Effects Of Early Learning

I have always been big on "teach your children as much as you can at an early age", but how much does it really help them in the future? Are they getting an early start to a successful life? I like to think so.

I started reading to Kylee before she was born. I would sing to her and read bedtime stories while she was still in the womb. Today, she is a happy,curious little reader who has her own personal at-home library. I started pointing out colors and shapes everywhere we went once she turned about 18 months. I would ask her everyday what colors things were and until a few months ago, she really wasn't sure. That means that it took 1 year (or close to it) before she remembered and could recite all of them by name, I feel as though this happens to a lot of parents and they give up thinking it is not helping. I believe young children absorb all of the information they are told, and when they are ready, they will share it with you.

I have been doing MotherGoose preschool curriculum with my daycare kids and it amazes me everyday at how much they are learning. We have this fun days of the week song and all but a few of my younger children I have can now recite the days of week-in the correct order. That is pretty impressive for 2-4 year olds! Kylee also has learned how to spell her name-I am one proud mommy!

So, do you believe teaching these basic concepts at an early age has a big impact in their future? I think if more parents took the time and were patient, they would be amazed with the results of their little learners!

Here is a photo I took of the President's Day masks my daycare kids did last week. They learned all about President Lincoln! I wish I would have got a picture of them holding them up to their faces-they all looked so cute. :)

Facing Our Facebook

Well, it saddens me that I wrote an entire blog last weekend and it has somehow disappeared! I will come back and finish this (again) tomorrow. Things that make you say, hmmmmm? MMMM

Has Casey Anthony Started An Epidemic?

Every day I see news strories that involve young children who go missing, are kidnapped, or murdered. It breaks my heart to know that the majority of these unthinkable tragedies happen at the hands of their own parents. What would ever cause a person to harm a child, ESPECIALLY their own child? Are the laws that cover these crimes not doing enough to protect our children? If you ask me, I would say no, they are not. Something needs to change-now.

Last summer, I sat (along with many others across the nation) and watched the trial of Casey Anthony. She was accused of killing her own 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, and throwing her into the woods like a piece of trash. Caylee was missing from June 2008 through December 2008 when her body was finally found. The evidence all pointed to her mother, yet somehow a panel of 12 jurors found her "not guilty". I remember staring at my computer, in complete disbelief as the verdict was read. I felt sick to my stomach. I never knew little Caylee, but I wanted so badly for her to get the justice she deserved. Instead, Casey walks free, patiently waiting for the first multi-million dollar interview deal to come her way. She will become wealthy, and worst of all, "famous" for murdering her innocent child. What influence has this made on other preditors and parents who want to "get rid" of their children?

After Casey Anthony was aquitted, I began to hear more and more stories with all too familiar similarities. Take a look at Nancy Grace's Facebook page. It seems like there is at least one child who goes missing every week. Many of the parents have the same story that Casey had: "I don't know what happened to him/her". Days, weeks, and months often go by with no clues to the events that led to the chlid's disappearance. We all know that as time passes, the opportunity to gather important evidence also passes. Without enough evidence, the murderers will walk free, just as Casey did.

So, what can we do? First off, I think the double jepardy law needs to be changed. Why can't a person, who was previously aquitted of murder, go back on trial if new evidence is found? I don't care how much money is spent of tax-payers money. Don't we want these monsters put away so they are never able to harm another child? I would hope so. Secondly, maybe the laws surrounding child abduction and murder need to be changed. There should be stiffer penalties put in place. In my opinion, automatic death penalty for a crime involving the death of a child might be just what this country needs.  Whatever it is, something needs to be done.

Here is a picture of beautiful little Caylee Anthony. Gone but never forgotten. Many people are still fighting for your rights every day, Caylee. You have created a movement. R.I.P baby girl.

What I Hope To Be

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."  ~Tenneva Jordan

Even as a very young child, I recognized the selflessness my mother possessed. For almost 20 years, she put her dreams on the backburner to raise my five siblings and myself. My oldest sister is 37, and the youngest child is my 19 year old brother. I remember her coming home from her job at a local factory every day, greeting each of us with a hug and a warm smile. She never complained.  She attended every school play, was the family cook, and our personal "taxi" as she liked to call it.

After my grandmother passed away, my mother become the full time caregiver for my grandfather. There were 12 other siblings in her family, but without hesitation, my mother stepped up. She would bring him groceries, keep his bills in order, and make sure his health checks were always up to date.

During this time, my mother finally decided to do something for herself. She went back to college to pursue a career in Nursing. She never told us she had wanted to be a nurse, but I immediately knew she would be wonderful at it. After all, she had raised six children (practically on her own), been the caregiver for my grandmother while she was sick, and taken care of my grandfather when he no longer had my grandmother to do so. My brother, sister, and I were all still attending school when my mother started college.

I remember smelling the coffee brewing at 5 am every day, hearing soft whispers  as she flipped through her medical terms before a big test, seeing her pace back and forth through the kitchen every night as she tried to correlate a plan how she was going to juggle work, kids, school, and life at home. She never let on that she was scared or worried and always made sure me and my siblings were taken care of before anything else. It took three years, but she graduated on the dean's list with top honors. I have never been so proud of her and never seen her so happy.

With her nursing degree, my mother went on to do what she was "meant" to do. She works for a nursing home taking care of elderly people in the last days, weeks, and months of their lives. I went to visit her the other day and seen her crying. One of the elderly women she took care of and became very close to, passed away . When I asked her why she does what she does she simply answered "Because I want to make their last days as wonderful as I can.". I hope someday I can be as selfless and caring as she is.