Me & the VIP!

In two weeks I will be accompanying my friend to an event she is hosting. I get to ditch will drop my children off with the babysitter and will get to enjoy a night out with adults. I'll kick my mom shoes flats to the side and dust off my high heels, bust out the spanx (yes I said it, spanx) and squeeze myself into my little black dress. No macaroni and cheese for me that night - instead I'll be demurely asking "Can you please add just a bit more of that decadently delicious confection to my already overflowing plate?"   My taste-buds will not know what to do, my waistline already knows the drill.

Since its been forever and a day since I have actually worn a dress (and mine closely resemble the curtains from, "The Sound of Music") my friend allowed me to borrow a few of hers.   I was really pleased when I tried on the dresses. I rarely give myself a compliment, however I have to say this dress fit very nicely and really showed off my curves. As I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I realized that I'd forgotten what I looked like outside of jeans and tank tops.

My diet for the next two weeks will largely consist of apples, water, and rice cakes - or that's what I thought until drove by McDonald's and found myself pleading with my thighs to let me order a small french fries. My children are already helping me with my intervention as I try to steal a bite or two (okay, five) of their chicken nuggets. They see me peering over their food and say "Please mommy this is my food" as they fiercely protect their plate from their ravenous mommy in search of a carb fix. 

I already lost 11lbs on weight watchers - or is it 12, or 15? It's hard to keep count now. I have been reluctant to be honest with my weight loss because they keep taking points away when you lose weight. I started with 29 points and now I am down to 27 so I've been adding the same weight for the last two weeks so I don't lose points. I figure its a win-win. They get to keep sending me motivational messages about weight loss and I get to continue to keep my points. I know, I know.  It's a sick game I play. In fairness, I do get an additional 49 points for the week so I figure it evens out if I don't use them all.

Anyway, I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to kicking up my heels, drinking a glass of wine, and actually having a conversation that doesn't involve, Yo-Gabba-Gabba, laundry, carpooling, homework or after school activities.  Mostly, I'm looking forward to a night that's completely free from distraction - or almost free as I suspect I'll be having anxiety that whatever mechanisms I am using to suck me in don't fail and allow my body to bounce back into its normal shape!

When is it ok to "Book" it

When my oldest turned 12 I told him I would create a facebook account for him. When I briefly mentioned it in a facebook status one mother stated how her daughter was 16 and she is not allowed to have one. I don't make my decisions based on what people add to my status updates, I take the information and I do my own research. I respect their input and I use that in helping me with that particular subject. I did twirl the idea around in my mind for a bit. I then noticed how addicted he was to his new ipod his father bought him for Christmas. With the new ipod you can make phone calls, text, and go online.

He was very secretive about letting me see his ipod explaining that it was his property and his father bought it for him and I really don't have permission to just take it. That right there was my answer. I respected my son and I told him that I trust him but his motives behind not allowing me to see his phone makes me question things. I then explained that I do have every right to ask questions and take things should I need to or see fit. I am trying to keep open communication with my children and with new waves of technology in the palms of their hands I am nervous.

My son happened to leave his ipod while he went camping and my middle child wanted to play a game on his ipod. I told him he could play it however there was a password on this device. My middle son said he knew the password and would give it to me if he could play. So I opened my son's ipod and there was nothing on it. Text messages from family and friends. Then I noticed a text message that my son sent that said, "My sister likes you do you want her number?" the person's name was labeled JB. I called it because I was wondering who my son would be saying this to, it turns out it was a Justin Bieber fan line. This number was legit, Its really used for fans to leave messages and Justin Biber listens to them, the text didn't go through. Still it was very frightening that my son is so trusting.

When my son came home from camp we had a big talk about the Cyber world and how some people might say they are someone and really not be that person. We talked about the online games he plays on his ipod. He explained that kids are only on this "Munchkin land" game online and people are allowed to ask questions. I asked him if he ever got one, he said he did a girl asked him what state he was in and what school he went to. I asked if he answered back, he said he mentioned the state but did not mention the school. Trying very hard not to scream and throw the ipod out the window.  I OVERLY stressed to him AGAIN, there are evil people in the world who pretend to be other people to get information to hurt you. YOU can not trust strangers on line regardless of what they tell you.

 For now my son  is not allowed to have a facebook account until I lay down some ground rules. As far as his ipod his father and I really need to talk about setting limits and possible taking apps off his ipod. When my son is with me he is allowed to be on it if I am in the room and he can be on it for a total of 30 min. He is allowed to play games and can go on the web if I am sitting next to him.
 
This is going to take some time to really educate my children about the cyber world.

I would really appreciate any suggestion you have on how you have dealt with introducing your children to the "cyber world". What rules, provisions, and talks you have had?

What happened to being simple, Siri?

My son has a tendency to push buttons, however tonight they were not mine. It was the buttons on my iphone and it was by accident we got Siri on the phone. As my son was finished playing a game he plugged my phone in and he hears this voice. Intrigued he leaned in and said who are you?

Siri   Who are you, I don’t understand?

M     Mommy there is a lady trapped in your phone

Siri   Traps, what kind of traps.

M     What is your name

Siri   Siri

M     Where do you live?

Siri   Does it really matter?

M     Yes it matters where do you live?

Siri  Yes it matters where you live, I don’t understand.

M    What is your favorite color

Siri  Well, I don’t know how to say it in your language. Its sort of greenish, but with more dimensions. 

 

Mommy – Ok say goodnight to Siri, put the phone down now.

Really Siri, in my language? What dimension are you referring to the technology realm? Also wouldn’t it be easier to just say, I don’t know GREEN? When you start saying dimensions and language you kind of freak me out. I know I am an adult but I am the biggest baby of them all. It took me until I was in my late 20’s to get over that scary movie, you know the one with the TV screen and the girl who went thru and they had to get her? I can finally look at a clown without being afraid or I don’t go under the covers when I hear the lightening. So I am a bit neurotic and I jump out of my skin at slightest things.

I think we are going to have a love hate relationship Siri. To be safe I am going to leave you plugged in by the kitchen away from my room, and I might have my lights on tonight not sure.

Right now I am going to watch Veggie Tales with the boys and the song I am currently humming is, “God is bigger than the boogie man!” Or Siri on the iphone 4.

I found a cute article after my experience with Siri tonight. I wanted to see if anyone else got funny responses from our gal, Apple iphone 4S' Siri says the darnedest things. The article is by Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY. You can check it out here.

NIGHTY NIGHT!!!!!