Keep Your Sneakers ON!!!

Hey Y'all,

Erick's Parent Teacher conference was last week and it was successful. We were already aware that he wasn't doing very well in math and we also know that Erick has issues with focusing, he procrastinates and often doesn't finish his assignments in class. 3rd grade has been an up hill battle but I'm confident that we will get over this hurdle and Erick will be the A student I know he was born to me.

Now going into the conference I was nervous. Not because I thought I would hear any horrific stories about his behavior or that I would be surprised about His difficulties... nope I knew about all of that before we walked in. I was worried about Erick and his sneakers.

Erick does not like to have anything, ANYTHING on his feet! Ever! well let me change that in the summer he doesn't mind wearing his $19.99 Payless sandals. He loves those things and if it were up to him he'd wear them year round. I wrote about his shoe issue a couple weeks ago in this post. The first thing that comes off when Erick gets home from being outside are his shoes then his coat etc.

This is nothing new. My son has always stripped when he's comfortable (literally) first the shoes and socks, then his shirt and finally his pants until he is down to his Hanes underwear. We have to MAKE him keep his clothes on when he gets to his great-grandmother's house. Any who during his parent teacher conference I listened and waited, asked questions about his academics and waited and finally the other shoe dropped. "The only problem we have is that Erick takes his socks and shoes off." says Ms. Powers.... My husband and I apologize profusely and say that it's a sign that he's comfortable in her classroom which she appreciates. We call Erick over and ask him to promise that he'll keep his sneakers on moving forward. He said he would.. Hopefully he keeps his word.

This was the note we received in his homework folder the Friday after the conference.

Parenting is no joke!

Until next time...

MUAH!

New York Cares: Winter Wishes

Hey Y'all,

OK I am not in denial anymore... Christmas is quickly approaching. My children (Erick especially) have already created their massive Christmas wish lists and I'm getting on it by the end of this month!

Now... there are little kids out there who don't have mom's and dad's who can fulfill their Christmas wish lists. Especially after Hurricane Sandy I know that their will be many children that won't have a home to celebrate Christmas in! I went on a search and found New York Cares this organization has been around for a long time and does coat drives and fulfills the wishes of underprivileged children.

From their site...

Children all over the city eagerly await the holiday season. It's a great time to celebrate with friends and family, and of course, to get gifts. Unfortunately for many children in New York, their families simply can't afford holiday gifts. That's what makes the Winter Wishes program so special - you can fulfill the holiday gift requests of children, teens, seniors, and families, to make their season brighter.

This year with your help, we'll makes the wishes of more than 35,000 children teens, and families in-need come true. We collect and screen each letter and gift request, and then send them to volunteers who purchase, wrap, and send gifts to shelters, schools, and community organizations throughout the five boroughs.

We can't do it without you. Create a team of Wish Makers with your company, friends, family, church, or alumni association, or sign up as an individual and commit to transforming the holiday season one New Yorker at a time.

This year I created a group of volunteers that will receive letters from these children and answer them to the best of our ability. Please join me if you can.



Until next time...
MUAH!

Pick Your Battles

Hey Y'all,

Battle Definition: fight or struggle tenaciously to achieve or resist something.

sneakers vs. sandals
jeans vs running pants
Nick Jr. vs Disney Jr
healthy food vs junk food

The four items above are daily battles that I have to pick between with the 3 little Brown's. As a mother I am learning that everything isn't worth the fight. Every year around this time I have the ultimate fight with Erick about foot ware! Every year we go buy a new pair of sneakers for school but my son loves his $19.99 sandals from Payless Shoe Source. He wears them the ENTIRE summer. Getting him to put on a pair of sneakers or shoes is literally like making him sit in the dentist chair so he can have his teeth pulled. I mean this boy cries, tries to reason with me etc. It is PAINFUL y'all.

This year he has come up with a plan. He has gym two days a week it is only on those days (Tuesday & Friday) that he willingly wears his sneakers. Last week however my brilliant 7 year old decides that he is going to wear his sneakers for gym but bring his sandals with him so he could change into them afterward! Crafty I know but a battle that I fought and won!

Now here is the catch 22, I bring a change of shoes to church with me every Sunday because there is no way I can walk around in heels all day (no matter the height) so he tries to reason with me based on this fact. Still doesn't work but he gets an E for effort.

The food battles are another every day fight with my youngest but he deserves his own post for that one!

What types of battles do you fight with your children? How often do you concede?

Until next time...
MUAH!

How much is to much?

Hey Y'all:

As a mom I ask myself this question all the time. How many skittles or M&M's do they really need? How long should I allow them to watch television? How old should they be before I buy them a cell phone? How much is too much, how soon is too soon? When is it enough?

I wonder how many parents truly question how much or when is it enough? I asked this question again recently when I saw pictures of Willow Smith on the red carpet for her big brother's movie premier. This very pretty and I'm sure gifted little girl is now sporting a Mohawk, she's 10 years old. I totally agree that we should allow our children creative expression, picking out their own clothes every now and then (only but so many times you want him to wear the to small superman tee shirt out in public... and the tutu should only be reserved for SOME occasions) but at 10 years old a drastic hair do that will take a long time to grow in, in my book is way to much.

I ask when is it too much or how much is enough because if you allow a 10 year old to shave their heads they'll want a tattoo at 13 then a brand new car at 14, credit cards but no job at 15 and so forth. Once they have received all of the items that teenagers and young adults should receive what do they have to look forward to?

I'm against children being skipped in school for this same reason, I feel they will reach their plateau way to early in life; by the time they are 18 they have experienced more life then a 30 year old. When they are finally fully grown they will try to recapture their youth. Look at poor Lindsay Lohan and so many of the other young stars who have lived so much life in such short periods of time. Now as adults they are making life altering decisions that won't get them a slap on the wrist but time in jail. I'm fearful for these children who are treated as adults way to soon.

So I ask you how much is enough? When is it too much?

Until next time...
MUAH!

Family First

Hey Y'all:

I have a coworker who's dad passed out on a NYC street was rushed to the emergency room with a gash on his head and internal bleeding. She told me of the saga yesterday and my first question was "why are you still here?"

I know that we are in a recession and I also know that it's hard to find a new job but... regardless of how your employer may react when your family is in trouble they MUST be first. I'm unclear as to when we became a society that put family on the back burner and someone elses millions on the front. Unless it's your company which in fact is your family; FAMILY IS FIRST!

Today is the one year anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson and no matter how many fans he had/has, how much money he made, how many cities, countries, continents he toured the only people left behind trying to figure out what to do with his estate and the life of his children is his family. So folks make sure you put your family first they are the ones who matter in the great scheme of things.

Until next time...
MUAH!

Adoption Wednesday - The Babies In Haiti

Hey Y'all:

I know I am always talking about domestic adoption but with the earthquake in Haiti I began to think about all the children who are going to be without families. Just looking at the pictures of the littlest victims makes me so sad.

So I did what I do best and that's search the web for information on these little ones. Here's the skinny. As is typical adoption is DIFFICULT to say the least but the adoption of children who a affected by a natural disaster is even more difficult. You see there is no way to prove that the children are actually orphaned. Especially if they are small and cannot communicate. It could be that a child was living at home in Haiti with their grandparents or another family member while there parents went to another country (typically the US) for a better life and were going to send for their child when there finances allowed. In this case the child cannot be put up for adoption but if there is no proof that the child is without family - well you know the rest.

Now specifically for Haiti and the babies that were affected on January 12th it's even worse.... according to InterCountry Adoption Office of Children's Issues U.S. Department of State

Haitian law does not allow for a Haitian child to travel to the United States to be adopted. Therefore, prospective adoptive parents must obtain a full and final adoption under Haitian law before the child can immigrate to the United States. Prospective adoptive parents can expect a lengthy process to adopt a child in Haiti. 

Furthermore specific to the Earthquake...

During times of crisis, it can also be exceptionally difficult to fulfill the legal requirements for adoption of both the U.S. and the child's country of origin.  This is especially true when civil authority breaks down or temporarily ceases to function.   It can also be difficult to gather documents necessary to fulfill the legal requirements of U.S. immigration law.  There are many ways in which U.S. citizens can help the children in areas of natural disaster or conflict.  For example, individuals who wish to assist can make a financial contribution to a reputable relief or humanitarian organization working in that country.  

At this time it is important that we donate to the humanitarian organizations that work in the country and most importantly PRAY for the babies.

Here are three reputable organizations.

Save the Children

Habitat for Humanity

UNICEF

Until next time...

MUAH!

Top 10 Reasons Why... I SERIOUSLY dislike the MTA

Hey Y'all:

I'm a New Yorker! Born, raised and still reside. I have a problem though and it's with the MTA! It SUCKS!!!! So here is my top 10 reasons why...

I seriously dislike the NYC Metropolitan Transit Authority

10. Trains and buses are filthy! Between the bottles and food that's left on the train, and the newspapers and trash left on the bus I'm fed up. What pray tell are the darn folks with orange vests doing all day? I have yet to see someone clean a bus when it reaches the depot! Nasty

9. The rodents! Why I ask? Why are there so many rats on the tracks? I know it has a lot to do with point number 10 but really? What's up with poison or rat traps or something? Now we are being visited by sky rats (pigeons) they are now entering the station and sometimes even the train.

8. Communication - OK so I see the big yellow and orange posters that are around the stations and on the trains and even on the buses when there are services changes or notices but they are never clear! Then you have the dang on intercoms on the train platform they SUCK. When I'm on the F train I can't hear a thing! And why, why I ask don't all of the conductors on EVERY train announce the station? I mean we all don't know what stop is next! The lady sitting next to me from Idaho trying to get to the tree lighting shouldn't have to ask every person on the A train if she's going in the right direction.

7. How can they increase my fare but not my space. So we have these new buses that really SUCK! There is major space in the front of the bus but there is a huge hump of some sort covering the tire so there isn't space for seats. Then you have a few seats but no hand rails it's so annoying!

6. Customer Service is usually pretty HORRIBLE! I take the same bus every morning to get to my train then I have to transfer to another train. Yes I take a bus and two trains to work every single day! Any who I get on the same bus see the same bus driver and she NEVER speaks when greeted. I get you might not love your job but if you are working with the public the least you can do is say hi back or you're welcome when someone says thank you. Ugh... so annoying. Not to mention the fact that escalators and elevators at most stations are either broken down or under repair half the darn time. Then when the weather is inclement (as they say) why can't they put more trains out or more buses on the roads. Just because there is snow on the ground doesn't mean folks don't have to get to work or kids to school!

5. Panhandlers so I hear the announcement that it's against the law to give money to the homeless on the train. But here is what I'm trying to figure out... how exactly do these people manage to remain in the transit system for so long? Most of these people look like they never leave. We often see the same people asking for money on the same lines EVERY day. What's really being done about this besides telling riders not to give them money?

4. Sick Passenger - Ok people if you are sick DON'T GET ON THE TRAIN. However if someone does become ill on a train why? why I ask does the entire grid get jacked up? I've been on trains when they take the train out of service because there is a sick passenger. How does that help the sick person? Why can't the station manager come get the sick person and wait with them until EMS comes to the rescue? Why must I be late to my dentist appointment because someone got sick? I don't get it. Am I missing something her?

3. Metro card machine. Is there an ulterior motive motive for the metro card machine being done on Monday morning? I mean you want us to use the machine, force us really to use the machine when to took away the token clerk from most stations. So again I have a question Why my dear MTA do you make it so difficult for us to make it to our destination late on Monday morning because the machine won't take cash or only takes cash and not credit or doesn't give you an unlimited just a single ride. I don't get it... there must be an ulterior motive for this behaviour!

2. Fare hikes. I remember when the train and bus cost .75. We are now paying $2.25 and the service is the SAME. Where is my money going? The MTA has the ability to cripple this city and they know it. If we don't have train and bus service many jobs will go undone but the questions remains why tax the people that are keeping this city that never sleeps awake? I don't know if I can handle another fare increase. Not sure when they'll ask for the next one but if they do I'll be sure to protest!

The number 1 reason why I seriously dislike the MTA is because they are trying to force school kids to buy their own metro cards! How in the world can this happen? Do they not realize how many children will end up being truants because their family can not afford to purchase additional metro cards? Are they seriously considering doing this to our city and to our youth? Does the MTA not realize that by doing so they will ultimately damage an entire generation and stunt their growth with this single action? Currently a monthly metrocards costs $89 dollars! I am a family of five and I can only think of what that would mean for my household if all of my children were train/bus age. My husband and I would need metrocards and one for each of our children so that's $445 a month on top of food, clothes, shelter, supplies etc! How the heck can they get away with this? I'm signing this petition to fight for our kids, please join me!

I know that was a long one but I had to get it out. Feel free to leave your top 5 or 10 in the comments area!

Until next time...

MUAH

How many is enough?

Hey Y'all:

I love children. As you know I have three beautiful ones of my own. I have four Godchildren and countless nieces, nephews and little cousins. I'm an advocate for foster and adoptive care. One day I want to own a chain of child care centers, but today readers I’d like to ask how many is enough?

How many children that is!

I just read a story on Parent Dish about the Duggar’s giving birth… “Michelle Duggar, star of TLC's "18 Kids and Counting" gave birth to her 19th child, a girl, Thursday night via emergency C-section, although she wasn't due to give birth until spring, TMZ reports. Josie Brooklyn Duggar weighed in at 1 lb., 6 ounces.”

19 Children! Really? What does one do with 19 children? How many is enough? I understand if you don’t believe in contraception, I get it if you just want to let nature take it’s course; and I also know what the scripture Genesis 1:28 says: God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." but when do you say enough? When do you as a woman say, ok my body can’t take the trauma of having another child.

How many children is enough?

My mother is the oldest of 19 children and ended up raising five of her younger siblings, she also adopted five children from the same woman who just kept having drug addicted babies.

I admire the Duggar’s in that they are a self sufficant family and are doing this own their own… unlike Nadya Denise Doud-Suleman Gutierrez the Octo Mom. But my mind goes to the children. Does the 8th child in line really get any one on one time with his/her parents? Who’s really raising number 17? It just gets me to thinking. I’m the mom of three and it’s often difficult to divvy my time and make sure everyone is getting enough mommy attention. So what does one do with children when the amount gets into the double digits?

I’m really curious y’all. How many is enough???

Let me know what you think.

Until next time…
MUAH!