Do You Remember Me?

I was the girl that nobody looked at. I was the girl that everyone avoided at lunch. I was the girl that just wanted to make a friend. You never gave me a chance even though I tried. I tried to sit by you at lunch, I laughed at some of your antics in the classroom, but still you never knew I was there. Do you remember me?

Did you see that artwork for your pep rally? You all said how beautiful it looked. You could not believe the detail that went into making that incredible piece. Do you remember me now? I was the one standing all alone at the football games and in gym class. I was the one that was last to be picked on any teams or for a class project. Do you remember me now?

I was the one you ignored when walking home. I was the one that just wanted to fit in with everyone. I just wanted a friend to share my secrets with and help me adjust to the new school and community. I was the one that sat up at night longing for my phone to ring with an invite to the big party everyone was going to.

Do you remember me now? I had long brown hair with a beautiful smile and a friendly outlook. I was the one that nobody wanted anything to do with, but I tried. Do you remember me now? I sat all alone watching the world go by, but I was not a part of it. Remember, I was the one that got hit in the face with the soccer ball and everyone laughed instead of seeing if I was okay.

Do you remember that girl that killed herself by cutting her wrists while her parents were away? Schoolmates said they never knew her or even knew that she went to their school. Do you remember me now? I was that girl. All I wanted was a friend to talk to. I wanted to be your friend. All you had to do was say one word to me and I would have felt better about myself.

I felt unwanted and thought I would never find a friend. I thought life was horrible and I did not want to live without a friend. I could not live knowing I was a horrible person that no one wanted to be friends with or talk to. Do you remember me now? My funeral was yesterday. I had my family come to the funeral and a few teachers. I know they had counselors for you to talk to, but you did not need them because you did not even know me or that I was alive. Remember me now?

If you know someone that needs a friend or someone that nobody talks to, take the time to say hello or how are you before you never get another chance to show him or her that you see them and no they are there.

Spring Break Is Sneaking Up

Spring break has always been a time for families to start their travels or plan some things to do that everyone enjoys. If you have no travel plans in mind, the kids might need something else to do. Although television is a good pastime, you probably want something a little more structured for the kids to do. Kids crafts are fun and exciting for everyone if you plan for the right crafts to do.

Since Easter is coming around the corner, you could plan some crafts for the kids to do. They might make some windows decorations or plan for a future day in May such as May Day. The kids could make little May Day baskets out of construction paper with a handle. You could put some soft material inside such as the Easter basket material and a few pieces of hard candy.

When May Day comes along, the kids could go around the neighborhood placing the baskets on people's doorknobs. This is a tradition done in my city and neighborhood by the preschool/daycare center two blocks down. The kids have so much fun running up to doors and leaving a little treat.

One thing that is also nice during spring break to do is packing up unused clothing and toys for donating to the local organizations. This is one way parents can teach kids about giving to those less fortunate. Kids do learn a valuable lesson when looking for things to donate.

Take the kids to the local mini golf course or for the older kids, you might take them to a indoor paintball field for some exciting fun. Take the kids roller skating or to a local water park for a day of fun.

There are so many things you can plan to do during spring break that do not cost very much money if any. Take the time to plan something the kids could do and you will be happier as well.

When Is The Last Time You When Paintballing

If you have a desire to play games, you will enjoy the game of paintball. You will have many different paintball markers to choose from such as Spyder paintball guns, Bob Long markers and Tippmann paintball guns. If you are looking for an affordable place to find the paintball markers or accessories, take a good look at this online paintball store.

You will never be able to imagine the fun you can have when you go paintballing. For those of you who need paintball accessories or even some parts for upgrading, the Ultimate Paintball has an online paintball store that has everything you need to get started with free shipping.

The Spyder Pilot ACS is a paintball marker that is making the mark. Paintballers are finding the lightweight marker an exceptional piece of equipment on the field. The Tippmann 98 Custom is another popular marker that has the precision to hit your mark every time. Both markers are available at the Ultimate Paintball online paintball store with free shipping.

If you are looking for the perfect paintball marker, check out the online paintball store to see what markers they have available and all the accessories you need to have a great day of paintballing.

These Kids Are Trained In Drowning Prevention

Something very amazing is how children as young as six months can learn to survive a fall into a pool. I recently had the opportunity to watch a video of children that can fall in a pool and maneuver their bodies upwards so they are on their backs with their faces out of the water. I wanted to share this video with everyone because this accident happened to me when my daughter was 2 ½ years old.

I told her and her brother to sit on the edge of the pool until I returned. When I came back, my son was on the side sitting watching his sister in the water. She was on her back treading water trying to keep her face out of the water. She never had this training, but what she did, kept her alive. I would ask anyone with children, watch this video and see how kids so young can help themselves stay afloat and alive if they fall into a pool.


INCREDIBLE VIDEO!!! Take the time to watch here

I Am A New Postie With PayPerPost

The reason I signed up as a Postie is that I think that advertising on the Internet is important for everyone. If there were no way to get the information out about new services and products, the Internet would be useless. Advertising is a way for al of us to help others spread the word about products and services. PayPerPost is a great way for me to contribute to the Internet and let people know about opportunities that are available.

I enjoy writing and visiting sites that have new products and services available, so who better to write a PayPerPost article but me. I am happy to inform people of new things that will make their lives easier. I will enjoy making money for the post that I write and place on my blog. It is just another way I can earn some extra money to keep my blog running while giving people some great information.

I have found PayPerPost easy to work with and the available opportunities are endless it seems. I look forward to a long and engaging relationship with PayPerPost as one of their Posties. I heard about PayPerPost from a friend on the Internet, so word is already spreading through me.

Coping With High-Functioning Autism and Its’ Effects on Our Family

"I have a guest writer today who is the mother of a child with Autism. Liz is a great writer and mother with more courage and strenght then most."

By: Elizabeth Tabian-Sosin

My son, Matthew, who is now 13-years-old, was diagnosed with Autism when he was 3-years-old. This was something of a shock for me, as I was a single parent at the time. Fortunately, I had the support of my parents, who just doted on their grandson, and didn’t seem to mind helping to take care of him.

I say “take care” because that was one of the major problems. No daycare facility wanted him. Oh, they would say that they could take care of him, but would always find some absurd reason to get him to leave their care. So, for nearly 10 years, my parents helped to care for him. They would get him ready for school, feed him breakfast, and tend to all of his needs while I worked. This, of course, impacted their ability to do anything for themselves.

If he was off from school, they had to put their plans on hold to take care of him. They would have to take him everywhere with them. This, fortunately, was never a real problem for them. Matt loved to spend time with his Grandma and Grandpa. According to my Dad, it was always pretty easy with Matt. They established a simple routine with him, with very few problems. You couldn’t drag him to 20 stores, but if they established that routine, it was never a problem. My Dad specifically said that they wouldn’t take him to some place that would completely bore Matt to death, like a department store. They usually would keep it pretty simple, often including his favorite restaurant, Culvers. A simple consequence, a simple solution.

It was hard for me, though, to take him anywhere. I was afraid he’d act up and people would stare. He wasn’t always high-functioning, and sometimes his behavior was unexplainable. As he grew older, though, this changed. Mostly, in part, due to the great work his team at school did with him. Also, in part, due to the relationship he had/has with my husband, Chris.

We have been able to take him many different places, where normally, we might not have been able to. We’ve gone to Chicago, Navy Pier, all of the various Museums, the Botanical Gardens, as well as the Children’s Museum. We try to structure the outings around what Matt’s interests are, or what we think might prove interesting. Our current concern is usually the hormonal aspect of his behavior. So, sometimes we have to limit our interactions with groups of people that contain large numbers of young ladies.

All in all, his impact on the family structure is minimal. We have to make little changes to our routines, but it usually works. Our main problem is in his interactions with his older stepbrother. Sometimes, they fight a lot, because of the age difference. However, it is mostly the fact that his stepbrother often expects things from him that only a normal child could actually accomplish. Since things have started to go a bit easier lately, we are finding it much easier to cope with it all. In addition, as I finish this, my son and stepson are getting ready to collaborate on some of Matt’s homework. How about that?

Liz has many articles published on Autism here

Finding Love After A Divorce

Many people think that after divorce they need to take care of the kids and concentrate on just the kids. The sad part about this type of thinking is you are going to be lonely and the kids will sense this even if you try to hide it. Dating after divorce is something everyone needs to experience when the time is right.

You do not have to rush out and find a date, but you can meet new people and other single parents in the most familiar places. School activities, volunteer groups and even at the gym. Many single parents take their kids to places where they will meet other parents and the kids have a good time as well.

If you do not keep an open mind and realize that not everyone is like your ex, you are going to be all alone. The kids will sense your loneliness more than you think. Try things with the kids and see whom you meet. You might meet someone that is just as lonely as you are.

Making A Diaper Cake The Easy Way

If you are planning a baby shower or no someone who is, you will find this video instruction very helpful. I found this video and decided this was what I wanted to do for my daughter-in-law. To my amazement and every one else, I make a beautiful diaper cake.

I received so many compliments and decided that if I could do this, then anyone can. My specialty in the kitchen is beef stew and homemade meatballs. However, I managed to make a diaper cake because the video was very helpful and full of tips. I especially liked the close shots and the detail that is explained.

I have seen many pictures on the Internet about how to make the diaper cake, but never any videos. This diaper cake video does work and anyone can do it with the help of the video.

Should you let your teenage son or daughter date at the age of thirteen?

Many parents are finding themselves wondering what the right answer is to this question. The first thing is that girls that are age thirteen or younger should not be dating and neither should boys. Boys and girls are at a vulnerable age and have no idea what dating really is or what should or should not be done.

Playing basketball with the girl next door is one thing, but dating is something that should come when the kids reach a responsible age. Fifteen and up is a good age to start dating. By this time, boys and girls are more aware of their own sexuality and know what they should not do.

Even at the age of fifteen, kids need some guidance as to what they can do and what they should not do. More parents need to sit down with children and discuss sex, dating and life in general. If this is not communicated, kids will learn it from other kids that may be doing exactly what you do not want your fifteen-year-old doing.

Kissing is one thing, but doing other sexual acts is not only unhealthy, it is going to lead to more complications if a pregnancy happens. If kids want to date, they should be ask to wait until they understand the opposite sex more and have some responsibility for their actions.

Did You Rush Out To See Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus: Best of Both World's Concert

The rush was on, Disney announced that the movie Hannah Montana starting Miley Cyprus would only be shown for one week. Parents and kids spent $31.3 million to see the highly awaited debut of this now famous teen idol. The lines were horribly long and the crowds were like the day after Thanksgiving. If you were lucky to get in the first time you stood in line great, otherwise you had to come back and try again.

Yes, I have watched her show because my niece is so into Hannah Montana that I needed to see what it was all about and judge for myself. Until that first day, I never knew what the show was about or that she was Billy Ray Cyrus's daughter. He plays on the show as well. Now that was my thrill. Yes, it seems to be a great show and the amazing thing is, every young girl wants to be her.

Well, back to the movie. It is still in the theaters for everyone to see. This was evidently a master plan by Disney to sell out in the first week. They succeeded and now the ones that missed it the first week can see it in the second week. So, if your child is upset because they missed Hannah Montana, you can make sure they see it this week or just watch the TV show and wait for it to come out on DVD and buy it so they can watch it over and over again.

I would suggest that everyone check the TV show out at least once to see what all the hype is about with Hannah Montana.

Allowing Kids To Play Outside In A Blizzard

Snow is great for kids and they love to play outdoors. What if the outside conditions are blizzard likes conditions with a visibility of zero? Recent snow today has pretty much shut down the city I live in and I was looking at pictures people summated to a local newspaper where kids are running around outside, running across roads where they cannot be seen. I myself feel this is as dangerous as letting them walk to school in these conditions.

People are told to stay off the roads and stay home. This should include kids. There is a reason everything shut down. The weather was horrible, but some people still thought it was all right for kids to be outside. I tried as hard as I could to keep my dogs in the house because the snowfall was at 12 inches and it was still a blizzard going on. Parents need to think before allowing children to go outside during hazardous conditions.

If a child would get hurt and not be able to get home, they would be buried in snow in no time. Send the kids into the yard and keep an eye on them. If something happens, at least you know where they were last seen.

When A Pet Dies, Children Feel The Pain

My seven-year-old niece had a twelve-year-old dog named Jake. He died last week and she wanted to have funeral. She told my sister, her mom that she wanted all the aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews to come up north to her house for a funeral. My sister tried very hard and finally made her understand that this was not possible.

She accepted the fact that we could not attend the funeral, but asked us all to say good-bye to Jake from where we live. We all did as she asked. I sent her a sympathy card I found after an hour of looking. There are not many cards for one to send to someone, especially a child when they lose their beloved pet.

It hurt her that her dog died and I wanted to send her a card so she new I was thinking about her and Jake. Maybe the card companies should think about kids and their pets when they make sympathy cards. It has to be kind, yet something they can relate to as well. When a pet dies, kids have a hard time no matter what type of pet it is.

Jake had a private funeral. He is now in heaven with his other dog and cat cousins. I said this to her in a card and I know she smiled.

Cold Weather And School Kids

The snow has been hitting areas hard this winter as well as the bitter cold. Should your child walk to school in cold weather and blowing snow? This is something everyone thinks about when they send the kids out the door. Schools use discretion when canceling school or delaying it for a few hours, but do they have the best interest of the child in mind or do they worry about school days.

Schools need to think about kids first, then learning or meeting state requirements. There are schools that think about the kids and close school when appropriate, but some just delay school, which delays everyone it seems. When day care centers close, those who work have nowhere to go with their children and miss work. Some are penalized for this and some are not bothered by it.

One would have to think that kids that are home schooled have an advantage over kids that need to brave the elements and find their way to school. They seem to thrive just as well as children going to public schools and they do not have to endanger their safety.

This is one opinion, but I think parents need to have the option of sending kids to school in bad weather or not. They can call the teachers, see what is being studied and have the kids do the work at home.

Do you agree or disagree with this way of thinking?