Category Archives: Quizzes and Polls

The Upside of Pregnancy Poll

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We hear a lot about the hardship of pregnancy. Weird rashes (me), morning sickness (me, but really afternoon sickness), constant urination (me), if my husband doesn’t jump to get me something I bite his head off (me), backache (me, in the later months), waddle walk (yes, me again). But there was a lot I liked about being pregnant with Vivien and that I am getting into now with this pregnancy – or rather, there’s a lot I need to be reminded of as my girth increases (18 weeks). So tell me what you liked about being pregnant. Some sample ideas below.

Thanks, sisters!

Free Time: Poll Results

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So if you forgot, Monday’s poll question was, “If you were given 2 hours of absolute free time, what would you do?”

I’m glad I’m not the only one who, given the choice, would prefer to sit on her duff – the winning option, by a cheek. 

Now, a close second was “Go to a cafe, like when I was single.” Theoretically, yes, this is what I would do. But, in reality, free time usually means I sit right down. 

I feel like I should have qualified the options, on second thought. If I were already out of the house when I find free time, I wouldn’t run home and sit down. I would shop, exercise, or go to a cafe. But, if the free time appeared at home? Down I’d go.

Thirteen percent of you had other things on your agenda, like Attilla the Mum, who wrote, “Mani pedi time!!!!, with extra time in that awesome massage chair. Then I would indulge in a chocolate milkshake.”

Whatever you do with the free time, lucky you!

But 18% of you can’t get that sponge out of your hands. I used to be like that, but then once I realized I was more likely to get divorced if a professional didn’t periodically appear to clean. I gave it up (Mark wouldn’t divorce me, but once I had a baby, if he or my stepson left a dish in the sink, I became Mommy Dearest).

Free Time Poll

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The strangest thing happened to me the other day: I had free time. My husband had taken care of Viv in the morning, so I was able to get work done. While she was at school, I got my exercise in. Then, later in the day, I dropped her at her grandma’s nearby. She loves her grandma and wanted some playtime with her.

Then I drove away, with about 90 minutes to kill. What to do? Go home and hang? Well, normally I would, but during her nap, I had managed to watch Hardball. Meet up with my hubby for some lovin’? Got that in at naptime, too. So what was left?

I always crave downtime, then I got some and I didn’t know what to do! I texted a friend, and she said, “Just go relax somewhere.” Hmm… just go relax somewhere?

What did I end up doing? I went to the bank, ate at a taco place, then shopped for Vivien’s birthday and for some of her friends who have upcoming birthday parties. My big treat was going into a bookstore, but I barely looked for me and made a beeline for the kids’ sections, where I bought Vivien books about being a big sister, not hitting, and potty training. And I got a hot chocolate.

So in this week’s poll, I want to know what you would have done: Continue reading →

Pay Off At The Polls: Results Are In!

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Hey, last week I laid out a Presidential poll and then never told you who won the “election.” And I thought the Supreme Court of 2000 was irresponsible!

So here are the results:

Now, of course you can’t have a more unscientific and biased poll than one on a website. I have espoused my pro-choice Democratic leanings here, so I can assume a majority of Cool Mom readers share this opinion – skew #1. What is interesting is that when I looked at the poll at about 4pm the day we posted it, McCain was in the lead by about 10 to 15 percentage points. So there was a late liberal surge, which does reflect the larger electoral trend that conservatives, older people, married people, and working people are more reliable voters.

The only way Obama can win is if he does get people who have never voted, or who rarely vote, to the polls. He has to get what Kerry got and more. That would mean his new registered younguns and every single African American, not to mention every latte-swilling lefty, has to show up, especially since he is losing some of his lead over McCain with women. The voting block that has the ability to push Democrats over the finish line has to be on Obama’s side.

Also, I’m always intrigued by undecideds. If any undecideds want to share why they haven’t decided, or what they still need to see, or if they are sitting this out, I would love to hear that. I understand if there is a lack of enthusiasm since my candidate of choice is no longer in the running. I am still voting, but not in a “whooppee!!! kind of way. But my distaste for the last few years is a huge factor… oh, and there’s that pro-choice thing.

A Sticky Subject? Results Are In!

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Now this week’s Cool Mom Poll was something we deal with every day: the stickers on the car window. Putting up this poll really helped focus my thoughts on this issue. I was considering allowing the stickers to grow and flourish, in exchange for a little peace and quiet. But the “isn’t it enough my body will never look the same” contingent won out with you, and it won me over.

I peeled them off as best I could and Mark went out with soap and a rag and got the left-over sticker remains.

I must say I am impressed with the 13 percent of you who don’t even allow stickers in your universe. Gosh, how do you do that? It’s good to have some limits on what you can take.

Stickers On The Window

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I never wanted to be that mom. You know the one, the mom with her car covered in stickers? One or both of the backseat windows of my car is so laden with stickers that daylight no longer streams through. But in the interest of getting Vivien in the car for school without a fit, I let her bring in her Hello Kitty sticker book and today I caught her sticking four stickers on the back window of the car. Now, what do I do, give in and say, “Hehe, I’ve cut my hair and am considering a mini van”? I rarely leave my house, who am I fooling? Is it time to give into the dark side, OR do I rip off the stickers when she is not around? How much does it matter if my Cheerio wagon has one more mess in it?

So, my question for this week is…

Cool Mom Political Poll

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And I thought all the fun was over with the primaries! The Democrats pulled it together with Hillary, Bill, Gore, Biden and all to be a superb opening act for a great speech by Obama where he finally forcefully went after the Senator from Arizona. Could this Hillary fan luxuriate in my make up sex with BO? No, cause Friday McCain yells, “take that, kid.” And taps Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska for his VP. Have to hand it to his campaign, they really kept that under wraps. No texting the supporters gone asunder, just a well played political surprise.

It’s a controversial choice for sure…and that was before we found out about her daughter being in the family way (more about that tomorrow). But I gave McCain a gloved applause. After being told by Obama that big Mac was not a maverick he gets to wear the mantle again.

HILLARY FACTOR
Will it bring this pro choice Hillary fan to vote for McCain? No, because my vote goes toward the betterment of all woman and I Believe, that is best accomplished by having more liberal justices on the Supreme Court than the GOP would place. But I have to admit I did like Palin, she is charming. Love that she popped another kid out in her forties and barely missed a beat in her work, even though her baby was born with Down syndrome.

Palin is plucky even if she loses she will get a book deal and a good speaking fee after this. And some of the sweet old ladies in the South I spoke to when I was working for Hillary might go for it. They aren’t comfortable with Obama, don’t love McCain either, maybe a down to earth lady will help them decide.

But, are there some of us who have not decided? Or like my mom, and few friends, are sticking with the Libertarian party, who I have great affinity for?

If the election were held today, who would you, vote for?

Time Out For, Time Out’s? Survey Results Are In!

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Okay, here are the results of the FIRST EVER COOL MOM.COM SURVEY/QUIZ. Although this one was a survey, there could be a quiz in the future. I instituted a quiz when I first took the helm of the Dr. Dean Edell show and I’ve been a sucker for them ever since.

Well, here are the results:

I would have loved more “Overrated And Lame” votes. Just goes to show there is no magic bullet. I partly did this because I can’t make up my mind. If I just threaten a time out, Viv doesn’t like it. She definitely doesn’t like it when I actually enforce a time out. After I have made the decision to give a time out I don’t a shift in behavior. If she is at that out of control stage 95% of the time it’s because she’s over tired and no “discipline” is going to help. My only hope is getting her to sack out. The other 5% of bad behavior is usually because I’ve been watching too much Olympics or Democratic convention and she’s had it with my neglect and lack of cartoons.

The 9% who say Time Outs are very effective I wonder what you are doing exactly, to make it work so well?

The other thing that bugs me about Time Outs is, when I was a kid it didn’t have that name. My mom just threw me in my room. So I rankle at what seems like an over precious phrase. I wasn’t able to track down who coined the term. Guess it works better than, “give me a minute before I lose my marbles.”

Time Out Quiz

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Of all moms’ modern day nomenclature, one that is stated between parents as a given means of discipline is the “time out.” But, is it? The article I just linked here states that it is “very effective.” I am not so sure about “time outs.” I do use it when frustrated since society has pretty much agreed that flinging your kid across the room is a bad idea. But, I do find giving Vivien a countdown shapes her behavior up, even better. So what I do is something like this, “I am going to count to five and I expect you to be in your car seat…,1-2″ She stops climbing through the car and gets in her seat knowing the if she doesn’t get in her car seat, that “mean voice” is coming.

So, here is my first ever mom quiz/survey.  Weigh in on this one.  And watch out, “Play-dates, the time for your reckoning,” is coming soon.