Talking About Daycare Again

Sometimes I don't really understand what the role of daycare provider means to people. I guess I always assumed that parents enrolled their children in daycare so that they can go to work.
However, lately I have noticed a trend of more and more parents putting their kids in daycare when they aren't working and just staying at home.
I understand the importance of socializing your child. I enrolled all my girls in preschool so that they could learn how to get along with other kids their age and take instruction from someone other than their parent.
If you are a stay-at-home parent why would you want to send your child to someone else's house all day everyday? Why wouldn't you find fun things to do with your child yourself?
Some of the parents also have their own kids every other weekend. I have heard over and over again from these parents who have their own children for "their" weekend with them complain (as they're dropping their child off at my house for 9 hours) that they didn't get a break from their kid(s) and how hard it is.
Does this make sense? It does not make any sense to me. I take care of my own kids - plus other people's kids - 7 days a week. They do not go to another house during the week or every other weekend. I am the last person who needs to hear that because you spent two days with your own child that you need a break.
Really?!?
Is this just how things are? Is daycare more than what I thought it was?
I feel so bad for these kids and am glad that I am able to provide a home-away-from-home environment for them.

For my girls, my life, my heart, my everything: Cecelia, Delaney, & Laila

"Yellow"

Look at the stars,
Look how they shine for you,
And everything you do,
Yeah, they were all yellow.
I came along,
I wrote a song for you,
And all the things you do,
And it was called "Yellow".
So then I took my turn,
Oh what a thing to have done,
And it was all "Yellow."
Your skin,
Oh yeah your skin and bones,
Turn into something beautiful,
You know, you know I love you so,
You know I love you so.
I swam across,
I jumped across for you,
Oh what a thing to do.
Cos you were all "Yellow",
I drew a line,
I drew a line for you,
Oh what a thing to do,
And it was all "Yellow."
Your skin,
Oh yeah your skin and bones,
Turn into something beautiful,
And you know,
For you I'd bleed myself dry,
For you I'd bleed myself dry.
It's true,
Look how they shine for you,
Look how they shine for you,
Look how they shine for,
Look how they shine for you,
Look how they shine for you,
Look how they shine.
Look at the stars,
Look how they shine for you,
And all the things that you do.

 

~Coldplay

 

Mommy's song for you, my love.



Dad's 58th Birthday

My Dad's birthday was earlier this month and we had a GREAT time celebrating at Gastof's!
Happy Birthday, Dad!!!!!!

Piece of Advice

Do not volunteer to be the "Cookie Manager" for Girl Scouts.
Did you know that you have to go to trainings?
You also have to spend lots and lots and lots of time on their website.
I had no idea how involved this was.

On top of that, I've got parents calling and asking if my kids want to be in the science fair. Um, NO!

Elementary school is so busy and the parents are so involved in everything. It blows my mind.

And while I'm at it...what's up with "playdates?" I mean, to me, a playdate is for Mom friends to get together and pretend it's for the kids. Why all of a sudden it is all about me driving my kids all over town - or having friends come over here for hours at a time?
We don't live in the best neighborhood as far as friends for the kids go, but I'm really over this whole playdate thing.

I know it seems lazy, but I feel that between gymnastics and a busy family life I don't need all this extra stuff.

Right??

Laila's Doc Visit

We finally took Laila in to see the GI specialist yesterday. As I suspected, they believe that she is - how to put this delicately - experiencing prolapse when she uses the bathroom.  We're not sure why this is happening as she seems otherwise totally healthy.  For now (and the next month or so) she will take MiraLAX everyday to see if it helps. If the problem continues on after trying this she will likely have to have a colonoscopy. Needless to say, we REALLY don't want her to have to do that. So, for now we will just hold tight and see what happens.

H-E-E-R

I know it's hard to remember - especially after 9 years - but my last name is: Heer.

It is not Herr.

It's not a huge mistake, but it's also not.our.name.

4 letters:

H...2 E's...and a R.

H-E-E-R

Thanks.

Happy 2012!!

 (Macy's 8th Floor)

 (Macy's Oak Grill)

 (Christmas Eve after church, waiting for Bill's pheasant dinner)

 (Clare and ViVi)

 (cousins!)

 (sweet Caroline - happiest toddler EVER)

(Bomma, GiGi Olson, Gams)

These are just a few pictures from our holiday festivities (that now seem like 100 years ago). Bill has a ton of pictures on his camera that may be stuck in there forever because he never does anything with them.

We feel so happy to have so many friends and family who we love and they love us back.

We are also beyond grateful for such a mild winter - I actually carried the garbage out today with bare feet. BARE FEET, people.

Cheers to a New Year filled with more fun, more love, and more craziness.