First off all i want to thank ya’ll for the awesome response on our review on the baby registry ideas. Now we will talk about something more interesting.

When raising kids, there’s something you must learn early on:  men and women are different.  Now this may seem obvious to you at first glance.  Duh.  But it doesn’t really hit home until you start diverging on how the day-to-day business of life is conducted with respect to said children.  Moms and Dads can sometimes have VERY different opinions on what’s best for their children.

Do they fight back on the playground or walk away?  Is it okay for boys to cry?  Okay for girls to play football?

How about riding dirt bikes at the age of five?  Gasp.  “Five, did you say?”

Yep.  For some Dads, riding dirt bikes is no different from riding a bike.  Well, not really anyway.  Now as a mother you first instinct may be to jump up and down and scream “No way!  My baby’s not going to do anything so dangerous!”

Most fathers will wait the woman out at this point and when they sense you’re finished with your emotional tirade, they’ll quietly tell you that they rode a dirt bike at age five and by seven, were cruising the neighborhood on their own en route to their friend’s house.  They will also remind you about all the potential for injury kids have on regular bicycles, swimming pools, baseball, soccer….  The list goes on.

Now that you’ve caught your breath, you rethink your position.  Seems husband wants this dirt bike thing to happen.  Do you have the right to demand otherwise?  After all, it’s his kid, too.  And you didn’t marry a man without a good head on his shoulders.  You know your husband wouldn’t do anything to purposefully harm your child.  So where do you go from here?

You go to the flat track.  That’s where kids and adults alike race their dirt bikes and have the time of their life.  At first your tentative on the trip out to the track.  Not knowing what to expect, you pack your anxiety into your back pack and zip it closed.  It’s still close enough to pull out when warranted, but hidden from public view.  It’s not like you want to embarrass your son.  If he’s going to do this thing, you want him to have a good time without the distraction of his crazy mom.  More importantly, if you don’t keep your angst under wraps, you won’t be invited back.

Unthinkable.  But I must confess, when the first ten-year-old laid down in his bike as he took the curve, his little rag-doll of a body sliding across the dirt track right in front of me, I almost yanked my back pack of nerves open and called it quits.  My son was in the next heat!

But this young man was not hurt (though there was a medic on site in the event he was injured).  Instead, he brushed the dirt from his uniform-clad knees (these kids are decked head to toe in full protective gear — including steel bottom boots, chest protector, neck brace, helmet — the works!) and marched right off that track returning moments later with his “back up” bike whereby he jumped back into the race and finished with dignity.  Kids.  Go figure.

Before anyone was the wiser, I quickly stuffed my worry back into its pack and resumed vigilance as spectator.  “Take another breath, dear.  You’ll be all right.”  :)

Phew.  I only have one thing to say after a weekend like this one.  For those of you who aren’t parents, beware:  parenting isn’t for sissies.  And from what I understand, it only gets harder as they get older.  I can’t even imagine the anxiety that will become my “norm” when the kids are driving.  And I thought dirt bikes were worrisome!

“Take another breath, dear.  Just breathe.”

Every summer our family heads to Steinhatchee Florida for a week of scalloping off the Gulf coast with a group of families and friends.  We began this escapade about five years ago when the kids were young, about four and six, and have looked forward to going in search of scallops ever since.  Best to start them early when mastering the finer points in the skill of the hunt. We bought a new scope which has made hunting easier. Hunt?  Scallops?  How does one actually go about catching a scallop, anyway?

Ah…so you’ve never hunted scallops before—well sit tight—you’re in for a treat!  Not only is snorkeling the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico gobs of fun for all ages, but securing your treasure trove of scallops is an exhilarating thrill, one you can enjoy with your kids.

But try to contain your excitement and pay attention when the kids catch their first one.  If given the chance, scallops will bite. Pinch, snap their clam shell closed on your finger, whatever you want to call it, you get the picture.  It hurts! My first scream was cause for alarm to those around me but they soon realized it was a mere case of “operator error” (not paying attention to the live creature in my hand) and began to ignore my squeals—painful, excited, and otherwise.

Now teaching your child to scallop is like a dolphin teaching her calf to fish. Glued to your side, the youngster swims along, observing your every move, watching for signs of scallops.  You point them out and the child looks at you as if, “Really, you want me to go down there?  I don’t think so.” 

Eventually, they’ll begin to make quick dashes for each and every scallop they see—but you’d better not venture too far from their sight else you be met by a different kind of shriek! No more watching shark week prior to scalloping.

Depending on conditions, finding scallops can be tricky.  As you swim along the surface, you’ll search for beady blue eyes peering up at you through murky green water, hidden between the sway of scaly green sea grass.  When you spot one, you dip down, reach your hand into the thick ground cover and grab the little fella! Some will make it easier on you by resting atop clumps of seaweed caught in the grass, in addition to reducing the fear factor of poking your hand into the unknown. 

Remember:  you are out in the wild of nature.  Of course if you’re lucky, you’ll see the scallops “swimming” above the fray—snap, snap, snap—as they whisk through the water taunting “Catch me if you can!” 

Which is harder than you think.  Sound fun yet? Didn’t think so.  Here, I’m a writer.  Let me try again.  There you are…snorkeling in the warm calm waters off Florida’s coast, enjoying a day of sunshine and saltwater with your kids.  As you float across the water’s surface, you delight in the shimmer of sunlight below, flowing across soft blades of sea grass like the undulating ribbons of light seen in Alaska’s Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis.  It’s an incredible sight to behold.

Perhaps you’re enjoying the day with your man, scanning the terrain side by side, feeling like a lioness huntress in Africa, on the prowl for any sign of prey hidden in the grassy savanna.  You’ll know them by the fluorescent blue of their eyes glowing ever so subtly, a line of pearls between the nearly closed edges of their familiar scalloped shell.

Better?  I hope so.  Scalloping really is a lot of fun and I’d hate for you to miss out, all because of one poorly written description.  I mean, the meal you can make with these tender mollusks is absolutely divine!  And we do like to eat on vacation, don’t we?

However, before you can indulge in gastronomical heaven, you must remove them from their shells.  Oh yes.  Cleaning is BIG fun. Wedging a curved knife (grapefruit spoon works well, too) into their tightly closed shell, scraping them clear from the lid, then tossing it aside before you clean the muck and guts away from their pristine white flesh… 

If you’re anything like me, you’ll learn to prefer them on the half shell—great presentation and half the work. Smarter than the average sea turtle, yes she is! :)

Speaking of sea turtles, while you’re out on your scallop-hunting excursion, you’ll be witness to an amazing array of sea life.  From enormous sea turtles gliding by your boat to foot long stingrays skimming over grassy tips, you’ll feel at one with Mother Ocean.  Your kids?  The lure of finding a starfish, snail and blue crab will surely get them back in the water! View Intrepid Powerboats to choose the best option for your unforgettable experience.

Then take them into the kitchen.  Blue crabs are a tasty treat in these parts and all it takes is a quick boil to make them bright red and scrumptious good! And they make an excellent accompaniment to those scallops you’ve drenched in butter and garlic, topped with a dash of bread crumbs.  Hmmm….  So when are YOU going scalloping? Are you afraid of extra junk in your house? You can basically use any junk removal service you like.

Better hurry—season ends September 25^th.