Concrete barriers? Check.
Webcam? Check.
Psycho in my back seat? Check.
Home invaders? Check.
Boogie man under the bed? Obvs. Check.
I can't believe no one mentioned driving under water in tunnels! I always wonder which opening I'm closer to in case of an emergency - which way is the faster way to dig myself out. I can't relax until I can see the daylight at the end of the tunnel. Now that I have a navigation system, I can always tell how far to the other side I am!

In response to Mommunist Nation's question, What movie(s) can (or do) ...:

Lawn Dogs. It is just so bittersweet and awesome.

In response to The Prima Momma's question, This is a ? for Heather ...:

I love getting comments or email from my readers telling me how something I've written has made them feel better.
I have written a post that I fear sharing, yet at the same time I feel like I'm lying to the world by keeping it quiet.

In response to The Prima Momma's question, How should I deal with ...:

Thanks every one for the great suggestions. I'm lol at the BBQ suggestion - we are transitioning to vegan, so maybe we can grill veggies together or something. (I just found out tonight that my husband let my daughter go over there, and when I went to get her for dinner, she had eaten cereal with cow's milk. I guess I'll add diet restrictions to the list of overly protective parent things I want to talk to her about.)
BTW, they are not newly from Ethiopia. They have lived in the states for years - they just like to mention that they come from there.

My biggest issue isn't with the family - they are lovely. My issue is with their laid back parenting style.

The mom asked me to bring my 2 year old over, and I said I was uncomfortable with all of the un-gated stairs. She said, "Don't worry - they watch him!" "They" being her 5 year old daughters.

So I guess my question is, how do I explain that I am uncomfortable with their parenting style, without insulting them?

There's no nice way to say, "Please stop inviting my kids over to your house, because I don't think you watch them closely enough."

OMG, I sound like such a high maintainence bitch!

In response to The Prima Momma's question, How should I deal with ...:

Natalie- Thanks. I feel like this sounds like such a lame thing to complain about, but it's really causing me a lot of stress.

They live RIGHT NEXT DOOR to us, so there is literally no avoiding them.

They think I'm silly and worry too much. Maybe I do, but that doesn't make their constant invites any less annoying.

I've basically said, "You're nice people, but you don't pay close enough attention to what the kids are doing when they're playing at your house."

They smile and invite the kids over again.

Wha?

In response to The Prima Momma's question, How should I deal with ...:

Thanks for the responses!
The kids are the ones that walk in. I keep the door locked, but I guess sometimes my husband forgets or my daughter may unlock it. I have told the kids not to open my door. It's like they don't even hear me.

They are nice, friendly people. I feel like an ass-hole telling them I'm not comfortable with my kid going over there, and my daughter WANTS to go over there. I just don't like such young kids playing unsupervised.

The mom doesn't like it when I try to come in with my daughter, and she wont come over to my house when her kids come over.
I'm so tired of being the bad guy, telling my daughter she can't go play.

I've told the mom I don't like leaving my kids without an adult present. She answered that she watches them - but she doesn't really. They just run all over the three level house. They're having fun, but what kinds of trouble could they get in to?

In response to The Prima Momma's question, How should I deal with ...:

I don't know them that well. They have 3 kids that come over and invite my daughter over to their house. Of course she wants to go - but there is little to no parental supervision over there.
This is a constant problem.
more info here: http://theprimamomma.com/?p=2593

Please - any advice is appreciated. They are very hard to talk to, because the mother is shy and always runs into her house.
My 4 year old is always asking to go over there.
*pulling my hair out*

Help.

In response to Melodiofme's question, Who has met Heather in person?:

I had the pleasure of meeting The Dooce once. I was a bit of a star struck ruh-tard. She was awesome, and exactly what I expected her to be - only taller. I even managed to capture her accent on video! http://theprimamomma.com/?p=1931
I highly recommend knocking back a few stiff ones with Heather. Uh - drinks, that is. *cough*

In response to The Prima Momma's question, Hey guys - let's all ...:

I'll start: Welcome, Tyrant! Do you have a preference on the sexually harassing nick name we bestow upon you? Because you are many kinds of hot, and we have all taken notice. (The whole gay thing makes you even hotter!)

In response to especiallyjess's question, When you are a guest in ...:

Hey guys - those of you turning over the toilet paper, DON'T! Before kids I was a strict "over" girl, but now, I have to be an "under" girl so the little monsters don't bat at the roll and send the toilet paper flying into a puddle on the floor. (Hey - at least it's 2 ply.)
I only judge if your house in bordering on condemnable by the health department. Otherwise, I just feel better about my own less-than-perfect house. I DO always clean the whole house thoroughly before guests come, and if you sleep over, you will be guaranteed fresh linens to sleep on. OH - That's a big one! I will NOT sleep at your house if you expect me to sleep in used sheets. My mother in law just doesn't understand what the big deal is. GROSS.

Marked as great 1 time

All of The Prima Momma's Answers »

In response to ehorn's question, I've been a HUGE fan of ..., dooce said:

@Romo1024, I've become regular. I poop every day, now. How un-dooce-like is that?? I don't know what happened. If I knew the secret, I'd share it!

In response to Figtron's question, Funniest joke you have ..., KellyKel said:

A young family moved into a house next door to a vacant lot. One day, a construction crew came in and began building a house on the empty lot. The family's 5-year-old daughter became interested in all the activity going on next door and spent much of each day observing the workers.

Eventually, the construction crew, all of them gems-in-the-rough, more or less adopted her as a project mascot. They chatted with her, let her sit with them while they took coffee and lunch breaks, and gave her little jobs to do here and there to make her feel important. At the end of the first week, the men presented her with a pay envelope which contained $2.00. The little girl took this home to her mother, who said all the appropriate words of admiration, and suggested that they take the money she received to the bank to start a savings account.

When they talked to the bank teller, the teller was equally impressed and asked the little girl how she had earned her very own pay check at such a young age. The child proudly replied, "I worked last week with the crew building the house next door to us."

"My goodness gracious," said the teller, "and will you be working on the house again this week, too?"

The little girl replied, "I will if those assholes at Home Depot ever deliver the fuckin' sheet rock..."

In response to Lolo.'s question, What is the best ..., Taratory said:

I love documentaries. I could leave a list, but I'd rather just encourage everyone who reads this to see:

THE COVE.
http://www.thecovemovie.com/

If you've ever marveled at the beauty and intelligence of dolphins, you simply must see it. This movie will inspire you to action to stop the dolphin slaughter.

In response to Ms.Peacock's question, I was wondering how many ..., mommaruthsays said:

I think that you have to make it work ever day, no matter if you feel you "settled" or "struck gold" with your partner. Marriages are hard and they take work - real, hard, back-breaking work from both sides. You shouldn't look at it as settling; you should look at it as growing and changing, but always for the better and always together.

All of The Prima Momma's Favorite Answers »

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This is a ? for Heather and anyone else that has shared a personal detail (ie having PPD) on their blog. Did you worry about backlash, or someone trying to take your kids away?

How should I deal with intrusive neighbors? They come over unannounced and just walk in if the door isn't locked. (more)

Hey guys - let's all welcome Tyrant McHotpants to the community. (yes, I know, he's been around a few months now - but we finally OFFICIALLY met him today.)

Do you have a fun, quirky or bizarre ritual or thing you do with a sibling or close friend? How did it originate? (more)

This is a question for Jon. Forgive me in advance if this is offensive. I know so little about these things that I don't even know if it's considered flattering or rude. (more inside)

I just adopted a baby hedgehog (a hoglet) and in honor of Dooce's love of them, I thought I'd ask you guys for name suggestions. It's a little girl. (more inside)

I just watched Hachiko: A Dog's Story. It's based on a true story of a dog that waits for his deceased owner to come home on the train for 9 years. (I challenge you to not cry the entire second half.)Do you have any amazing animal stories to share?

Inspired by camillaro 's question about your favorite word: What is your favorite (or least favorite) phrase. Something cheeky? Maybe something your grandma always says?

I swim almost every day. Can anyone recommend a great shampoo or conditioner that will help my hair survive the constant chlorine?

Would you rather live in a community with your "financial peers" or live in a very elite neighborhood, that is still within your financial comfort zone, but you would be the "poor family" in the neighborhood?

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