The hollidays

     I think I found out what is wrong with the world today.

     We are a society filled about worrying about tomorrow instead of today, now this is my reason for thinking this way.

     Back in the middle of August I took my 2 children Dustin 10 and Cassandra 8 out to get their school supplies and a new school outfit, but what I saw sickened me. All the stores around here, like I’m sure they do everywhere were using their store front windows for advertising. On this day in August we saw much more than we bargained for. On one side of the window display and that side of the store was filled with back to school. The windows were painted with school books pencils apples and desk’s, the other side of the window as well as the store was decked out in Halloween, yes that’s right I said it. The middle of August and on one side of the store we could get everything we needed for Halloween, costumes, make up house decorations, skeletons and ghosts.  

     Are you kidding me? Here people are concerned about getting enough money together so that their children could go to school feeling confident and here are all these stores reminding the children as well as kids that Halloween is right around the corner, well almost. See they skipped right over Labor Day, and what ever happened to Thanks giving? Instead of skeleton’s ghosts and grave yards don’t you think we should take some time to think about and celebrate what Thanks giving is about instead of just passing over it?

     Last week I had to go and do some regular shopping for your everyday needs. I had to go to the grocery store, Wal-Mart and the Dolor store. Again what I saw shocked me although it shouldn’t have it really did and it really bothered me. All the school supplies that were all up in the front of the stores were moved back to make room for you guessed it Halloween, but worse than that only half the section was filled with Halloween, the other half was filled or being filled with Christmas decorations. But I think the most disturbing thing I saw that day was when I went to the bank, did you know that inside my local bank branch already they have a Christmas tree, not just a tree but one that was fully decorated complete with Santa Clause sitting in a sleigh under the tree.

     This bothered me for more than one reason, first off it bothered me that here we are not even at October first and here the banks are already cramming Christmas down our throats. We live on a small island and jobs are scarce most people here worry about living day to day and here the bank is already getting people to worry and get scarred about how they are going to make Christmas happen for their kids, I just don’t think it’s right.

     But the biggest problem I have with all this is not the fact that people are already decorating for these holidays but that they are forgetting about the important ones in between. I mean in August yes we have to think about school, but in September shouldn’t we also take the time to recognize what happened that horrible, horrible day 10 years ago. September 11 2001. I’m not even from the United States and I am very fortunate to say that on that nightmare of a day I personally don’t know of anybody who perished then, but I do firmly believe that, that day should be put aside in remembrance of not only all those who lost their lives that day or their family but we should also be thinking about all the brave men and woman who have enlisted in the army just because of what happened that day. In October time should be taken out so that people can think about what truly is important, their family friends, health and having a great time. In November we celebrate Remembrance Day. In this house anyway it is treated and respected as it should everywhere. We wake up early watch the Ottawa celebrations and observe 2 separate moments of silence. One for 11:00 am in the maritime's and again at 11:00 am Ottawa time. We then spend the day as a family and talk about how lucky we are not to be in the middle of any war zone, we talk about the 2 world wars and teach our kids about the wars now in Afghanistan and Iraq. We tell them that if it weren’t for those brave men during the world wars then we would have nothing.

     So this is why I am so pissed off. I believe if you’re going to be decorating months in advance for the “commercial holidays then the stores and people as a whole should at least show a little respect and put something up in their display windows to remind us about all the other and family oriented holidays should also be displayed. This is just my opinion, but I must say it really does make me sick thinking about what kind of message we are sending our children.

What is it with kids today?

     What is it with kids today?

     When I was a child I could easily amuse myself with any simple little toy. In fact my favorite was the old toys we use to get in the McDonalds happy meals and dinky cars. For hours I would build a city out of playing cards, use my comforter like a mountain and be content to play all day long. I was set. Whenever I got the latest toy or newest game I would play with that for hours to. What I am trying to say is that when I was a kid we had to find ways to entertain ourselves, and the toys back then are nowhere as good as they are today.

     I understand with each generation the toys get better and better, but now it seems like there is a lack to choose from. My 10 year old only wants electronics. He wants an i pad, an i phone and a cell phone. My 8 year old is following in the same steps. I try to give my kids everything I can, for that reason Dustin has 2 guitars and Cassandra has 2 pianos. They both have their own cordless microphone and a whole room devoted to just playing with instruments, unfortunately they just gave up 3 years worth of music lesson’s said they didn’t want it any more.

     On top of that they both own almost 2000 Lego pieces and can create anything from a car to a space ship to an entire pirate army as we also have pirates of the Caribbean Lego set. My son (who loves to build) also has 3 or 4 different K’nex sets with motors that I am positive he could create anything he put his mind to and 4 different car models to put together. My daughter has everything and more then you can imagine of littlest pet shop series along with whatever she needs to make enough bracelets to last her a lifetime. She to also has many things to build with and many, many craft supplies.

     Along with all the toys inside we also have an acre of land in which they are basically able to do with what they choose. We have a steep hill in the back the only problem is its covered in bushes, the hill would be great for tobogganing or snowboarding yet they refuse to go out and cut down what they need. We are also surrounded by trees and a large forest in the back. We have a ton of scrap wood in the yard and told them go build a fort, a tree house, go build something. To date all they have done is just move the wood from where it was out of the way to where it is in the way. The middle of our front yard. Another thing they own that I would have loved as a kid is their very own van. We had an old van that didn’t work any more so we parked it in the yard and said “Here you guys can use this to have fun in.” Do you think they spend any time in it? The answer is no they don’t.

     So I ask again why is it when I was a kid I could have hours upon hours of fun playing with the simplest of toys and yet our kids own nearly everything under the sun and if they’re not playing those damn video games all I hear is, “I’m bored I’m bored. We have nothing to do.”

     What is wrong with our kids today?

Update on our new life.

   Okay time for an update.

   It’s been two weeks since my little brother moved in with me and I am very happy to say that it seems like all the kids are adjusting fine. Sure they have their moments but kids always do. We sat them down the other day when everybody’s frustration level was at its highest and had a family meeting. During the meeting both Dustin and Cassandra were able to speak their minds. They were happy to finally be able to express their feelings and opinion’s. It’s an adjustment, but one that I think is going very well all things considered. Cody was also able to speak his mind and express to us what he was use to so now I am trying to incorporate that into our daily routines. After the meeting each of the kids came up to my husband and myself and said thank you. They really needed to get a couple things off their chest and we worked out a few issues we were having.

   In school Dustin has begun playing the baritone in the grade 5 band, Cassandra is happy that she will finally be able to join the school choir, and Cody, well I am amazed at just how well he seems to be doing. He is waking up in time for school, getting his homework done and then he enjoys playing with the kids.

   Like I said it is a big adjustment and to be honest I don’t think I knew what I was getting myself into but now things are starting to slow down and life is returning to its new normal I am happy to say I am pretty sure that this move was great for all involved. I still struggle with not enough time in the day, but I am getting better. Besides I think time is something I will always struggle with.

   Now that the school year is on its way I am sure there will be more difficult times ahead of us but also a bunch of fun times. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

BULLYING IN SCHOOL'S

   What happened to zero tolerance in Canadian schools for no bullying?

   That is what I would really like to know. Last week a very close friend of mine’s daughter had her lunch spit in. For the past three years this little girl has been bullied and teased by the girls in her class. Over the past few years I can’t count the amount of times this friend of mine has gone into the school to try and resolve this problem but to no avail. So when her daughter came home crying because someone spit in her food and the girls keep calling her names, and the poor girl is stuck sitting beside these same girls in class, into the school my friend went again.

     Hoping to fix the problem this friend of mine decided that she would just go and directly speak to the teacher, explain things to the teacher so that at least her little girl didn’t have to sit beside her tormentor’s.

   Walking into the front of the building this friend of mine was stopped by the principal.

   “Don’t worry that problem I discussed with you about your daughter has been fixed” He said angrily.

   “How can the problem be fixed? She is still sitting beside the girls that pick on her and when you brought the girls into the office to talk to them about spitting in her food the girls denied it and you also yelled at my daughter at the same time. You fixed it alright.” My friend said “My little girl came home crying because she was yelled at by you and the two girls blamed her for everything.”

   The principal’s response was to get right up in my friends face point a finger at her and yell. “I told you I would look after things.”

   “Then please tell me why my little girl is still sitting beside the bully’s and can you please explain to me why you yelled at my daughter? And doesn’t spitting in someone’s food an automatic suspension? My friend asked.

   “I told you I would look after it. You are really pissing me off now.” This wonderful elementary principal yelled at her again his face two inches from hers and pointing his finger again.

   “I want my daughter moved away from those girls by the end of the day.” My friend yelled back furious by how she was being treated.

   When her daughter came home my friend found out that not only was she not moved away from the girls but both of her children were followed around the school by the principal who spend the day looking down at them and making them feel uncomfortable.

   Now this friend of mine needs to figure out how to not only deal with this principal for the next three years but also needs to speak directly to her daughter’s teacher.

   Again I ask what happened to zero tolerance.

   In my opinion I think this principal needs to be fired for not only allowing bullying to continue in his school, but also for the way he, himself is trying to bully the parents and children himself.

   What is happening to the world?

Finally Cody is here...

     First off I would like to apologize for not being around much. Just last week our lives were thrown upside down, and although I am not complaining it is still frustrating. Last week because of problems at home, my little brother Cody has come to live with us.

     Cody is 15 years old, and so far so good, I am both happy and proud to say that he seems to be adjusting to his new life. He came from a small town in Ontario to a clump of houses in the woods, the nearest store is a ten minute drive, and the mall is almost an hour away.

     On Friday he began his first day of school at a new school in an entirely different province, his life has been drastically changed I just hope for the better.

     As I said earlier I will never complain about having him, I have wanted him since the day I moved out on my own for that reason alone I am thrilled he is here. I do however have two children of my own a 10 year old boy and an 8 year old girl. I am happily married and have a heard of both cats and dogs. I have never raised a teenager before.

     Now I feel as though the balancing act I was performing before just well enough to function has now fallen completely to pieces. When taking my brother in I don’t think I realized just how different our lives would be, and personally I don’t think anyone would know how different things are until they experience it. I now have three kids to get ready for school, three to make sure they get their homework done, and right now my writing has been put on hold.

     I don’t mind one bit it’s just a little frustrating not being able to find time to put my thoughts into words but I am positive that we will all soon be well adjusted to this new way of living, and things will fall in to place.

     So I am afraid to say that until such time to where I am able to focus again on my writing my blog will remain slow. Bye for now.

                                          Kimberly MacEachern