How to Stop Your Child from Hanging out With the "Wrong Crowd"

It's Chicken-Scratch Saturday here at the Funny Farm, and I have another wonderful guest-post for you today. This is from Agnes Jimenez, who wrote a piece for me (a few months back) entitled: How to Help Kids Live a More Simplified Life. Do you remember it? I do, it was wonderful.

Take it away, Agnes!




How to Stop Your Child from Hanging out With the Wrong Crowd

Parenting is difficult, especially when teens become involved with the wrong crowd. It is important to approach the situation with care. There are ways to convince a teenager that hanging out with the wrong crowd will cause more harm than good. Here are ways to intervene.

It is essential to discuss the situation with the teenager, but it is important not to condemn the friends. This can alienate the child and send the teen even closer to friends who can potentially influence him or her to make the wrong choices. It is vital to speak in direct words and outline specific actions. A parent should ask why the teen likes the friends. Getting insight into the thoughts behind the friendship will help a parent down the line.

A parent is meant to be a figure of structure and less of a friend to a child. A parent must set limits, but allow a teen to hang with friends of choice as long as no trouble is occurring. However if rules are broken, it is important to let the child know about the consequences of his/her actions. This way, the possibility of doing the wrong deed again and again will be lessened.

If a parent still does not feel comfortable with the teenager's friends, it may be wise to get to know them better. One of the best ways to know them is by inviting them over to the house. Letting them hang out with the kid at home can give the parent an opportunity to observe and analyze their behavior. Also, this will let them know that the child belongs to a decent family, which can prevent them from thinking or doing anything that can result to punishment or worst, the severance of their friendship.

Sometimes a parent must give a teen an alternative to hanging out and getting into trouble. It may be helpful to offer different activities to the teen. A parent may invite other friends from sports, clubs, or the church over for a movie or to play video games. It may also be nice to dedicate one night a week to a family activity like bowling or playing board games. This will instill better values into a teenager and show them that there are better ways to have fun.









Keeping communication open with a teenager means that the child will not be afraid to confide in a parent or call when trouble is near. For example, this will help a teen be more likely to call a parent for ride home when other teens have been drinking. Not judging the teen or the friends will keep everyone safe.

There are many ways to stop a teenager from hanging around with the wrong crowd. A parent must be watchful, but not forceful unless extreme danger looms. A teen must have limits, but be free to learn from mistakes. In the end, a parent can support a teen and show them how bad behavior can cause more harm than good.


About the Guest Author
Agnes Jimenez is a professional blogger and writer. She writes for many online establishments and currently partners with HelpYourTeenNow.com in spreading awareness about troubled and depressed teenagers (and how to deal with them). Help Your Teen Now aims to increase awareness on the current psychological and societal stresses of today's teens and how these factors affect the future of our society.




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Follow it.
Please?
Thanks.
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Thanks!



***************

In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.  Check out my schedule in my sidebar and come join the fun!



*************

Rudeness disclaimer:

I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.

Guest-Post: How to Help Kids Live a More Simplified Life

It's Chicken-Scratch-Saturday here at the Funny Farm, and I have a guest post for you!

Agnes Jimenez has written a wonderful article on how to help your kids live a more simplified life, which, as we all know, is harder than it sounds in this day and age!

Take it away, Agnes...


How to Help Kids Live a More Simplified Life

These days, especially, kids' lives are often overextended with too many activities. While learning new skills, developing talents, and structure are all good for children and teens, it can go too far. Helping your kids learn to live a simplified life has many benefits.

Too many activities can lead kids to not know how to cope with free time, put too much pressure on them, and make vacations seem like work. Kids need to relax and have fun. One approach is to show them how to enjoy free time. From reading a book to playing in the back yard, unstructured free time is good for a child's body and mind.

Second, you can minimize your child's activities by asking him about activities he enjoys the most. Even the youngest child is drawn to certain activities, due to his personality and his interests. Whether he wants to learn to play an instrument, participate in a sport, or build some kind of collection, you can encourage his interests and preferences.

However, one or two activities should be enough for most children. Whether he stays with one particular activity for a long period of time, or decides he does not like it and wants to try something different, it can be helpful to set a rule for how many activities he can have at any given time.

Third, try to set a positive example. Regardless of how many friends they have, kids of all ages copy the habits they see in their own families. Some changes you can make may include reducing multitasking as much as possible, showing your kids you enjoy playfulness and fun without any structure, having a period of quiet time at home every day, and relearning the art of relaxation.

Fourth, helping your children become acquainted with nature can also bring simplicity into their lives. There is something about the natural environment that promotes good feelings and peace of mind. Whether you live near the woods or beach, or your nearest source of nature is a city park, it can be a wonderful break from your busy lives.

Kids who have too many activities miss out on important parts of life. They are also prone to boredom, and can develop the habit of needing constant activity. When you teach your kids to enjoy the simple things in life, their physical, mental, and emotional health will all benefit. Your kids will be happier, and so will you.

About the Guest Author
Agnes Jimenez is a professional blogger and writer. She writes for many online establishments and currently partners with TheFamilyCompass.com in spreading awareness about troubled and depressed teenagers (and how to deal with them). Click here to read more about The Family Compass’ advocacies.






Image source: cnn.com

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Don't forget to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs! Just click on this brown button with the juggling chick. You can vote every day till like, forever.



Thanks!


***************

In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller. Check out my full schedule over in my sidebar, and come join the fun!

*************

Rudeness disclaimer:

I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.

State of the Union

Hello my TALU friends. We're taking a break from the linky party for one more week.

In the meantime, I thought I'd do "State of the Union Address", since it's the start of the new year and all.

I started this blog last March. Granted, I was moving over from my old blog, so I brought a small following with me, but I'm still amazed at how it's grown.

For instance, my page views per month have increased about 10-fold.
My followers have grown from 17 to nearly 400.
I've been honored to be guest-posted on some AWEsome blogs.
Probably a day doesn't go by that I don't get requests to do guest-posts on my blog, or do reviews, or advertise.
I've been featured a number of times on BlogHer.
I've been voted into Top 25 blogs for two different Circle of Moms contests.
Once I arrived there, I've maintained my first-page status on Top Mommy Blogs pretty consistently, and have even flirted with the top 10 briefly (so close!).
I've been having great fun learning all about blog hops, and I even co-host the wonderful TALU Tuesday!


And here are some of my most popular posts of the past year...

What the....

I Am My Mother. And....

A Lab. Never Again....

Time To Say Goodbye

Inspiration Sunday

Laundry, Simplified

The Cost of Sustainability

What I've Learnt In My Year of Chickens

Straight From the Horse's Mouth

Chili Dip

In looking at the list, I see a mixed bag of topics: random/funny things in our family, farm stuff, recipes, household tips, random/funny thoughts in general.



Anyway, reason for this post is twofold.

First and foremost:

You - all my wonderful readers - is what makes this such a fulfilling undertaking. I love your comments, I love my followers, I love seeing my page views go up and up, I love the votes you give me on all my annoying contests. You are an amazing group, and I love writing for you. Thanks from the heart of my bottom. Scratch that. From the bottom of my heart. Love you guys!



Secondly: I would love to hear what you would be interested in seeing more of. More farm stuff? More tips? More adoption-related pieces? More pictures?  Please let me know.

Thanks again, people.  And have a WONDERFUL new year!








Image from: wpclipart.com

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Read it.
Like it?
Follow it.
Please?
Thanks.
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Please vote?
Like today and every single day for the rest of your natural life?
Just one quick click of this brown button is all it takes.
Love you!



Thanks....



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Come check out my blog-hop schedule in my sidebar, and join the fun!


*************

Rudeness disclaimer:

I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.

Chicken-Scratch-Saturday: 6 Ways to Boost Your Teens Self Esteem

I have a guest-post for you today, written by the lovely and talented Debra Johnson.
Take it away, Debra!

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6 Ways to Boost Your Teens Self Esteem

Remember your teen years? They probably weren’t your favorite, so you can relate to your teen when they seem to be feeling down about themselves. Boosting your teens self-esteem takes a little tender, love and care from you. Here are 6 different things you can do to help your teen through their difficult time.

Get them physically active: You know that satisfied feeling you get after you take an evening walk or job for 30 minutes? That’s normal and it happens to everyone after an exercise. Raising your heart rate and increasing your blood flow does the body good because it releases your body’s naturally happy hormones, endorphins. Get your teen active by signing them up for a sports team or even getting them a bike to bike after school. A 30 to 45 minute exercise each day is healthy for the whole family!

Get them involved in the community: Teens seem to forget that life ain’t all that bad. It’s not their fault they think like that, every teen does and has thought that way. It just takes a few simple reminders that their life isn’t shabby after all. Helping those who are less fortunate in your community is beneficial not only to your teen but to your community. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities, whether a soup kitchen, animal shelter or a nursing home, get your child involved. Helping someone is good for the soul.

Pick a hobby: A teens life centers around friends, family and school. Talk to your teen and see what interests them. Do they like to paint, write, and listen to music? Ask questions and find something that they can do that will make them happy. Focusing on a task that makes them happy will help their self-esteem.

See a counselor: Hormones are to blame in a lot of cases with teens that have low self-esteem, but sometimes it can be more. Some schools offer free counseling to their students, consider having your child speak to a counselor. Teens tend to have an easier time expressing their feelings to someone they don’t know rather than someone they do know.

Start at home: Sometimes low self-esteem can start at home. Take a step back and examine your family’s home life. If there is any stress like financial problems in your family, this stress can be sensed by the teen and the teen starts to stress. Do your best to keep a positive environment for your children.

Check out their friends: Your teens friends have a huge impact on their lives and if they are surrounded with negative influences, chances are your teen will mimic this. You want your teens friends to benefit and better their lives, not hurt them. If your teen is having trouble making friends with the right crowd, consider sports teams, scholar groups or other teens who volunteer.



About the Author:

This guest post is contributed by Debra Johnson, blogger and editor of Liveinnanny.com. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: - jdebra84 @ gmail.com.



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Read it. Like it? Follow it. Please? Thanks.
(Follow my blog by adding yourself as a follower with Google Friends Connect in my sidebar!)


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Don't forget, I will love you forever if you throw me a vote on Top Mommy Blogs. You know the drill by now, don't you? Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.



Thanks!



***************

In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.

Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop, Natural Living Mamma's Natural Living Mondays, The Chicken Chick's Clever Chicks, A Cat-Like Curiosity's Monday Mantras, Ponder Wonder's Soul Food Monday and @ Home Take 2's Mom's Monday Mingle
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday, Crafty Garden Mama's Tuesday Greens, and The Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny, Tilly's Nest's Down Home, and Crafty Spices Wordless Wednesday
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop, and Two In Diapers' Mommy Brain Mixer
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday, Fresh Eggs Daily's FarmGirl Friday, Little Becky Homecky's Fantabulous Friday, @Home Take 2's Weekend Blog Walk, and Oh So Amelia's Friday Chaos
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop, and Tutus and Tea Parties' Pinteresting Party.


Since today is Saturday, that means I'm linking up my post "Chicken ADHD" with Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop, and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up; and "Lunch-Schmunch" with Tutus and Tea Parties' Pinteresting Party.


Come join the fun!







****************

Rudeness disclaimer:

I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.

Guest Post for Farm Friday - How to Grow Healthy Pumpkins

As I wrote last week, I didn't have too much luck raising pumpkins this year
is it raising or growing?

That's putting it too mildly.

I failed miserably, is what I did.

Swooping in to the rescue before you can say pumpkin pie in your face is Eve Harrow.

She contacted me about writing a guest post, and as it turns out, she knows a thing or two about sustainability and all things green.

So with a minimum of begging and pleading involved on my end, she agreed to write me up a post about how to successfully raise/grow pumpkins.

Perhaps next year I'll be able to redeem myself.

And here it is....

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How to Combat Pests and Grow Healthy Pumpkins

It’s a fact; pumpkins are hard to grow. Well, they’re easy to plant, and easy to feed, but if you want them to look perfect – bright, plump, orange and rounded – you’re going to need to do more than pop a seed in the ground and add water. Pumpkins take a long time to mature – around 85 to 125 days. During that time, they are vulnerable. There are many garden pests that take advantage of this and will damage – or even destroy – the plant of your orange beauties by spreading harmful bacteria and plant fungus.

The good news is, there are several organic methods you can take to prevent this damage. Hopefully, the following tips will ensure that if you’ve not had success with pumpkins before, your luck is about to change.

Grow in late season
If you plant your seeds at the beginning or middle of the season, you’ll be subjecting them to prime bug time. It’s a frequent mistake; thinking that by planting at the beginning of the season, you are allowing your pumpkins the maximum time in which to grow. In reality, it opens them up to increased risk of infection. Make sure you leave enough time before the end of the season for your pumpkins to reach full maturity, but by leaving it until the end of the high season; many of the colonies of bugs will have reached the end of their life spans. To give your pumpkins extra chance to flourish, start them off indoors so they are totally protected in their earliest days.

Pyrethrin combats squash vine borers
Pyrethrin is an organic pesticide, which can be found in many anti-insect products. The substance – harmless to humans and animals – protects the plant from squash vine borer eggs before they hatch into pesky bugs. For maximum effect, douse your entire pumpkin plant in a pyrethrin pesticide once every two days during the first week it starts to surface.

You should always keep an eye out for squash vine borers as, after the larvae are inside the plant, pesticides are much less effective. The small black and orange moths can be easily spotted grazing on the plant’s flowers, and they tend to lay their yellowish eggs at the base of plant stems. Make sure you tackle them before they get inside your pumpkin plants!

Encourage pollination
Pollination – by insects such as bees – to the plant’s flowers will aid growth of the pumpkin. You can aid this process by making sure the flowers are fully exposed. Remove protective row covers on a daily basis (first thing in the morning is the best time) and then replace again in the evening.

Prevent slugs
After squash vine borers, slugs and snails are probably the next most harmful creatures to your pumpkins. They feast on the new and tasty flesh of your pumpkins and create unsightly – and unhealthy – holes and tunnels all over the plant’s fruit. You can deter these pests by placing a layer of sand underneath your pumpkins as they appear. The dryness and blandness of the sand will keep slugs at bay and prevent them from going any nearer to your pumpkin.

Water properly
For those that farm pumpkins professionally, watering is not as easy as it sounds. Many will employ the use of a farming vehicle to distribute the right quantities of water. It’s an expensive and complex business though, such to the point where farm vehicle insurance is paramount and a specialist watering vehicle or equipment is a necessity. On an industrial scale, watering pumpkins is like science.

Luckily, if you are just growing a few for fun, it’s a little simpler (and you don’t need a tractor – or insurance!) However, an understanding of the pumpkin’s ideal water intake is key. Pumpkins require a lot of water for their growth (they consist of around 80-90% water) so having the right equipment – and knowing the right dosage – will ensure you grow a family of healthy pumpkins.

The secret to the watering process is not to give it to them unless they really need it. Check the soil moisture before watering; if it is moist and the plant looks healthy, it doesn’t need watering. When the soil starts to dry out, or the plant starts to wilt, that’s when it is thirsty. In this case, give it a good, long soak.
Deep and infrequent watering is key to ensuring healthy pumpkin patches. Furthermore, water plants at the base of the stem, not on the leaves. The best time to water is at the start of the day, so the plant is fully soaked when the light kicks in. This will also help protect from fungal diseases, which are rife in dry plants during the day time. When your pumpkin starts going orange, it will require less water. It will hardly need any water during its final 7-10 days.



Good luck for next season!



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Thanks, Eve!





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Don't forget, I will love you forever if you throw me a vote on Top Mommy Blogs. You know the drill by now, don't you? Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.



Thanks!


***************

In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.

Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
and Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up

Since today is Friday, that means I'm linking today's post with Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday, but I'll also be linking this same post up with some of the hops listed above in the coming week. Come join the fun!

Guest Posting at Five of My Own

Today I'm keeping comp'ny with Lori (a fellow adoptive Mom of three bios and three adopted -- sound familiar?) over at Five of My Own. I wrote a guest post for her called "Adoption and Loss", which she is posting today.

Read her intro and teaser, and then head on over!







I feel privileged to share another brilliant guest post from Anne Kimball. Anne is a bio/adoptive mother of six (gotta love that) and Top Mommy Blogger who writes Life on the Funny Farm. If you enjoy well written, smart and witty writing make sure you bookmark her site!


I think Anne crystallizes a great point in the adoption "debate" when she writes, "Rejoicing in the new does not mean there is not grieving for the old, for one does not take the place of the other. They coexist."

Enjoy....




*********************


Don't forget to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs! Just click on this brown button with the juggling chick. You can vote every day till like, forever.



Thanks!



***************



In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.

Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday, Crafty Garden Mama's Tuesday Greens, and
and Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up

Since today is Tuesday, that means I'm linking my post "Parallel Universe"
with Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up, "Pumpkins. Bleh." with Crafty Garden Mama's Tuesday Greens, and "Meeting My Babies - Part 2" with Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday.


Come join the fun!

5 Things Children Learn From Their Pets - A Guest Post

Today I am happy to welcome Roxanne Porter as a guest poster. She has written a great post on what kids learn from their pets. Be sure to check out her bio and link at the end of the post.

Thanks, Roxanne, take it away!



5 Things Children Learn From Their Pets


We’ve all seen pictures of children with their pets, and it’s not unusual for those pictures to conjure up feelings of nostalgia of times spent with your own first pet as a child, or to invoke a certain wistfulness of how much you longed for a pet growing up. This is largely because the relationship that a child has with his first pet is one that is unparalleled; the devotion that a pet will show to its owner and the lessons that children learn from their pets are ones that have the power to stick with them for a lifetime. Here are five things that children learn from their pets:
1. Unconditional love. Pets are notorious for offering unconditional love to their owners, and have no problem lavishing affection on those that take care of them, cuddling up to them to let them know they want to be near. This friendliness teaches children to operate with the same unconditional love and acceptance of their family members, friends, and peers.

2. Responsibility. Taking care of a pet is no small feat, and kids learn this quickly when they are forced to take their dog for a daily walk or that they have to clean out the cat litter box every morning. This sense of responsibility will spill over into other aspects of their lives, and will also give them a sense of accomplishment and pride in a job well done.

3. Patience. It takes time to train a pet to behave a certain way, especially when they are young, and pets will make mistakes from time to time. Children learn to have patience during these instances because they realize that their pet is just like a human and will falter on occasion.

4. Approach life with fervor. You rarely see a pet that is well taken care of having a bad day, and they often approach life with unconditional happiness and fervor. Seeing this joy for life is something that kids can then embody in their everyday life, living with a positive outlook instead of a negative one.

5. How to listen. Pets often act as silent confidants for children, and have acted as the holder of secrets, private information, and dreams and aspirations for kids all over the world. This character trait is one that children can pick up and apply in their own lives, listening unwaveringly to friends and family in times of need.
The lessons that children learn from their pets are lessons that they are able to take with them into the many different stages of their lives. Seeing a child with his pet is one of the most joyful things you can see, and each depends on the other to guide and to learn.






Author Bio:

Roxanne Porter is a freelancer & a regular contributor for nannyjobs.org. She helps in providing knowledge about nanny services & love writing on nanny related articles. She helps in giving a fair knowledge about nanny Jobs to the community. You can be in touch with her at “r.poter08ATgmail.com”.






Thanks, Roxanne!

****************************


Don't forget, I will love you forever if you throw me a vote on Top Mommy Blogs. You know the drill by now, don't you? Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.



Thanks!

***************

In case you didn't know it, I'm like the queen of blog-hoppin' lately. It's kind of like square dancing but without the dated outfits, smelly gym, and elderly caller.

Here's the schedule I keep:
Monday: Homestead Revival's Barn Hop and A Cat-Like Curiosity's Monday Mantras.
Tuesday: Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday
and Wrinkled Mommy's Tuesday Archive Link-Up
Wednesday: My Life and Kids Finding the Funny
Thursday: A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop
Friday: Deborah Jean's Dandelion House's Farmgirl Friday
Saturday: Camera Critter's Life With Dogs Pet Blogger Hop and Country Momma Cooks Saturday Link-Up

Since today is Thursday, that means I'm linking my post "Farm Friday - Good Help is Hard to Find"
with A Rural Journal's Rural Thursday Blog Hop.


Come join the fun!

Mirth Monday Becomes (for today) Guest Posting on Gadget Girl

Today I'm guest-posting over on Holan Kerrick's blog Gadget Girl Tips.

I know what you're thinking...

Why is a gal who doesn't know an IP from a URL guest-posting on a technology blog?

Well, it's true, I don't know much (cough - anything - cough) about technology, but I DO know kids. I'm kinda like an expert in that department, though I'm still waiting for any awards that would verify that claim.

Anyway, my post is called "Why I'm Not Friends With My Teen," so it's more about Facebook, and age appropriateness, and when to allow independence, than about anything technical, but Ms Kerrick, in her infinite graciousness, thought it fit the bill of somehow discussing technology and she let me guest post.

She is all kinds of awesome.

So. Gadget Girl Tips. Go check it out.



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PS: Must have gotten our wires crossed, b/c the post went up today, 7/3. If you click the link now, it will take you to my guest post. Thanks for your patience!



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Oh, wait! Before you go, you'll throw me a quick vote, won't you? You know, like you do everyday to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs? I knew you would, you're a dear. Just click this brown button. Thanks!




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Oh, and one more thing. I'm linking up my post "Farm Friday - Floating" on the Barn Hop over at Homestead Revival today. Come join the fun!

Inspiration Sunday Becomes (for today) Guest Posting With Meena Rose

Today I am guest-posting over on the blog "Through the Eyes of Meena Rose".

Some of you may be familiar with my story about meeting my daughter Bella? That would be the guest post Meena is hosting.

Go check it out!



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There was a delay, initially, but it's up now. Click on over!




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Thanks for stopping by.
If you like my blog, I hope you'll be able to take a minute to add yourself as a follower.
Come back soon! I'm here every day, rain or shine...

~Anne


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Don't forget, I will love you forever if you throw me a vote on Top Mommy Blogs. You know the drill by now, don't you? Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever. Thanks!

Look at Me, I'm Guest Posting!

Today I'm guest posting over on Monique Liddle's blog "Bends in the Road."
She is featuring my essay "The Broken Child," which is a piece I wrote after one particularly upsetting RAD/PTSD 'episode.'

Here's a teaser....

With the help of my other sons, we righted the table.
Rolling fruit was gathered and washed.
Jagged ceramic lay in pieces on the floor.
The dish, a gift, looked broken beyond repair.
I gathered the fragments together and began placing them in a sack to be discarded.

The dish wasn't the only broken thing here.
My son, full of teen angst and layers of past traumas, had flipped this table over in a moment of rage.
Not a rage over the losses in his life or the hurts he's endured, but over the latest insurmountable injustice. He didn't get the seat he wanted when it came time to watch a movie, and this insignificant precipitator had escalated and swollen till its enormity could not be controlled.

Sweeping up the broken bits too small to be gathered by hand, I wondered,
Could I fix my child?

Such arrogance to pose that question...



To read the rest, head on over to Bends in the Road.

Thanks!









Throw me a vote on Top Mommy Blogs? Just one click of this button (below) and you've voted. You can vote every day!



Thank you, thank you, thank you!