Passive Parenting: It's not a thing!

I apologize in advance for this rant. 

So you take your child to the pool, the park, the playground so that she can have a fun time and play with other kids and make friends. I try to sit back so she can learn social interactions on her own.  And if she is misbehaving then I will intervene and correct her behavior however few and far between it happens. 

So what do I mean by passive parenting? There are few different types of parents that annoy me at these public places. One would be the type of parents who ignore their child completely and let them do whatever the hell they want to even if its destructive. But the one I would like to talk about I call a passive parent. So when their child does something inappropriate they make the attempt to correct the behavior but when the child ignores them they just let them go like they actually did something. No you didn't. If your child is misbehaving correct their behavior. Make them stop whatever it is they are doing that you don't approve of. 

So your child is taking toys from other kids. You tell her to come over to talk to you and when she finally does she's angry because you stopped her from doing what she wanted, so she walks over and kicks you. Then you say hey what are you doing? hey stop taking toys, be nice. And then they walk off angry. You yell after hey did you hear me. She says nothing. Goes back to playing and takes somebody's toy again. And you shake your head and continue to sit there. I'm sorry but come on. That child ignored what you said, kicked you, and they continue their inappropriate behavior. It is okay to embarrass your kids and yourself when you correct their behavior. Even if they kick and scream and shout it doesn't matter. You can't let that behavior continue. Even if you have to leave five minutes after you get there because your kid isn't listening then that is what you have to do. And if you do this a few times they will start to listen to you and behave. 

So do not be a passive parent. Take control of your kids and teach them the behavior that you want them to have. And if they do not, then they will need to have consequences. 

Big Brother: Vanessa & Steve alliance

***************************Live Feed Spoilers************************************

Is this a real alliance between Vanessa and Steve? I caught a bit of the live feeds last night. I came in the middle of a conversation between Vanessa and Steve. I believe their alliance name is Students of Sound. I am hoping beyond hope that this is a real genuine alliance for Vanessa that she plans on being loyal to. They were talking game to each other, and she was asking for help figuring out this whole Austin situation. Apparently Austin had spilled the beans to Jason about the twins and about their alliance. And of course Jason went back and told Vanessa. So now everyone wants Austin out of the house. And Steve was trying to convince her that the right thing to do would be to evict Becky instead. Because Becky is for sure on the other side, whereas Austin would go after that other alliance rather than Vanessa. He brought up the comparison to when Derrick changed his mind about evicting Zack in the previous season because everyone was saying Zack was a snake. But he was on Derrick's side and he was loyal so why vote him out when he will never come after you. It's a sound strategy. Why evict someone who is on your side and leave someone in the house who can win a HoH and will for sure come after your alliance? But can she rebuild that trust with Austin so that if he does win HoH he won't put her up?

The thing that worries me about this alliance is that in the middle of their conversation Jackie comes in and interrupts them. Vanessa hides her real conversation with Steve, which is smart. But when Steve leaves the room she changes her tune completely and is making fun of Steve with Jackie. Just watching this one bit of live feeds has made me so much more on Steve's side. I am now definitely a fan. 

But the questions remains who is she loyal to other than herself?

Big Brother: Sick and Tired of One Side Winning

Big Brother is at its best when there are two sides fighting against each other week after week. And when the power shifts that is when its most exciting. But this season it seems that after the first week, this huge alliance had come together to get rid of Da'Vonne and it left everyone else out. And the rest of the houseguests have yet to come together themselves to realize that they are on the outside.

So you have Clay, Shelli, Austin, & Vanessa. They have brought in Steve, Liz, Audrey, and Becky and Johnny Mack will do whatever they say. Now I know Johnny Mack knows better but he is just trying to get by now so I can respect that. Becky had her HoH taken over by Shelli and has done nothing that I can see in this game. On the other side we have Jackie, Jason, Meg, James. Those four need to come together, steal Becky, John, and Steve from the other side and win some competitions. The problem is those four seem to be playing the same game. They keep expecting the target to be Audrey an when it's not they are surprised and shocked and another number on their side goes home. But since they are not solid enough they don't care. Wise up people!

This alliance between Clay, Shelli, Austin and Vanessa almost reminds me of the brigade from season twelve. They have a core four alliance and then they bring in someone else so that they can control all the votes, and then when they don't need your vote anymore they cut you. However I do believe these four can be broken up at some point. But someone on the other side needs to win.

I really dislike Shelli, Clay, and Vanessa. Austin is up in the air for me, but this past week when he was highlighted more I didn't really care for him. And this Judas thing is a joke. All Judas is a name he drops in the diary room.

Now I think I am officially out on the Battle of the Block. This gets too much cooperation between a large group of people. Is it really a coincidence that in these two season of the battle of the block that we end up with a large alliance. You bring two people together who have to nominate four people to go on the block. And they can't put up their actual target because that gives them a 50/50 chance of saving themselves. So it really doesn't prevent a huge player from being evicted because they will never be given the chance to save themselves. And if they are the person they are with will just throw it. I think after this season they need to retire the Battle of the Block and go back to one HoH.

Now I would like to say good job to Clay/Shelli/Austin/Vanessa for creating this large group of very good competitors and keeping it under wraps. They are playing a good game so I can appreciate them for that.

Big Brother: #Love Johnny Mack

It has been difficult to say the least to find my favorite Big Brother Houseguest this season. My favorite was Da'Vonne, but with her being sent home so early I have had to find a new houseguest to root for. That is the way I watch Big Brother. I must find my favorite and then that is where the fun comes in for me. Watching and rooting for my favorite to go all the way to the end. And luckily most of my favorites have gone far. From Dr. Will, to Jenelle, to Dan, to Brittney, to Derrick, to Elissa, to Rachel, and now since Da'Vonne is gone I have switched my love to Johnny Mack, the dentist from Scranton, Pa. The more I watch this guy the more I love him.

His diary room confessionals are always hilarious even if what he's doing is stupid. He is completely on the bottom of his "alliance" and he knows it, but he also knows whenever somebody who is in power says to do something, the best thing you can do is agree, even if you don't actually do it. But so far it has worked out for him. I am so glad he did not listen to Clay and Shelli when they asked him to not use the PoV. And the fact that they even asked that was ridiculous. I think his plan is potentially to ride in the middle of these alliances and to let them take each other out, and then when it gets closer to the end he can make an alliance to go to the end. Hopefully it works out. I would love to see a guy like John win this game.

So who actually do I like in this game? I like Jason. I liked him better when Da'Vonne was in the house. But we haven't actually seen much of him since then. I would like it very much if Jason and John were to eventually make an alliance but we can't have everything we want. I semi like Meg. But she was so angry about being nominated again. I have a feeling she was trying to play under the radar but that's not gonna work now. So since she's gonna be so angry about getting nominated again and again then she needs to buck up and win a competition. Someone has to save her friends. I want to like Audrey. I need to see more of her though, we're only seeing bits and pieces and what they have shown hasn't been so flattering. So she needs to open up more about her personal life so we can see more than just Audrey the gamer. I thought I was going to love Vanessa, but I don't. Perhaps it's because she's now in a powerful alliance and she is a big part of Da'Vonne going home. I usually tend to root for the underdogs and she is no longer that. Anyone else I didn't mention either has not made much of an impact for me, or I hate (Clay and Shelli).

Stigma of Being a Stay at Home Mom

I have been a stay at home mom the past four years since my daughter was born. It is hard to feel super successful and satisfied with my life when society seems to think less of the women who make the choice to raise their children.

A few weeks back I met this woman at an event of my daughters. While she was in class, the woman chatted my ear off about many things. I am a shy person, so I am happy to listen as others who like to talk do so. I saw her for a few weeks, and then finally when I got a word in edgewise, I happen to mention that I stay home with my daughter and then I never saw this woman again. And I saw her daughter at the classes. This may just be paranoia but it was quite a coincidence.

I am not dumb, or anti-feminist, or lazy, or less than, just because I am a stay at home mom. I chose to be. I decided to leave my job because it was just a job, and it didn't give me enough money to make it worthwhile. I didn't have a career. But even those that do have a career that they are proud of who choose to stay at home with their children are still worthwhile.

I am almost afraid to even say that I stay at home, because you never know what that person's opinion will be. I tend to think more about what others think of me than what I think of myself. That is my failing as a person, but it doesn't make it okay to think down on someone who chooses a life with their children. It doesn't mean that they give up themselves for their children. It doesn't make you a better mother to have a job or not.

I wanted to be there for her, to protect her, to teach her right from wrong, to help learn things, to make her feel loved. I am trying so hard to make her feel everything that I didn't feel when I was a child. All I want is to do right by her. Not to mention she is an amazing kid who is a blast to hang out with.

I'd like to mention my mother. She is someone who was a stay at home mom, she had a job when my sisters and i were older, but for the most part she stayed at home with us. I don't know if she was super happy doing so. I think it was just something that was done then. But when my sister had a child she used to harass my sister about quitting her job. But my sister has a career that she loves. That she has put years of school and work into. For her staying at home is not the right decision. And i respect that. She is a great mom who loves her kids, and has given them the best life she can. But my mom always thought less of her for not quitting her job. But when it came to myself and I quit my job to stay at home, she keeps asking me if I will be getting a job when my daughter goes to school. I don't understand why. But it definitely makes me feel insecure. I only want to do what's right for our family at the right time.

So just let people do what's right for them. And don't put your own opinions on other people. What's right for you doesn't make it right for everyone. Do not think less of someone for doing what's right for their family.

Five Reasons why Da'Vonne should stay in the Big Brother House!

1. I love her.

2. She is a big target and will always be a big target which means that she will never make it to the end, so therefore she is not a threat and can be taken out at any time.

3. She is great in the diary room. She's got alot to say and she doesn't hold back.

4. At the very least, even if you don't trust her, you know she's not lying to you because she tells it like it is. She is very straight forward with her feelings, and that is what has gotten her into trouble. Better to keep the person who you know is an enemy rather than keep someone who will stab you in the back.

5. She is not a floater. Do not let the floaters make it to the jury. If they do, no one will ever vote them out. Which means they are the bigger threat to your game.