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Comment by Susan Katz Miller on October 12, 2010 at 5:59am

Latest post...remembering my big, fat interfaith wedding. Onbeingboth.com.

Comment by Kelley Harrell on October 11, 2010 at 11:06am

Essentials for Peaceful Living with Newborn Multiples...

~Kelley ~ Soul Intent Arts ~ Intentional Insights

Comment by Amy Dryansky on October 10, 2010 at 11:46am

Greetings MW's! I unfortunately don't have a giveaway (tho it's a great idea) but if you're looking to read about the what's going on with Pokey Mama, the economy, poetry and the Jabberwock--take a look at my latest post

Comment by Rebecca Rasmussen on October 10, 2010 at 11:19am

I can't wait to see who wins! xoxox

Comment by E Victoria Flynn on October 10, 2010 at 9:04am

Hi Mamas,

I just wanted to mention that I'm hosting my first giveaway on my blog since I've migrated to WordPress while also trying to meet a goal for my Facebook fan page. I'd be so grateful if you could stop by and show your support.

Thank you in advance,

Victoria

Comment by Christa Mastrangelo on October 9, 2010 at 4:49pm

Mom's--visualize your perfect writing day and then make it happen. What a concept--we control our writing destiny. Read Joan Dempsey's interview of Leo Babuata on this very idea at www.literaryliving.com

Comment by Christa Mastrangelo on October 9, 2010 at 4:47pm

Just finished reading and posting to Michelle's Five Things Friday post--love it!

Comment by Michelle McGee on October 8, 2010 at 9:30am

My latest post for Five Things Friday - Things about kid's parties that make me mad - http://www.shewrites.com/profiles/blogs/five-things-friday-things

Comment by Debbie Pokornik on October 8, 2010 at 9:29am

Yay! My book Break Free of Parenting Pressures; Embrace Your Natural Guidance has been named among the best in family-friendly media, products and services by Mom's Choice Awards.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks so :)

Comment by Michelle McGee on October 7, 2010 at 8:28pm

My latest post: Happy Meal or Crappy Meal?

Why is it that something as simple as eating at McDonald’s can cause me so much stress? I wonder if other families are cursing that flame-headed, floppy-footed clown, Ronald, who promises to fill our kid's tummies with yummy
artery-clogging goodies and make every meal a mini birthday by offering a crappy plastic toy. Whose idea was it anyway to bestow cheap plastic tokens upon our kids for doing something as necessary as eating? “Here, honey, let
me give you bad food and applaud you for agreeing to eat greasy spud sticks and tastes-like-chicken McNuggets.”

I swore I would not feed my kids this empty guilt food and yet at least once a week I find myself buddying up to the static-spitting speaker asking for some of Ronald’s happiness in a box. I try to make myself feel better by patting myself on the back for not choosing to eat at Krispy Chic or some other grease-laden food hut. Ronald must love our kids because he uses trans fat-free oil to sizzle the vitamins out of the potatoes. He must love our kids because he chooses to offer healthy alternatives like apple sticks with sugar pots of caramel for dipping.

On my next visit I decide to sneak in the apple sticks instead of the fries and am immediately verbally abused by my four year ols as he hurtles apple swords at me. So I did what any caring mother would do - I went back to the drive-thru and ordered a small fry for my son. I didn’t even attempt this clever trick with my oldest because he is a product of the health un-conscious, present-less Ronald of not so long ago - the Ronald I grew up with who could have cared less about how happy I was.

As we pull out with our bags of bliss each boy greedily reaches in to retrieve their Golden Arch award for eating – the ever-coveted Happy Meal toy. And the “happiness” begins to spread through the van like a virus. Jacob, the oldest, lets out a cry of disgust as he unveils his toy – a Barbie pinked up from head to toe.

“WHY DID THEY GIVE ME A GIRL’S TOY? I NEED TO GO BACK NOW!”

I explain that I am not going through the drive-thru a third time and suggest that maybe he could give the toy to his younger brother who seems fascinated by the doll’s splendor. “No way, it’s MY toy. He’s got his own!” I remind Jacob that just moments ago he was extremely upset about the doll. He grins and says, “I think I’ll set her on fire!” Nice. Somehow I don’t think Ronald envisioned infernos in his happy place.

Now Nicholas is upset because his toy car doesn’t DO anything. “What does this thing do? Where's the button?” I take the car praying silently that it makes some sort of noise or otherwise cool action so that Nicholas will find some value in it. Nothing. I give it back and smile as I point out that the car has some pretty awesome racing stripes on it. Once again I am convinced that I have an invisible bulls-eye on my forehead as the metal car sails through the air towards my face. Ronald, where, oh where, is the happy?

Again Jacob yells, “I ordered a PLAIN cheeseburger this one has pickles and onions on it!” He passes the burger to me as I try desperately to scrape off the offending food. Then he informs me that he will absolutely not eat it no matter what. “Fine,” I tell him, “but that’s all you’re getting.” He mumbles under his breath something about how unfair I am and I mumble under my breath something about what Ronald can do with his not-so-Happy Meals.

There’s a lesson in here somewhere about how inconvenient convenience is. Or maybe it’s about clowns and how you can’t really trust them. All I know is that the old saying is true - happiness comes from within because it sure as hell doesn’t come from a box with a toy in it.

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