One of Those Parents: Helicopter Edition

Up until two weeks ago, I had never heard the term helicopter parent/parenting. If you're unfamiliar with the concept, I'll give you a quick run down. A helicopter parent is, essentially, a hovering parent. A parent who always does everything for their child and/or never let's them make mistakes is, most likely, a helicopter parent. Some of us have a hard time letting go of that infant who, seemingly not so long ago, needed mommy for everything.

I'm not going to go in depth highlighting why it's important to let our children make mistakes and do things for themselves, because even a helicopter parent usually knows what they should be doing.

I'm bringing this up because today I took my two-and-a-half year-old to work with me for the second t,e ever. I want to start bringing him to preschool two days a week. Today I was up at 3AM and him at 4AM. Work is about a 40 minute drive for me, so I have to leave my house fairly early.

I'll admit that I worry. And I definitely miss him when he's gone. However, today that meant I was "one of those parents". When I left him with his own teacher, he was furious with me. I think when we first entered the classroom he realized where he was and that I'd left him there last time because he started crying. Because I wasn't leaving right away he calmed down, started eating his snack, but that all changed when I left him

The cook caught me peeking through the widow to check on him a few minutes later, and said "Oh, so you're one of those parent." My first instinct was to be hurt, offended, and deny the allegation. It's true though, if by one of "those parents" you mean the ones who worry when there children is with others, especially strangers to him. It's not like that when he's with my sister, his grandparents, or my aunt. When I left him with my dad for the first time for 4 to 6 hours, I was having a silent, inner freak out a little.

I'm not a helicopter parent normally. My kids definitely get to make their own mistakes and do things their own. Even after he easily transitions to preschool, I'll probably peek sometimes. I want to see him growing and learning and being part of it all. It makes me proud and happy.

What annoying habits of other parents do you see?

Baked Chicken or Turkey Legs

(Pictured:  Turkey Legs)

For once, I left work on time (early even) and came waltzing in the door at 5:58PM. My mood was a little deflated when no one was there to greet me. I can honestly say, that loving, excited "Mom!"--usually followed by a big hug--when I walk through the door makes my heart melt...every time.

Nonetheless, this gave me a little time to get stuff done before the boys came home and demanded my attention. Thankfully, the hubby remembered to pull out meat to thaw. Chicken. I, for one, love fried chicken. However, I hate cooking it. It's time consuming and messy and you just might get grease splattered in your face or start a fire (yeah, I did that once).

Thanks to a little guessing and, possibly, a few random recipes via the Internet, I found an alternative way to cook chicken that I like almost as much; bake it.

Now I don't remember how I used to do it. I only remember that I didn't like it so I didn't really bake chicken unless it was drowning in barbecue. This way is sans barbecue (and the time/mess that comes with it). You can also cook turkey legs like this and probably other stuff I haven't tried. Either way, meat should be falling off the bone by the end.

Ingredients:

Chicken or turkey
Spices of choice

Recipe:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. (You can choose a higher temp if you are impatient like me. I wouldn't go over 400.)
2.  Place chicken in baking dish with about 1 inch of water.
3.  Season the crap out of one side with desired seasonings. (See my favorite seasonings in a later post.)
4.  Either cover dish with lid or, if no lid, use aluminum foil. Place in oven.
5.  When I looks pretty done on the one side, flip it over and season the other side.
6.  I don't like my skin on my chicken all flabby/soft, so I like to remove the aluminum foil (and, if necessary, all/most of the water) and brown each side.
7.  Remove when cooked thoroughly. Chicken falls off the bone.

I hope you enjoyed it! How do you like to cook your chicken?

First Fort

Oh, fort building.  All good childhoods are filled with epic forts made of sheets and pillows and whatever else you can get your hands on.  In the boys' playroom one day I found a makeshift fort.  I'm sure it was made by Talon and made his best friend (our across-the-street-neighbor) or his cousins (whose house is also within sight of ours).  Talon was visiting with his mother and there was no way I was fitting into his fort with Gabriel.

I'm not even sure that Gabe really wanted to play in the fort.  However, remembering how much fun I'd had building forts, I was thrilled to build a fort with him.  Gabriel watched in awe as I whizzed around his room and up and down the stairs with various fort building materials (blankets, chairs, pillows, etc). I think I might have been even more excited than he was!

After it was done, it was pretty epic, if I must say so myself. I crawled in and there was plenty of room for both of us. We called Daddy up and "hid" from him. Gabe was tickled pink. It was a lot of fun. What are your fondest childhood memories? What silly, inexpensive/free games and activities do you share with your children from your childhood?

In October I shared that I had started a new job as a substitute teacher at a local preschool.  Ever since elementary school, two professions have drawn me to them.  No matter how I tried to fight my desires or reroute my life plans, I've always ended back where I started.  It's like, I can't fight what I'm suppose to do or who I'm suppose to be.

I've always been passionate about writing, though I often have to kick myself in the butt for my lack of effort anymore.  I rarely write the things I used to (and still do) love to explore in print.  Fiction, especially fantasy, has always been appealing to me.  Every time I read an amazing novel, I am a little pained by the fact that I haven't took it upon myself to explore such wonderful things.  I mean, it could've been my mind that thought of such great things.

Other than writing, I have always had an unexplainable desire to be a teacher.  I seek out knowledge on my own and truly love learning.  However, over the years I've had influential teachers of my childhood tell me it wasn't worth it or I could do better.  As a waitress, I also served several retired teachers' reunions and was always told the same thing:  don't do it.  This was a little sad to me.  I can't lie; it crushed my spirits a little.  I had intended to redirect my career path, though I'm not even sure to what now...I had considered so many options (massage therapist, photographer, computer programmer, web design, etc).

My job at the preschool was, in all honesty, a complete accident.  I was not seeking work in the field, though I was desperately seeking work in general.  I stumbled across the job posting online and couldn't think of a reason not to apply (you'd think the forty minute drive would have been reason enough, right?).  After applying for the job, I called a lot.  I was pretty sure I had it, but I needed to be offered the job before I could have any rest.

Obviously, we know I was offered the job.  At the end of December, I was working full-time (more or less) at a newly opened gas station and subbing at the preschool.  Lucky for me, I had been hounding the assistant director and director about my desire to be full time.  When the assistant Pre-K teacher accepted a new job, guess who was the first to find out?  Me!  You're so smart.  How did you know?  I, literally, knew first.

I never expected to love my job as much as I have.  Even before I accepted the full time job, I was loving it so much more than I had thought I would.  I came into a classroom that was struggling in more ways that I can explain, but the root was behavioral issues and lack of respect for the head teacher.  I have been very aggressive in my attempts to help turn the class around and (not to toot my own horn or anything but) I think it's be a success.  Is my classroom perfect?  No.  Am I always happy with the way situations are handled?  No.

At the end of the day though, I know that I have come into my class giving 110% and left satisfied that I did my best that day.  Expect to hear about some of the trials of day to day life as a Pre-K teacher.

Valentines Worth Giving

Crayola Heart Valentines @ Whipperberry

Valentine Ombre Specimen @ Lolly Jane

Valentine Pretzels & More @ Pint Sized Baker

Love Bugs @ If I Had a Million Hours

Cream Cheese Mint Conversation Hearts @ Twigg Studios

Rice Krispie Love Letter Mailboxes @ Hoopla Palooza

My "gifts" to you, considering I'm seriously lacking time to make anything super awesome myself.

Obsessed Reader

So it's been awhile, as I suppose always happens when I start a blog.  Of course, I'm really trying this time (not that it's evident).  Yesterday, I was struck by just how badly I wanted to write about the book series I was reading.  I really, really wanted to share my love (and possible obsession) with this particular series and the characters in it.

Last year or maybe before that, I discovered The Iron Fey, a books series about a new race of fey that threaten the Oldbloods (original fey of Winter and Summer). The books are written by Julie Kagawa, and I've added her other books to my mental list of must-reads (I should make that an actual list, to be honest).

My favorite book is probably the third, The Iron Queen, for reasons I'm not going to share...so as not to spoil some of the story for you.  I was surprised at how riveted I was by this story because this was the second time I'd read it and I could not put it down.  My husband and co-workers can attest to my obsessive reading, whenever possible.  I started the first book, The Iron King, on Monday last week.  I just finished the fourth book, The Iron Knight, last night and read the final enovella today.

I love the world and characters that Julie has created.  Even though she writes in a PG-13 format (although the romance could likely be G rated), I am deeply affected by the love, friendships, battles, etc. of this series.  I am very in love with the characters (especially a certain Winter prince), and loved reimmersing myself in Julie's world.

This is my small, but heartfelt tribute to her.  Even the second time, I loved this series.   Also, it's inspired me.  It makes me want to write, not just blog, but write...as I haven't done in a long time.  Thank you Julie!  I can't wait to read The Lost Prince!

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What We're Watching

Rating: 8/10

 My husband and I watch a lot of movies and follow a lot of TV shows.  It's a hobby of his that I get caught up in.  There are definitely plenty of movies and shows that I skip out on and he doesn't, but I catch most of them.  I've always wanted to share some of this on my blog, but it was something that was always put on the back burner.  I will try not to give you any good spoilers, though there may be some minor ones.  Also, I don't have a sophisticated rating system, so take it how you like.

Now, this is a movie you either are or aren't watching.  For the most part, everyone who has watched this, this week has already seen the previous movies.  And most of those fans have also read all the books by Stephenie Meyer.  I read Twilight, the original book in high school (or maybe it was middle school?).  I never knew there were sequels until just before the first movie came out.  I have to say that I have only missed one premier, and my husband has attended all of them.  I'm more of a Vampire fan and he's more of a Werewolf fan (regardless of the movie or TV show), so we love this series.  It is more appropriate for the younger age groups.  Now that I watch shows like Trueblood and Vampire Diaries, it's sometimes hard for The Twilight Saga to measure up.  This was definitely the best one yet.  Of course, I was a little disappointed with a few scenes that were cut short or left out entirely (like when Bella discovers Jacob has imprinted on Renesme).  However, I give this movie an 8/10.

Rating: 9/10

Okay, this movie caught me off guard.  I totally loved it!  It was unexpectedly funny, and not stupid-funny like I expected it to be (I'm not really into spoof movies).  However, as I told myself (repeatedly) that I was going to go to sleep, I find myself standing in the living room sucked into this movie.  I think I probably spent 75% of the movie trying to convince myself to go to bed, until I finally sat down on the floor and finished it.  If you don't know, this story is about a high school nerd (played by Matt Bush) who gets stoned with a his childhood friend (played by Sean Marquette) and fears losing his scholarship when the schools mandates drug testing.  What's the solution?  Sabotage a PTA bake sale and get the entire school high.  Surprisingly funny, I give this movie a 9/10.

Rating: 8/10

Another movie in the Madagascar series, I can honestly say that I wasn't disappointed.  I watched this with my son on the couch one morning earlier this week.  We had just woke up and didn't feel like crawling out of our PJs yet.  It's a cute story where the classic Madagascar crew is being hunted for their heads and, to survive and blend in, join a circus.  It's a nice twist on a the run away with the circus cliche where the characters learn about friendship and helping one another.  It should be a movie an entire family can watch.  I give this movie an 8/10.

I did these "reviews" of my own accord.  I didn't receive anything free to do them.  I paid to rent the movies or go to the theater because I or someone in my household genuinely wanted to watch one of these movies.  I hope you my recommendations help you, or you enjoyed reading them, or something.