PARENTS DAY

By Diane Forrest

This has been a very family oriented month...this past week especially.  We had cousin's day, aunt and uncle day, Family reunion Month, and today is Parent's Day.  Now you are probably wondering why parent's day?  We have a Mother's Day and a Father's Day aren’t they getting enough recognition?

According to Wikipedia, In the United States, Parents' Day is held on the fourth Sunday of every July. This was established in 1994 when President Bill Clinton signed a Congressional Resolution into law (36 U.S.C. § 135) for "recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children. “The bill was introduced by Republican Senator Trent Lott. It was supported by members of the Unification Church, which also celebrates a holiday called Parents' Day, although on a different date. United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has said: "Replacing Mother's Day and Father's Day with a Parents' Day should be considered, as an observance more consistent with a policy of minimizing traditional sex-based differences in parental roles."  Leave it to a senator from Mississippi to come up with yet another holiday to honor our family members.

According to dateandtime.com, Parents’ Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday each year. Citizens, organizations, and federal, state, and local governmental and legislative entities are encouraged to recognize Parents’ Day through proclamations, activities, and educational efforts to recognize, uplift and support the role of parents in bringing up their children.

The Parents’ Day Council plays an active role in celebrating and promoting Parents’ Day through a range of events and activities.  For example, the council honors “Parents of the Year” at local, state and national levels. Those who have been nominated or selected are people who exemplify the standard and ideal of positive parenthood. Exemplary parents from each state are nominated for “National Parents of the Year”.

Parents’ Day is a popular time for people to send cards and gifts, including flowers, cakes and food hampers, to those who play an important role as a positive parental figure in their lives. It is also a time for families to come together for lunches or dinners. Special tributes to parental figures that are seen as role models are made through local announcements, at church services, or at local community events. Parents’ Day proclamations and rallies have been held in recent times and involved organizations such as the United Civil Rights Councils of America.

How will you be celebrating Parent's Day?

Family Month

By Diane Forrest

I recently celebrated a milestone birthday...I had been receiving threats from my cousins for a "payback” for my treatment of them for their milestone birthdays.  When my younger cousin turned 40, I started 40 days before her big day, and began sending her things with skull and crossbones on it, vulture’s black roses and other party fun.  Two years later, I repeated the fun when my older cousin turned 50.   He lives in Texas, so I hadn't seen him in 30 years, so wasn't sure how he would take my good-natured ribbing, and for the past couple of years I have thrown in a few jabs here and there.

As the time approached for my special day, I had not received any skulls, tombstones or any other references to being at death's door, and was actually a little disappointed that their payback was somewhat lacking.  Unbeknownst to me, the two of them had been scheming together for the past year planning efforts to really "get me".

Last Saturday, I was at my parent's home waiting to go out to a birthday lunch with my aunt and uncle, when a surprise visitor appeared.  It was the grim reaper showing up to take me to the other side!!!  He was dressed all in black from head to toe, and I just assumed it was my cousin's husband, but in fact it was my long lost cousin from Texas whom I haven't seen in 30 years!  It was a wonderful surprise...and a fantastic payback!  We all spent the weekend together; almost my entire family, and it couldn't have been more fantastic, well unless the rest of the family was there too.

May is National Family Month.  It starts on Mother's day, and ends with Father's day.  What a great time to get together with some of your family.  You don't have to have a big blow out like I did, but you never know how much you miss seeing your family, until you get together again.  So this month - set aside a few days to spend time with your children, siblings, parents, aunts uncles, cousins - everyone you can.  You will love it and so will they!!

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National Child Passenger Safety Week

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They are our future – let’s do our best to help them

By Terry Orr

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Child Passenger Safety Week to remind parents and caregivers to make sure that they are properly using and installing their child safety seats. A new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) survey shows that parents are making five significant mistakes when using car seats and booster seats. It also found that one in five parents do not read any instructions when installing seats.

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According to a new NHTSA survey, the following are the five most significant and commonly observed mistakes made by parents and caregivers when using and installing car seats and booster seats:

1. Wrong harness slot used - The harness straps used to hold the child in the car seat were positioned either too low or too high;
2. Harness chest clip positioned over the abdomen rather than the chest or not used at all;
3. Loose car seat installation - The restraint system moved more than two inches side-to-side or front to back; anything more than one inch is too much;
4. Loose harness - More than two inches of total slack between the child and the harness strap; there should be no slack; and
5. Seat belt placement was wrong – Lap belt resting over the stomach and/or shoulder belt on the child's neck or face.

An excellent checklist can be found here http://www.safekids.org/assets/docs/for-media/car-seat-checklist.pdf  to help you with the child seats.

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References and Links:

http://www.safercar.gov/parents/carseats.htm

http://www.multivu.com/mnr/57925-nhtsa-child-passenger-safety-week-2012

http://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/cpsweek2012

http://www.shopautoweek.com/articles/2012/09/government-lists-most-common-car-seat-mistakes-to-increase-aware.html

http://www.safekids.org/our-work/news-press/press-releases/buckle-up-program-15th-anniversary.html

http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2012/U.S.+DOT+and+Safe+Kids+Kick+)ff+Child+Passenger+Safety+Week+With+New+Survey+on+Common+Car+Seat+Mistakes

http://www.safekids.org/assets/docs/for-media/car-seat-checklist.pdf

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Safe Toys – 2012 Update

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By Terry Orr

Parents a special note just for you:

You are responsible for ensuring that the toys your children play with are safe!!

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As adults we need to ensure that the toys we purchase and or provide children are safe for them to play with - Here are 10 tips from Gifts.com on How to Buy Safe Toys:

1. Adhere to age guidelines indicated on the packaging.
2. Do the toilet paper tube test, "anything that can pass through the tube is too small to be given to a child under 3."
3. Check if a part can be bitten off or swallowed.
4. Avoid toys that have a string, ribbon or chord longer than 6 inches.
5. Make sure that the toy has a nontoxic, durable finish.
6. Avoid toys with sharp points, edges, or breakable parts.
7. For ride-on toys, make sure that it is sturdy and stable. Also, make sure that your child has the proper safety equipment to use it.
8. Toys with a decibel level higher than 100 can be harmful to the child's hearing.
9. Avoid toys that have shooting and throwing projectiles, it can cause injuries.
10. Check the Consumer Products Safety Commission for announcement on recalled toys.

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We should conduct periodic review of toys to ensure that they are in good order, age appropriate and still safe for our children.  I believe this should be done three or four times a year – especially before birthdays and holidays.

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Keeping abreast of the latest news on toys may sound daunting, but with subscribing to some of the watchdogs internet websites and blogs – there will forward you emails alerts.  In your normal conversations with other parents this topic will probably also come up with a product has been recalled or someone is asking advice about new toys.

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A final note on the topic of toys and safety – putting the toys away!  As a parent and grandparent this has been a pet peeve of mine for decades.  Stepping on or tripping over toys.

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References and links:

• http://kisbyto.blogspot.com/2011/08/safe-toys-basics.html
• http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/learning/safe_toys.html#
• http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/safety-resources-by-risk-area/toy/?gclid=CPLnqN_7w7ECFQhN4Aod3xcANg
• http://www.healthystuff.org/get-stuff.php?group-report=Toys
• http://www.toysafety.org/
• http://pediatrics.about.com/od/safety/a/1206_safe_toys.htm   
• http://cpsc.gov/

Respect for Parents - Update

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By Terry Orr

Respect:

• a particular, detail, or point (usually preceded by in ): to differ in some respect.
• relation or reference: inquiries with respect to a route.
• esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability: I have great respect for her judgment.
• deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment: respect for a suspect's right to counsel; to show respect for the flag; respect for the elderly.
• the condition of being esteemed or honored: to be held in respect.

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The 5^th Commandment:

King James Version: Honour thy father and thy mother

English Standard Version: Honor your father and your mother

New Living Translation: Honor your father and mother

I have always considered the Ten Commandment a fairly good guideline for people to follow.

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I also believe that one earns respect – it is not something given without cause.  Children learn by observing others – therefore, parents need to set the example and show respect for others and their children.

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One thing most parents agree on when it comes to parenting is that they want to teach their children to become respectful, polite and kind to others. Nothing makes a parent as proud as knowing you taught your child respect for other people. While most parents agree that this is important, many feel lost when it comes to teaching children this behavior. Teaching respect to a child is teaching them to become self-confident, mature and responsible. Respecting others' rights also teaches your child important core values that they will use throughout their lives.

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Read more: How to Help Children to Respect the Rights of Others | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_11367796_children-respect-rights-others.html#ixzz21vz4eUc8

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Happy Children’s Book Week

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By Akindman

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

— J. K. Rowling

It all began with the idea that children's books can change lives. Since 1919, Children's Book Week has been celebrated nationally in schools, libraries, bookstores, family homes--in fact, any place where there are kids and books. The need for CBW is as essential today as it was back in 1919, when the first Book Week event took place. Since 1944, the Children's Book Council--a non-profit organization--has developed materials and promoted and encouraged local celebrations of this national event.

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"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."

— Emilie Buchwald

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"Reading aloud with children is known to be the single most important activity for building the knowledge and skills they will eventually require for learning to read."

— Marilyn Jager Adams

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"Books were my personal pass to freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi."

~ Oprah Winfrey

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Links:

http://www.bookweekonline.com/

http://blog.firstbook.org/

http://www.rif.org

http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/_74

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/392/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXJr5l6wOz8

Parent's Day

Today is Parent's Day...who knew?  When I first saw this I never realized it was an actual holiday.  I mean, we already have Mother's Day and Father's Day.  Now a joint Parent's Day?  While I am a fan of any occasion that gives recognition for someone's hard work, this was a complete surprise to me.  After researching this day I found some pretty interesting facts.  Did you know that Parent's Day was established in 1994, and it was actually signed into law at that time by President Bill Clinton?  It is celebrated on the 4th Sunday in July every year.  The Congressional Resolution that was signed into law states that Parent's Day is for "recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children."   Another fact that is interesting to me is that this bill was introduced by Senator Trent Lott, who just happened to be the state senator from Mississippi, my home state!  This is another reason why I am surprised that I haven't heard of this holiday before. 

United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has said: "Replacing Mother's Day and Father's Day with a Parents' Day should be considered, as an observance more consistent with a policy of minimizing traditional sex-based differences in parental roles"  I can't say that I agree with the honorable judge.  There has always been and I hope will always be sex-based parenting roles.  There will always be a mommy and a daddy.  While the family unit may differ, there may only be 1 parent, or 2 males, or 2 females, or even 1 male and 1 female, in order to naturally produce a child it will still always take a mother and a father, a male and female.

In today's world, traditional roles may have changed, the father may not be the breadwinner, choosing instead to stay home and be the caregiver while the mother works.  Both parents’ may work outside the home and share child rearing responsibilities.  In single parent homes the parent takes the roles of both mother and father.   While you may have a mom, who can't cook, but coaches on the soccer team while the dad whips up a batch of chocolate chip cookies they still have a role to play that should be recognized individually as well as jointly.

I can't say that I see doing away with Mother's Day and Father's day for a joint Parent's day, after all Parents’ Day has been established for 17 years now, and I’m just now learning about it.  It must not even be a biggie with Hallmark Cards.  But I do think that it’s a good idea to recognize your parents and thank them for helping you become the person you are today.  You wouldn't be expected to go all out, especially if you celebrated in May and June; however a phone call to your parents letting them know you appreciate them, and catch them up on current events in your life would be a nice gesture.

So, today, on Parent's Day, give your folks a call, send an email or text to let them know you are thinking of them.  I'm positive it will make their day!

National Missing Children Day

Can you imagine having one of your children missing? It is every parent's nightmare, yet every day, more children disappear without a trace.

May 25 is National Missing Children's Day

It's a reminder for all parents, guardians, teachers and other role models to make child safety a priority.

In honor of National Missing Children's Day, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children encourages you to take 25 minutes to help make children safer.

  

  25 ways to make kids safer

At Home

1. Teach your children their full names, address, and home telephone number. Make sure they know your full name.
   
2. Make sure your children know how to reach you at work or on your cell phone.
   
3. Teach your children how and when to use 911 and make sure your children have a trusted adult to call if they're scared or have an emergency.
   
4. Instruct children to keep the door locked and not to open the door to talk to anyone when they are home alone. Set rules with your children about having visitors over when you're not home and how to answer the telephone.
   
5. Choose babysitters with care. Obtain references from family, friends, and neighbors. Once you have chosen the caregiver, drop in unexpectedly to see how your children are doing. Ask children how the experience with the caregiver was and listen carefully to their responses.
   

On the Net

1. Learn about the Internet. The more you know about how the Web works, the better prepared you are to teach your children about potential risks. Visit www.NetSmartz.org for more information about Internet safety.
   
2. Place the family computer in a common area, rather than a child's bedroom. Also, monitor their time spent online and the websites they've visited and establish rules for Internet use.
   
3. Know what other access your child may have to the Internet at school, libraries, or friends' homes.
   
4. Use privacy settings on social networking sites to limit contact with unknown users and make sure screen names don't reveal too much about your children.
   
5. Encourage your children to tell you if anything they encounter online makes them feel sad, scared, or confused.
   
6. Caution children not to post revealing information or inappropriate photos of themselves or their friends online.
   

At School

1. Walk the route to and from school with your children, pointing out landmarks and safe places to go if they're being followed or need help. If your children ride a bus, visit the bus stop with them to make sure they know which bus to take.
   
2. Remind kids to take a friend whenever they walk or bike to school. Remind them to stay with a group if they're waiting at the bus stop.
   
3. Caution children never to accept a ride from anyone unless you have told them it is OK to do so in each instance.
   

Out and About

1. Take your children on a walking tour of the neighborhood and tell them whose homes they may visit without you.
   
2. Remind your children it's OK to say NO to anything that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused and teach your children to tell you if anything or anyone makes them feel this way.
   
3. Teach your children to ask permission before leaving home.
   
4. Remind your children not to walk or play alone outside.
   
5. Teach your children to never approach a vehicle, occupied or not, unless they know the owner and are accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult.
   
6. Practice "what if" situations and ask your children how they would respond. "What if you fell off your bike and you needed help? Who would you ask?"
   
7. Teach your children to check in with you if there is a change of plans.
   
8. During family outings, establish a central, easy-to-locate spot to meet for check-ins or should you get separated.
   
9. Teach your children how to locate help at theme parks, sports stadiums, shopping malls, and other public places. Also, identify those people who they can ask for help, such as uniformed law enforcement, security guards and store clerks with nametags.
   
10. Help your children learn to recognize and avoid potential risks, so that they can deal with them if they happen.
    
11. Teach your children that if anyone tries to grab them, they should make a scene and make every effort to get away by kicking, screaming, and resisting.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a private, non-profit organization established in 1984 by the United States Congress.



Primarily funded by the Justice Department, the NCMEC acts as an information clearinghouse and resource for parents, children, law enforcement agencies, schools, and communities to assist in locating missing children and to raise public awareness about ways to prevent child abduction, child sexual abuse and child pornography. John Walsh, Noreen Gosch, and others advocated establishing the center as a result of frustration stemming from a lack of resources and coordination between law enforcement and other government agencies.



The Center provides information to help locate children reported missing (by parental abduction, child abduction, or running away from home) and to assist physically and sexually abused children. In this resource capacity, the NCMEC distributes photographs of missing children and accepts tips and information from the public. It also coordinates these activities with numerous state and federal law enforcement agencies.



http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/216857.pdf Federal Resources on

Missing and Exploited Children - A Directory for Law Enforcement and Other Public and Private Agencies