The Silver Whining

The Awakening

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Thu, 13 May 2010 01:21:00 +0000

Picture this: You've had a long day with the kids, filled with kindergarten, a makeup swimming lesson, a two-hour meeting developmental meeting, more swimming lessons and then the rush home for dinner. T-ball starts at 6PM and you've scrambled to get everything done and the kids fed and ready. At 5:50, you start to wrangle them and this is what you find... And this... What do...

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T-Ball Dropout

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:56:00 +0000

Like most moms, I can get overwhelmed. There are times during the week when I think I'm doing it all wrong and wonder how I got myself so far in over my head. There are moments -- sometimes days -- where self-doubt gets me down and I feel like my kids suffer from my inability to go with the flow. T-Ball is one of those times. My boys just joined the city's t-ball league. When the city...

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A Monumental Day (Times Two)

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:43:00 +0000

Today marks two important milestones in our family's life. Before coming home to us, my daughter sat for 19 months in a nursery, caught in the middle of a lot of red tape, not realizing she'd ever have a real place to call home. It wasn't that she wasn't well cared for -- they kept her clean, fed and loved as much as possible -- but she wasn't with her family. Over the past year and a...

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Mom and Pop (corn)

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 16:28:00 +0000

We're spending a quiet morning discussing our day's plans when the idea of seeing How to Tame Your Dragon was tossed on the table. "Ok, I'll grab some drinks and pop up a couple of bags of popcorn for it." Wait, what? It's no surprise that I expect the kids to finish what's on their plate, will save shopping bags even when I'll never use them again and I refuse to throw away toothpaste until...

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Are "Mommy Bloggers" Bad Parents?

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:19:00 +0000

"Mommy Bloggers." It's a term as polarizing as full-day kindergarten and universal health care. For every person who lives and breathes for using their laptop as a diary, there's another who thinks blogging is the gateway to child abuse, done by terrible moms who exploit kids' failures and embarrassing moments online just for the sake of a good blog post. -->-->I have lived on both sides of...

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This Is Not Goodbye...

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:14:00 +0000

It's been almost three years since I started this blog. What began as an online journal to help us through the decision to adopt and a way to connect with others through the process, my blog turned into so much more. I have told stories, voiced opinions, revealed fears and frustrations. I have asked you to open your hearts and minds and have tossed ideas and concerns your way. And we have...

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Kid Music You'll Actually Like

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:37:00 +0000

While he may not listen when I ask him to grab milk or take out the trash, my husband has been listening to his fans (and their kids). Today, he released his first-ever kids' CD (featuring a few adorable MacDougall children, of course) and will be performing in front of a LIVE -- and presumably rambunctious -- audience coming up on February 6th. If you're in Southern California and have small...

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Haitian Children Make It Home to Adoptive Parents

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:39:00 +0000

Don't forget: NOW, you can become a fan of The Silver Whining on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/The-Silver-Whining/100228001345?ref=ts

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Actual Conversation

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:29:00 +0000

Jacob: Mommy, tell me a story. Me: Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Jacob. After growing in my belly, one day Mommy and Daddy woke up so early, before the sun even came up, and drove to the hospital where the doctor took you out. Jacob: Wow. How many points did I get? Note to self: Get kid off the video games.Don't forget: NOW, you can become a fan of The Silver Whining on...

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Brady P.I.

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:46:00 +0000

Somebody needs to tell Jeff to step away from the iPhone apps. See also: The Post That Needs No Title The Future's So BrightDon't forget: NOW, you can become a fan of The Silver Whining on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/The-Silver-Whining/100228001345?ref=ts

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A Decade to Remember

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:57:00 +0000

December 31, 1999 I was sitting in a rented RV at a Disney World campground. Way back in the '80s, my father had the idea for all of us Morgans (13 kids) and our future families to spend the momentous occasion all together at the very spot we enjoyed year after year during my childhood. (Yes, the whole crew would pack up in the RV and head down to Florida during our spring vacation. Still not...

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Operation Eat Your Veggies

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:06:00 +0000

After five years of kicking, screaming, crying and moping -- all by me -- I finally had enough and decided that the food issues in this house were going to be addressed -- once and for all. Ask any mom, doctor or food eater in the world and everyone has their own opinion. I think I've heard them all. But this time, it was my opinion I followed and I was determined to do it my way and get results....

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Bigger than a Bread Box

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:45:00 +0000

Move over Snuggie, the hot gift in this house this year has been in progress for seven months, taken hours of sweat, tears, a little blood and a lot of stress. Remember this? Now it looks like THIS: Not only is it the gift that keeps on giving, we'll be paying it off for Christmases to come. Maybe I'll even get new window treatments and barstools (now seats 6) for my birthday. *Backsplash...

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Could "Find My Family" Ruin Lives?

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:36:00 +0000

When I saw promos recently for Find My Family, I was immediately taken aback. I mean I worked in TV promotion for over a decade, I understand the need to make things look compelling and emotional. It's how you bring people in to watch your show. But I couldn't shake the feeling that the show is just plain wrong. I explained this to a friend who encouraged me to give it a shot. Begrudgingly, I...

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Taiwanese-American Idol

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:25:00 +0000

The kids ran wild the other night at the boys' Tae Kwon Do holiday party. As they danced, decorated and devoured lots of fattening foods and desserts (yes Jacob, I saw you sneaking another cookie), Lucy was more caught up in the entertainment. A couple of students and relatives of the studio sang holiday songs for the rest of us to enjoy. No sooner did "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"...

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A Real-Life Holiday Letter

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:15:00 +0000

Every single year, we try to top the last with our holiday card. Since 2002, we've brainstormed, Photoshopped, stuffed, licked, sealed, stamped and mailed what we hope would bring a smile to the faces of our friends and family. It seems we've backed ourselves into a little corner, sending out original (and sometimes humorous) messages each year to family and friends. We often hear "I look forward...

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Pardon My (Dis)Appearance

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:12:00 +0000

Remember those stones from a few weeks ago? Tomorrow, they'll be removed from by body -- along with my gallbladder -- by who I can only imagine is a Luke Skywalker-channeling, saber-toting surgeon who uses boring surgeries like mine to brush up on his Star Wars skills. I told you he's young and cute... he's probably still into Star Wars, right? Anyway, so my lying around in bed for a day or so...

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The Newest Holiday Classic Song for Grownups

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:13:00 +0000

Santa... Rudolph... Frosty... don't you think they've had enough time in the holiday limelight? There's one character that never gets the attention she so deserves. If you've never encountered her at a past or present holiday party, you just haven't lived. I now present... Becky, the Office Party Drunk Girl, written and recorded by Jeff MacDougall (and his slightly insane wife). Becky The...

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Mac Friday

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:02:00 +0000

How many of you were up before the crack of dawn, being shoved, yelled at and wishing you could just find cover and possibly sneak in a nap later? Yeah, me too -- except I wasn't braving the stores. I was protecting myself from my own rambunctious kiddos as we shared the guest room at Grandma and Papa's, trying not to wake up the rest of the house at such an ungodly hour. But instead of...

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Thankful for Honesty

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:32:00 +0000

While I was helping Brady with this fancy creation at preschool, I asked him what he was thankful for. I had already decided that I was going to write down whatever he said, not forcing him to answer with the obvious things like his stunning and talented mom. Here was his answer... Ok, if you were truly honest... what are you REALLY thankful for?Don't forget: NOW, you can become a fan of...

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Do You Have the Adoption Bug?

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:44:00 +0000

I've never made it a secret that I consider adoption to be hard. Some days, it's swallowed me whole, chewed me to a pulp and spit me out like a wad of gum, only to be stepped on by some unsuspecting fool. It's true parenting as a whole can leave you crying Uncle but adoption, at least for our family, has had an added element of complication, insecurity and unforeseen challenges. That's why I'm...

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Neither Rain, Nor Snow, Nor Sleet, Nor a Heart

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:18:00 +0000

We've lived in our house at the end of the cul-de-sac for over four years, longer than I've lived anywhere since shacking up with my parents for 23 years. We've enjoyed our nice little life here -- safe neighborhood, nice neighbors and a mailman who's like clockwork. Until now. Our reliable, punctual, pleasant mail carrier Rafael had the nerve to up and retire on us. In his place, a...

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Doogie Howser Lives

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:14:00 +0000

When I was in my 20s, I had a rude awakening. I was looking through the stats of the Red Sox starting lineup and realized that more than half of them were younger than I was. When did that happen? Yesterday, it was even worse. As I met the doctor who would be performing my gallbladder surgery, I found myself wondering, "how old is this guy?" After a little talk about my stones, I had the gall to...

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Exclusive Photo: Ladies Weekend

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:44:00 +0000

Move over Girls Gone Wild! When two moms take off for the weekend, leaving the men and kids behind, it can get pretty crazy. Just click on "read more" to get the surprising photo! What was planned to be all about spa treatments and zen time in Santa Fe, NM turned into serious stomach and back pain for me. When it continued to get worse and worse over more than 12 hours, my amazingly patient,...

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Facing the Facts

jackie@thesilverwhining.com (JackieMacD) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:49:00 +0000

With money tight, we all have to make decisions and sacrifices that we'd rather not make. Eating dinner out... we barely do it anymore. Clothes and shoes? I look but I don't purchase. While those are definitely things we enjoy, they're not nearly as difficult to forgo as my facials. Spending an hour to myself with no kids, no phone and no Internet is not only a gift to my sanity, it's key in...

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