I’m not sure if I’d ever use this or not, but I’m fascinated with the website NiceCritic, “The Anonymous Way to Send a Helpful Message”. You can choose from nine different message categories, from personal hygiene to office behavior.

It’s meant to be used in social situations such as the workplace. school or neighborhood to give people constructive criticism, and I like the way the site emphasizes that it’s best to communicate face to face, but it still feels a bit passive-aggressive to me.

However, that trepidation isn’t keeping me from checking to see which messages are sent the most and wishing I’d thought of it.

(via Working Moms Against Guilt)

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Through a series of plans falling through, I’m awarding myself the “Working Mother Stereotype of the Day” award.

As I said before, the next couple of weeks are always a disaster for us, childcare-wise because my husband is a teacher and he returns to school before the kids do.

Additionally, my oldest starts high school this week and she goes back before the younger two as well.

Both my husband and daughter are at school this morning and I was going to go to work late and it would leave the boys (ages 12 and 6) home alone for a couple of hours until my husband got home, which is OK.

However, I’ve been sick and have missed a lot of work recently, and I suddenly remembered that I had to have blood drawn this morning at a certain time.

I got dressed, told my middle child to feed the younger one, stay inside, eat something that’s not candy and try not to burn anything down, and I raced out the door.

I’ve spoken with them, and they are fine, but I’m guessing you’re in one of two camps here:

1. “I can relate.”
2. “You did what? You should be at home raising your children, why did you even have them?”

Either way, I just brought to life every chick-lit book or movie of the week about working mothers.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

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In the spirit of David Letterman’s Top 10 list , Lyla M. Alphonse presents, Are you a working mom? Take the test.

You know you’re a working mom if:

1.) You put things you’ve already done on your to-do list, just so you have something to cross off immediately.

2.) You’ve lost weight, and you realize that it’s probably because all you’re eating is whatever is left on your toddler’s plate after dinner.

3.) You’ve gained weight, and you realize that it’s probably because you’re eating whatever is left on your toddler’s plate after dinner in addition to your own meal.

There’s more, read the rest.

Though I’m sure all parents have something to add, there’s certain themes to which many of us can relate.

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So, one minute, it’s July and you’re doing the regular summer stuff.

The next minute, it’s August 1st and you’re back at the school stuff.

Yes, really.

Well, it’s getting geared up, anyway.

My daughter is starting high school on Friday (!) and she had volleyball tryouts this weekend and made the team. As exciting as it is, she has practice every day the rest of the month and no two days appear to be at the same times, either.

We picked up my 7th grade son from camp on Saturday and had to drive him directly to football practice. That’ll be 4 days a week, now and my youngest hasn’t even started the soccer season, yet.

My husband (a teacher) starts back this week, and the younger kids (grade school) don’t start for another week and a half or so, which is a lot of fun because he keeps them in the summer. We inadvertently let my daughter agree to babysit for another teacher’s family one day this week and forgot that someone will need to stay with our own kids!

Though my mother-in-law will come up and help us for a few days, that’s not until next week and I’ve been really sick and missed a great deal of work, so I can’t stay home until then.

Oh, and we still have school supplies to get and summer reading to do.

Hmm, is it summer, yet?

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It’s nearly back to school time, and a strudy backpack is a great way to start.

Lands’ End introduces the Study Haul Backpack:

Made of 100% Cordura nylon and measuring 17″Hx13 1/2″Wx6 1/2″D. 1490 cu. in, the Study Haul:

- The Good Housekeeping Research Institute calls the Cordura StudyHaul Backpack a “Grade-A Standout” and gives it the only perfect score for performance
- Side pockets have compartments for all their supplies
- Stash pocket keeps smaller items handy
- Big main compartment holds plenty of books
- 360 reflective trim helps make them visible
- C-shaped padded shoulder straps fit kids better
- MP3/CD player pouch & cord port for tunes

It’s top loading and has a wode mouth and is very, very sturdy. It seems to be a good size for a middle school student, might be a bit small for a high schooler, but it realyl depends on how much they have to carry.

There’s also a large, easily accessible pocket on the outside for a jacket or anything you might have to reach quickly.

It retails for $39.50

Would you like to win one of your own Study Haul backpacks in red?

1. Leave a comment to be entered to win.
2. Earn an extra entry by Twittering this or putting this contest on your blog.
3. Please leave separate comments for each entry
4. Leave your entries before Thursday, August 7, 2008 11pm CST. Winner will be chosen by a random drawing.

Good luck!

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