But on April 16, Jaheem appeared happy when he came home from school with a glowing report card. It may have been a glimmer of hope for his mother Masika Bermudez that her darling boy may have found peace with the situation. But later that evening, when her calls for him to come to dinner were not answered, she and Jaheem’s sister went up to his bedroom and found his body in a closet hanging by a belt.

This, just weeks after another 11-year-old boy, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, from Massachusetts, took his own life after relentless taunts by his peers.

What most surprised me is that DeKalb County, Georgia has what experts called an “exemplary” anti-bullying program in place that included an awareness program and a specially trained staff member to address the issue. Kids even were asked to sign a no-bullying pledge.

So what went wrong? And what can we, as parents, do to stop our child from bullying or being bullied, since we cannot rely simply on our schools?

Here’s yet another resource, a free Bully Reporting Site powered by www.BullyStoppers.com where parents and students can provide details of bullying situations. And, here is an example what the reports look like. The anonymous bully reporting is designed to help students who suffer from bullying, decrease behaviors that build over time and lead to violent outbursts, create a deterrent effect against bullying in a school or bus, and prevent embarrassing students who report problems.

Will it help? Who knows. The U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center seems to think that such a system could have prevented many of the countless school shootings over the years. Regardless, a workable solution must be found before another child kills himself.

Photo, Flickr, sarah bara wears mascara

Post from: Blisstree

Suicides Question Anti-Bullying Programs

Easter Gnome: gay or straight?

Rick fills me in. Lambert is that effeminate guy who did a smack-down incredible but controversial rendition of Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire a few weeks back. Because I hadn’t watched the show, I was not familiar with his music (Rick has to stay up on it since he has to discuss each week’s episode on his morning snow) so I turned over to YouTube. I love-loved Ring of Fire but Lambert’s version of Tears for Fears’ Mad World wrapped my inner child in a blanket of warm, softened butter. I want to wear that song like a Pashmina, it is so breathlessly beautiful.

And this insane fuss about “What if he is gay?” Who. Cares.

Which brings me to the Easter Gnome.

Rick’s folks came to town yesterday for Easter lunch and brought Truman a bag of goodies. In it was a gnome blowing a kiss that MIL suggested he could put in our garden. (I’m thinking a hawk might fly off with it in the next week or so if we’re lucky … or crafty.) As Truman pulls the gnome out of the gift bag, my sweet MIL whispers to me that she and FIL poured through the encyclopedias at their house to make sure that gnomes were not a sign of “gayness.” FIL apparently had the notion, and giving such a gift would crack their strong Southern Baptist foundation. I told her I had never heard of such, but even so, who cares? Not me.

Let’s say Truman some how sprouts up through our family tree and collects genes from among the branches of those who lived (or hid) the alternative lifestyle before us, then so be it. I will love him and accept him, always and forever. As long as he is happy, that’s all that should matter. 

(photo, JWJourney)

Post from: Blisstree

Idol’s Adam Lambert and the Easter Gnome

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit seeking to strike down a new law that bans any unmarried person who lives with a partner from serving as an adoptive or foster parent in the state of Arkansas.

You know – I understand that we have SO many kids who need good homes. There are many kids who are left abandoned and unwanted. I just don’t get why – if an adult has a job and can provide all the basic human needs for a child, why would anyone be denied the right to raise a child? To care for a child who may otherwise have no one?

Now there are times when the ACLU steps in and stirs the pot on issues that I just find to be a bit asinine! For instance, don’t tell me if I run a business that caters to the public that I can’t say “Merry Christmas” if I want to. If my customers don’t like it, let them take note and not return to my establishment in the future.

If I my kids want to bow their heads and pray at school, they should be entitled to do so.

To me there is a big difference between living and thriving day-to-day and simply acting on my rights as a human being living in a free country.

What do you think? Should anyone be denied the right to adopt of foster a child just because they may not be married or even worse yet, dare I say, Gay?

Source

Post from: Blisstree

And why is the ACLU so important again?

Did you see the episode? Do you think daddy Swanson is gay and trying to hide it?

It’s very sad seeing a number of families dividing because one parent has been trying to cover up their true sexual preferences and in turn making the entire family miserable.

To be honest, that was the least of my thoughts on Daddy Swanson – being in a blended family myself – with two little guys that adore their stepfather, I could feel the pain of the two oldest children.

I’m a kids and family first kinda gal all the way. I truly believe, and am living proof, that when you put your children and family first – everything else just seems to fall into place.

That means making decisions based on how it might impact your kids or your family. You can’t make the wrong decision when you do it with complete selflessness.

Thoughts?

Out of respect for the Swanson Family, comments to this post are now officially closed.  Please visit this post for updated information and continued conversation

Post from: Blisstree

Is he gay?