"…And these children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds are immune to your consultations.  They’re quite aware of what they’re going through…"  (David Bowie)

Some of you may recognize that quote from the beginning of the 1985 film "The Breakfast Club."  As I was reading a daily devotional today by John Fischer he referenced that quote and it hit a point with me.  Though it has been a number of years since I have seen the film, it has always held a strange place in my heart.

For those who have never seen it, the film depicts a day of Saturday detention for five high school kids.  As the story unfolds, we get a glimpse into each of their private worlds, sharing in their dreams and disappointments.  As the day progresses each of these five from very different worlds come together by opening up and sharing the outside influences that shape their daily lives.  The film also shows the total disconnect that exists between the students and the authority figure for the day.  He hasn’t a clue of what any of their lives are really about.  If you haven’t seen the film, I would recommend you watch it.  If you have, then, like me, maybe it is time to watch it again.

Quoting from John’s devotional:  “We heard from youth workers and parents who, instead of judging and condemning kids, came along side them and loved them, even when that meant bailing them out of jail or driving them home drunk from a party; and we heard from kids, what this kind of love did for them.

It occurs to me that this truth is not just for adults and kids; it’s universal. You really don’t have a right to speak into anybody’s life until you know what he or she is going through; and you don’t know what someone is going through unless you listen without passing judgment.”

As parents, I know it is all too easy to get so involved with the day to day necessities of life that we don’t take the quality time to invest in our children. Often we get so caught up in looking out for their safety, that we overlook one of the most important keys to safety….communication. Over reacting and passing judgement closes the doors of communication for your child. Why should they confide in a parent whom they know is going to “amp out?”

I hold a high regard for teachers. As in any profession, there are good and bad. There are those that put forth that extra bit of care and emotion that allow them to become guideposts for their students. Unfortunately there are also some that can’t wait to pass the kids onto the next grade, taking no time to notice a silent cry for help. Much of the problem lies not just with the teacher, but with the structure and mandates of school administration. With the state of public education being what it is today, my hat really goes off to those parents who have wisely chosen to homeschool their children. 

Bottom line though is that parents should be the primary caregivers for their children. The Breakfast Club was written 22 years ago. Everything that those kids had to deal with are still factors for today’s youth, plus a multitude of additional stresses. 

Do you know what your kids are going through today?

Till next time,
Dave

Chances are, you have a cell phone.  Most people do these days.  In fact, it is predicted that by the end of this year, over 4 billion cell phones will have been sold.

For quite some time now I have been seeing and reading articles relating to the negative effects of cell phone use on our health.  According to studies, using your cell phone over a course of 10 years will double your chance of developing a tumor on a nerve connecting your ear to your brain. 

There is particular concern over allowing your child to use a cell phone.  Their thinner skulls and developing nervous systems are simply more vulnerable to cell phone damage.  Even holding your infant in one arm while talking on a cell phone on the opposite side of your body, exposes your baby to harmful radiation.

It has even been suggested that the increase in cell phone use over the past few years may be linked to the continuing rise in the autism epidemic.  For more information and to read the complete article, you can click here.

I myself have a cell phone, and though I’m sure it would prove inconvenient, I could learn to live without it again, as I did prior to 2004 when I purchased my first one.  Rather than give it up completely though, I will probably look into devices on the market that make cell phone usage safer. 

One thing is for certain:  None of us will get out of this world alive.  But we should give our children every possible protection that we can, and certainly shield them from known dangers.  While doing away with cell phones completely may not be a viable option in the tech crazed society in which we live, as parents we can attempt to restrict their usage. 

Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Till next time,
Dave

Looking for an online community geared toward the 7-14 age group?  A place where you can feel comfortable in letting your child spend time with friends, chatting and playing games…all in a moderated environment?  Take a few minutes to check out this new site at  GoLive2.comKraze

GoLive2 is a free site where kids can engage in two of the most popular activities  on the internet today…chatting and gaming.  In their own words, this is what you can expect at GoLive2.comKraze:

"GoLive2.Com Kraze™ is an online community where kids can hang out with their friends, play games, share pictures and videos, and more in a safe, fun, and FREE moderated virtual environment.

What makes the Kraze™ unique from every other kids online community is threefold:

First, the Kraze™ features two distinct, gender-specific worlds: Onimech, home of the battle AI robots the Wowbotz™, and Zynia, home of the adorable and fun-loving Mystikats Kutties™. Of course, both worlds are open to all kids.

Secondly, every social area and personal room in the Kraze™ features video and audio capabilities. Just hook up your webcam and microphone, and let the Kraze™ Kids see the kid behind the character (And parents, worry not! All content is strictly monitored for the safety and comfort of all Kraze™ Kids).

And last but not least, the Kraze™ is 100% FREE! All kids have to do is register, and all of the games, social acitivities, and fun features are at your disposal!

Plus, if you sign up now, you’ll get some sweet starter coins to jumpstart your Kraze™ experience!

Create and name a character of your own design! Play games to buy additions to make your character and room more unique! Design your personal room and hang out with your friends!"

With all the risks involved with children on the internet these days, it is nice to have some safe alternatives for kids to hang out with their friends. 

For parents looking for an even safer environment for their younger children, I recommend you take a look at Buddy Browser. 

Buddy Browser is a closed browser with thousands of websites pre-approved for children.  It offers parental controls that will allow you to block access to other browsers, has kid friendly controls and icons, a safe chat atmosphere for your child and their buddies and live math tutorials for K-6 levels, among other features.  This browser is a free download, contains no adware of spyware and will be entertaining for your young child.

Your kids will love it and you can be assured that you are providing them with a safe educational experience that they can grow with.

Till next time,
Dave

Okay.  I am sure that by now everyone has heard the news about the middle school in Portland Maine that will now be dispensing birth control pills to 11 year old girls if they want them.   And guess what?  It is entirely possible that the parents may not even know about it.

How ridiculous is this?  And what does this say about the society that we live in today?

Parents have to sign a consent form for their child to be treated at the school’s health center.  But that is like writing a blank check.  Once consent is given, "patient privacy rights" kick in so if a young girl goes to the nurse and asks for birth control pills, the nurse is not required to notify the parents.  The child doesn’t have to tell their parents either.  So what message is the school sending here"  Sounds like "Hey if you want to be sexually active at 11 years of age, don’t worry, we will help you hide it from your parents."

Keep in mind now that in the state of Maine, it is illegal to engage in sexual activity if a person is under 14 years of age.  But the school will provide birth control pills for the girls and condoms for the boys to enable this activity.  I’m sorry, but to me this just sounds crazy!

Dr. Prudence Hall is the Founder and Medical Director of Functional Medicine & Gynecology at The Hall Center. She tells her teen and female patients to not take the pill.

"I was shocked to find that most of my twenty year old patients on the pill, had hormone levels that were on par with my menopausal patients. Normal estrogen levels for twenty and thirty year olds should be 150-250. Most of the pill users had levels of fifteen, twenty or low thirties. Less than thirty is considered to be in the menopausal range."

Information emerging about the female brain reveals that estrogen is an essential hormone for healthy brain functioning.

·        It enhances the connections between neurons, resulting in improved memory and prevention of dementia.

·        Mood, smell, self-esteem, and even the ability of a woman to choose a healthy partner to father her child depend on estrogen.

·        It stimulates the production of serotonin, which is one of the "feel good" hormones in the brain.

·        When estrogen is low, serotonin levels become low, resulting in depression, OCD, paranoia and ADD.

Dr. Hall says, "this is why so many women, who have low estrogen due to the birth control pill, end up on antidepressants and other medications.

I understand that teen pregnancy is an issue that must be dealt with. Babies having babies has become far too common in the world that we live in. But schools handing out birth control pills that could end up creating more health problems for the girls that take them, cannot be the best solution to this issue.

I know, I know, I know!

I said a few days ago that I would give this internet safety thing a rest after that post…."for now." 

I’m glad I put that little "for now" disclaimer in because, as we all know, in the internet world there is always something new to keep up with.

I will make this short.  I came across an application tool on the United States Dept. of Justice website that every parent should watch.  In fact you should also watch it with your child and discuss it.

The tool is "What Can Be Revealed About Your Child In Minutes While Online?"

It can be found at the bottom of the webpage listed under Interactive Tools at this web address:

http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/ceos/index.html

You can link directly to the tool here.  It is a small downloadable program that will walk you through the steps that a predator could use to track down your child in 45 minutes starting with only their username and then progressing to find their address and the school which they likely attend.

They are your children.  Take the time to prevent the crime.

Till next time,
Dave