Is it time?

Young children frequently ask when excited about doing something, “Is it time?” That’s a great question for everyone to ask themselves. Is it time? Is it time to laugh a little more? Is it time to go after a dream? Is it time to take better care of yourself? Is it time to do a favor for a friend? Is it time to reach out to a young child who needs you? Is it time to forgive someone with whom you have been angry? Is it time to say, “I’m sorry” to someone you wronged long ago? Is it time to make a difference in the life of someone?

If your answer is yes to any of those questions, then it is time.

Have an awesome day and a wonderful week-end.

Maryln

Take a stand.

There is a very controversial case that just ended in Missouri. According to the news reports, a 39 year old man pleaded guilty to 3 felony counts of sexually molesting a young girl for 8 years, from the age of 6 to 14. The judge decided the man “presented no clear and present threat to the community” and let him off with 5 years of probation. You can see a video about this at http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-story-molester-sentence-090909,0,6782548.story

I cannot help but wonder when I read stories like this about who is really protecting our children. I think about this girl who was molested for 8 years. What will happen to her? How will she cope with life? Are other children near this convicted felon really safe?

I get so frustrated. It is said that 1 in 4 girls are sexually abused, and 1 in 7 boys. The only way this will stop is if victims start talking about it. Most victims feel too ashamed. They somehow think it is their fault that this happened to them. They keep the secret, and the secret keeps them!

Help children you work with to feel safe, to be protected, and nurtured. Take a stand and let your voice be known when you hear of situations that are unsafe for children. Together, we can all make a difference to ensure that all children grow up protected.

Have a great day. You are a difference maker.

Maryln

Go team, go.

It’s fun to go to a sporting event and root for a team. It is very motivational for those who are playing the game to hear the cheers. I believe the same thing applies to schools. Schools and classrooms need to have “team spirit.” They need not only someone to cheer them on, but to also be involved in cheering for themselves. The more they have that special spirit that says their “school” or their “class” is special, the more they will want to be there. The more they want to be there, the more fun they will have, and the more learning can occur.

Involve the children in coming up with cheers or positive rap songs about their classrooms. Start each day with your own positive cheerleading spirit.

Have a great day. You are a difference maker.

Maryln

Don’t let a few give the rest a bad name.

In recent days I have read several upsetting articles in newspapers. One article was about a dogfighting ring discovered adjacent to a Chicago day care. According to the article, dogs were being trained to “kill” only 10 feet away from where children were playing outside.

In still another story I read about a high school teacher being charged with inappropriately touching a student. The article went on to talk about how teachers were now wary of hugging children and afraid of being alone with a disgruntled student who might later accuse the teacher of inappropriate behavior.

Yes, there are truly upsetting incidents that can occur in child cares or schools. They are horrifying to read or see on television. It is interesting that rarely is there a headline story about something good that happens working with children. I would like to see headlines that say: “Teacher turns at-risk child’s life around.” “One teacher in this school made a difference that started a whole trend that caught on throughout the school.” “Parents are so happy to have their children in this great school.”

No, we never see those headlines, but that does not mean that every day is not an opportunity to strive to get them. When you do something that makes a difference, contact the media. Let them hear the good things. Let’s together all strive to show the world how important teachers are in the lives of children.

Have a great day. You are a difference maker.

Maryln

Columbus discovered America. What can you discover?

Today is a legal holiday in the U.S. It’s Columbus Day honoring Christopher Columbus. It took great courage for him to travel across the seas for something he so firmly believed at a time when others thought the world was flat.

There are some who may think some children are hopeless, that there is absolutely nothing that can be done to raise these children up. They think children born in poverty, children with disabilities, children who speak little or no English, children who are abused, have very little chance of success. Don’t believe those people. Those are the same type of people who said that the earth was flat. Someone has to believe. Someone has to hold out hope. Someone has to reach out to “cross that sea.” Be that someone in the lives of children. You are a difference maker.

Have a great day and a wonderful week.

Maryln