I am told you are not really a citizen of a state until you’ve had its “customer service” from the BMV.  If that’s the case, them I’m officially a Hoosier. 

I decided I had put off getting my driver’s license long enough.  So, after studying for the exam for a couple of days, I took the test on Friday, February 8.  (By the way, that test is pretty intense.  Several people told me I should study and it’s a good thing I did.  Goodness.  I hadn’t seen some of those questions since I was a teenager!)  After taking the test, I nervously waited for the results.  Praise God I passed.  The rest, I thought, was just a formality.  Take my picture and get the license.  That is, until a a very sweet lady at the BMV said “Hmm.  It seems you have a bit of a problem in Connecticut.  Your license has been suspended there.” “What!” I said.  “Wait a minute!!  I’ve never BEEN to Connecticut.  How can this be?” I wondered.  “Has someone stolen my identity?”

 ”Well honey, I’m sorry, I can’t answer those questions.  But until you get this resolved, you can’t get your license.  Call the BMV in Connecticut and tell them they’ve made a mistake.  We can’t do anything here,” she said.

I felt so helpless.  I knew there was a mistake - and a big one.  So I called the BMV in Connecticut and had the most annoying experience.  I simply could NOT get a single person on the line.  Instead, I got the familiar recording with instructions to press the number that meets my need.  The problem is, none of them did.  I had to go home, call the number to the executive director to the BMV in Connecticut, and get passed along like a hot potato until someone could help me.  It turns out that I was confused with another Todd Wallace.  I don’t know what HE did, but the gentleman helping me said “He won’t be getting his license for a long, long time.” 

Finally, I called our BMV.  They called Connecticut and God only knows what they talked about.  The bottom line, I was told to come back in for “just a few minutes” and I would get my license.  That sounded good because what was supposed to only take about an hour was now going on 3.  

I went in, was told again to wait those “few minutes” (which, in the BMV, is like dog years) and finally, finally got my license.

I will say that the good folks here helped me the best they could.  I just got stuck in a lot of bureaucratic red tape with no end in sight.  But after almost five hours, I HAVE MY LICENSE!!!

Has anyone else had a rather unforgettable experience at the BMV?  Trust me when I say I’ll never forget this one.

       Tonight (Thursday) is the night for my Supernanny report, and I’m hoping to hear from some of you!

Do you ever feel like YOU need a Supernanny to help you figure out a parenting nightmare?  Any of her   techniques work for you?  Or not? Ever find yourself wondering - what would Supernanny do?

      Her real name is Jo Frost, and she was recently in town working with a Noblesville-area family for the ABC reality show.  I jumped at the chance to interview her!  I was a bit surprised by how serious Jo seemed that day, until I really thought about exactly what it is she does, week after week, for the past four years.  She immerses herself in disastrously chaotic families, and tries to fix them.  It was clear to me that Jo considers it a sort of calling to educate today’s families through her show.  She’s no mere entertainer. She takes her job as a role-model quite seriously, and realizes just how many families are desperate for the firm but loving guidance that she can offer.

   Anyway, since we met, I feel like Jo Frost is my own personal Jiminy Cricket, sitting on my shoulder, prodding me to do the right thing with my two kids.  Clara (2)throws a tantrum about going to bed - what would Supernanny do?? My little rock-star Calvin (5) insists on “rocking out” to just one more song with his brand new gold Les Paul-style electric guitar (yep, it had to be THAT exact one - he’s a picky guy!), when we should have been out the door to school 5 minutes ago.  How would Jo respond?  I say don’t sweat the small stuff, but it can sure feel bigger when you’re in a hurry!!

      I like to think Ian and and I do a pretty good job being firm but flexible, loving but structured.  I’ve read quite a bit about Alpha Moms vs. Beta Moms.  I have to a realization:  In some ways I would love to be an Alpha - kids perfectly dressed and groomed, Betty-Crocker-style  meals perfectly planned and executed, the house neat, peaceful, quiet, calm and orderly. (I can hear my drummer husband laughing)  

      But that’s fantasy.  I’ve now learned that my family functions best when I make a few Type-A plans for good luck, then adopt Ian’s “Type-B”, laid-back and “roll with the punches” approach. 

(See Exhibit A: Calvin beaming after sticking his face in a cake. WWSD? Not sure, but I laughed hysterically and told him to go give his dad a kiss on the cheek.)  

         And while I know we’re in better shape than most of Supernanny’s clients, there are certainly moments when I’m glad there’s no camera catching the chaos that sometimes erupts as the Shepherds try to have a meal, or get out the door.        

   I’ll look forward to hearing your thoughts about your lives, your styles… and the Superanny approach!

Trisha