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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Mediation....

Mediation will occur within the next two weeks. I'm just waiting for the mediator to get back to me on a date. To be honest I'm surprised they went for early resolution, likely their lawyer advised it.

So now I wonder what would be fair for me to propose as a settlement, I know I want a massive apology but yes I am seeking financial compensation. The whole fiasco further complicated my claim for EI after Movie Gallery closed... I lost out on a full-time salary and tips. Tips that I suspect would have been pretty darn good considering what I made only serving 4-5 customers that one shift.

Also, compensation on the emotional front. I used to think that was a stupid excuse to get money until I was grossly humiliated in front of a restaurant full of people and then again to my face with what was said. The feelings I felt that night were indescribable. I was excited for the new job, happy that I had proved myself, and then..... "we decided to try other people because of your arm" . That was the verbal equivalent of a sucker punch to the face. I have pretty solid self esteem considering the verbal bitchslaps I have taken through the years in regards to my arm, but a comment like that after proving I was *ahem* awesome and capable? Bitchslap 1, self esteem 0.

So, hopefully I can find a lawyer to simply offer some advice to me prior to mediation... Harder than it sounds though, either they do not deal with this sort of thing or nobody is in the office *sigh*



Friday, January 7, 2011

The results of "ignoring" my kids...

FYI those are safety scissors ;)








I sometimes ignore my kids, and it's ok

Yes, you read that right. I'm an AP mommy who also (sometimes) ignores her kids and just lets them play. Scary Mommy posted about this very thing today and after reading it I felt o.k. I felt better than o.k in fact. (See her post here) I felt like I do not have to hide the fact that I do not helicopter over my kids every second of the day. I let them be and they are fine.

When I say ignoring I do not mean I have no idea what they are up to, I always know. When they need me I am still there. They know this therefore they are secure and able to occupy themselves while I do something else.

I tried being the helicopter parent who schedules every damn second of my kids days. It sucked! When my daughter was a newborn I would bundle my kids up and walk 3 blocks to the library once a week for toddler story time. Winter session. -30. I. Despised. It. I did it to appease my mother-in-law who is convinced that I do not do anything worthwhile with my kids. The only person who enjoyed the weekly trek was my baby girl, she was all wrapped up in a Sleepy Wrap under my over-sized winter coat and usually sleeping. My son? Well, I do not think he much cared for it, every week I was chasing my then 2 year old around a tiny room in the library trying to get him to just sit and listen to the story. Sounds like fun eh? I think he (and I) would have preferred our normal story time. It involves him grabbing a book, asking me to read it to him (several times) until he is bored and interested in something else.

My kids have an abundance of art supplies available at all times, they have lego, and cars, and barbies, and most importantly THEY HAVE IMAGINATIONS and freedom, they know they can get paint on the floor or all over themselves and nobody will get mad. I have some me time, I have the ability to clean the kitchen mess I did not make without interruption. I have happy, secure children who can play, really play and still know mommy is there. My kids have learned appropriate social skills such as sharing, and co-operation by simply playing together without interference or a grown up hovering, planning, or dragging them around every waking minute.



Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Can't wait to see the shit fly....

Once this is posted on my fridge....

Household Rules



I cannot keep up with this giant disaster alone, so I am making basic rules for everyone to follow. The biggest problem is the kitchen, if it continues to become a disaster a day after being cleaned I will remove all the dishes and replace them with disposable plates, cutlery, etc.



The Kitchen/Dining Area

  • Always tidy up behind yourself.

    If you're old enough to grab or make your own snack or meal, you're required to put away any dishes used, wipe down the prep area or cooktop, and put all utensils away. If you make it for the kids, teach them how to clean up...

    Scrape the plates into the garbage, then rinse. If the dishwasher is full of dirty dishes turn it on. If it is full of clean dishes, unload it and put them away. Please, do not leave dishes full of food on the counter or in the sink. If you can eat and reach the counter, bus your own plate.

  • Wipe down counters after use.

    Crumby way to live, with food all over countertops. Although, insects don't seem to think so do they?

  • Eat at the table.

    Lets try to reduce the mess elsewhere. This won't be easy for the kids as they are used to wandering around with snacks etc but it will help reduce the overall mess (and prevent the dog from stealing). If the table has crafts etc all over it, clean it off....

  • Empty the trash.

    Self explanatory

  • Recyclables

    Cardboard (including pizza boxes) break down and put into the large box with broken down cardboard already in it by the back door. When full, move it outside until it can be taken to recycling.

    Pop Bottles (and other plastic bottles and cans) remove caps (garbage), rinse and crush. Put in a plastic bag. Move to basement or shed when full.

    Beer bottles can go back in the case, move to shed or basement

    Stop leaving empty hard liquor bottles in the cupboard.

  • Did you eat the last one?

    Then why is the empty box still in the pantry?

  • Make use of the saran wrap, foil, and containers with lids.

    Uncovered food in the fridge dries out quickly and is inedible quite quickly.



Misc Other Rules

  • Put dirty laundry where it belongs

  • Help the kids put toys away

  • Clean up after crafts etc

  • Stop piling everything on a shelf, or a counter, or on top of an already precarious pile

  • If the dog chewed it, throw it out

  • If it is broken beyond repair, throw it out

  • If it resembles garbage, throw it out

  • If it is too small, set it aside, let me know, I'll put it with donations