What is your hot topic? What really gets you going?

[gvillemama]

just a few...
1) People who cheat on their spouses or significant others...especially when there are kids involved. If it's that bad, just leave them.
2) People who don't wait for their turn. We went to Chicago last week and were up in the Willis (Sears) Tower. The new ledges were pretty full so we just stood on the carpet in front of one to wait for our turn. Then lo and behold five people just walked up and squeezed in front of us. No there isn't a true line per say, but its just common courtesy not to cut. If I had been at Disney, I would have probably tried to run them over with DS stroller (only if he wasn't in it)!
3) People who keep calling when you don't answer instead of leaving a voice mail. I will call you back...you don't have to keep calling.
4) My sister who thinks the world owes her everything...then again maybe I was that way when I was 18.
5) People who call me at work (I work for city government) and ask for a number. I start giving them the number and they interrupt to say, "Oh let me get something to write with." If you are going to call to get a number, wouldn't you be prepared to write the number down??

Ok...off my soap box!
Have a nice day!

 

[TheRatPack]

Lately my big pet peeve is people who say "Well, it wasn't meant to be" or "God didn't mean for it to happen" when you tell them of a bad life event....etc. I had a miscarriage and seriously...those statements do not help at all. Why is it okay to say it over something like a miscarriage, job loss or other event but if I in turn pick out a tramatic event in their life and say something snide like "well I guess that's why your marriage didn't work"....that's not nice at all is it.

 

[TheRatPack]

People who think it's okay to ask my children personal questions just because we are different colors. They have been asked, "So what was wrong with your real mother?" and "Do you ever get to see your real mother?" I get asked in front of them, "Oh you're a foster parent?" or "All they all yours, all brothers and sisters, etc." We are a real family! One built through adoption, but as real as can be! Nothing was "Wrong" with their birthmoms for choosing adoption.

I know people are just curious and don't realize how their comments sound to my kids. Thankfully we get to talk about all of it, but it gets tiring when it happens day after day.

AMEN!!! I'm so tired of people asking me about their 'real' mom....or what happened. It's none of their business and I am their real mom. We always get asked "are they siblings"...umm....yes? Their is true interest in adoption for those wanting to adopt themselves and then there is just plain NOSEY!

 

[enchantingodin]

Yep, that's me. I am not working as a teacher because after putting two in daycare, paying for gas, paying for work necessities (especially in the case of teachers, who shell out lots of money to fund their own classrooms), I would be bringing home nothing. I choose to stay home and enjoy my children intead. Granted, we do not take any government money because we are blessed enough to be able to afford things on my DHs income alone, but we do have a tight budged and live paycheck to paycheck. I will not take government money when it was my choice to stay home.

Which brings me to my first pet peeve---people thinking that stay-at-home moms are either uneducated and lazy people living off the government, or rich trophy wives. There are those of us who are in between. And I hate when people say, "Oh, you JUST stay home, you don't work?" Yeah, you're right, I probably sit around eating bon-bons and watching soap operas all day...taking care of two kids, while homeschooling one for pre-k and nursing the other, couponing (see, told you I have a budget!), cleaning, and running ALL family errands is really lazy of me...

Same here. I do stay at home with my kids during the day. Know why? I did the MATH. After buying another car (we only have one - and no public transit), paying for the extra insurance and gas, and paying for daycare we would end up 100 dollars in the NEGATIVE every month.

Even now that both of them will be in school in a few weeks. If I went full time at my current part-time job. We would only come out 75-100 bucks ahead every month. So NOT worth the added stress on my family.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

:I'm amazed somebody told you breastfeeding is unnatural

I know! I get pretty taken aback. Some people actually think its perverted or abnormal. My DH's friend said to him that she doesn't get it and would never do it herself because it's ''unnatural." She used that word. Even if you thought such things, why would you choose to share them with breastfeeding parents?

I get equally as annoyed with parents who condem others for using formula. I think people should do what works for them and not concern themselves with others' choices.

 

[copwife92]

It bugs me when people write the two words a lot as one word "alot". You would not write "alittle".

 

[PaddingtonBear]

I am annoyed by people who use an apostrophe to indicate plural. Examples that I've seen recently on signs:
- Violator's will be towed
- Craft show on Dec. 14th. Crafter's wanted
- Flamingo's on the Lawn.

Violators, crafters and flamingos, people. An apostophe indicates possesive not plural! Geez. I'm no grammar nazi, but that bugs.

I am also annoyed by people who think that my breasts are any of thier business. If I choose not to even try breastfeeding, it might be because I am a selfish, lazy mother who couldn't care less about her child. Or it might be becuase I am on medication that prohibits it, it might be because I have physiological issues that make breastfeeding extremely difficult, it might be because I have some serious body issues due to abuse in my past, or it might be becuase I just don't feel comfortable breastfeeding and I know that forumla is a perfectly acceptable choice. Its nobodys stinking business but my own and my husbands, and I don't have to justify myself to anyone.

Last one- I'm so annoyed by people that say "I didn't want someone else raising my child" when they talk about being a SAHM. If you're talking to other SAHMs that's fine, but when you're talking to me, and you know I work, please don't be so insensitive. I don't make negative remarks about your decisions, please don't make negative remarks about mine. I promise you, DH and I are raising our children, even though they are in daycare while we work. There is more than one right way to raise children.

 

[Fintastic]

5) People who call me at work (I work for city government) and ask for a number. I start giving them the number and they interrupt to say, "Oh let me get something to write with." If you are going to call to get a number, wouldn't you be prepared to write the number down??

This was one of my biggest annoyances when I was a receptionist!

Last one- I'm so annoyed by people that say "I didn't want someone else raising my child" when they talk about being a SAHM. If you're talking to other SAHMs that's fine, but when you're talking to me, and you know I work, please don't be so insensitive. I don't make negative remarks about your decisions, please don't make negative remarks about mine. I promise you, DH and I are raising our children, even though they are in daycare while we work. There is more than one right way to raise children.

I agree with this one too. When their kids go to public school, do they think the teachers are "raising" their kids? When you get a babysitter for a few hours, is that babysitter "raising" your kids? Nope. Parents raise their kids, period. Parents pay for braces and take their kids to the doctor when they're sick. Parents stay up all night with teething babies. Until my daughter's daycare teacher does that, I don't consider her to be "raising" my child!

 

[Bastiansmom]

just a few...
1) People who cheat on their spouses or significant others...especially when there are kids involved. If it's that bad, just leave them.
2) People who don't wait for their turn. We went to Chicago last week and were up in the Willis (Sears) Tower. The new ledges were pretty full so we just stood on the carpet in front of one to wait for our turn. Then lo and behold five people just walked up and squeezed in front of us. No there isn't a true line per say, but its just common courtesy not to cut. If I had been at Disney, I would have probably tried to run them over with DS stroller (only if he wasn't in it)!
3) People who keep calling when you don't answer instead of leaving a voice mail. I will call you back...you don't have to keep calling.
4) My sister who thinks the world owes her everything...then again maybe I was that way when I was 18.
5) People who call me at work (I work for city government) and ask for a number. I start giving them the number and they interrupt to say, "Oh let me get something to write with." If you are going to call to get a number, wouldn't you be prepared to write the number down??

Ok...off my soap box!
Have a nice day!

#1 I soooo agree with this. I hate cheating. IMO, if cheaters would spend more time nurturing their current relationship rather than searching for a new relationship, they wouldn't feel the "need" to cheat. And I really hate people who say, " I don't know how it happened" To which I want to reply: "REALLY?!?!?! Your pants fall off and you hop into bed without knowing it! Come with me quick and I'll lock you in a padded room. We don't want you to have any more accidents."

#5 Last night we had to go by the bank to sign some loan papers after the bank had closed. I called the loan officer to tell him we were on the way. He said to call him when we got there so he could let us in. Then he asked if I had the number! Hello??? I just called you, and yes I still have the number from 20 seconds ago! Not a pet peeve, but very funny!

 

[abcboys]

Well mine mostly have to do with the in-laws.

MIL and FIL constantly complaining about how broke they were. Yeah, that's because you never save your money. Always buying cigarettes and lottery tickets and now when times are hard b/c one of you is off of work for disability you don't know how to handle it b/c you never saved anything when you were both making decent money.

BIL living here at the basement of my house. Yeah, I wouldn't leave either if my rent, utilities, water, and internet were only $170/month.

People coming to pick up BIL and parking right behind me even though they can see I'm loading up the kids and getting ready to back up. BIL was paralyzed in a car accident a year ago and just b/c he's in a wheelchair now doesn't mean he's any more special than me.

Well a lot bugs me about BIL the fact that he doesn't work anymore so he is at my house ALL THE FREAKIN TIME b/c of his paraylysis. He has full use of his trunck and arms (injury at T12) but rides around the house in a powerwheelchair cause he's too lazy to use a push wheelchair. It's been over a year now I think it's time you get out and start driving again and start being more independent. We are not talking Christopher Reeves here with no hand control....or a 70 year old man who is weak. BIL is not even 40 yet. I just hate that he is here at my house all the time, its so not worth $170 month.

Another pet peeve is when you are waiting in line at the grocery store and have been waiting for a few minutes and they open up another line and someone comes up out of nowhere and rushes in that line even though you have been waiting longer.

Wow, it feels good getting all that off my chest.

 

[Disney1976]

I haven't read through the entire thread, so forgive me if this has already been written. These are just the few off the top of my head.

1) People who immediately try to get on the elevator before you can even get off. People, please do NOT stand right in front of the doors of the elevator waiting when you know that there is a good chance people will be getting off. Give me an opportunity to get out before you shove yourself inside. This is especially true of a place like Disney, where there are people constantly going in and out, often with luggage! Oh, and don't smoke or drink in the elevator, either. That's just rude.

2) People who leave their trash on the ground in the parking lot. I'm sorry, but this is just disgusting. No one wants to see your beer bottles, fast food wrappers, or wet/messy disposable diapers all over the ground. I understand that a trash can might not be close by, but guess what? Leave the trash in your car until you get to a destination that has a trash can! Don't be gross, and don't leave your mess for someone else to have to clean up.

3) People who BLAST their stupid music going through a parking garage or at a traffic light. Just because you like to listen to that crap that loudly and want to go deaf doesn't mean I want to listen to it. It doesn't make you cool, it doesn't make you tough, it just makes you a jerk. And buy a belt for those pants, while you're at it!

Geez, I sound like an old man, not like a guy in his 30's!

 

[spare+a_pair]

My biggest pet peve is the "war" between working and stay at hom moms. I have been on both sides of the fence and it just isn't fair either way.

As women, and mothers, we need to sympathize and support each other - we each have our own reasons for our decisions, and I think that most moms, wether they work or stay at home, are trying to do the best thing that they can for their children and families.

 

[waltskids]

I have a few

1. Parents who say "I stay at home because I don't want someone else raising my kids."
2. People who assume all children have living grandparents. Ours do not and when people make comments to my DS about 'oh does grandma babysit you?, do you go to grandpa's house, etc., it just gets under my skin.
3. Parents who do not read to their children. As a teacher this bugs me. Reading is so important for lifelong learning.
4. Parents who allow children to walk around in a restaurant or stand up in the booth to stare at other diners.
5. People who ask me why I am not breastfeeding my child.
6. and finally..... older children with pacifiers!!! I know, I know, I may get flamed but it's my list and I'm sticking to it!

 

[JUJU814]

My personal pet peeves:

1) people believing "it takes a village to raise a child"...that's ridiculous. No village is raising my child. Dh and I are.

2) the government (starting with numero uno) trying to get their sticky fingers into our personal lives from health care, to funding cars for people, funding cell phones for people on welfare, bailing people out of debt and more..I'll just stop here.

No flames please. You asked what gets you going, and this is what really gets me.

 

[Mama_Dis]

Hmmmmm. . .

I'd have to say drunk driving really tops my list. DH's family is all about having a good time and then driving right on home. Even if you don't have enough concern for yourself, think that the people you hit because you are too selfish/lazy/cheap/stupid to call a cab, are people with families and children and parents.

I don't get riled up about it, but there is plenty of heat thrown our way when we tell people that we are a non-vaxing family.

I despise grammar stuff like "I seen this guy yesterday" or "They said no pictures aloud" instead of "allowed".

I can't stand people letting their children be rude. Cutting in line, not taking turns, not saying please or thank you. . . it all makes my heart hurt to have to explain to my kids that some people are raised that way.

Over sexualization of our children- not only the girls being influenced by the media/entertainment, but men who think it's ok to expose boys to things of a sexual nature or a nature demeaning to the opposite sex because they are doing "male bonding".

 

[bas71873]

My biggest pet peve is the "war" between working and stay at hom moms. I have been on both sides of the fence and it just isn't fair either way.

As women, and mothers, we need to sympathize and support each other - we each have our own reasons for our decisions, and I think that most moms, wether they work or stay at home, are trying to do the best thing that they can for their children and families.

I have to agree with this and the other PPs who have this peeve. I am a new SAHM (since Feb of this year) and it took us 6 years to get to this point, financially, to be able to do it. When DD was born, and before, I had to work. Had no choice, just what we needed to do and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I think being a day-care kid was wonderful for DD. She is super social, loves all people, does not see color in people, learned things I'm not sure I could have ever taught her and medically, her immune system is powerful. My kid has not been sick or had any of these flu viruses in over 3 years. And we don't do the flu shots. She's had colds here and there, but that's it. Sorry off topic a little there. My point, I see nothing wrong with working moms. I've been there and loved it.

My biggest gripe with being a new SAHM is my MIL (and the fact that I'm a little bored and have become very unorgannized, but I'm still trying to figure this whole SAHM thing out). She constantly feels the need to bring up how she can't understand why people spend all this money to send their kids to college (yes, my parents paid for my education) just to have them stay home with their kids. She says this not only about me, but about some of DH's cousins that have chosen to stay home too. I personally think it's because her own DD (from a previous marrige) has to work because she got pregnant as a teenager, never graduated high school, lost custody of her son for 4 years and just can't do the things DH and I do for ourselves and our kid. Basically jealously.

OOH. Sorry to rant, but it felt good to get that out!

 

[LaughingGravy]

3 lane highway.
I'm in the middle lane, yes, even exceeding the speed limit by just a touch with the rest of traffic.
Some jerk flies up in the right lane at easily 15 mph faster than the rest of us, or weaves in and out to pass, but doesn't use the open left lane.

Left lane is for passing. Right lane is not your own personal highway.
It's illegal (well, so is speeding) but more to the point, people enter from the right and there's not enough time to get out of the way of someone who enters and doesn't get the concept of quickly accelerating.

 

[McKelly]

When divorced fathers complain about having to pay child support.

 

[gvillemama]

When divorced fathers complain about having to pay child support.

Amen! Even better...when they are ordered to but they don't!

And people who misuse the words idea and ideal. It gets under my skin so bad when someone (and it was usually the ex-husband) would say "I had an ideal this morning." Don't you learn this in English class? My grammar isn't perfect, but it isn't that bad!

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

1) people who forget that our most basic societal norm is "stand in line and wait your turn"

2) the endless misinformation and half truths regarding global warming

3) My FIL, who confuses nosey, meddlesome, busybody tactics with unconditional love. I love him dearly but he can drive us absolutely insane!

4) The few men left in the world that treat women with condecending arrogance.