Healing the bullies hurts and hearts

      I want to touch on the ugly topic of bullying.
Why do children feel the need for power  when they reach a certain age? Is it because they have none at home? Granted in high school where my oldest son attended  puberty and popularity ruled. Not much different from when I attended high school and you were labeled by everyone as being either popular, the punks or the jocks.
 My son who was a sophomore and in a band didn't dress much different than his peers he chose to have long hair and  was verbally abused with sexual innuendos thrown across the lunchroom and within teachers ears.
 When this was brought to the attention of the principal and the counselor the boys were not confronted but instead, my son had to write all the humiliating words and actions down on a piece of paper for documentation. It was disgraceful that the boys who had done this had more power even in this situation then my son. They were brought to the office only after my son had written his complaint and as most if not every child accused of doing or saying something wrong,fully denied anything to do with the situation. This went one for three months,fighting with the school,trying to get someone to do something and my son getting more and more depressed.Mornings were difficult as he stayed in bed and told me he wasn't going to school,even though I pleaded with him for hours at a time.
 Finally,  on his 17th birthday, he told us he was not returning to school. How could we blame him after all went on,the school frowned on us,I could not believe how insensitive they were at school and how easy it was to turn a blind eye.
Today our son is a well-mannered and talented young man who  goes out of his way to help people. He is very successful in his music career and we are proud. He  got through some serious depression  with lots of love from his family and friends he has started healing.
 Our youngest  daughter who is now 12  started getting bullied in 2nd grade, same situation. The vice  principal was a tyrant and barely even acknowledged there was anything wrong. My child started losing weight, stopped eating and barely slept. Without going into details we pulled her out at the end of the year with some medical problems due to being bullied and having an  anxiety disorder, she is now in her fourth  year of being home schooled.
    Both my children have extremely large hearts and were taught to love others,they were merely in the wrong place at the wrong time. Our daughter was picked on verbally for being petite. Such nonsense.This must stop!
I work with animals and have owned a dog walking company in my area for over 12 years now. My goal is to try to bring dogs into the school to heal the riff between bullies and children. Whether they have special needs,ADHD,ADD,  are shy ,suffer from anxiety. Also to bring compassion into the schools to show bullies that in a dogs world everyone is treated with respect and love. Compassion needs to be taught and brought back into our schools. Many children who bully are lonely,feel unloved and helpless.Maybe there is no one to talk to about their problems or their day. Many parents have to work today to make ends meet and so family life is on the back burner. I desperately want to start a program and be involved in making a change to end the vicious cycle of bullying. 

We are coming to the end of our first week of fourth grade

What a blessing to be able to freely home school this year, last year compared to doing virtual  education and boy was it like being in prep school. 
Third grade to me was fun and memorable but not to our daughter who was recently diagnosed with ADHD and asbergers. We have had quite a two year struggle with understanding her many wonderful qualities as well as quirks(being over stimulated and sensory sensitive) that can make a day quite interesting.
  Our first decision to home school was due to Maddy being made fun of in second grade and afraid to go to school because the adults as she put it were not helping at all.I don't remember children being so cruel and rough in judgement.
   I am thankful for the choice to home school,my husband was not a big fan when my older children were small,but because we are older and times have changed he has been very receptive.
  Getting back to our week,so far we are doing some multiplication reviews from last year as well as simple spelling and story writing. Our favorite thing so far is reading and reviewing the stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder,clearly she was home schooled and look how wonderful and adventurous her life was. My daughter can relate to Laura as a young girl and we have tried some of the cooking recipes such as butter making and biscuit cutting which resulted in some yummy eating.

I hope to inspire other mothers and fathers to not be afraid of home school to know most of all your children could benefit from finding out who they are and who they will become through love,guidance and perseverance using the life skills you will be teaching them. 

Finding your child's passion through activities

    This year has totally opened my eyes to the great things that come with home schooling.Our daughter is in fourth grade and wow are we busy! but we remain focused on what is important,supporting her love for swimming and wanting to go to the Olympics one day.
    After spending many hours at our pool this summer Maddy has asked when she can swim with her coach and teammates  back at the local YMCA..
 Over the past few summers we noticed how much our daughter enjoyed swimming and how it seems to come easy to her. It also is one thing that helps her relax and cope with her ADHD.The water is also a good sensory calmer as the pressure helps her feel secure.. Being nine she has already found her passion and it's a skill she can treasure forever..

Best Dog Breeds for families

So you are ready to get that perfect pet for your child. You have waited patiently for the right time and the right age. What is the right age for you to get a puppy? Will your child be old enough for all the responsibility? Time is a major factor as well,will you have enough time during your busy schedules to make certain your dog gets the right amount of exercise?
 I had a client ask me not too long ago what the best types of dogs are for children and here are some that made the list. Golden retrievers were high on the list, they are very loving and loyal. Next comes the Pembroke welsh corgi and the schnauzer.
At about 25 pounds, the Pembroke Welsh corgi is a popular pet. This stocky short tailed breed needs daily exercise and loves romping with the kids. They are best with older kids (over 6 or 7 years) as some dogs can be bossy and possessive. Following behind is the red Irish setter sweet and gentle and always eager to please.
 The schnauzer is also a wonderful family pet. Eager to please and to keep the family safe, this breed usually requires regular grooming and daily exercise. This breed thrives on human companionship and is available in three different sizes. Rounding out the final three are the poodle, the bischon frise and the Labrador retriever.
 Make sure to do your homework before bringing home any pet,they are a lot of responsibility. Make certain you can afford to feed and take care of medical bills as puppies and adult dogs require shots as well as spaying and neutering. You may also need to think about which ones need the most grooming which must be done in order to have a healthy pet. Whatever your decision good luck and may you have a wonderful and loving addition to your family.

When your pets are jealous of a new relationship

It may be hard to imagine pets having such a "human" emotion as jealousy, but like children, pets can find it difficult to share their owner's attention and affection with not only a new lover, but also a lover's pet. Many animal behaviorists agree that pets might not actually get jealous, but they react to the changes that a new person can bring. Pets may display their displeasure with new loved ones by exhibiting behaviors ranging from the annoying to the alarming.Cats can show their stress and unhappiness with a new situation by becoming distant and dogs may start biting, excessive barking or growling at the unwelcome newcomer. They may urinate on your new honey's favorite chair to let them know who's in charge, or cats may scratch the newcomers hand.
If your pet is "jealous," time and space could be the best remedy. Introducing a new pet and/or a new person into the home, even if it is just for short regular visits, can upset a pet's sense of well-being. They are territorial and get bent out of shape if they feel their space is being invaded. If the pet's displeasure is directed at another pet, make the introduction gradually over time. Keep them in separate areas at first and then slowly move them closer so they can get used to each other.To help with the transition, never punish a pet for the bad behavior. Visit the vet to rule out any physical problems. For dogs, create or try sticking to routines such as taking a walk at certain times. If your pet is used to hanging out on your bed, set up a new routine of playing with them in a different part of the home, so they won't feel abandoned if your new loved one spends the night.New relationships may mean less time spent with your pet. Shower them with love and extra attention and make the most of the time you do spend with them. This can reassure the pet that they are still wanted. Enlisting the services of a pet behaviorist can also provide some relief to the situation.