LONG LOST FAMILY.

I know that a lot of people don’t like to have a social networking site like Facebook or Myspace. To be honest with you I was not really interested in these sights at first. Then one of my sisters told me to get a Myspace account in which I did, but I never had time to keep it updated or to log on. The Myspace account is lost somewhere in cyber space, along with thousands of other accounts. Then one of our fellow classmates showed me her Facebook account, which I thought was pretty cool so I decided to join the rest of the world. It was very interesting that I could IM with my family member in Mexico in which I have not seen in more than two years. Recently I received a request from some guy in California, to be honest I was not going to accept him, but he informed me that he thought we were cousins. I knew I had long lost relatives but had no idea where to begin looking for them. I never got to meet my aunt because she died before I was even thought of. I also found out I have relatives in Joliet Il. which my sisters and I are planning to make a visit in two weeks. I am very excited and curious to meet, just to see the resemblance. But I have to say I don’t regret getting an account with Facebook. There is a rumor that Facebook will be charging fifteen dollars starting in July. Before I found out about my relatives I said that I would close my account before, I would pay fifteen dollars a month. Like the saying says family is priceless!!!!

Gizzelle had to go to her, ear, nose and throat doctor, last week. Dr. Van Hake and I always seem to end up talking about everything that has been going on with in the last couple of months. Dr. told us that he had went on a missionary trip to the Dominican Republic. That he really enjoyed working with all the people and how modest they are. He said what seem to amaze him more was the children, and the ways they entertained themselves. Dr. informed me that there was two boys who wanted to play together and they found a old rim to a bike and put a stick in it, rolling it down the hill to see who could get it the farthest down the hill, another child tied plastic garbage bags together in order to make a soccer ball. I was amazed just to know that there are people out there who still use their imaginations. I can’t believe how materialistic our children have become. Davian for instance, on beautiful days wants to be inside playing the Wii or the Nintendo DS. I come in the house turn it off and the first thing he says MOOOOM I am done with my homework. Then I have to explain to him that it is beautiful outside and he needs fresh air, and some vitamin D. He them stomps his way outside. Then I start to think did I as a parent fail too let his imagination wonder. Was it a mistake buying the Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii? When I was growing up I spent majority of my time in Peoria but during the summer and winter vacation we went to Mexico. I enjoyed my days there playing in water puddles, going around in the fields with a empty glass jar collecting any and every insect we found. Are parents to blame?

A couple of my classmates from another class informed me that they will probably have to start taking night classes. I asked them why? They brought to my attention that kids who are under the age of five will not have an early learning center to attend. Do to the state’s budget cut; they are looking for ways to save money! Not realizing this also affects me, my two younger children are attending a Head Start Program, which will no longer be available. This is really upsetting due to the fact that children are learning very young in these programs. Izzy my middle child is only four years old and he already know how to write his name, colors inside the lines, knows his ABC’s. Not just the song but he recognizes the actual letters. Best of all they are learning how to interact with other children. Gizzelle my baby is two years old and she understands that sharing is caring! She can also recognize the letters in her name when she sees a G, she says mom that’s my name! I say no, but your name starts with a G. The Head Start, Bright Futures, Early Learning programs help children get a head start on early learning. Not to mention when these kids are in school most parents are either at work or school themselves! There is an option to send your child to a babysitter, but would you want your child to sit in front of a television all day? Know days in order for a family to get by living comfortably both parents have to work outside of the home. Oh, did I mention there will be no Prekindergarten either .Sonya who is a teacher’s aid for an early learning center attended the board meeting said that they want to do away with kindergarten as well. What the hell, are they going to get rid of next? Unfortunately Sonya long with hundreds of other teacher and teacher’s aids will no longer have a job at the end of this school year! So this will make the unemployment go up! I guess if I have to, I will take night classes. But I tried that once and I didn’t do so hot, never had time to go to the help labs!

NEW CURRENCY

I recently received an email from my older sister about the new gold dollar coin that came out, stating to reject this coin if we are to receive it for the reason that they removed “IN GOD WE TRUST”. To hear about this it made me upset, why are we removing God from our American symbols? I did do a Google search on this coin and I am please to say that in God We Trust still remains on our coin, it is located on the side of the coin instead of on the front. In the Pledge of Allegiance they wanted to remove “One Nation under God” when I was a freshman in High School, not sure if they ever did! Never mind, I just had Davian recite the Pledge of Allegiance and it remains the same! I understand that we live in a country with freedom of speech, and we are entitled to say what we want and act the way we please. That is why I believe if those individual who don’t believe in God can refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance, or use our currency, my suggestion is that they could use plastic I haven’t noticed anything associated with God on any Visa, Master or American Express cards. Davian informed me that there are a couple of kids in his class who don’t say the Pledge of Allegiance, do to religious reasons. He is quite not sure what this means at this point in time, but I told him to respect their decisions.

I have been watching the Spanish News channel lately, and they have been discussing if gay couples should be able to adopt children. Like always this is a very controversy issue, many people including myself believe that they should be able to adopt these children. But of course there are those people who are negative and say no way. This very famous Spanish singer Paquita, said during one of her interviews that she would rather “have a child die then be adopted by a gay couple.” Of course they all began to boycott her, and she apologized to the gay community. This is ridiculous how can, she wish death upon a child who has the opportunity to be in a loving home. I believe as long as a person is financially and mentally able to care, for a child who is in need of a family let them adopt. I have met gay couples who have been together for fifteen years plus, and they say they are content with their lives, but always feel an emptiness in their hearts and homes. I just heard on Monday that Ricky Martin came out of the closet, stating that he was gay (we all knew this already). Ricky a father of twin boys has had many interview with magazines and said he is very happy with his son’s and does everything from diaper changing and feedings all by himself. This is a good example of what parents regardless of sexual preferences should do. There are many people out there who have babies and fail to care for them. I think that people who want to adopt children should be able to as long as they can provide a loving and caring home.

THE CHIP

I don’t know if any of you are familiar with the Chelsea King case in CA? Her body was found on a jogging trail. They have a man (John Gardner III) in custody for her murder he is a registered sex offender. It so happens that there are other girls in the area missing. One of his victims escaped and identified him as her kidnapper. We all know that the government tries its hardest to keep these sex offenders registered at all times having them check in at the local police station or with probation officer. If these sex offenders fail to check in the police will go looking for them at their last known address. The only problem I see with that is if this offender did something horribly wrong he could be halfway across the country by the time they look for him. That is why I believe all sex offenders regardless if it is their first offense or not need to be chipped. That is right; the government needs to install chips in to these people to keep track of them at all times. Imagine if a kid ends up missing and they have this person monitored at all times with a chip. They could easily determine if this sex offender was in the area that the victim was last seen and where there new location may be. I believe that all sex offenders need to wear a monitoring device at all times, this will help families within the area feel more relaxed know that the government has a location for these people at all times.

Some of you may already know that I am writing my first paper on teaching children to be bilingual. This is a big controversy with one of my family members. My brother and his wife have two children, who don’t know a single thing in Spanish. She also comes from a Hispanic family who speak very little if any Spanish to the children. When the children go to their maternal grandparents home, they come back really confused, the grandparents tell them that they are not Mexican. Which, infuriates my family because why would you not want your children to know who they really are? I don’t only blame the grandparents but the parents as well. When the children come to our side of the family dinners or just to visit they are very confused because they hear us speaking in Spanish and they often ask what did you say? They often come to my home, and I try to teach them but they are reluctant to learn. I tell my sister-in-law that they need to teach them both languages. She often replies I know, that is why I want to send them to Mexico in the summer with your mom. Sorry but spending the summer in Mexico is not going to help them learn Spanish, and if they do learn it, they will forget it when they come back. We all know that they will not continue to talk to them in Spanish when they are here.(either you use it or lose it) I have a couple of friends who only spoke English and when they started hanging out with me they wanted to learn Spanish. They are both fluent in Spanish, and people often are surprised to hear them speak in Spanish! One of them has a seven year old son who she taught to speak Spanish. I was very pleased to know that my Spanish speaking abilities has benefit my friend.