Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch

Sweetheart. Honey.  Sunshine. Angel. Darling. Baby.

I'm willing to bet that all of us have pet names like these for our loved ones - especially our kids.  I was thinking about this recently when I went to pick up Anna from day care. As you know from the title of the blog, Anna has long been "the Pie" or "Annapie" to her family and to many of our friends as well.

She's also had many other names, including "Sweet Pea," "Burrito," "Peapod," and my personal favorite, the combo, "Anna Peapod Pie." These all arose when she was new and tiny and always wrapped up in something warm.

Peapod & Mama Heidi

Anyway, many of Anna's classmates call her "Anna Banana," and I think her teachers sometimes do too. When I came into the classroom one day last week, I said something like, "Where's my Pie?"  Before Anna answered me, a cute little boy quickly informed me that "she's not a pie, she's Anna!" Of course, I laughed.

Photo of the Week: Photographer in Training

Hello again! It's the start of another work week, and I am just so excited about that. *Sarcastic tone*

So while I try hard to gear up for both work and, of course, fun on MLWP, here's our Photo of the Week, which was taken by Anna at her friend's birthday party. I think she has potential!

Serious "cheeeeese"!

Have a great Monday!

Under the Microscope

I've noted before that, as is obvious, our kids are always watching us. They may go to school or day care during the day, but we are their first and primary teachers. When they react to events, the way they view the world, their methods of coping with things are all going to be our reactions and views and methods, at least at first.

So we have to be on our best behavior. And it's not always easy.

I found this article by Janet Lansbury, who teaches parenting classes, about the importance of teaching our kids by example - of raising them with social intelligence. It's a great piece and I would love for you to check it out and tell me what you think about it.  Have you done the things she suggests?  If not, what do you do instead? If so, what has or hasn't worked for you?

We're Not Just Your Punching Bag

It's that time again: another presidential campaign season is upon us. And, as is typical for these things, the candidates vying for their party's nomination to run will pull out all the stops to convince voters and party leadership that they've got what it takes....no matter who they have to hurt or offend in the process. And no matter how elastic the truth has to be.

Why am I writing about this on my parenting blog, you may ask?  Because, of course, the ultra-conservative candidates fighting to be the Republican nominee are once again trotting out their favorite proverbial punching bag: gay rights in America. Particularly gay marriage and gay parenting.

And I already loved Kenneth Cole for his awesome clothes and accessories.

It's Still Happening....

Well folks, I'm not pleased to present another heartbreaking story of gay teen suicide. But I want to keep this issue in the forefront of people's minds, so here it is.  I've written about this before. I've said all I know to say.

It's heartbreaking.

What's worse is that the article references several other recent suicides due to bullying at school or even at home. Is this ever going to stop?  How can we protect our kids?

Four words:  What will it take?

Philip Parker. He was 14 when he died. (Photo from metroweekly.com)