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Dear Readers,
Do you have a question regarding family life, budgeting, customer service issues, DVD or book reviews, or home organization? We will give you our candid advise from a family perspective. Contact us at dearhousewives@live.com with your confidential question and we will answer it in our next column.
June and Flora.
Dear Housewives,
I am a big thank you note writer. How do you send proper baby thank you's? I know I can write it for him but I feel that is so impersonal. How can I make it more like from baby?
Polite mom in Connecticut
JUNE: Dear Polite, I am happy to hear your question because not enough
people make their kids write thank you notes anymore. I do but I can't
tell you how many parties we have been to where we don't ever get a
thank you from the child. Shameful. You can print out a nice card or
write one out but include a picture of the baby enjoying the gift or
just a nice smiling picture. If the child can hold crayons you can have
them "scribble" a little something on the card. It shows you gave it an
effort to get the child interested. Keep up the good work.
FLORA: Writing thank you notes is a lost art in some circles. Starting
when your child as a baby is brilliant! I encourage you to keep up the
tradition until your child can write them. You may receive many gifts
over the years from people who took the time to select something special
for your child; taking the time to thank them is the right thing to do.
But....to answer your question. I really like the idea of a photo of
your child enjoying the gift along with a brief note thanking them. If
it is a monetary gift, you can write the note. Thank you for being
Thankful!
JUNE: I like the photo idea Flora. I make my own on the computer many
times and one year I had my son hold up a sign that was written in
crayon that said thank you. He had all his toys around him. Since we
didn't open them when people were there it was a great way for all to
see what he had gotten.
Dear Housewives,
I need to have your perspective on people who buy doggie strollers for
their dogs.
Perplexed, completely perplexed.
FLORA: There is no good reason I can think of why a responsible dog
owner would not exercise their dog and parade them in a foo-foo
stroller. It seems to be 'all about the owner' and not about the dog.
Stick with the leash people.
JUNE: I know someone who does this with their cat. I agree (surprise!)
with Flora, there is no reason an animal (who people domesticated)
should not feel the ground and the grass on their feet. Animals are not
people, they are made with tough paws and fur. They can withstand hot
and cold temps and can walk on rough terrain. Get a grip. Don't get a
pet if you want to be that dainty get a picture of a pet.
Dear Housewives,
I was having a conversation, a serious one at that, with someone in
their 20's and twice she checked her cell phone. It did not ring, but a
signal must have went off letting her know there was a text message. It
was quick but quite rude. What do my Dear Housewives think of this
common behavior?
PS I think you both are fabulous. You should put a book together of all
your columns and have a book signing. I would like to meet you both!
Signed A Big Fan in northern Connecticut
JUNE: First let me say thanks for the kudos. Not sure everyone would
like to meet us but you never say never. A book would be nice, right
Flora?
The cell phone generation is one of the rudest generations of our
times. People use them to check times, get messages, take pictures and
text. When having a conversation with someone or checking out in line
at the store, put the phone down. People lived for thousands of years
without being in touch every second of every day. People put the phone
down, you will be okay.
FLORA: Thank you so much for being a fan. We enjoy the questions we
receive each month; we never know what to expect!! A compilation of Dear
Housewives Letters in book form would be a fun project.
As for the cell phone issue, I think unless there is an emergency, (and
that would be mentioned before hand) keep the cell phone tucked away.
Stop looking at the time, stop texting and do not answer during time
together with someone.
Cell phones and the computer seem to be habit forming. But, if no one
brings it to their attention, they think nothing of it. It reminds me
of the telephone: "Can you hold on? I have someone on the other line..."
but that is another question for another column.
*A note to drivers: Driving around with a cell phone to your ear when
you have children in the car is neglectful. Engage in meaningful
conversation with your children. Toddlers in need of dialogue are
strapped in their car seat staring out the window while the driver is
yapping on the phone. Kids will communicate better, read better and
treat others better when they have a good head start. Thanks!*
_*Book Nook/Movie Corner*_
FLORA: I am so backed-up with my reading. I am currently catching up on
some magazine piles (Oprah and Kiplinger's) and reading my Bible. I just
finished making a large quilt that was appliquéd, embroidered, done by
hand and some machine work. Making that was fun! I plan on starting a
new one next week. June, I still need to come by and look at you quilts!
JUNE: Flora and her Bible studies. Aren't you done with that book
yet? What in the world is Kiplinger's? I just read The Last Lecture
by Randy Pausch. This was a quick read and a nice little book about a
professor facing the end of his life with cancer.
FLORA: Kiplinger's in a personal finance magazine. I read /The Last
Lecture/ in bits and pieces in the deli line over a few weeks.
I plan on seeing the 1980 movie Airplane this week. June must be
thinking: Shirley, she can't be serious...
JUNE: Ahh, Airplane? What century are you from Flora? Oh, hey, I have
a great movie for you it is called The Wizard of Oz. You probably
haven't heard of it yet. After that maybe a little ditty about a man
named George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life. Flora, you need to get
with the program.
JUNE: Attention people. Here is an idea for something different to do
with your husband or family. I took Mr. June and two out of three
little Junes' on a helicopter ride a couple of weeks ago. The foliage
was beautiful and it was really fun. I am afraid of heights badly but
managed to go and do it. It started as an anniversary gift for my
husband but turned into an adventure for him, our kids and me. (And I hate to fly.) The
pilot was very good and we had a great experience. Check it out--your men would love it.
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