Pre Monday Syndrome

Mondays hold such frustration for people around the world, that it no longer just affects the beginning of our weekdays.  This undeniably horrific day has now begun to encroach on our weekend.  Every Sunday evening, it happens.  The inevitable return of P.M.S., otherwise known as Pre Monday Syndrome.

While this condition is rarely diagnosed, it is common.  Almost every adult and school aged child suffers from some form of the disease.  Officially, P.M.S. is described as a recurring resentment of the end of a weekend and continued dread of the incoming Monday.  Symptoms may include, but are not limited to:  increased irritability, unexplained grumpiness and/or anxiety, inability to relax, a bad and/or cranky attitude, and a numbness of the brain.

If you do not live with this affliction yourself, there is no doubt that you know someone who has been affected.  As there is no cure, this disorder is commonly ignored by the majority of society.  However, P.M.S. touches us all.

Do you suffer from Pre Monday Syndrome?  Does your loved one suffer from P.M.S.?  What are some ways that you and/or your loved ones treat the symptoms?

*Disclaimer:  Pre Monday Syndrome, P.M.S., is fictional.  Yeah Right! It's so not made up!  It can not be used as an excuse to take Monday off, as your physician will not give you a doctor's note stating that you are suffering from Pre Monday Syndrome.  Don't we all wish!

Happy Monday!

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My Reading Challenge Update:

TWO BINGOS COMPLETE!

Next Up:  Blackout BINGO (entire sheet)

12/16 Total Books Read

1 Book In Progress - Halfway complete!

3 1/2 Total Books Left to Read 

31 Read Days Left

What Kids Say

In our home everyone hangs their best masterpieces on the fridge... Except for me. I haven't found strong enough magnets to keep my kids up there!

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My kids say the most hilarious things, as most kids do! They also have the ability to melt my heart with a few of their precious words as well. I've even caught them being so kind to each other, in between the sibling torture, that I can't help but feel a tug at my heartstrings.

Today, my kids are missing and have been replaced with none other than Superman & Batman. My youngest, I mean Superman, told me that I can be Batgirl, but later decided that I would be Supergirl. I play right along with these fun games, because secretly I am... well I can't tell you that or my cover would be blown. It's moments like these that I love being a Mom of 2 boys with imaginations.

Often times, my kids and I have silly conversations. One recent talk was a combination of me being goofy and my youngest son, M's, youthful honesty mixed with sweetness...

Me: Am I a nerd?

M: Shakes head no

Me: Am I cool?

M: Shakes head no and whispers... Me just love you.

Me: Me just love you too.

Realizing that our kids see and understand things differently than we do can sometimes lead to laughter. Eavesdropping children can also lead to hilarious moments. We experienced both of these things recently. It all began with standing in front of a magazine rack while waiting to purchase our groceries.

On the way home from our shopping trip, I was expressing my thoughts to my husband. There was a photo, on a magazine cover, of an actress that I thought was beautiful and talented. However, her attitude in interviews drove me crazy. My husband, C, responded with something along the lines of "Yeah, someone should tell her to shut up."

Little did we know that our oldest son, O, was eavesdropping on the conversation. He quickly piped up with a "Dad you can't say the S word!" Instantly, there was panic written on my husband's face as he tried to go through the entire conversation we had been having to determine when he might have slipped and spouted "the S word." He then stated "I didn't say the S word." Our smart little O man spouted quickly back, "yes you did and it's not nice! Mrs. A says we shouldn't say shut up, because it can hurt people's feelings!" The look of relief, and embarrassment, on my husband's face was revealed. I was silently laughing hysterically, hidden from my son's view by my seat, but managed to say "Yeah Dad!" My husband then humbly apologized for saying "the S word."

Lessons learned:

You can be uncool without being a nerd and still be loved, but please don't say "the S word" for any reason!

Childhood Toys Turned Movies

It always seems to surprise me at how exciting it is to see one of our childhood toys come to life on the big screen. Fairly recently, a friend and I were talking about the latest kid cartoons turned movies (and sequels) and our kids' desires to see them. However, the sad truth is that our kids will most likely miss out on these big screen releases.

My husband is an enormous fan of Transformers. Before we had children, he collected a few of the old and new robots in disguise. These were mainly "mint in box" but I will admit that one red and blue leader of the Autobots made it to his work desk. His love stems from endless hours of being entertained by the cartoon and the toy in his childhood. When the first Transformer movie was released to the big screen, he was there (and multiple times afterwards as well). Sharing this great piece of his life with his sons is one thing that he really looked forward to.

Transformers the movie holds a "PG-13" rating, but with the majority of the "bad parts" being clumped together in a couple of different spots, it was easy enough to distract or block out for our sons. After my husband had seen the movie, he knew just when to strategically cover eyes and/or ears. As much as we wished these portions were not included within the movie, we were able to swing it. When Transformers 2 Revenge of the Fallen was schedule to come out, we assumed this would also be the case. Unfortunately, this is not so.

My husband, back at the theatre on opening day, was disappointed that there wasn't a clear way to block out "just the bad parts" so he could again enjoy a Transformers movie with our sons. The sequel, to one of the most popular movies of Summer 2007, is littered with swearing (among other things). In fact, according to director Michael Bay, characters Mudflap & Skids were said to be created specifically for the kids but seemed to have the worst potty mouths in the movie. My boys love Transformers, and the toys are everywhere, but I refuse to let them have these 2 characters as toys.

This leads me to the newest release, GI Joe. I have not yet seen this feature film presentation, so I can't say exactly how this one will play out. However, before the PG-13 rating was announced, a rumor was floating around that it would be placed in the R rating category. My thoughts were instantly... Seriously? GI Joe? Please say it isn't so Joe!

I have no problem with these movies being full of fun and excitement, but why must we take our innocent childhood toys and cartoons and turn them into sexual, violent, cuss word filled movies? Wouldn't we love them without all of the extra "filler?" Wouldn't those of us who enjoyed these characters as kids love to have our own children embrace them as well? How can we do that if the rating is going to be above PG? Why do we set up endless displays in the toy aisles for our young kids to ooh and aah over if we don't intend to make the movies kid friendly? Take a look at the toys out there as well. Flip open level 1 Transformers were created for young fans, ages 3 and up, and I have seen Mr Potato Head with Optimus Prime and Bumblebee pieces as well. Why make some of these movie toys geared toward the very young if they aren't even able to watch the movie?

I'm not saying I don't enjoy the movies, but I just wish I didn't have to tell my kids, "you can play with the toys, but you can't watch the movie." Maybe it's not that at all. Maybe I'm just a little jealous of the full grown boys getting all of their toys made into movies. I mean I just wish Rainbow Brite or My Little Pony would get a movie and call someone "b****" or something... that'd grow up our girl cartoons! I even have a few ideas that could work....

Extreme Makeover: Rainbow Brite Edition

Actually, this one is partly real. Rainbow Brite dolls will be re released this Fall with a "new look" per a website I came across. RainbowBrite could come back bigger than ever!

Pony Talk
Smurfette Goes Wild Meets SNL's Greatest Hits

It's amazing to think that Barbie has been around for 50 years and still manages to be a lady! Well... almost! Barbie Girl by Aqua