It was in the news again this morning with even more details than the first report a couple of months ago. Children have 5X the risk of developing brain tumors due to cell phone use than adults. The biggest risk is using a cell phone before the age of 20. That number shocked me. My kids are 11 and 12 and, according to these latest findings, are at very high risk.
Why are they at higher risk? A child's scull is much thinner and smaller than that of an adult. An adults scull is thick enough to prevent the radiation from reaching the brain. However, a child's scull being so thin allows the radiation to travel right through the head!
Why take chances. I have told my kids to hold the handset away from their ear and head when they talk on their cell phones. By the way, their cell phones are primarily used to contact me. My kids are not talking for long periods of time with friends and will not do so as long as I am paying the bills. However, even I am not practicing what I preach, as I am accustomed to holding any telephone up to my ear. I can actually feel a nauseating tingling sensation in my ear when I use my cell phone. It is very uncomfortable.
So, given that I cannot police my kids while they are out of my view, I am going out today to buy them an ear piece. It is a small price to pay for their continued good health. Better safe than sorry.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Books on Bullying That I Highly Recommend
If your child is being bullied, you just can't read the latest books on the market fast enough. I know. I tried and found that I could not keep up with the constant taunts that my 10 year old daughter had to face day in and day out at her elementary school. I did, however, find a couple of gems in my search for help and answers to stop this attack on my child.
An absolute must for all moms, dad, caregivers, grandparents, teachers, yard duties (both paid and volunteers), and school principals and administrators is Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman. While it was written with older children in mind, it really educated me on the whole girl world dynamic. This book should be required reading for all persons involved with children.
One added bonus was that I finally understood what had happened to me back in the 8th grade when I was unwittingly attacked from behind by my Queen Bee. It took me 30 years to realize it was all thanks to her.
Currently, I am reading The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander by Barbara Coloroso. This is a brilliant book which actually goes into great depth as to the why and how of the actions of the bully and the bystander. It promises to help me turn things around. I am half way through and hoping to learn some useful tools that I can teach my daughter before she heads back off to school next month. I'll be sure to pass along any and all insight I gain from this read. I promise!:)
An absolute must for all moms, dad, caregivers, grandparents, teachers, yard duties (both paid and volunteers), and school principals and administrators is Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman. While it was written with older children in mind, it really educated me on the whole girl world dynamic. This book should be required reading for all persons involved with children.
One added bonus was that I finally understood what had happened to me back in the 8th grade when I was unwittingly attacked from behind by my Queen Bee. It took me 30 years to realize it was all thanks to her.
Currently, I am reading The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander by Barbara Coloroso. This is a brilliant book which actually goes into great depth as to the why and how of the actions of the bully and the bystander. It promises to help me turn things around. I am half way through and hoping to learn some useful tools that I can teach my daughter before she heads back off to school next month. I'll be sure to pass along any and all insight I gain from this read. I promise!:)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
When Bullying Results In Murder
This past week back east a 25 year old Latino man, father of two was brutalized and murdered at the hands of 5 -17 year olds and their leader, an 18 year old college student. This is bullying at it worst folks. Their violent (bullying) actions were racially motivated.
The usual excuses were given: "We didn't mean to hurt him." Yeah, yeah! Spare me the violin act! When you punched him to the ground and kicked him, not once but repeatedly in the head, you meant to kill him! These criminals must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The greatest tragedy is not that these young men have ruined their own lives, but this poor man's children will suffer their entire life-times for the grotesque actions of these teenage bullies.
The usual excuses were given: "We didn't mean to hurt him." Yeah, yeah! Spare me the violin act! When you punched him to the ground and kicked him, not once but repeatedly in the head, you meant to kill him! These criminals must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The greatest tragedy is not that these young men have ruined their own lives, but this poor man's children will suffer their entire life-times for the grotesque actions of these teenage bullies.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Spoiled Rotten
Let's face it. We are raising the most spoiled generation of children to ever walk the face of planet earth. Don't get me wrong. I am guilty as charged. My children say things that shock me on a regular basis. That being the case, I also let them know just how spoiled their comments sound and inform them that I am not raising spoiled brats.
Our children have literally everything under the sun. In fact, they have 2 and 3 of just about every toy ever made! What ever happened to "good things come to those who wait"? When I was a kid and wanted a new toy or gadget, my mother told me I'd have to wait until my birthday or Christmas. And that was always a long way off.
At the beginning of the year there was a report on a family that had come upon hard times. The dad was unemployed and the wife was studying to be a nurse. They took their three beautiful girls to the grocery store to buy food and only food. I was stunned to hear the mother say, "Oh, they are going to ask for a toy. They always get toys when we come. They are not going to be happy." How ridiculous is that? Every time these girls go to the supermarket, they get a toy?
Who is to blame for our children being spoiled? You guessed it. We are! So, it is time to admit it and get to work on fixing it. Step one: Repeat after me. N-O. NO.
Our children have literally everything under the sun. In fact, they have 2 and 3 of just about every toy ever made! What ever happened to "good things come to those who wait"? When I was a kid and wanted a new toy or gadget, my mother told me I'd have to wait until my birthday or Christmas. And that was always a long way off.
At the beginning of the year there was a report on a family that had come upon hard times. The dad was unemployed and the wife was studying to be a nurse. They took their three beautiful girls to the grocery store to buy food and only food. I was stunned to hear the mother say, "Oh, they are going to ask for a toy. They always get toys when we come. They are not going to be happy." How ridiculous is that? Every time these girls go to the supermarket, they get a toy?
Who is to blame for our children being spoiled? You guessed it. We are! So, it is time to admit it and get to work on fixing it. Step one: Repeat after me. N-O. NO.
The Green Eyed Monster
Today another mom and I decided to do something a little extra special for our daughters' soccer team. The team was attending a soccer camp in near 100 degree weather today, so we surprised them with ice cream sundaes. My daughter Halley asked if her best friend could have a sundae. We moms agreed, but insisted that the friend eat with our team as we did not want there to be any problems.
To make a long story short, Halley comes back with her best friend's little sister also attending with her team. We asked the girl to sit and eat her sundae with us. She said she wanted to go back with her team. We again asked her to stay with us. Well, the green eyed monsters were already rearing their ugly heads. Three of the girls on her team marched right up to our table and asked if they could have some ice cream. Put in a bad situation, I counted 5 girls, but they seemed to be rapidly multiplying.
So, I asked how many girls were on the team. They answered 13. Yikes! We did not have enough for the whole team. When we told them that we did not have enough, one of the girls was clearly angry as they returned to their spot in the shade.
When our little friend went back over to her team, the girls, led by the angry one, began to yell at her. We moms had decided to make them a dish and stick the remaining 4 spoons in it. We called over the little girl so she could take it back to her teammates who promptly demanded she bring more spoons. Then, the original three girls ran up to us and demanded 2 more spoons! We were stunned! We told them that we had no more spoons. They demanded 2 more spoons yet again.
When they were unable to obtain more spoons, they stormed off. I did yell out to them that their parents would be very disappointed at their behavior. The other mom added that they didn't even bother to say thank you! Unbelievable!
To make a long story short, Halley comes back with her best friend's little sister also attending with her team. We asked the girl to sit and eat her sundae with us. She said she wanted to go back with her team. We again asked her to stay with us. Well, the green eyed monsters were already rearing their ugly heads. Three of the girls on her team marched right up to our table and asked if they could have some ice cream. Put in a bad situation, I counted 5 girls, but they seemed to be rapidly multiplying.
So, I asked how many girls were on the team. They answered 13. Yikes! We did not have enough for the whole team. When we told them that we did not have enough, one of the girls was clearly angry as they returned to their spot in the shade.
When our little friend went back over to her team, the girls, led by the angry one, began to yell at her. We moms had decided to make them a dish and stick the remaining 4 spoons in it. We called over the little girl so she could take it back to her teammates who promptly demanded she bring more spoons. Then, the original three girls ran up to us and demanded 2 more spoons! We were stunned! We told them that we had no more spoons. They demanded 2 more spoons yet again.
When they were unable to obtain more spoons, they stormed off. I did yell out to them that their parents would be very disappointed at their behavior. The other mom added that they didn't even bother to say thank you! Unbelievable!
Normal Bullying?
Can you imagine a school administrator describing bullying (heck it was sexual assault!) as "normal bullying"??? What the heck is going on in this country? This took place in Sunnyvale, Texas where the abuse went on for years, was reported, and not one responsible adult did anything about it!!! As a nation and as parents, we should be outraged! I know I am! What about you?
There is nothing normal about bullying! Until we redefine our society's definition of bullying, the violence that is bullying will continue. When adults are verbally and physically attacked, we press charges. Why do we allow crimes against our children (read bullying) go unpunished?
By calling the crime of violence against our children "bullying" (which translates into "normal", acceptable" behavior that goes unpunished by law) we are allowing terrible injustices and abuse to occur unchecked in our homes, schools, and workplace. Let's not forget that bullies grow up to be bully bosses and some become hardened criminals.
There is nothing normal about bullying! Until we redefine our society's definition of bullying, the violence that is bullying will continue. When adults are verbally and physically attacked, we press charges. Why do we allow crimes against our children (read bullying) go unpunished?
By calling the crime of violence against our children "bullying" (which translates into "normal", acceptable" behavior that goes unpunished by law) we are allowing terrible injustices and abuse to occur unchecked in our homes, schools, and workplace. Let's not forget that bullies grow up to be bully bosses and some become hardened criminals.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Kudos to Penelope Cruz!
Yeah! It's about time we added some star power to the national campaign to end bullying. Headline News reported today that Penelope Cruz has made a harsh statement by saying that gossip and rumors have a lasting and devastating affect on future generations.
You bet your sweet petunia it affects future generations! Every mom who has had to pick up the pieces of their once happy, vivacious child knows that the targets don't come out of it unscathed. Funny, bullying can take a matter of seconds, but the victims carry the scars of the bullying in their psyche for a lifetime. And let's not forget that 1 out of 4 children are bullied every single day at school! Thanks Penelope!
You bet your sweet petunia it affects future generations! Every mom who has had to pick up the pieces of their once happy, vivacious child knows that the targets don't come out of it unscathed. Funny, bullying can take a matter of seconds, but the victims carry the scars of the bullying in their psyche for a lifetime. And let's not forget that 1 out of 4 children are bullied every single day at school! Thanks Penelope!
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