Kids Online... Yeah, I know... here we go.

When a Facebook status gets too long... move it to the blog, Deb.

I sometimes feel like I'm the only parent on the planet who doesn't let their kid have Facebook, or a cell phone. Am I so weird?  Am I too up tight??? Feel free to comment below, I want to hear what you think.

 I will say this; I don't think anyone is wrong, everyone parents differently. This is how I feel personally.

To be honest so far it hasn't been an issue, my kids are pretty awesome about it and they don't complain.  I told them both several years ago; the rules on the website say 13 so I'm just following the rules, and they accept that.
I can see a few advantages - friends they used to go to school with, friends who live further away that they don't see, family that they don't see... but I think there's way too much on there that I can't control! As much as I trust my kids, and they've so far been really responsible online and know what's appropriate and what's not... Seriously - do you trust every single one of your family members to make their posts PC so your kid can safely read them? Or to refrain from posting inappropriate GIFs on their walls with things your 8 or 10 year-old shouldn't see? I know I don't! I don't even trust ME to do that. I have my dad on a filter in case I get angsty, but I've forgotten a few times and get the "I wish you wouldn't talk like that" speech from him when I post a rant. True story. And we all have our moments, right?

Now... Bri's only mentioned a cell phone twice so far, but I'm like - what does a 10 year old need a cell phone for anyway? If she's not with me or some other parent/step-parent, she's at school - so what exactly is the need?  Besides - I can still barely convince her to answer the house phone, say "Hello?" and give it to whomever they ask for.

Thank goodness my kids are good with rules (for the most part). But... am I too up tight or something?
I feel a little BAD, like I'm being the mom that won't let their kid have a Super Nintendo, and I'm SOOO MEANNNN...!  (ya, I'm old. shh.)

Yours truly...

So, I went over to my inlaws' place yesterday after work. They've been together foreverrrr.  I sat there silently realizing and appreciating that their ridiculous bickering (at that moment: him smooching at her like a big kid, her telling him off but clearly still amused) looked incredibly familiar. 

I think the feeling that came over me was just pure contentment. You can say you KNOW, and you've gotten it right... And be telling the truth (or even just hoping desperately that you are)... But there's nothing quite like the moments of indirect confirmation.

Yeah, I'm mushy. Deal.

I'm sorry, your rights are only upheld if it's convenient to the local highway...

This makes me sick, really.

"The ministry has said previously it has made repeated buyout offers, based on three independent property appraisals, for the land needed to reconstruct an interchange at Lake Ridge Rd. and Highway 401."

I didn't hear anyone involved say anything about a dollar value, there, Ministry.  I didn't even hear them complaining about how much they were offered, really.  It's the fact that you offered anything.  Why can't you understand that you will never offer them enough to replace THE VALUE OF THEIR FAMILY HOME that was built by his own hands?  It's not about your stupid road, or about how important it is that all the pissed off people in the world get to work 5 minutes faster --- because clearly another highway is going to cut down on traffic; It'll only last about 2 years... or until 10 more subdivisions pop up on the fancy prime property with highway access, and subsequently clusterfuck the new on-ramp. Whichever comes first.

But seriously, it's not about how much the world needs another highway.  It's about being human, and human rights.  I really don't think "The Ministry" should have the right to kick ANYONE out of their property unless they agree to sell it.  That's total BS and it makes me kindof ashamed to be Canadian, if this is how we treat senior citizens.  I don't care how much you offered them.  I agree, it wouldn't be enough for me either.  Let me get this straight... you can offer them $600k for their land, but you can't find a way to use that money and go around it?  Hell, they can't even have enough human kindness to say "Since we're plowing through your house to build our highway, why don't we CREATE some road access to the remaining land that you won't sell?"...  Just a thought.

Ugh.  It's like nothing is sacred.  We work all our lives looking forward to the point where we'll own our own things and our own property and build our own home (figuratively or literally) and raise our family... but don't hold your breath, because your Government cares so much about you that they'll kick you out on your ass when you're older than dirt because the younger generation can't get off their ass and take a GO train - we clearly just need more highways, more apartment buildings... less pesky green farm fields and wooded areas.

*** EDIT *** I should add... no, I didn't read any other articles about the 407 or anything.  I really quite honestly don't care - what I care about is the atrocious way this situation is/was being handled.  Whether it's a route or an extension or a new highway or an old highway ---- the point is I don't think what they did to this family is right.