About the writer

I know, I know.

It's mid-July, and it's really hot out there. You are thinking about swimming if anything, or devising ways to stay in the air conditioning as much as possible.

Me, too.

But much to my surprise (being the mother of a 21-month-old and a 3-year-old my mind isn't yet in the "school" mode)... Let me start again... Much to my surprise, while shopping with my family last week, we noticed displays at a number of area stores featuring back-to-school supplies. Already, right?

Each display was equipped with a school supply list, and, let me tell you, these lists are lengthy. Some of the items are very specific... and could get expensive fast! If you have multiple children, well, forget about it. Just some examples: If you have a fifth-grader attending North Canton's Northwood Elementary School, you will need gym shoes with (very specific here) non-marking soles. Two erasable pens (again, getting specific), the pens should be blue. Your child also needs a dry erase marker, but it should be low odor; and five-pocket folders with prongs (that last part is in bold on the supply list, btw).

At Perry Local's T.C. Knapp Elementary School, second graders are required to bring a black three-ring binder; one old, clean sock (yes, feel free to read that again); one flashlight with batteries. And that's not even half the list.

More odd items: A "sipper style" water bottle (required by St. Paul's in North Canton); a man's shaving bag or woman's cosmetic bag (said to be good containers for supplies at Jackson Local's Strausser Elementary School); and make sure the baby wipes you send with your kids to North Canton's Orchard Hill Elementary School are non-toxic. (I would hope so, but apparently there is a need to specify.)

I understand schools are under budget constraints, and parents must chip in more so than simply paying their taxes, but are school supply lists out of control?

They seem pretty daunting to me, but — hey, what do I know — my kids aren't in school yet.

By the time they get there, I'm sure we'll be expected to supply them with iPads. Who needs No. 2 pencils and wide-ruled loose leaf notebook paper anyway?

-

If you are feeling especially inspired, feel free to comment below. We also are seeking your responses to the following questions for a future story to run in The Repository's Your Life section.

What is the most unusual back-to-school item you have been required to purchase? How much do you plan on spending on back-to-school supplies? Share with us your insider secrets to purchasing school supplies on the cheap.

You can email those answers, along with your name and city or township of residence, and a telephone number (so that we may contact you), to yourlife@cantonrep.com.

I know, I know.

It’s mid-July, and it’s really hot out there. You are thinking about swimming if anything, or devising ways to stay in the air conditioning as much as possible.

Me, too.

But much to my surprise (being the mother of a 21-month-old and a 3-year-old my mind isn’t yet in the “school” mode)… Let me start again… Much to my surprise, while shopping with my family last week, we noticed displays at a number of area stores featuring back-to-school supplies. Already, right?

Each display was equipped with a school supply list, and, let me tell you, these lists are lengthy. Some of the items are very specific… and could get expensive fast! If you have multiple children, well, forget about it. Just some examples: If you have a fifth-grader attending North Canton’s Northwood Elementary School, you will need gym shoes with (very specific here) non-marking soles. Two erasable pens (again, getting specific), the pens should be blue. Your child also needs a dry erase marker, but it should be low odor; and five-pocket folders with prongs (that last part is in bold on the supply list, btw).

At Perry Local’s T.C. Knapp Elementary School, second graders are required to bring a black three-ring binder; one old, clean sock (yes, feel free to read that again); one flashlight with batteries. And that’s not even half the list.

More odd items: A “sipper style” water bottle (required by St. Paul’s in North Canton); a man’s shaving bag or woman’s cosmetic bag (said to be good containers for supplies at Jackson Local’s Strausser Elementary School); and make sure the baby wipes you send with your kids to North Canton’s Orchard Hill Elementary School are non-toxic. (I would hope so, but apparently there is a need to specify.)

I understand schools are under budget constraints, and parents must chip in more so than simply paying their taxes, but are school supply lists out of control?

They seem pretty daunting to me, but — hey, what do I know — my kids aren’t in school yet.

By the time they get there, I’m sure we’ll be expected to supply them with iPads. Who needs No. 2 pencils and wide-ruled loose leaf notebook paper anyway?

—

If you are feeling especially inspired, feel free to comment below. We also are seeking your responses to the following questions for a future story to run in The Repository’s Your Life section.

What is the most unusual back-to-school item you have been required to purchase? How much do you plan on spending on back-to-school supplies? Share with us your insider secrets to purchasing school supplies on the cheap.

You can email those answers, along with your name and city or township of residence, and a telephone number (so that we may contact you), to yourlife@cantonrep.com.

The morning had gone too smoothly.

Up before alarm clock buzzed. Check.

Shower. Check.

Dressed, lunches packed, cup of coffee down — all before kids awake. Check.

Kids up, dressed, fed and out the door. Check.

Too smoothly. Like I said.

And this was all before 8 a.m.

Then, my "super mom" status was taken down by more than a notch.

We arrived at day care. I sat my keys down to put on Adalyn Rae's shoes. (My toddler girl thinks it's HILARIOUS to take them off in the car.) I got her out.

I closed the car door. Yep, closed it.

Keys still in car.

Fortunately, my kids weren't.

From the day care I called the local police department, who graciously sent an officer out to get me back into my car and on to work.

A humbling start to any day, let me tell you.

So, why don't you tell me? Don't leave me hanging.

Have you ever locked your keys in your car? How did you handle it? Spill!

The morning had gone too smoothly.

Up before alarm clock buzzed. Check.

Shower. Check.

Dressed, lunches packed, cup of coffee down — all before kids awake. Check.

Kids up, dressed, fed and out the door. Check.

Too smoothly. Like I said.

And this was all before 8 a.m.

Then, my “super mom” status was taken down by more than a notch.

We arrived at day care. I sat my keys down to put on Adalyn Rae’s shoes. (My toddler girl thinks it’s HILARIOUS to take them off in the car.) I got her out.

I closed the car door. Yep, closed it.

Keys still in car.

Fortunately, my kids weren’t.

From the day care I called the local police department, who graciously sent an officer out to get me back into my car and on to work.

A humbling start to any day, let me tell you.

So, why don’t you tell me? Don’t leave me hanging.

Have you ever locked your keys in your car? How did you handle it? Spill!

By now, you've heard the story about the Canadian parents who are refusing to reveal the gender of their baby, Storm.

They are claiming Storm should be allowed to choose what gender he/she is and to be "gender creative."

But in keeping their child's gender a secret, they are doing the exact opposite of their original intent. They are actually placing too much emphasis on it.

And, yes, while a lot rides on gender, it does not determine a person's life, and I think to surmise such is to fall back into the old stereotypical gender roles Storm's parents are trying to prevent.

These days, I believe girls are not brought up to be "in the kitchen" just as boys aren't solely encouraged to explore and, one day, become "breadwinners."

As the mother of a boy and a girl, both close in age (less than 22 months apart), my husband and I have always parented based on each child's personality and needs.

The old adage, "Boys will be boys," doesn't always hold true. Nor should it.

In fact, if you want to play by antiquated gender role stereotypes, my 20-month-old Adalyn Rae should be our "boy." She has no fear, picks up ants and worms, eats anything and everything and is not afraid to get dirty.

Like many parents these days, we opted to find out the sex of both of our children when I was pregnant with them. And we had no qualms about revealing either. We bought dresses for Adalyn and painted her room pink. Does that make her more "girl?"

Zander's room is green. He wear jeans he's not afraid to get dirty. But he is also anxious. He is fearful at times, he doesn't like to try new things, he doesn't like to get his hands dirty, he's a picky eater, and he often screams when he sees a bug.

Does this make him less of a "boy?"

It is society's assignment of things and actions/reactions as either "boy" or "girl," that Storm's parents should be protesting, not gender itself. Gender isn't a bad thing: It's biology.

The debate between what is a bigger influencer on our lives — nature v. nurture — is a longstanding one. You can't deny either. Nor should you.

As parents, it's vitally important to expose our children to all types of toys, all sorts of situations, and respond to our children based on their personalities and their individual needs — whether they are girls or boys.

Maybe I give people more credit than Storm's parents do.

Truth is, gender is more than the color of your room or whether you wear a dress or pants. Gender is an undeniable part of who we are, but it does not make us who we become.

-

What do you think? Will "girls be girls" and "boys be boys" regardless of how we react to their gender? Or, is there something more at play?

By now, you’ve heard the story about the Canadian parents who are refusing to reveal the gender of their baby, Storm.

They are claiming Storm should be allowed to choose what gender he/she is and to be “gender creative.”

But in keeping their child’s gender a secret, they are doing the exact opposite of their original intent. They are actually placing too much emphasis on it.

And, yes, while a lot rides on gender, it does not determine a person’s life, and I think to surmise such is to fall back into the old stereotypical gender roles Storm’s parents are trying to prevent.

These days, I believe girls are not brought up to be “in the kitchen” just as boys aren’t solely encouraged to explore and, one day, become “breadwinners.”

As the mother of a boy and a girl, both close in age (less than 22 months apart), my husband and I have always parented based on each child’s personality and needs.

The old adage, “Boys will be boys,” doesn’t always hold true. Nor should it.

In fact, if you want to play by antiquated gender role stereotypes, my 20-month-old Adalyn Rae should be our “boy.” She has no fear, picks up ants and worms, eats anything and everything and is not afraid to get dirty.

Like many parents these days, we opted to find out the sex of both of our children when I was pregnant with them. And we had no qualms about revealing either. We bought dresses for Adalyn and painted her room pink. Does that make her more “girl?”

Zander’s room is green. He wear jeans he’s not afraid to get dirty. But he is also anxious. He is fearful at times, he doesn’t like to try new things, he doesn’t like to get his hands dirty, he’s a picky eater, and he often screams when he sees a bug.

Does this make him less of a “boy?”

It is society’s assignment of things and actions/reactions as either “boy” or “girl,” that Storm’s parents should be protesting, not gender itself. Gender isn’t a bad thing: It’s biology.

The debate between what is a bigger influencer on our lives — nature v. nurture — is a longstanding one. You can’t deny either. Nor should you.

As parents, it’s vitally important to expose our children to all types of toys, all sorts of situations, and respond to our children based on their personalities and their individual needs — whether they are girls or boys.

Maybe I give people more credit than Storm’s parents do.

Truth is, gender is more than the color of your room or whether you wear a dress or pants. Gender is an undeniable part of who we are, but it does not make us who we become.

—

What do you think? Will “girls be girls” and “boys be boys” regardless of how we react to their gender? Or, is there something more at play?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad we got him.

I’m glad we don’t have to worry about his next evil plan.

But we have to worry about his followers.

And I worry that we’ve woken a sleeping giant. Have we?

Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf told Reuters today that al Qaeda supporters may take revenge against the United States and Pakistan.

And with celebrations taking place across the country and newspaper headlines screaming — “WE GOT THE BASTARD!” “BURN IN HELL!” and “GOT HIM (SHOT HIM)” — I can’t help but question whether this is all right.

Is it right for our children? What are they learning from our reaction?

And for those parents with kids old enough to understand, how are you telling them?

I’m glad my children, ages 3 and 18 months, are too young to understand because I’m not sure what I’d say. I don’t know that I’d encourage them to chant “U-S-A” and blast songs, such as “I’m proud to be an American.”

While I am proud to be an American, the slaying of Osama bin Laden doesn’t bring back the thousands of people who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

It won’t change the way we live our lives today. We’ll still go through stringent security measures before boarding airplanes and entering courthouses. We’ll fill out additional paperwork to help ensure our kids are safe in school. We’ll go through metal detectors and be asked to show the “appropriate identification, ma’am” again and again.

We won a battle, but the War on Terror will still continue. And it’s something our children will fight, too, one day.

I’m worried for them. And we should be concerned about the message we are sending.

An eye for an eye doesn’t equal 20/20 vision. It’s a swap, a trade, and it makes everything in front of you a bit blurry.

Don't get me wrong. I'm glad we got him.

I'm glad we don't have to worry about his next evil plan.

But we have to worry about his followers.

And I worry that we've woken a sleeping giant. Have we?

Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf told Reuters today that al Qaeda supporters may take revenge against the United States and Pakistan.

And with celebrations taking place across the country and newspaper headlines screaming — "WE GOT THE BASTARD!" "BURN IN HELL!" and "GOT HIM (SHOT HIM)" — I can't help but question whether this is all right.

Is it right for our children? What are they learning from our reaction?

And for those parents with kids old enough to understand, how are you telling them?

I'm glad my children, ages 3 and 18 months, are too young to understand because I'm not sure what I'd say. I don't know that I'd encourage them to chant "U-S-A" and blast songs, such as "I'm proud to be an American."

While I am proud to be an American, the slaying of Osama bin Laden doesn't bring back the thousands of people who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

It won't change the way we live our lives today. We'll still go through stringent security measures before boarding airplanes and entering courthouses. We'll fill out additional paperwork to help ensure our kids are safe in school. We'll go through metal detectors and be asked to show the "appropriate identification, ma'am" again and again.

We won a battle, but the War on Terror will still continue. And it's something our children will fight, too, one day.

I'm worried for them. And we should be concerned about the message we are sending.

An eye for an eye doesn't equal 20/20 vision. It's a swap, a trade, and it makes everything in front of you a bit blurry.

Could anyone be more selfish than Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband?

The 67-year-old Prince Frederic von Anhalt told CNN today that he wants his wife, 94-year-old Zsa Zsa Gabor, to become a new mom.

"In life you need something to live for," he told CNN. (Read the full story here.) "If my wife passes away before me, I have nothing to live for."

The elderly couple will use an egg donor, artificial insemination and a surrogate mother to have a baby at, yes, age 94 and 67.

What's Zsa Zsa's take on all of this?

CNN didn't talk to the woman once known for her strong personality and stronger opinions.

Gabor's only child, Francesca Hilton (who is 64, mind you), told CNN:

"That's just weird."

I couldn't agree more.

Gabor has some major health issues, and she has been unable to walk since 2002.

Von Anhalt claims another reason the couple is planning on a new baby is to have someone carry on the famous Gabor name.

Are you kidding me?

A child is not about a namesake or a means to keep you from getting lonely in old age. If von Anhalt and Gabor really want to leave a legacy, donate their millions to orphans or to help feed the one out of every four children who officially live in poverty in this country.

Leave a legacy based on how you can help children and make their lives better, not on how they can benefit you.

That's not very princely.

Shame on you, Frederic von Anhalt.

Could anyone be more selfish than Zsa Zsa Gabor’s husband?

The 67-year-old Prince Frederic von Anhalt told CNN today that he wants his wife, 94-year-old Zsa Zsa Gabor, to become a new mom.

“In life you need something to live for,” he told CNN. (Read the full story here.) “If my wife passes away before me, I have nothing to live for.”

The elderly couple will use an egg donor, artificial insemination and a surrogate mother to have a baby at, yes, age 94 and 67.

What’s Zsa Zsa’s take on all of this?

CNN didn’t talk to the woman once known for her strong personality and stronger opinions.

Gabor’s only child, Francesca Hilton (who is 64, mind you), told CNN:

“That’s just weird.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Gabor has some major health issues, and she has been unable to walk since 2002.

Von Anhalt claims another reason the couple is planning on a new baby is to have someone carry on the famous Gabor name.

Are you kidding me?

A child is not about a namesake or a means to keep you from getting lonely in old age. If von Anhalt and Gabor really want to leave a legacy, donate their millions to orphans or to help feed the one out of every four children who officially live in poverty in this country.

Leave a legacy based on how you can help children and make their lives better, not on how they can benefit you.

That’s not very princely.

Shame on you, Frederic von Anhalt.