Tornados and Weddings

It's been a busy news week. Horrible natural disasters and a royal wedding! I have only allowed myself to read a few new stories about both. It's these times that I'm a little bit glad I don't have cable anymore. I get too caught up in watching the news and spend way to much time on it. So I've just seen snippets here and there online.

I won't lie though I did love the footage I watched of the royal wedding. It's so silly because I don't really consider myself to be a girlie girl. I was never really into the whole princess thing as a kid. But watching Kate walk down the aisle as a normal girl and then become a princess was pretty cool to me. She looked beautiful and for just a brief moment I really wanted to be a princess too!!!

What Was She Thinking

The news has been filled with stories lately that leave me asking myself... "What Were They Thinking????" Case in point --- acid girl. Yes I know this isn't a nice name for her but it's fitting. Acid girl claimed a couple weeks ago that a black girl with slicked back hair threw some acid in her face. That's not nice! Throwing acid at someone is just darn mean if you ask me. When I first read the story I felt so bad for her. Seriously she is hearing impaired and also has been attacked by an acid thrower. How much worse can it get? Poor girl!

Yeah I don't feel so bad for her now. It seems that instead of a black girl with slicked back hair the cops should have been looking for a crazy hearing impaired girl that threw acid on her own face! Seriously who throws acid on their own face. That's worse than throwing acid on a strangers face in my opinion. I'm not a fan of acid throwing at all but really throwing acid on your own face!

What in the world was she thinking? How do you wake up one morning and just decide to throw some acid on your face? Is there a discussion that goes on in your brain? Something like "Well I could go to the pool today." "No I better not go swim today, this is throw acid on my face day." Or is it something along the lines of "I have some really bad skin." "I should get one of those skin peels so I have that fresh new skin glow." "I can't really afford that so I'll just pick up some acid and throw it on my own face!" Who throws acid on their damn face???

What Were They Thinking

Not that long ago I wrote this post about illegal adoptions. I was angry that anyone would attempt to damage the international adoption process. People probably think I'm crazy for getting so wrapped up in this but it's an issue that means more to me than anyone could probably know. Adoption is a serious topic for me! So unfortunately you get to hear another rant from mama bear!

Friday a family from the United States put their 7 year old child on an airplane with a note and sent him back to Russia. According to the family he was violent and threatening to kill the family. So they sent him back!?! There are so many things wrong with this situation that I could scream. So let's just dive in.

1. The child probably was having violent behaviors and difficulties adjusting. When you adopt older children your agency educates you on the possibility of this occurring. Older children have often been abused or neglected while waiting for their forever family. They have often experienced treatment worse than we could imagine. So psychological problems should be expected and their should be a plan in place to address them.

2. If a family wants an adoption dissolved it is not something to be taken lightly. I'm not saying this family took that decision lightly it just appears that they did not follow the proper channels to make that occur. They should have been in contact with their home agency. Through that agency they could have accessed mental health support, respite care, and even found another adoptive family if all attempts to save their family failed.

3. Who the hell puts a 7 year old on an international flight ALONE! The family has said that a stewardess was watching him and that they paid someone $200 to transport him when they got to Russia. Seriously!?! Okay a stewardess can't watch a child all the time. And paying someone to transport him that you found over the internet is so unsafe. What if it was a predator or the person you actually paid to drive the child sold him into child slavery (yes this is happening all the time!).

4. Making poor choices like this can bring ALL international adoptions to a halt. This one family put their emotions and desires ahead of thousands of other families and children. When you adopt a child you are automatically in the "adoption club". It doesn't mean you have to be a perfect parent but it means you have to be responsible and represent the adoption process well. That one very poor choice could have incredibly damaging affects on so many families and that makes me very very angry!

So to summarize. If you adopt an older child they could have problems, if you can't handle the problems get some help, if that doesn't work follow the appropriate channels for getting your child help or a new family. At no point in time should you put your child on a plane alone with a note and send them back to Russia or any other country. If you do some you will be branded by me the DUMBEST ADOPTIVE FAMILY EVER!!!!

Got it?

Healthy Habits

You know we didn't do that H1N1 vaccine. We decided to skip it and just practice healthy prevention habits. We cough into our elbows now. We also fist bumb instead of shaking hands. And most importantly we don't eat boogers! Aren't ya glad we are trying to be healthy! No flu here.

 

You Tiger

Did you all know that I have a huge love affair with Tiger Woods. It's true. I always have. In fact I hated golf before Tiger. But there is something about him that makes me watch the game in a whole new way. Oh I remember what it is about him that does that. It's his beautiful biceps and amazing smile. And I also really really adored his relationship with his father. He loved his dad! And a person that really loves and adores their parents always gets my attention.

So since I love him you would think that I would be more caught up in the Tiger drama of the last few days. But I'm not. Because honestly I don't think their should be any drama. The guy wrecked his SUV. Granted he did so in the middle of the night leaving his house but seriously he wrecked his SUV. Lots of people wreck their cars every day. This should not be on the news!!!

And in the midst of the wrecking of SUV's it comes out that he might be having an affair. And then my Tiger admits to transgressions.... And then again I wonder why is this on TV. LOTS of people have affairs every day! This should not be on the news. His name is Tiger! Did you really think he was faithful to his wife???

Is it only me that wonders why this is "news". Why is someone's driving record and stories of sexual conquests on CNN? Is there nothing else they could focus on? Did you know that World Aids Day was yesterday? Probably not because it wasn't mentioned on the major news networks because they were busy talking about Tiger. Something is very wrong with that....

Clickin Mama

The Hulk Is In the Paper

*** Update ***

Since I posted I actually got a hard copy (okay 10) of the paper and The Hulk is actually on the front page! I'm so thrilled that an adoption story got the front page! Even better yet that it happens to be our adoption story! So fun!

*** Original Post ***

Today the newspaper ran the story about The Hulk's adoption! I am really very pleased with the article and I am so very thankful to the Emporia Gazette and Brandy Nance for taking the time to share a positive adoption story! To view the story just click here. The online edition doesn't have the pictures but you all know how cute The Hulk is anyways!

Clickin Mama

Roman Polanski

Roman Polanski is making headlines once again. He has now been arrested and is being held and facing extridition back to the US to finally be held accountable for the rape of a 13 year old years ago. So why do the headlines not read "Rapist Captured" or "Rapist on the run no more"? Instead I keep seeing headlines that say things like "Flimmakers demand Polanski's release." It makes me want to throw up!!!

Seriously folks we need to take a long hard look at this. Since when does being a film maker mean you can drug and have sex with children. Since when does having a tragic incident in your life (his wife was a victim of Manson) allow you to victimize someone else? And why in the hell do we continue to allow people that are famous behave unacceptably. Just because you can make a movie does not give you the right to harm a child. It does not give you the go ahead to break the law, evade the law, and hide from the law!

I bet if we went to a prision and talked with the prisioners we could hear all kinds of stories. They could probably tell us about the tragic incidents in their lives. They could probably even tell us about some really wonderful accomplishments that they acheived prior to their incarceration. And I would even bet money that quite a few of them have family and friends that would like to demand their release. But no one has given these folks a free pass. No one has flown them to another country to live freely for years rather than face the fire for their crimes. Are we going to start giving all sex offenders a break now because they may do good things too or they may have a sad background?

Let's hope the legal system doesn't give into the hype. Let's hope that soon Roman is on a plane back here to face the music. And lets hope that this trend of excusing poor bahavior for celebrities comes to an end someday soon!

Clickin Mama

It's About Respect

We all know that I love me some Obama. I'm just a fan. Plain and simple. Do I always agree with him. Absolutely not. But do I think for the most part he is doing alright. Absolutely! However, as the health care situation heats up I am struggling. Not so much with the debate about it. I see some pros and I see some cons. I can view both sides and agree to disagree about some portions of the plan. However, I'm really struggling with the way this is being handled.

I'm horrified that Joe Wilson actually yelled during President Obama's speech last night. And I'm even more horrified that he called him a liar. Is Joe Wilson entitled to his opinion. Of course he is. Just as you and I are entitled to our opinions. But the way he spoke to the President of the United States is disgusting to me! The office of the President is bigger than one man. It represents much more to me than President Obama. In my opinion disrespecting one President is like disrespecting all Presidents. And Joe Wilson should not have done it.

I also disagree with parents refusing to allow their children to watch President Obama's speech directed towards the students in this country. What lesson did that teach their children? It taught them that if you don't agree with an authority figure you can just ignore them or brush them aside. Shame on you parents! Rather than handle it that way I would have my child watch the speech and then take the time to discuss it with them afterwards. Debate the pros and cons with your child. What a great idea, take an active parenting role with your own child! AMAZING!

It's all about respect for me. I will raise my child to respect those in authority. Does that mean you bow down to them? NO! It means you listen, and if you disagree you do so appropriately. You do not yell, you do not name call, and you do not just ignore them. Funny that we need to be teaching middle aged politicians manners isn't it? Again it's all about respect.

And as a side note. Joe Wilson if you were my son you would have had your mouth slapped for that behavior. No one in this house speaks to anyone that way and they sure as hell won't speak to the President like that! Shame on you, shame on you!

Clickin Mama

Free At Last

Laura Ling and Euna Lee are finally free and on a flight out of North Korea! What a happy day! I've been following their story since it first went public and I've been hoping and praying that our government could somehow arrange for their release. It's taken quite awhile but finally a pardon came through. Good work Bill!

Watching Lisa Ling speak about her sister these past fews months has broke my heart. I know how I love my Heather and I can't imagine not being able to help her when she needed me most. Lisa has spoken so diplomatically and handled this with such grace. I don't know if I could do that. I would want to just scream at the top of my lungs "Let my sister go". But she pushed forward and advocated for her sister and Euna in a way that I believe ultimately helped facilitate their release. Impressive and inspiring in my book!

So welcome home girls! I can't wait to hear your story!!!

Clickin Mama

Swine Flu

On April 14th, 2009 the first case of Swine Flu was detected. Since that time the media and the WHO (World Health Organization) have gone nuts! You can't turn on the TV or surf the net without seeing something about the Swine Flu. In fact it has been called a pandemic. But I really think we as a society need to reevaluate what that means.

The word pandemic according to Webster's Dictionary means: existing everywhere

Is this accurate? I don't think so. I think we need to place this type of flu in it's proper place and be realistic. I've done some research so let's look at some numbers.... ( My dad will love this! He loves numbers)


Since April 14th there have been
44 Swine Flu Deaths
125 Domestic Violence Related Homicides
120 Child Abuse Deaths
1.25 Million Deaths related to starvation

So I need someone to explain to me how Swine flu is existing everywhere yet 1.25 million people have died from starvation in the same period of time. And I need someone to explain to me why every news station is talking about the Swine Flu and not about the 145 people that have been MURDERED in the same time period in the US alone. Please someone explain to me how this is happening.

I don't give a damn about swine flu. I don't want to hear another word about swine flu. What I want to hear about is how the WHO plans to respond to the pandemic of starvation???? I want to hear the media talk about how we need to address the murder of children at the hands of their parents. Seriously, let's stop talking about the flu and start talking about a real pandemic!

Clickin Mama

Please Don't Leave Me

Okay I have always been a fan of Pink.... But this song and video really creeps me out. I'm not impressed with the message it sends at all. Not only does it make women look really pathetic but the violence sends me through the roof. If a man sang a song like this the public would be outraged but no one says anything about Pink singing it. What a horrible message to be putting out there.

Just in case you missed some of the words let me share a few of the creepiest lines with you....

I can be so mean when I wanna be
I am capable of really anything
I can cut you into pieces
But my heart is broken

Nice... I can cut you into pieces... That's a message I want a teenager hearing...

Can't you tell that this is all just a contest?
The one that wins will be the one that hits the hardest

Let's make a game out of violent relationships. That is super!

I cannot be without, you're my perfect little punching bag

Okay if Chris Brown sang that line all hell would break lose! This song gets a ton of airtime! My 12 year old neighbor was blaring it on her radio just yesterday. She knows all the words! That is incredibly bothersome to me. Am I just over reacting or does this seem inappropriate to anyone else?

A Few Thoughts

The whole Chris Brown/Rhianna situation is driving me crazy. I am so fed up with the way the media is discussing this situation. I think this is a perfect opportunity to talk to teens about domestic violence, dating violence, etc. and the media is really missing the boat. With the way the media is discussing the situation are we really as a society teaching our children appropriately about violence? I don't think so.

First the media continues to say that it was a "fight". This doesn't make sense to me. A fight is when two people are fighting with one another. A woman being choked, bitten, and punched is not a fight. That is abuse! A woman cowering in a car while a man attacks her is not a fight again that is abuse. If Rhianna had been riding home in a limo and the limo driver did these same things to her the media would say that she was attacked! They would not say she was in a fight. Let's use the correct words here.

And if I hear one more person say that it was a mistake and Chris Brown is sorry I will scream. Mistakes are when you forget to pay your phone bill, you accidentally run a red light, you lock your keys in the car. You don't mistakenly hit someone in the face. You don't mistakenly bite someone. You don't mistakenly choke someone. You make a decision to do those things. So no Chris you didn't mistakenly think your girlfriend was a sandwich and bite her. You abused her!

So instead of making excuses for dating violence and teaching teenagers that this is acceptable behavior let's get real. Let's make it clear to our children that under no circumstances is it okay to abuse another person. At no point in time is it okay to stay in a relationship with someone that hurts you. That one time is to many and that you should leave. Instead of making this a glamorous event where the solution is a fancy vacation let's get real and talk about what services this young couple needs to utilize to move forward in a safe and healthy way. Let's be responsible adults and use this as an opportunity to teach our kids a lesson.

And seriously don't call it a fight!