Value of Fathers: The Derek Redmond story

Photo source : http://a.espncdn.com/

Derek Redmond was a British running prodigy during the 1980′s and early 1990′s.  At age 19 he tore the British record for the 400 meters to shreds.  It is not, however, for that record (which was eventually broken) that he’ll be remembered.  Redmond will be remembered for his performance in the semifinals of the 400-meter dash in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

In 1988, Redmond had to pull out of the Olympics 10 minutes before the race due to a torn Achilles tendon.  The next year, Redmond underwent five different surgeries and began a long road to recovery.  By 1992, he was ready to show the world that he was a force to be reckoned with.

Related: Derek and Dad finish Olympic 400 together

Coming around the backstretch, Redmond was in a great position to qualify for the medal race.  Suddenly, with 175 meters remaining to qualification, Redmond both felt and heard a sharp pop from his right leg.  In later interviews, Redmond said he was so surprised by the noise from his leg, he thought he had been shot.  But like the British record he had ripped to shreds at 19, Redmond had torn his hamstring to bits.  His dream of an Olympic medal was gone.

Redmond knelt down in agony, and the medical teams came on the track with a stretcher to carry him off.  Redmond wouldn’t have it.  One-legged, tears streaming down his face, Redmond rose and proceeded to hobble his way in agony toward the finish.  The fans, many of which were also in tears at this point, cheered him on.

Suddenly, another man jumped the railings and burst through Olympic security, fighting to reach Redmond.

It was his father, Jim.

Related: Persistence in children attributed to fathers (study)

The elder Redmond told his son he didn’t have to finish, but the younger again wouldn’t have it.  The father put his son’s arm over his shoulder, and the two continued the march to the finish together.

The cheering from 65,000 fans reached a fever pitch.

Just before the finish line, the elder Redmond released his hold on his son so that he could finish the race on his own, and Derek Redmond had sealed his name into history.


Source : http://familynews.com/the-derek-redmond-story/

Teenager shot with spear through head survives

Photo credit : http://i.telegraph.co.uk/

By Jillian Eugenios

 

Yasel Lopez, 16, was fishing with a friend in Miami when their three-foot spear gun went off unexpectedly, piercing Lopez through his head. Doctors are calling his survival from the accident, nearly two weeks ago, a miracle.

The gun went off unexpectedly when the teenagers were loading it with a spear, sending it straight into Lopez's skull, Tamron Hall reported on TODAY Monday. The force of the impact was so strong it knocked him into the water. Acting quickly, his friend called 911 and Lopez was soon airlifted to Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital where doctors raced to save him.

Doctors revealed details Monday about Lopez's ordeal, and how they worked to save his life. “We used a high-speed drill to drill the bone at either end to create an opening through which we could remove the spear,” one of the doctors told reporters. They first had to cut the spear to prevent it from moving and allow doctors to do tests. After the spear was cut, doctors said they were able to plan the surgery: “We were able to position him laying with his left side down, right side up, and then we were able to open a large incision."

Dr. George Garcia, who helped to save Lopez's life, said that Lopez was awake and interacting with hospital staff when he arrived, though he became agitated and panicky. “We didn't know if that was a result of the injury to his brain or if he was just scared or in a lot of pain.” Dr. Garcia said that that the fact that Lopez was lucid throughout gave the doctors confidence the teenager would survive.

Calling Lopez a “pretty incredible, very lucky boy,” Dr. Garcia said, “I expected he would do well because he was awake from the injury...The fact that he was speaking to the paramedics in route and stuff made me hopeful from the beginning.”

Lopez, currently in recovery, was only able to speak to doctors in short sentences as of Monday. He may never remember the incident because it appears that he could be suffering from post-traumatic amnesia.

Not one but three miracles kept Lopez alive: The side through which the spear pierced his head, the fact that it managed to miss important blood vessels and that it avoided damaging vital brain structures all contributed to his survival.

“It's just incredibly fortunate it’s a constellation of circumstances that came through in this amazing, freaky way," said a doctor.


Source :http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/2012/06/19/12298215-teenager-shot-with-spear-through-head-survives?lite

Taking a bite out of ‘generation sandwich’

Foto credit : http://img.ksl.com/

Hurrying to get the kids out the door for school with packed lunches, finished homework and matching shoes, your phone rings. Your father has relapsed and is in the hospital, and your mother isn’t handling it well.

You know you need to go home to help, but home is hundreds of miles away. Your husband can’t leave work and someone has to watch the kids. Your parents, however, have only you to count on — and your funds are low.

Welcome to the sandwich generation.

Adults have been taking care of both their ailing or elderly parents and their children — a rough description of the "generation sandwich" — since parents have been having children. This double day care is on an upswing.

The increase in recent years of caring for one’s children and one's parents at the same time may be due to the increase in life expectancy. It could also be due to women having children later in life, or fewer siblings to share responsibilities.

Grandparents and grandchildren may be sharing the same living space because support for children is going on longer than it has historically.

It’s a problem that is happening to the baby boomers, a generation that demands a lot of attention if for no other reason than it is comprised of 79 million members, according to the Population Reference Bureau — an impressive chunk of the general population. And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in that group, 9 percent of women between 45 - 56 years old are giving a significant amount of care to both their children on one side and their parents on the other.
Specificly, sandwichers — in addition to taking care of all things concerning their children — are asked to care for their parents if the parents can no longer safely live at home, or need to be moved into an adult care facility.

They may also be responsible for navigating long-term health care systems and coordinating with assisted living facilities, or the hiring and managing of an in-home caregiver.

And care is not cheap. The average cost of a private room annually at a nursing home in 2011 was $77,745, according to the AARP. And one qualifies for Medicare only after depleting one's assests.

Having a separate assisted living apartment is costly as well: The national median cost in 2011 was $39,135, and assisted living isn't covered by Medicaid.

According to the AARP, if given a choice, up to 90 percent of the elderly prefer to stay in their own home for as long as possible.

And there is always the option of moving elderly parents into the home with kids and grandkids. There, sandwichers may provide personal care services, such as meals, housekeeping and assistance with activities.

With all the responsibilities and preassures on the sandwich generation, many of them stay on top by following a few simple guidelines.

1. Get the facts by talking to your parents about their finances and what plans they've made if they’re suddenly incapacitated. Take a look at your own finances as well.
2. If an emergency arises you'll need legal authority to act on your parents' behalf. Make sure mom and dad have the following: a durable power of attorney so someone can pay bills, a healthcare proxy or an authorization to make medical decisions, and a living will if life-sustaining medical care becomes necessary.
3. Discuss with your parents their long-term care insurance or savings adequate to cover those costs. The cost of long-term care can be excruciating, with bills reaching $50,000 to $100,000 a year or more.
4. Spread out the tasks as much as possible. Siblings might divide up the work, with one taking charge of finances, the other daily or weekly visits, while another arranges for shopping and medical care.
5. Understand caregiver burnout, and have a plan B in place to get coverage when needed. Utilize neighbors, church groups and local associations and organizations. It can be a great help to call up a neighbor and say, “I need two hours to myself, can you help me?”

"It's a hard job," clinical psychologist Dr. Joshua C. Klapow offers. As an associate professor in the Department of the School of Public Health, UAB, Klapow understands the importance of recognizing the effects of caregiver burnout. “Caring for parents and children alike absolutely pulls at people's deepest emotions and can be overwhelming for people. Caregivers must watch their own health.”
Among female caregivers 50 and older, 20 percent reported symptoms of depression, according to a 2010 study on working caregivers by MetLife.

Fortunately, as 30 million families provide care for an adult over the age of 50 — a number expected to double in 25 years — recourses are many and resources plenty.

With the gaining of popularity of such care, there is much pragmatic advice on what to expect on websites like familycaregiving101.org, and sites that can refer to local groups of caregivers, such as caps4caregivers.org.




Source : http://www.ksl.com/?sid=20787321&nid=1010&title=caring-for-aging-parents-taking-a-bite-out-of-generation-sandwich&s_cid=queue-16

Player with Down syndrome brings passion to baseball

When Blake Curtis gets up to bat, there are a lot of cheers from every direction. 

"Blakey," a 17-year-old boy with Down syndrome, is the 10th player on the field for the Angels in the Pony Division. They allow one extra player on the field, so that nobody gets put on the bench when he's on the field. He has been playing since he was 5-years-old when his mom took him out to the fields. Years and several teams later, he is still as enthusiastic about the game as ever.

"As soon as I tell Blake there's a game, he'll put his uniform on," said Blake's father and coach Jeff Curtis. "Most times I come home, and the game isn't for three hours, he's already home with his uniform on, saying, ‘come on let's go play.' "

In addition to the 10-player rule, the league rules have been modified for him. For example, when he's batting, the strike zone is a bit more liberal. If he swings at a bad pitch, it's still called a "ball."

"If it's over his head and he swings, it's a ball," Curtis said. "But if it's in the strike zone, it's a strike, no matter what he does. But that does two things: it forces the pitcher to throw strikes and it gives Blake a chance to go up and wail away and see what happens. And he's hit pretty good, he's done pretty well."

Curtis has a lot of gratitude for the support of the community, but he also realizes that you have to take things into your own hands and, as he put it, "don't ask." 

"I get on the phone and I say, ‘Blake's Down syndrome and he's gonna play,' " Curtis said.

Blake plays each game with great enthusiasm. Curtis credits that to all the players, parents and the league for giving Blake the chance to play. He adds, however, that Blake can play because of the work he's put into it himself.

"Blakey can set his own limits," Curtis said. "The most important thing with anyone with a disability is you need to let them set their own limits."

The boys on the teams Blake has played on throughout the years have usually come to accept the boy, and fill their roles on the team and in his life. Curtis describes the team as good to him and supportive of him. They've also learned from him.

"We're the lucky ones to have him," Curtis said.

The Angels have wrapped up their 12-game regular schedule, with three wins, eight losses and a tie. But, the post- season starts Monday. The team now has an opportunity to win the league championship, which takes place this coming week. First game of the tournament is Monday night.


Source : http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=20688022&title=player-with-down-syndrome-brings-passion-to-baseball&s_cid=queue-13

About this ad A Woman's View: Are we human enough?

I just spent the better part of an hour sitting on my back porch watching my youngest son squirt himself with a Super Soaker squirt gun, first his feet, then his chest, then his head, and even in his mouth, with ever increasing joy. I got to do that in the middle of a weekday because I work an early shift that lets me get home by noon most days. This is the way I handle being a mom, and I don’t suggest that it is the best way, and certainly not the only way, but for my children and me, it works.

I’ve been thinking about our choices as mothers since seeing the cover of TIME Magazine, the one with the nearly 4-year-old boy standing on a chair nursing from a blonde woman. The image is a little unsettling, the almost defiant quality of what I think of as a nurturing act, but what stopped me was the headline.

“Are you mom enough?”

No question TIME was trying to sell magazines with that headline, and the headline combined with that provocative picture certainly accomplished its goal. This issue is their No. 1 seller of the year. Perhaps we were all just masterfully manipulated into asking ourselves this question – Are we mom enough? – a question I’m not sure we should ever ask. Even less so, I do not believe it is a question we should direct at others. Someone with far more wisdom and understanding than us sought fit to trust these spirits to us. I’d go with that.

That doesn’t mean we don’t try to do our best with our children once they’re here. In one of the many backlash columns I read after the TIME article came out, a writer argued that we mothers ought not do anything we resent. If we resent cooking dinner but not breakfast, we should only cook breakfast. If we resented playing on the floor but not reading stories, we should only read stories, etc.

“So what if you resented giving baths? Would you let them go dirty?” Sharon Goodrich, head of charitable and corporate giving for Primary Children’s Medical Center, asked on “A Woman’s View.” “No. You find a way to make it fun, to make it pleasurable for you, for your children, instead of drudgery all the time.”

“I resent doing homework with my kids because I was incapable of doing it,” social worker and addiction counselor Rachelle Call shared. “It was triggering something in me. It was my own stuff. Women have to be willing to deal with that, to lean into whatever we resent about motherhood. Resentment is a marker.”

So, what if we resent breastfeeding, as so many women do? Or the opposite, what if we believe that breastfeeding is mandatory and any mother who doesn’t breastfeed is not “mom enough.”

“Breastfeeding triggers a lot of women,” Call explained. “Women find their power there.”

I can honestly say I had never considered anything about breastfeeding to be powerful, but when I looked again at that magazine cover and heard what Rachelle said, I saw it. A sense of power. Misplaced power, in my humble opinion, but power nonetheless. Breastfeeding is not about power; it’s about nourishment and love.

“I wasn’t very successful at breastfeeding, and I felt guilty,” Goodrich was courageous enough to share. “It was something I wanted to do. I just didn’t produce milk. I finally decided it was just better to be close to my twin daughters by bottle feeding. What I say is celebrate those who wish and do, and support those who wish and don’t.”

Beautiful. Brilliant. I say let her write the headlines from now on.

I suppose men have been putting up with the “Are you man enough?” question for so long, some might say it’s our turn. I am not among them. I don’t think men deserved the question, nor do I think we mothers do. I frankly think anyone who asks it shows their ignorance. It shows their bias, the smallness of their thinking, their blinders-on-approach to motherhood (or manhood) — to life. There are a million ways to be a good mother, to be strong enough, kind enough, patient enough, thorough enough, loving enough, and just as many ways to be a good father. There are good mothers who are with their children every day and good mothers who see their children only via Skype from Afghanistan. Through the magic of love, both are good mothers.

Are we human enough to get that? That there is more than one way to love, more than one way to parent?

As I write these words, Aiden is sitting beside me writing his first number “10.” His first effort came out “01.” I said, “No, Aiden. The”1” comes before the “0.”

“Oh,” and he tried again, shortly thereafter showing me a perfect “10.”

Source : http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865556531/Are-we-human-enough.html?pg=1

The Antidote to Anger and Frustration

When our loved-one erupts in anger and frustration, the last thing most of us think to do is to pour fuel on the fire by telling them they should feel angry and frustrated. Yet when done correctly, providing someone emotional validation can have extremely surprising results that strengthen relationship bonds.

Dealing with Another Person's Anger

We've all been in situations in which a loved one is incredibly upset. It is often hard to know the best way to react in such scenarios. Our instinct is to try and calm them down but that is not easy to do and it might even be risky. As a result we are often extremely uncomfortable and at a loss for what to say. If their anger is directed toward us we might need to consider How To Apologize Effectively but regardless, we need to validate their emotions.

The idea of fanning the flames by telling the person in question they have every right to feel irate or livid seems counterintuitive. But when we convey exactly that message and do so from a place of empathy and sympathy, something magical happens. Rather than inciting the other person's fury and fueling their fire, our message of emotional validation actually douses the flame!.

Emotional Validation is a Basic Human Need

Emotional validation is something we all seek and crave far more than we realize. When we are upset, angry, frustrated, disappointed or hurt, our tendency is to want to discuss our feelings with others so we can get it off our chest.

However, getting things off our chest by telling others about our feelings is not always satisfying or cathartic. If the person to whom we vent simply looks at us and shrugs or responds by giving us advice or by telling us what we did wrong, we won't feel any better and we will probably feel worse after speaking with them.

What we seek when venting to others is for that person to 'get it', to understand what happened to us and why we feel the way we do. We want them to validate our feelings by conveying that understanding to us and to do so with a dollop of sympathy or empathy

When we are extremely angry or upset, we tell someone why and they totally get it truly and effectively validates our feelings. As a result, the relief and catharsis we experience is tremendous! Only then can we actually let go of at least some of the feelings we had built up. It is that which feels like an authentic visceral 'release'.

Authentic Emotional Validation is Hard to Get

However, true cathartic experiences of this kind are actually rarer than we realize. We typically find the need to express our tales of woe, outrage or sadness to many people because we rarely get the response we crave-true emotional validation. When someone does finally offer us real emotional validation, we tend to feel extremely grateful to them for doing so.

We might think our nearest and dearest, those who know us best would be the best sources of emotional validation but unfortunately, this is not usually the case. Those who care about us the most are most likely to be personally distressed by our own distress. As a result they are might (with the best of good intentions) try to minimize our emotional experience ("Don't dwell on it," "Just let it go" or "Don't let them get to you") or to offer solutions ("here's what you should do" "Don't mope, take action!") instead of reflecting their understanding and acceptance of our pain.

Again, although their intentions might be good, such responses can feel more emotionally dismissive than they do helpful or cathartic. If these loved ones first provided emotional validation and then offered such advice, we might be far more receptive to their suggestions but this is rarely the case.
So how does one offer authentic emotional validation?

The Recipe for Authentic Emotional Validation

Here are the steps for offering authentic emotional validation. But take note: You must do all 5 steps and do them correctly to achieve the desired impact.

1. Let the person complete their narrative so you have all the facts.

2. Convey you get what happened to them from their perspective (whether you agree with that perspective or not and even if their perspective is obviously skewed).

3. Convey you understand how they felt as a result of what happened (from their perspective).

4. Convey that their feelings are completely reasonable (which they are given their perspective).

5. Convey empathy or sympathy (not pity!) for their emotional reactions.
Lastly, if your loved ones are not good at emotional validation when you vent to them about your own emotionally painful experiences, email them this article-it will be worth it!

Source : http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201107/the-lost-art-listening/the-right-way-listen-when-someones-upset

23 Heartfelt Reasons I Will Always be Faithful to My Wife

A couple of months ago Mary Beth and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary. Our marriage has been redefined several times over the years. We are not the same couple now that we were 23 years ago and, just as significantly, we are not the same people.

My wife and I have matured and our marriage has matured. Time will do that. Life experience will do that, too. Because of what we have seen and experienced in our marriage, we are better prepared, and willing, to meet each other’s needs while at the same time preserving what is important to us, personally.

There have been plenty of high peaks in our marriage when loving each other was natural and easy. There have also been some deep valleys when we thought we just couldn’t get it together. We have discovered each day we do have the choice to commit to one another. Each day we have the choice to remain faithful to the marriage – faithful not just with sexual fidelity; although that is very important, but faithful in an emotional sense as well.

This list of 23 reasons I will always be faithful to Mary Beth comes from my heart to hers.. I hope you find some value in these for your own relationship, too:

1. She is my best friend. I would rather hang out with her than any one else I know. Our Saturday’s of running errands or taking a few moments to talk over coffee at Starbucks, is some of the moments I cherish the most.
2. She shows me I’m worthy to be loved. I don’t feel like I’m second choice in her life.
3. She takes me out of my comfort zone. Mary Beth challenges me and she doesn’t let me take the easy, or safe way out of a situation. She reminds me that to keep growing as a person, I must continue to face my fears and insecurities.
4. She is a terrific mother and parent. My wife is very connected with each of our four children. They all feel loved by her and each one knows they can go to her for help or guidance without fear or shame getting in the way.
5. She gives me all the time I need to work on this blog. Never a pouty reaction – just unconditional support.
6. She takes care of those who are hurting the most. Mary Beth recently earned her MSW degree at The University of Kansas. She is devoting the next phase of her professional career to helping those who are in emotional pain and have suffered significant trauma. She wants the rest of her patients’ lives to turn out a differently than how they started.
7. She is the “handy-man” around the house. If it wasn’t for the special skills of my wife, I would spend a fortune paying plumbers and electricians to fix the things I don’t have a clue to repair; but Mary Beth does.
8. She believes in me. No matter the circumstances or challenges, her belief in me never wavers. I can tell by looking into her eyes she truly believes I can do whatever I set-out to do.
9. She has a forgiving heart. My wife doesn’t carry a grudge or harbor resentment for long periods of time. Once she has accepted my apology for something I have done, and has chosen to forgive me – she means it and she lives it.
10. I still get excited when I get to see her for the first time of the day. During the week, I wake up very early and head to work before Mary Beth starts her day. Sometimes it can be as late as 9:00 p.m. before we see each for the first time. My stomach still tingles with excitement when I know I’m only a few minutes from seeing her.
11. She tells me she loves several times throughout the day. Every phone call during the day ends with “I love you,” and the last thing I hear at night as I prepare to fall to sleep is my wife loves me.
12. I respect her. Considering all she done for me, our family and the tremendous effort she places in making this world a better place for everybody else, I can’t imagine doing anything that would disrespect that commitment. I can’t imagine doing anything that would disrespect her.
13. She watches baseball games with me. And she enjoys it; and she knows the players’ names; and she gets excited when the Kansas City Royals win!
14. I miss her when we are apart for a few days. Time away from each other is healthy and beneficial; the homecoming is ever sweeter.
15. She doesn’t mind listening to sports-talk radio in the car. I never get the raised eyebrow look that says, “You expect me to listen to that?”
16. Sometimes she actually thinks I’m funny. She appreciates my sarcastic wit and my occasionally well-timed comebacks. No courtesy laughs here – she gets my sense of humor.
17. She still likes to hold hands when we take our after-dinner walks. Our evening walks have always been a great source of connection for us. We use this time to discuss our days and to help each other process or solve problems. Holding hands while we walk makes this time that much more special.
18. She is both unassuming and confident. Mary Beth seldom takes herself too seriously and at the same time she emits an incredible inner strength and self -confidence that people in her life are drawn to and find comfort in experiencing.
19. Her “I want to be with you” look still makes me weak in the knees.
20. She loves to cuddle. At the end of the day, when the day’s responsibilities are behind us, we grab a few moments to just be with each other as we chat and cuddle while watching something mindless on television. A few golden minutes to be sure.
21. She never quits on herself, or on us. I’m often taken back by her strong will (and sometimes just plain stubbornness) to never give up. No matter the obstacles, or the pain, or the circumstances, she has the ability to reach down and find something more to help keep her moving forward.
22. She looks beautiful in a camisole. They say love is blind, but my wife is beautiful in so many different ways. The camisoles she wears in summer don’t hurt either!
23. I can’t imagine life without her. A life worth living is a life worth sharing. Sharing my life with Mary Beth provides so many blessings. My heart will always remain faithful to hers because it is constantly being filled with her love and grace. I have faith it will always be this way – no matter what.

Source : http://www.thebridgemaker.com/

Tough Love On Social Media: ReShonda Tate Billingsley’s Old School Parenting in the New Millennium

I’m a good parent. Not a great parent. Not a perfect parent, but I do my best to train up my three children (ages 12, nine and five) so that they can become productive members of society. Doing that requires a desire to be their mama, not their friend, and the diligent, on-going effort to get all up in their business.
For all you new-age parents who say I’m violating my daughter’s privacy, you might want to stop reading now, because I’m really about to piss you off.  In my house, the only people that are due any privacy are me and my husband. I make it clear that when they get their own place and pay their own bills, then and only then will I respect their privacy.

Which is why I recently did what I do nightly–pulled up my oldest daughter’s Instagram account to check it. (In case you don’t know, Instagram is a social media picture-sharing website for teens and tweens). We talked extensively about proper etiquette in the cyber world. So imagine my surprise when I see my bright, intelligent child smiling as she held up a bottle of Vodka with the caption ‘Wish I could drink this Vodka.’ Before you do-righters chastise me for her having the liquor, she got it out of my husband’s bar to take the photo because she thought “it was cute.” She knew better but did it anyway and “didn’t see anything wrong” because she “wasn’t drinking, just posing.”

She had been warned against acting up on social media countless times but obviously,  it wasn’t getting through. So I took it to her level, implementing my motto of “Get tore out where you show out.”  I made her hold up a sign saying, “Since I want to take pics holding liquor, I am obviously NOT ready for social media and will be taking a hiatus until I learn what is and isn’t appropriate to post. Bye-Bye ”  I made her post  the picture to Instagram and I put it on my Facebook page as a warning to other parents to monitor their kids.

I never expected that photo or my choice of discipline to go viral. But with over 10,000 shares in just a few hours, that’s just what happened. I heard from parents that, to my surprise, had never looked at their child’s social media accounts, parents who were too afraid to publicly embarrass their kids, yet were at wit’s end on what to do with them, and parents who had never even heard of Instagram, yet found out their child had an account. Ninety-seven percent of the feedback was positive.  The other three percent  did everything from call me a ‘parental bully’ to tell me my child would ‘commit suicide’ to telling me I ‘sucked as a parent.’ Usually, that kind of stuff bothers me.

But not this time.

When it comes to my kids, I don’t play. This is a new age. We have to meet kids where they are.  Punish her by taking away her phone? Did that last week. Make her write an essay? She loves writing so that would be a thrill. Ban TV? She loves to read so that’s no big deal. Talking? Sure, but my talking obviously wasn’t sticking. So, since she showed out on line, she was punished on line. My daughter actually begged for a spanking instead, which she would’ve taken, gotten over in no time, and not realized the seriousness of her actions. Now, if and when she ever gets back on social media, she’ll think long and hard before posting anything crazy.

Some said the public humiliation would have long-term effects, that she would hate me forever for this. You have to know your child. I wouldn’t do this on my middle child because I don’t think she can emotionally handle it. But this one, she’ll be just fine. Yes, I got the ‘you’re ruining my life’ rant, but after a few hours, she was trying to figure out how she can start an organization at her school to raise awareness about social media responsibility.  In fact, she said her friends weren’t talking about her. They were talking about her “crazy mama.” Call me crazy. If it means steering my child on the right path, that’s a badge of honor I’ll proudly wear. And to all the naysayers, talk all you want. I’d rather you talk about me now than talk about my child later.

Source :  http://mybrownbaby.com/

Mikey Stolzenberg Inspires at the Pockets & Sockets Lacrosse Tournament

May 14, 2011 will be a day remembered for a long time. The first annual Pockets and Sockets Tournament, the brainchild of Jennifer and Andrew Bolger, commenced in Delray Beach, FL. Over 25 Florida teams, from Weston to Stuart, attended the 7v7 tournament with the proceeds benefiting the Michael Stolzenberg Trust. With over 300 players at the event, one stole the show. Playing in a lacrosse game for the first time since becoming a 4-time amputee, Mikey electrified the crowd with his inspiring play. Three short years ago, this moment didn’t seem possible.
On July 22, 2008, Mikey was rushed to the emergency room with a bacterial infection that was not responding to antibiotics. He went into septic shock and bravely endured a ventilator and dialysis for the next seven weeks. Once the bacteria infecting Michael was finally identified as Chromobacterium Violaceum, the doctors were able to target it with effective antibiotics. As a true testament of his spirit, Mikey survived, but the oxygen deprivation to his limbs could not be reversed, sadly resulting in the amputation of both of his hands and feet.

The Pockets and Sockets Tournament was created to raise money for Mikey’s prosthetics. While basic prosthetics are covered by insurance, the type that Mikey needs to have normalcy in his life, are not. As difficult as dealing with one amputation would be for an 11 year-old, Mikey lives with four, each requiring a prosthetic that needs to be replaced bi-annually, as he continues to grow.

The special prosthetics that allow Mikey to have normalcy in his life provided him with the ability to take to the lacrosse field for the first time in three years this weekend. That alone was enough to send chills up the spines of everyone in the crowd. What happened next was nothing short of amazing. Playing for the Florida Snipers Under-11 Black Team, Mikey entered the game with the team leading 4-0. With his prosthetic legs fit into his new lacrosse cleats and gripping the stick as best as he could, he entered the game on attack on the right side of the field. He immediately went for a groundball and got knocked down. But as he always does, Mikey got up. Mikey doesn’t quit and he certainly wasn’t going to come out of the game.
What happened next was something that would change the lives of everyone in attendance. All of a sudden a fast break caused his defender to leave him, and a perfectly thrown pass landed in his stick for a point blank shot and……he missed just wide. A few minutes later another opportunity came and again his shot sailed wide-right.
Not knowing whether another shot would come, most 11-year-olds would be frustrated, but Mikey isn’t most 11-year-olds. He perseveres. He has to. Even as his next shot hit the post and he heard the collective gasp of the crowd who wanted to see that ball hit the net as badly as he did, he wouldn’t stop.
Then it happened. On his fourth shot, Mikey had scored!

As the ball was replaced and saved as a memento, the crowd hugged, reached for tissues and tried to comprehend the amazing spirit, heart and determination it took for him to not only take the field, but to score a goal. Mikey then did what any other 11-year-old would do: he went back to his position and continued playing lacrosse with his friends.
Mikey would go to on to score two goals in the next game and his Snipers team would win the championship a few hours later.
Years from now no one will remember the wins and losses. They will remember the 11-year-old boy who inspires them to never give up. They’ll remember the determination, the grit, the guts and the heart it took to merely step onto the field. Most of all, they’ll remember that nothing is impossible.

Source : http://www.sniperslacrosse.com/

What You NEVER Expect When You're Expecting

I knew that by getting "in the family way," I was opening myself up to a mind, body and life-altering experience, but that doesn't change the fact that I've been encountering stuff in my pregnancy thus far that I never expected. There aren't enough websites or cute movies out there to have prepared me for some of this.
Sure, there's the stereotypical but true things you hear about being pregnant, like having morning sickness and certain food cravings. Like many pregnant women, I came to find out that morning sickness does not just occur in the morning -- it can be an afternoon, evening or an all-day adventure. (A special shout out to the rocket scientist who gave it that misleading moniker.) There's also the intense craving of all things pickled and pickle flavored. I have no words for how embarrassing it is to fall under that cliché. However, there are a slew of other fun things that come with the pregnancy package that don't get covered, well at least not as well as they should be.
By the way did y'all know that May is National Pregnancy Awareness Month? I just found out myself, so do not feel bad if you were in the dark. The irony is that since becoming pregnant, the main thing I have become aware of is how much disdain I have for women who, like my mother, wax poetic about how awesome being pregnant is/was for them. We all know who I'm talking about -- the ladies who go on and on about how it's the most incredible magical beautiful experience they've ever had. How if it wasn't so expensive to raise kids they could have gotten pregnant and had a new baby every year, Duggar-style. I am not ragging on these women (well, okay, maybe a little), but I think that they are the exception rather than the rule. I also think that it is seen as taboo for women (like me) to talk about how much being prego can suck, especially with all the women out there who want to be pregnant but for some reason or other find it's not in the cards for them. Most of us who are fortunate enough to become pregnant do not want to a) come off as ungrateful or b) like we're taking our "blessing" for granted. But as comedian it is my job and duty to go there -- to be honest, candid, and of course funny. So I will risk admonishment when I say yes, being pregnant is a miracle, it is a blessing and it is a gift, but it also blows a good portion of the time, and not just because you have to give up your regular glass of wine with dinner.
Don't get me wrong, I don't spend all day moping around the house. I go about my daily business making calls, booking gigs, writing, going on auditions and performing for crowds at night. I rarely complain to my husband or anyone else about anything connected to this pregnancy -- unless I do it in a humorous way (see my blog, www.diaryofapregnantcomedian.com). I should also point out that despite my misleading diva-like exterior, I'm really quite a simple girl. So much so that a good day for me used to consist of my bra and panties matching. Now a good day is when I sneeze and I don't pee myself a little. Not one single friend, book or website proficiently warned me that this was part of the package of being pregnant -- and believe you me, I've been doing my research.
I am from Plano, Texas, which means by nature and nurture I am the consummate Southern lady. I say please, thank you and "Bless your heart!" I'll even send a thank you note in response to someone else's thank you note. So the fact that, in what seems like an overnight transition, I have gone from Whitley from A Different World to a combo of Booger and Ogre from Revenge of the Nerds is enough to make me want to hang my head in shame. I realize having gas is a natural part of being a human being, but going from "having the vapors" to being able to belch the alphabet was never something I aspired to. I have turned into a burping, farting machine, so much so that my husband's new nickname for me is "Gaseous Clay". I can't even be offended, because it's true. As sorry as I am for him, I feel worse for our dog, who likes to burrow under the covers at night. I don't know for certain, but I'm pretty sure dutch-ovening a 7 lb. chihuahua to death is cause for the ASPCA to investigate you.
Another thing no one told me was that I'd have this crazy metal taste in my mouth for the first few months. For those who have no clue what I'm talking about, make friends with a janitor and suck on her key chain for a good 20 minutes a day -- that should replicate properly what I went through, except it was on a 24-hour basis the first few months. Fortunately, I no longer have the freaky taste in my mouth. It's since been replaced by heartburn like I've never felt before. I'm trying to quell it via all-natural ways, so no meds for me, but I still don't think there would be enough Tums, Rolaids or Prilosec in the world to put out the fire that's in my chest at night. If that old wives tale is true, the one that says when you experience heartburn it means the baby's growing hair, all I can say is, come fall, I may be in the Huffington Post a for another reason under the headline, "Woman Gives Birth to Real Life Ewok".
Venting aside, I do find great comfort and camaraderie in the mommy-to-be sites I'm on and I do appreciate the advice and empathy from my friends who've traveled this path before I just wish they wouldn't candy-coat this stuff. 'Course maybe if they didn't, the world would have a population deficiency on our hands. Hmm, I never thought about it that way. I now may have to reconsider my position.
Karith Foster is not just a comedian, but humorous speaker who performs at colleges, clubs, and corporations across America. Visit her website www.karith.com for more funny and to find out how to bring her to your event.

Source : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/