Transform THIS!!

My oldest son has a good friend who happens to LOVE Transformers. They have often played together, Transformers at their sides, negotiating the machine-to-robot switch as they laugh and engage in pretend battles. As a result, we learned of the impending release of "Transformers: the Movie" which was released on July 4th.



Although it was heavily marketed for kids, including promotional toys at Burger King, this movie is NOT for children. Officially, it is for audiences aged 13+, hence the PG-13 rating.

Although my 6 year old son was bubbling over with delight at the prospect of watching this movie (and had convinced his Daddy to TAKE HIM!!), I held my ground. I searched for web clips and made my Irreverent Husband watch said clips. He laughed and said, "but the boy wants to see it!" I threatened. He knew I meant it.

I have since seen the movie. I was right, he was wrong...as per usual.

Shame on you, Dreamworks and Paramount. Shame on you, Burger King. This movie IS NOT FOR CHILDREN.

When Parents Hurt

This book was hard to read. Not hard as in "wow, I don't know what that word means, I better drag out the ole Merriam Webster," but as in "does this guy know my mom and dad?"

Hard as it may have been, I'm glad I read it. My mom and I have had some interesting conversations stemming from my reading this book. I feel like we have even ironed out some things, because of this book. Not only that, my mother has had some personal insights into her own relationship with her mother. As it turns out, this book may have inspired 3 generations of healing. I'm not sure I can give a better review than that!

Although the book appears to be written for parents of adult children, there are a number of people who might find help in the pages. For me, I found insight into how my relationship with my parents influences how I parent my children. There are several quiz-type questions that are extremely helpful in identifying similarities between you and your parent (chapter 13). And personal stories that provide some descriptions of common parent/child situations and conflict that are easy to identify with.

I also feel like the book has armed me with information when it comes to parenting my (future) teen aged children. Not only in what to provide them (rules...so they know they are loved and protected, but not too many rules...otherwise they will feel stifled and controlled), but in what I can do for myself in the process of parenting teenagers (be compassionate with myself and forgiving).

This is an excellent book, a resource that I will keep with me for many years.

Finally, if you do not dissolve into a puddle of tears after reading Dr. Coleman's essay "When a Family Man Thinks Twice," you might want to check your pulse. What a beautiful, moving essay. What a wonderful, insightful book.

The 24-Hour Pharmacist

Hi, my name is Bobita and I am a Google-addict.

(Hi, Bobita.)

Ah, it feels good to get that out into the open! I have heard that admitting you have a problem is the first step toward recovery... (One can hope.)

Within the past few months, I have been confronted with a number of Google-worthy ailments. Major Depression, Hypothyroidism, dying (er, DEAD) libido, arthritis in my freaking thumbs... Clearly, the Earth is tilted off its axis. (Why else would I be subjected to such a formidable array of health-related issues?)

Hmmm. What does Almighty Google say I must do in order to rid myself of these disturbing ailments?

Google said a lot. Google provided MILLIONS of answers. I clicked on the first 15 suggested websites for each ailment...and pulled myself away from the computer THREE HOURS later, somewhat wiser and certainly more TIRED!!

Enter "The 24-Hour Pharmacist."



This book is like Google on Crack. The information that took me THREE HOURS to uncover with Google? Was instantly at my GOOGLE-BLOODIED FINGERTIPS in The 24-Hour Pharmacist.

Some of my favorite chapters (already worn, with page corners folded over to mark their importance):
1: Overcoming Fatigue: From Stupor Woman to Super Woman
5: Antidepressants: Do you Need One to be Happy?
6: Frazzled, Frustrated, and Freaked Out: Coping with Anxiety and Stress
11: Monthly Madness: Cramps, Crankiness, and Other Hormonal Highs & Lows
15: More Jiggle, Less Joint Pain: What You Can Do About Arthritis

And, I have changed a number of things that have VASTLY improved my state of well-being and physical health over the past few weeks. Primarily, I have started taking the following supplements every day:
SAM-e
Gingko Biloba
Rhodiola Rosea
Omega oils
L-Tyrosine

Turns out, most of my symptoms are related, interconnected. For instance, SAM-e boosts mood and energy, improves the performance of antidepressants, can decrease premenstrual hostility and irritability, and also decreases the pain and swelling in arthritic joints. Two/Three/Four birds, with one stone!! Gingko Biloba increases mental acuity and attention and also increases the blood flow to your "happy parts," thereby increasing libido. Rhodiola Rosea is and adaptogen and can calm you down, ease depression, beat fatigue and even help you sleep better. Omega oils improve just about everything and L-Tyrosine can improve mood and energy, suppress the appetite and improve thyroid function.

Based upon my symptomology, I might also benefit from Selenium, a B-complex vitamin and 5-HTP.

I love this book. Seriously. Not only has it successfully replaced my Google addiction (related to health conditions, body ailments, and treatments...otherwise, Google is still my drug of choice), it has given me the satisfaction of instant gratification with a healthy dose of humor from an author who is knowledgable and unafraid to be a little irreverent. In fact, I'm pretty sure that Suzy Cohen and me...well, we could hang out!! Knowing drugs the way she does...I bet she mixes a mean Mojito!

Hi, my name is Bobita and I'm a recovering Google addict. But, I'm an ACTIVE 24-Hour Pharmacist addict.

(Hi, Bobita... Hey, what does Suzy recommend for a bum knee? How about a limp noodle? What doe she suggest for my snoring, pig, S.O.B. husband?)

Tags: Parent Bloggers Network

Shrekkie, baby!

My oldest son had a special day with his cousins, his aunt and uncle and his grandparents at a lake in the mountains on Saturday. The baby awoke with a fever and my daughter was still recovering from a cold, so we holed up at home while Lobito happily climbed into the backseat of my brother-in-law's car, right in between his two favorite people on the planet...his 15-year-old and 12-year-old cousins, both boys. As you might imagine, they are gods to my 6-year-old son. Consequently, his day-trip to the mountains was better than heaven for my boy!

Sepe and Faffi had a good day with mommy, but were both worn out by 10am. I tried to entertain myself as my two youngest slept for almost 4 hours (wooooo-hooooo!), but my fate was sealed when they awoke. In order to get my daughter to lay her weary head upon her pillow for a much-needed nap, I had to promise her a large green ogre. So, as soon as Faffi's eyes were open...we were off to the theater (phew-ter, as Faffi calls it).

The ogre more than made up for the fact that Faffi had been left behind when Lobito grinningly abandoned her for the lake earlier in the day. Shrek and the entire cast of characters made my daughter laugh and squeal with delight. She and I shared a favorite scene in the movie...the princesses kickin' ass to the tune of Baracuda. (I can hear it even now....ahhh-ahhh, ahhhh!!)



My daughter and I had a wonderful time together. I guess sometimes managing motherhood means that a mommy has to spend a little bit of special time with her girl. And a family of green ogres.

Tags: Shrek, Ogres, Children, Motherhood

Boca Beth

My children are bi-cultural. Which means that they are an amalgamation of two cultural influences. They are North Americans, but their father and their abuelos (paternal grandparents) are from South America.



Consequently, we celebrate the 4th of July in high fashion, decked with fireworks and red, white and blue, but we also celebrate Chile's Independence Day on the 18th of September. Over the years, the latter has taken place quietly, with a family lunch of Empanadas and salad...and it has also been celebrated in the shop outside my in-laws home, with dancing and music and non-stop laughter. Certainly, in the 17 years that I have known the Irreverent One, the 18th of September has not slipped by unnoticed.

My oldest son frequently spends the night with his Yaya and Papa on Fridays. During that time he watches the Nightly News from Chile (among OTHER things!) and listens to many, many stories. He also learns Spanish.



My Mother-in-Law is a former teacher, so she uses various methods to instill Spanish language recognition and acquisition.



Including, the Boca Beth DVD, Music CD, and Puppet. So, this review is from my Magnificent MIL (roughly summarized!)

The DVD and Puppets hold the attention of my 4-year-old and 2-year-old more than they do my 6-year-old. The puppet is very useful and she uses it not only with the DVD, but with most of the other Spanish language she teaches Faffi and Sepe. So, my two younger kids are learning more from the DVD than my oldest. I am happy to say that my youngest seems to be the most proficient. He can identify many articles in our home (thanks to the Boca Beth DVD) as well as all of his facial features in Spanish and English.

My MIL believes that the Music CD is the by far the best for all three children. They have learned every song (I was recently serenaded by my oldest...at the prompting of his Yaya!). My MIL likes the Music CD because it inspires the "most vigorous movement!" Which means that they dance, laugh, play musical instruments and sing along. They listen to the CD (First Spanish Songs) EVERY time they visit Yaya and Papa.

The Boca Beth program receives an enthusiastic "thumbs up" from my former-elementary-school-teacher Mother-in-law. Which, is NO SMALL feat! Should you be interested in teaching your child Spanish, this program deserves your attention. While this review is from the perspective of a native-Spanish-speaker, Yaya assures me that it is very easy for anyone to use.

(I must mention that this is the second Spanish language program that we have used. The first program was much more expensive (we borrowed it from a friend) and was not nearly as beneficial as the Boca Beth program. And, it was all on VHS...call me spoiled, I like the DVDs!)

Gettin' Cozi...

I have a bit of a confession to make...
I am virtually incapable of organization and time managment.
Maybe "virtually" is the wrong word...

Ah, yes. Absolutely.

I am ABSOLUTELY incapable of organization and time management. I have tried EVERYTHING (short of that brain transplant surgery my husband has been hinting at) to get my life under some semblance of control.

Enter Cozi Central.

Cozi Central is a FANTASTIC website with an online family calendar program...that you can also download (if you have a PC). You can access the online calendar from any computer, anywhere (everything is password protected). And, you don't have to carry anything! What is so clever about an online calendar is that everyone in the family can access it from wherever they are (school, work, home). Everyone can exchange messages, insert calendar events and appointments and even add to the grocery list (which means anyone can print it off and actually DO the grocery shopping!!) You can also sync Cozi with Microsoft Outlook.

I can't tell you how excited I was when Parent Bloggers Network sent out information about Cozi Central! I'm pretty sure that I actually begged to be in on this particular campaign! Because, I need some kind of intervention for my complete lack of both organizational skills and scheduling prowess!!

I anxiously set up the Cozi basics and got to work making some lists (and checking them twice! heh.) I punched in a few appointments, including the Proposal of Dissertation Defense that I just completed YESTERDAY! (and knocked clean out of the park, thankyouverymuch!! Now I get to put "ABD" after my name! Yeah, baby! Feel free to bow down before me!!

Back to Cozi, I also showed my husband how to access and use it. We were off to a magnificent start but...I lasted two weeks. My obstacle was having to be at the computer to modify or add anything. I still think Cozi Central is wonderful, but it is perhaps geared more toward those families where one or more people regularly and frequently have a computer at the ready. (I actually think there are many, many families who fit that description, for whom Cozi Central would be a lifesaver.) But, for me to use the Cozi calendar program successfully, I would need to have a computer always available and at the ready. So that I could get everything into the calendar...before forgetting it or losing the tiny slip of paper upon which it was scrawled for the transfer to the Cozi calendar.

I'll still use Cozi Central, though. For the grocery list function. I have used that aspect quite successfully over the past few weeks. Also, there is a really awesome (like, totally) feature that I haven't tried yet, but expect to love. Apparently, Cozi will actually text-message your Grocery list to your cell phone. How COOL is THAT?! It seems so much like heaven, I can hardly even imagine it...no more lost grocery lists!! Somebody pinch me!

Let's Get Ready...

My children are brilliant. But, I did not need to tell you that, right? I mean, of course they are brilliant...they are mine!! (Heh.)

My oldest son is currently in kindergarten. Heavenly, glorious PUBLIC SCHOOL kindergarten. He surprises me each new day with facts and tidbits of information that I may or may not want to know. He is inquisitive and loves to figure things out. Just this past weekend his magnificent curiosity was featured in a picture in the local paper. My boy...caught in the act of trying to figure out how a bug had found its way into a pipe! (me = swelling with pride)

So, on our recent trip to Manzanita, I made sure to bring along "Let's Get Ready For First Grade!" knowing it would keep him distracted and entertained. But as I reported earlier, the boy is a genius!


My Lobito has been reading the "Let's Get Ready for First Grade!" book for almost 2 weeks. When I looked through the book initially, I assumed that it would be something that we would work on together because the concepts seemed to be a bit beyond what he has learned in kindergarten. So, we sat down one night and went through the book. The book easily held his attention, with bright colors and fun pictures (his favorite is the 3 cats singing...). As we worked our way through the book, he had difficulty understanding two concepts: suffixes/prefixes and ordinals. The rest? Well, let's just say that on the way to Manzanita he was Teacher Lobito, thankyouverymuch!

"FAFFI, this is a QUAAARRR-TER. Can you say quarter?"

"Lobito! I'm not a baby!"

"Well then, how much money does two dimes and a nickel make? Huh?! You won't ever know until you listen to me teach you. PAY ATTENTION! This is an 'R,' see? It is a Daddy-'R,' but this book calls it something else that I don't know."

On it went, Teacher Lobito trying desperately to teach his non-compliant little pupil!

Overall, the book was not very challenging for Lobito. This was good, for two reasons. 1) It makes me even more happy with the education that he is getting. 2) Kindergarteners who are almost First Graders need concepts that they can easily master, so that they are never discouraged at learning. Which makes this book....absolutely perfect! It holds his attention, but is not too difficult that he becomes discouraged.

Definitely deserving of an "A."