Post-A-Vista No. 6: Woooooooo-hooooooo It’s VIXEN!

Vixen, this is everyone. Everyone, this is the VIXEN! There! It’s done.
Now we all know each other.

In the meantime, Vixen is extremely young and delectably pretty but is already a Wacky Grandma! How did she work that? She lives in Southern California!!! She has a big honey of a husband and loves to write. Also, they haven’t had a crisis yet today! (We hope.) So let’s hear what SHE has to say!!!!!

1. Describe your family: I have a strong and loving family. A regular family with quirks and flaws. My husband and I met in middle school and have been married for almost 26 years. I have five kids (three biological & two who found us), two adorable grandchildren (and another on the way).

2. Name one thing America is doing right for parents (I, personally, would find this question “challenging.” wm): This is a very challenging question. It depends on whether we are talking America/government or America/culturally. I guess I would say creating an environment where we, as parents, can question and decide for ourselves what is best for our children.

3. Name one thing America is not doing right for parents: I think there is an entire cross-section of parents living between poverty and middle class who are unable to access opportunities others may take for granted.

4. What’s one parenting issue that really “riles you up,” makes you ready to work for change: The state of our public education. The system is out of control and not functioning. Our kids suffer and America suffers because parents must spend valuable time fighting the system; time that would be better spent with the children and families.

5. Who’s gonna get your vote for President ’08 & why? (feel free to
ignore this question): My daughter, Bear. She is attractive, witty, intelligent, down to earth, and very personable. She could probably save the world. She is a write-in, obviously.

6. Name one thing Post-a-Vistas could do to be a better place?: I think it’s pretty good just how it is.

7. What’s your fave thing about parenting? (And grandparenting?): Unconditional
love. Getting it and giving it.

8. Anything else you think we should know about you?: “Some people call me the space cowboy; Some call me the gangster of love; Some people call me Maurice…” OK, they don’t but they should!

Thanks for playing, Vixen!!! You are an excellent sport. Keep coming back, it works!

Hockey God, on his high school years: “I stayed out ’til 3 a.m. at a party, and after that my dad gave me a curfew of midnight. Which I thought was ridiculous, because the bars didn’t close until 2.”

me: “You were in high school.”

Hockey God: “Yeah, but the drinking age in Iowa was 19 then. And the third set didn’t start until 11 or 11:30. You wouldn’t want to leave midway through the third set. And all the good college parties were just getting going at midnight.”

me: “My mom tried to set boundaries the end of my senior year — she told me my boyfriend couldn’t stay the night anymore. But by then he’d been sleeping over for a couple of years. So we just started staying the night at his house.”

Hockey God: “See? You wouldn’t have been happy with a midnight curfew, either.”

Our daughter and son will be teenagers in five and eight years, respectively. You know what I’m guessing — they won’t want to leave midway through the third set, either.

dear internets,

This is the worst news I’ve gotten all week, cuz I love my girl Rockstar Mommy. (more…)