Ask The Mom

Hi everyone, it’s that time again. Time for me to put my camping-procrastination to the side and answer a few questions from you, the important ones. The car will pack itself I know it. Shoot, is Survivor on?? Nevermind, I have DVR. It’s really all about you today, MOMDOT readers! All you.

I have a one-year old golden retriever puppy that loves children. When they kids come up to pet him, what is the best way Moms want this interaction to occur? My older kids are terrified of any dog while my baby has no fear. As the mom of the child, I would ask the owner “is the dog friendly? where would he enjoy being petted? does he jump/lick/nip?” before I would allow my child to approach them. As the dog owner, I would keep my dog close and ask parents, “would your child like to pet my dog? he does/does not like to lick/jump/nip.”

My husband has been stressed out and tired from work so when he comes home he wants to relax, but me on the other hand, am always home all day I want to go out, but it RARELY happens, unless we go to the inlaw’s. He doesnt seem to understand that im home with the kids 24/7, cleaning the house, cooking and it can be stressful too. Some days he will meet up with his friends, or his brother or cousins to go out for dinner, wings, coffee and I’m at home. I ask him to take me out, but he’ll say he doesnt feel like going out, too tired but when his friend or cousin call him up, he goes out. What can I do to get him to understand it isnt fair that he can go out whenever, and leave me at home??? I have no car, so I dont go anywhere throughout the day. I swear if it wasnt for my kids, I think I would have gone crazy by now! That is truly unfair on his part. You deserve to be respected for the time you give at home (with no car all day AHHH!) and he needs to see that. Explain to him that you want to spend quality time with him, it’s important to you to get that needed break from the house. Can you talk him into one night a week being ‘your night together?’ Compromise that if you can get that first, then he can have a ‘guys night out.’ If he doesn’t go for it, I say, take the kids to your inlaws and have a friend pick you up for a night out. Something’s got to give before you do go stir-crazy!

Do you believe women can have long term friendships, because every one I have ever had after so long, just falls apart. Yes, but it has to be with the right person. I have ONE long-term friendship that has definitely seen the depths of cat-fights, jealousy, and choice words. We’ve been friends for 25 years this year and it’s amazing how much like sisters we are! If two women can realize that their bond goes above and beyond the petty little things, then it can work. Just like a marriage, it takes two people to commit to give and take, respect, and trust.

What came first, the chicken or the egg? Seriously? I’ve got sleeping bags to roll.

Please explain to my why or how to curb my 7 year old son’s very annoying crying behavior. This has been going on for over a year and what we thought was a phase keeps getting worse. I’ll admit he can be a rather sensitive boy but he litterally cries several times a day over just about everything…if he can’t find his shoes, if his sister touched his toy, if I tell him lights out for bedtime, if he doesn’t get 3 feet of water for his bath, it never ends! First, let your son know that he can communicate with you with words. Words can express what he needs much clearer than crying. Give him incentives when he works through a problem in a positive way, maybe a sticker chart for “solving a big boy problem on his own.” Start easy, maybe 3 stickers gets him a special dessert. Explain to him it’s alright to cry, but when he’s physically hurt or a serious mom/dad intervention is needed. Tell him about the “little boy who cried wolf,” and emphasize that it’s important that YOU know the difference between his cries to keep him happy and healthy.

What vegetables, other than broccoli, would you use to top a baked potato? Cheese…Velveeta preferably! Oh wait, you said the bad word in our house….vegetable! Let me see if I can remember what one is….cupcakes…no. Umm…bagel bites…no. Capri Suns…nope. How about chopped asparagus, ooh buttery asparagus would be good. For a spicy kick, finely chopped red and green bell peppers. Mushrooms would be good too!!

What is your middle name? I have named my middle “chubby mcmuffin top” and I don’t think she likes it much.

Is it true that you can catch a cold by having a wet head? No the saying is “catch a fever, throw a cold” or is it “feed the hungry, starve the rich” or “you can pick your friend’s nose, but….” I never get that right.

Please keep those questions coming, and after my weekend in the dirt, I will again focus on something else beside the kink in my back. You.

The Mom can be reached at themomjen[at]gmail[dot]com or being semi-funny at her own blog Cheaper Than Therapy. Like how I got all third-person on ya?