Billy Ray Cyrus Needs to Grow a Pair and YOU have to Parent Your Own Kids

The story that’s making all the headlines today has Grandma all worked up again about parental responsibilities and role models. So, how does the story about Billy Ray Cyrus blaming the hit show Hannah Montana, starring his talented daughter Miley Cyrus, for ruining his family life play into it?

Grandma has stated time and time again that parents should act as their own role models for their kids and not expect sports stars or movie and TV personalities to set the example. As a parent, it’s your responsibility and your responsibility alone to portray the values you want your child to base their lives on.

Grandma is upset that Billy Ray is trying to wimp out of responsibility for the problems in his life by pointing the finger. Theresa Leschmann presents the case very nicely in her article  "Billy Ray Cyrus Blames “Hannah Montana” for Ruining His Family” and Grandma encourages you to read it.

Why does Billy Ray feel he has to justify his parenting skills to anyone anyway?

Miley Cyrus is all grown up. In grandma’s opinion, she’s grown up well compared to a lot of other young celebrities we’ve read about in the news. But now, papa Billy Ray is getting a divorce, has been chided for parenting mistakes he may have made during the past few years, and is pointing his finger at the hit show Hannah Montana for his ills.

Grow a pair, Billy Ray. Your daughter was spotted smoking salvia from a bong and irate parents blamed you because they expect your daughter to be a role model for their young child.

Kids grow up. Your daughter is no different.  It’s only natural that she would want to be portrayed as a young adult during those years that the show kept her character a ‘tween idol. Grandma doesn't agree with a lot of the choices you made, but, I guess it's none of my business. I'm not her parent. Nor yours.

Own up to your own mistakes, but don’t deflect blame that shouldn’t be hurled at you in the first place. Pay attention to your own family.

Grandma rambled a bit here. Hard to believe Hannah Montana caused such a big problem with her day.

Before you comment, that was meant as sarcasm. 

Warning About High Energy Drinks

High energy soft drinks puts kids at danger, but instead of admitting it for the safety of the kids who unwittingly drink the stuff that is so easy for them to get because it's legal, the people who profit point to the caffeine content. This really ticks grandma off.


Sure, a lot of these high energy drinks don't have that much more caffeine than coffee or other caffeine drinks, but the danger is not only in the caffeine. Stimulants that grandma and others who care about the health of the kids never even heard of are also in the drinks, but the smoke screen has gone up and the argument is about caffeine.


Meanwhile, kids are being put at risk. Even the risk of death.


According to this article at YCN: 

The overused drinks can cause strokes, heart palpitations, seizures or even sudden death from caffeine or like ingredients in the drinks, which the authors of the report claim are under studied. Nausea and diarrhea often results in young people who use the energy drinks.

 Sales from the drinks are supposed to top $9 billion dollars this year. Good reason for putting our kids at risk?


Read More.......

Going to Wal-Mart? Grandma Says Wear a Bra

The only thing Grandma likes about winter is that she can leave the house without a bra. This piece might fall into the too much information category, but you know that Grandma doesn’t give a rip about things like that.

Putting on layers of warm clothes to fight the freezing temperatures allows me to cover up what I don’t want the world to know. Who can tell what shape a woman really looks like she’s in when she’s swaddled in a cocoon of wool and microfiber, anyway?

Once you reach the crone age, physical comfort is a really big reward that should be enjoyed as much as possible.

The only time Grandma puts on a bra in the winter time is if she’s going somewhere with friends or family who might be embarrassed if she took off her warm winter wrap.

And, of course, if Grandma is going to Wal-Mart.

Grandma has laughed, scowled and forwarded dozens of emails of pictures taken of Wal-Mart shoppers dressed, or something that can be loosely defined as dressed. Sometimes Grandma even throws up in her mouth a little bit as she sees how some people go out in public. Previous to the shoppers of Wal-Mart craze Grandma got her best fashion chuckles at the public beach.

Now you know more about Grandma than you probably want to. Sorry about that. But, hopefully you’ll never see my picture included in those shoppers of Wal-Mart photos you see in your email. Feel very thankful for that.

Reader has her Own Grandma who Butts In

Dear Grandma,

How should I handle an interfering grandma who is always telling me that the way I am raising my children is wrong just because it is different than she raised hers? It’s a touchy subject around our home when dear hubby’s Mom comes to visit or makes her thrice weekly phone call to monitor how we are raising her grandbabies. She believes in spanking, and I don’t. She wants me to let them eat whatever they want while I insist on balanced healthy meals and a minimum of snacks. Help please.

Mom who doesn’t spank.

Dear Mom who Doesn’t Spank,

Every mom has a right to raise her children in her own way and to enjoy her family without being judged as long as everyone is safe, healthy and happy.

Grandma has lived a long time, and has seen that generations of women have problems in this area. There are as many reasons for the family problem as there are types of people.

While this Grandma believes that anyone who thinks a child in danger has a responsibility to speak up, Grandma doesn’t think this is a problem in your case.

Some moms never let their children grow up and live their own lives. They have to be told when they’re interfering.

Some women just need to grow a tougher skin.

Others need to be honest and communicate their feelings better.

Does grandma really interfere, or are you susceptible to take every comment as a judgment?

Have you tried letting grandma know how you feel when she makes her comments?

Is it possible that Grandma is lonely and calls three times a week so that she can stay in touch with her family?

Is it possible that you second guess a lot of your decisions and see a judgment in any comment or question about your parenting skills? The decision about spanking and meals is healthy and fair. This Grandma can’t see why you just can’t firmly tell your mother-in-law that this is what you and your husband have decided on and let any other comments echo harmlessly.

Being a mother is hard. So is being a mother-in-law, daughter or daughter-in-law. Grandma thinks that all of these women share a common bond. They all want the kids to be happy. They also don't want their own parenting skills to be judged. For the sake of the children, open the lines of communication. Honest communication. The kids can pick up on the tension.

If you really think that you’re not overdramatizing the situation and that grandma is interfering, it’s up to you to talk to your mother-in-law. Do it calmly, and do it soon.

Is my Girlfriend Cyber Flirting?

Dear Grandma,

I’m sure you probably don’t hear from a lot of men, but I need some help. My girlfriend and I live together and she spends all of her time when she’s not working chatting with people online. She’s very secretive and will either close her laptop or turn it when I walk behind her. I don’t know if she’s just playing games online like she says or is maybe flirting or more with some of the people she’s met through these games. How can I find out?

Gaming Victim

Dear Gaming Victim,

You didn’t mention why you don’t believe her claim of playing online games. You also don’t give a hint to why you suspect that she is flirting. Grandma doesn’t know if you have a reason to not trust the woman you are sharing a life with or if you’re just controlling or paranoid.

Have you tried discussing your concerns directly and honestly with her? In my opinion that’s the best way to find out something about someone. If this basic concept hasn’t occurred to you and you’re looking for other ways to find out about your girlfriend’s private activities, it’s no wonder she turns the laptop away from your prying gaze when you enter the room.

Back in Grandma’s Day we had extension phones. Do you remember those? If so, did you listen in on other peoples conversations? I hope not. If you didn’t, why do you think it’s okay to pry into your girlfriends social contacts now?

I would suggest that you calmly let your girlfriend know that you are curious about her online activity. Tell her why you feel threatened by her actions that seem to protect her privacy. It may just come down to the simple need of communicating with someone. In that case, maybe you could make yourself available so she has someone to talk to face to face outside of work and she won’t feel the need to spend so much time chatting online.

If her answers aren’t good enough for you, maybe you want to rethink this ‘trusting’ relationship and discuss where it is going with your girlfriend. Especially since you feel that you’re a victim, as you indicated by the way you signed your letter.

Grandma doesn’t think people should live in situations where they feel like the victim. But, there are people who feel like victims in every area of their lives. Grandma isn’t equipped to help the perpetual victim, but, instead urges professional counseling.

But in your case, Grandma thinks some open and honest communication and respect will solve the problem.

Chicago Bear Steaks, Packer Country Style

Green Bay Packer Fans usually like their steaks cooked on the grill, and Grandma knows a great recipe for the best grilled beef steak.

But now, Packer fans are braving the cold and building up a taste for some hot Chicago Bear Steak to fortify them for the best game of the playoff season and lead them to the Super Bowl.

How does Chicago Bear Steak simmered with onion sound? The Chicago Bear steaks are not only tender, but that awful aftertaste of the midnight blue, orange and white coat have been tempered by the addition of onions.

The best Chicago Bear Steak will be available after kickoff on January 23rd, but stock up on the onions and beer so you'll be ready to cook up this tasty post game dinner. Once you get your hands on the pulverized Chicago Bear meat, Packer fans only have a few steps left to prepare the meal. You can easily do it during half time.

Pound the living hell out of the Chicago Bear Steak with a meat tenderizer. If the Packers have already taken care of this job, as Grandma suspects is the case, just wash the Bear steaks off with some beer from the can I know you’re drinking, and dredge them in some flour with a bit of salt and pepper.  (If the bear meat has been overly beaten into submission on the field and falls apart by the time you get it, check out the way Grandma prepares Chicago Bear Meat Balls.)

Drop the floured and seasoned Chicago Bear steaks into a hot skillet of oil and sliced onions and brown on both sides. Drain off the excess oil. Chicago Bear steaks are known to be a bit greasy, so make sure you remove that disgusting mess from the skillet as well.

Add enough water to the skillet to cover the Bear steaks. Cover the pan and let the meat simmer, or stew, just like Lovie Smith is on the sidelines, until you’re ready to enjoy your meal.

Chicago Bear Steak during the playoffs is a rare treat. In fact, the last time Grandma remembers enjoying such a wonderful post season treat is back in 1941. The taste quickly soured in my mouth. I’ll really be enjoying the sweet taste this year.

Grandma plans on stocking up on enough Chicago Bear Meat to last her right through the Super Bowl Victory party.

Perhaps I’ll add some peppers and my favorite sauce, put it on a hoagie roll and enjoy a great Chicago Cheese Steak Sandwich, Packer style.

Chicago Bear Meat Ball Recipe for Tailgating Pleasure

Green Bay Packer Fans have a chance to pick up some fresh bear meat on their way to the big Super Bowl party. Grandma has some tips on how to best prepare the Chicago Bear meat is a way that will make your cheese snacks taste even better.

The best tasting Chicago Bear meat won’t be available until after kickoff on January 23rd, of course, but Grandma is all about being prepared and wants to make sure you have all of the other ingredients you’ll need packed into the Green Bay Packer Fan Tailgate party kit.

A good treat for half time of the Packer – Bear football game is Bear Meat Balls. The Bear meat has probably been ground up during the first half of the football game and will save you, the Packer Fan from the task.

For each pound of Chicago Bear meat, add 1/8 of a cup of chopped onion, ¼ cup of bread crumbs and a tablespoon of milk.

Mix the ingredients together well. Form it into balls. You don’t have to be gentle when handling ground Chicago Bear meat. Go ahead and slap it, roll it, and add a bit of salt.

Add some oil to your skillet and heat it up until it starts to spit a bit. Many Green Bay Packer Fans enjoy the popping noise made as Chicago Bear meat is dropped into the hot oil. Fry the Bear meat balls until they are brown. Resist the temptation to overcook. We have a great football team that will take care of that.

Chicago Bear meat has to be cooked thoroughly to kill the dangerous bugs, diseases and parasites that the meat has been known to carry. Stay healthy so that you can enjoy watching the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl by finishing the Chicago Bear meat balls in the oven until you’re sure they are cooked thoroughly.

If you’re not planning on feasting on the Chicago Bear meat balls until the post game celebration, add 2 tablespoons of flour to the drippings in the skillet along with some water. Heat to a boil, stirring constantly and put the browned Chicago Bear meat balls back into the hot gravy bath. Turn down the heat and let them simmer for about an hour.

Don’t worry about turning down the heat on the Chicago Bear meat balls. The Green Bay Packers will be applying enough heat to the Bears on the field.

Grandma will be posting more Chicago Bear Meat recipes as she thinks of them. Check back often. Better yet, subscribe to Grandma Butts Inn.