Cherrye S. Vasquez's Blog, page 9

Resources around Punishments in Classrooms – BUT First Things First

There is an array of programs and resources that educators, teachers and even parents can use to help combat inappropriate behaviors in classrooms and I’ve pondered on this even to the point of dealing with bullying behaviors however minor, but I’ve come to the conclusion that we must begin at the core.

Children need to know that when they disrupt the learning environment, they not only stop the learning of their classmates (who they should care about), but they halt their own learning and academic progress.

I’ve been “toying” with this for some time. How can we plant a deep-seeded sense of empowerment within children while also working towards remorse, care, consideration and concern for others? When children possess empowerment and “in control responsible behaviors” they are keener to display behaviors more in line with what teachers and parents want to see in our schools.

I tried to work on this by publishing two journals. I am hoping that if children begin to care for self-first, they will care for others, thus negative and inappropriate behaviors will begin to decline in our classroom and schools.

Below is a description of why I’ve developed and written these two journals.

The DIVERSITY DAYBOOK was designed for students to journal about their individuality and special qualities that makes them unique and worthy as citizens in our diverse society. Diversity is important in our society because it helps children unlearn stereotypes.

This daybook will also sanction students to establish lifelong relationships while esteeming the values and significance of others for years to come.

Students cannot all be alike. There are differences as well as similarities among them. As students begin to acknowledge, accept and share their differences and similarities one to another they will begin to come to terms with diversity.

As a mother, educator and author, it is important for me to see children learning about each other in healthy respectful ways. In fact, the rich colors of this text depict how rich, colorful and diverse we are as a people.

Once students have completed their Diversity Daybooks, hopefully you and I will see more healthy relationships, as well as a decline in bullying behaviors in our nation’s schools. Whether we want to admit it or not, children are afraid of difference and not all children are accepting of each other whether these behaviors are learned or acquired as time goes on. Either way, difference is one of the reasons that we see negative and/or inappropriate behaviors rising in classrooms. Children must learn to get along and respect one another.

Diversity Daybook: Journal

https://tsw.createspace.com/title/3757400

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Diversity+Daybook

 

The AfFiRmAtIoN DaYbOoK was designed as a tool so that children can journal about their inspirations. Affirmations will build positive empowerment within children. I maintain that affirmations and the use of self-fulfilling prophecy techniques can change the focus of what children do, what they want to do, or what they hope to do.

It is my intent that students will journal, and then voice and declare with great conviction their journey and status in life. By doing so, children will have heightened, unbreakable, self-esteem and self-confidence. Building a child’s self-esteem and confidence is essential for maintaining deep inner strength and authority in their lives.

Affirmation – a developing powerful positive mindset. Positive thinking that will manifest positive life changes. Tell your children that they will become _____________ and they will. Tell your children they are smart and they will own up to their name. Affirmations are voiced, or written to confirm and announce who they are, what they are, and what they want to do and/or become in life. Affirmations are tools of creative faith and strong certainty that are believed to be true by the individual.

Self-fulfilling Prophecy – Prophecies are positive or negative hope or belief about situations or conditions, events, or people that may affect a person’s behavior toward them in a way that causes the prophecy/prediction or guess to be fulfilled.

Since bullying is a pandemic in our nation’s schools it is important for students to express and affirm who they are through voice and action. Student confidences will build over time, and students will become less victimized by bullies. At least, bullies will grow weary of toying with a student who is armored with affirmation and power.

I believe that educators and parents can assist children with evolving and becoming whoever they want to become if they practice using affirmation and self-fulfilling prophecy techniques early and often in an effort to mold, and make children into beautiful and rewarding citizens of our society.

Affirmation Daybook: Journal

https://tsw.createspace.com/title/377... http://www.amazon.com/Affirmation-Daybook-Cherrye-Vasquez-Ph-D/dp/1469914573/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352855316&sr=8-1&keywords=Affirmation+Daybook

 

Jewelry vs Books? Stop Your Yelling and Put Blame Where It Belongs!

Reflection time is always a healthy method for keeping things “real.” It helps us put blame where it belongs. Wouldn’t you agree with me? Regardless, let me tell you how I feel.

STOP! Stop yelling at your children after you’ve received progress reports, report cards and test results when you’ve suddenly noticed poor grades/scores.  Begin asking yourselves what part you played in their academic development. How did you massage their growth, or the lack of?

How often did you:

Read to your children?
Have your children read to you?
Use “rich dollar” words according to their age and functional development and a bit beyond?
Stop to explain the meaning of words when they asked –  Mommy, Daddy what does _________ mean?

Well, I’m just trying to be honest within my heart about how I feel. No one has to believe or share the same thoughts that I have, but there is a time when we have to come to terms with “the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

So here goes:

(Shown below in a photo with my Mom who is my assistant, most days)

[image error]Twice I’ve paid $50.00 for vendor tables for a particular event and twice I merely made what I put into the table. Usually I’m not too disappointed when I don’t break even because I’ve always felt that even if I sold one book, I was one book closer to sharing my story/work with a child, a parent, or even a teacher for that matter.

But on this second day, I sat from my authors table watching the traffic come and go, I wondered why the crowd swamped the vendor tables where jewelry (mainly handmade costume jewelry) was so elegantly draped and adorned from one end of the tables to the other. Now, I must tell you that I’m not against jewelry and I wear lots of costume jewelry too, I might add, but I had books; an array children’s books, and my author’s table was just as beautiful, colorful and adorned as theirs (well that’s my personal opinion).

As I spoke to several of the ladies and a few gentlemen many shared that they had children, but instead of purchasing books as gifts for stocking stuffers, they chose jewelry,  and not for their children, but for themselves, their wives or significant other. Of course, this is definitely their choice, but I have to wonder why people put so much emphasis on jewelry and not books for their children. I had to ask myself, “Why aren’t books important to these people?”[image error] 

According to University of Michigan Health System (2012) a child’s reading skills are important to their success in school and work. Reading can be a fun and imaginative activity for children, which opens doors to all kinds of new worlds for them.

As an educator who has been in the field for 31 years, I’ve seen and often seen reading statistics about educational deficits and gaps for certain subgroups. Although I am bothered by such stats, I can’t save every child. I’ve given birth to only one, and Lord knows I do what I can so that she doesn’t add to these troubling statistics.

Now, I know that there is a digital divide within some socio-economic groups, and some parents can’t afford computers, but dictionaries are not very expensive and believe it or not — that’s what I had to use growing up, so it can’t hurt, right? I know that Encyclopedias are antiquated, and then again every possible thing can be located on a computer, but I haven’t forgotten everyone doesn’t own a computer, so what about the neighborhood library? Can you get there?

Parents, our children are not little trees that are planted and somehow before we know it they’ve grown to become huge ones that have depended on nature taking its course for survival. We must tend to our children and nourish their education if we want the best possible educational outcomes and hope for them to attend fine colleges. You must do the following – Read, Read, and Read to them!

Reading helps with:

Fluency rate

Builds vocabulary

Comprehension

Word Attack Skills

Spelling

Language Development

Stronger Thinking Skills

Literacy

And so much more

Imagine a child equipped with these. Imagine where your child could go in life.

Don’t take my word for it. Research has identified five early reading skills that are essential.

Phonemic awareness- being able to hear, identify, and play with individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words
Phonics – being able to connect the letters of written language with the sounds of spoken language
Vocabulary – the words kids need to know to communicate effectively
Reading comprehension – being able to understand and get meaning from what has been read
Fluency (oral reading) – being able to read text accurately and quickly (University of Michigan Health System, 2012).

Performing these habits does take persistence, organization and will power. You must have a system, plan of action and be ready and willing to take time out of your schedule, deny yourself from things that you want to do at times, and work with your children. It has to become a part of your family life, and I strongly believe that both parents should help.

According to University of Michigan Health System (2012) you can make reading a part of your lifestyle by simply doing these things:

Turn off the tube. Limit your family’s television viewing time
Teach by example. If you have books, newspapers and magazines around your house and your child sees you reading, then your child will learn that you value reading.
Read together. Reading with your child is a great activity. It not only teaches your child that reading is important to you, but it also offers a chance to talk about the book, and often other issues will come up. Books open up the lines of communication between parent and child.
Hit the library. Try finding library books about current issues or interests in your family’s or child’s life, and then reading them together (University of Michigan Health System, 2012).

If I’m “preaching to the choir” here, please take time to forward this message to families that you have concerns for and care about.

I love reading with my daughter. From her library of books, she chooses two at a time.

Book 1 – We read together. My daughter reads one page and I read the next until the book has been completed.

Book 2 – My daughter is allowed to just sit back and listen to me read to her. She can stop and ask questions and I’ll stop at times to ensure that she’s listening.  I’ll ask her questions about the sections that I’ve read.

I read to my child because it is important to me for her to hear the inflections in my voice. She notices how I stop at periods and have excitement in my voice when there is an exclamation point. Another reason I do this is for shared time with her.

What do you do? After reading this blog, and if you do not read to your children are you willing to have a reading system with your children? Have I given you a few things to reflect upon? It’s time to do a bit of soul searching, wouldn’t you say so?

Stop blaming the school, and the teacher. Put the blame where it belongs. Stop yelling at your child and scold yourself.

NOW, put that jewelry back and pick up a book instead!

Need some help – A few resources? Take a look at books from various authors who comprise work from an array of genres that you may be interested in:

Pinterest Boards for Selected Twitter Group

http://pinterest.com/twittergroup/sel...

I sincerely hope that this has helped at least one family.

Reference:

University of Michigan Health System (2012). Reading, Literacy and Your Child. Retrieved November 22, 2012, from http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/to....

 

 

 

Select Writers Group and Pinterest Boards – Wow!

[image error]I am honored to be a part of a dynamic group of authors who formed a collaborative mission to meet the world with our books, video clips, articles, book trailers, blogs, poems, and an assortment of messages to the world. Each of us brings a unique collage of expertise in our writings, as per our knowledge and genre.

When time permits, I welcome you to peruse selections of your choice and/or fancy. Just as I am, you will go away amazed at the abundance of information that you’ll find.

Remember, books make great Christmas gifts – fabulous stocking stuffers, but you’ll be able to use this site to collect books for all occasions. So, without further ado – click on this link http://pinterest.com/twittergroup/  and let’s go shopping!

Cherrye S. Vasquez, Ph.D.

Books That Sow: Strength, Character & Diversity, DBA

http://www.BooksThatSow.com

Strategies that Your Child can use to Effectively Respond to the Bully who Bullies Verbally

There are strategies that you can use when teaching your child how to effectively respond to the bully who bullies verbally. You must consistently practice these strategies with your child, so that the strategies, words and actions will “sink in” and become natural (isn’t this sad?).

Too, practicing only makes your child ready and gives them a sense of confidence and empowerment to handle the bully. Allow your child to role play with you as you continue to guide and give advice.

Strategies:

Ignore the Bully

Tell the Bully to Go Away and Leave You Alone – “Stop”

Walk Away from the Bully

In order to teach your child how to problem solve and take up for him/her self in your absence, allow your child to handle this on his/her own first, BUT do not let bully behaviors fester too long. Your child needs to realize and feel reassured that you are there to assist when the time comes – Please be there.

If the verbal bullying persists, go ahead and step in – it’s time now. Don’t let verbal bullying move to physical bullying. Speak to your child’s teacher, the administrator, or whoever is deemed most appropriate at the time. You’ll be able to decipher who to speak to depending on the situation at hand.

Let the teacher and/or administrator realize that you have worked with your child and gave helpful strategies already. Now, it’s time for the school to intervene, and do what they can to help the child bully. This bully child is in need of intervention and assistance from whoever can give it to him/her.

Helpful Videos

Video of Poems – The Bully-ee (victim) & The Bully (perpetrator)

http://youtu.be/TXnOn9JjxHo

Video – How to Approach Your Child’s School

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xaj15w0mSI&feature=plcp

Helpful Articles

My Child Is Being Bullied, So What Can I Do?

http://ezinearticles.com/?My-Child-Is-Being-Bullied,-So-What-Can-I-Do?&id=7072491

Focusing on the Child Bully. What Can We Do To Help THIS Child?

http://ezinearticles.com/?Focusing-on-the-Child-Bully—What-Can-We-Do-To-Help-THIS-Child?&id=7099166

Support Anti-Bullying

http://cherryevasquez.tateauthor.com/?page_id=1916

Books Authored by Dr. Cherrye S. Vasquez

[image error] [image error] [image error]  [image error]

 

 

My DBA is About This – What About Yours?

As an author and Mom, it means a lot to me to share books that give children hope and empowerment. That is the reason why I am “Doing Business As (DBA)” Books That Sow: Strength, Character & Diversity.

When you find books that I’ve written, my goal is for each book to do a lot of what my business name refers to because I am an advocate for children. My books will give children hope, strength and hopefully build their character.

In addition, I feel strongly that children should be taught early on in their lives to have deep-seeded love for self, first. It is also important to expose children to the array of cultures among us. It is my hope that children learn not only to tolerate, but to accept, appreciate and have consideration of others and others’ thoughts, feelings and points of view.

Quite frankly, there is too much hatred and division among us, and it definitely affects our children. We are their role models. Just in the last few days, I’ve seen hatred all over the news during the political debates, media, as I’ve read blogs, Linked In posts and so much more, and I know that you have noticed too.

We’ll have to admit that some of the behaviors that our children exhibit are learned. Now, we’ll have to ask ourselves who has taught these behaviors to our children. Can we be part of the blame, if not all? How can we become a part of the repaired solution?

As adults and parents we can become leading catalyst in the reshaping and molding of our children — their hearts, minds and actions. There are lots that we can do, but will we?

As an author, I pledge to continue to do my part. I will continue to add more books to my DBA that focus on empowerment and positive change. In fact, my second children’s chapter book, Dedicated Identity, is going into production this month, so I want to invite you to stay tuned for updates.

If you are interested in my story, or any of my books, please stop by my table and visit with me on the following dates:

On November 16, 2012

MHMRA – Holiday Market

7033 Southwest Freeway

Houston, Texas 77072

Conference Center

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

On November 17, 2012

Barnes and Noble Booksellers – Book Fair

2030 West Gray

Houston, Texas 77019

12:30 p.m.

 

My motto: Love is the key to diversity

 

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year? Is this So for All Children?

[image error]For some of our children and families November and December is the most wonderful time of the year! We’ll see many happy faces, but among some of these happy faces, we’ll also notice a few sad ones, too. As you know, this can also be the toughest time of the year for many children. Some people go into depression and/or feel a sense of hopelessness. Many will want and need someone to talk to – perhaps a clinical therapist.

People will be scurrying around making plans for the holiday season, and some at the last minute. Although for most of us this is the season to be jolly, let us not forget those who do not find this time as joyous as others. For whatever their personal reasons (death of a loved one, hunger/poverty, loneliness, separation from their parents, abusive home lives, just to name a few), the holiday season may bring about sad memories/moments. Some may stem, and spend lots of time on flashbacks of dreadful moments in time.

Individually, let us ask ourselves what can WE do to help someone feel better around this season? How can we help lift their spirits, their hearts so that they can enjoy what we are presently enjoying? I don’t claim to have all the answers, and perhaps you can think of many more ideas and/or activities than I can, but together we can decide to start somewhere lending a shoulder, or an idea in efforts to help lift these spirits.

Anti-depressants help some children, but if we can avoid this, perhaps some children can get through the holidays without medication.

What about a great book? This may help children relax, put a smile on their faces, help them laugh a little, or sooth their minds. Perhaps others would love to spend time journaling. Writing can be another past time to get through the holidays while children take their minds off their personal troubles.

Of course there are other ideas, but I thought to list a few books/journals that may help get children through the holidays. You may have more that you can add to the list.

Remember, Books and Journals make great stocking stuffers, too.

Books :

“A Christmas I Remember” by Deirdre Tolhurst http://www.deirdretolhurst.com

“Color Blind: A Mixed Girl’s Perspective on Biracial Life” by Tiffany Rae Reid www.tiffanyraecoaching.com

“And The Whippoorwill Sang” by Mickie Peluso http://www.mallie1025.blogspot.com/

“They Stood Alone!: 25 Men and Women Who Made a Difference” by Sandra Humphrey

http://www.amazon.com/They-Stood-Alone-Women-Difference/dp/1616144858/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326655388&sr=1-1

“No Tildes on Tuesday” by Cherrye S. Vasquez http://www.BooksThatSow.com

Journals :

“Diversity Daybook: Journal” by Cherrye S. Vasque http://www.BooksThatSow.com

“Affimation Daybook: Journal” by Cherrye S. Vasquez http://www.BooksThatSow.com

“Guess What? Dear Diary,” by Cherrye S. Vasquez and Kelly A. Vasquez http://www.BooksThatSow.com

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

 

 

Positive Minds Connect Newsletter/Positive Connections

 As an advocate against bullying, a children’s author who teaches tolerance, love, helping children become anchored and grounded in affirmation and prophecy that sustains their self-fulfillment along with preaching acceptance for others, and their differences (diversity) and all, I am happy to be featured in the “Positive Minds Connect Newsletter; Volume 1, Number 3 – October, 2012.

To read the current, and/or past issues of this wonderful newsletter, please visit using link below or www.positiveconnectionstotheworld.com and click “My Charity.”

Yvette Kelley, Founder/CEO progressively moves forward in her quest to collaboratively connect people in positive productive ways.

Thank you, Yvette, for featuring me this quarter as I share a bit about my book, and why a book like this one is so important for our children.

 

Photo: Logo for Positive Connections – Yvette Kelley – Founder/CEO

 

A trip Worth It All – The Real Lesson

[image error]My daughter went to Camp Olympia week before last with all of the 5th graders enrolled in her Montessori Environmental Sciences Magnet School. This camping trip was arranged by her school district, and was approximately 90 miles away from home in Lake Livingston. This adventure was supposed to be filled with lessons that would teach them about Environmental Sciences, and give them real life hands on experiences. They’d be gone from home for 3 nights and 3 ½ days.

I must admit that I was nervous about this school trip because my daughter had never been away from us for so long. Of course, she had to go because all of the other children were going, and this would prove to be one of the greatest school experiences of her lifetime, but no experience is worth it to me if my child isn’t safe.

Children could only pack their gear into one pillow case, and place it into a huge trash bag.  [image error]My daughter’s package kept growing, and became pretty heavy, but I couldn’t talk her into removing one single item.

The children could not take any electronic devices, or their cell phones, so there would be no outside contact with their parents. Parents were told that they could not visit the camp site unless they received permission from the school Principal, and if they did, the visitation would be minimal. This news didn’t make me feel any better, but I had to trust, and pray.

[image error]The day finally arrived —- The children were gleeful and excited to leave school and their parents behind for a few days. I’m sure that many parents were as nervous as I was, but the children could not feel our pain and anxiety. They were going to have freedom away from homework, chores, parents, and for some – baby siblings.

Once the children and their gear were loaded onto the buses, parents stood outside near the front curb side of the school giving last minute dos and don’ts, hugs, kisses, and then their final wave goodbye. I waved until I could no longer see the bus in sight whether my daughter was still looking at me, or not. [image error]

 

I’d told my daughter earlier on how to behave and how she should conduct herself on every move that I could think of, but the apprehension was still there because I knew nothing about this camp except for what I’d been told, what was in black in white, and what I read on the internet. I certainly wouldn’t be introduced to the person who’d care for her. So, I drilled her endlessly about going to the restroom alone, walking towards the front of the line near the teacher, and whatever else I could think of. I told, and ensured her, however, that I’d come to pick her up at “a drop of a hat” if she ever needed me, day, night, midnight, or over in the night. It wouldn’t matter to me one bit.

 

I didn’t sleep well all the while my daughter was gone. My husband had to reassure me more often than he probably wanted to that she was okay, and that I should get some rest. The entire time that she was gone, I wondered what she was doing. I knew that some of the preliminary plans were to include: archery, canoeing, candle making, horseback riding, night hiking, fishing, and collecting organisms from the water. Sounds like a heap of fun! The children would be very busy, so I’m sure that my worrying would be in vein, but still, this child had never been away from me before.

 

The children would eat three meals a day, bunk 12 girls to a cabin, and have a cabin leader/counselor assigned to them, there would be other personnel, a nurse and her teacher did attend although she only saw him during dining, and other group activities. How could any parent complain about this, right? Well, I did.

 

I couldn’t wait until it was time for my child to arrive back in town. When I saw her, I couldn’t take my eyes off her, and I hugged her over and over again while asking lots of questions about her adventures. She told me about the good times and the bad times.

 

The bad moments included some of the food that wasn’t so tasty, seeing snakes during night hiking, not so clean facilities, a flying roach in her cabin, accidentally striking a rabbit with her arrow (crying about that because “How could a future Veterinarian strike an animal!” she said. My daughter also said that she began to feel lonely. The good times included the times when the food was good, meeting new people, and gaining lots of environmental science exposure, and experiences.

 

The one great message that my daughter did share with us is this: “Going to camp made me realize how much I appreciate my Mom and Dad.”

If nothing else, this was the greatest treasure of all for me as a parent. If her going to camp lead her to realize appreciation for her parents, then this camping trip was worth it all.

 

And, I thank my God that she return back home safe.

 

Photos Complimentary of: Dr. Cherrye S. Vasquez

Get a Gist of how Children who are Bullied Feel. What about the Bully? Support Anti-Bullying

 Bullying continues to plague our schools. We must get to the root of the problem and combat this pandemic. Our children deserve to attend schools that are safe, and secure. It will take ALL of us to ensure their safety. Both children, the bully-ee (victim), and the bully (the perpetrator) need our support and intervention.

We have spent lots of time focusing on the child who has been bullied as no doubt we certainly should, however, we need to spend time observing and attending to the child bully, the perpetrator. We can “nip” this behavior in the bud, reform and redirect negative behaviors exhibited by this child.

Most children do not want to be bullies. Somehow they have been transformed this way, and it may be due to previous antecedents and behaviors subjected on them. We have to consider this when working with bullies.

Questions to Consider: What have they experienced in the past? What is their home life like? Have they been abused, whether verbally, or physically? Some bullies do not like who they are, and are screaming out for our attention, love and intervention.

Let us rally around this child and turn him/her around.

Please take a look at the below video. Get a feel of how both children feel. Does it move you to tears? It does me. If so, would you consider supporting anti-bullying this month, by sharing materials from my collection of books?

I’d love to garner your support.

Materials to View

Video of Poems – The Bully-ee (victim) & The Bully (perpetrator)

http://youtu.be/TXnOn9JjxHo

Support Anti -Bullying

http://cherryevasquez.tateauthor.com/?page_id=1916

 

The One Armed Bandit Wearing a Red T-Shirt

About two weeks ago, we went to PetSmart to pick up dog pads, but my daughter pulled me towards the kitten/cat area to spend time looking at the felines. She said, “I have to learn more about all animals if I’m going to be a Veterinarian.” Well, that did it. I followed behind her like a little girl, but I must admit that I really enjoyed watching them, learning their names, and what breed of cats they were.

You should know that we need another pet around our house, like we need holes in our heads, but an interesting turn of events came our way.

How could anyone turn their back on this precious face? She was dropped off at our home.

Here’s the story: I was sitting at my computer last Saturday, September 15, 2012 typing away, but stopped for a moment to take a call from my Mom when I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It was an extended arm and hand sticking out of a red t-shirt. Someone was depositing a kitten in the flower bed of a tree just outside our fence, but then they quickly dashed away. I didn’t get a chance to see who it was. I shared what I’d just seen with my Mom. She couldn’t believe it either, but encouraged me to get into my car to see if I could find this mysterious person. I immediately stopped what I was doing, alerted my daughter and husband, and then hopped into my car to see if I could find someone wearing a red t-shirt, but to no avail, so I returned back home.

I’m not sure what I was going to do, or say to the person anyway, or how that situation would have turned out, so it’s probably a good thing that I didn’t see anyone, right?

At any rate, once I shared my discovery with my daughter, she was overwhelmingly ecstatic. If I haven’t mention to you in past posts already, she absolutely positively LOVES pets, and says that she wants to become a Veterinarian one day.

Back to my story — Of course, my husband suggested that we not get to know this cutie because we already have a very beautiful cat by the name of Chase who we assume came to us by way of Hurricane Katrina. Isn’t she a beauty? [image error]

Just a little history — My daughter was quite young during the Katrina days, so we had to have Chase inoculated right away if we were going to keep her.  And keeping her, we surely were. After a few annual visits, the Veterinarian mentioned checking for a microchip, but when he saw me cringe, he immediately realized by now Chase is just as attached to us as we are her.

We also have a Daschund by the name of Floppy. We’ve raised him since he was a month old. This is a picture of his first Vet visit.[image error] Charming, huh?

Here he is now. [image error]

Okay, back to Patch – Yes, we have now given this darling little abandoned gift a name.  My daughter immediately ran to the window to see the kitten. I couldn’t believe how it appeared that Patch looked back at her through the window as if she longed for my daughter, and have known her since birth. Patch began to jump on the window as if she were trying to make contact with my daughter.

Of course my daughter ignored all warnings from my husband not to go near the kitten, and plunged right past him making her way outside. The kitten met her at the back door (I wondered how she knew that my daughter would be there), and then she swept back and forth through my daughter’s feet as if to say, I love you – I’m yours.

When my daughter walked back into the house, Patch (who by the way had not been named yet), followed her inside. Of course, I asked my daughter to take her back outside because from experience I knew she may be full of fleas, and God knows whatever else. Once my daughter came back inside, we could hear the kitten meowing and jumping on the back door so high she touched the door knob — no kidding. It sounded as if she was trying to open the door. I knew right then that this was a very smart kitten.

My daughter, who says that she one day wants to become a Veterinarian, (remember?) insisted that we put the kitten in a cage and find her a foster family. Her idea was for us to go door-to-door asking if the kitten belonged to any of the neighbors — Yeah right – Her mother wasn’t about to do that. I did suggest, however, that if no one came to claim her (fat chance of that since they’d just left her), we’d take her to the SPCA. They would care for her and ensure that she’d get a fine family to love her. She’d certainly make someone happy. My daughter seemed okay with that, since her Dad said that keeping her was absolutely out of the question.

Who said anything about keeping her anyway?

The next day, Sunday September 17th, we went to Target to pick up a few things for my daughter’s camping trip that will take place next week, and you might guess that she talked me into buying Patch food, and a double food/water bowl set. I must admit that I was planning to do that anyway. Well, I told her, “We probably should feed her until we can find time to get her to the SPCA.” Needless to say, we brought the food and bowls home, and placed them on the back porch opposite side of Chase’s bowls. We gave Patch food and water. She was so starved, that she took large sized bites at a time. It was a pitiful sight to see.

My husband, who was not at home when we returned from Target, arrived soon afterwards, and couldn’t believe his eyes. He said, “I can’t believe what I’m seeing here. You girls are feeding that cat!” Of course he swore up and down that he would never feed, or care for her each morning and evening like he does Chase.

Chase sits and waits for him on the back step for breakfast. My husband feeds her, and waits patiently until she eats so the stray cat, Jumbo (we named him, too) won’t eat her food. Jumbo is an Orange Tabby, male bully.  When my husband leaves for work each morning, I love to hear him talking to Chase. When he opens the back door, he says “Come on girl.” Chase beats him to the next building for her morning breakfast. Well, the last few mornings, I’ve listened carefully to my husband’s voice, and he is now saying, “Come on girls.”

Got him, I said to myself.

I believe that my husband could already tell that Patch has stolen both our hearts, so he receded to our calling.

Believe it or not, two days after Patch was left at our house, it would be my daughter’s 11th birthday – Tuesday, September 18th — By the way it is coincidental that 11 years ago she was actually born on a Tuesday.

Getting back to my story — On the Sunday that we went to Target for my daughter’s camping gear, she said, “Mom, remember you gave me three birthday wishes, and I could never decide what my third birthday wish would be?”

I said, “Yes.”

She went on to say, “Well she was given to me yesterday. It is the kitten that someone left at our house. Now, you don’t have to get me anything. Someone brought me my third birthday wish.”

With awe and wonder in my mind and heart, for me, that made perfect sense.

Needless to say, the morning of September 19th, I made an appointment for Patch to see the Veterinarian. It would be Friday, September 21/5:30 p.m. I typed a note for my daughter with the date and time of the appointment, and then placed pictures of birthday gifts on it. I couldn’t wait to get home, so that I could present it to her. Her face lit up!

This evening, September 21st, my husband drove us to the Vet, and sat patiently in the room with us as the doctor examined my daughter’s last birthday wish, Patch. [image error]

I can report that Patch was left with us in great health. The doctor calls her a Domestic Short Haired cat (who cares?). She is approximately 2.5 months old, and weighs 2.5 pounds. “Although the curvature of her body and tummy looks as if she may be full of worms, said the doctor, her fecal came back clean, and she has no ear mites.”

“Whew.”

Patch was given a shot, medication for fleas (she was full of them), and an oral medication just in case she does have worms, even although the fecal was normal. Overall, she is in great health. We also received a pound of free dry kitten food, two cans of food, a free sample of medicine that we can use another month, and a nice expandable folder with great literature that we can use later to put all of her medical records in.

I can’t help but wonder, however, who this red shirt, one arm bandit was that left Patch there in the flower bed of the tree? Whoever you are, thank you very much! We now have another addition to our family – Patch Vasquez, and we love her dearly!

Oh and by the way, I guess you can see why my daughter named her Patch?

 

Photos Courtesy of: Dr. Cherrye S. Vasquez