heyMamas

Feeling Green

From one very Irish girl to all of you, I hope everyone had a very Happy Saint Patrick's Day! 

Tonight we had one of our favorite dinners of all time....breakfast!

 

Drew whipped us up some green chocolate chip and plain pancakes...

And some green beljamin waffles as Lily calls them.

And some green scrambled eggs, this one looks the best green.

And lastly, one green egg-white omelet.

 

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!!!

 

The Mighty, Mighty Workers

As I made my way up Seventh Avenue this morning heading toward my office, in the distance I could hear a faint hum which I have come to know means there is some kind of activity in Times Square.

 

People gathering in groups for protests, concerts or advertising events, is a not an unusual occurrence in Time Square.   Even knowing this, there is something so eerie about hearing this faint noise when you are not even entirely sure if it is real, because what is very real and very LOUD, is the morning traffic whizzing by you, horns blasting and brakes on buses squeaking.

 

Anyway, as I made my way closer to Times Square, I could start to make out what the noise actually was.  It was indeed a group of people protesting about something.  For the first time ever, because I usually keep my head down and avoid eye contact, I thought that I should look at these people and read their signs.

 

That's what they are there for after all, so they can spread their message.

 

This group called themselves The Mighty Mighty Workers and each protester wore a big hand-made oak tag sign around their necks that read something about their employer not paying for health insurance for them and their families.

 

There were men and women walking in this circle, going around and around, with a man leading the group.  Each person looked so defeated.  And whether it be the man standing on the corner of Fifth Avenue handing out flyers for a shoe shine shop, or the other guy that stands on the corner in the dead of winter with a big heavy sign on his front and back advertising two men's suits for two hundred dollars, my heart just breaks.

 

So this what it has come too for this particular group.  To have a chance at the basic right of health insurance for their family, they have to parade around in freezing cold weather at 6:30am in the morning like a herd of cows wearing signs around their necks.  And they probably won't even get it.

 

It is devastating how employers exploit their workers and just use them up, but deny them the basic means to take care of their families because of a bottom line.

 

For some reason this scene struck me in such a way that I just started crying, right there walking up Seventh Avenue.

 

Tears continuously streaming down my face and I just couldn't stop.

 

As I got within a few feet of my building I was thinking, seriously Sadie, get it together.  But I just couldn't.  I had to wait and go inside a bank for a few minutes to gain some composure. 

 

After a few minutes I headed up to my office and thanked god for how lucky I am that I am not down there on that street fighting for health insurance for my family, but my heart ached for the people that were.

The Money Effect

When we first moved to Long Island I knew it was only a matter of time before we would be up against certain situations where my girls would come home and say, "Sloane has this and Emily has that or Taylor has an ipad and she is only in second grade, why can't I have an ipad?"

I am well aware of the fact that children wanting something another child has is not a phenomenon specific to our town.  This is a normal occurrence no matter where you live any where in the world.  The level of the material possession may change but kids are kids and they want what other kids have and there will always be those kids that have more, or the latest gadget, or the best clothes.

Having said that, Long Island and New York are not exactly like the rest of the country though.  People here spend money hand over fist.  I am sure many of them can afford to buy these things, and some that do, probably shouldn't, but they do anyway.  Their priorities seem to be out of line and saving is not as important as spending is, and a keeping up with the Jones' attitude is a very real thing. 

Lately, we have found that trying to raise children in this environment where we are savers and many others are spenders, is definitely a rough road to navigate.  It seems that I am explaining on a weekly basis, the value of money and how we choose to spend or save ours, may differ from others and those are our choices. 

Everyone makes different choices.  Some people choose to be fiscally responsible and plan ahead and others are not as fiscally responsible and don't plan ahead.  I think my girls are getting it and someday they will thank us for teaching them the concept of saving. 

Lily has decided to take twenty five percent of her allowance and put it away for the house she wants to buy in Charleston, when she graduates college.

So we forge ahead because when I hear Lily talk about saving and the house she is going to buy, I am hopeful that some of our tremendous efforts are sinking in, but believe me a brand new pair of tall Uggs is much easier for them to understand.

Winning the Lottery

Belle's class has been doing segments with a Long Island Kidsday Reporter that has included various product reviews, stories and interviews.  Last week her teacher conducted a lottery in class and four children were picked to travel into the city, go to Planet Hollywood and meet Bailee Madison, the little girl in the new Jennifer Aniston movie, Just Go With It.

Belle got picked!

Planet Hollywood is only three blocks from my office!

And they didn't get into the city until 4:30pm, which means I got to work almost the whole day and still partake in a school activity with my girl!

What a coup for me....and her!

Once the kids got into the city and made it to Planet Hollywood, Bailee came out and was photographed by about twenty five photographers.

 

{I have never seen so many flashes going off at once and they must have taken at least four thousand pictures of her.  The flashes were constant.  I had a glimpse of how annoying paparazzi must be to celebrities.}

{Then she put her handprints into cement so they could add it to the other celebrity handprints that adorn the walls throughout the restaurant.}

The kids waited for Bailee to complete her various interviews and then she came to a private part of the restaurant and sat with them while they asked her the questions they had prepared.  Belle was so composed and acted like Bailee was just a friend.  After every answer that Bailee gave, she would say "you're so cute" to Belle. 

After Bailee left, we stayed and had dinner at Planet Hollywood.  The entire day was magical to Belle.  Just the train ride into the city was enough to give her a thrill.  

I am so blessed that I got to share something like this with Belle and I know she will never forget it, especially the part that had me right there by her side. 

I love you baby!

Happy Valentine's Day LOVERS!

{The following post was written by my ten year old going on thirty year old daughter, Belle.}

Hi, this is Belle at heyMamas.com wishing you a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!!!!

As you all know, Valentine's Day is about love and a special someone to celebrate with. I know me and my family are very busy visiting friends and family and with you too.

All those couples out there give each other a special Valentine's kiss and pretend your falling in love all over again.  Me and my Mom are very tight and love each other as the same goes for my Dad who are always going to be there for each other too.

All you lovers and couples HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.

P.S seriously this is Belle, you're all the best and you all will rock each other's world's forever.

Love always Belle Daniels