As If you couldn't tell...:)

I totally re-did my blog.  In true Monique fashion, I became bored with the old layout/template and dug in to find a new template design-which I did-and I really am liking at the moment.  There are still a few tweaks (like the link poking out from behind the post box-I think it says older posts?  I have no idea how to get rid of it!) I need to iron out, so hopefully that will happen in the next few days.  At night after I put Hunter to bed, I hop on the computer only to check the time and find it's 1 or 2 am-I really lose track of all sense of time when working on this stuff. I love it and find I want to keep learning more, more, more.


On a personal note-I just have to share what I saw yesterday at the grocery store.  Something that really infuriates me and I'm hoping isn't a common occurrance-although who am I kidding?  I'm sure this sort of selfish ignorance happens all the time. Grrr.


Anyway..


Hunter and went out to nab some groceries last night around, 6.  I pulled into the the plaza, parked the jeep an got out to retrieve Hunter on the other side of the car.  As I was turning to go around the back ,I saw the most disgusting sight EVER.  A thin young woman with a very large pregnant belly was sucking the life out of a cigarette while standing next to her car.  I looked at her and she looked at me-giving me the mind your own business lady stare back.  I didn't say anything, but I shook my head as if to say "shame on you".  As I opened the door to get Hunter out, I was a raging lunatic.  I wanted to go over there, flick that cigarette from her skinny little fingers and let her know just what I thought.  There's a life inside of you!  How could you do this to your baby?  How could you be so incredibly selfish?

I understand addictions.  I do.  I smoked cigarettes for seven years and holy hell was it hard to quit.  I smoked right up until I found out I was pregnant with Hunter, and as soon as I found out, I broke each and every single one of my cigs and thew them int he garbage-for good.  Yes, it was difficult.  I still get cravings every once in a while, but you do it.  You do it not just for yourself, but for the little precious life growing inside of you who deserves every ounce of chance he can get.  It's not just about you anymore. 




I have to take solace in the fact that things are much better than they were 30 years ago.  I mean-my mom was an avid smoker and puffed away while she was pregnant with me.   That wasn't so taboo back then-it was pretty much the norm.  It wasn't unusual, I guess is what I'm trying to say.  But now we know smoking, drinking, drugs...all of these actions can interrupt a fetus' development and possibly lead to long term problems at birth.  As parents-we have a really big job to do.  That task is to talk to your children and be as open with them as possible.  If they can't come to you to talk about it-who will they go to? .  And they may make big mistakes, like REALLY REALLY huge mistakes.  God knows I've made my share of them.  But I believe if you are a guide, are transparent (don't lie about something you did in your past-your kids will end up finding out about it later on) and take the time to really teach them while at home about the ins and outs of life, then they will always have that knowledge to carry with them to make their own choices when the need arises. 




..and hopefully not be one of those smoking pregnant moms. 


That's just plain stupid.