Yesterday I got a letter that was sent home from the principal of Little Miss Spice’s school.

In the letter, it informed me that they were planning to teach my child about the HIV/AIDS virus.

In it, it said :

“Dear parent. you’re child’s teacher will teach your child about the HIV/AIDS Virus this week. The NY State Education Dept. has mandated that AIDS education be provided for ALL students grades K-12…..”

Now, if Little Miss Spice were in grade 12, I wouldn’t think twice. Hell, if she were in Junior High I wouldn’t think twice. 6th? Wouldn’t think twice.

My thinking twice stems from the fact that my baby girl is 5 years old. Sure, HIV/AIDS education is beneficial and actually vital to our children’s education. But at what age do we proceed with such a topic? What is too soon, and is there an “appropriate” age for Aids education?

I don’t want to give the wrong impression. I know that kids these days are having sex earlier and earlier. I know that drug use is also beginning at an earlier age, and those 2 ways are the likeliest to contract the virus(Sharing needles, etc.). Other ways to contract it are blood transfusions, infected mother passing it to her child, tattoos and piercings (although chances are low)….My confusion comes from the fact that none of these things pertains to my 5 year old child!

What exactly do they plan to teach Kindergartners? -That’s my question, and I plan to ask today at Parent/Teacher conferences.

Do you think there is an appropriate age for HIV/AIDS education?

All moms have taken  care of sick babies at some point. If your kids are like mine, you will start to think they get sick on purpose just to make you life a little more chaotic.Then there’s the hubbies. Ya know, the ones who claim to be bigger, stronger, and faster. Just wait till their tummies are turning, and they morph into Pee Wee Herman faster than you can say W-U-S-S-Y!!!!!!

When I was a kid, all I wanted when I was sick was my mom. Don’t know why, but I did. Something about having your mom there while you’re puking up last night’s dinner is comforting. Right?

Well know the roles are turned, and I’m not the little girl who rang a bell for her mommy when she needed something. Now, when I’m sick, all hell brakes loose.

I am not kidding.

Today I have a head cold. But that doesn’t mean I get to lay down and take it easy. It just means I have to work extra hard to get through today. I still have 3 meals to make, dishes to be washed, and little munchkins to be bathed. All while my backwards tee shirt accumulates stains, and while my head feels bigger than J- Lo’s ass.

Brings me to this question : Who Takes Care Of Mommy???

Little Miss Sugar Loves all things girly. Pink Tutus, nail polish, and apparently bright red lipstick.

Yesterday while she was supposed to be enjoying 30 minutes of “Swiper No Swiping” on Dora, she came out of my room with bright red lipstick covering a good percentage of her little face. I was stirring the spaghetti when she said “Mommy, do I look beeeee-u-teee-ful?” I looked and almost peed my pants. She scared the CRAP out of me.

Seriously, I thought I was in a scene of The Dark Knight, and The Joker was staring right at me asking “Why So Serious”?

While still trying to be nice, I told her she was not supposed to be in my make-up bag. She stomped her little feet, and ran back into my room. As I followed, I felt bad for not saying how beeee-u-teee-ful she looked, so I sat on the bed next to her and told her how beautiful she was – without the Hooker look. (Not my exact words)…

I explained that she doesn’t need lipstick, or pink nail polish to be beautiful. She already was….

Can’t wait to have this same talk in Junior High….UGH

Do you let your kids wear make-up in the house? What are your thoughts on Make-up?

I just got home from grocery shopping, and let me tell you:

I….AM….POOPED!

When did this become so exhausting?

I’ll tell you when…..WHEN WE MOVED TO NEW YORK CITY!

Everything about grocery shopping was fun to me before we lived here. Call me odd, but I love to shop – even if it’s for food. I love the cabinets and refrigerator after they are all stocked up and when I have more than 2 options on what to make for dinner. I love jumping up from my throne when I’m craving some chocolate – and actually HAVING it…

But ever since I’ve lived here, grocery shopping has become torture. Let me walk you guys through my routine of grocery shopping.

First, I have to break the news to my youngest, Little Miss Sugar, who to my surprise- loathes shopping. With myself, and my oldest who would rather shop then breathe- it was a bit disturbing to hear such news. Daddy, on the other hand is pretty pumped about having one of us on his side.

After much hassle and a bribe or two – we head out the door and climb into the car. This is my “Pep Talk” with Little Miss Sugar. The talk that reminds her that she’d better behave if she knows what’s good for her. After she agrees, and I apply my lipgloss – (You never know when You’ll run into someone you know) we go into the store and fight over where she sits. In the front of the cart, or the back. Most times I give in, and she sits in the back, crushing my bag of Lay’s that I will later devour in one day.

The time comes when the cart is full, and everything on the list is checked off. By this time my arms hurt from pushing the cart, and my mind hurts from watching Little Miss Spice walk away from me 20 different times. <—-Yes, she got out of the cart after lots of begging.

I’m at the counter and I just want to fall asleep. Of course, they make sure that all the Easter candy is on display – and within arms reach for the little people. Little Miss Spice begs, and begs. and begs. But I  don’t give in. I feel proud for about 2 minutes, until I see all the candy she secretly tossed in the cart. That little…….

Oh well, I’ll just put it back, next to the OK Magazine with Brad and Angelina on the cover. Wow, she’s really pretty…

I pay the $238, and become frustrated when I find out they are all out of plastic- and are giving me all paper. Be quiet, tree huggers!

The bagging guy helps me put it all in the trunk, I pay him, and we’re on our way….“Well I guess it wasnt that bad”, I think to myself.

Then I turn the corner only to see that there is no parking in front of my apartment. “Breathe… “ I tell myself. I double park, walk Little Miss Sugar inside, give her a juice and some marshmallows and carry the groceries inside – two at a time since I have PAPER BAGS!!!!

After all 11 bags are inside, and my legs hate me, I get Little Miss Spice, go to the car and find parking. I walk a block and a half home, I fall to the sofa and try to forget the best part :

Putting them all away.

Do you have a hard time grocery shopping where you live?

What do you do when your Kindergartner hates going to school?

That’s the problem I am in currently.

Last year when Little Miss Spice was in Pre-K, she came home so enthused about her day. She couldnt even wait till we got home to tell me all about it. What she learned, what she drew, and about her stickers she got for being smart. She was in love with school, and I was in love with seeing her so happy.

This year, though has been drastically different. In the beginning, she loved it. She still came home happy, still gushed about her day, still had stickers as proof that she was smart. Her first report card was not short of perfection. She was excelling at everything. Reading, writing, social management, interacting with peers, math, & science. Her teacher had nothing negative to say. She even told us that if Little Miss Spice didn’t learn anything for the next year, and 1st grade, she’d still be ready for 2nd grade.

Great, right?

Wrong. I’m beginning to think she’s bored with school. Maybe that’s her reason for coming home so unenthusiastic. Or the reason my not even 6 year old reminds me of myself in my high school days. Begging to stay home, pretending I was sick.

I don’t know what to do. I always thought placing her in the gifted programs meant pushing her too hard. But am I failing her for keeping her in regular classes, when she could be showing signs of boredom, and possibly not learning much for the next year?

Do Your Kids Hate School?