At home I live in a world of men. Let's be clear, I gave birth to a couple of good eggs, they are in essence, very good humans, compassionate, kind, aware of others needs, intelligent, they study hard, behave well and in general cause very little trouble.
But lately the resident pre-teenager, the resident teenager and I have been having this ongoing issue at home. Tidy the corner, brush your teeth, take a shower, why are you wearing the same shirt from yesterday's soccer practice, no, you cannot eat fries for the 7th day in a row, whose gross socks are these in the middle of the stairs, etc... In summary, according to them, I nag too much.
So I've been thinking. what exactly is nagging and what is loving behaviour? What is that blurry line that differentiates nag from love? And today the answer finally came to me! Ready? If the nagging implies future well being then ........................... drumroll please .............. IT IS LOVE!!! If I can follow my "nagging" with a question or statement that predicts future well being then I should be absolved from the sin right?
Okay, here goes.
1) Brush and floss your teeth. Do you want to have teeth when you are 80? --- LOVE!
2) NO MORE FRIES!!. Do you want to live past 60? ---- LOVE!
3) DO NOT wear yesterday's soccer practice shirt AGAIN! Do you want people to come close to you? --- LOVE!
4) Wash your face. Do you want to be free of flesh eating disease? ---- LOVE! (ok, ok that one is a little apocalyptic but it will probably work)
5) Shower. Do you want to be free of all diseases? ---- LOVE!
6) Mind your table manners. Do you want to go to a lunch job interview and get the job? ---- LOVE!
6) Tidy the corner ........... mmmmmmmhhhhhh having a hard time with this one so maybe I'll give ---- NAG!
But to save you all the trouble of having this debate at home I will give you the MOST important pre-teen and teen parenting advice you have ever been given. Another drumroll please. You can add: "Do you want to have a girlfriend?" to any and all of the above and be EFFECTIVE! Plus you'll have to use a lot less words.
Tuesday, 10 September 2013
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
Be prepared!
Today in clinic one of my patients asked: "How old are you Dr. Lopez?" Ever the developmental pediatrician I turned the question around and asked: "Well, how old do you think I am?" After sheepishly turning to her mother and her mother reassuringly telling her that she could answer the question she said: "Maybe about 80?" God. Bless. Her. Soul.
Last weekend, #2 and I were going out for a bike ride and as soon as I got on my bike I realized my back tire was flat so I turned to B and said "Crap B, we have an air problem" to which he quickly replied "Or .... do we have a weight problem?" I laughed and went to smack him on the head before I realized he had a helmet on and I would have hurt myself. Smart ass.
What is it about kids that they can so unabashedly put forth their opinion? Somedays I really wish I was 5 and had the opportunity to boldly say everything I am thinking. If you know me at all I am not one to go around life in full verbal restraint, quite the contrary. I say what I mean .... most of the time and I think also most of the time I do it kindly. I think, as we in the profession would say, have pretty decent social skills. Then again maybe I should take an official poll.
I run across people with all kinds of social skills (and lack thereof). If you read my facebook posts you would know that last week I was asked if I was high because of my fake blue eyes. This woman just out right asked about the weird size of my pupils. At first I thought .. hang on .. what did she just ask? And then I thought kudos to her to be bold and ask if the doctor treating her child is using drugs. I don't think I would have had the guts to ask myself frankly. Was it lack of social skills or gumption and assurance? I say the latter.
The secret here is the meaning one gives to the comment - think it funny and not insulting and it becomes fun and witty. Think it insulting and it's hurtful. Think it bold and forward and it becomes a statement on self-assurance.
So from now on I choose not to assume any wrongful/weird/odd intention in any comments and/or action. If I do not know what they mean - I WILL ASK! Be prepared!!
Last weekend, #2 and I were going out for a bike ride and as soon as I got on my bike I realized my back tire was flat so I turned to B and said "Crap B, we have an air problem" to which he quickly replied "Or .... do we have a weight problem?" I laughed and went to smack him on the head before I realized he had a helmet on and I would have hurt myself. Smart ass.
What is it about kids that they can so unabashedly put forth their opinion? Somedays I really wish I was 5 and had the opportunity to boldly say everything I am thinking. If you know me at all I am not one to go around life in full verbal restraint, quite the contrary. I say what I mean .... most of the time and I think also most of the time I do it kindly. I think, as we in the profession would say, have pretty decent social skills. Then again maybe I should take an official poll.
I run across people with all kinds of social skills (and lack thereof). If you read my facebook posts you would know that last week I was asked if I was high because of my fake blue eyes. This woman just out right asked about the weird size of my pupils. At first I thought .. hang on .. what did she just ask? And then I thought kudos to her to be bold and ask if the doctor treating her child is using drugs. I don't think I would have had the guts to ask myself frankly. Was it lack of social skills or gumption and assurance? I say the latter.
The secret here is the meaning one gives to the comment - think it funny and not insulting and it becomes fun and witty. Think it insulting and it's hurtful. Think it bold and forward and it becomes a statement on self-assurance.
So from now on I choose not to assume any wrongful/weird/odd intention in any comments and/or action. If I do not know what they mean - I WILL ASK! Be prepared!!
Friday, 22 March 2013
Plane rides - Yuck!
When does one go from being the perfect traveler (as I used to be) to being the phlueeezzze-do-not-sneeze-cough-or-have-any-other-health-related-symptom-fellow-seatmate uptight anal traveler?
When do you go from: la-di-da I love planes to CRAP that guy in the row in front of us just blew his nose TWICE, TWWWWICE? When did I go from: I'll just read sit here in my (very small) seat and read my book quietly to HANG OOOON didn't that lady JUST go to the bathroom a minute ago, WHY is she going AGAIN?
I'LL TELL YOU! You become that traveler when you work with children day in and day out and have come to realize the power of a single sneeze, the power of a single, cute, but nonethless grubby boogery hand on the ball you are throwing back and forth, the power of a mild cough on the dollhouse you have chosen to use for playing.
YES! THAT is when it happens!!! Despite the fact that we get daily, DAILY e-mails warning workers and parents NOT to attend the hospital if you or your child is sick. Despite the fact that two years ago during the H1N1 epidemic we were fitted with special state of the art masks and DESPITE the not voluntary flu shot.
Seeing as how we go to such measures to prevent this kind of spread in the health care system why not try it on the travel industry. I can see a we-are-taking-your-temperature station right next to the homeland security X-ray machine. Walk right up, "let us place this in your ear: 37 C - go ahead sir/madam, you are good to go". "Next - 38 C - neeeeeeh! (cue bright lights, alarm and a big THIS TRAVELER MAY BE SICK sign) sorry sir/madam you cannot travel today"
We could also have a quick viral/bacterial/parasitic screen a la Star Trek. Beep de doo, beep de doo (or some other much cooler sound like ZIIIIINNNNGGGG) scanner with some kind of state of the art laser thingie. Scan, deduct personal non-pathogenic microbiome, find bad bugs and .... DONE!! Yes, you can travel or no, you are staying put.
Am I sounding too Aldous Huxley-ish? I probably am, but wouldn't that save us a lot of grief? Having spent that last two holidays and/or after holidays with either brutal GI and/or respiratory symptoms I support a world wide airport health surveillance system (sell that in Obamacare eh?).
Imagine, there would be no need for a Measles health alert at the Houston airport. We could have stopped the spead of HIV, Ebola (has that spread? excuse my ignorance), stop the spread of polio, TB, rubella, chicken pox, rotavirus, norovirus (you get the picture) plus the very worrisome swine, bird or whatever the animal du jour flu. We could in general make ME okay for all future holidays.
I say WELL worth the investment :))) d'accord?
When do you go from: la-di-da I love planes to CRAP that guy in the row in front of us just blew his nose TWICE, TWWWWICE? When did I go from: I'll just read sit here in my (very small) seat and read my book quietly to HANG OOOON didn't that lady JUST go to the bathroom a minute ago, WHY is she going AGAIN?
I'LL TELL YOU! You become that traveler when you work with children day in and day out and have come to realize the power of a single sneeze, the power of a single, cute, but nonethless grubby boogery hand on the ball you are throwing back and forth, the power of a mild cough on the dollhouse you have chosen to use for playing.
YES! THAT is when it happens!!! Despite the fact that we get daily, DAILY e-mails warning workers and parents NOT to attend the hospital if you or your child is sick. Despite the fact that two years ago during the H1N1 epidemic we were fitted with special state of the art masks and DESPITE the not voluntary flu shot.
Seeing as how we go to such measures to prevent this kind of spread in the health care system why not try it on the travel industry. I can see a we-are-taking-your-temperature station right next to the homeland security X-ray machine. Walk right up, "let us place this in your ear: 37 C - go ahead sir/madam, you are good to go". "Next - 38 C - neeeeeeh! (cue bright lights, alarm and a big THIS TRAVELER MAY BE SICK sign) sorry sir/madam you cannot travel today"
We could also have a quick viral/bacterial/parasitic screen a la Star Trek. Beep de doo, beep de doo (or some other much cooler sound like ZIIIIINNNNGGGG) scanner with some kind of state of the art laser thingie. Scan, deduct personal non-pathogenic microbiome, find bad bugs and .... DONE!! Yes, you can travel or no, you are staying put.
Am I sounding too Aldous Huxley-ish? I probably am, but wouldn't that save us a lot of grief? Having spent that last two holidays and/or after holidays with either brutal GI and/or respiratory symptoms I support a world wide airport health surveillance system (sell that in Obamacare eh?).
Imagine, there would be no need for a Measles health alert at the Houston airport. We could have stopped the spead of HIV, Ebola (has that spread? excuse my ignorance), stop the spread of polio, TB, rubella, chicken pox, rotavirus, norovirus (you get the picture) plus the very worrisome swine, bird or whatever the animal du jour flu. We could in general make ME okay for all future holidays.
I say WELL worth the investment :))) d'accord?
Friday, 15 February 2013
Lenten anniversary
I was reminded that it was last year during my brief, okay, very brief, foray into Lenten self denial that I started to write this blog. Happy Annivesary!
People have decided what they are giving up for Lent by now, actually they should be already 48 hours into their misery. Many of them chose to give up Facebook, god knows what they are thinking since we all know that one is a doozy. I know it's a doozy, been there, done that, okay done it for a few days - Did. Not. Work.
Besides how do we keep all of the Lenten facebook giver uppers accountable? For all we know they look at posts all day long in secret during their work breaks, furtively look at their facebook app under the table during important meetings, hide under the blankets at night and turn the phone on to check on us all or wake up in the middle of the night and sneakily take the phone or laptop to the bathroom because the withdrawal is unbearable and they are starting to shake and shiver thinking "WHAT AM I MISSING?" OH YEAH -- IT'S FACEBOOK!! Not that I would know how that feels like of course, I'm not some kind of weird facebook junkie :)
So here's the deal. There really is no need to give anything up, the secret is SELF REGULATION. So for Lent I will .... SELF REGULATE.
First, I will nag less ..... hhhmmmmm sitting here thinking and changing my mind about that one. Lack of nagging leads to lack of finished tasks that then become my tasks so..... no, forget that one.
Second, I will drink less Diet Coke ...... hang on that will make me cranky and I will annoy everyone else and make Lent miserable for them. Really, me drinking the right amount of Diet Coke makes everyone's life better so in reality it is a public service I offer to the world. No need to regulate that one, as a matter of fact - you are welcome people of the world
Third, I will eat less chocolate .... whoa! is that wise? I would hate to single handedly affect chocolate sales and bring the entire industry to a halt. Nope, forget that one too, it is absolutely necessary that I continue to support the world's economy.
Fourth, I will post less ..... wait people ENJOY my posts, another public service I offer (I'm thinking I deserve a well earned medal) so why take away my friends enjoyment and happiness for my own sick purposes.
Well, well, well, it looks like I am doing everything right. So to all of you reading this enjoy the next 40 days I know I will. And may I just say again - YOU ARE WELCOME!
People have decided what they are giving up for Lent by now, actually they should be already 48 hours into their misery. Many of them chose to give up Facebook, god knows what they are thinking since we all know that one is a doozy. I know it's a doozy, been there, done that, okay done it for a few days - Did. Not. Work.
Besides how do we keep all of the Lenten facebook giver uppers accountable? For all we know they look at posts all day long in secret during their work breaks, furtively look at their facebook app under the table during important meetings, hide under the blankets at night and turn the phone on to check on us all or wake up in the middle of the night and sneakily take the phone or laptop to the bathroom because the withdrawal is unbearable and they are starting to shake and shiver thinking "WHAT AM I MISSING?" OH YEAH -- IT'S FACEBOOK!! Not that I would know how that feels like of course, I'm not some kind of weird facebook junkie :)
So here's the deal. There really is no need to give anything up, the secret is SELF REGULATION. So for Lent I will .... SELF REGULATE.
First, I will nag less ..... hhhmmmmm sitting here thinking and changing my mind about that one. Lack of nagging leads to lack of finished tasks that then become my tasks so..... no, forget that one.
Second, I will drink less Diet Coke ...... hang on that will make me cranky and I will annoy everyone else and make Lent miserable for them. Really, me drinking the right amount of Diet Coke makes everyone's life better so in reality it is a public service I offer to the world. No need to regulate that one, as a matter of fact - you are welcome people of the world
Third, I will eat less chocolate .... whoa! is that wise? I would hate to single handedly affect chocolate sales and bring the entire industry to a halt. Nope, forget that one too, it is absolutely necessary that I continue to support the world's economy.
Fourth, I will post less ..... wait people ENJOY my posts, another public service I offer (I'm thinking I deserve a well earned medal) so why take away my friends enjoyment and happiness for my own sick purposes.
Well, well, well, it looks like I am doing everything right. So to all of you reading this enjoy the next 40 days I know I will. And may I just say again - YOU ARE WELCOME!
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
The week after
Last week I turned 47 and posted a list of new lessons and happy events. Since then I have been feeling melancholic.
The final straw was waking up this morning and finding almost 6 feet of #1 (the 11 pounder) at the sink SHAVING! This led to a teary panicked Oh-my-god-so-many-milestones-I-cannot-believe-this-much-time-has-passed moment while hugging said teenager and watching his eyes roll to the back of his head in the mirror. He was however, kind enough to indulge me in my hug and tears, he stood still without swaning (swaning: the behavior displayed by all teenagers in which they turn their head and neck AWAY from the kissing mother) despite the fact that I know he was thinking: "Jeezuzz christ you lunatic woman!!!".
I have to say that when I was younger and thought about getting older I NEVER thought of being almost 50. That is not to say that I thought I would be dead, it's just that the thought of aging did not EVER occur to me. I thought about some milestones, frankly there were mostly academic related milestones like high school, University medical school etc.. Even marriage and having children were not too pressing in my mind. I remember my father saying once that "I was too smart to get married" so I kind of assumed if it happens, it happens.
People used to talk to me about childhood, adolescence, early adulthood but they didn't really talk to me about aging. My mother never said "Oh when you are older you are going to LOVE the changes your body experiences (that little bit of advice was given to me when I became an adolescent). Or "Prepare yourself because one day you will find yourself in front of the bank machine and you will not be able to recall the PIN you have been using for the last 5 years." I know, I sound like I'm 80 and I am not, but let's say it: aging sucks in general EXCEPT for the self confidence and experience it brings. End. Of.
After much pondering I have decided that aging is a process that starts with time that is now pointed by other people's, my children in this case, milestones. I mean it's not like I'm going to get learn to drive or get a driver's licence or find my first girlfriend/boyfriend or experience my first kiss or marry or have my first child. Been there, done that.
So I've been wondering, what are the after 47 personal milestones? ................... Deafening silence ............ Grandchildren? Menopause? Affairs? Divorces? Second marriages? Botox? More silence. Retirement? For me that would be death I cannot imagine not doing what I love and the happiness and self-fulfilment it brings me. Yikes! What then?
I am now positively sure that this mindful moment of YIKES! is when middle aged out-of-shape individuals decide they need to climb Kilimanjaro or Everest, embark on a bungee jumping tour, make an attempt on the North Pole, do some base jumping, try downhill mountain biking (guilty), start running marathons (also guilty) or cook themselves in hot yoga (again guilty).
So ... my milestones list:
1) Start the adolescent Fragile X trials
2) Run the half marathon in support of Fragile X fundraising in June
3) Try not to forget stuff
Lofty goals eh? All very trivial but really folks .......... what else is there?
The final straw was waking up this morning and finding almost 6 feet of #1 (the 11 pounder) at the sink SHAVING! This led to a teary panicked Oh-my-god-so-many-milestones-I-cannot-believe-this-much-time-has-passed moment while hugging said teenager and watching his eyes roll to the back of his head in the mirror. He was however, kind enough to indulge me in my hug and tears, he stood still without swaning (swaning: the behavior displayed by all teenagers in which they turn their head and neck AWAY from the kissing mother) despite the fact that I know he was thinking: "Jeezuzz christ you lunatic woman!!!".
I have to say that when I was younger and thought about getting older I NEVER thought of being almost 50. That is not to say that I thought I would be dead, it's just that the thought of aging did not EVER occur to me. I thought about some milestones, frankly there were mostly academic related milestones like high school, University medical school etc.. Even marriage and having children were not too pressing in my mind. I remember my father saying once that "I was too smart to get married" so I kind of assumed if it happens, it happens.
People used to talk to me about childhood, adolescence, early adulthood but they didn't really talk to me about aging. My mother never said "Oh when you are older you are going to LOVE the changes your body experiences (that little bit of advice was given to me when I became an adolescent). Or "Prepare yourself because one day you will find yourself in front of the bank machine and you will not be able to recall the PIN you have been using for the last 5 years." I know, I sound like I'm 80 and I am not, but let's say it: aging sucks in general EXCEPT for the self confidence and experience it brings. End. Of.
After much pondering I have decided that aging is a process that starts with time that is now pointed by other people's, my children in this case, milestones. I mean it's not like I'm going to get learn to drive or get a driver's licence or find my first girlfriend/boyfriend or experience my first kiss or marry or have my first child. Been there, done that.
So I've been wondering, what are the after 47 personal milestones? ................... Deafening silence ............ Grandchildren? Menopause? Affairs? Divorces? Second marriages? Botox? More silence. Retirement? For me that would be death I cannot imagine not doing what I love and the happiness and self-fulfilment it brings me. Yikes! What then?
I am now positively sure that this mindful moment of YIKES! is when middle aged out-of-shape individuals decide they need to climb Kilimanjaro or Everest, embark on a bungee jumping tour, make an attempt on the North Pole, do some base jumping, try downhill mountain biking (guilty), start running marathons (also guilty) or cook themselves in hot yoga (again guilty).
So ... my milestones list:
1) Start the adolescent Fragile X trials
2) Run the half marathon in support of Fragile X fundraising in June
3) Try not to forget stuff
Lofty goals eh? All very trivial but really folks .......... what else is there?
Friday, 2 November 2012
THE GREAT FABRICIO
There is this guy in Vancouver, his name is Dennis "Chip" Wilson. Yes, the very famous Chip. No other than one of the founders of the Lululemon brand of clothing. Now, I am not a great fan of him mostly because his clothes fit only the very slim (every once in a while I can slide myself into a size 12 - his largest size, which in the real world is a size 4 btw). Anyway, I give him kudos for having a new idea that has entire cities full of women in yoga pants as "daily wear" while he becomes a gazijillionaire.
ANYWAY all that to say that Chip sponsors this great annual race called the "Chip ain't dead yet memorial race". The reason I love this race is because he has decided to be celebrated BEFORE he is no longer around. Very original eh? I AM a great fan of telling people how great they are while they can still hear it. My grandmother used to say "EN vida, hazlo y dilo EN vida" which loosely translates into: "IN life, do it and say it IN life".
So I'm going to do it IN LIFE right here .....
November 2nd, Day of the Dead, the day my younger brother, THE GREAT FABRICIO was born. He is turning 43 and I have been around for all of those years. I do not remember the day he came home, I should. since I was 5 by then, but maybe it was not such a momentous event, there were two of us in the house already. He came with a funny name, I am the 4th Elena in my household (greatgrandma, grandma, mother and I, all Elenas), my middle brother was named after my father Jose Luis and then Fabricio.
Fabricio ... huh? what? Where did that come from? The story goes that my mother liked the name from a Stendhal novel she had read, The Charterhouse of Parma. Obviously the loooooong line of nerdiness began many years ago. Anyway an odd name to add to our very Mexican family but he has grown into it's uniqueness.
I'll tell you a funny story about his name since obviously he too felt the brunt of it's unusualness. Fabricio actually "changed" his name when he was about age 5 or 6 years of age while we were on a family trip to Chichen-Itza. This was done because he could not find one of those pens that the Maya decorate with thread and have your name on it. The name he chose ..... ready for this one? Sisebuto!!!! YEP! Sisebuto! This child could have gone conventional, there were plenty of Jesus (I think this should have been his first choice, the name comes with some heavy duty history!), Jose, Carlos and Manuel pens but no, he chose Sisebuto. You see THAT name we could easily find on a pen. If your child thinks that Sisebuto is a better name than Fabricio you know you are in trouble. To put the icing on the cake afterwards at home in the photo album from the trip and in his 5 year old print he wrote "This is the day I changed my name to Sisebuto"
As a child all I remember him doing is playing lots of Lego, being obsessed with Star Wars, the Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, American Football (an affliction inherited from my father) and soccer (an affliction inherited by all Mexicans). I also remember him pretending to be every character in every movie we ever saw, Rocky after we saw that. Luke after Star Wars and many many others. He was a pretty good egg and people noticed, he even won the camper of the year award - The Order of Kanasatka at Camp Quinebarge. As an adolescent I remember MORE soccer. Every Saturday he would play early in the morning and he would wake me up with the loud sound of his cleats on the marble stairs. As an adult he managed a well deserved Law degree and additional studies in Georgetown. He's pretty smart ... almost as smart as his sister.
Now at age 43, he is losing his hair, he has gained and lost a few pounds a few times, he is witty, funny and a techie (I am currently on the hunt for his iPhone 5). He is a SHOPPER! yes a MALE shopper. I know you thought they didn't exist eh? Every time he goes on a trip he shops, a LOT, every trip requires a new suitcase. He loves watches (if you are ever in need of a gift for him, there you go). He eats in very small bites, loads his fork with little samples of everything on the plate like a plane loading passengers. He takes a loooong time to eat dessert and I mean a very long time - he ENJOYS his desserts!!! He still LOVES soccer and has been known to have his children say little white lies so that he does not have to answer the phone when I call so that there are no soccer distractions when he is watching a game. As a father he is pretty cool and wise.
As my current 43 year old Day of the Dead brother, he is witty, has a great sense of humour, he is generous, he listens patiently during long phone conversations (maybe I give him reasons for the white lies eh?), gives good solid advice and often makes fun of me and my quirks.
SISEBUTO - HOLY CRAP!!! YOU. ARE. 43!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I THINK YOU ARE PRETTY DARN GREAT!!!
There I said it - IN LIFE!
ANYWAY all that to say that Chip sponsors this great annual race called the "Chip ain't dead yet memorial race". The reason I love this race is because he has decided to be celebrated BEFORE he is no longer around. Very original eh? I AM a great fan of telling people how great they are while they can still hear it. My grandmother used to say "EN vida, hazlo y dilo EN vida" which loosely translates into: "IN life, do it and say it IN life".
So I'm going to do it IN LIFE right here .....
November 2nd, Day of the Dead, the day my younger brother, THE GREAT FABRICIO was born. He is turning 43 and I have been around for all of those years. I do not remember the day he came home, I should. since I was 5 by then, but maybe it was not such a momentous event, there were two of us in the house already. He came with a funny name, I am the 4th Elena in my household (greatgrandma, grandma, mother and I, all Elenas), my middle brother was named after my father Jose Luis and then Fabricio.
Fabricio ... huh? what? Where did that come from? The story goes that my mother liked the name from a Stendhal novel she had read, The Charterhouse of Parma. Obviously the loooooong line of nerdiness began many years ago. Anyway an odd name to add to our very Mexican family but he has grown into it's uniqueness.
I'll tell you a funny story about his name since obviously he too felt the brunt of it's unusualness. Fabricio actually "changed" his name when he was about age 5 or 6 years of age while we were on a family trip to Chichen-Itza. This was done because he could not find one of those pens that the Maya decorate with thread and have your name on it. The name he chose ..... ready for this one? Sisebuto!!!! YEP! Sisebuto! This child could have gone conventional, there were plenty of Jesus (I think this should have been his first choice, the name comes with some heavy duty history!), Jose, Carlos and Manuel pens but no, he chose Sisebuto. You see THAT name we could easily find on a pen. If your child thinks that Sisebuto is a better name than Fabricio you know you are in trouble. To put the icing on the cake afterwards at home in the photo album from the trip and in his 5 year old print he wrote "This is the day I changed my name to Sisebuto"
As a child all I remember him doing is playing lots of Lego, being obsessed with Star Wars, the Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, American Football (an affliction inherited from my father) and soccer (an affliction inherited by all Mexicans). I also remember him pretending to be every character in every movie we ever saw, Rocky after we saw that. Luke after Star Wars and many many others. He was a pretty good egg and people noticed, he even won the camper of the year award - The Order of Kanasatka at Camp Quinebarge. As an adolescent I remember MORE soccer. Every Saturday he would play early in the morning and he would wake me up with the loud sound of his cleats on the marble stairs. As an adult he managed a well deserved Law degree and additional studies in Georgetown. He's pretty smart ... almost as smart as his sister.
Now at age 43, he is losing his hair, he has gained and lost a few pounds a few times, he is witty, funny and a techie (I am currently on the hunt for his iPhone 5). He is a SHOPPER! yes a MALE shopper. I know you thought they didn't exist eh? Every time he goes on a trip he shops, a LOT, every trip requires a new suitcase. He loves watches (if you are ever in need of a gift for him, there you go). He eats in very small bites, loads his fork with little samples of everything on the plate like a plane loading passengers. He takes a loooong time to eat dessert and I mean a very long time - he ENJOYS his desserts!!! He still LOVES soccer and has been known to have his children say little white lies so that he does not have to answer the phone when I call so that there are no soccer distractions when he is watching a game. As a father he is pretty cool and wise.
As my current 43 year old Day of the Dead brother, he is witty, has a great sense of humour, he is generous, he listens patiently during long phone conversations (maybe I give him reasons for the white lies eh?), gives good solid advice and often makes fun of me and my quirks.
SISEBUTO - HOLY CRAP!!! YOU. ARE. 43!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I THINK YOU ARE PRETTY DARN GREAT!!!
There I said it - IN LIFE!
Thursday, 25 October 2012
Seriously? Seriously? She used the r-word????!!!
Ann Coulter called Mr. Barrack Obama a retard. Yes, she used the r-word. One of the most offensive, disgusting, hate promoting words in the English language. And I for one HATE her for it. I have never met the woman but someone who lacks the sensitivity to know that that word is NEVER to be used, absolutely NEVER to be used to insult ANYONE is APPALLING!
I wonder who raised her? Where are her parents? Even now as an adult if I was her mother I would personally go to her house and make her apologize not only to the President but to all children and adults with Special Needs and those without who were bullied with that word. AND I would wash her mouth out with soap while making a video of it and posting it on YouTube. PLUS make her walk around with a big sign that says "I am an insensitive bitch".
I occasionally volunteer for the Special Olympics. I am trying to find the genetic causes of Intellectual Disabilities (ID) in order to provide support for these individuals and their families. I assess children with ID on a daily basis to recommend support to make their lives better in school and the community. I have been working with the Special Needs population for 20 years and every single one of these people deserves my respect, admiration, praise, approval and wonder. This woman needs to spend a few minutes with me to, as John Franklin Stephens puts it in his letter "See if you can walk away with your heart unchanged" Mind you, I am so ANGRY that I would just yell at her.
I am in the process of raising two boys and I have made it very clear to them that THIS word (as well as some others) are NEVER to be used, NEVER EVER. This word carries hatred and MAY NOT under ANY circumstance be used as verbal weapon. I also stick to my guns when it comes to other people using this word. I'll have you know that I once pulled my car over, stopped driving and gave a very stern lecture to a friend of my 14 year old who dared use the r-word in my presence. Petey (not his real name) then apologized profusely and his mother later called me to THANK me for making sure this never happens again.
I URGE you to read John Franklin Stephens response to Ann Coulter (I have attached the link below). He is a young man with Down syndrome who has decided to educate this Coulter neanderthal with his letter and is ROCKING his extra 21 with eloquence and poise. BRAVO JOHN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-p-shriver/an-open-letter-to-ann-coulter_b_2012454.html
I wonder who raised her? Where are her parents? Even now as an adult if I was her mother I would personally go to her house and make her apologize not only to the President but to all children and adults with Special Needs and those without who were bullied with that word. AND I would wash her mouth out with soap while making a video of it and posting it on YouTube. PLUS make her walk around with a big sign that says "I am an insensitive bitch".
I occasionally volunteer for the Special Olympics. I am trying to find the genetic causes of Intellectual Disabilities (ID) in order to provide support for these individuals and their families. I assess children with ID on a daily basis to recommend support to make their lives better in school and the community. I have been working with the Special Needs population for 20 years and every single one of these people deserves my respect, admiration, praise, approval and wonder. This woman needs to spend a few minutes with me to, as John Franklin Stephens puts it in his letter "See if you can walk away with your heart unchanged" Mind you, I am so ANGRY that I would just yell at her.
I am in the process of raising two boys and I have made it very clear to them that THIS word (as well as some others) are NEVER to be used, NEVER EVER. This word carries hatred and MAY NOT under ANY circumstance be used as verbal weapon. I also stick to my guns when it comes to other people using this word. I'll have you know that I once pulled my car over, stopped driving and gave a very stern lecture to a friend of my 14 year old who dared use the r-word in my presence. Petey (not his real name) then apologized profusely and his mother later called me to THANK me for making sure this never happens again.
I URGE you to read John Franklin Stephens response to Ann Coulter (I have attached the link below). He is a young man with Down syndrome who has decided to educate this Coulter neanderthal with his letter and is ROCKING his extra 21 with eloquence and poise. BRAVO JOHN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-p-shriver/an-open-letter-to-ann-coulter_b_2012454.html
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