Pick your battles

Teachers will always decry that they need more parental input with their student's parents, but beware. Oftentimes when teachers say that, they don't mean it. Some teachers actually don't like when parents try to help, and they view their input as interference. Understand and no teacher will admit this, but many times how a teacher feels about the parent will manifest in how the student is treated. So tread lightly at your child's school. I have seen my son thrown under the bus, because of something that I thought was positive that I did; so I know of what I speak. Listen to the hidden cues that your child's teacher gives you when you attend conferences, or check how quickly or slowly they return your calls, if they get returned at all. See how receptive your child's teacher is to your sitting in a class. Make a mental note of how situations with your child are handled. Does the teacher call you or just make decisions about your child without your consent. Does your child's teacher always give you short answers? Does your child stay in trouble for the slightest infringement? Does your child ever get picked for special assignments around the school? Do you ever get calls just because the teacher wants to give you compliments about your child or does the teacher only call when there is a problem? Well, you know what your instinct is telling you, so trust it. If you want to change your child's teachers attitude toward your child, you must change your relationship with that teacher. This can be done in several ways, based on the relationship that you have had with the teacher. Be here are some helpful hints. Call the teacher sometimes just to express gratitude for their time educating your child. Always stay positive when having to discuss any issue concerning your child with his teacher. Never get into an agruement with the teacher, even if the teacher is dead wrong. Always try to make peace, because this educator holds your child's future in his hands. Just as long as the teacher isn't abusive to your child, deal with these squirmashes in an upbeat way. An enemy in your child's teacher translates into a hassel for your child in school. Remember any relationship with this teacher is temporary, one school year normally which is only 180 days. You can make nice for that long, because if you don't and your child fails the class, you will most likely have to deal with that same teacher again and the second time around will be worse than the first. So as Woody said in Toy Story to Sid, "play nice."

Please read this article, reprinted from the Chicago Sun Times

Article: Don't make your child a victim of your messy life; Parents have duty to keep kids away from volatile situations
Article from:
Chicago Sun-Times
Article date:
October 19, 2010
Author:
Mary Mitchell CopyrightCopyright (c) 2009 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.

Some stories are just not fit to print.
The messy tale of what happened at a home in West Pullman over the weekend is one of them.
As a black woman, I cringe knowing that a lot of people will judge young African-American mothers in neighborhoods like Pullman based on this violent episode.
According to police, a 4-year-old boy allegedly witnessed his surrogate father stab his biological father during a fight over the boy's affection.
Only in a nightmare that scares you awake should a situation like this exist.
The most shocking aspect of this Saturday night killing is that the presence of a 4-year-old boy, who supposedly was loved by two fathers, was not enough to stop the bloodshed.
The victim, Nick Lamar Seay, was the boy's biological father. According to other adults in the home, Seay was at the home where his son, son's mother and her boyfriend lived to celebrate his 30th birthday.
That, of course, didn't make any sense and, frankly, was a recipe for disaster.
Seay had recently been released from a state prison where he served three years for armed robbery with a firearm.
That would mean that his biological son was a toddler when Seay went away.
In his absence, another man acted as a surrogate father to the incarcerated man's son. But his was not an act rooted in benevolence. The man also had a child with the boy's mother. So you can imagine the confusion that the 4-year-old already has weathered.
At some point during the celebration things must have gotten out of hand because, according to initial reports, the surrogate father pulled a knife on Seay, who was trying to comfort his crying son.
As of Monday afternoon, the surrogate father had not been charged. The police described the case as an "ongoing investigation," which means more sordid facts are likely to come.
But incidents like this just don't happen in a sober world.
I don't know if any of these people were drinking or smoking dope, but it was 2 a.m., and the kids in the house were up watching videos.
That's a dead giveaway that no one was acting responsibly.
More important, the biological father should not have been at the house in the first place. He should have picked up his son and spent time with him somewhere other than at the home his ex now shares with another man.
Although one of the boy's relatives told a Sun-Times reporter that Seay "got overprotective of the boy," and that "too many people love the boy," what happened is not a reflection of anyone's love for a child.
This violent confrontation is a reflection of extreme selfishness.
Ten days ago, another 30-year-old father was charged with murder in the death of his 14-month-son.
Dontrell Johnson was found floating in Lake Michigan. An autopsy revealed that the toddler had been strangled.
The boy's father, Donald Johnson, allegedly had threatened the child because the boy's mother refused to resume their failed relationship.
Apparently, the father had a "long history" of domestic violence. Yet there was no order of protection in place. That would have at least made it much more difficult for Johnson to have unsupervised visits with his son.
Before allegedly strangling his son, Johnson called the boy's mother and told her he planned to kill himself and their son.
He didn't kill himself. He allegedly killed his son.
These stories should make every single mother take stock of what is going on in her own home.
It is hard enough for children to grow up in a single-parent household. But when that household is held hostage by chaos, the damage it does to children is almost criminal.
As my own mother used to remind me, kids won't be kids long. One day, you look up and the toddler is towering over you.
And the problem with living a messy life is that it never seems that messy when you are the one living it.
Too often, it is only after the damage is done does one realize they have not only wrecked their own lives, but the lives of their children.
We can do a lot better than this.

What do you want from me?

Nice come back Labron. (click on the title to see Nike's new commercial, featuring Labron)

Look people, the bottom line is that this athlete could have taken several roads in his life. His mom was only 16 when she had him, his grandmother died when he was very young. His mother would send him to stay with coaches and friends, because she didn't have adequate housing many times.

His childhood was not stable, yet he didn't become a drug addict or use it as an excuse to become lazy and feel entitled. He stayed positive, made millions, didn't go to jail, didn't abandon his children and have you forgotten he isn't 30 years old yet. He has made major strides in his career, let me repeat that, HIS career.

What have you done with your life, except complain about his choices. So what, you don't agree with his choices for his life. WHO CARES! Stop beating up on Labron, because he has done more in his short life, than many do with their entire lives. Go find a life, maybe get one for Christmas, but get one and leave Labron alone.

(By the way, I love the dig at Barkely! Mr. never cared about what anyone thought about him as he spit on fans and did everything possible to be the rudest player in existence.)

Stay classy Labron, it will weed out the idiots from your life!

72 Year Old Has a Bangin Body!

Wow, dedication, determination and desire. Don't tell me that you can't do anything that you want to do. This 72 year old goddess has the body of a 20 year old. I have no excuses anymore, I must do what is right; so that I can live a long and healthy life! Do the right thing!

more about "72 Year Old Has a Bangin Body!", posted with vodpod

Retirement

Bea Arthur died. She was best known as her character Dorothy that she played on the Golden Girls. Her tribute today was awe inspiring. She made a statement today that I thought was very profound. She said, "Actors don't retire. Retire is what people do, who don't like their jobs." How succinct! She was still performing at 86 and loving every minute of it. To find something that you love and get paid doing it is the best blessing in the world. Can you imagine making a salary to do something that you are passionate about doing? Imagine working everyday at something that you would do for free. Utopia! When you love what you do, you are happier and the world just seems sweeter. Life's little problems don't seem to bother you as much. You can find a reason to be grateful everyday when you love what you do. You don't waste energy lying about reasons why you can't go to work and while at work, you truly do your best. Find something that you love and just do it. Against all odds, find your passion and immerse yourself into it! You'll be thankful that you did!

Gratitute

I must retrain my thinking patterns. I tend to dwell on that which is counter-productive to my existence. Gratefulness is a skill that I must develop. I have lived as a compulsive complainer and wasted far too much energy in that zone. I must learn to appreciate all that life has to offer; as well as all that my life has become. I made every choice that led me to where I am today. I must be thankful for the ability to think for myself and act accordingly. I must stop thinking about what could've or should've been. I must start living in the present and making choices that will take me where I want to go. No more basking in regret. I am a unique specimen and only I can live my life. I am special with talents, skill sets and thoughts that are only mine. I must remember that no one can take control over my life without my consent. I give myself permission to live and grow. I must learn to be grateful every minute of the day. Thank you for my life and for my ability to live it. Thank you for my children and my friends. Thank you for my family who have stood by me, even when they didn't want to. Thank you for every path that I have chosen to take. Thank you for allowing me to just be me.

You have the right...

Bravo, Miss California! Now, I'm not an avid pageant fan, but this latest news item has brought me into a debate that normally wouldn't concern me. Miss California was asked by a gay judge if she thought that same sex marriage should be ratified by the states. Her response was basically that she believed that marriage was between a man and a woman. She stated that she was raised to believe that and that she wasn't trying to offend anyone. Well, needless to say the gay judge took offense and decided to call her names (like a child) on his blog. Now, when did it go out of fashion to have your own opinion? When did we decide as a country that we all had to agree on everything and if you went against someone you were insensitive. This man went on to say that she didn't inspire or unite, and that was his issue with her(not that she didn't support gay marriage). We all know that is a lie. It seems that many individuals who are celebrating their 15 minutes of fame, set themselves up as judge and jury over everyone else's life. If you disagree, you are wrong. I think her desire to stick to her morals and state the truth is more inspirational that just going along to get along. This a wonderful opportunity for those to unite who are sick of certain segments of society dictating to the masses how to think and feel. Thank you for standing up and not being afraid to be true to yourself, Miss California! This blogger's tirade about you, just speaks volumes about his maturity (or lack thereof) level. What qualifies a gay man, who couldn't pass a beauty contest in his dreams to judge the Miss America contest? His only claim to fame is that he is gay and he can have tantrums on a computer. You must stand for something or you will fall for anything. Thank you for not letting this gay man, derail you or intimidate you. You are a class act and I applaud your honesty, especially in this world where the superficial reign right now. Hold fast to yourself and keep you head held high, like the winner that you are!