Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Posted by Break from Sanity @ 11:53 PM
I have been going through a tough time in my life, and I really feel like I have hit rock bottom. There are times within me I feel like screaming up at the evening sky or curling up and just weeping till my eyes turn to sand.
I am afraid.
I am afraid I will lose everything.
I don't know what to do, or how to fix things.
And I am still afraid.
I need inspiration, a way to hold together my feelings, my thoughts, and my life. I hope this is a start.
I have prayed many a prayer during this difficult time, so far it feels as if I am alone in this. Perhaps I am, then again, it very well could be worse, much worse, and I dread that.
It doesn't matter if you believe or not, I do, and Lord, I turn my eyes to you and reach out with hope that my family, and myself, receive healing and help in this very difficult time.
....because Lord, I am lost and I am so very afraid.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Posted by Break from Sanity @ 2:18 PM
This house is so beautiful.
I have always wanted a house like this ever since I first saw them.
It is hard to put into words how much I would love a house like this.
Out in the country, with a fire in the fireplace (during the winter of course - its friggin 90 out right now!). There is just something about the smell of a fireplace, or an old fashioned pot belly stove with a fire burning inside - it reminds me of the country so much.
I miss open spaces, fresh air, even smelling cow pastures - yes, it sounds wierd but it is the smells of the country.
Not having to deal with traffic jams, retarded drivers, freeway after freeway, construction, and the only thing that seems to grow upward are the steel buildings.
So seeing and wanting a house like this is very much a sight for sore eyes indeed, eyes that have seen too much city and not enough country.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Posted by Break from Sanity @ 3:58 AM
I read this article yesterday and couldn't believe that this happens.
Unfortunately it seems to happen more than we seem to think.
Stacey Leben has fielded calls from parents upset that their children haven't cleaned their rooms by a certain time and once from a mom mad that one daughter used her sister's suitcase.
...
Parents have called law enforcement when their children won't go to bed, sit in a car seat and when siblings are arguing.
Lt. Dan Donlin, who heads the department's Police Youth Bureau, agreed that parents calling police when their kids get into trouble at home is nothing new. The reports don't come through every day, or even every week, but it is something officers and youthworkers continually have to handle, he said.
When did the police become the referee between parents and children?
I understand if there is violence in the home and police need to be called, but if the child won't sit in their carseat or won't go to bed?!?!? C'mon parents, this is completely rediculous and if I as a parent heard this about someone who did this, I would roll my eyes and think they were an idiot.
Police are to be called as a last resort to violence, not to help raise your children or make your children listen to you.
"For menial behavioral problems, they need to utilize parenting skills," Donlin agreed.
He advises against parents using "empty threats," such as telling children they will call police or that if they don't do as the parents say a policeman will put them in jail.
....
Donlin said young children may start out afraid of the police, but they soon learn police do not issue consequences. Police are there to help people, protect people and enforce the law, but they don't dole out punishments, he said.
And when a child keeps hearing that an officer will arrest him if he's bad, he may not feel secure turning to police in a time of need, Donlin said.
"If that child ever needs help, do you think he's going to go to that officer?" he asked. "It actually can backfire."
I agree, that threatening a child with the police every time they are bad or they do not do what you want, may very well make them fearful of the proper authorities when they need to go for help. Instilling a fear of those that can help them in times of need or trouble is a bad thing to do.
It is also a bad idea to threaten something all the time, and never go through with it. As they say in the article, "Empty threats", where you say you will do something but never do. Then a child learns that you will never go through with what you say, and then they end up just ignoring you.
Pick realistic consequences, Leben advises. Grounding your daughter from the phone for a month means you have to watch her every second to make sure she's not using the phone.
"When you ground a kid, you ground yourself," she said. "The best thing to do is short and sweet."
Leben explained that groundings or other punishments shouldn't be drawn out, because parents can't be with their children to make sure they are obeying the rules at every moment. Grounding a child from everything for one or two days is more realistic, she said. A child can be banned from doing anything but school, chores and meals, and parents can use the opportunity to incorporate family time, such as playing a game together, into the day.
Frey suggests that parents spend positive time with each of their children. The visits don't have to be long, even 15 minutes a couple times every week can help build a strong relationship between parents and children, he said.
LinkNever thought of it this way, but it is true, that in grounding or other punishments, you also are 'punished' in a way, because you also have to 'ground' yourself to watch your child when you ground them or make sure they are still in their room, ect.
