Monday, July 27, 2009

The Hostess With The Mostest

I don't know how anyone else gets ready to host Bunko; but the only way I can do it is by feeding my children copious amounts of the fun food they see me preparing for guests, and then neglecting to give the poor dears a real dinner (because I wouldn't have time to clean it up). So, yes, my children will be sitting down late this afternoon to a fine snack of peach cobbler a la mode, accompanied by a side of potato chips and dip, followed by a dessert course consisting of peanut M&M's and mini Snickers bars. Then (because Larry will be out working) the kiddies will be relegated to the basement for the evening to watch TV while I entertain my guests.

Not quite child abuse, but I think I'm walking a fine line here...

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So much to say, so little time...but if you need to engage in typical American handwringing over issues that shouldn't be issues at all, go on over to the NY Times parenting blog Motherlode and read about the angst over birth order. I swear, if I worried about all the things that the folks over at Motherlode say I should worry about, I'd be a neurotic mess.

I do think whoever writes that blog (and its readers) need a good dose of Idle Parenting, don't you?

18 comments:

  1. There have been days when your Bunko menu has landed on our breakfast table. Not all on the same day, mind you. But still. I only have one child! And I don't entertain guests. Soon (13 days, yes I'm counting) I won't be worrying about the child abuse anymore, though. If she can't fend for herself yet, I haven't done my job. (That really sounds a lot worse than it is, but it IS Monday...)

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  2. I took the quiz and it said I'm an only child, too. Far from it - I have three siblings!

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  3. Sounds like the perfect "Mom is busy leave me alone dinner" to me! Been there and done that!

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  4. I'm pulling out leftovers for the third night in a row. I'm sure the Motherlode people would have me jailed.

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  5. "Whoever writes that blog" -- that would be ME -- did write all about Idle Parenting. You can read about it here: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/the-end-of-over-parenting/

    Take care
    Lisa Belkin

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  6. The quiz pegged me as an only child too. Of course that isn't quite true. I loved the Idle Parent Manifesto, but, as lovely as it sounds I am pretty sure that leaving my children alone would not lead to them leaving me alone, but rather to an UNhappy mess. Just a hunch though.

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  7. Sounds like my dinners over the past few days. My own, not my kid's. I hear he's eating quite well at home with Mr. Hot.

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  8. If they are old enough to open the fridge and help themselves to leftovers, make a sandwich or pour a bowl of cereal, that means less food prep work for you. Of course, if the younger kids help themselves, it means more clean up after the meal for the big kids or mommy.

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  9. Their quiz had me as an only child. I'm the fourth of six kids.

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  10. Where did you find that idle parenting article?! I love it more than anything ever before in the existence of the whole entire world...

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  11. Child abuse?! Sweets for dinner + television = happy kids.

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  12. Heard an article on the radio on the way home yesterday that relates- I think this guy is one of your fans :) He's written a book on the need to rescue children from over-scheduling.
    http://www.nhpr.org/node/26199

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  13. Funny, they had me as an only child, too. I am the "spoiled" baby of four with a step brother my age and a step sister younger. Ha. I guess, by the Grace of God, I did manage to get over the "center of the universe" problem that some babies develop.
    Blessings, E

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  14. Love the dinner schedule! we have had pie foir dinner here. nothing but cream pie! the kids loved it!

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  15. This falls under "choose your battles". If your kids are usually healthy and don't eat like that EVERY night (is every other night ok?), who cares?

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  16. I will have to waste some time on that quiz... As for the borderline "child abuse" I disagree, it is super smart. Streamline the food prep, keep them occupied and contained in the safest way possible and everyone has fun! As long as it's not every night, it will just add up to a good memory.

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  17. AnonymousJuly 29, 2009

    I laugh because I think the same thing about Brain, Child. Mop your dang floor and play Bunko, leave birth order, gender identity and the rest of the philosophic grad-school navel-gazing alone! Idle Parenting! Three Cheers!

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