Dos and Don'ts of dining out with your kids

My inspiration for this post comes from a meal Lyric and I shared at McDonalds recently. Now I know McDonalds is not the epitome of class and fine dining, but it is still a public place and people are still trying to enjoy their meals. Lyric and I stopped at McDonalds the other day to kill some time before my doctor appointment (and to enjoy a nice large fry and cheeseburger, I won't be able to indulge much longer!) It was 11 so we were literally the only people in the entire restaurant. We settled in to a booth in the back and had a very serious discussion about how doctors tell what kind of baby you are having (boy v. girl), followed by a very informative lecture from Lyric on the differences between boys (they have penises) and girls (who of course have vaginas). I was enjoying our talk (and learning so much) when all of the sudden a mom and her very obnoxious child sat in the booth directly behind us. Looking around the restaurant I noticed that there were 15 open booths/tables, FIFTEEN! Her son then continued to hang over the back of the booth screaming in my ear, drinking his juice and spilling it on my seat and then, the clincher for me, coughed all over me, I could feel his spit hitting my back! Not once did this mom ask her son to turn around, not once did she ask him to stop screaming. So I asked myself, why did they choose to sit at the booth next to the only people in the entire place? and why did she not think it necessary to try and discipline her son? Was she really that rude or just oblivious to the fact that her and her child may be the source of discomfort to those around her?


I'm afraid that the answer may be the fact that there are people out there that just don't get it, they see their children with nothing but love and could not possibly imagine that others would not view their children in the same light. Well for those of you who just don't get it, below are some tips for dining out with you children. If there is ever any doubt the answer is, yes, your children are annoying to those around you and no, it is not ok for them to be out of control in public, and yes it is your responsibility to either get them under control or to leave the area so that those around you may enjoy their meals. I'm sorry, I know it's harsh, but you chose to be a parent and raise kids, your fellow diners did not, don't make them suffer.

Tip 1: Good table manners start at home. Teach your children how to behave at the table at home and dining out will be much more pleasurable.

Tip 2: Bring activities, lots of activities. Be prepared for every situation. Do you have an iPhone? Then download games, this can provide hours of entertainment.

Tip 3: Ask the waiter to bring your child's dinner as soon as it's ready.

Tip 4: Be firm and recognize bad behavior. Ignoring it will just make it worse, let your kid know that whatever they are doing is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

Tip 5: Abort. If your child is not getting it together and they are continuing to make a scene leave the restaurant, it will make you and those around you much happier. There will be plenty of nights in the future for you to eat out, don't try to suffer through a horrible experience.

I'm having a baby in 9 days!

Well Braelynn decided to give me a little excitement yesterday. I went in for my ultra sound to check her size and fluid levels in order to get the ok to move forward with the turning next week. Thank goodness I went in because they learned that her fluid levels are scary low, she also has the cord wrapped around her neck! My doctor called immediately and let me know that we will not be doing the turning and my situation could be potentially dangerous. I was given strict orders to not leave the couch for the next 10 days except to go in for my medical tests. Monday I have a bio physical test, Thursday another NST, Friday pre-op apt. and then, drum roll please...... Monday February 1st, Braelynn will be making her way into the world (via c-section)!!! After having a good long cry to Stefan about having a c-section and learning that there was a problem, it began to sink in how close I am to meeting her! Of course there is also the annoying fact that now my nesting has kicked in at over drive but there is not a thing I can do about it! I just have to sit here and watch the dust build up on the shelves and TV stand in front of me, and the husky hair swirl around the wall panel (this must be what hell is like).  Lyric and I also had an interesting visit to the fine dining establishment McDonalds, more on that later.

Settling in...

I'm wrapping up my first week as a SAHM, now that the dust has settled and the shock of not having a job to go to every day has passed, I'm in a great place. My to-do list is a mile long and I am in complete shock that I was able to manage all this and a career. A big pat on my back for that :). I have completely organized my house, my life, my family and am loving the extra time I get to spend with Lyric. Oh and being married, that is just the best thing in the entire world!
The job market is looking great and there are so many exciting opportunities out there. It was hard to see that the grass could be greener, but apparently it can be!
I have an appointment tomorrow to see if stubborn Braelynn has turned and what our options are if she hasn't. I can still feel her head above my belly button, so as far as I can tell she is as stubborn as her daddy, but will have the ultra sound tomorrow for complete confirmation.

I would like to send a virtual thank you to all my friends and family, they have been more than amazing the last week and have shown me how blessed I really am. Sometimes when bad things happen in our lives it’s hard to see how lucky we really are, but they have shown me that no matter what, my life is so full, I couldn't ask for anything more :)

I like to do things all at once, it's more fun that way

A very exciting and eventful week this week for us. I was recently laid off from my job (more on this later), and today I'm getting MARRIED!!! Our original wedding was schedule for June 26, but due to A we ended up with B. We are doing a very intimate (another word for small, cheap and quick) ceremony at our house. Having both already done the big traditional thing, this is really the way we both prefer. I am so excited for tonight! Also, tomorrow is our baby party for Braelynn, so lots of celebrating going on :)
Now back to the not so fun news. AOL recently let go of 2,500 employees, I have been there for five years lived through 24 layoffs so clearly the statistics were against me, and it was my time to be cut. Am I upset about losing my job, well no not so much, am I upset about the timing of it all, yeah I'd say being 9 months pregnant and not really able to interview it a bit upsetting. I had been unhappy with the position I was moved into a few months back and knew it was time to make a change; I was just hoping I could get through my pregnancy. At the end of the day everything happens for a reason and I am looking forward to seeing where I end up and what my next adventure will be! For now though I am settling into my new role as a stay at home mom (I pulled Lyric out of pre-school so she will be home with me). I'm not sure if my new job will make my posts more interesting, but I do know for sure that I will have a lot more time to make them.

I leave you with a shameless plug: If you or someone you know is looking for a creative marketing leader in the DC area, I have over seven years experience with a heavy emphasis in online advertising, email me for my resume!

Miss Manners' Guide to the Internet

I love the internet, it's how I make my living, I find entertainment on it, I use it to socialize, I couldn't imagine my life without it. But the internet can also be an evil, unforgiving place. We have all been online for a long time, so there really is no excuse, but for some reason there are still people out there that don't seem to really "get" how to properly use the internet. They get on a keyboard and all class seems to fly right out the window, and don't get me started on drunk netting.


One thing that makes me cringe is Virtual Bragging. Yes the rise of social networking has made it much easier to re-connect with old friends/classmates and keep in touch with current friends, co-workers and acquaintances, but does that mean that you need to prove yourself via your Facebook page? IMO no, but some I suppose would disagree (or at least according to their statuses). Now don't get me wrong, I think that some virtual bragging is absolutely wonderful. Did you have a baby? Get a new job? Engaged? Buy a house? If so then brag away, because that is great news and I want to hear it. But do I need to know how much you spent on your new house? Or how much dough you'll be raking in at your new job? Absolutely not, keep that tackiness to yourself TYVM!

Break ups and fights with significant others seem to be the events that send otherwise respectable people over to the dark side. I would like to send a PSA out to all my virtual friends, please stop airing your grievances via your Facebook, Twitter and other new media vehicles. Bashing someone on the internet is not ok, it is just tacky and at the end of the day you end up looking a fool.

There is a thin line when it comes to sharing on the internet, and I fear as more and more people increase their tech savvyness, the number of people crossing the line into bad netting is just going to get out of control.

Braelynn's 33 week check up

Braelynn is doing great. I now weigh in at a whopping 170 pounds, yep def. a buffalo! The only issue right now is that Braelynn and I are in a stubborn off and she is the current winner, she is breech and quite comfortable in that position. In two weeks I go in for my regular check up and an ultra sound to check on her position one more time. I think the chances of her turning are slim, being that she hasn't moved in about a month and a half. After the ultra sound I have two choices, schedule a C-section or schedule a turning. I am going to do everything possible NOT to have a C-section so turning it is. Apparently it is a very painful procedure and could break my water or force an emergency C-section so Stefan will be there. I put an SOS out to all my mommy friends and have tons of exercises/stretches etc. to try and naturally get her spinning.. Fingers crossed, I really just can't believe she will be here soon. I can't wait to meet her!

Labor, it's like riding a bike right?

I'm four weeks away from being full term and more than ready to have this baby and be done with pregnancy. I've heard women say how much they LOVE being pregnant and it is just the greatest thing in the world. I don't get it? I love the fact that I'm about to have another child, but since when do people love something that makes them fatter than a buffalo, completely uncomfortable, and sick? Not to mention the fact that you are essentially grounded for the entire pregnancy since you aren't allowed to do anything fun, and your too tired to do the things you are allowed to do.


Anyways, as I get closer to the date, again thank GOD, I am starting to get a bit nervous about the actual labor part. With Lyric, my water broke before I ever had a contraction. So if my water doesn't break will I be able to tell I'm in labor? More importantly will I be able to tell soon enough to get to the hospital and receive drugs, lots of drugs? Also, I've never taken a birthing class or anything like that; will my body know what to do? It did the last time but I don't really remember much of the last time (probably due to the drugs, lots of drugs). Either way I'm more than ready to get this baby out of me, enjoy a nice vanilla stoli and diet, and meet my lil girl (not necessarily in that order ;) )