Sharing is Caring, Except When It's Rude

Before I get into this post, let me just say that I am not a mysophobic, a clean freak, or an over protective mom. 

I'm sure the majority (if not all of us) have heard the phrase "Sharing is caring." But sometimes sharing is just plain rude and inconsiderate. 

Twice in the past two months my family and I have been exposed to germs, illness, and misery. And all because parents don't have the common sense to keep their sick kids at home! Has common sense really died so much that if we are miserable with illnesses that we have to go out into public and share with others? Has it really come to that?

I understand that we have been commanded to attend church, but what people forget is that we are commanded to attend church when we are able. If you are sick, that means you can stay home. In my opinion, it means you should stay home. And not just from church. Stay home from everything: school, stores, parks, libraries, etc. If you and/or your kids are sick, be considerate and STAY HOME! 

If you must get out of the house, at least try to lessen the spread of the germs. Cough and sneeze into your elbow (to give it a cool name the "vampire" maneuver). Wash your hands as often as you can and ALWAYS after using the bathroom. Use anti-bacterial wipes on public items you have touched (i.e. shopping carts). But most important of all: teach your children to cover their mouths and noses! You actually can teach your young child to cover up. I know I am trying to teach the Squid, who is 20 months old. It's a matter of time, patience, and persistence. 

Please do everyone a favor and stay home when you are sick. Please do everyone a favor and keep your child(ren) home when they are sick. Have some common sense and courtesy! It just may save lives, like your own because the next time I'm sneezed on and chewed food goes into my hair, I'm going over to the person's house and going to sneeze, cough, and hack up a lung all over everything. Stop being gross and take care of yourself or your kid at home until you all are better and then go out into public and among other people. 

I'm Living One of My Nightmares

I am once again pregnant. I am currently 20 weeks and 6 days along. Tomorrow I (hopefully) find out for sure if this baby is a girl or another boy. But being pregnant isn't my nightmare. 

It's EVERYTHING ELSE! 

When I was pregnant with the Squid, I had a very easy pregnancy. No morning sickness, hardly any cramping, no round ligament pain, very little leg cramps, etc. I didn't really look pregnant until I was about 25-ish weeks pregnant. (Until that point I just looked like I was gaining weight.) And my active labor was only 11 hours. (I was in labor for a week, but Squid took his time coming.) The only complaint I had was that I was huge during summer, which made me twice as uncomfortable as I normally am during summer. 

This pregnancy is completely different. I had morning sickness, I'm cramping like crazy, round ligament pain is becoming more common, I feel huge even though I'm not, and I'm extremely aggressive. Oh! AND I have pregnancy brain like crazy! If I don't write something down (specifically on my calendar), I will forget completely. Sometimes I can't even remember what I did 10 minutes ago. And on top of all of that, I have a toddler and a puppy. I must be crazy for thinking that I could handle all of this at the same time. I know for sure that I am going crazy from trying to juggle everything at the same time. 

The nightmare part of all of this is that I am a completely different person. I'm constantly loosing my cool and getting mad at the tiniest thing. I'm more sarcastic (not in a good or funny way) with those whom I talk to most. I have had to refrain from making certain comments in person and on social media because as much as I would rather just say it, I know it's not my character to be so mean and/or rude. I am having a hard time seeing the positive in everything; in fact, I don't even try anymore. As much as I have tried, I can't seem to let go of any frustrations, angers, or offenses. I haven't even posted on here more recently because I couldn't think of anything to talk about that would really be worth reading. 

In other words, I have done a 180 and become a person I never wanted to be. And I do blame most of it on hormones and exhaustion. I know it's not a good excuse, but I have no other to replace it with. It's not my intention to be mean, rude, or hurtful (even if I don't actually say the words I'm thinking aloud). It's hardly ever been my intention to be anything but kind and the best person I can be. But some of the time, it can't be prevented. And that's why I'm currently living a nightmare.

My Two Bits

I simply want to get my opinion out there where I know most of you will read and that's it. (And I control whose comments get published and whose doesn't.) 

Target, the store, is a monster for changing the policy to favor "transgenders." If you live under a rock and haven't heard, Target has come out and said that everyone can now go into the bathrooms and dressing rooms that they "associate with." Meaning that those men who fall under the category of "transgender" can now go into the women's bathroom and dressing room. Even though this may help and support "transgenders" and the LGBT community, it has become a threat to the rest of us, especially women and children. 

Now men can claim to be "transgender" (whether they are or not) and go into the women's bathroom and spy on them. Horrible, cruel men can now go into women's bathrooms at Target and easily get victims. By saying that "transgenders" can go into whatever bathroom they want, Target has basically said that women don't have any rights at all and has thrown all safety for their women patrons out the window. 

I honestly don't care what other people do with their lives. That is, I don't care until it effects me or my children and/or puts one of us in danger. I don't want to have to worry about going into bathroom in public because I could be raped by a man who shouldn't be in there. I don't want to be afraid of public restrooms because I could be photographed. I don't want to be afraid because I could become a victim. And I definitely don't want to be afraid because my children could get hurt, kidnapped, humiliated, etc. all because people can choose whatever bathroom they wish. 

Target has been one of my favorite stores for a long time. It did not bother me when they started their "transgender" wedding campaign. It did not bother me when they stopped splitting up toys into gender-ized sections. It does bother me that "transgenders" can now going into whatever bathroom or dressing room they wish. It bothers me because it is now a threat to me and my children. My children or I could get seriously hurt just for walking into a bathroom in Target. 

So now I say "So long, Target. You have gone too far." I will never step foot into another Target store of my own free will ever again. 

Shout Out to Single Moms

I would like to give a big shout out to all of the single moms out there. No matter what you may think, as long as you still have your children and they are fed and clothed, you are doing a great job. 

Every once in a while, FATMAN! has to go away for work and I become a single mom temporarily. But let me tell you, those few days that he is gone are the longest and hardest days of my life! And I can't even imagine what those who are definitely single moms go through all the time. It's hard! Especially with more than just the Squid now (we got a puppy).

So if you are a single mom by choice, by happenstance, by accident, because your spouse is military or works another job where he is away a lot of the time, or because you just haven't found the right guy, don't give up. You may not be the most energetic, well put together, organized, clean, heck, I'll even put presentable out there, but you are doing what you can, right? And if you are doing all that you can just to take care of and provide for your child(ren), that's all that matters and they will thank you for it one day. If you are a single mom and energetic, well put together, organized, clean, and presentable all the time, you need to share your secrets. 

I may not be a single mom all the time, but the times that FATMAN! is away makes me appreciate all you women who are making it work on your own. Go you! Keep going. You are strong, even when you feel the weakest. Keep fighting for your kids, because they make this life worth it. 

A Quick Thought

You may only live once (or YOLO as it is referred to these days), but you must remember: you only live once.

You get ONE life.

Don't waste it by being an idiot.