R Rated Movies for Tweens-- No WAY!

Some Moms are waaaaaaay off course when planning birthday parties for tweens. Remember the one I wrote about who was taking ten year olds for the day on the town in a LIMO! This is not the only unusual call I have received and,............ I have personally dealt with my own girl being invited to some bizarre events. One Mom wanted to allow 12 year olds a hotel room (with Mom next door) for a semi-supervised slumber party. Why don't people just do this in their own home and REALLY supervise the kids. Is this yet another case of a "Marshmallow" parent afraid to say NO to the tween who wants something that is unrealistic and unsafe for a 12 year old. Moms I beg you "Get a Backbone and do What is Right for your YOUNG girls !!!! "

Another party my daughter was invited to at age 10 involved a movie night & slumber party with a fellow girl scout of an intelligent Mom. I however was always the guardian of the "R" rated movies form my kids ( they fought with me but I was relentless NO WAY !! and I would retreat to my room) So I just casually asked what movies they would be watching? I was informed by the well spoken mother of 3 girls that they had "Something About Mary" ( This movie begins with a hysterical "cum" in the hair scene), "The Exorcist" ( full of foul language and an implied self fornication scene), and "Dirty Dancing" (several sex scenes and an abortion story line). These are not for 10 year-olds NO WAY NO HOW. I laughed until I almost peed my pants the first time I saw "Something About Mary" and "Dirty Dancing" is my favorite movie of ALL TIME..................................."Nobody puts Baby in the corner"............................ That's when I fell in love with Patrick Swaaze ( he's in my prayers now)

So I told her my girl was not allowed to see R movies and she wondered what movies I would allow. I went to the local blockbuster and picked up some great flicks in the "G" section - so simple ............I just don't get some people ????? What do you think - am I too old fashioned? And don't tell me 10 year olds don't understand what's in those movies. They talk among themselves and often understand it all too incorrectly, which is even worse!

Baby Frankensteins !

I read a lot of articles about parenting. Summaries of the results of research studies ( no one wants to read a whole research study or,........... no one can read a research study without falling asleep), trends reported by leading therapists, problems in the school systems, and Moms requesting help in parenting forums. I plan to discuss them - but I am not going to quote all the resources and footnote the info. Just trust me I'm not making this stuff up. There's no need to - real life is full of kid and parent problems. AND a lot of the solutions are just plain-COMMON SENSE !!!

Shrinks are reporting a new type of childhood behavior problem they are calling "Frankenkinders" Kinder- age 4-5 , combined with Franken as in Frankenstein / monster.
Little monsters or BRATS as I like to call them - an old fashioned term I guess. The latest new contributing factor causing this brat 00ps,...............I mean frankenkinder behavior is overloading young children with technology toys and decreasing the amount of actual human contact they experience. Have you seen any? In restaurants they have gameboys and dvd players entertaining them so Mom and Dad can ignore them and have a drink and chat.

Have you seen the commercial ( I cringe every time) where the two boys are in the new minivan watching a movie and playing hand held video games. The father arrives and sticks his head in and delightfully informs them that "the tree house is finished !!" The two boys ask if it has a dvd player or video game system and of course he sayes "No" and they shut the van door in his face and say "NO thanks we'll stay in here"
.......................I hate it !!

So SAD to chose electronics over a "tree house" full of make believe play and fresh air ! I lived in trees growing up and so did my kids. It was our own little world/ fort - we loved it.

Parents are using the electronic entertainment to babysit the kids and the kids are becoming dependant on it and demanding more and more of it. A sad ( my favorite word today) word used to describe these kids is "emotionally neglected' because of the huge decrease in interaction between them and their parents. "EMOTIONALLY NEGLECTED" ---THIS IS HORRIBLE. This is a term often used when a child is abandoned and has no parent --now it's happening in homes where the parents are PRESENT !

Technology is FANTASTIC don't get me wrong - but it has to be a small part of you life - not the majority of your life. Leave the electronic games at home - there are tons of games to play while waiting for the waitress to bring the food ie ; hangman (on the back of the paper place mat ), drawing and coloring (bring supplies with you), "I spy something red( blue, black, etc............)can you guess what it is?", sneaking salt into Dads tea, give the toddler a lemon to suck on ( might want to bring the video camera) , whose paper airplane (made from place mats) can travel the furthest, how many trips to the bathroom before Mom looses her cool -and my sons FAVORITE - Guess how many pieces of gum are stuck under the table? --------------- you get the idea -Have fun and make family memories. Tell me what games do you play while waitng for the food?

Help, My Daughter is Pregnant !

HELP! My teenager has run away from home!,................help, my teen has been suspended from school!,.............................help, my daughter has been arrested,.........................help my daughter is pregnant! These are very common problems you will find if you visit forums for parents of teenagers. These problems are tough to deal with and very heartbreaking for mothers. I have experienced a few of these situations and cried ..........a lot. What is the answer???.............. It's usually counseling for the family, tough love parenting, prayers and family support. These answers do not have immediate results and there are months and sometimes years before the teenager matures and gets their life back on track.

What I have to offer in this blog IMO (in MY Opinion) is a prevention plan. This plan must be started in the tween years (ages 7 to12). You must bond with your tween through a common interest. All the hours you spend with your tween doing fun things together is critical talking and teaching time. You are teaching by being a great role model, by discussing teen problems and how to prevent them, by developing their self esteem, and by Listening, Listening, Listening to their feelings and ideas and helping them to understand how to navigate the crazy world they must live in.

Our culture is not helping to raise girls with values and self respect. Our pop culture quite frankly is poisonous to our young women. As moms we must teach our girls to ignore the pop culture garbage messages and teach them to be strong and successful as individuals and not followers.

Silly "Rattle" Snake and Laboring to Smile

Here's my latest video and this item is fun for kids from 3 to whatever. I did a teen party once and they had a ball, although a few snakes had 3 eyes and other space alien type appendages, but clever and lots of laughs at the party!!

Supplies:
fleece or jersey material 1 yd by 5"
two-2" or 3 " pom-poms
lg google eyes
felt scrape (tongue)
small plastic egg
dry rice
tiny stretchy hair ties
Boa about 6"

My favorite weapon - Glue Gun & glue sticks






I know I need to be more animated and smile more --I"M TRYING -Do you realize how "over the top" you have to act to have it come across on camera as just friendly and happy ..................like Richard Simmons or Tom Cruise on a yellow couch. Actually they must be acting like total lunatics in person to come across as just overly boisterous on film.

This reminds me of a photo of me, taken when I was in labor ( against my will I might add- probably one of the underlying reason I divorced that jerk) Any way I was at the midpoint,......miserable ..........no epidural yet,...........and here comes a camera in my face, so I go " wait a minute, let me prepare so it's not to awful looking"............where upon I cranked up the biggest smile I could muster..CLICK..FLASH....UGH-CONTRACTION. When the film was developed ( yes I had my child the middle ages) I looked like I was about to cry and forcing my lips to slightly curl up -- it was pitiful! Only now after hearing the next generations stories of long labors and misery, can I look at that picture and laugh about how I thought I was making a happy face!!
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The Magic of the Tween Years

What is a "Tween"???
A girl in between . She's between a child of 7 and a teen of 13. She 's in a state of - I'm not a little kid any more AND I want to be a teenager - starting to make my mark in the world. I don't need my Mom to hover over me any more AND I can to do it myself. I don't need so many rules AND I know what I'm doing. Leave me alone AND I can do it myself! Mom your so stupid AND It's My Life!!.........................................Dangerous little creatures......and often quite fresh and even nasty at times.
They suddenly think they don't need guidance and yet they still need volumes of it.
This is where Moms had better get their wands out and Magic Act in top form.
"You............ must.............. deposit.............. worldly knowledge.................... into the brain of your child................................... without her even suspecting that the transaction is taking place."
How can this be done you ask??................................................................

Veeeerrrrrrry carefully. You must take little pieces of worldly knowledge and dress them in costumes and disguise them as fun experiences that your tween will jump at the chance to participate in and......................LEARN FROM UNSUSPECTINGLY.

Most can be disguised easily like sports, music & science programs,art, drama, chorus, service clubs, karate, dance, church youth groups, girl scouts, etc. They learn while they play (sneaky huh?) Others such as chores and homework never appear as fun experiences to the tween, no matter how you dress them up. Luckily, tweens can be motivated. They want money and a social life. So use these rewards to get the chores and homework done. Form a plan & Stick to it. This is way harder than ages 0-6, but if you are diligent through the tween years the next age period 13-18 will be less bumpy. "Bumpy"....................such a cute word to describe teenagers ....................I just don't want to scare you! LOL

Party Hardy People !

IT'S TIME TO PARRRRRR............TY!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT'S TIME TO PAAAAAR..................TY !!!!!!!!!!!!

OH YEAH ...................................OH YEAH...............................
I'm joining in to the most fun event happening anywhere on the web and it's ONLY for WOMEN!!! Women who blog or just like to read blogs. What makes a great party ??
FOOD AND LAUGHTER RIGHT ! Well I can't serve up food but I can serve up some laughs
Are you ready. I know this video is a blatant ad for my doll craft kits but ignore that (or not) and just keep your eye on the doll on the far right she's a little, how should I put it ................................................................... PSYCHO............................................
and ABSOLUTELY CRAZY

FIRST, go to my music player on the far right and down, down, down and "pause" the sound or it will play during the video,.............very annoying..........so do that first and come back.






Please do not go to Candee Crafts and try to order Bi-Polar Betsy. It's a joke people!! I've had four people try to find her and then send me an email wondering why they can't find her in the list of available craft kits..



HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD LAUGH THERE'S PLENTY MORE HERE --Browse around

Cafe Mom - "Gotta Check It Out!"

Cafe Mom is the largest and most active site for Moms on the web today. Free to join and lots to do there. I'm all over the "Raising Girls" group trying to give good advice to young moms and get them to visit this blog. I'm increasingly surprised by the number of Moms who think hitting really young children is an effective way to correct them. Thankfully lots of oldie moms like me are suggesting better methods. Even in the teen group people suggest a whipping or belting might fix the kid. Strange but TRUE ! Anyway its a great site for group discussion of a million different topics and I recommend you go for a visit.
Ruby Red Slipper Update - They traveled to about 23 homes, were once put on someones roof and once tied in someones tree - too too funny. Any way they were put to rest recently, taken apart and left in the recycle bin {:::( sniff- sniff. " No Disassemble No Disassemble !!" Remember that movie robot Johnny 5 . I loved that movie with Ally Sheedy and that guy, I can't remember his name but I just realized he's going to be on the next "Dancing With The Stars"..............................Oh Yeah Steve Guttenberg. "Short Circuit" was the movie if you haven't seen it ....................DO, it's adorable and funny.
Gotta go I'm making new videos decorating flip-flops (sandals), straw purses and flower pots . Great Fun for Moms and their tweens !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Walking Art ???????????

Here's the art that seems to be ALIVE !!!!!!!

A Limo - Give Me A Break !!!

If you've been on my website "Candee Crafts", you know I teach a doll craft at birthday parties and girl scout programs. I love it! Anyway I got a call the other day from a Mom who's DD (Darling Daughter) was turning 10 years old and she was planning a party for her and about 15 friends. I proceeded to describe the craft and she thought it would be great but.............."where could we do it?" she asked. "Why at your home" I replied, and proceeded to tell her how I brought table covers and an extra table if they needed yada yada.........."Oh but I promised my DD that she could have a limo come and take her and the guests somewhere for the party! They are going to have pedicures at a spa and then lunch and I wanted the craft activity to be out somewhere".
I (dumbfounded) hesitated for a several seconds (which I rarely do - I usually talk tooo much.)and I gave her some suggestions for locations(church hall, parks, YMCA etc.) None met with her approval.
I won't miss that group. How would they handle glue on their "freshly painted nails!!!"
A LIMO FOR 10 YEAR-OLDS --I THINK THAT IS RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!
What do you think??????