'Make a Complaint Monday': Considering Others Feelings

It's BACK!!!  I was reading through my Blog, way back when, and had totally forgotten about my 'Make a Complaint Monday' posts.  They seemed kind a fun, so I thought I'd start them again.


My complaint this lovely Monday morning is about people that THINK, or PRETEND or just SAY they know how you feel.......OR if you're going through a hard time and they try to make it seem like someone else's time was HARDER than yours so you shouldn't be complaining...............COME ON!!!! 


Now my question is, what do you say to those that are struggling with something specific, someone that needs advice?  I have a friend that wants another baby so badly, but the doctor told her she needed to start using Chlomid to help her body accomplish this.  As she was talking with friends, I was there, one of them said, "Oh, I've heard it's not that bad (ok, right?).  But did you hear about so and so's hard time getting pregnant?  Now that's hard (RED LIGHT!)!"  Tell me what YOU think is wrong with this conversation.......

My friend felt so ridiculous that she even brought it up.  We really need to take a step back and THINK before we speak.  She has NEVER had to deal with fertility issues, and it has been really hard.  That's all she needed was to hear that HER specific situation didn't matter compared to so and so's HARD TI ME.  I hope we can all be kind to one another and really be friends when we need to be. :)

'Make a Complaint Monday'-Caught Up In the Same Routine

The same routine every day...................that's my complaint today. Short and sweet.

Wake up
Feed Jae breakfast
Play
Jaeli's Bottle Time
Jae's nap
Feed Jaeli lunch
Play, play, play!
Jaeli's Bottle Time
Feed Jaeli dinner
Jaeli's Bath
Play
Jaeli's Bottle Time
Bed

Holy cow. Oh, and entwined in that routine is me attempting to clean the house, do laundry and think about dinner. Now, I don't want you to get the wrong idea, because I adore Jaeli. Is it insane of me to think that I need a change in routine? Any suggestions? I know I'm not the ONLY mom out there that feels this way.........so HELP! Obviously Jae would have to come with me....so anything we could do together that may be different? That may break up our same old routine? I may be going a bit crazy.........Just MAY!

'Make a Complaint Monday'- Jaeli's Habit

I love books......especially childrens' books.  I think they have fun messages, brightly colored pages and different, new words for little ones.  Children can learn soooo much from reading and just looking at books.  Jaeli is getting quite the collection of books, BUT, she is chewing HOLES in them!  As a former teacher, and mother it makes me sad to see her ruin books.  I guess she REALLY, REALLY likes the taste of cardboard and paper. 

 

When she starts to chew, I take the book away, hoping the message will reach the cute little thing, but no luck.  I have also moved all the books to a shelf she cannot reach on her own, YET, so the only way she can have access to a book is when mommy, daddy or grandma reads it to her.   Any ideas on how to keep my child from chewing on her books would be greatly appreciated.  I really want her to appreciate and gain a love and respect for books.

'Make a Complaint Monday'-Decisions BITE

I would like to complain about making REALLY hard decisions.  I know we all have to make them, so I am looking forward to some responses on this 'Make a Complaint Monday'.  

Dan and I have been having to make some hard decisions lately, and I hate it..........

 

* Should we sell the Subaru and get a van?

* Where should we take the Subaru to get fixed?

* Should we replace our fence?

* Should I, at this moment, pursue starting a Preschool?

* What should the theme for Jaeli's 1st birthday party be?  HAHA, this really is a decision right now.

You get the idea.  Some of these decisions BITE!  And these are just a few things we're thinking about right now.  Are any of you making huge decisions in your life and just don't want to?  I am feeling like I want to go back to being young and having no worries.  I'm done being the mom, the adult.  In the words of my sis-in-law, "my plate is full".  I don't have room for more BOLOGNA or those nasty army peas from a can my mom used to feed us.  WE are officially overwhelmed.

HAPPY DECISION MAKING!

'Make a Complaint Monday'

I don't have a complaint today. After talking with some friends, the reality of opening my own Preschool has really hit me, kind of a slap across the face. This is what is preoccupying my mind. I'd like to have it open and running by the Fall, but oh my so much to do. PLEASE, PLEASE leave your ideas or hints here for opening, starting and running your own business-things I've got to get or do before I can open it. I would greatly appreciate it.

Also, let me know if you have a child that is 3-5 years old that you would like to have go to Preschool, not necessarily mine, but you get the idea. I'm trying to feel around for how Preschools are used or are in demand lately.

Finally, check out my Teaching Blog: www.tantalizingteachingtidbits.blogspot.com

to get some great painting ideas and others for you and your children. Remember, tomorrow, there will be a Tuesday Tidbit posted. :)

'Make a Complaint Monday'-Hurry! Baby-Proof That!

This 'Make a Complaint Monday' is dedicated to Lacey.....yes you Lacey Jo. Thanks for the idea.

How many of you have had to baby proof a house? My complaint.........BABY PROOFING (or trying to baby proof)! As I walked into the house today after trying to get the brakes fixed on the car-to no avail, then hitting the Walmart, which I ALWAYS love, I popped open a delicious, cold refreshing CAFFEINE FREE DP. I set it on the couch (I know, my first mistake) and Samsun, my son (really my kitty) had to jump and get love. There went the DP, my NECTAR of life.......spilling all over the couch..my rear end slowly getting soaked......Samsun trying to lap up everything he could. WHERE IS MY COFFEE TABLE???? Ya know, the thing that you can set stuff on and pretty much know it'll be safe?

YEAH, it's down in the basement.......from our poor attempt to baby proof our house. Having to adapt and move everything we're used to for little Jaeli Pea is inconvenient? Are there professionals that will come and baby proof a house? Leave a name and number here if you know. :)

P.S and by the way: Preschool Pandemonium is updated as well. Take a look.

'Make a Complaint Monday'-Supplying Your Children

My Classroom right before School started.

I have been thinking about 'Make a Complaint Monday', but nothing HAD sparked until Dan, my wonderful hubby, spotted something on KSL. Being a former teacher, I had an "IT'S ABOUT FREAKIN' TIME" moment when he related the article to me:

**Parents SHOULD be expected, IF THEY ARE ABLE, to supply their children with school supplies.**

I'm not sure when you went through Elementary school, but don't you remember YOUR, YES YOUR VERY OWN PARENTS, supplying you with school supplies? I mean, your teacher may have given you a pencil here or there, but for the most part the sparkly pencil box, a variety of erasers and the colorful folders to keep work in were provided by your parents. As a teacher, you do get an "Allowance" for the year, from the State and the Legislature.....BUT I can tell you that it's not enough to provide your students with EVERYTHING they need for a whole school year.

Again, as a teacher, I didn't mind helping my students out. In fact, I couldn't wait to buy crayons, folders and glue sticks in bulk for the class. Hearing, "You must be a teacher", at the check-out stands put a smile on my face. In the picture above, look at the students' desks. This was just the beginning of EVERYTHING I had for them. But teachers can't do it. Most of them REALLY do wish they could......but on our "Allowance" and paycheck, we can't.

Thank you, as parents, for understanding...........and if you can, supply your children with all you can. :)

My FREAKING Awesome Husband helping me put names on the notebooks.

'Make a Complaint Monday'-I Just Don't Belong

For those of you that are EXTREMELY concerned (which I know is ALL of you-haha, hehe), YES I will keep doing 'Make a Complaint Monday'. I like it too much not to.

Jaeli and my adventure started out today with leaving the house about an hour later than we wanted to, but 'Pea' comes first, right? She needed to eat and take her bottle. Then we set off to visit some of my favorite people where I used to work. Here is Jaeli finding ANYTHING on the classroom floor of course to stick in her mouth. (By the way, the MYSTERY poster behind her is part of the Genres of books. I laughed when I saw it behind 'Pea' because Jaeli is ANYTHING BUT Mysterious!)

NOW TO MY COMPLAINT..............................(Maybe not QUITE a complaint today, but something I was sad about.)

Ever feel like you don't belong? That sense of awkwardness, that empty feeling, the churning stomach and overwhelming shyness? That was my day. There are places you may go, used to work or used to belong to that maybe you decide to visit. You get excited to see old friends and to catch up. THEN, it hits...................yes IT........and IT hit hard today. "Natalie, you don't belong here anymore. A lot of good friends are here, true enough, but you, yourself don't belong anymore."

I will always have the memories, and THEY are what I prefer to remember. The great memories and the magnificent friends. I love you all. I.JUST.DON'T.BELONG.

'Make a Complaint Monday'- Let's Think Here.....PLEASE?!

*WARNING* This Post is quite long, but once you start reading it, you'll understand why.

Yup, it's Monday again, which means another awesome 'Make a Complaint Monday' post. I think this idea is spectacular because EVERYONE needs to vent once in a while, YES EVERYONE. Feel free to comment on my complaint or leave one of your own.

This weekend, we attended Dan's Uncle Rodney's Funeral in Chubbuck, Idaho. A lot of the family was there and it was nice. Regardless of how nice it looked, how nice it was that the Funeral Home had a children's room with toys and such, and how nice it was to see the family, it was a sad time. The family is struggling with trying to understand, rightfully so, and Uncle Rodney even looked sad. Uncle Rodney is the youngest of nine siblings (he is Karen's brother). He was very sad and decided to take his own life. We are praying that he is at peace now and has found some comfort in his other family members that may have already passed.

The Funeral was very nice with Uncle Rodney's brothers and sisters contributing, Karen (my awesome mother-in-law) reciting a poem and Dan and his brother Matt singing a duet. I learned a lot about him, what a caring and considerate person he was and how much fun it was to be around him. After the Funeral, we traveled to the Cemetary where Uncle Rodney was buried next to his mom and dad. Another Uncle's Relief Society then provided a luncheon following the Cemetary.

While sitting next to Dan's sister, Suzi, we were discussing how great the food was. They had some superb fried chicken that I really just wanted to keep eating. The desserts were really good too, well I think. Dan's brother Rich ate my piece of cake! THAT'S RIGHT RICH! I'M CALLING YOU OUT!!!! Anyhow, Suzi then said, "When I die, you all know what to serve at my Funeral, right? Fried Chicken!" Then I mentioned I would like a salad bar at my Funeral.

DURRRRRR!!!!! There sat Dan's mom, the best Mother-in-Law anyone could ask for, listening to our conversation right after we had just gone through Uncle Rodney's Funeral. I didn't THINK about it until it was kind of quiet after my comment. Now, I am not saying anything negative about Suzi at all, because her comment was not heard. It was just mine......STUPID LOUD VOICE!!!!

This is already long, so my point of this 'Make a Complaint Monday' is, PLEASE THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK!!!! There are so many things that could be said that could hurt people without you even realizing. I am not judging, believe me........I am guilty of this as well, but let's all try to be a little more careful about what we say. THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK! :)

Make a Complaint Monday- What's WEIGHING on MY Mind....

I thought and thought about what I could complain about today......the weather, nah everyone is doing that right now, and rightfully so.......my weight gain, nah everyone is complaining about that right now too.......the economy, nah (do I have to say it).......THEN I thought, 'Nat, you really do want to complain about your weight gain, but do it in a different way.....'

So..........my complaint today, is actually those who think they are the shiz JUST because they are skinny or in shape.......MORESO those that JUDGE others SOLELY based on their weight. Does being heavier make you a bad person? Does eating a candy bar or drinking a soda once in a while make you worthy of the gossip that begins as soon as the delicious treats hit your mouth?

You may think, 'It's only fat people that think this way', and I am bigger, but when I was a lot smaller than I am now, I felt the same way. In short, don't judge those that may be struggling with their weight or with more than you'll ever know.

Remember: Feel free to leave a complaint of your own or comment on mine! It is 'Make a Complaint Monday!'

'Make a Complaint Monday'- Fill 'er Up

This is a NEW ADDITION to my Blog. It's Make a Complaint Monday! Feel free to leave a comment about my complaint, or make a complaint of your own.

Let me start out by saying, I apologize to any of you that are or EVER have been waiters or waitresses. Ever since I could remember, I have ADORED eating out. To this day, I could eat out for every meal. The atmosphere, the good food, the people you go with. Ah, nothing beats it.

My FAVORITE thing, however, is the soda. I know, it's my ultimate weakness in life. Dr. Pepper just makes me feel better. It helps me forget that I feel non-productive ALL the time. It also helps with my headaches. Well, REALLY, secretly, I think that it contributes a great deal to my headaches. If I don't have a Dr. Pepper for a few days, the migraines come rollin' in. Stupid caffeine.

ANYHOW, so it is not ANY surprise that the biggest thing I look for is if the waiter/waitress keeps the drinks refilled. Is it not a HUGE pet peeve when you're sitting there enjoying the chit chat, eating awesome food, you go to take a sip of soda and BAM!!! It's gone? UGH! Well, the other day, Dan and I are eating out and the waitress was very, well not with it. We either had to ask for EVERYTHING we needed or she would ask, "Oh, do you want more.....". She would NEVER just bring us another drink. It was a long time in between visits to the table, and THEN she would say, "Oh, do you want another drink?" Hmmmmm............REALLY?

Then today, I went to lunch with two of my friends. Now, it was crazy, I'll give her that, but we were NOT impressed with our Waitress. She was so busy with all of her other tables, but we didn't seem to matter. BLAH.

Well, this is my complaint for this Monday. Again, apologies to any of you that are in the business.