Faith, Beliefs, Food, Kids, Health, God, and Life

       Years ago there was a song titled, What's is all about, Alfie? I seem to think about that a lot or maybe it seems that way at times. We all go through periods where we, think deeply about things and then we have the what ifs.
Have you wondered what your life is all about? I do sometimes and talked that over with my son. His comment was, if we think too long about our purpose or what's to be our purpose, we don't enjoy life. That makes sense to me, and I thrive on common sense, yet to be honest I am very impulsive and my lack of financial common sense has gotten me into trouble at times.

     Common sense is how I catch kids in lies.  Common send is how I now eat once again, plant based. I started yesterday. A boy moved out of my home Friday and I knew I would go back to Gods way of eating which is plant based, however he also put animals here for our food too. That was a time when pesticides weren't "spread" so wide. This too was a chat with my son, how when I was doing Forks over Knives, I was emotionally happy, and happier each day. But it's pesticides that have to now make me decide what meats I will eat as I love meat and don't want to do without. I will research free range beef.

    There is a new reporter who I will look up now, stopping as this is important, BILL CURTIS ! I just remembered.  He even talked about that when he was interviewed about his beef.  He has a ranch in the Midwest where he lets his herd roam free, God's way, which is how it was in the beginning and no I wasn't there. So how would I know you ask? Look into when pesticides came to be. Check out cancers, when were they first know and what population of people have cancer and heart disease LESS than anywhere else. That information you will find in The Blue Zones areas. Look it up.

      Look at kids in this generation and a few generations before. What makes them happy or I should ask what makes them think they're happy? Electronics, drugs, money, alcohol, freedom, lack of responsibilities, bullying and more along those lines.

     Then look at other kids, kids who eat differently, whose family values are to do for others as you would have them do for you, who have spiritual connections, who do for others, take responsibility, education is important, money is when they work for it, ethics, respect of adults and property, the law, being there for friends, not being part of bullying and they don't have to have name brands and what other kids have. They live within their means and the means of the parents.
     So what's it all about Alfie? In that story, the young lady learns it's about love, not money, not all of the things money will get you but love. Love covers everything. If you have love of family and faith, you will respect yourself and others to start with, and from that the other things which have values will follow.
    Next time your child asks you about life and why we're here, let them know simply, for each other and to learn.

Local Author,Zack's First day of Kindergarten (Bullies)

      This book was created by a local author from Dover, PA. who made it an easy to read and understand book with helps in the back for parents and teachers. I purchased mine a short time ago and enjoyed reading it. I think it gives the very young bully( who has probably learned from an adult or older sibling) an easy way out to change his or her ways. Showing and teaching children on both sides of the bully offense how to respond, this book works. Thumbs up Christie Cheetham!
    This book is sold on AMAZON, let your local school and book stores know.

Bullying, Mental Health, Teens & Blame

       A story about Phoebe Prince is well worth listening to, for everyone, not just kids but parents too, and as a matter of fact it would be good to watch it together. A platform to open up a topic, nothing like TV. I've had many kids say, that happened to me too, concerning anything they relate to. From ages eight to sixteen I have heard that same exclamation,"that happened to me too".
       Most of the time teachers have told me about it so I knew, but when I didn't know, as long as I made sure to act surprised which they want, they open up like a stuck zipper. Sometimes, well many times kids think they're ratting, which I know you know.
        A student who was on this TV show, Sharon said, as did her mother she is s best friend to others. Maybe so, but for me that kind of friend doesn't agitate a situation, but remains side by side to the friend. You don't go to the other person and call them filthy names. Is that a nice kid?
       Now on the other side of that we do have to take into consideration all of the peer crap and that s what it is. Why can't we teach our kids, and why can't others enforce the fact that it's okay to be your own person without getting involved in crime, drugs, alcohol, weapons and all things negative? WHY? Oh I know, It isn't cool. Some parents are just as bad as the kid and in many cases the kids get it from their parents.
        Yes this group of kids, and I don't know all the facts, but think if this was my child who is no longer here because they pushed a last button, I want justice, I want these kids to have some kind of punishment. According to reports this child who took her own life already had mental health problems, so that appears to lessen the bullying factor. It shouldn't!
       What about the educators who knew about this. Where does their responsibility lay? Phoebe did report that she was being bullied and harassed. South Hadley High School neglected the new young girl in this school, her reports of bullying, and have recently made a new policy as far as bullying reports and enforcement.
      Mr. Prince wants compassion for some of those kids who taunted his daughter as he states, isn't that what we wanted for our own daughter?
   Maybe we all , or most of us do teach our kids how to behave and show compassion, yet somehow between home and life they take on another persona and that's what we also have to address. Compassion? Walk in another's shoes. New kids in the neighborhood, in school? Walk with them, not on top of them.

Kids Out of Place

       I spoke with a young boy today who is disillusioned with life in general. I even wents so far to ask him what should I write about, but I can't say what he did so I'll find another way.
       We as parents have to start so very early with teaching kids to stand up for themselves and not to confuse that with disrespect. Bullying in the school goes on daily. Self-esteem comes from so many things, but mainly starts at home, family, friends then peers in school. There's along line of people who want to get into your kids' head and destroy his or her feeling of self-worth. What price will they pay for feeling as if they don't have any value? Here is a list:
       Food addictions
       Verbal abuse
       Drug Addiction
       Physical abuse
       Choosing friends
       Spirituality
       Sexual abuse
       Education, and will they in turn treat others teh same way they have been treated? Please understand I'm not saying, although it may sound like it, that all people with low esteem issues came because mom and dad verbally abused them. Sometimes it's simply because  a kid will twist things in their own head, weight and measure what they see and hear and come out with what adds up to little self worth. That's why we need so desperately to teach them just how much they mean to us, to the world, to a friend and most of all to them selves.
   Try not to tell akid how handsome they are first or how smart. They're not mature enough to write understand the worth in that. Many might take it as, oh I'm only good enough if I'm handsome, but even by then if they do that, they are already on the road to somehow thinking they're not as good as... so just tell them, I'm glad I knwo you, I'm happy you're my son/daughter etc. I know it all sounds so dumb, but remember when you werte a kid? A family member and I were always compared, I was pretty, she was smart, so yes, I grew up knowing I was stupid and she knew she was just okay looking, until we really grew up. By then I was no longer pretty anyway, but she was still smart, and I decided on my own while I make a lot of mistakes, I am by far, not stupid.
    Instill the important values in a child. Treat others kindly, say hello, smile, give when you can give, be a very good friend, volunteer and love each other. I know there are many more so comment. I welcome them.
   Where would we be without kids?