Need to vent! OT-kinda long!

[Guest guest]

Hi guys. A lot of you don't know me too well since I am pretty quiet these days. My son underwent helmet treatment six months ago, but I have stuck around because every now and then I find I have some good advice to offer somebody. Anyway, I need to vent about my dear mom and dear grandpa, and since DH is working tonight, I can't vent to him (lucky him), so it's you guys!

Okay, here's the deal: is 18 months and has an OBSESSION, to say the least, with cars, trucks, tractors, anything that has a steering wheel and moves. He would rather watch a three-hour NASCAR race than any kid show. He will watch a race from start to finish. Needless to say, Sundays I get a real long break. Anyway, likes to "drive" daddy's truck and mommy's car when given the opportunity, meaning, steer the wheel like a maniac even if the engine is off while repeating, "Vroom, vroom." Somehow , in being completely 100 percent more observant than we ever thought a toddler could be, has figured out which key in ANY key ring presented to him is the ignition key. It started with daddy's truck. One day DH was holding while was doing his driving routine. gave him the keys just for fun. Low and behold, takes the big Dodge key and proceeds to reach around the steering wheel with the key and tries his hardest to place it in the ignition. Well, he didn't do it, and still can't do it to this day, although he tries every time. One of these days I'm sure he'll succeed. Well, DH and I just were amazed about it and we like to show everybody what can do. So a week ago, we were at my mom's family reunion which is a three hour drive into 110 degree heat. My grandpa was there and he drives an SUV of some sort. was fascinated of course. He wanted to drive. So my grandpa's car door was wide open and I lifted up into the driver's seat. Well, the keys were on the seat and I didn't see them. did and he reached for them, grabbed the right key and tried to put it in the ignition. I called for my grandpa to come look, and he took a picture, but then told me how dangerous it is for me to let climb up into other people's cars, because "He might think it's okay to open the door and get into anybody's car," and "You hear about these kids who start cars and drive away," and blah blah blah. I didn't think too much of it because I'm pretty used to getting second-guessed by my elders, and I let it go.

But tonight I'm kind of upset because my mom just returned from an extended stay with my grandpa and she told me that my grandpa said, and she just HAD to agree, that he was scared about and how fascinated he is with cars. I said, "Honestly mom, I haven't met one kid 's age who isn't a little fascinated with the steering wheel." And she said that he might think it's okay to just get in someone's car and he might accidentally start the car. I said, "Mom, you know, the difference is that I watch my kid. I don't let him run amuck and then see him driving down the road." If I let him "drive," it is in a controlled environment. He's not going to start the car if I'm there. And she was like, "Well, I can't really blame him because I've been scared about it too."

Am I reading too much into this? I feel like it's a slap in the face. I mean, I never hear what I'm doing positively for . If I even dare tell my mom that I just gave a bath, I get the whole speech, "Now, you know never to leave him in the bath by himself, right?" And when I say, "Yes. and I never leave him, not even to answer the phone," she says, "Oh, I know you wouldn't." I told her tonight I bought a kiddy pool and filled it up. I hear: "Oh, be careful and don't let him around it when you're not there." I mean, I know I'm only 24 but I do have a brain in my head and plenty commonsense. I know these are valid concerns and awful things that happen to babies, like drowning in a bathtub or pool, but my mom knows I watch like a hawk. And my grandpa doesn't have one positive thing to say about how is turning out, and can't just say that something is cute or that is smart to know which key goes where, but pretty much is grasping at straws to create a situation that, in my mind, doesn't have a good chance of happening unless I'm not doing my job. Now, I can understand if I were in the house flapping my jaws and was outside by himself getting into cars, but, hello, I'm the one who lifted him in there. He couldn't climb into that SUV, and I was standing right there. And then of course, I'm the one who takes the criticism for some reason, the one who is married, 24, has a college education, a good job, but my grandpa doesn't have one thing to say about my 18 year old cousin who has two children, one 2, one 8 months, no education past 8th grade, scumbag boyfriend, and whose daughter is IN CONTROL, and she won't discipline her because she thinks it's cute. AAAAAHHH! I'm sorry everybody. I'm just sick and tired of criticism. And it's not just my mom and grandpa. I get lectured for not having in three layers of clothes every time the darn sun ducks behind a cloud from my grandma. I go to pick him up from their house after work and the heater is up to friggin 90 degrees and he's asleep under two blankets, sweating. When he had croup, she argued with me that there was just NO way that those doctors could be right about taking him outside at night to breathe the night air to clear up the croup. No, better to sit inside and let your heater breed the germs.

Allrighty, feel better now. SO SORRY ANYONE WHO MADE IT THIS FAR!!! IF YOU HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR, THANKS FOR LISTENING!!!

Kellie, mom of , 18 months

Olympia, WA

[Guest guest]

Kellie,

I can SOOOOOO relate! My MIL sounds exactly like your mother and

grandfather.

I told my MIL yesterday that loved bananas and I got a 30

minute lecture on the dangers of bananas and how they are a choking

hazard.

The last time I visited her, everytime cried, she would snatch

him from me because NOBODY else could make him stop crying.

I could go on and on....

We are visiting them again in 2 weeks and is now VERY active.

I figure she will be chasing him around with her hand on the back of

his pants (in case he falls...).

This is a woman who worried for 12 mo that her 1st grandson would

not walk because he had a birthmark on his back. I'm certain that

she blames me for 's head shape AND I'm sure she is concerned

that will be delayed somehow.... is 11.5 mo now and not

walking yet, although is pulling himself up and cruising

everywhere. Every phone conversation starts with " is he walking

yet?? " She probably blames me for that too!

Fortunately, she lives 3000 km away. Oh and by the way, she is a

hypocondriac but that's another story...

I chalk it up to her personality. Fortunately, my husband has no

problems telling her to knock it off!

She really is very kind woman.... She just worries about

everything. I'll have lots of stories to tell in a few weeks....

Hang in there....

Dana

> Hi guys. A lot of you don't know me too well since I am pretty

quiet these

> days. My son underwent helmet treatment six months ago, but

I have

> stuck around because every now and then I find I have some good

advice to

> offer somebody. Anyway, I need to vent about my dear mom and dear

grandpa,

> and since DH is working tonight, I can't vent to him (lucky him),

so it's you

> guys!

>

> Okay, here's the deal: is 18 months and has an OBSESSION,

to say the

> least, with cars, trucks, tractors, anything that has a steering

wheel and

> moves. He would rather watch a three-hour NASCAR race than any

kid show. He

> will watch a race from start to finish. Needless to say, Sundays

I get a

> real long break. Anyway, likes to " drive " daddy's truck and

mommy's

> car when given the opportunity, meaning, steer the wheel like a

maniac even

> if the engine is off while repeating, " Vroom, vroom. " Somehow

, in

> being completely 100 percent more observant than we ever thought a

toddler

> could be, has figured out which key in ANY key ring presented to

him is the

> ignition key. It started with daddy's truck. One day DH was

holding

> while was doing his driving routine. gave him the

keys just for

> fun. Low and behold, takes the big Dodge key and proceeds

to reach

> around the steering wheel with the key and tries his hardest to

place it in

> the ignition. Well, he didn't do it, and still can't do it to

this day,

> although he tries every time. One of these days I'm sure he'll

succeed.

> Well, DH and I just were amazed about it and we like to show

everybody what

> can do. So a week ago, we were at my mom's family reunion

which is a

> three hour drive into 110 degree heat. My grandpa was there and

he drives an

> SUV of some sort. was fascinated of course. He wanted to

drive. So

> my grandpa's car door was wide open and I lifted up into the

driver's

> seat. Well, the keys were on the seat and I didn't see them.

did and

> he reached for them, grabbed the right key and tried to put it in

the

> ignition. I called for my grandpa to come look, and he took a

picture, but

> then told me how dangerous it is for me to let climb up into

other

> people's cars, because " He might think it's okay to open the door

and get

> into anybody's car, " and " You hear about these kids who start cars

and drive

> away, " and blah blah blah. I didn't think too much of it because

I'm pretty

> used to getting second-guessed by my elders, and I let it go.

>

> But tonight I'm kind of upset because my mom just returned from an

extended

> stay with my grandpa and she told me that my grandpa said, and she

just HAD

> to agree, that he was scared about and how fascinated he is

with cars.

> I said, " Honestly mom, I haven't met one kid 's age who isn't

a little

> fascinated with the steering wheel. " And she said that he might

think it's

> okay to just get in someone's car and he might accidentally start

the car. I

> said, " Mom, you know, the difference is that I watch my kid. I

don't let him

> run amuck and then see him driving down the road. " If I let

him " drive, " it

> is in a controlled environment. He's not going to start the car

if I'm

> there. And she was like, " Well, I can't really blame him because

I've been

> scared about it too. "

>

> Am I reading too much into this? I feel like it's a slap in the

face. I

> mean, I never hear what I'm doing positively for . If I even

dare tell

> my mom that I just gave a bath, I get the whole

speech, " Now, you know

> never to leave him in the bath by himself, right? " And when I

say, " Yes.

> and I never leave him, not even to answer the phone, " she

says, " Oh, I know

> you wouldn't. " I told her tonight I bought a kiddy pool and

filled it

> up. I hear: " Oh, be careful and don't let him around it when

you're not

> there. " I mean, I know I'm only 24 but I do have a brain in my

head and

> plenty commonsense. I know these are valid concerns and awful

things that

> happen to babies, like drowning in a bathtub or pool, but my mom

knows I

> watch like a hawk. And my grandpa doesn't have one positive

thing to

> say about how is turning out, and can't just say that

something is cute

> or that is smart to know which key goes where, but pretty

much is

> grasping at straws to create a situation that, in my mind, doesn't

have a

> good chance of happening unless I'm not doing my job. Now, I can

understand

> if I were in the house flapping my jaws and was outside by

himself

> getting into cars, but, hello, I'm the one who lifted him in

there. He

> couldn't climb into that SUV, and I was standing right there. And

then of

> course, I'm the one who takes the criticism for some reason, the

one who is

> married, 24, has a college education, a good job, but my grandpa

doesn't have

> one thing to say about my 18 year old cousin who has two children,

one 2, one

> 8 months, no education past 8th grade, scumbag boyfriend, and

whose daughter

> is IN CONTROL, and she won't discipline her because she thinks

it's cute.

> AAAAAHHH! I'm sorry everybody. I'm just sick and tired of

criticism. And

> it's not just my mom and grandpa. I get lectured for not having

in

> three layers of clothes every time the darn sun ducks behind a

cloud from my

> grandma. I go to pick him up from their house after work and the

heater is

> up to friggin 90 degrees and he's asleep under two blankets,

sweating. When

> he had croup, she argued with me that there was just NO way that

those

> doctors could be right about taking him outside at night to

breathe the night

> air to clear up the croup. No, better to sit inside and let your

heater

> breed the germs.

>

> Allrighty, feel better now. SO SORRY ANYONE WHO MADE IT THIS

FAR!!! IF YOU

> HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR, THANKS FOR LISTENING!!!

>

> Kellie, mom of , 18 months

> Olympia, WA

[Guest guest]

Kellie,

Yikes - sounds like Grandpa and Mom need to hold their tongue every

once-in-awhile if they have nothing but criticism. That is a real shame. My

MIL used to try and tell us what to do ALL the time. Finally, we told her

that we would appreciate it if she would enjoy being the GRANDMA and leave

the parenting to us. She didn't like hearing that, but she did back off.

I know how frustrated you must be - I'm sorry to hear that your mom and

Grandpa can't trust your judgement a little bit more and loosen up and

apreciate having a wondeful grandson like .

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

Thank you everyone who responded to my little problem. You all know so very well what to say to make me feel better. Thanks so much!'

Kellie

[Guest guest]

Kellie:

What a crappy day! I hope typing out the email to us all has helped,

I tell you, whenever I am seriously stressed like that, typing out

my " therapeutical email " helps me a ton! sure sounds like a

MAN already! What a cutie.

Hang in there, aren't families " fun " ??.

Debbie Abby's mom DOCGrad

MI

> Hi guys. A lot of you don't know me too well since I am pretty

quiet these

> days. My son underwent helmet treatment six months ago, but

I have

> stuck around because every now and then I find I have some good

advice to

> offer somebody. Anyway, I need to vent about my dear mom and dear

grandpa,

> and since DH is working tonight, I can't vent to him (lucky him),

so it's you

> guys!

>

> Okay, here's the deal: is 18 months and has an OBSESSION, to

say the

> least, with cars, trucks, tractors, anything that has a steering

wheel and

> moves. He would rather watch a three-hour NASCAR race than any kid

show. He

> will watch a race from start to finish. Needless to say, Sundays I

get a

> real long break. Anyway, likes to " drive " daddy's truck and

mommy's

> car when given the opportunity, meaning, steer the wheel like a

maniac even

> if the engine is off while repeating, " Vroom, vroom. " Somehow

, in

> being completely 100 percent more observant than we ever thought a

toddler

> could be, has figured out which key in ANY key ring presented to

him is the

> ignition key. It started with daddy's truck. One day DH was

holding

> while was doing his driving routine. gave him the

keys just for

> fun. Low and behold, takes the big Dodge key and proceeds to

reach

> around the steering wheel with the key and tries his hardest to

place it in

> the ignition. Well, he didn't do it, and still can't do it to this

day,

> although he tries every time. One of these days I'm sure he'll

succeed.

> Well, DH and I just were amazed about it and we like to show

everybody what

> can do. So a week ago, we were at my mom's family reunion

which is a

> three hour drive into 110 degree heat. My grandpa was there and he

drives an

> SUV of some sort. was fascinated of course. He wanted to

drive. So

> my grandpa's car door was wide open and I lifted up into the

driver's

> seat. Well, the keys were on the seat and I didn't see them.

did and

> he reached for them, grabbed the right key and tried to put it in

the

> ignition. I called for my grandpa to come look, and he took a

picture, but

> then told me how dangerous it is for me to let climb up into

other

> people's cars, because " He might think it's okay to open the door

and get

> into anybody's car, " and " You hear about these kids who start cars

and drive

> away, " and blah blah blah. I didn't think too much of it because

I'm pretty

> used to getting second-guessed by my elders, and I let it go.

>

> But tonight I'm kind of upset because my mom just returned from an

extended

> stay with my grandpa and she told me that my grandpa said, and she

just HAD

> to agree, that he was scared about and how fascinated he is

with cars.

> I said, " Honestly mom, I haven't met one kid 's age who isn't

a little

> fascinated with the steering wheel. " And she said that he might

think it's

> okay to just get in someone's car and he might accidentally start

the car. I

> said, " Mom, you know, the difference is that I watch my kid. I

don't let him

> run amuck and then see him driving down the road. " If I let

him " drive, " it

> is in a controlled environment. He's not going to start the car if

I'm

> there. And she was like, " Well, I can't really blame him because

I've been

> scared about it too. "

>

> Am I reading too much into this? I feel like it's a slap in the

face. I

> mean, I never hear what I'm doing positively for . If I even

dare tell

> my mom that I just gave a bath, I get the whole speech, " Now,

you know

> never to leave him in the bath by himself, right? " And when I

say, " Yes.

> and I never leave him, not even to answer the phone, " she

says, " Oh, I know

> you wouldn't. " I told her tonight I bought a kiddy pool and

filled it

> up. I hear: " Oh, be careful and don't let him around it when

you're not

> there. " I mean, I know I'm only 24 but I do have a brain in my

head and

> plenty commonsense. I know these are valid concerns and awful

things that

> happen to babies, like drowning in a bathtub or pool, but my mom

knows I

> watch like a hawk. And my grandpa doesn't have one positive

thing to

> say about how is turning out, and can't just say that

something is cute

> or that is smart to know which key goes where, but pretty

much is

> grasping at straws to create a situation that, in my mind, doesn't

have a

> good chance of happening unless I'm not doing my job. Now, I can

understand

> if I were in the house flapping my jaws and was outside by

himself

> getting into cars, but, hello, I'm the one who lifted him in

there. He

> couldn't climb into that SUV, and I was standing right there. And

then of

> course, I'm the one who takes the criticism for some reason, the

one who is

> married, 24, has a college education, a good job, but my grandpa

doesn't have

> one thing to say about my 18 year old cousin who has two children,

one 2, one

> 8 months, no education past 8th grade, scumbag boyfriend, and whose

daughter

> is IN CONTROL, and she won't discipline her because she thinks it's

cute.

> AAAAAHHH! I'm sorry everybody. I'm just sick and tired of

criticism. And

> it's not just my mom and grandpa. I get lectured for not having

in

> three layers of clothes every time the darn sun ducks behind a

cloud from my

> grandma. I go to pick him up from their house after work and the

heater is

> up to friggin 90 degrees and he's asleep under two blankets,

sweating. When

> he had croup, she argued with me that there was just NO way that

those

> doctors could be right about taking him outside at night to breathe

the night

> air to clear up the croup. No, better to sit inside and let your

heater

> breed the germs.

>

> Allrighty, feel better now. SO SORRY ANYONE WHO MADE IT THIS

FAR!!! IF YOU

> HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR, THANKS FOR LISTENING!!!

>

> Kellie, mom of , 18 months

> Olympia, WA

[Guest guest]

Hey Kellie,

Hang in there. My mom is super-critical of me too, and it drives me nuts!!! It's like she's trying to make up for her inadequacies through me. I never complain about how she raised me and my brothers - I think she did a great job. But she tends to hold me to these unreachable standards without recognizing the little things. You are doing a great job with - just look at his head!!! Keep up the good work.

Gail, Sam and Sara's mom, DOC grads

[Guest guest]

Kellie,

I can't believe how smart is!!! That just blows my mind that

he knows which one is the right key!

I know its easier said than done, but try not to get your mom and

grandpa get to you. YOU know that you are doing a good job, and

does too, and that's all that matters! Both my mom and MIL

used to comment on everything! I swear it got to a point where I

don't think I was even breathing to their liking! My MIL to this day

calls me the Dragon Lady because I wouldn't put butter in my oldest's

baby food! That was 6 years ago, give me a break already!! And I

think the only reason why my mom has been cutting me a lot of slack

is because I have more kids than her!! (plus it helps that my

youngest brother is a total goof, so my older brother and I look

*real good in comparison!)

Kellie, on of these days you'll have to ask them if they have

*anything* nice to say. Maybe they need to be given a jolt to see

how their behavior is bringing you down. Personally, I think you are

doing a wonderful job! I'll never forget all the running around you

had to do to get some answers regarding 's DOCband on base. You

didn't give up on 's headshape even after your hubby became a

civilian, you kept pushing and got him in his helmet, I think a lot

of people would have accepted defeat. Hang in ther sweetie, and vent

to us any old time!!

Niki

Kaylie & Danny (STAR grads)

Phila., PA

> Hi guys. A lot of you don't know me too well since I am pretty

quiet these

> days. My son underwent helmet treatment six months ago, but

I have

> stuck around because every now and then I find I have some good

advice to

> offer somebody. Anyway, I need to vent about my dear mom and dear

grandpa,

> and since DH is working tonight, I can't vent to him (lucky him),

so it's you

> guys!

>

> Okay, here's the deal: is 18 months and has an OBSESSION, to

say the

> least, with cars, trucks, tractors, anything that has a steering

wheel and

> moves. He would rather watch a three-hour NASCAR race than any kid

show. He

> will watch a race from start to finish. Needless to say, Sundays I

get a

> real long break. Anyway, likes to " drive " daddy's truck and

mommy's

> car when given the opportunity, meaning, steer the wheel like a

maniac even

> if the engine is off while repeating, " Vroom, vroom. " Somehow

, in

> being completely 100 percent more observant than we ever thought a

toddler

> could be, has figured out which key in ANY key ring presented to

him is the

> ignition key. It started with daddy's truck. One day DH was

holding

> while was doing his driving routine. gave him the

keys just for

> fun. Low and behold, takes the big Dodge key and proceeds to

reach

> around the steering wheel with the key and tries his hardest to

place it in

> the ignition. Well, he didn't do it, and still can't do it to this

day,

> although he tries every time. One of these days I'm sure he'll

succeed.

> Well, DH and I just were amazed about it and we like to show

everybody what

> can do. So a week ago, we were at my mom's family reunion

which is a

> three hour drive into 110 degree heat. My grandpa was there and he

drives an

> SUV of some sort. was fascinated of course. He wanted to

drive. So

> my grandpa's car door was wide open and I lifted up into the

driver's

> seat. Well, the keys were on the seat and I didn't see them.

did and

> he reached for them, grabbed the right key and tried to put it in

the

> ignition. I called for my grandpa to come look, and he took a

picture, but

> then told me how dangerous it is for me to let climb up into

other

> people's cars, because " He might think it's okay to open the door

and get

> into anybody's car, " and " You hear about these kids who start cars

and drive

> away, " and blah blah blah. I didn't think too much of it because

I'm pretty

> used to getting second-guessed by my elders, and I let it go.

>

> But tonight I'm kind of upset because my mom just returned from an

extended

> stay with my grandpa and she told me that my grandpa said, and she

just HAD

> to agree, that he was scared about and how fascinated he is

with cars.

> I said, " Honestly mom, I haven't met one kid 's age who isn't

a little

> fascinated with the steering wheel. " And she said that he might

think it's

> okay to just get in someone's car and he might accidentally start

the car. I

> said, " Mom, you know, the difference is that I watch my kid. I

don't let him

> run amuck and then see him driving down the road. " If I let

him " drive, " it

> is in a controlled environment. He's not going to start the car if

I'm

> there. And she was like, " Well, I can't really blame him because

I've been

> scared about it too. "

>

> Am I reading too much into this? I feel like it's a slap in the

face. I

> mean, I never hear what I'm doing positively for . If I even

dare tell

> my mom that I just gave a bath, I get the whole speech, " Now,

you know

> never to leave him in the bath by himself, right? " And when I

say, " Yes.

> and I never leave him, not even to answer the phone, " she

says, " Oh, I know

> you wouldn't. " I told her tonight I bought a kiddy pool and

filled it

> up. I hear: " Oh, be careful and don't let him around it when

you're not

> there. " I mean, I know I'm only 24 but I do have a brain in my

head and

> plenty commonsense. I know these are valid concerns and awful

things that

> happen to babies, like drowning in a bathtub or pool, but my mom

knows I

> watch like a hawk. And my grandpa doesn't have one positive

thing to

> say about how is turning out, and can't just say that

something is cute

> or that is smart to know which key goes where, but pretty

much is

> grasping at straws to create a situation that, in my mind, doesn't

have a

> good chance of happening unless I'm not doing my job. Now, I can

understand

> if I were in the house flapping my jaws and was outside by

himself

> getting into cars, but, hello, I'm the one who lifted him in

there. He

> couldn't climb into that SUV, and I was standing right there. And

then of

> course, I'm the one who takes the criticism for some reason, the

one who is

> married, 24, has a college education, a good job, but my grandpa

doesn't have

> one thing to say about my 18 year old cousin who has two children,

one 2, one

> 8 months, no education past 8th grade, scumbag boyfriend, and whose

daughter

> is IN CONTROL, and she won't discipline her because she thinks it's

cute.

> AAAAAHHH! I'm sorry everybody. I'm just sick and tired of

criticism. And

> it's not just my mom and grandpa. I get lectured for not having

in

> three layers of clothes every time the darn sun ducks behind a

cloud from my

> grandma. I go to pick him up from their house after work and the

heater is

> up to friggin 90 degrees and he's asleep under two blankets,

sweating. When

> he had croup, she argued with me that there was just NO way that

those

> doctors could be right about taking him outside at night to breathe

the night

> air to clear up the croup. No, better to sit inside and let your

heater

> breed the germs.

>

> Allrighty, feel better now. SO SORRY ANYONE WHO MADE IT THIS

FAR!!! IF YOU

> HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR, THANKS FOR LISTENING!!!

>

> Kellie, mom of , 18 months

> Olympia, WA

[Guest guest]

Hi Kellie

I read your post with great interest. Don't worry honey we all get it from

our parents and grandparents. They just forget that we are grown-ups now

they still see us has little children. My inlaws refer to myself and my

husband as " the children " , which drives me nuts as i am 30 and DH is 31!!!

I am the same i completley understand the need to vent!! I either call my

younger sister to vent or my DH!! I am sure you proberly felt loads better

after typing it all and getting it off your chest.!!

My pet peev is my mother in law going on about my eldest son Marcus's

speech, he will be four in september. She wants him to speak to her on the

phone and have a conversation with her. (we moved from the UK to Canada)

5000 miles is bliss!!lol!!

Obviously Marcus want to play and not talk on the phone. Most of Marcus's

words are clear but some only i know what he saying. I have no worries but

it gets me riled when she mentions it.

Anyway hope you are feeling better and at 24 you sure know lots more than

alot of teenage moms. I don't want to offend any young moms but i have a

certain relative who got pregnant at 15 and is expecting again at 17 and she

does not have a clue, and her own mom and dad live hundreds of mile away

from her.!!

Take care kellie

Kerry - Marcus (3) Dylan in second DOCband (17months)

Calgary,AB

>From: Kelliesmith@...

>Reply-Plagiocephaly

>plagiocephaly

>Subject: Need to vent! OT-kinda long!

>Date: Sun, 21 Jul 2002 02:00:14 EDT

>

>Hi guys. A lot of you don't know me too well since I am pretty quiet these

>days. My son underwent helmet treatment six months ago, but I have

>stuck around because every now and then I find I have some good advice to

>offer somebody. Anyway, I need to vent about my dear mom and dear grandpa,

>and since DH is working tonight, I can't vent to him (lucky him), so it's

>you

>guys!

>

>Okay, here's the deal: is 18 months and has an OBSESSION, to say the

>least, with cars, trucks, tractors, anything that has a steering wheel and

>moves. He would rather watch a three-hour NASCAR race than any kid show.

>He

>will watch a race from start to finish. Needless to say, Sundays I get a

>real long break. Anyway, likes to " drive " daddy's truck and mommy's

>car when given the opportunity, meaning, steer the wheel like a maniac even

>if the engine is off while repeating, " Vroom, vroom. " Somehow , in

>being completely 100 percent more observant than we ever thought a toddler

>could be, has figured out which key in ANY key ring presented to him is the

>ignition key. It started with daddy's truck. One day DH was holding

>while was doing his driving routine. gave him the keys just

>for

>fun. Low and behold, takes the big Dodge key and proceeds to reach

>around the steering wheel with the key and tries his hardest to place it in

>the ignition. Well, he didn't do it, and still can't do it to this day,

>although he tries every time. One of these days I'm sure he'll succeed.

>Well, DH and I just were amazed about it and we like to show everybody what

> can do. So a week ago, we were at my mom's family reunion which is a

>three hour drive into 110 degree heat. My grandpa was there and he drives

>an

>SUV of some sort. was fascinated of course. He wanted to drive. So

>my grandpa's car door was wide open and I lifted up into the driver's

>seat. Well, the keys were on the seat and I didn't see them. did

>and

>he reached for them, grabbed the right key and tried to put it in the

>ignition. I called for my grandpa to come look, and he took a picture, but

>then told me how dangerous it is for me to let climb up into other

>people's cars, because " He might think it's okay to open the door and get

>into anybody's car, " and " You hear about these kids who start cars and

>drive

>away, " and blah blah blah. I didn't think too much of it because I'm

>pretty

>used to getting second-guessed by my elders, and I let it go.

>

>But tonight I'm kind of upset because my mom just returned from an extended

>stay with my grandpa and she told me that my grandpa said, and she just HAD

>to agree, that he was scared about and how fascinated he is with

>cars.

>I said, " Honestly mom, I haven't met one kid 's age who isn't a little

>fascinated with the steering wheel. " And she said that he might think it's

>okay to just get in someone's car and he might accidentally start the car.

>I

>said, " Mom, you know, the difference is that I watch my kid. I don't let

>him

>run amuck and then see him driving down the road. " If I let him " drive, "

>it

>is in a controlled environment. He's not going to start the car if I'm

>there. And she was like, " Well, I can't really blame him because I've been

>scared about it too. "

>

>Am I reading too much into this? I feel like it's a slap in the face. I

>mean, I never hear what I'm doing positively for . If I even dare

>tell

>my mom that I just gave a bath, I get the whole speech, " Now, you

>know

>never to leave him in the bath by himself, right? " And when I say, " Yes.

>and I never leave him, not even to answer the phone, " she says, " Oh, I know

>you wouldn't. " I told her tonight I bought a kiddy pool and filled

>it

>up. I hear: " Oh, be careful and don't let him around it when you're not

>there. " I mean, I know I'm only 24 but I do have a brain in my head and

>plenty commonsense. I know these are valid concerns and awful things that

>happen to babies, like drowning in a bathtub or pool, but my mom knows I

>watch like a hawk. And my grandpa doesn't have one positive thing to

>say about how is turning out, and can't just say that something is

>cute

>or that is smart to know which key goes where, but pretty much is

>grasping at straws to create a situation that, in my mind, doesn't have a

>good chance of happening unless I'm not doing my job. Now, I can

>understand

>if I were in the house flapping my jaws and was outside by himself

>getting into cars, but, hello, I'm the one who lifted him in there. He

>couldn't climb into that SUV, and I was standing right there. And then of

>course, I'm the one who takes the criticism for some reason, the one who is

>married, 24, has a college education, a good job, but my grandpa doesn't

>have

>one thing to say about my 18 year old cousin who has two children, one 2,

>one

>8 months, no education past 8th grade, scumbag boyfriend, and whose

>daughter

>is IN CONTROL, and she won't discipline her because she thinks it's cute.

>AAAAAHHH! I'm sorry everybody. I'm just sick and tired of criticism. And

>it's not just my mom and grandpa. I get lectured for not having in

>three layers of clothes every time the darn sun ducks behind a cloud from

>my

>grandma. I go to pick him up from their house after work and the heater is

>up to friggin 90 degrees and he's asleep under two blankets, sweating.

>When

>he had croup, she argued with me that there was just NO way that those

>doctors could be right about taking him outside at night to breathe the

>night

>air to clear up the croup. No, better to sit inside and let your heater

>breed the germs.

>

>Allrighty, feel better now. SO SORRY ANYONE WHO MADE IT THIS FAR!!! IF

>YOU

>HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR, THANKS FOR LISTENING!!!

>

>Kellie, mom of , 18 months

>Olympia, WA

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