single parenting with Amber Jones

Yesterday there was a terrible accident in which a three-year-old little girl named Kennedy somehow got out of her seatbelt while traveling down the highway. Just like many moms, her mom tried to buckle her seatbelt while continuing down the road. Unfortunately she veered to far while reaching over to get the seatbelt buckled and while correcting her mistake — ended up rolling the vehicle. The little girl died.

This story really struck me because I have a little girl named Kennedy who is also three-years-old. Although my daughter is very good about staying buckled in her seat — I can relate to the actions of the mother. I can also only imagine the sorrow that her mother is feeling at this moment.

Action Plan: Give your kids a hug, smile and a kiss — be grateful yours is still with you. And if this happens to you in the future — find a safe place to pull the car over so that you can get your tot back into their seat where they belong.

Having watched every Dora episode ever made I come to the news of Dora becoming a tween bittersweet.  It is sweet because I am happy to finally have some new episodes to watch with my daughter — bitter because I wish television land would leave something alone so that kids can perform the natural progression of life. 

In looking at my house I cannot imagine that there would be any other trinkets of Dora left to buy ……..which I suppose is the purpose for the change — a whole new set of items geared toward the “tweens” to buy………parents get out your charge cards!

Today was such a beautiful day outside — we went to the park and then went for a walk around the neighborhood.  It is days like today that I wish I had a job where I could take the summer off.  Wouldn’t that be awesome?!? 

There are so many different activities you can do with your kids during the summer that just are not available to working moms — there are so many times when I think about all of the things that I’m missing with my daughter while I’m working.  Unfortunately, I do not foresee that changing anytime soon.  Therefore, I guess I just have to buy a lottery ticket and keep my fingers crossedJ

Seriously though, for those of you who are lucky enough to be able to stay home full time or to have a job with the summer months off or even part time — don’t ever forget how lucky you are — those of us working are envious 5-7 days a weekJ

More information was released yesterday on the Caylee Anthony murder case for which her mother, Casey Anthony has been charged.  From what has been released they are stating that the garbage bags, duct tape, as well as the laundry bag found with little Caylee Anthony’s skeletal remains all link to similar items within the Anthony home.  All pointing back to Casey Anthony being the killer.

 However, the confusing item for me was the document regarding the duct tape — was there a fingerprint on the duct tape or not? In one are it appeared as though they had checked a fingerprint and it didn’t match George, Cindy or Lee Anthony but it doesn’t list Casey Anthony?  However, on another part of the form it appears as though they are stating that there wasn’t a fingerprint on the duct tape?  So, is there a fingerprint or isn’t there?  If so, then does it match Casey’s fingerprints?

If Casey did kill her daughter I wish she would end the additional agony for her family (as well as those of us following the case) and just confess to the crime!!

As a mother myself, I can not imagine the grief that I would undergo if my three-year-old daughter was murdered.  So what does grief stricken Casey Anthony do — not even ask to watch the public memorial held for her daughter, Caylee.  My question to her is this…..is your schedule so busy behind bars that you didn’t have time to participate in your own daughters funeral?!? 

Then at the memorial Casey’s brother Lee spoke of a C.M.A. - rather than using the name Casey or Caylee so no one but Casey would know who he was speaking to…..this whole family situation is beginning to look a little creepy!

Okay so I have to admit that I have had a very stressful and emotional week this week as you could probably tell from my last blog.  On top of everything else, my toddler got the flu last night.  I immediately felt like saying, “Okay God….Seriously?!?” 

But I have to say that after spending a day snuggling with my tot watching Dora, putting together puzzles, and reading books….even though I do not wish for my daughter to be ill ….it was exactly what I needed.  I got to take a breather from the stress of work, the stress of dealing with my ex, and the stress of running the daily marathon of life. 

It is amazing how many good things come from what initially appears to be a negative downward spiral of life.  I think about all of those people who have recently lost their job that might go back to school and develop skills for a much better career than they would have ever dreamed of.  I think about my girlfriend who just separated from her husband and how she might learn things about herself she might not have ever found while she was still with him.  Maybe they will get back together and have a much better marriage because of it … or maybe she will find someone new — someone better.  The possibilities of life are endless if you just put your thoughts in the right direction. 

Being the child of a celebrity obviously has it’s upswing — I mean let’s face it your parents are famous which typically means that they do not lack for money.  In addition, they probably make sure that you get the best education, clothing and shelter money can buy. 

But while watching the inauguration the other day it left me wondering…..but what price do the children of celebrities pay for their rewards.  I mean, it has to be stressful on both the parents and the kids when everyone is watching you ALL OF THE TIME.  Every little thing that your child does is going be noticed, good or bad.  All kids act up at different times — it is part of being a kid.  But for those kids who are put into the spotlight they don’t get to act like kids…..they are miniature adults. 

So it makes me wonder are ordinary kids better off even though they don’t have the “best that money can buy”?  Or are children of celebrities still better off because of what their parents can provide them? 

 Picture this - after working all day, coming home making supper, picking up after the kids, doing a load of laundry, and watching the news I finally collapse into bed.  After a few hours of sleep in comes an intruder into my bed…… my beautiful blue-eyed baby girl…who I might add doesn’t seem so beautiful to me at 2:00 AM.  Without the energy to pick her up and take her back to her own bed she ends up sleeping in my bed the rest of the night.  Unfortunately what I just described to you seems to be the norm in our house.  Which I guess is fine if I never want to have a male companion in my room at 2 AM - since I do I have decided it probably isn’t the best habit to keep. 

Therefore, in my infinite wisdom I decided that I would put together a calendar and give her a sticker for every night she slept in her room throughout the night.  To increase the stakes I also told her that once the calendar was filled we would take a family night out to Chucky Cheese. She was so excited! 

The first night went great - she slept in her bed the entire night.  In the morning I gave her a hug and kiss and immediately let her pick a sticker for the calendar. (By the way I even bought Dora and Mickey Mouse stickers for her to use.)  The second night…..failure…. she came in to my room just like usual.  Not to let that slow me down I told her, “Its okay - new things take time.  You’ll do it tonight though, right?”  And she immediately looks up at me and says, “No, I decided I don’t want to go to Chucky Cheese.”

Any suggestions?L

 Unless you have been living under a rock during the past 6 months you had to have heard about the Caylee Anthony homicide and the fact that her mother, Casey Anthony, has been charged for her murder.  I don’t want to get into her alleged innocence or guilt during this post (although in my opinion it looks like the evidence all leads to her). What I would like to talk about is this whole notion that supposedly mothers are using chloroform to put their babies to sleep so they can go out and party?!?  Seriously, prior to this case I had never heard of this in my life.  Am I just completely out of it or is the media making this sound way more common that what it truly is? 

My youngest is one month younger than Caylee and I cannot fathom putting a rag over her mouth with poison, putting her in the trunk of a car and then walking into a bar to have a good time.  I realize that Casey is much younger than me, however, when my older daughter was that age Casey and I were the same age…..and I didn’t drug her either.  So, what is really going on out there?  Are young single moms really doing this to their kids? I would love to hear your thoughts…. 

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!  I hope all of your Christmas dreams came true.  My kids were very happy with their presents, as was I. Unfortunately I must not have been good enough this year to get all of my presents though as I was definitely missing one item — that would be the one listed as “anything that remotely resembles Brad Pitt”.  Yes, Santa definitely overlooked that one.  But all in all everyone was very blessed this year. 

My youngest, Kennedy, is completely wired up with sugar tonight and is currently battling going to bed.  We were at grandma’s house all day today so she didn’t have to eat dinner and got to have as many sugar cookies and soda as her little heart desired. 

Why is it that as soon as you become a grandmother all of the parenting nightmares you faced when the kids came home from your parents house are suddenly forgotten?  Or are they?  Maybe that is part of the joy of being a grandparent is that you can provide your children with the repeated nightmares you experienced when you were raising them.  Hmmm…..it just might be that my parents are sitting at home in their living room laughing out loud right now at what I’m going through.

With that, please let me know how your Christmas went and what you will be looking forward to in 2009.

Amber