Let’s talk about you for a minute. (Be sure to answer the questions at the end of the post!)
A while back I asked you all to fill out a survey for me. The results are in and they’re fascinating.
74% of Daring Young Mom readers are between the ages of 21 and 34. No one over 75 or under 18 admitted to reading this blog.
I’m surprised that only 3% of the readers surveyed were male. I’ve always been very popular with the men folk. Maybe they couldn’t handle my year-long period of lactational discourse shortly following Magoo’s birth.
Although I live near Seattle, I’m actually located in a very small town. A quarter of you also live in small towns or out in the country but more than half make your homes in the suburbs. For some reason, my blog does not appear to be massively appealing to the urban crowd.
Most of my readers are middle class but those few of you making over $500,000 annually, please email me. I’ve got some great ideas for how you could spread around the love.
Very few of you have more than 6 kids yet so I guess most of us are still getting started. We’d better get busy.
96% of my readers have had at least some college education. Rock on educated ladies! … and you few gentlemen.
Your political views are all over the place with the biggest portion of you (45%) listed as republicans.
Half of you have a valid passport. The rest of you should get on that if you want to visit my motherland any time soon. I’m working on getting one for Magoo tonight actually.
For the most part, you’re churchgoers, or at least you claim to be for internet research purposes – with the largest group, roughly a third of you, being Mormon.
Your occupations are so varied I think I could staff an entire mini-civilization with your expertise. I’ll let you know when there are job openings for the Daring New World.
You need to send more email, preferably to me.
More of you watch Saturday Night Live than any news show, more American Idol than The Office and if so many of you watch What Not To Wear, why have none of you nominated me to be on the show? I’d gladly be humiliated for an hour for the chance to get a whole new wardrobe.
You use the PCs, although I suspect that many of you like me dream of switching to the Mac.
You started reading blogs right around the same time I started this one.
You like your internet speed high and 62% of you have your own blog.
More than half of you use Blogger.
30% of you only read one blog per day. Awww… geee…. Thanks. Oh. You didn’t mean mine? I still like you.
You read blogs for humor, personality and perspective but you like mine anyway.
60% of you never use RSS to read blogs. It really makes life much easier, ya’ll. You can subscribe to all your favorite blogs on Bloglines and it keeps track of new posts for you.
Only half of you floss regularly. This makes me like you more. I won’t say why.
You talk on the cellular phones.
Tsk. Tsk. Only 18% of you believe in UFOs. I sure hope you all still believe in Santa.
There were a few questions not covered in the survey or in other surveys I’ve conducted. There are things I just need to know.
For today please answer one or more of the following 3 questions:
What percent milk do you drink?
How many of your kids are currently named Dirk?
Do you believe in dust mites?
We drink whole milk since I refuse to get different kinds of milk for everyone.
None, but that could change if I have another boy. Heck I think Dirk could even work as a girl’s name.
Of course, I can feel them crawling all over me right now.
We are all skim milk drinkers – even my 2 year old. And we have to buy 4 gallons a week. How sad is that?
We drink rice & soy milk, no one named Dirk, wouldn’t it be easier if you named all your kids Dirk. You could call for one and get everyone’s attention, no calling one kid by the other’s name. Yes, I believe in dust mites, 5 just looed them up in Wikipedia, very inlightening.
S.
What percent milk do you drink? I don’t actually drink milk if I can help it. Are you shocked? In our fridge is a thing of whole milk for the wee ones and 1 % for my husband to drink and for me to pour on my cereal. I think being forced to finish my milk as a kid each night during dinner, whether warm or cold, ruined it for me.
How many of your kids are currently named Dirk? Not currently.
Do you believe in dust mites? I have to pretend stuff like that is fictional for my own sanity purposes.
2%, 0, Absolutely….it’s hard not to when they’re all over my house….LOL!
I think I missed your original survey, but it sounds like I fit (for the most part) in the majority of your readership. *grin* Love your blog….and thought your survey results quite interesting. *grin* have a great day!
Well, darn I missed out on this survey. It sounded fun!
I drink 2%
Don’t have any Dirk names as I have never met a Dirk I liked….always have shaved heads and really mean! hmmm go figure.
and dust mites rock!
just kidding… I guess I am a believer even though I have never actually seen them. Maybe I shouldn’t believe everything I hear because the people who talk about dust mites are selling something everytime.
I don’t like milk in any of its various percentages. I know a dog named Dirk, but I’m not his owner. And no, I don’t believe in dust mites because then that would mean I should dust under my furniture. I prefer denial.
1. 1%, unless my husband buys it and then its 2%
2. None, but I did have a crush on a guy in high school by the name of Dirk.
3. Heck no. I don’t even believe in dust. That stuff you see on all my picture frames and knickknacks? Figment of your imagination.
I drink skim. The munchkin drinks whole right now. Hubby prefers whole, but will drink whatever we have in the house.
I do not have any kids named Dirk, but I had a college roommate who’s brother’s name was Dirk…no joke!
Dustmites LIVE at my house. I was so ashamed when I moved recently to see the dustmites underneath each piece of furniture when it was moved. I was mordified!
I drink skim, daughter drinks 2%, son drinks whole.
No Dirks.
I wish dustmites were not real.
1. 1%, I should drink skim but I have issues with blue milk
2. No kids named Dirk but I know a nice man from church with that name
3. Yep, we have learned co-exist nicely in my house :o)
Skim milk for everyone at my house – about 4 gallons a week.
Unfortunately no Dirks actually live here, but I know 2 of them, both football players. (Is it required to be a football player if your name is Dirk?)
Dustmites are imaginary creatures your mom made up to get you to dust your bedroom when you were little. I wouldn’t worry about them ever again.
We drink 1% in our house…my husband and kids like the 2% best, but I think it tastes yucky and they think my beloved skim milk tastes equally as nasty, so we comprimise with the 1%. And like Tracy, we have to buy AT LEAST 4 gallons a week, because we all have hollow legs that need to be filled with milk or else gravity would kick in and we would fly into space…I have learned to never argue with my 5 year old (but I’m gonna turn 6 in two weeks Mommy, so I know what I am talking about) son about physics.
I don’t have any kids named Dirk, but I do have a cousin named Dirk. He’s much older than me and I remember when I was little he used to pick on me all the time and I used to yell at him “Stop it you dirty Dirk!!” Dirk…jerk…interchangable. You can hardly tell the difference.
We breed dustmites. ‘Nuff said.
We are skim milk drinkers
Sorry, no Dirk’s here
Those blown up pictures of dustmites scare the begeegees out of me! I do believe they exist, but I am thankful that I can’t see them with the naked eye because I would probably never sleep again!
Darlin’, you mis-spelled “y’all” (note the careful placement of the apostrophe. I’ll forgive you–I’m sure it’s the whole Canadian influence.
And? All four of my children’s real names are Dirk.
milk grosses me out, I haven’t been able to drink it all my life.
I buy rice milk and sometimes soy so the others have something for cereal and cooking.
Like so many others…skim milk, no Dirks, and wishing there were no dust mites.
1% usually, but 2% when I feel like getting some extra calories not found in Chocolate.
None of my children are currently named Dirk, but when I actually have kids, I think I will be like Mrs. McCave (from the Dr. Seuss book ‘Too Many Daves’, and I will name all my children Dave, so I guess to make the story sound better I need to marry someone with the last name of McGirk, and then proceed to have 24 sons and name them all dirk.
“Absolutely, I do.” (10 points if you can tell me what I just quoted)
We drink 1%. Can’t quite convince myself to drink watered down milk..aka skim milk.
No Dirks in our family.
Yes, just thinking about those little mites makes me want to boil my house in bleach!
We drink whole and 2% here. The kids do better with fewer calories in their milk…otherwise they would never eat any food!
No Dirks here
Dust mites? Absolutely. If you had just seen the top of my fridge (before I just cleaned it) you would too!
Skim for all of us.
No Dirks here and no more kiddies planned.
Yes, I believe in Dust Mites. They are helping the Dust Bunnies guard the house.
We all drink skim milk. Got rid of the whole milk after Cha Cha turned two. Whole milk is a treat now. No Dirks… rhymes too well with jerk, sorry. I believe in dust mites… I just try not to think about them. Eeww.
Somehow I missed out on your last survey and would like to add myself to the numbers of people who enjoy Office… so much better than American Idol… so much better! Sorry Idol viewers the laughs are at the Office and I need the laughs!
2% milk – for the longest time, I thought “Dirk” was how you spelled “Derek” – and Dust Mites are taking over my space between the blinds and the windows.
yay for the Daring New World plans shaping up!
We have three different kinds of milk in our fridge right now. Whole for the kids, 1% for Neil, and skim for me (I just switched on a whim, like, 2 days ago). Dirk strikes me as a soap opera leading man sort of name. And I don’t just believe in dust mites, but have actually seen ’em under a microscope. Oh yeah, baby!
I, too, missed the survey—but I am a guy—or perhaqps I was when I was younger. Office, Skim. As someone said—dust mites and I co-exist
Also, for what it is worth, I was born in Canada
What percent milk do you drink? = 2%
How many of your kids are currently named Dirk? = 0
Do you believe in dust mites? = Yes, I’m allergic to the stupid little critters.
1% milk only
no Dirks in our house. Who wants a kid that is gonna be called Dirk the Jerk forever?
Yes, I believe in dust mites and I’m allergic to them. they cause my asthma.
1. whole milk, or half and half. My husband will occasionally get 1% for himself.
2. Currently named Dirk? none…but if it’s that important to you, I do have a son on the way….
3. dust mites are the scourge of the devil, and very very real.
I keep meaning to subscribe to an RSS feed, but never get around to it….
1. We drink 2%
2. no children named Dirk our children have much longer names
3. Dust Mites deffinitely Yes believe in them.
LOL hilarious. I have 6 children named Dirk- how do I answer?
So what you’re saying is, Democratic childless American Idol lover metaphysical living-in-sin astrologer that I am skewed your poll? Hey, someone’s gotta shake it up! (But hey, I used to live in the town you’re in now, so does that count for something?)
Soy milk only. No kids named Dirk (that only makes sense seeing I don’t have any) but I once knew a criminal named Dirk. Seriously. Dust mites? Yes.
2% milk
no dirks
how can you not believe in dust mites?
1.We drink either 1% or 2% depending on what is cheaper. I honestly can’t taste a difference- milk is milk! (you may all laugh now, that is what everyone does when I say this)
2.Uh, no Dirk’s, sounds too much like Dirt. (although when we were naughty my mom used to threaten us that our name would be “Mud”.)
3. Oh most assuredly! And they multiply rapidly all over my house!
I don’t drink milk, but we have 2% in the fridge for the kids and for cooking purposes.
No Dirks, but if I ever have another boy I will keep it in mind.
Dust mites…I HATE them. I heard Oprah did a thing on them, but I didn’t see it and I don’t want to know. I am allergic to dust, so its nice to have those mites to blame.
What percent milk do you drink? We dri nk low-fat skim milk from Braum’s (a local dairy). We will not drink any other milk from any other store so we must never, ever move.
How many of your kids are currently named Dirk? No. But I considered naming our cat Diggler.
Do you believe in dust mites? If I say no will they still exist? Because even though they are microscopic they gross me out.
I drink 1%, the males in the house drink whole milk (although my husband wishes I could get him 4%), and my daughter drinks breastmilk. Could someone tell me what percent that is? The internet is not very forthcoming. I found that it could range from 1% to the equivalent of cream.
No Dirks anywhere in the entire extended family.
Although I haven’t ever seen them, I feel that dust mites are really there. Dust bunnies, however, are imaginary. That doesn’t stop me from seeing them though. 😉
Milk… is gross. We do the soy or rice and so will my pending grandchild. Cow’s milk is so not needed.
What was the other quest… oh, Dirk. Nope no Dirks here.
And yeh, my 2 grown kids are allergic to the little buggers. They are gross but can you imagine all the cast off skin cells that would be lingering in piles if we didn’t have the DMs to eat them? lol.
🙂
2 % milk for my kids & husband. 1 % for me (2% if I’m feeling naughty 😉
No Dirk’s, but am now looking into it.
Dust Mites are Real and should not be ignored. Blah!
1. I buy skim milk, but I don’t actually drink it. My stomach can’t hack it.
2. No kids named Dirk, but I had a crush on a boy named Dirk in 6th grade.
3. Dust mites live in abundance at my house despite the quarterly to semi-annual dusting I do.
Skim Royale.
No Dirks.
I believe in dust mites. Have you seen Totoro lately?
1% and vanilla-soy
none
I despise dust mites
I buy whole, 2%, and 1%. I try to drink the 1% but sometimes I grab one of the others.
I briefly dated a guy named Dirk in college. So far I have not named any of my children after him.
I prefer not to believe in them, but unfortunately they’re out there.
1. 2% milk-I would prefer 1% and DH would prefer whole, so it’s a compromise.
2. No, but that IS the name of one of my best friend’s fiance.
3. I believe, but I ignore them.
I don’t drink milk, but we buy WHOLE for the bebe. Her ped said keep her on whole until she is 2 (next month) and then switch to 2% or 1%. I haven’t met anyone yet who hasn’t told me that is crazy. My daughter is like rail skinny though so… whatever.
I only have a daughter. Maybe if I had a son I would name him Dirk. Probably not though.
Yeah, I am terrified of dust mites.
nofat milk.
no dirks.
yes to dust mites (but I don’t like to think about them)
Milk? Is that the healthy white stuff? No way I prefer diet coke, red wine or coffee, generally in that order 🙂 tee hee. I’m pretty sure that my poor, neglected children drink whatever I put in their cup, especially the youngest at 3am when I stumble bleary-eyed to the refrigerator, praying I don’t miss, and accidentally pour the…. well you can just imagine. – Just Joking!!!!!!
Dirk? Seriously – Dirk the Dork, Dirk the dud, Dirk the dirty dorky dud — it would be unkind. (sorry if I offended anyone, but I decorate cakes for a living and see some pretty cruel stuff on the “name” front, if you are a “Dirk” …. there’s always the possiblility of a pseudonym 🙂
As far as your third question goes…. Thanks alot, I gotta run now, I’ve got stuff to itch!!!! Cheers and Thanks for the Smiles!
Three of us drink skim while the baby (18 mo.) still drinks whole.
I have, unfortunately no children named Dirk, and even more sadly still, I’ve never even met a Dirk…
Yep, dust mites, I believe in them… ‘though I try to avoid thinking about them as much as possible.
Oops, I forgot, and we mix chocolate soy with our milk much of the time – yummy!
We drink 2%.
My son is not named Dirk. My friend’s husband, however, is. Seriously.
I believe in dust mites, I believe in bed bugs, and I believe in cockroaches. All of these things live, in abundance, in Arkansas. That is why we no longer live there.
We drink skim-those of us who actually drink it.
My MIL’s brother is named Dirk.
And I totally believe in dust mights. And my children are the best dusters around!
What percent milk do you drink? me 1%
How many of your kids are currently named Dirk? nope
Do you believe in dust mites? yes
We drink 2% begrudgingly. I enjoy whole but post baby decided to cut back to 2%. But I have hope, the Little Lady will turn a year soon and we’ll have to go back to whole milk for her little growing bones.
No dirks and I’m not sure what dust mites are. Dust is real. I’ve heard of dust bunnies but I thought it was just a cute name for dust.
We drink Whole milk for the extra fat content (yeah, not a popular thing, but we can all use it around here).
None of my kids are named Dirk, but I did know a Dirk once…he was in my youth group in High School…his 5 siblings all had “D” names as well.
And I do believe in dust mites, I do believe in dust mites. I think they take over my children’s brains in the night and make them act out against all forms of authority.
We buy whole (for the sake of the kids … but since we rarely share, I’m ready to give it up and go back to skim) milk.
We have zero children named Dirk.
I have faith that dust mites DO exist, but I have yet to physically see one.
And I hope to keep it that way.
We buy 2%. Anything less looks blue and tastes watered down to me!
No Dirks.
Dust mites are real, man.
1. Hubby and I drink skim; the kiddos have whole milk.
2. No Dirks here.
3. I do believe in dust mites (insert full-body shudder here).
Milk = 2%. I prefer whole, but that would eventually lead directly to skim and I can’t have that.
Dirks = None. But since I can’t get the names I gave to my boys right anyway, maybe they would answer to Dirk. I’ll give it a try.
Dustmites = I believe. And I could have had the Kirby vacuum guy who invaded my home yesterday get them out of my bed, but he kind of creeped me out so there the little mites stay live continue to multiply and replenish.
Survey = Ages 21-34????? Last month my eye doctor told me because I was getting older my eyes weren’t readjusting as quickly when I take off my glasses. This month I find that I am one of your old lady readers. This can’t be happening!!!!
1% – that darn cholesterol you know!
No Dirk, but darn, that was one hunky name in the way back
DUST MITES! They are for certain more dangerous than any little ol’ UFO for sure! Don’t get me started, I think I’ll have to have shower tonight, just thinking of them —ewww
The adults and oldest 3 children are currently drinking FAT FREE!!! Yaay us! The littlest (who will turn 1 this week) has begun drinking WHOLE milk. We’ll wean her little self down over the next two years just like we did her siblings!
No Dirks – who names their child that?
I believe in dust mites and am sure that we are harboring a large army of them that might take over the dust bunnies if they ever get the courage up!
I buy 2%, but never drink the stuff m’self. Lactose intolerant y’know.
0 kids named Dirk.
I not only believe in dust mites… I own the album.
Those of us under three feet tall drink whole milk while the older folk are stuck with 1%.
I had a friend in high school who had a brother named Dirk. He really, really, hated to be called Dirk the Daring. Ask me how I know how much he hated it…go on, ask! It’s a funny story involving me, a new shirt and a large glass of iced tea.
Seeing those slides on dust mites in my Biology 101 class with Dr Boothe is still a great source of paranoia. Ewwww…
2% when I drink it but I much prefer water or tomato juice.
No children at all currently, but now they’re ALL going to be named Dirk.
My sister was bitten by a dust mite once. (No really! Dust mite bites can be very painful!)
My husband is from a dairy-farming community, so we’re stuck on whole milk. It used to make me sick, but I’ve gotten used to it.
So far, we have one girl named Emma and a boy on the way. We haven’t picked a name for him yet, though, so maybe Dirk will make the cut.
Yes, I believe in dust mites. But I try not to think about them. Sort of like how I try not to think about tiny spiders crawling in my open mouth as I sleep. And of course I’m writing this as I’m on my way to bed. Won’t be falling asleep for awhile. 😉
1: skim
2: I have a brother in law named Dirk
3: I believe in them, but I don’t experience them
BTW: my 13 year old lurks your blog daily, so there is someone under 18 reading you.
1:skim for me: 2% for the hubby and kiddos
2. 0 kids named Dirk, aButI’ll remember to add that to my list of names to bestow upon future children I want bullied.
3. Dust mites are kinda like Santa, you know they’re real but you never ever see them. They also leave you presents, if you like love bites.
Hey tell Nantie Meg that we are in Southern California, and if she would like to come and visit us we are 3 miles from the beach and about 30 min. away from disney land. Your family is welcome to come too!
1. skim for me: 2% for the hubby and kiddos
2. 0 kids named Dirk, but I’ll remember to add that to my list of names to bestow upon future children I want bullied.
3. Dust mites are kinda like Santa, you know they’re real but you never ever see them. They also leave you presents, if you like love bites.
Hey tell Nantie Meg that we are in Southern California, and if she would like to come and visit us we are 3 miles from the beach and about 30 min. away from Disney Land. Your family is welcome to come too!
We drink skim milk ever since we got the report that Hubby’s cholesterol is HIGHER THAN A KITE.
No kids named Dirk and since we are probably done, there probably won’t ever be a Dirk.
I’ve never really considered the possibility that dust mites might not exist. I have been blindly following the “experts”. I will attempt to do some research and get back to you on this one…
Fun results, and great commentary. 🙂
2% milk drinkers here in the big-ol-city
No kids named Dirk (though we’re not to 6 yet, either)
Dust mites a protected (as in, why take the time to disturb them on a hot day?) species here.
I prefer whole milk (3.25%?)
N/A (no one by that name here)
I do believe in dust mites, but I do NOT believe in the majority of products to get rid of them. Hot water and a hot dryer might make me feel better though. But I agree with comment 4… “I have to pretend stuff like that is fictional for my own sanity purposes”.
Now for some questions for you:
What do your kids do while you blog?
Do you have any pet animals/rocks?
What percent of milk do you drink?
“’cause you could drink whole if you wanted to”.
1%
none, probably ever.
yes, I do.
2 percenters over here. We go through 4 or 5 gallons a week. (the kids love cereal in the morning, and I love cereal as a midnight snack)
No Dirks, and none in the works (hey I rhymed)
I never thought about it before. I’ll go with whatever the majority of the other posters said. 🙂
My word you have a lot of lurkers!!!
1) 0% unless found in the occasional ice-cream or dessert
2) I have a brother in law
3) I belive in Dust bunnies.
Hey?! What gives?!
Me personally? None. Lactose intollerant. Kids and hubby drink 2% and lots of it.
0% of my children are named Dirk, although I totally had a crush on Starbuck from Battlestar Gallactica…back when he was a dude. That should be said. And wasn’t his real name Dirk?
I do you believe in dust mites. I do, I do, I do…but I don’t worry about them.
1. Depends on who is home, but I agree with #69 lol, “you could totally drink whole milk if you wanted”
2. Nop, no I don’t
3. Yep, I guess…
To JK2boys #69:
-put soap in their hair
-fishy named JackAgain, after our dearly departed fishy Jack
-Skim, but your boost to my confidence is much appreciated
-we drink skim
-no dirks around here
-unfortunately, we belive in dust mites–one kiddo is allergic
*skim or 1% – depends on what kind of mood I’m in and how much hubby is whining about the milk being “clear”
*currently, none. But I guess we could change “little man’s” name . . .
*I’m getting shots on a regular basis because of them, so Yes, Virginia – there is a dust mite!
Skim milk for me!
A dirk is a type of Scotish sword, thus making it a cool, manly name… no Dirks yet, but, perhaps, someday…
Dustmites exist. Oh yeah. They’re everywhere.
2% on my cereal, whole milk in the yummy cheese sauce I made to go over our burgers at dinner tonight (thank you Tyler Florence).
If I don’t name my son Tyler, or Florence, I’ll definitely consider Dirk.
If I have to. So far, I believe more in UFOs. Seriously.
OK, after reading this I see that I am (as usual) one of the odd women out in most of your categories. Except that I am a woman and I am university edumacated. However, (1) 2%, (2) my sons sport my husband’s common Mennonite last name which is *almost* Dirk but worse (guesses?), (3) they don’t believe in me so it’s moot.
I’m 17and I read your blog religiously! I clicked on the AOLParenting one day and you completely cracked me up so I just keep coming back. I don’t have any kids and there’s no reason for me to read a parenting but I enjoy your writing so much I always have to stay updated. I’m sure that’s less than 1% but you have at least one under 18 reader!
I don’t drink milk, except the one glass my husband forces on me when I am pregnant. One glass the whole nine months. I would drink whole milk that is farm fresh, unpastuerized if I just had to drink it or die. But in my house is always 2% unless I have a child 2 or younger.
I don’t have a child named Dirk, but I used to know a guy…..
I do believe in dust mites, but if not believing in them would make me not allergic to them, I would stop believing.
I buy 1%. Does that count? I don’t like to drink milk unless it’s got some ice cream and chocolate mixed in it.
No Dirks here. (I do, however, on occasion have some jerks here. Does that count?)
Yes to dust mites. But I prefer to ignore them… much like my dusting duties.
I hope people realize dust mites aren’t the tuffs of dust we see around. They’re evil little buggers that live in the carpet and on our bedding that eat our dead sloughed off skin. Its horrible and aweful and I’m allergic to them so I’m rather more aware of them than I wish I was. Anyway we’re a random percentage family: I like skim, whole for the boys and desperately trying to ween the husband down to 2%. And sorry no Dirk but my sister did date a creep named that.
We always have 3 gallons going at a time – skim for me, 2% for SuperHubby and whole for the Tominator. We don’t keep Seth’s milk in the fridge 🙂
Currently, 0% of my children are named Dirk. I’ll have to keep that in mind if round three ever comes about.
And yes, I believe in the evil, evil dust mite.