Friday, July 24, 2009

Toddlers & Tiaras & Crappy Mommies

So last night I was watching the season premiere of Toddlers & Tiaras on TLC, the actual premier was Wednesday night in case anyone is interested in watching but I had dvr'd it so i could watch it at my leisure. I am the first to admit, I am a sucker for most reality TV and this is defiantly one of my favs. Watching these pageant moms go above and beyond to have their daughter/son win amazes me. Usually I just laugh or shake my head at the ridiculous amounts of money being spent, amount of makeup or hairspray, or even the spray tans on these tiny bodies but last night I was just in tears.

There was a family on there with 5 little girls, and the two oldest were twins, fraternal twins. Now, both of these little girls were cuties I thought but the Mom goes on to say how the one who looks more like her is prettier, has a better personality, and just out shines the other twin. She goes on to say how the "lesser" twin has a larger nose and is quiet, timid, and basically just not pageant material, like her sister.

The show went on with the girls practicing and she starts with A, the "non favorite" twin and pretty much tells her she is doing everything wrong and then proceeds to say let your sister show you, and then grins ear to ear as B, clearly the favorite, does the routine and you see A slink off into the shadows.

I was thrilled when A won the directors choice award and if I remember correctly won 4th runner up, something her Mom says to the camera she never imagined would happen. Now earlier during the pageant B was behaving so badly the Father who I had hoped when he made his appearance would lavish A with love but was sadly disappointed when he also seemed to gravitate to B, took her out of the rest of the show.

Somehow B still won 3rd runner up but Mom and Dad made it seem like B would not get the trophy etc because she behaved badly and Dad didn't want to reward her. I was grinning from ear to ear with tears in my eyes when A won her two awards but my heart broke for her at the end of the show when she tells her sister how she won and the B tells her I actually won and A argues no you didn't, you were asleep. And very nastily, B says how Mommy told her though that she actually won.

I know it is just a show and I cant do anything about it, but, my heart brakes for A because she is a real little girl out there having to live in her twin sisters shadow. I hope TLC gets a flood of letters and emails that they forward on to that Mother because someone really needs to open her eyes. A real Mother loves all of her kids the same and even if there is that favorite then by God you do everything in your power not to show it.

*Rant Over*

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Happy Belated 4th of July!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Death & Children

Monday morning the kids came rushing into the bedroom where Bryan is staying at his mom and step dad's house. Both kids were going ninety to nothing as usual and Bryan groggily tried to open his eyes. Claire asked why he was so tired and acting so sad and he asked the both of them to crawl into bed with him so he could talk to them about something.

Even though both of the kids had been at the hospital on Sunday, all they knew was Pop (Bryan's dad) was sick, but they did not know that he had passed away. Bryan went on to tell them that Pop had died yesterday and gone to Heaven. Taylor piped up "oh like Uncle Greg?" because he was with me a couple of years ago when my Uncle died and we went to the funeral. Taylor was only 4 so I really didn't know how much he remembered but it seemed to help him understand a little better what was going on.

Claire on the other hand had been in GA at the time with Bryan so she was not familiar with it and honestly, neither of the kids have really had to deal with losing a loved one they are close to. Claire just wanted her Daddy to be happy again, she isn't used to seeing him so down and out so she told him that Pop died yesterday so he didn't have to be sad today.

Bryan explained to her that Pop was his Dad and it was going to take longer than a few days to not be sad anymore. He asked them if they had any questions which Claire responded with a no but Taylor asked, "Why do they put them in those cartons?" Bryan said he couldn't help but laugh and told him that the cartons were actually called coffins or caskets. I am glad that they were able to get him to laugh, just a little.

I know death is a part of life, but I don't feel the need to rush into it if we don't have to. My son is more just curious but my daughter tends to be the dramatic one and I just don't feel she is ready to see a dead body, especially a person she saw alive just 3 days ago. I was happy to hear that Bryan had decided not to take the kids to the wake, only the funeral where the casket will be closed. He too remembered as a child having to go to wakes and what a horrible and scary time it was to a child. For now, I think the dead fish or pet turtle is enough for them.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Another Sad Post ~ R I P FIL

Tomorrow is my honey's birthday, tomorrow is also his Dad's wake. Bryan and the kids are in GA visiting with Bryan's family and they all enjoyed a fun time at the lake with Bryan's dad and siblings. Bryan's dad is a workaholic, so, like normal he woke up early Sunday morning this past weekend to leave the lake house and head into town to his office. Miraculously, Bryan heard his dad's voice saying goodbye to his step mom out on the driveway so he hopped up because he wanted to say goodbye. Claire happened to already be awake as well so she followed her Dad downstairs.

His dad was already in the car so Bryan and Claire, in their pajamas, ran to the car and thanked Bryan's dad for a wonderful weekend and told him how much they loved him. Bryan's dad told them he appreciated their gratitude, that he loved them too, and told Bryan he wanted to take him out to dinner one night that week for his birthday. Bryan said that would be great.

Just a few hours later they received a call telling the family that Bryan's dad had had a stroke and he was being rushed to the E.R. The whole family, all 7 brothers and sisters, Bryan's step mom, and all of the grand kids hurried to the hospital. They were told after arriving that they we rent going to bring him back this time.

Bryan called his Mom to come and get Claire and Taylor, after they left Bryan went into the hospital room with all of the others and they all gathered around and said their goodbyes. The nurse took him off of the life support and they all bowed their heads, tears streaming down their faces as they waited for their dad/husband to take his last breath.

My heart is with you Bryan and I love you so much and wish I could take this hurt away.

*I did offer to come up there but Bryan adamantly said he wanted me to stay with the house and the dogs ~ but it kills me every time he calls and I hear the hurt in his voice.*