It doesnt have to be like that!!!

I didn't know if I was going to blog about this subject because it is almost like politics to me. The

problem is that it is heavy on my heart. So I know that means I must. In this crazy world that we live in, it is our duty to fully protect our children. Sometimes things happen that are out of our hands, but once we get word of the situation we are to grasp it and handle it immediately, and as adults. Please if you are going to be bias and ignorant I am asking you to leave the blog now. This is a place for me to vent and hopefully help other mothers out.

Most know that I am not the nicest person when it comes to my kids. They mean the absolute world to me, and if I could protect them 24/7 I sure would. Sariah who is my oldest started kindergarten last year and I couldn't have been more excited for her. Seeing that smile on her face when I took her for registration was priceless. We all grew up thinking that school was a safe haven for our kids, but in the last few years that hasn't been the case. A lot of bad has happened to students, innocent little hearts taken away too soon. Now I understand that God is the creator of all, he writes out our lives before we are even born. Still I can never understand why the things that happen in this world do, and I guess it isn't for me to understand.

Now I would send my baby to school everyday with her hair nice, a cute outfit on and some beautiful earrings. I knew that she wouldn't come home looking the way I sent her. It is kindergarten for crying out loud. What I didn't expect was for her to come home and tell me that someone had pushed her in the mud and not one adult did anything about it. Nor did they think to let me know. Oh, and did I mention it was picture day? Yes. I went back up to that school to speak with the principal, but I automatically knew that he wasn't about to do anything. So, a few weeks pass and riri comes home to tell me that a little girl in her class cut her hair. WTH!!! Are we for real right now? How in the hell did a little girl cut my babies hair and the teacher didn't think to tell me. I didn't wait to for the next day to come, I went straight to the office and demanded to speak with someone. Of course to my surprise no one that had any authority was there.

Now I am about to be 100% honest, I wanted to beat that little girls moms ass. Then I thought is it worth it?  I believe children are the way they are because of how they are raised. If you allow them to act like they are being raised in a barn then that is how they are going to act. If you dress them like a gang member then that's what they will become. I told you don't read this if you are biased on this topic. I am giving you a moment to leave..... That moment is now up. On with my rant. Parents you are the example for you child/children. Get your stuff together and stop acting like it is funny when your child cusses, or when your child hits their brother or sister and laughs about it. I have always heard the saying " you are to train up a child", so I do blame the parents. When your kids get older they usually test the waters a bit and act out. If you did your best then they will come to a decision to either stray or get it together.

So long story short the principal still didn't do a damn thing. At this point I was so through with this school. It took a few more things to make me pull her out, but I was glad that I did. She then went to a school that was very strict on violence and academic well being. Which was an A+ in my book. Sariah did well and had no real issues until the end of the school year. When a little boy who has had numerous encounters with the office thought that he should take it upon himself to hurt my child. Sariah is usually not a timid person. She will protect and defend herself if need be. The thing is she has been learning that violence is not the answer. I went to pick her up from school and I noticed that she wasn't herself. Her head was down and she looked like she had been in trouble. ( this is where a lot of parents fail, you need to stop worrying about running those errands and getting to the mall, find out right away what happened and deal with it) She said " mommy I got into a fight", now my reaction was " Why in the hell didn't the school call me and notify me as to what happened". I immediately turned around and asked her teacher what is going on, and why didn't anyone call me?

Do you know the response I got could have went one or two ways. I decided to take the high route and listen to what the teacher had to say first. She said " I didn't know what happened because I wasn't out there". I thought to myself " who was out there then"? To my surprise the teachers were all so busy taking that no one paid attention. My daughters arm was twisted, she was pushed on the ground and repeatedly kicked. You think I should have known about this from the office. I handled the situation like an adult but inside I was dying.

How could this happen and to my baby? I send her to school to be safe and learn, not be someone's punching bag. This little boy had done this numerous times before. When is it going to be enough? The school didn't do much as to the situation because the little boy cried and apologized to her. His exact words were " I thought that it was okay". Do you not understand that we as the parents live out the examples we set for our kids. It was evident that things were taking place at home and this little boy was bringing it to school. Parents please set good examples. Our kids are the next generation. They can be doctors, lawyers, producers or convicts, murders, rapists. It is ultimately their decision but we do play a big role in their lives.

I know you all don't agree with me and that is fine, but my baby didn't deserve what happened and I believe because I conducted myself like an adult she understood violence isn't the answer. This taught me a little bit about myself. How to control my temper because I know I have a bad one. It doesn't mean that I would let someone walk all over me or my kids., but it has shown me that what I show my kids, they will turn around a mimic it... Please parents talk to your babies about what to do in this situation. Handle yourself like adults and raise them to be something beautiful.

Kids Fun for all.

Kids are simple, they don't need $100 dollar toys and big shopping sprees. All they want is to have some fun. The girls favorite thing in this whole world, is arts and crafts. Side note: It is mine too, ever since I was little I've loved creating things.



You can pick all these items up and allow your
kids to use their imagination, or use pintrest for
Some crazy cool ideas.

 My favorite place to go and buy things from for arts and crafts is the dollar tree. I know you may be thinking "Kayleigh, they don't have much to offer". Yes they do, trust me. My children love to paint, color and decorate any and everything (even walls, LOL). Set a budget for what you want to buy. Arts and crafts can add up very fast. Just because you are shopping at the dollar store doesn't mean much, a dollar adds up eventually.

When you have kids there is a motto that I like: Stay, Play and Walk Away. It is very simple.

1. Show them a few idea for things they can make.
2. Make a few with them.
3. Then allow them to have fun and enjoy themselves and walk away.

I love pintrest for new ideas on projects for children. Type in: Ideas for home activities with kids. You will be in pintrest heaven. I promise!!!

Another thing that my girls like to do is read books. Either it be at home with the trillion that we own,

Barnes and Noble kids section.

or going to Barnes and Noble to read. A side note: All Barnes and Nobles have a day for story time, call your nearest one and find out. It is totally free and the kids will love it. My girls even love the library (just not the being quite part). I am a firm believer that books help our children to become better people. I buy books that tell stories about change, friendship, love etc.. I never buy a book before reading through it. Now a days we parents have to watch everything we let our kids do, because the content is sometimes a little to raw for them, if you know what I mean.

Today we live in a generation of video games, I pads, Kid notebooks. You name an electronic and most kids have at least one or heck all of them. Now I am not against electronics by no means. I am learning how to cut their play time back on them

ABC Mouse is worth every dollar.

though. A good place I recommend for younger children is ABC mouse. Now it isn't free, but if you can afford to get your nails and toes down then you can buy it for your children. It will help teach them how to read, and add. It also gives you free pintable's. Which I loved. You can customize them or print out the premade ones.

The girls made this for when Logan was release from Loma Linda
Hospital after being there for a week because he was so sick.
They had a blast with grandma, and they were so proud of there
craft.

Now depending on the area you live and how old your little ones are, depends on some of the activities. When I lived in Long Beach I loved taking the kids to the park, beaches and museums. We had so much fun. There is a lot of places to go all you need is handy dandy Google and you can find anywhere to take them. Remember they are simple, we parents are complicated.

Letting go

"Clean up the room, stop jumping on the bed". I have to repeat myself constantly. Is anyone else with me? The constant battle of trying to have your kids do what is right. I see the moms that are on YouTube letting their children be free and do what they want, I think why cant I relax and let them just be kids. Kids make messes they jump around. Isn't that what they are suppose to do?



We always had fun as kids
at the park!

I only wish that I could allow them to just have fun and not have to keep at them about their toys being everywhere and clothes on the floor. I want them to be able to just have fun throughout the day and at night time we can worry about the mess. How is that I became like this? I can remember going to the park and playing for hours. My mom never told me "don't you get dirty or we are leaving". She let me be and when it was time to go if I was dirty, so what. There was a shower at home and a place to wash the clothes. Clothes are
replaceable if they rip or get dirty, but fun times aren't. I see myself and I cant recognize that person in the mirror. Constantly I try to let go and just let them have at it. Then I see myself going stir crazy and I am saying "don't do this, don't do that"... Its crazy.

Time to relax and let go, just let them be kids. They only getting one lifetime to enjoy, and being a kid goes by so fast. I feel like the other day I was pregnant with Sariah and now look she is about to be in first grade. Where has the time gone? Since my children have been born I have always been careful with where they play, what they wear and if there is one little spot on them I must change them. I feel like I cant let go of such minuet things.

Nothing better than these happy faces.

Its time to let go. The kids want to run around and burn off energy, hey ill look at it like "at least they will sleep better tonight". They want to throw all their toys around the room, "they can clean it up before bed, less TV for them". I have to be more positive. I can always replace their soiled shoes, their ripped jeans and dirt stained shirts. I can never get back the precious moments we share. For children its not about the materialistic things (that's a parent thing). Children are happy with the free parks, beaches, just hanging outside with chalk and bubbles. They don't require much to have fun. We can learn a thing or two from our kids. I am learning "its okay to let go"!!!





Just enjoying life at the park.