WHERE THE HELL DID MY TAX MONEY GO?!?

• $550 - New Tires and Breaks
• $415 - Highway Department
• $219 - New Insurance Policy
• $321- 1 year of tanning and tanning lotion
• $420 - American Eagle (super cute stuff!)
• $106 - Victoria's Secret (REALLY super cute stuff!)
• $96  -  Macy's (New Sperry's)
• $300 - Cavender's (New boots and 1 pair of jeans)
• $30  - Ipod
• $375 - 5 weeks of Daycare
• $40 -  Hair (Cut/color)

This is how you make some money go POOF!!

Manners...a thing of the past.

I was out with a friend just the other day who has a child the same age as my youngest whom I'll call Grayson. As my friend and I were talking while driving down the road, Grayson seemed to be very insistant on having his mother's undivided attention regardless of the fact that she was in converstation with another adult. He began having these atrocious outburst of screaming, yelling, hitting, and kicking simply because he was not getting the amount of attention that he thought she should from his mother.  My 2 1/2 year old, Rylan, was sitting in the backseat on the opposite site of the car looking at him like he had lost his mind, which in her world, he surely had. While looking in the rear view mirror at the look on her face, I knew why she had "that look". I knew at this point I had done something right. Rylan knew that if she were to ever act that way what the consequences would be for her. I have always strived to instill good manners and respect into my children and teach them to be well behaved children. However, my children aren't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. They are normal children, therefore, they throw there fits and tend to have a smart mouth from time to time. Unlike a lot of young parents I see these days, I don't let my children get their way just to avoid a tantrum nor do I allow them to be direspectful to me or anyone else. I think this comes from deep within my southern roots and also the way my parents raised me. I heard Grayson tell his mother "Shut up, Momma" and "I hate you" and just flat out tell her "No" when she asked or told him to do something with zero reprecusions or punishment. This baffled me. I take a lot of pride in my children and want them to treat others the way they want to be treated - with manners and respect. I give them respect and I get respect in return. It really makes me proud when their teachers brag on them for how well their manners or and how respectful they are to their teachers and other students. This says a lot. I'm not a drill sargent if that's what it may sound like and I don't make them act like little soldiers. I believe there is a way to let children be children but give them rules and boundaries at the same time. I owe this to my Daddy. This is the way he raised me and never in my life have I EVER disprespected him. I hope for my children to carry these lessons with them through their lives and pass them on to their children.