I am so very sick of eating unhealthy foods. My stomach is even getting upset over thinking of my next meal; which right now happens to be Taco Bell again. I have just been too busy to throw together a healthy meal for my family, let alone even go to the store to pick up groceries. So the next option is to grab something precooked at a restaurant. Now there are several places to pick up a full balanced meal...if you have $40.00 to drop on dinner every night for a family of 4.5. Or McDonalds and Taco Bell are pleased to serve their greasy, low-grade, cheap food; often prepared by teenagers who probably don't wash their hands before handling the food. I have literally been day dreaming of a real home cooked meal. To be specific, a burrito with real cooked beans (not refried from a can), with cheese melted on the beans, rolled up and topped with a simmered blend of chicken or pork and rotel with jalapenos, green chilis, and minced garlic, sprinkled with fresh lettuce and tomato, and a dab of sour cream. So, while I am dreaming of real food, which I might eventually achieve over the break between Spring and Summer classes, I found a few websites on healthy eating.
Here are some easy tips for planning a healthy diet and sticking to it. A healthy diet makes you feel great and gives you more energy. It also helps to keep you as healthy as possible. It has a way to simplify your diet instead of trying to count calories all the time. Starting slow helps to avoid reverting back to poor eating habits. Start by making one or two changes at a time, such as switching from butter to olive oil, or having a colorful salad with dinner. Also, listening to your body helps to not overeat. Have a glass of water in case you are actually thirsty instead of hungry; eat slowly because it takes a while for you brain to tell your body its full. Don't skip breakfast! Breakfast gives your metabolism a jump start. For healthy meal recipes, including dessert, this page has it all.
With all of those weight loss diets out there, it can be confusing what is actually good or bad. The Atkins diet for example goes soley off the metabolism of proteins instead of carbs. The human body craves carbohydrates, it is the food that is best for our metabolism. In fact the body breaks down carbs and sugar for the brain first thing in the morning. If you switch over to a protein diet, you will loose weight, unless you cheat. If you give your body one taste of carbs, you will then need to retrain it on protein. A diet does not mean weight loss, although eating right and exercise should result in weight loss. A diet is simply what you eat. Here is the almighty food pyramid, which gives examples of foods in each food group, how many servings of each food group should be consumed, and how much a serving size really is.
WOOOhoooo, Billy brought me a Moe's burrito with a tortilla, brown rice, black beans, steak, some kind of tomato blend, and cheese! Probably still not the best choice possible, but its a start, and much better than Taco Bell!
Friday, April 30, 2010
studying urinary system
When we began Anatomy and Physiology at the beginning of the semester, Dr Johnson started us out on the nervous system. She said she wanted to begin with the hardest section first, so that we wouldn't have to deal with it later on when we are worn out from the school year. She also mentioned that everything else would be easier as we approach the end of the semester. I guess she is right about the material being easier, however although the digestive, urinary, respiratory, and male and female reproductive systems are easier to understand than the nervous system, that is a lot of material to memorize at once, and it's still not easy, just easier! So, please bear with me as I go over a simplified version of the urinary system.
The components of the urinary system include: kidneys which produce urine, ureters which transports urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder, the urinary bladder which stores urine prior to elimination, and a urethra which conducts urine to the exterior of the body. The functions of the urinary are to filter the blood and make urine, removal of organic waste products from body fluids, discharge of waste products, regulation of blood volume, pressure, PH, and conserving nutrients, and production of erythropieton which plays a role in red blood cell synthesis. will skip the many, many parts of the kidney as it would take more than one blog to list and explain it all.
The process of urine formation is filtration, re-absorption, and secretion. Filtration is pressure driven; blood pressure drives water and solutes from glomerulus (part of kidney) into capsular space. Re-absorption removes water and solutes from the filtrate into the tubular epithelium and into peritubular fluid. Secretion transports solutes from the peritubular fluid, across the tubular epithelium, and into the filtrate. There is much more to that, but it is confusing me, and I am supposed to know it, so I won't include it here.
This class consists of two portions for each unit we go over. We have class every Tuesday and Thursday from 6pm to about 8pm. In the classroom we go over the lab portion, which consists of identification of structures on plastic models, microscope slides, and a poor little dissected cat. The lecture portion that goes over the physiology (how it all works) on line. She provides us with narrations, a slide show, and a study guide. There are around 50-70 slides for most sections, and if you don't study every little detail, and read, and then re-read the book, you are going to miss questions on the exam. It is a very interesting class though, I would enjoy learning this material even if it wasn't required. The American econ system on the other hand seems like it should be an easy class, but it is giving me more difficulty than anything. I read, and re-read the chapters; it seems like the homework questions asked aren't even in the book. Then if I manage to survive the homework questions, the quizzes and tests are designed to confuse students as well. It is my belief that a class should be designed to teach, not to confuse. If a person really puts forth an effort to succeed in a class, there should be no problem. The design of this economy class seriously needs to be re-thought.
The components of the urinary system include: kidneys which produce urine, ureters which transports urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder, the urinary bladder which stores urine prior to elimination, and a urethra which conducts urine to the exterior of the body. The functions of the urinary are to filter the blood and make urine, removal of organic waste products from body fluids, discharge of waste products, regulation of blood volume, pressure, PH, and conserving nutrients, and production of erythropieton which plays a role in red blood cell synthesis. will skip the many, many parts of the kidney as it would take more than one blog to list and explain it all.
The process of urine formation is filtration, re-absorption, and secretion. Filtration is pressure driven; blood pressure drives water and solutes from glomerulus (part of kidney) into capsular space. Re-absorption removes water and solutes from the filtrate into the tubular epithelium and into peritubular fluid. Secretion transports solutes from the peritubular fluid, across the tubular epithelium, and into the filtrate. There is much more to that, but it is confusing me, and I am supposed to know it, so I won't include it here.
This class consists of two portions for each unit we go over. We have class every Tuesday and Thursday from 6pm to about 8pm. In the classroom we go over the lab portion, which consists of identification of structures on plastic models, microscope slides, and a poor little dissected cat. The lecture portion that goes over the physiology (how it all works) on line. She provides us with narrations, a slide show, and a study guide. There are around 50-70 slides for most sections, and if you don't study every little detail, and read, and then re-read the book, you are going to miss questions on the exam. It is a very interesting class though, I would enjoy learning this material even if it wasn't required. The American econ system on the other hand seems like it should be an easy class, but it is giving me more difficulty than anything. I read, and re-read the chapters; it seems like the homework questions asked aren't even in the book. Then if I manage to survive the homework questions, the quizzes and tests are designed to confuse students as well. It is my belief that a class should be designed to teach, not to confuse. If a person really puts forth an effort to succeed in a class, there should be no problem. The design of this economy class seriously needs to be re-thought.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Go organic
The more I hear about the condition of animals raised for slaughter; chickens that have never stepped foot on natural ground and enhanced to grow rapidly towards their untimely deaths for example. I watched a turkey farm on dirty jobs one day. This guy goes through thousands of turkeys that are in a building, not outdoors, and picks out the dead ones and adds it to a compost pile that will be sold later as fertilizer. The reason these turkeys die in the first place is due to the hormones given that cause the bird to grow so fast, either it's heart can't keep up and it dies, or its legs don't keep up with the growth rate and break; those unlucky birds get killed by other turkeys. Even vegetables we buy are grown and raised with synthetic chemicals, and do not taste as good as organic, natural food.
Back in the 1930's people found that if they inject a cow with material from a cow's pituitary gland, the cow would produce more milk. And if given estrogen, cattle and poultry grew faster. In the 1950's people started using synthetic estrogen to fatten the cows and chickens, but stopped after finding that it was linked to causing cancer. Two out of three cows slaughtered for food have been administered hormones to make them grow faster or produce more milk. Of the six hormones given to animals, 3 are natural (estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone), but 3 are synthetic (zeranol, trenbolone acetate, and melengestrol acetate). Europe has been hormone free for 20 years after studies revealed that people eating hormone induced meat are at greater risk of hormonal imbalances and cancer. Obviously America hasn't caught up, the FDA says that these hormones are safe.
The beginning of synthetic chemicals used in farming is astonishing to me. Before World War II, all farming was done organically as there was no other option. The change occured because of discoveries of alternate uses of deadly weapons. Ammonium Nitrate was used for munitions turned into ammonium nitrate fertilizer. Even worse, Nerve gas is what led us to developing pesticides. Sure it does wonders destroying the bugs, but the same chemical meant to destroy life is purposely sprayed on our food.The synthetic chemicals used in farming never disappear. Traces of the pesticides remain in the food, and in the fat cells of humans who eat it. The chemicals used on cotton fields remain in the fabric of the cloths we all wear.
Reduce the toxic load, Reduce/Eliminate off farm pollution, Protect future Generations, Build Healthy soil, Tastes better/Truer flavor, Assist family farmers, Avoid poor science (cloned food), Eating with a sense of place, Promote Biodiversity, and Celebrate the culture of agriculture are 10 of the many reasons to go organic. This site on organic made easy has myths and facts about organic, and helps to plan for going organic, including finding a store. I would recommend checking out Price Cutter. Price Cutter has totally remodeled and added an entire organic section.
Back in the 1930's people found that if they inject a cow with material from a cow's pituitary gland, the cow would produce more milk. And if given estrogen, cattle and poultry grew faster. In the 1950's people started using synthetic estrogen to fatten the cows and chickens, but stopped after finding that it was linked to causing cancer. Two out of three cows slaughtered for food have been administered hormones to make them grow faster or produce more milk. Of the six hormones given to animals, 3 are natural (estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone), but 3 are synthetic (zeranol, trenbolone acetate, and melengestrol acetate). Europe has been hormone free for 20 years after studies revealed that people eating hormone induced meat are at greater risk of hormonal imbalances and cancer. Obviously America hasn't caught up, the FDA says that these hormones are safe.
The beginning of synthetic chemicals used in farming is astonishing to me. Before World War II, all farming was done organically as there was no other option. The change occured because of discoveries of alternate uses of deadly weapons. Ammonium Nitrate was used for munitions turned into ammonium nitrate fertilizer. Even worse, Nerve gas is what led us to developing pesticides. Sure it does wonders destroying the bugs, but the same chemical meant to destroy life is purposely sprayed on our food.The synthetic chemicals used in farming never disappear. Traces of the pesticides remain in the food, and in the fat cells of humans who eat it. The chemicals used on cotton fields remain in the fabric of the cloths we all wear.
Reduce the toxic load, Reduce/Eliminate off farm pollution, Protect future Generations, Build Healthy soil, Tastes better/Truer flavor, Assist family farmers, Avoid poor science (cloned food), Eating with a sense of place, Promote Biodiversity, and Celebrate the culture of agriculture are 10 of the many reasons to go organic. This site on organic made easy has myths and facts about organic, and helps to plan for going organic, including finding a store. I would recommend checking out Price Cutter. Price Cutter has totally remodeled and added an entire organic section.
Women work too!
After being laid off at the end of January, I enjoyed the time I was able to spend with my children and family, and was able to focus on school a little more. Last month I decided I should find a job soon or it might get difficult to explain to a future employer why I was unemployed for such a long time. So I found an ad on missouricareersource.com that paid much better than what I was making before I lost my job, and I had heard it had an excellent work environment for a factory. So with a little research on the company via the internet, a well written resume, and some nice attire, I went and applied at the career center. I thought I might have been a little overdressed for the position I was going for. I had on slacks and a nice blouse to apply for a welding position. I was relieved to see that they were excited to see that someone dressed up for the job. One lady informed me that this company- Modine, kept sending people away because they looked like they had just rolled out of bed.
After two weeks of waiting for the application and resume to make it from the Career Center to Modine, then sorted through and scrutinized, I finally got a call. I ended up going to an interview with HR and the Vice President, although I was screaming inside, I managed to keep my composure and impress the two enough for them to invite me back for a weld test. All I needed to provide was a pair of steel toed boots. That seems simple enough, go to almighty Wal-Mart and get some steel toed boots. Sure if I happen to be a man. They don't carry women's steel toed boots, and the smallest pair of mens boots they carry is a size too large. Not to worry, there are plenty of places that carry work boots in Joplin. Except that they all have the same situation. Among the many places I visited that didn't have adequate stock for women, Academy had a really bad example. They had a shoe labeled women's work boots; they were a little pair of shoes with absolutely no sides. They were smaller than tennis shoes. I am pretty sure that in order to be called a boot, footwear needs to have some kind of ankle support. So it was back to Wal-Mart to buy the pair of steel toed boots that are a size too large. I have been working most of this week, and I still stumble now and then; not only are they a size too large, but they are heavy and they tend to drag my feet with them as much as my feet moves them. It's aggravating.
Modine does have it's advantages and disadvantages. It is very clean and bright for one. I haven't come home black from head to toe once. They screen people very well before hiring, so the employees seem very mature and driven. And the place is very organized and automated. The lines run very smoothly. On the other hand, since the lines run soooo smooth, it is nonstop work. There is only one 15 minute break and a 30 minute lunch, if I miss even 1 day in 90 I will be fired, and since I started past April 1st, I won't see vacation time for 2 years!!! And I am already working overtime, on Night shift!
After two weeks of waiting for the application and resume to make it from the Career Center to Modine, then sorted through and scrutinized, I finally got a call. I ended up going to an interview with HR and the Vice President, although I was screaming inside, I managed to keep my composure and impress the two enough for them to invite me back for a weld test. All I needed to provide was a pair of steel toed boots. That seems simple enough, go to almighty Wal-Mart and get some steel toed boots. Sure if I happen to be a man. They don't carry women's steel toed boots, and the smallest pair of mens boots they carry is a size too large. Not to worry, there are plenty of places that carry work boots in Joplin. Except that they all have the same situation. Among the many places I visited that didn't have adequate stock for women, Academy had a really bad example. They had a shoe labeled women's work boots; they were a little pair of shoes with absolutely no sides. They were smaller than tennis shoes. I am pretty sure that in order to be called a boot, footwear needs to have some kind of ankle support. So it was back to Wal-Mart to buy the pair of steel toed boots that are a size too large. I have been working most of this week, and I still stumble now and then; not only are they a size too large, but they are heavy and they tend to drag my feet with them as much as my feet moves them. It's aggravating.
Modine does have it's advantages and disadvantages. It is very clean and bright for one. I haven't come home black from head to toe once. They screen people very well before hiring, so the employees seem very mature and driven. And the place is very organized and automated. The lines run very smoothly. On the other hand, since the lines run soooo smooth, it is nonstop work. There is only one 15 minute break and a 30 minute lunch, if I miss even 1 day in 90 I will be fired, and since I started past April 1st, I won't see vacation time for 2 years!!! And I am already working overtime, on Night shift!
Friday, April 16, 2010
I am sooo very tired. I have finally found a good paying job at a plant with a good working environment. I start on Tuesday. The problem is that the job is night shift. I have to change my schedule around working from 11pm to 7:30am. I started a couple nights ago just trying to stay up later and sleep in and get closer to what my sleeping schedule will be. So the first night I stayed up til about 2am, and slept to 8:30am, not too bad of a start. We went and looked at some houses that day, we are looking for a home to buy. There were a couple that we found interesting, and wanted to go back to check out more details and figure out which one we really wanted, so we decided we would go back the next day. Well, that night I just about went to bed about midnight, but Billy reminded me that I need to start staying up at night and sleeping in the morning. So, forgetting that we already had plans for the next morning, I stayed up til about 3 in the morning. 7am Billy is waking me up in a rush because he is running behind. We need to get the kids to the sitter and go look at these houses...If he knew I had to get up early, what was the point in me staying up late??? Now last night, after staying up late the night before, and getting up early that morning, it was very difficult to stay up late again. I made myself a pot of coffee, and took a refreshing shower to keep me going. Again, I made it til about 3am and crashed. What happens at 6:30 this morning? Billy woke me up because he wanted me to go to McDonalds with him and our 6 year old; He has made it a routine to take the boy to McDonalds every Friday. As calmly as I possibly could, I let him know that if I am going to get my schedule turned around, I will need to get some sleep so that I can stay up all night. He is a very sweet guy, and very intelligent, but sometimes, the simplest things seem to allude him. So after I managed to get back to sleep this morning, it wasn't very restful. I am not used to birds chirping outside my window while I'm trying to sleep. I gave up and got out of bed at 8:45 when Billy called me because he was bored driving to a site survey at work.
On the bright side, we found a house we like, and are just waiting for a response to our offer. As crazy as the market is right now because of the tax credit, we should keep looking in case something goes wrong with this one. We have seen easily 150 houses in the last couple months. We had our list cut down to 7 houses, then the next day 5 of those 7 were under contract. The other two we found major problems with. So we went back to square one. All this house hunting has been cutting into my study time, forcing me to stay up late catching up anyway. So, yes, I am very tired. And now I need to make my boys some lunch, so I will have to put off school again until after lunch while they are supposed to be sleeping.
On the bright side, we found a house we like, and are just waiting for a response to our offer. As crazy as the market is right now because of the tax credit, we should keep looking in case something goes wrong with this one. We have seen easily 150 houses in the last couple months. We had our list cut down to 7 houses, then the next day 5 of those 7 were under contract. The other two we found major problems with. So we went back to square one. All this house hunting has been cutting into my study time, forcing me to stay up late catching up anyway. So, yes, I am very tired. And now I need to make my boys some lunch, so I will have to put off school again until after lunch while they are supposed to be sleeping.
Boy tortured to death for wetting his pants
Brandon Hayes of Michigan could face life in prison for the death of four year old Dominick Calhoun. The boy was the son of Hayes' girlfriend, and Hayes resented the child for the biological father not paying child support. More than once when the boy wet his pants, he was beaten, punched ans kicked in the arms, legs, and even the genitals. The boys knuckles had even been burned in the torture. Even the Police Chief said "I've been doing this a long time, and this is the worst case of child abuse I've ever seen". The boy's mother had been there for part of the abuse, as she tried to stop it by laying over the boy. Instead of stopping the beating, she only got beaten herself, and ended up stepping out of the way. After coming to buy drugs from the man, and seeing the condition of the boy, the biological grandfather was contacted, he then contacted authorities. It was too late however, Dominick was barely alive when the ambulance arrived. He was brain dead, and taken off of life support the next day. Hayes faces nine charges including: one count of first-degree premeditated murder, one count of first-degree child abuse, and one count of of torture which alone could get him life in prison. Every aspect of this story makes me sick. First of all, this woman had her child living with a Drug Dealer. This wasn't the first time the child had been abused for wetting his pants, and yet she stayed. Then, even though she tried to stop it, she walked away, and didn't call for help for her child.
This site on child abuse and neglect helps to recognize and prevent child abuse, and goes over some common misconceptions. Child abuse, other than physical abuse can be very damaging as well. Ignoring a child's needs, putting them in unsupervised, dangerous situations, and making a child feel worthless or stupid, can leave a lasting scar as well. The effects of abuse last a lifetime effecting a child's sense of self, ability to have a healthy relationship, and the ability to function at home, at school, and at work. There is a difference between physical abuse, and discipline. In an abusive situation, the child has no clear boundaries or rules to go by, and must constantly walk on eggshells, not knowing what he or she might do to set the parent off next. An abusive parent will lash out in anger, wishing to show control as opposed to being motivated by wishing to teach the child right from wrong. Sometimes parents believe that they must use fear to keep their child in line, all they are really doing is teaching the children how not to get hit instead of how to behave.
This Baltimore County Police Department page has interesting facts, like 84% of prison inmates were abused as children, or Child abuse is far more likely to occur in the child's home, rather than at daycare. It isn't usually the proverbial stranger with a lollipop that sexually abuses a child, but someone close to the child. 1 in 3 girls are sexually abuses, and 1 in 5 boys are sexually abused. Another good thing to look at on this page is 10 things to do instead of hurting a child.
This site on child abuse and neglect helps to recognize and prevent child abuse, and goes over some common misconceptions. Child abuse, other than physical abuse can be very damaging as well. Ignoring a child's needs, putting them in unsupervised, dangerous situations, and making a child feel worthless or stupid, can leave a lasting scar as well. The effects of abuse last a lifetime effecting a child's sense of self, ability to have a healthy relationship, and the ability to function at home, at school, and at work. There is a difference between physical abuse, and discipline. In an abusive situation, the child has no clear boundaries or rules to go by, and must constantly walk on eggshells, not knowing what he or she might do to set the parent off next. An abusive parent will lash out in anger, wishing to show control as opposed to being motivated by wishing to teach the child right from wrong. Sometimes parents believe that they must use fear to keep their child in line, all they are really doing is teaching the children how not to get hit instead of how to behave.
This Baltimore County Police Department page has interesting facts, like 84% of prison inmates were abused as children, or Child abuse is far more likely to occur in the child's home, rather than at daycare. It isn't usually the proverbial stranger with a lollipop that sexually abuses a child, but someone close to the child. 1 in 3 girls are sexually abuses, and 1 in 5 boys are sexually abused. Another good thing to look at on this page is 10 things to do instead of hurting a child.
Friday, April 9, 2010
law for breastfeeding room in workplace
A long time ago I wrote a blog about a woman who fired for expressing breast milk outside of her scheduled break time. She should not have been fired, because she already had it approved by her line lead. Later her supervisor walked in to the bathroom and told her she needed to leave because it wasn't her break time. The case was headed to the Supreme court, and with it the observation that working mothers need a more sanitary place to express milk than in the bathroom. I don't know what ever happened with that case, but I just found a new law on the matter.
Obama recently signed a healthcare bill into law. Part of it includes the requirement of companies who have 50 employees or more to provide a place other than a bathroom that is out of the way of view or intrusion of co-workers and general public. The Pediatrics journal showed a recent study that breastfeeding a child for the first 6 months would save around 1,000 lives and billions of dollars every year. Breastfeeding helps babies fight off nasty stuff like pneumonia and premature death. The lack of support is apparent when looking at statistics like: 74% of women begin breastfeeding. By the time those infants are 3 months only 33% of mothers are still breastfeeding. At 6 months, only 14% of mothers are still breastfeeding.
No formula currently made by man can replace the benefits of the nutrient rich, illness fighting milk made naturally from a mother. This site provides many factual benefits of breastfeeding for both the baby and the mother. A few that stood out for me are: the most complete and optimal mix of nutrients and antibodies, less diarrhea and vomiting for the little ones, less colic, constipation, and stomach upsets, protects against allergies, asthma, and eczema, considered the 4th trimester for brain growth and development, hospitalized 10 times less than formula fed infants, lower risk for diabetes and obesity, and so many more. As for mothers, breastfeeding reduces the risk of cancer of the breast, ovaries, cervical, and endometrium. It also protects against osteoporosis, mortality of rheumatoid arthritis, delays fertility and therefore the risk of having babies too close together. It helps the uterus contract after birth and so controls post partum bleeding. And again, the list goes on.
Everyone has their opinion about weather or not a woman should breastfeed in public. In my own opinion, a woman should not be ashamed to feed her baby. We all have such busy lives without trying to make sure we are home every two-three hours to feed our babies so we don't make someone uncomfortable. I am not sure if I would ever be able to bring myself to do it, even coved by a blanket, but that is because of the tension and discomfort it brings because of our society. Here is a site that talks about the over-sexualization of a womans breasts. A woman has breasts so that they may one day feed their baby. It seems like a common sense problem to me, unfortunately there are many more Americans to convince.
Obama recently signed a healthcare bill into law. Part of it includes the requirement of companies who have 50 employees or more to provide a place other than a bathroom that is out of the way of view or intrusion of co-workers and general public. The Pediatrics journal showed a recent study that breastfeeding a child for the first 6 months would save around 1,000 lives and billions of dollars every year. Breastfeeding helps babies fight off nasty stuff like pneumonia and premature death. The lack of support is apparent when looking at statistics like: 74% of women begin breastfeeding. By the time those infants are 3 months only 33% of mothers are still breastfeeding. At 6 months, only 14% of mothers are still breastfeeding.
No formula currently made by man can replace the benefits of the nutrient rich, illness fighting milk made naturally from a mother. This site provides many factual benefits of breastfeeding for both the baby and the mother. A few that stood out for me are: the most complete and optimal mix of nutrients and antibodies, less diarrhea and vomiting for the little ones, less colic, constipation, and stomach upsets, protects against allergies, asthma, and eczema, considered the 4th trimester for brain growth and development, hospitalized 10 times less than formula fed infants, lower risk for diabetes and obesity, and so many more. As for mothers, breastfeeding reduces the risk of cancer of the breast, ovaries, cervical, and endometrium. It also protects against osteoporosis, mortality of rheumatoid arthritis, delays fertility and therefore the risk of having babies too close together. It helps the uterus contract after birth and so controls post partum bleeding. And again, the list goes on.
Everyone has their opinion about weather or not a woman should breastfeed in public. In my own opinion, a woman should not be ashamed to feed her baby. We all have such busy lives without trying to make sure we are home every two-three hours to feed our babies so we don't make someone uncomfortable. I am not sure if I would ever be able to bring myself to do it, even coved by a blanket, but that is because of the tension and discomfort it brings because of our society. Here is a site that talks about the over-sexualization of a womans breasts. A woman has breasts so that they may one day feed their baby. It seems like a common sense problem to me, unfortunately there are many more Americans to convince.
Teen Pregnancy getting younger
It is well known that we have a growing problem with teen pregnancy, drugs, and general rebellion. It seems to me that a parent has a great deal to do with what happens in their child's future. Not full control by any means, but a definite influence. I just heard some sad, and infuriating news. Before I get there though, I must first explain the life of one of older sisters.
For her "protection" I will give her a fake name. For this purpose she will be known as Sharon. Sharon was taught by a high school teacher that if she had children, she could live off the government and get by just fine in this world doing nothing. At age 14 she found out she was pregnant. At age 15, she decided a baby and a house full of rules was too much to handle. She ran away from home and left her baby behind. While mom and dad held jobs, and didn't have time to stay up with an infant, most of the duties of raising the little boy went to Sharon's 10 year old little sister (me). Looking back now, I don't know why my parents thought it was a good idea to have a 10 year old stay up all night trying to calm a baby. Anyway, a couple months later mom found Sharon, and brought her back to be a mommy and try and get through school. This didn't work for long of course. Sharon would stick around for a while, then take off the little one for a while. Then she would show up when she got tired of her son, and she would take off again leaving her son behind. This pattern lasted up until the boy was about 5. Every time Sharon brought her son back, he would be out of control. While out with his mother, they lived with big scary druggies named Psycho. So when they would return, the boy always required extra attention to get him straitened out again. After that hellish 1st few years of life, he was sent to Virginia to live with his grandpa-Sharon's biological father. He came back to live in Joplin for less than a year when he was 12. Went back in forth between Sharon, and his dad, who had never before been a part of his life. He then got sent back to Virginia with his grandpa, since no one in Joplin could seem to handle him.
Now after this boy's unfortunate life, I just found out the boy born of the 14 year old pregnant girl, has just got a 15 year old girl pregnant. He himself is only 13 years old. He was doomed from the beginning. He was tossed around from home to home. He never got the love and attention every human needs. I hate to say it, but that little baby I had so much hope for will be in jail/prison by the time he is 20, I have no doubt. Like his mother, he doesn't believe rules actually apply to him. Unfortunately, by the time he was 8 we predicted he would have someone pregnant by 13. It's sickening to watch.
Parents! Your job is to set the example! If you have had a child too young, you need to grow up fast because you are now an example for your child.
For her "protection" I will give her a fake name. For this purpose she will be known as Sharon. Sharon was taught by a high school teacher that if she had children, she could live off the government and get by just fine in this world doing nothing. At age 14 she found out she was pregnant. At age 15, she decided a baby and a house full of rules was too much to handle. She ran away from home and left her baby behind. While mom and dad held jobs, and didn't have time to stay up with an infant, most of the duties of raising the little boy went to Sharon's 10 year old little sister (me). Looking back now, I don't know why my parents thought it was a good idea to have a 10 year old stay up all night trying to calm a baby. Anyway, a couple months later mom found Sharon, and brought her back to be a mommy and try and get through school. This didn't work for long of course. Sharon would stick around for a while, then take off the little one for a while. Then she would show up when she got tired of her son, and she would take off again leaving her son behind. This pattern lasted up until the boy was about 5. Every time Sharon brought her son back, he would be out of control. While out with his mother, they lived with big scary druggies named Psycho. So when they would return, the boy always required extra attention to get him straitened out again. After that hellish 1st few years of life, he was sent to Virginia to live with his grandpa-Sharon's biological father. He came back to live in Joplin for less than a year when he was 12. Went back in forth between Sharon, and his dad, who had never before been a part of his life. He then got sent back to Virginia with his grandpa, since no one in Joplin could seem to handle him.
Now after this boy's unfortunate life, I just found out the boy born of the 14 year old pregnant girl, has just got a 15 year old girl pregnant. He himself is only 13 years old. He was doomed from the beginning. He was tossed around from home to home. He never got the love and attention every human needs. I hate to say it, but that little baby I had so much hope for will be in jail/prison by the time he is 20, I have no doubt. Like his mother, he doesn't believe rules actually apply to him. Unfortunately, by the time he was 8 we predicted he would have someone pregnant by 13. It's sickening to watch.
Parents! Your job is to set the example! If you have had a child too young, you need to grow up fast because you are now an example for your child.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Holidays-Good, Bad, and Ugly
I believe I am among the 99.9% of Americans who love, and at the very same time, hate holidays. They are times to spend with families, usually exchange gifts, catch up with new occurrences in the lives of loved ones, and share tears and laughter over old stories that never really get old. The 4th of July BB-Q out by the river in the glaring sun, or sharing a Thanksgiving feast courtesy of all who attend while watching the pure white fluffy flakes falling on the other side of the window are always a welcome treat. Waiting to see the reaction on a loved ones face over the perfect gift that took months to find is always exciting and excruciating. Watching the children play and grow with their cousins, making sure what might be grandpa's last holiday is a perfect one, everyone working a little harder to keep their manners in check, its all a part of the game.
This would all be a perfect paradise for the day or two that holidays usually last, but I sure haven't ever seen a perfect family get together as the ideal depicts. How many people have saved and scraped to get their child the perfect gift, just to hear "why didn't I get this or that"? All those precious kids are playing alright, while the parents are comparing. Isn't Jenny walking yet? Gee, Jan was walking by 9 months. I can only think of one holiday that at least a couple of the adults weren't bickering over something trivial, I am sure I had just stepped out and missed the fight though. And then there is the time line, and I know it's my fault. Like tonight, I need to go Easter shopping at 10pm on a Friday night so I won't have to put up as big of a fight as if I wait til tomorrow. Then there is the location. Usually we all corral at Mom's house out in the country. She has a big open yard, and a living area large enough to fit us. This year is a different story. Out of my seven sisters and I there are two of us that are trustworthy. Summer (second to oldest) and myself (second to youngest). One of the not-so-trustworthy has had her children taken from her by the state. Since she resides at mom's house for the time being, and some of her kids have been distributed amongst us, and she is not allowed anywhere around her kids, we cannot use mom's house. Soooo, that leaves Summer and I to decide what and where to do Easter; her house or mine. Neither of our significant others trusts the rest of our family to be in the house, and for good reason, so for a while each of us hoped the other sister would volunteer. She was the good sister and took the hit first, but then a couple days later, I caved. My yard is bigger after all, and the kids need room for an egg hunt. So I must crack-head proof my house before Sunday and hide anything that might be of ANY value.
I am seriously thinking of renting myself a vacation home for any and all holiday seasons.
This would all be a perfect paradise for the day or two that holidays usually last, but I sure haven't ever seen a perfect family get together as the ideal depicts. How many people have saved and scraped to get their child the perfect gift, just to hear "why didn't I get this or that"? All those precious kids are playing alright, while the parents are comparing. Isn't Jenny walking yet? Gee, Jan was walking by 9 months. I can only think of one holiday that at least a couple of the adults weren't bickering over something trivial, I am sure I had just stepped out and missed the fight though. And then there is the time line, and I know it's my fault. Like tonight, I need to go Easter shopping at 10pm on a Friday night so I won't have to put up as big of a fight as if I wait til tomorrow. Then there is the location. Usually we all corral at Mom's house out in the country. She has a big open yard, and a living area large enough to fit us. This year is a different story. Out of my seven sisters and I there are two of us that are trustworthy. Summer (second to oldest) and myself (second to youngest). One of the not-so-trustworthy has had her children taken from her by the state. Since she resides at mom's house for the time being, and some of her kids have been distributed amongst us, and she is not allowed anywhere around her kids, we cannot use mom's house. Soooo, that leaves Summer and I to decide what and where to do Easter; her house or mine. Neither of our significant others trusts the rest of our family to be in the house, and for good reason, so for a while each of us hoped the other sister would volunteer. She was the good sister and took the hit first, but then a couple days later, I caved. My yard is bigger after all, and the kids need room for an egg hunt. So I must crack-head proof my house before Sunday and hide anything that might be of ANY value.
I am seriously thinking of renting myself a vacation home for any and all holiday seasons.
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