Dara's Blog

I had planned to write this post on Memorial Day, or at least the day after but it took me two days to recover from our trip to the zoo. Let me tell you, if you want to get a weeks worth of exercise in one day, visit the N.C. Zoo! At the entrance we were handed brochure guides and the first thing i noticed -- 5 MILES of walking trails! Whew! glad I had my sneakers on...yes I saw a woman wearing heels, now what was she thinking?!! I hadn't visited the zoo in a looooong time. I was never really fond of it as a kid, the memories etched in my mind were of the caged animals, stinking smells, the heat, and being daggone tired from so much walking. Well...this time it was stinking, hot, and exhausting. So not too much different. BUT despite how much it seems I'm complaining, I actually had a good time. I think being with the kids and seeing how much fun they were having, made the trip so much more enjoyable for me. My niece (to the right, rear) was not satisfied until she saw Simba (the lions), Timon (the meerkats), and Pumba (a warthog...we had to settle for the Red River Hogs). My cousin's son came prepared wearing his Curious George shirt :) . My favorite exhibits:

I just watched a video about a father who caught his son smoking pot and resorted to an embarrassing punishment to prevent his son from doing it again.  He made the boy stand on the side of the road donning a sign that read, "I like to smoke weed and get caught with it."

Is this the type of punishment you would employ to discipline your child?  Do you think this will work?  Will the son really not smoke weed again, or will he try harder next time to not get caught?

Watch the video:  http://www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?con
tentId=6651940

FOX8 Meteorologists are predicting stormy weather for tomorrow.  Incidentally that's Mother's Day, and although this may sound strange, the storms seem fitting.  Let me explain:

This is my second Mother's Day.  I barely slipped in last year, as my daughter was just a wee little thing.  So for the past year and change, I've endured my share of storms.  According to my mother, and every other mom I speak with, I have yet to witness the really difficult stuff. 

I feel that the love I have for my mother grows stronger with each passing day.  I realize she surely weathered many a storm raising 7 children, and for many years as a single parent after my parents divorced.  The thought is unimaginable that what I'm going through with my toddler she did 7 times over! 

Mommyhood is such a beautiful experience, but the toughest job I've ever had!  On this Mother's Day, I will take the time to make sure my mom knows she is very much loved and appreciated.  I feel so grateful to have a mom who exhibited the wisdom and compassion needed to raise loving and intelligent children.  Because of her, my siblings and I are disciplined, determined, compassionate, intelligent, and myriad other attributes that we owe in part to our upbringing.

Happy Mother's Day mom!
Thanks for all that you gave and continue to give that has allowed me to be a great mom to my own child.