Sherry Alexander's Blog, page 11
August 23, 2014
Book Release and Blog Hop: The Wait is Almost over for My PB, Oliver's Hunger Dragon
My first picture book, Oliver's Hunger Dragon, is scheduled for release this week. Thank you to all who both helped fund and support this book through Fundly.For those of you who do not know about this book, it is a story about a boy named Oliver. Oliver discovers he has a hunger dragon that rumbles and grumbles and mkes him too tired to play. Poor Oliver thinks he is the only one with a hunger dragon in his belly, but is he?
If you follow this blog, you know how hunger ravages one in five kids in America. That number makes me angry. Kids deserve food, shelter, and love. But, when I went to find books for kids and about hungry kids, the selection was dismal. That is when Oliver's Hunger Dragon began its journey from an idea, to the text, to revision, to more revision, to submission to both agents and publishers, to numerous rejections, to a decision to self-publish, to Fundly, to friends and supporters, to a final revision, to Halo Publishing, to the amazing illustrator, Amy Rottinger, to NOW!
How is it going to help hungry kids? First, it provides a voice for kids who are too embarrassed by their hunger to share it with anyone. Second, it will explain hunger to kids not facing their own hunger dragons. Third, it shows how we all can help end hunger, one hunger dragon at a time. And finally, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Clark County WA Food Bank, Feeding America, and the Portland Police Bureau's Sunshine Division to help them continue feeding hungry kids. There is a short video on YouTube, so check it out, and help me spread the word. Oliver's Hunger Dragon is scheduled for release this week as both an ebook and a print book. It will be available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble first, but by the end of the month at more than 40 retailers.
Now for the Blog Hop. The wonderful children's book author of The Pea in the Peanut Butter and Kailee Finds Magic in Words, Allyn Stotz (http://allynstotz.blogspot.com/) tagged me in a blog hop. Thank you Allyn! The tag requires me to answer four questions, so here they are:
1. What are you currently working on? I just finished the final revision of a YA adventure novel set in 1883, am revising my second PB to get it ready to submit and writing a 3rd on kids whose parents are incarcerated, am halfway through a new YA novel thanks to Camp NanoWrimo, and outlining several magazine queries.Busy, busy, busy.
2. How does your work differ from others of its genre? I'm not really sure how to answer this question. I want kids to read what entertains them, but I also want what I write to become the voice of those children who are afraid to use theirs. Oliver is such a book. I don't want to stick with only one genre. I enjoy writing too much. Plus, I love to read, and it never matters which genre it is as long as it is a good story.
3. Why do I write what I write? I love kids and kid lit. Plus it helps to have almost seven grandchildren at various stages of reading development. I want to write what they want to read. That will make my heart happy.
4. How does my individual writing process work? Like most writers, I keep a notebook of ideas, phrases, thoughts, and things that sparked my interest. I love research, so I usually research every avenue of the idea I decide to use way before I write my first word. I am not a sit down and write 10,000 words. I can't do it. My mind needs to work through a scene or a subplot before I can write it. I find it easy to write non-fiction, and have to work much harder at fiction, so I can spend hours on a scene one day and delete it the next. I am a revision addict.
In order to keep this going, I am tagging two other writers to keep this going. Katie Clark at http://www.katieclarkwrites.com/ who has a fantastic new YA series coming out this fall, and Joy Moore, author of Wiggle, Wiggle, Scratch, Scratch, Itch, Itch, Itch, athttp://www.joymooreloop-de-loops.webs...
Look Katie and Joy up. They are outstanding authors, and it is a great opportunity to meet them up close and personal.
If you follow this blog, you know how hunger ravages one in five kids in America. That number makes me angry. Kids deserve food, shelter, and love. But, when I went to find books for kids and about hungry kids, the selection was dismal. That is when Oliver's Hunger Dragon began its journey from an idea, to the text, to revision, to more revision, to submission to both agents and publishers, to numerous rejections, to a decision to self-publish, to Fundly, to friends and supporters, to a final revision, to Halo Publishing, to the amazing illustrator, Amy Rottinger, to NOW!
How is it going to help hungry kids? First, it provides a voice for kids who are too embarrassed by their hunger to share it with anyone. Second, it will explain hunger to kids not facing their own hunger dragons. Third, it shows how we all can help end hunger, one hunger dragon at a time. And finally, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Clark County WA Food Bank, Feeding America, and the Portland Police Bureau's Sunshine Division to help them continue feeding hungry kids. There is a short video on YouTube, so check it out, and help me spread the word. Oliver's Hunger Dragon is scheduled for release this week as both an ebook and a print book. It will be available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble first, but by the end of the month at more than 40 retailers.
Now for the Blog Hop. The wonderful children's book author of The Pea in the Peanut Butter and Kailee Finds Magic in Words, Allyn Stotz (http://allynstotz.blogspot.com/) tagged me in a blog hop. Thank you Allyn! The tag requires me to answer four questions, so here they are:
1. What are you currently working on? I just finished the final revision of a YA adventure novel set in 1883, am revising my second PB to get it ready to submit and writing a 3rd on kids whose parents are incarcerated, am halfway through a new YA novel thanks to Camp NanoWrimo, and outlining several magazine queries.Busy, busy, busy.
2. How does your work differ from others of its genre? I'm not really sure how to answer this question. I want kids to read what entertains them, but I also want what I write to become the voice of those children who are afraid to use theirs. Oliver is such a book. I don't want to stick with only one genre. I enjoy writing too much. Plus, I love to read, and it never matters which genre it is as long as it is a good story.
3. Why do I write what I write? I love kids and kid lit. Plus it helps to have almost seven grandchildren at various stages of reading development. I want to write what they want to read. That will make my heart happy.
4. How does my individual writing process work? Like most writers, I keep a notebook of ideas, phrases, thoughts, and things that sparked my interest. I love research, so I usually research every avenue of the idea I decide to use way before I write my first word. I am not a sit down and write 10,000 words. I can't do it. My mind needs to work through a scene or a subplot before I can write it. I find it easy to write non-fiction, and have to work much harder at fiction, so I can spend hours on a scene one day and delete it the next. I am a revision addict.
In order to keep this going, I am tagging two other writers to keep this going. Katie Clark at http://www.katieclarkwrites.com/ who has a fantastic new YA series coming out this fall, and Joy Moore, author of Wiggle, Wiggle, Scratch, Scratch, Itch, Itch, Itch, athttp://www.joymooreloop-de-loops.webs...
Look Katie and Joy up. They are outstanding authors, and it is a great opportunity to meet them up close and personal.
August 20, 2014
Wednesday's Rant: Drunk Drivers Kill Kids
No one wants to talk about kids dying, but the case in Texas being touted as a revenge killing reminds us that drunk drivers not only drive drunk, but they kill kids.In 2011, according to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers), 226 kids died because of a drunk driver. A little over half of them were the passengers of a drunk driver. While that number seems small when compared to the 10,000 who die of gunshots each year or the 2,000 who die of cancer, I can't help but think how these deaths are senseless and preventable.
In the case I mentioned in Texas, the father of two boys, 11 and 12 years of age, is accused of shooting the drunk driver who ran down his kids moments after the crash. While I do not know the specifics, I can't help but feel the pain that father went through when he saw his boys dying in the street. How senseless and how preventable.
That night the driver who killed these boys chose to drink. Now, there is nothing wrong with having a drink or two. That is a personal decision. But if a person is drinking, they do not need to drive. The driver in this case not only drank, but he got into his car and drove drunk. He made a conscious decision (and probably not for the first time, since most drunk drivers are multiple offenders), and it cost the lives of two innocent children. I am sorry that his life was taken as well, and whoever is responsible for that death needs to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I only mention the case here to highlight how fast a drunk driver can claim the life of an innocent.
Here are a few facts from MADD everyone should consider before getting behind the wheel of a car after a few drinks.
Impairment is determined by the amount of alcohol drank over a specific time period, not by the type of drink.A standard drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spiritsIn 2012, 10.3 million people said they drove under the influence of intoxicantsThis is for my YA author friends: Almost 50% of 10th graders drink In 2011, 1.2 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influenceGiven the facts, it is amazing to me that more kids are not killed each year with so many drunk drivers on the road. Getting behind the wheel after drinking is not only dangerous it is downright death dealing.
In the case I mentioned in Texas, the father of two boys, 11 and 12 years of age, is accused of shooting the drunk driver who ran down his kids moments after the crash. While I do not know the specifics, I can't help but feel the pain that father went through when he saw his boys dying in the street. How senseless and how preventable.
That night the driver who killed these boys chose to drink. Now, there is nothing wrong with having a drink or two. That is a personal decision. But if a person is drinking, they do not need to drive. The driver in this case not only drank, but he got into his car and drove drunk. He made a conscious decision (and probably not for the first time, since most drunk drivers are multiple offenders), and it cost the lives of two innocent children. I am sorry that his life was taken as well, and whoever is responsible for that death needs to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I only mention the case here to highlight how fast a drunk driver can claim the life of an innocent.
Here are a few facts from MADD everyone should consider before getting behind the wheel of a car after a few drinks.
Impairment is determined by the amount of alcohol drank over a specific time period, not by the type of drink.A standard drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spiritsIn 2012, 10.3 million people said they drove under the influence of intoxicantsThis is for my YA author friends: Almost 50% of 10th graders drink In 2011, 1.2 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influenceGiven the facts, it is amazing to me that more kids are not killed each year with so many drunk drivers on the road. Getting behind the wheel after drinking is not only dangerous it is downright death dealing.
August 17, 2014
The Dirty Business of Child Trafficking: Child Soldiers
When you think of children, do pictures of playgrounds, soccer practice, a child's smile, or a Happy Meal come to mind? Or, do you think of guns, soldiers, killing, and death? Guns, soldiers, killing, and death, you ask. Yes. That is what is being demanded from approximately 300,000 children under the age of 18 years who are forced or coerced into becoming child soldiers.According to UNICEF, there are 30 conflicts in the world right now where child soldiers are used as armed "combatants, messengers, porters and cooks, and for forced sexual services." The Continent of Africa has the most child soldiers with Chad, the Central African Republic, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda on the list. Children are both forced and recruited by governmental armies, militias, and anti-government rebels.
Recruited? Yes. While it is true that children are routinely kidnapped and forced to become child soldiers, some are not. War is a terrible thing, and children in the midst of it often have no food, no shelter, no family, and no emotional, physical, or financial support. Under those conditions, the promise of a bed, regular meals, and someone to care about them can sound pretty good. Couple those promises with emotional immaturity, or even the trauma associated with war, and you have children willingly picking up weapons and doing what they are told.
While there are several organizations bring attention to the use of children as soldiers, one organization has been working towards the release of these kids as well. That organization is UNICEF. You can find out more about the problem and the work they are doing:
http://www.unicef.org/emerg/index_chi...
The only way to stop the use of children as soldiers is to spread the word to create a voice for the children who have none, and then to use that voice to stop war. While this may seem like a pipe dream, I believe it is both necessary and worthwhile. How about you?
Two books written from personal experience are listed below. While I would not recommend these to young readers, they are eye-opening and terrifying at the same time. The descriptions are quoted from Amazon.
"In A Long Way Gone, Beah, now twenty-five years old, tells a riveting story: how at the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he'd been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts."
"In the mid-1980s, Emmanuel Jal was a seven year old Sudanese boy living in a small village. But after his mother was killed and his father Simon rose to become a powerful commander in the Christian Sudanese Liberation Army, fighting for the freedom of Sudan. Soon, Jal was conscripted into that army, one of 10,000 child soldiers, and fought through two separate civil wars over nearly a decade.
Orphaned and adrift, Jal lived through horror: marching through miles of desert toward Ethiopia, past the bones of adults and children who had fallen on the trek; witnessing the deaths of friends and family members; killing soldiers and civilians with a gun he could barely lift; starving to the point of near-cannibalism, and coming to the edge of suicide. Remarkably, Jal survived, and his life began to change when he was adopted by a British aid worker."
Recruited? Yes. While it is true that children are routinely kidnapped and forced to become child soldiers, some are not. War is a terrible thing, and children in the midst of it often have no food, no shelter, no family, and no emotional, physical, or financial support. Under those conditions, the promise of a bed, regular meals, and someone to care about them can sound pretty good. Couple those promises with emotional immaturity, or even the trauma associated with war, and you have children willingly picking up weapons and doing what they are told.
While there are several organizations bring attention to the use of children as soldiers, one organization has been working towards the release of these kids as well. That organization is UNICEF. You can find out more about the problem and the work they are doing:
http://www.unicef.org/emerg/index_chi...
The only way to stop the use of children as soldiers is to spread the word to create a voice for the children who have none, and then to use that voice to stop war. While this may seem like a pipe dream, I believe it is both necessary and worthwhile. How about you?
Two books written from personal experience are listed below. While I would not recommend these to young readers, they are eye-opening and terrifying at the same time. The descriptions are quoted from Amazon.
"In A Long Way Gone, Beah, now twenty-five years old, tells a riveting story: how at the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he'd been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts."
"In the mid-1980s, Emmanuel Jal was a seven year old Sudanese boy living in a small village. But after his mother was killed and his father Simon rose to become a powerful commander in the Christian Sudanese Liberation Army, fighting for the freedom of Sudan. Soon, Jal was conscripted into that army, one of 10,000 child soldiers, and fought through two separate civil wars over nearly a decade.Orphaned and adrift, Jal lived through horror: marching through miles of desert toward Ethiopia, past the bones of adults and children who had fallen on the trek; witnessing the deaths of friends and family members; killing soldiers and civilians with a gun he could barely lift; starving to the point of near-cannibalism, and coming to the edge of suicide. Remarkably, Jal survived, and his life began to change when he was adopted by a British aid worker."
August 10, 2014
The Dirty Business of Child Trafficking Series: Another Form of Slavery
In my opinion, Americans for the most part, have a different view of slavery than the rest of the world. We can be a slave to our job, to our family, or to the government. But we don't tend to think of slavery as an institution anymore. Why? Simply put, our everyday lives are not affected by it, and when we are not affected by something, it is not a priority. But since child trafficking is slavery, maybe those of us who don't see it as a priority need to open our eyes and put a stop to it.I admit, until recently child trafficking was not a priority of mine either. Oh, the threat was always there. My mother drilled the thought of someone stealing us away if we strayed too far from home into our heads at a very young age. It terrified her. Not because she had been a victim, but because she could put herself in that situation. Her father, who was unable to care for his family during the Depression, gave his children to an orphanage. Because of that experience, she could rationalize what it would be like to have your freedom taken away, and to be forced to obey someone bigger and stronger and who was given the legal right to do what they wanted.
Slavery is defined as the practice of owning a person as legal property and forcing him/her to obey. The definition of child trafficking is different only in the fact that the child is not the legal property of whoever has them.
A child who is stolen from his/her family, enticed by the promises of money, shelter, or food, or even sold or given up by a family member is viewed as the personal property of the procurer. That person now has the power over the child to demand anything and everything. And demand is just what they do. Children, and I am talking about all kids from birth to 18 years of age, may be forced to do all types of work as child slaves.
UNICEF's website states that these kids may be forced "to work in sweatshops, on construction sites, in houses as domestic servants, on the streets as child beggars, in wars as child soldiers, on farms, in traveling sales crews or in restaurants and hotels. Some are forced to work in brothels and strip clubs or for escort and massage services."
In other words, children are used for everything imaginable and even one of the most unimaginable--the prolific sex trade.
I know this little blog is not going to change the world. But I do hope it raises awareness of the enslavement of children through child trafficking. Please take a moment out of your busy day and check out http://www.unicef.org/protection/ to learn more. Next week, I will attempt to show you the world of the child soldier.
Slavery is defined as the practice of owning a person as legal property and forcing him/her to obey. The definition of child trafficking is different only in the fact that the child is not the legal property of whoever has them.
A child who is stolen from his/her family, enticed by the promises of money, shelter, or food, or even sold or given up by a family member is viewed as the personal property of the procurer. That person now has the power over the child to demand anything and everything. And demand is just what they do. Children, and I am talking about all kids from birth to 18 years of age, may be forced to do all types of work as child slaves.
UNICEF's website states that these kids may be forced "to work in sweatshops, on construction sites, in houses as domestic servants, on the streets as child beggars, in wars as child soldiers, on farms, in traveling sales crews or in restaurants and hotels. Some are forced to work in brothels and strip clubs or for escort and massage services."
In other words, children are used for everything imaginable and even one of the most unimaginable--the prolific sex trade.
I know this little blog is not going to change the world. But I do hope it raises awareness of the enslavement of children through child trafficking. Please take a moment out of your busy day and check out http://www.unicef.org/protection/ to learn more. Next week, I will attempt to show you the world of the child soldier.
August 5, 2014
Wednesday's Rave: Zoo on the Moon
I am excited to share this week's rave with you. It is a picture book by Robin Martin-Duttman titled ZOO ON THE MOON.
I have been hearing nattering about this book for several months, but could never remember to order it. Then came a contest, and I won it! And, while I am thrilled that I finally won something, I am discouraged that I didn't order it when it first came out.
This delightful book, a Purple Dragonfly Award Honorable Mention, is built on an outlandish idea of a zoo on the moon. Told in rhyme through the perspective of a Meerkat, it introduces young readers to the wonder of weightlessness and space through dancing giraffes, gliding penguins, and flying elephants. Never has science been so much fun!
The author's playful use of words captures the readers attention, and the colorful and playful illustrations will make them giggle with pure joy. If you have a little one at home, pick up this book. Nothing makes someone's heart happier than a child's laugh, so go make your heart happy and buy a copy of the Zoo on the Moon.
In addition to the Purple Dragonfly Award Honorable Mention, Zoo on the Moon was selected by IBLIBRARY for their primary years program. You can check out Robin Martin-Duttmann on Facebook, her Amazon page, or her website at http://sbpra.com/robinmartin-duttmann/.
I have been hearing nattering about this book for several months, but could never remember to order it. Then came a contest, and I won it! And, while I am thrilled that I finally won something, I am discouraged that I didn't order it when it first came out.
This delightful book, a Purple Dragonfly Award Honorable Mention, is built on an outlandish idea of a zoo on the moon. Told in rhyme through the perspective of a Meerkat, it introduces young readers to the wonder of weightlessness and space through dancing giraffes, gliding penguins, and flying elephants. Never has science been so much fun!
The author's playful use of words captures the readers attention, and the colorful and playful illustrations will make them giggle with pure joy. If you have a little one at home, pick up this book. Nothing makes someone's heart happier than a child's laugh, so go make your heart happy and buy a copy of the Zoo on the Moon.
In addition to the Purple Dragonfly Award Honorable Mention, Zoo on the Moon was selected by IBLIBRARY for their primary years program. You can check out Robin Martin-Duttmann on Facebook, her Amazon page, or her website at http://sbpra.com/robinmartin-duttmann/.
August 2, 2014
New Book Release: Who Am I? How My Daughter Taught Me to Let Go and Live Again, by Megan Cyrulewski
Who Am I? How My Daughter Taught Me to Let Go and Live Again, by Megan Cyrulewski is about her journey into post-partum depression, anxiety disorder, panic attacks. It has been estimated that 1.3 million women suffer post-partum depression and anxiety every year. Megan's PPD led her to stays in the psych ward, divorce, emotional abuse, domestic violence, and finally to law school. This book not only chronicles her journey through PPD, but it tells how how she managed to graduate from law school while caring for her beautiful little girl.
Author BioMegan Cyrulewski has been writing short stories ever since she was ten-years-old. After attending Grand Valley State University, Megan eventually settled into a career in the non-profit sector for eight years. She decided to change careers and went back to school to get her law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. While in school, she documented her divorce, child custody battle and postpartum depression struggles in her memoir. Megan lives in Michigan with her 3-year-old daughter who loves to dance, run, read, and snuggle time with Mommy. Megan also enjoys her volunteer work with various organizations in and around metro-Detroit.
ContactWebsite and blog: www.megancyrulewski.com.Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorMeganC.Twitter: @MeganCyrulewski.Buy linksWho Am I? How My Daughter Taught Me to Let Go and Live Again is available in paperback from all good booksellers. eBook versions will follow.
Amazon.comAmazon.co.ukBarnes & Noble
ExcerptOn January 18, 2012, we all convened in the courthouse for the Motion for Parenting Time hearing. My dad and I arrived with my attorney, but Tyler loved an audience so he brought his dad, step-mom, and his new on-again off-again girlfriend, Heather. Tyler walked in with his posse in tow, cocky as hell. It took all of two minutes for the judge to knock him off his feet.
The Judge addressed our respective attorneys. “Why are we here?”
“Your honor,” Tyler’s attorney began, “my client has clearly been denied his parenti—”
The Judge didn’t even let him finish. “How?” She turned to my attorney. “Don?”
“Your honor, as you can see in the divorce decree, there was supposed to be a review when the minor child turned twelve-months-old. The Defendant has ignored that review.”
“I–if I may, your honor,” Tyler’s attorney sputtered.
“I see the review in the decree. It’s here in black and white,” she told Tyler’s attorney. “What is the problem? Why didn’t you understand the review? Your client signed the divorce decree.”
Tyler’s attorney tried again. “But your honor—”
The judge cut him off. “There is to be a review conducted by the Friend of the Court referee assigned to the parties. Until then, the Defendant will continue his parenting time schedule as agreed upon in the divorce decree. Dismissed.”
And that was it. After eight police reports and numerous harassing text messages, phone calls, and e-mails, we won. As Don and Tyler’s attorney went to speak with the clerk to file the necessary paperwork, Don told us to wait for him outside the courtroom.
As we exited the courtroom, the hallway was so packed with people that my dad and I were only able to find enough space to lean against the wall. We were talking about the court proceedings when we looked up at saw Tyler and his new girlfriend standing right across from us.
“Why do you lie about everything?” Tyler screamed.
Heather walked up to me and stood about an inch from my face. “As a mother myself, you should be happy that Tyler is the father of your child.”
My jaw dropped. “I’m sorry but I don’t know you.”
She smirked. “Well you’re going to get to know me, bitch.”
Tyler made a big show of pulling her from me like I was going to punch her or something. By this time, everyone in the hallway was watching us. We were pure entertainment.
Heather continued her rant. “Two times in the psych ward, Megan? What a great mother you are.”
“Where is your mom, the real mother of our child?” Tyler screamed. “She’s the one who takes care of Madelyne.”
My dad and I tried to move away from Tyler and Heather but they followed us.
“Do you have to take a Xanax because of your anxiety?”
“Go take your Xanax and sleeping pills, you drug addict,” Tyler shouted.
Finally, Don emerged from the courtroom and pulled us into a quiet corridor. He explained that I needed to call our referee to set-up a meeting to discuss a visitation schedule. I told Don about the verbal assault by Tyler and Heather. Don said he would call Tyler’s attorney to let him know that Heather would not be allowed in my house.
Upon leaving the courthouse, Heather screamed, “See you on Sunday, Megan.”
I turned toward her and said calmly, “I don’t know you, but you are not welcome in my home.”
That night, Tyler sent me multiple texts attacking my mothering skills, my supposed drug addictions, how he was going to fight for joint custody of Madelyne, how Heather would be accompanying him for his visitations, and a barrage of other insults:
“Get a life already.”“Don’t you have something better to do than wasting your parents’ money?”“Go take your pills and relax, oh yeah, then your parents would have to watch our daughter. Oh yeah, they already do.”“Go talk to your friends. Oh yeah, you don’t have any because of how crazy you are.”“Interesting to know you’ve been to the hospital a couple of times. You really need to get it together.”“Better go call your lawyer and make up some more stuff about me.”“Don’t be mad at your sorry life.”“I am sure living with Mom and Dad the rest of your life will be fun.”“When you get a job, then you can pay me child support. Fun.”I finally had to turn my phone off at midnight.
July 30, 2014
Wednesday's Rant: Banning Noisy Kids or Adults on Cell Phones?
When you go to a movie, a restaurant, a concert, or any other event, would you rather listen to a crying baby or an adult making an all too loud cell phone call?Recently, a restaurant on the historic Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey, California posted a sign which is causing a lot of tourists to grumble. The sign prohibits strollers, high chairs, booster chairs, and crying or noisy children.
Now I know how annoying it can be when you are eating and a child sitting behind you is exhibiting how tired and/or frustrated he or she is. Even as a parent and grandparent, it can be difficult to ignore. However, in most of the cases that I have witnessed, the parents are making every attempt to calm the little one or they get up and walk him/her outside. That is responsible parenting. But Old Fisherman's Grotto is taking it even further.
They are banning not only the child, but anything the child may need in order to eat a meal with his/her family. A highchair? Really? Or, a booster seat that fits comfortably on an existing chair? That in itself is telling parents with children under the age of 5 years to stay out of their restaurant. How sad that a tourist destination and the whale watching capitol of the world would allow any of the businesses along this wharf to deny entry to anyone.
To me, instead of the child, ban the adult who carries on a way too loud conversation on his/her cell phone. They laugh, they yell, they cry, they talk, and no one says a word to them. I don't want to hear about their ex-boyfriend and who he is dating, or what new business deal just went lopsided, or the latest joke around the office, or whether the person on the other end of the line is getting their loan or not. These are all conversations I have had to endure while dining with my family, settling in at the local theater for a movie, listening to a concert, or even buying groceries. And to make matters worse, these are the same people who will give a parent the evil eye if the little ones make a noise!
So, even though my kids are grown, next time I go to the Monterey Peninsula, I will not be stopping at my favorite restaurant. If kids are not welcomed, but the loud cell phone user is, then it is not a place I want to be. Fair is fair, and the Old Fisherman's Grotto is not being fair.
Now I know how annoying it can be when you are eating and a child sitting behind you is exhibiting how tired and/or frustrated he or she is. Even as a parent and grandparent, it can be difficult to ignore. However, in most of the cases that I have witnessed, the parents are making every attempt to calm the little one or they get up and walk him/her outside. That is responsible parenting. But Old Fisherman's Grotto is taking it even further.
They are banning not only the child, but anything the child may need in order to eat a meal with his/her family. A highchair? Really? Or, a booster seat that fits comfortably on an existing chair? That in itself is telling parents with children under the age of 5 years to stay out of their restaurant. How sad that a tourist destination and the whale watching capitol of the world would allow any of the businesses along this wharf to deny entry to anyone.
To me, instead of the child, ban the adult who carries on a way too loud conversation on his/her cell phone. They laugh, they yell, they cry, they talk, and no one says a word to them. I don't want to hear about their ex-boyfriend and who he is dating, or what new business deal just went lopsided, or the latest joke around the office, or whether the person on the other end of the line is getting their loan or not. These are all conversations I have had to endure while dining with my family, settling in at the local theater for a movie, listening to a concert, or even buying groceries. And to make matters worse, these are the same people who will give a parent the evil eye if the little ones make a noise!
So, even though my kids are grown, next time I go to the Monterey Peninsula, I will not be stopping at my favorite restaurant. If kids are not welcomed, but the loud cell phone user is, then it is not a place I want to be. Fair is fair, and the Old Fisherman's Grotto is not being fair.
July 27, 2014
THE DIRTY BUSINESS OF CHILD TRAFFICKING SERIES
What is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world? What brings in $12 billion a year to the dirty people behind it? The answer is child trafficking. For the next 6 weeks, this blog will bring light to this dirty business, and hopefully raise the awareness to help us put a stop to it. Here are a few statistics from UNICEF and The Stop Child Trafficking Now Organization. The numbers are staggering.There are an estimated 1.2 million children who are victims of child traffickingWithin 48 hours of a child running away from home, one-third are lured or recruited into the world of pornography and prostitution.The average age of a sex trade victim is 12 years of ageWomen and girls make up 80 percent of the victims50 percent of all victims are minors300,000 children according to the US department of Justice are at risk each year for commercial sexual exploitation.600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year, and 50 percent are children
July 23, 2014
Wednesday Rave: Bored Kids? Make a Volcano!
Summer is a time when kids relish the outdoors, but what are kids to do when it rains. Play video games? Watch TV? How about using their imaginations. Here is one project that might take the boredom out of the kids. (And it's educational too)Make a Volcano!What you need: a funnel with a large enough spout to hold a paper towel or toilet paper rollA sturdy platform for the volcano-can be 2 sheets of poster board, an old cutting board, or even a baking panPlaster of Paris gauzea bowl of waterwater colors and paint brush1 tbs. baking soda1/4 cup of vinegarred food coloringDirections:Cover your work area with newspapersGather all of your suppliesPut the funnel in the middle of the platformInsert the paper roll into the funnel spout (Make sure it goes all the way to the bottom and leave at least 1 inch sticking out at the top.)Soak the gauze in the bowl of water until they are softWrap the wet Plaster of Paris gauze around the funnel until it is completely covered.Let dry-usually one hourPain the sides of your volcano with the water colors. Remember it is a mountain.Let dryNow you are ready to see your volcano spew lava. Pour the baking soda into the spout.Add food coloring to the vinegar until it is the color you wantPour the vinegar into the spoutStand back and watch the lava foam out of the top of your volcano.Here is a picture of one my grand daughter made.
For the educational part: Look up the ring of fire and see where all the volcanoes are, how dangerous they are, how often they erupt, and what happens when they do erupt. Makes for a fun afternoon!
For the educational part: Look up the ring of fire and see where all the volcanoes are, how dangerous they are, how often they erupt, and what happens when they do erupt. Makes for a fun afternoon!
July 20, 2014
A Moment of Silence This Week the Children on Board MH17
Every day, thousands of children die of disease, hunger, infections, poverty, the lack of clean water, and as victims of violence. All of them are senseless deaths, and the majority of those deaths can be prevented if we would just all get along. But that is not the case as we saw this week when Malaysia Air Flight MH17 was shot out of the sky.298 people were on board this flight when it was shot down over the Ukraine. We lost scholars, AIDS scientists, activists, vacationers, families, and eighty kids. Think of it
EIGHTY
children. Eighty. Infants to teenagers. Exuberantly buckling into their seats for their journey home or to a vacation destination. Not a care in the world. Probably laughing, reading, listening to music, or taking a quick nap. Some, more than likely, on their first flight, others, old hands at flying.
Then some idiot who has no care for human life fired a missile into the air and shattered all of their futures and ours.
While it is true that in the world of children 29,000 die each and every minute of each and every day, the loss of 80 in a single second might be considered by some as just another bleep on the statistical horizon, it is so much more. Who knows who those children might have become. One of them could have been the next Picasso or Mozart, Jules Verne or Nadine Gordimer, Einstein or Jonas Salk. No one knows because their lives were cut short.
So this week, I ask for a moment of silence for the loss of 80 children who loved, who had hopes, and who had dreams, and for the rest of the world who will never see the future these children could have created for us.
Then some idiot who has no care for human life fired a missile into the air and shattered all of their futures and ours.
While it is true that in the world of children 29,000 die each and every minute of each and every day, the loss of 80 in a single second might be considered by some as just another bleep on the statistical horizon, it is so much more. Who knows who those children might have become. One of them could have been the next Picasso or Mozart, Jules Verne or Nadine Gordimer, Einstein or Jonas Salk. No one knows because their lives were cut short.
So this week, I ask for a moment of silence for the loss of 80 children who loved, who had hopes, and who had dreams, and for the rest of the world who will never see the future these children could have created for us.
