The Wifely Duty

Well, chapter two is proving to be just as enlightening as chapter one.

This chapter is dealing with our "duty" to provide sexual antics for our husbands. The author quotes statistics that prove less married couples have sex now than 30 years ago before the "sexual revolution" which she believes has made us not more sexual just more exhausted from the empowerment that working and providing equally with men! She compared our lives of running to those of June Cleaver and Lucy.....

A therapist that Caitlin spoke with said that she told women in her counseling group to make it a point to initiate sex with their husbands instead of waiting for him or succumbing to the desire to sleep. All of the women reported that they were much happier in their marriage and felt better.

I was only able to read half of the chapter due to life and interruptions so I'll let you know tomorrow what else she says. Should be rather comically as I can remember a little of the hippie days when love was "free" and women were fighting for the right to go out into the world and work along with being at home and working too!!!

To Hell With All That

Well, I've started a new book called "To Hell With All That, Loving and Loathing Our Inner Housewife" by Caitlin Flanagan. I admit the title caught my eye but the price swayed me into buying it....$3 at Big Lots on sale for $2. I figured if it's really bad I'm only out a couple of bucks. Anyway the first chapter is title Virgin Bride. Caitlin is not opposed to marriage or womens rights but she is thinking that with our new found freedoms as women, we are starting to relish the past more such as the white wedding. Her writing is comical in that she proposes that it's rather absurd that brides now are looking for the perfect wedding with the white dress which would indicate a pure woman when in fact we have gone through a sexual revolution where it is pretty much unheard of to be a virgin. Have you watched "Say Yes to the Dress"? What is up with a $5000 dress. Crap, whats up with a dress over $500! Mine cost less than that and worked just great. We've been married 25 years so either he REALLY liked the dress or he wasn't lying when he said he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. She makes fun of the bride who spends half a years salary on a five hour party and points out that weddings, like Christmas and every other holiday, have become commercialized and big business! What she says is relevant in that my daughter is of marrying age and I have one going in that direction. Luckily both have said they want beach weddings. I was one who had a big wedding but not one who relishes the thought of planning one for my daughters. Call me a bad mother but get real, I'm watching two of my friends going through it now and it ain't pretty from my vantage point. Anyway, I'm anxious to continue my reading. The table of contents at least promises more comic relief!

Speaking of weddings, the two I referred to earlier. One is an only child whose parents have been looking forward to this day for many years. The wedding will be a beautiful one with nothing held back. The reception is at the parents home which was built in the 1800's and has been restored with a beautiful yard which will be decked out. The other is from a divorced family, nothing wrong with that but mom really can't afford an expensive wedding. This one will be smaller than the first but no less pricey as the bride wants it all. Again, I'm a bad mother but I hope I have the guts to put my foot down at some point.

Another thought, why do we watch a show about four brides rating each others wedding! It's the bride and grooms special day so who cares what other people think. If a bride wants to serve pizza at her wedding (they didn't give her a good rating for that) then she should be able to! What we do to please others!

Well, gotta go satisfy my inner housewife and warm up leftovers!

It's all about me.

Well, last I spoke about my past I believe I left you wondering why you should read this. I left off with my first year of marriage antics....well, not all of them but that is a private matter!

After three years of marriage we were blessed with our first daughter. Ashley seemed so normal but at six months we found out that she had a hole in her heart an inch in diameter and at nine months she had open heart surgery and went from 15 lbs to 18 lbs within a month!

Life was good for the three of us. Scott worked in Hot Springs so every Sat Ashley and I would load up and go over to see him. We would take off on our adventure and we found the most interesting places! There were a few times she was worried we would get lost so I bought a map. It seemed to make her feel better when I "looked" at the map! So gullible!

More at another time!

2nd Graders Can Wear You OUT!!

Well, I spent the day with a class of second graders touring the university campus and doing activities. We started with a college student demonstrating how to incorporate music into the classroom so we were singing, dancing and playing instruments. From there we went to the quad, a grassy area to hunt multicolored eggs, make a graph with them and discuss how animals protect themselves by through camo, then to visit Rowandan students, lunch, campus tour and finally to the aviation building and the flight simulators. It was a great day but I'm wiped out!! I remember doing this last year but I'm a year older now!

For those of you wondering, I know you've been sitting on pins and needles, my daughter and the boyfriend are together so life is all spiffy and happy now.

I just got a text from my 16 year old who is driving her sister's used honda which is in great shape but her text had a picture of a yellow mustang....."notice the sign in the window". Yeah, it's for sale! Like I'm buying that!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Kids in Crisis!

Well, I found out this weekend that my oldest daughter and her boyfriend have broken up after 2 1/2 years. This is going to be very hard for her as she was so in love with not only him but his son. She has yet to tell me anything which worries me. I hate when they don't talk. I don't need the details just that she is alright. She has assured me that she is fine but I haven't seen her with my own two eyes so I'm not convinced. You moms understand that frustration.

My 16 year old is mobile and I never see her anymore. I actually miss her but do enjoy my quiet times. Scott is pulling a 24 hour shift on the ambulance so it's me, two cats and a dog at home this afternoon.

As I sit here in my den, I am watching the sun slowly set over the treetops without the barrier of a yellow/green cloud of pollen between us. Sounds relaxing and is until I also notice that the slant of the sun's rays highlight the yellow/green tint on my tables!! So much for enjoying a sunset.

Good Thing I Still Like My Husband!

I have always heard you have to like your husband as much as you love him. I understand that now that our 16 year old is gone all the time. I was worried we wouldn't have anything to talk about but he has truly become more active. I never thought he would take walks with me, jump in the car and go for a ride, or just goof around but age makes you more accessible. We aren't as worried about "looks" or what others think but are using our home time to enjoy each other more. We have spent more time together in the last two years than we have in the previous 23 years. I'm really loving it!

What's wrong with a little honesty?

Well here I sit trying to keep the dog from chewing on me. I have fallen in love with her but really, we are so close to the empty nest and now we have a puppy for the next 15 years!

My question to myself today is when did it become a bad thing to be honest with your children? I remember growing up and not everyone made the team, if you weren't cut out for something you were told to find a new hobby, and you didn't get a trophy for coming in last place. I don't have a problem with encouraging a person realistic dreams but when you know that they won't succeed, don't you think it's better just to tell them? Maybe it's my age but I'm getting to the point where I don't feel the need to spare feelings as much. I'm going to be a cantankerous old woman someday, probably sooner than later!!