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• Judgment Day: Obligatory Gift-Giving, Yea or Nay?

  Yesterday afternoon my younger son's bus driver handed me a small packet decorated with a snowman and told me it was "for Eric." Surprised, I took it and thanked her. Inside were two gift cards. Eric also came home with a wrapped gift from his teachers. I noticed that both gifts were presented with timing such that I could reciprocate the following day and still not miss the gift-giving occasion. And last week there was a note taped to my trash can from the trash guys, with plenty of time to tip them this week before Christmas. So when did gift-giving become an obligatory thing? When did people who provide a service for us begin to expect gifts? Read More... Posted Dec 21 2007, 10:08 AM by Karen Murphy with | with 12 comment(s) Filed under: gifts, holidays, Judgment Day, obligations

• Judgment Day: Thank-You Notes? What Are Those?

  Growing up,  I dreaded the week off from school between Christmas and New Year's. Why? Why wasn't I happily playing with my toys or reading my new wealth of books? Because I was miserable, that's why. There was something hanging over my head. Something I hated doing, resisted doing, procrastinated about doing:   Read More... Posted Nov 09 2007, 08:28 AM by Karen Murphy with | with 32 comment(s) Filed under: parenting, kids, holidays, Judgment Day, thank you notes

• Judgment Day: It's Not Too Early to Think About Halloween Etiquette, Is It?

  For me lately, my big decisions regarding Halloween have been, "Do I leave the light on and deal with the effing trick-or-treaters or can I just bail (again) this year?" I HATE Halloween. Not only is it my Annual Sewing Event, for which I lack any kind of expertise despite my fancy-schmancy Bernina sewing machine (which I thought would solve my problems but it didn't), but it's also, apparently, a day in which short, oddly-clad beggars are encouraged to ring my fucking doorbell repeatedly and hold their grubby hands out asking for candy.   Read More... Posted Sep 21 2007, 03:20 PM by Karen Murphy with | with 11 comment(s) Filed under: kids, Etiquette, candy, Judgment Day, Halloween

• Judgment Day: Elizabeth Edwards and the Mommyblogger Wars

  By now you've likely heard of the blogging attack on Elizabeth Edwards and her family's choices regarding taking the children along on the campaign trail and Edwards' articulate response. Our own Rachael's take on it earlier this week elicited some heated comments, mostly in support of Edwards. I haven't much to say about Elizabeth Edwards that likely hasn't already been said (let the woman make her choices and lay off, dammit!), but to me this speaks of a larger issue. In other words, the Mommy Wars aren't over and we're still judging each other, often quite harshly, for our respective choices.   Read More... Posted Aug 31 2007, 09:36 AM by Karen Murphy with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Elizabeth Edwards, Judgment Day, mommyblogger wars

• Judgment Day: Rules For Keeping Your Kids in Line When You Visit

  The worst part of traveling and staying with friends or distant family sometimes is bringing your children along. You never know how they're going to act, whether they will erupt suddenly somehow or break something or spill something. You know what I'm talking about. When you enter a home where the living room is darkened and people speak in hushed tones, you know you're in trouble unless your kids are robots. Or unless you bring the duct tape along. Here's a very useful list for ensuring your visit is a success. Highlights include: Duct tape oven mitts to children under the age of 3 (to prevent touching of breakables) Bring a stake and leash for wandering toddlers. Bring an IV. This is the best way to prevent unnecessary spills. Short of staying home or leaving the kids at a kennel babysitter, what else can you do? What strategies have worked for you? P.S. Looks like I've developed a sense of humor since I last saw this photo (from Daddytypes, by the way).  Will wonders never cease? Posted Jul 13 2007, 02:54 PM by Karen Murphy with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: travel, duct tape, rules, travel with kids, visiting, Judgment Day