girl disconnected....thin mints and real friends...

See world...even if you cut yourself off from Facebook, Twitter and whatever things you use to connect...your real friends hunt you down. They text you on your phone (even though it takes you 20 minutes to tap out a response...) They email you and send you recipes for GLUTEN FREE THIN MINTS! (Merry.....I heart you!) And they actually call.

I admit, its' been REALLY hard these first 10 days to be off Facebook and Plurk. I confess...I checked Facebook 1-2x for messages. I also apparently liked some things while searching for doggy stuff. I also broke down and got on Plurk a few times to show off Libby the dog because I have a lot of animal nuts over there who I knew would love to see her! So yea.....cold turkey, I didn't QUITE do...but I have mostly behaved myself. Any online purchases were doggy related (IE a 30 lb bag of dog food that even the UPS guy had to ask, "what is in this??" I shoulda told him something scary....).

But Twitter....I haven't even noticed. There are maybe 3 people who I connect with only on Twitter (because they've as of yet to GET on facebook), and one is baby-mooning, so she isn't on much anyways. So I really am not missing Twitter.

I am enjoying that I'm actually talking on the phone to my friends more. And still...to this day....they seem to know when I've JUST sat down and gotten comfy before they call. Or I have raw chicken on my hands....it's always one of the two....

Sooooo, I've learned....whether you check your facebook or not....life goes on. The sun rises. Kids misbehave (or behave!) and still you are there. I'm learning what I get out of social networking is the instant gratification. The feeling of, "Hey, someone read that!" or "Hey someone liked that!!" It's like I'm Sally Field all day long, "They LIKE ME! They REALLY LIKE ME!!"

But it's not just that..it's not just about me. I really do enjoy reading about my friends, near and far. I enjoy hearing their adventures, and misadventures. That is something social networking really does...it DOES help you feel connected to those you can't be physically near (IF You use it right and don't do stupid things like Post naked pics of yourself.....or join facebook...start drama....then leave. Repeat. For the love of cheese, ya'll, please stop doing that.)

Social networking is anonymity and closeness all at once. It's an enigma....and while I'm missing it at times...

I think I can live without it.

~~amy

Baby Einstein Not Make my Kid A Genius, Um What?

So I wake up this morning to this blog:
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/the-great-baby-einstein-scam-531147/
This blog proves what we've already known...letting your child watch Baby Einstein (BE) won't make them a genius.

Well slap my ass and call my Judy, I'm stunned!!

I mean for REAL!? Come ON! Of COURSE sitting your child in front of a television won't make them a genius!! Now, in defense of Baby Einstein, they say to use their products right you should 'Sit with your child' and interact with them, repeating the words, making music, etc.
Yeah, that's what I do with BE movies.

No, let's be real. If I wanted to sit and interact with my child--which I do for a good part of the day, I wouldn't need a TV. They have these mystical things called BOOKS, ART, and OUTSIDE that I can do that in.

So let's just put it out there...what do we really use BE for? A BABYSITTER! We use it so we can get 30 minutes of peace to check our email, paint our toes, sip our coffee, pay the bills or whatever you need to do. Is it the best educational choice for your child at THAT moment? Maybe not. But you know what's WORSE for a child's development? A mom who's about to lose it and may do something she regrets or a mom who loses herself in her job as Mommy and doesn't take time to be the woman she was before kids.
Part of our job as a parent is to teach our children to entertain themselves! I believe television and computers can be a HEALTHY part of that when done in moderation. According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day. How can we really expect our kids to NOT watch the occassional television when we are glued to it?

I am in no way upset with BE, I never in my wildest dreams thought the movies would teach my child things I could not teach them. I never thought they'd make my child a genius and I have nothing but respect for Julie Clark...an ingenius mom who found a way to help moms and make a life for herself and her kids. Sure its for profit---HELLO This is America..at the MOMENT we still have Capitalism!! And should!

I know I can teach my kids the alphabet, and I will. BUt sometimes a Mommy needs a break and BE movies can be that for you. Should your 1 yr old watch them all day long? No, that would be silly.But you know what, BE movies are more than that in our house. They are therapy. When my autistic child is super upset...guess what calms him down enough to come back to therapy or interacting? Baby Einstein.
So, sure you idiots, no BE doesn't make your kids geniuses. But save your tarring and feathering for something else.

I've got a Baby Noah to watch...