The Long Journey – Mental Health Month
She told her sister that she’d danced that day for her high school counselor. Not hardly the truth, I reasoned. Calling the school the following day, my daughter’s counselor said not only had she…
THEY’RE YOUR KIDS, NOT YOUR FRIENDS
A cranky old lady once told me kids weren't my friends. I wondered just what was wrong with her thinking. She had passed away by the time an editor asked me if I had any suggestions for my book title.…
BLOWING WINDS AND RAGING FIRES
This blog was written pre- pandemic. I'm republishing it, now, with a "Hail Corona Virus" message for parents in school districts across this country. We are the only safety net our children have. Who tells me what's safe for my…
Where’s My Valentine?
A dozen roses. A box of chocolates. A romantic candlelight dinner. A thoughtful present wrapped with fancy red ribbon and bow.Oh, a card with clever wording that says you’re very special.What about a Valentine's Day when the goodies don’t come your…
Slaves Were Happy – No More, No Less
America has advanced from Negro History Week to Black History Month. High school textbooks have come a long way since the time when there was no mention of slavery in them and then to a couple of paragraphs with a…
Ah Yesteryear
There’s no longer any point in making comments on the nonsense of daily occurrences because after so many years of writing, I’ve said it all.If I were to reread any one of my columns or a blog from last year…
Baby Thug Snatched By Child Protective Services
If you haven’t heard about Thug Baby, you don’t watch the six o’clock news. If you haven’t seen the disturbing YouTube video, now is your chance. Just Google "Thug Baby" and you'll have it..You’ll see a two-year-old in diapers, on…
No V For Victory Just Yet
“Well!” exhaled the black lady in front of me in line at the post office.“I’m just tired of S--t”, she went on to complain.As I see life, it’s our personal responsibility to reach out to a fellow sufferer, and so…
Find A Kid
Ever wonder why you, your kids and your family are doing so well? Maybe you think this statement is somewhat intrusive since I don’t really know how you or the others around you are managing. Well, you’re right to question…
White Boy Kills Four, Injures Many, Gets Probation
Sixteen-year-old Ethan Couch, while driving his wealthy dad's truck home from a party he had attended, and with a blood alcohol level 3 times above the legal limit, slammed into a group of people on the side of the road, …
Who is Myrna Raeder?
College? Every hand in the room goes up when the question is asked.Locked up behind bars? No hands.In every parenting class that I conduct for incarcerated moms at the California Institution for Women in Chino, CA, I ask these two…
Calling the DCFS Hotline? You Didn’t Read it Here!
The headstrong young teenager didn’t believe his mom when she laid down the rules for the time he had to come home at night.Now, in all honesty, this kid isn’t too much different than others his age, as the teenage…
Microwaves and Frying Pans
Charlie Sheen’s twins are only 4-year-olds, and they are out of control. Then there’s the overweight 16-year-old who beat his mom to death with a frying pan and attacked his father a few hours later. Oh, and I didn’t get…
The Kids Are Kicking Out The Klassics
VERDUGO YOUNG MUSICIANS ASSOCIATION TO PERFORM AT BENEFIT EVENTThe Verdugo Young Musicians Association (VYMA) works to transform young lives through music, using both free and tuition-based after-school high-level music education programs where young musicians discover the dedication, teamwork and joy…