Sex Ed in Kindergarten

I consider myself fairly progressive in terms of access to birth control, marriage equality, minimum wage, etc. But sex education in Kindergarten is where I draw the line. While many of today's children are growing up faster than parents would hope, lawmakers in Arizona have pushed for sex-ed in Kindergarten. Is there an age-appropriate form of sex instruction for five and six year olds?

In a recent airing of PBS Kids, four-year-olds were taught a lesson on sexuality, love and relationships. President Obama is also a proponent, citing it 'Is the right thing to do.' In the Netherlands, sex education begins in Kindergarten and part of the overall controversy surrounding this topic is whether or not kindergarteners grasp the topic of sex. After all, their comprehension and attention span stretch as far as juice boxes and cookies!

In a recent airing of daytime television program The View, the hot topic was Sex Ed in Kindergarten. The panel was split on whether or not an introduction to the birds and bees at this age is beneficial. Should we leave it to the schools to discuss such a serious topic, or is this an area -- and age -- where parents step in, especially given the number of kids having kids later in life? Personally, I do not want my 5 year old learning about sex. However, The View proponent panelists brought to light some valid arguments. Perhaps this education is not speaking about sex per se, rather touching that is appropriate and inappropriate at home, in an effort to alert others if children are being violated. And while many parents - myself included - believe such controversial topics should be reserved for a more appropriate age, are we merely stigmatizing the topic? Perhaps if the curriculum is shared with parents beforehand and parents have the right to opt in or out, more would be accepting of the subject matter. Only time will tell...


-Leslie Osmond


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Frumpty-Dumpty or Hot Mama?

Stay-at-home-moms, do you wear make-up every day? If so, why? I mean, I know looking great makes us feel wonderful, even if the only person that sees us is two feet tall, can barely speak, and doesn't care if we look awful anyway! Naked face (no make-up, lashes, hair in a bun, etc.) is what I call my days of in-house glamour.  I'm curious why some moms get dolled up if they're not leaving the house for anyone to see.

I'm the queen of frumpty-dumpty and loathe putting on make-up if I'm not attending an event. I have joked with friends and other moms that I either look homeless or completely dolled up. There is no in-between! Given I love to workout and live in sweats the bulk of the week, the only other time I may spruce myself up, is as a kind of anti-depressant. You know. It's 'just one of those days.' The kind where you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, nothing's really wrong, but you're feeling down? Or, perhaps the morning starts out horrible and the day continues that way. Since you're feeling like crap anyway, why look it?! I figure, why look at myself in the mirror and think blah? So I'll slap on some make-up as a quick pick-me-up.  And while I'm happy at my transformation, it is interesting to catch the expressions of other moms that never see one another without make-up, surprised at those of us who finally wear any. Why hide from one another under a mask, when we all experience the fatigue, judgment, and there's not enough time in the day for anything but our rugrats? Perhaps I'm too blase`or jaded when it comes to mommy looks and outings, so I am interested in other moms' opinions.  Please share your thoughts and thanks for reading.


-Leslie Osmond

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Poisoning Our Children

"I'm sorry" are the words spoken by Michigan Governor for the Flint, Michigan state of emergency that has left hundreds of thousands of people with a contaminated water supply. I'm sorry is not good enough.

How is a parent to cope, when thousands of children are suffering from above average levels of lead that can lead to learning disabilities, behavioral problems, lower IQs and a variety of other issues according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine? In 2014, the water supply from Lake Huron was rerouted in an effort to save money in Michigan, yet this cost-saving measure is projected to be a setback of millions of dollars due to the water supply being contaminated. The question remains: Who poisoned Flint, Michigan?

My heart aches for all of the families of Flint, especially those with children. What mother feels safe bathing her child in a sea of bacteria? Or even worse, waking up at night to prepare her crying baby a bottle, only to find the drinking supply is toxic? How can a parent overcome such a tragedy, knowing there was nothing they could do to prevent poisoning their own child? The Center for Disease Control indicates that in addition to the elevated levels of lead, additional bacteria in the water may lead to other concerns such as pneumonia, various lung diseases, and more. What I cannot understand most is why on earth, Flint residents are still being charged for their water supply? They are poisoning our children and billing for it?! Words cannot explain my utter disgust. Shame on them.

-Leslie Osmond



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Deferring Payment

Planning for your child's education may be something destined to happen down the line, especially if they are still in diapers. But how much time is enough? With student loan debt and forgiveness flooding headlines, at what point do we as parents consider setting aside the few extra dollars we spend on miscellaneous activities such as dining out, shopping, etc., to ensure our kid(s) do not become a statistic in America's society of borrowers? 

Graduates are appealing to the government for student loan forgiveness. After graduating with degrees, unable to find jobs in their fields or even positions that pay enough to cover the never-ending student debt, Americans are finding that the false promise of an excellent career post-grad is unlikely. And according to a study conducted by Project Student Debt, the average tab in 2014 was approximately $30,000 for those graduating at public and non-profit colleges, and I cannot fathom the amount of debt for private universities. As tuition rates rise year after year, how will any of our children afford an education and be able to enjoy life in years to come? 

My husband works in the investment world and is constantly advising parents on the importance of investing for your family's future. While he was fortunate to have a college fund, my undergraduate schooling was paid via scholarship, and I had to take out a few loans for graduate school. Both of us are without student debt, however, I expressed to him my frustration when repaying the loans. Additionally, with surging college costs and the lack of resources that educate students about student loan debt, graduates' lives are being robbed and they're unable to find satisfying careers to cover the costs of an education.  Students avoid phone calls from their loan providers, they utilize forbearance, deferments, attempt to refinance, etc. All of these options don't really make it easier to pay back the debt. The debt is merely postponed in some fashion or another. We made a plan that we believe all parents should consider, in ensuring your child's success and their opportunity to attend college without fear of debt post-grad.

1. Go through your bank statements for the last three months. You'll be shocked to see how much money you spend on nonsense. For example: how much are you spending on fast food? Dining out? The club or alcohol and cigarettes, etc.? Shopping? Total it up. Can you cut back on groceries such as unhealthy items? If you're spending $25/month on soda or chips, drink water and just don't buy the oh so delicious but unhealthy snacks. Not only can you invest that extra $25+ for your child's education, you'll lose weight and be healthier physically and mentally for it.
2. Find a financial institution to open a 529 College Plan for your child or children.
3. Begin auto-investing the extra money into the plan (you can use the same steps for retirement plans).

Education is important, and equipping your children for the future is critical. Don't defer their 529 payment. Gear them with the chance to succeed.

-Leslie Osmond

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Fantasy Football Win

"Football is boring," say a lot of women.  For the many that don't enjoy sports and/or simply do not understand football, I found a great way to bond with your football-fanatic other half. Learning the game is also a great way for them to enjoy time with the kids, throw the ball around, and teach you both the sport...just don't ask too many questions during the games. It annoys them!

Because the football ritual takes place every year for about half the year, my philosophy is: 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.' Why let the fellas have all the fun, with their barbeque, snacks, drinks, and all the excitement? I was determined to learn the sport, and began studying the positions by playing free Fantasy Football. Joining a league to learn the game will not only add some fun competition to your relationship, but it also provides answers to questions like, "Why would anyone want to put on pads to be hit that hard?" Once you become a fan of football, you'll know why. "Why do players try to run through all the other guys, instead of around them? And what team are we cheering for?! Why won't the quarterback just run it himself when he's clear to run and can't find anyone open?" All of these are questions that drive men nuts, but they're legitimate to the football layman.

When I decided to learn the game of football, I began picking players in Fantasy Football at random. I asked my husband to join a league as well, and he gave me a hard time for winning against him, because his players were picked based upon statistics and his knowledge of the game. I found it more interesting to pick players based upon physical appearance, whether or not they looked hot in their uniform, and also if I liked their names! Since I was kind of picking them at random, it worked out in my favor. Over time I became addicted to watching the games and seeing if my team did better than my husband's (a bit of healthy competition amongst spouses never hurt anyone). Over time I learned each athlete's position, who was injured, and I began to analyze various aspects of the game. Football is household event in America, and now I've started looking forward to it even more than my husband. As a result,  our daughter is a die-hard football fan and loves spending quality time with daddy before the games, throwing her pocket-sized football and being tackled.  I implore all moms, especially stay-at-home  moms that are not interested in sports to take some time to learn. We are busy bored a lot of the time throughout the week anyway.  What better way to kill two birds with one stone than to learn a sport and if you're good -- and lucky -- you can win money while spend quality time with your husband. Good luck to everyone and may the best Superbowl team win.


-Leslie Osmond

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Surrogate Mom: No Returns Accepted

This story blows my mind! Former View host Sherri Shepherd paid nearly $100,000 to a fertility clinic in order to have a surrogacy-born son with her husband Lamar Sally.  Sherri has no DNA ties to the baby, as her eggs were unusable, and Lamar's sperm was used to fertilize a donor's eggs. This was agreed upon and contractually bound by the couple. Yet, midway through the pregnancy, Sherri and Lamar separated and ultimately divorced, at which time, Sherri stopped paying for prenatal care and no longer wanted the baby.

As an outsider looking in, I cannot account first-hand how any of the parties must feel. But from the outside looking in, Sherri Shepherd is absolutely ridiculous for thinking she can return a baby! While I understand Sherri has no DNA ties, a decision was made -- with this in mind -- to bring another life in the world. Not only that, there are many people struggling to have a child. Finding a surrogate that agrees to such a physical and life-changing decision to help someone, only for that family to change their mind and stick her with the bills well along in the pregnancy, is insane. Fortunately, a recent Superior Court ruling deemed that Sherri Shepherd is in fact responsible for the child, despite her naming the surrogate as mother on the birth certificate. Shepherd is ordered to pay $4,100 per month in child support to ex-husband Lamar Sally who is raising their child, and following their son's 13th birthday, support increases to $4,600.

No one wants to think about a mother abandoning a child. Given she has no biological ties, it makes for an interesting debate. But, once you sign on the dotted line, a contract is in effect. It is hard for me to feel sorry for Shepherd who is not only abandoning an innocent child, but also an obligation she had with her ex-husband and a kind-hearted stranger, willing enough to give and carry a life that Shepherd herself was unable to create. I have never been a fan of couples in trouble or rough relationships having babies. Relationships are stressful enough with just the two of you. Why add the stress of a baby when you have not worked out all the unresolved kinks amongst each other? Children should be raised in a nurturing environment without being in the middle of parent strife. Shepherd and Sally had to know they were at odds long before agreeing to have this child and as such, I am happy to say I agree with the courts. Shepherd owes a responsibility to the child and Sally. One-year-old Lamar Junior was born. No returns accepted.

-Leslie Osmond


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Powerball

You can't win if you don't play. That's also the game of life. And where there's hope of winning the jackpot, it's no surprise that only a few are victorious. If we look at it from a different angle, there are many other "jackpots" to win in life; accomplishing dreams; a career; a relationship; strong family ties, etc. How would we truly spend our winnings?

To fantasize about dream homes and vacations, to fancy cars, money for the kids and stupid rich material items is great. However, as billionaire mogul Mark Cuban tells it, if you aren't happy before you win the money, you will not be happy after. Having $1.5 billion dollars would surely make things a lot easier in terms of finances. But if you currently live life in the negative state or constantly wishing things were different, over analyzing every aspect of life, how would millions and billions of dollars make things easier? We've all heard the saying 'More Money More Problems.' As I sat watching the hundreds of people storming the poor convenience store in California that sold the winning Powerball ticket, I chuckled because this was a sheer representation of the mayhem that past lottery winners encounter. As I stomached the realization that I didn't win the lottery, instead, I feel I've hit the jackpot with a wonderful family and child, I also decided to tell my husband, "We weren't supposed to win because it means more if we earn it." Of course sarcasm never fails. He replied with, "A head start with $1.5 million wouldn't hurt!" Since I'm writing and for those of you reading this, I guess we're all in the same boat and back to the drawing board. Mega Millions anyone?! Happy Thursday.

-Leslie Osmond

Please visit our website ozzybaby.com

Moms Are The Backbone of Society

I was PMSing all day yesterday. As the day came to an end and I lay wide awake last night staring at the dark ceiling, listening to my husband snore like a grizzly bear, it finally dawned on me: I'm supposed to be a mom. God's plan for me and my family all along, is this.

I've questioned my path, career, ideas and future for a while, and I came to a stark realization late last night, that my desire to do more, is not the plan -- at least not right now. I've joked on occasion with my mom, husband and close girlfriends about not knowing what I'm passionate about or what I want to be when I grow up. I've talked about how it is great being a mom, but I need something more for ME. The recurring reply is always, "Maybe this is God's plan for you. You are supposed to be a wife and mother." I couldn't and refused to wrap my head around it because I've always worked hard; I've always been driven; I have a passion for life, people, and knowledge. How can someone with a graduate degree and drive want to just be a mom?! As I lay in the dark trying to go to sleep, my husband's words from that day (and all the days before) finally sunk in. All of the other jobs, skill sets, education, and drive in life equipped me to be the backbone that my family needs to succeed. I was never an expert at any of the careers I chose. I may not have been the best student, nor the best athlete. But my passion for the people I love, their success, and pushing them to be their best is what my husband reminded me was the reason we were brought together. We are successful as a team, and as a family.

I love to cook. I hate to clean. He loves to cook, and hates when I don't clean! I love that my husband values my input and opinion in his work situations, and the twinkle in his eye when the advice helps. His victories are mine, and while moms and wives don't have all the answers, we are truly the backbone of our families and society. I may not have accomplished the career path I set out in life, but I am damn good at my current job as a wife and mother. It's 2am, and as I get out of bed after continued listening to my husband sleep, I check on our daughter tucked in bed snoring like the miniature grizzly version of her father! As I return to bed feeling reassured of my day, my husband's voice echoes in my head, " Maybe you ARE supposed  to be 'just a mom,' or at least until Layla is a little older. And there's nothing wrong with that, because we need you."

I am a mom. I am a wife. And in this 2016 year, I want all the moms to embrace mommyhood and be fulfilled.

-Leslie Osmond

Please visit our website ozzybaby.com.


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Happy New Year

Happy New Year family, friends and readers. With the chaotic time of year concluding (from the standpoint of Black Friday shopping as well as making purchases through the holidays, preparing for family, cleaning, grocery and holiday lists, etc.) the winter season can take a toll. Keeping the sanity is a task in itself. But we've survived another year, and I am thankful for it along with the wonderful lessons learned, friends made, and relationships that left in 2015.

In life we hope to mature and grow wiser in our years. The birth of children give aid to fresh perspectives on life, and we grow to become more tolerant and patient about things and people that otherwise, may consume us and our thoughts. As we prepared and toasted to the New Year; as we made and continue to make resolutions; resolve in being a continued work in progress. The New Year will be a great one. Enjoy life and 2016. Happy New Year.

"It's a very funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it." - William Somerset Maugham


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Sincerely,

-Leslie Osmond






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