run across the street and always look both ways before crossing. Do not take short cuts through backyards, alleys, or parks. Carry a flashlight or wear reflective tape so drivers can see you and you can see hazards in the street as well as other people. Only trick or treat at houses where the porch light is on and well lit. Carry a few quarters for a payphone so you can call home if you need to. Do not play with lighters, matches, or fireworks!

Adult Safety

Welcome trick-or-treaters with your porch lights and any exterior lights on. Patrol your street occasionally to discourage speeding motorists, acts of malicious mischief and crimes against children. Report any suspicious or criminal activity to your police department immediately. In many areas you can dial 9-1-1. Candlelit jack-o-lanterns should be kept clear of doorsteps and landings. Consider using flashlights instead of candles to light jack-o-lanterns. Keep pets away from doors so children will not become frightened. Set a time limit for your children to "trick-or-treat." Also designate a specific route for them to take. Feed the kids before they go so they will be less likely to eat the treats before they get home. Warn them not to eat anything before you inspect it.

Pet Safety

Don't leave your pet out in the yard on Halloween: There are plenty of stories of pranksters on this night. Trick-or-treat candies are not for pets: Chocolate is poisonous to a lot of animals. Tin foil and candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed. Be careful of pets around a lit pumpkin: Pets may knock it over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned. Don't dress the dog in costume unless you know he loves it. Otherwise, it puts a lot of stress on the animal. If you do dress up your dog, make sure the costume isn't constricting, annoying or unsafe. Be careful not to obstruct their vision and get your dog used to wearing his/her costume before the actual date of Halloween. All but the most social dogs should be kept in a separate room during trick-or-treat visiting hours; many strangers in strange garb can be scary for a dog. Be careful your cat or dog doesn't dart out through the open door. Walk your dog early in the night, before it gets dark.

Car Safety

Exercise extreme caution when driving a vehicle. Be on the alert for excited youngsters, whose vision may be obscured by masks, darting out into traffic. Motorists should avoid all unnecessary travel on Halloween evening, and when driving all motorists should drive slowly. Many accidents occur when motorists are backing vehicles out of driveways. Make absolutely sure there are no small children behind your car.

Flame Resistant Costume

When purchasing costumes, masks, beards and wigs, look for the label "Flame Resistant." Although this label does not mean these items won't catch fire, it does indicate the items will resist burning and should extinguish quickly. To minimize the risk of contact with candles and other fire sources, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.

Costume Design

Purchase or make costumes that are light, bright and clearly visible to motorists. For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car's headlights. Bags or sacks also should be light colored or decorated with reflective tape. Children should carry flashlights to see easily and aid in being seen. Costumes should be short enough so that children won't trip and fall. Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. Mother's high heels are not a good idea for safe walking. Tie hats and scarfs securely to keep them from slipping over children's eyes. If your child wears a mask, make sure it fits securely and has eyeholes large enough to allow full vision. Swords, knives, and accessories should be made of soft, flexible material.

Always use common sense, caution and adult supervision to make this Halloween the best ever. Have a fun, safe and Happy Halloween from Halloween is Here!

For more safety tips and Halloween fun ideas visit

http://www.halloweenishere.com/safety_tips.html

Birthday Blues

Not only am I a “Paranoid Mom” I am a “Procrastinator Mom”too.

You see in 7 days on November 4^th my son will be turning 8 years old. I am having his party the day before. This gives me exactly 6 days from today to get things planned. As of this morning at 11 am I had not sent out one birthday invite via email, nor did I make a Facebook event. So this Mom right here sends everyone a text message that reads… “Landon’s birthday party this Saturday bounce house food and cake my house.” Yep that was my awesome invite to my son’s 8^th birthday party. Gosh I’m such a terrible party planner. Oh well I guess these are the things that happen when you work out of the home all the time. It’s been a while since I have worked out of the house and let me tell you I am late to everything and I procrastinate all the time.

I asked my son last month what he wanted to do for his birthday party. Last year we did chucky cheese. It was a little out of the budget but it was nice. I didn’t have to pre clean the house and I didn’t have to do the dreaded after cleaning. This was well worth the money in itself. So Landon informs me he wants to have the party at our house and have a bounce house with a piñata. If that’s what he wants to do that is what we will do. The closer it gets the more I dread having the party here. I have to clean, buy food, cake, the piñata, and entertain everyone.

However the week before his birthday is always a crazy week, its Halloween week. This weekend he has been with his Nana and Popo doing all kinds of Halloween stuff. So we have yet to crave pumpkins. Guess we will be doing that Monday night. Tuesday night his school is having an event called teach and treat, I know he will want to go to this because it’s all he has talked about. Then Wednesday is Halloween. That leaves me Thursday and Friday to get everything done for the party.

Needless to say I am so glad I only have one kid to plan a party for if I had more I would probably call all birthdays off.

Some days you just gotta do what you gotta do!

So yesterday was one hell of a day with my 3yr old. Between screaming for snacks and movies, tormenting the dog, not listening for shit, and running off down the road I had had my fill. The last time I had to chase him down the street I was done. I marched his little butt right back into the house and into his room.  I had reached my limit and wasn’t sure how much longer I was going to be able to contain my frustrations. I did exactly what all the parenting books tell you to do, put them in a safe place and walk away. So into his room he went and he was going to stay there until daddy came home.

He screamed, he cried, he called me everything he could with his 3yr old vocabulary. I was a mean mommy, he didn’t like me, I was yucky, and he wanted his daddy. He threw every hot wheels car at the door he had, kicked it to the point I was sure he was going to put his foot through the door. But I was standing my ground he needed to be in there. He needed a break and I needed a break.

I see dad pulling into the drive way and I go to let him come out. I’m standing at the door talking to him through it. I get momma I’m so sorry, I be a good boy, I lub you. I just begin to crack the door open pushing tiny little cars out of the way and I notice something whitish on the floor. Oh God what now, are you kidding me, what have you gotten into. I get the door open to discover at some point through our day he has snuck a package of cornbread into his room. (For days the kids have thought that this box was cupcakes and wouldn’t listen to me telling them its cornbread we’re going to use it this weekend) I have my son in front of me laughing saying look momma this so funny, he’s covered in it. His toys are covered, the floor is covered, and my blood pressure is through the roof. I’m ready to cry.

Just then the door opens and I hear Honey I’m home, yes my husband does say this, only to have me respond come and look at this. What now is all he can say until he sees what’s in front of him. All I can say is go to the store, I need a drink. He chuckles and say’s how about I clean this up and you go to the store. I grab my keys and my purse and am gone before he can even spit out I love you.

The lady at the checkout asks how my day’s going and I start laughing. She says I bet it’s about to get better. You betcha! I tell her the mess I’ve just left behind and she starts laughing. She sends me on my way with the final words, “I don’t blame ya honey, go home and have yourself a good night!” And that’s exactly what I did!

She dropped a bomb on me

Standing at the bus stop this afternoon

Bella: Mom a boy kissed me on the bus yesterday.
Me:  What did you just say?
Bella: Yeah mom a boy kissed me yesterday, and I don’t even know why he did it.
Me: Bella kissing on the bus is not ok, as I’m picking my jaw up off the ground.
Bella: Yeah I know mom, I told the bus driver. (As the bus is pulling up)
Me: Have a good day but no kissing on the bus or at school, that’s not ok.
Bella: rolling her eyes, I know mom!

Ok really that did make me happy that she told the bus driver and I know my kid is only in kindergarten but shit, kissing already. She’s come home a few days telling me about boys that she “Totally” likes.  OK it really does kind of crack me up, but really? Already boys and totally liking them? I’m not ready for this, not yet, and why am I just hearing about it. I ask everyday how was school, what happened, who did you play with, what letter are you working on today. The questions go on and on, I have to poke and prod her to tell me anything about school and then bam right before the bus pulls up drop a bomb on me. NO Bueno! 

When I picked her up today we go over all the questions and I ask her if the “boy” tried to kiss her again. She says no but I still don’t know why he kissed me. Well I can’t answer that one because I thought at this age they’re not supposed to like each other. Boys are supposed to be gross with cooties and girls are not supposed to like boys until they’re 27.  I go over again telling her that kissing is not ok on the bus or at school, it’s against the rules and you can get in trouble. She tells me I know mom but he kissed me on the bus, and he kissed me I didn’t kiss back. UGH again how do you even know about kissing back. I’m ready to lock her away and keep her safe and sound.

Daddy hasn't even heard the story yet. I didn't want to drop that one on him while he was at work. Might just want to save that one for after dinner conversation.