Tag Archives: postaweek2011

Misfits on the Island of Misfit Toys 22

Autism Spectrum, Bullying, Bystanders • Tags: ,
Hermie
Rudolph

I love Jess at A Diary of a Mom and Leigh at Flappiness is… too, so I completely understand why all of you love them. I followed Jess closely as she went to the White House and I went with Jess to Harvard and I will be eternally grateful that she took me along. I fell in love with Leigh over her beautiful Apology letter. I too enjoyed #youmightbeanautismparentif and #whatanautismparentneeds. I even added to the #AutismPride although not as eloquently as some of you. Yet, all of you break my heart everyday without realizing it.

My heart breaks because I know my daughter did not have the services your children have. My daughter did not have our understanding when she was little because we did not understand. We tried to get help, but we got the wrong help and during that time damage was done. Then bullying made everything over a hundred times worse. Still, she was on the mend until last year when the bullies rubbed salt in her healing wounds, and an intolerant teacher pushed her over the edge.

Then I convinced her to share her heartbreak and her successes with you, but she never got the support Jess and Leigh get, so she stopped sharing. She realized what I tried not to believe. Too few really care and we cannot make any of you care. We are insignificant.

Bullying is not as interesting as successes shared about cute younger children. There is no way to make it fun because there is nothing fun about it. I hope and pray none of you ever know the heartbreak of trying to help your beautiful children overcome the longterm effects of bullying or worse yet having to bury them because of bullying. I was hoping to help prevent this from happening to you. I now realize I cannot do that because no one is really listening.

We are misfits even on the Island of Misfit Toys.

Yes Virginia It Is Okay to Say Happy Holidays! 11

Celebrations, Gratitude, Tolerence • Tags: , ,

Dear Readers,

Generally I avoid discussions about religion. I am a Christian, but I believe in tolerance in all forms, and I am grateful for those who understand the need for tolerance of differences, so yes Happy Holidays is correct. I know some of my Christian friends are going to disagree with me on this one. I only hope you will hear me out before you attack.

I watched Have a Little Faith, the movie inspired by Mitch Albom’s book by the same name, earlier this week and I fell in love with two deceased men, Rabbi Albert L. Lewis and Pastor Henry Covington. When Albom asked Rabbi Lewis why he supports others of different faiths he replied, “Why Tree’s….Why not one prefect tree for the whole earth?” He went on to explain there are oaks and elms, etc. Then he said, “Many trees, the branches all leading to God.” He explained that hate is wrongly engaged in the name of religion for all religions teach, “Honor thy neighbor!” Did I say I love this man?

Yes, Christ is in Christmas and he should remain there; however, even some Christians celebrate more than just Christmas during December. For instance, December sixth is Saint Nicholas Day. In German culture: Europeans celebrate St. Nicholas Day activities (pictures) – National Germany Headlines | Examiner.com.

December eighth is Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org.

Another Feast Day – Our Lady of Guadalupe | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org starts on December twelfth. Yes Christmas is the basis for these, but they are not technically Christmas.

Then, we have other religions that are practiced in the United States and around the world that should also be honored. December fifth was The Day of ‘Ashura, a religious observance marked every year by Muslims. The word ‘Ashura literally means “10th,” as it is on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islāmic year.

The Buddhist community celebrates Bodhi Day on December eighth. You can read about it at: How To Celebrate Bodhi Day | DoItYourself.com.

The Jewish community celebrates Hanukkah from December twenty-first through December twenty-eighth. Read about it: Rabbi Barry A. Kenter: Hanukkah: Not Quite the Jewish Christmas.

Then there is the religion I know the least about, BBC – Religions – Zoroastrian: At a Glance. They celebrate Zarathosht Diso on December twenty-sixth.

December twenty-second is The Winter Solstice Wicca and Pagan Festival: Wiccans Celebrate Shortest Day at the Celtic Festival of Yule | Suite101.com.

You might notice I left the Hindu and Taoist religions out. They do not have celebrations in December although they do in other months.

I wish all of my readers around the world Happy Holidays!

Redux: Did You See Santa Bully Rudolph? 4

Bullying, Differences • Tags: , , , ,

I originally posted this last December after someone started me thinking differently about Rudolph. This week political correctness run amuck has multiple sites talking about a segment on Fox News:

War On Christmas | Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Ban | Mediaite.

Rudolph has always been one of my favorite Christmas shows, but we were too busy to watch it when it was on a week ago, so my family and I watched last night. Thanks to my fellow bloggers, I watched it with a fresh set of eyes.

Now obviously everyone knows Rudolph and his buddies were not treated very well. That I got! What I didn’t get initially is how the whole show is about being cruel to those who are different. When you look at it that way it makes you think.

My thoughts are that at the time Rudolph was made, it probably was meant to teach tolerance, but given today’s climate, it really does seem cruel. I can certainly see why there are people who do not like it, so I have some questions for you.

Do you think Rudolph should have let Santa and others off so easily? Remember I’m all about forgiveness, but even I can understand why many think he shouldn’t have. Still, I think Rudolph did the right thing.  It would have been nice if Santa and everyone else had really changed, but that isn’t really clear in the story.

Should the classic be remade to make it politically correct? I love Burl Ives and I love “There’s Always Tomorrow,” so I would be sad if the original Rudolph was no longer a Christmas classic. I think it might be more important for parents to use it to talk about bullying and how wrong it is like my parents did instead.

For those watching Charlie Brown, what about Lucy? Is she a “mean girl?” Many are also talking about the Disney classics. Let me know if you think of others?

Be the Change You Want! 2

Books, Bullying, Bystanders, Gratitude, Parenting, Schools, Teachers • Tags: , , ,

The covers have to come off in the morning, the head must avoid the sand, the lips must speak up for change to happen. Help prevent those stories you refuse to read. Real change requires full participation! Support others who are trying to make a difference.

This includes Michele Borba, who I am proud to call my Twitter friend and hero! She wrote an excellent post on what to do if your teen is cyberbullied! FYI the video is an overview of her book and is used here with her permission. Watch and you will see why she is my hero!

Be kind, respectful, forgiving and supportive of all people. Teach your children with your words and with your deeds. Join in the discussions of ways to help! Truly, this is the only option for real change. Please realize this and join me in helping to make a difference. Our children are our future and they deserve our full support!