ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com/media/feedlogo.gif ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Boy given detention for wearing shirt with image of gun to schoolhttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/11/boy-given-detention-for-wearing-shirt-with-image-of-gun-to-schoo/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/11/boy-given-detention-for-wearing-shirt-with-image-of-gun-to-schoo/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/11/boy-given-detention-for-wearing-shirt-with-image-of-gun-to-schoo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There are many times that I am grateful that my son is required to wear a uniform to school. They can wear jeans but there are specific shirts that they must wear, in specific colors. This seems to avoid any problems with dress code rules such as the one that is happening in Pennsylvania.

A 14-year-old boy from Lancaster, Pennsylvania has been given detention for wearing a t-shirt to school with an image of a military firearm. The front pocket of the shirt says "Volunteer Homeland Security with "Special Issue Resident Lifetime License" on the back of the shirt.

He was told to turn the shirt inside out the rest of the day and refused because he claimed the shirt was worn to honor his uncle, who was fighting in Iraq. After refusing to turn the shirt inside out, he received two days of detention.

His family is now filing a freedom of speech lawsuit against the school district, claiming it also stifles patriotism. The lawyer for the school said the image on the shirt violates the school district's policy.

A judge will hear the case on March 31. Does this family really have a freedom of speech case? Should the boy have just turned the shirt inside out and obeyed the rules?

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]]>Trish RobinsonTue, 11 Mar 2008 13:00:00 ESTInternational Women's Day and self-esteem for young girlshttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/08/international-womens-day-and-self-esteem-for-young-girls/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/08/international-womens-day-and-self-esteem-for-young-girls/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/08/international-womens-day-and-self-esteem-for-young-girls/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Today is International Women's Day, a day to recognize women's achievements around the world, to look back on past struggles and look ahead to new areas of achievement for women. I don't think a lot about women's issues as a parent, because I'm raising a son. However, I do make sure to teach Kyle respect for women, equality and cross my fingers that he treats the females in his life fairly and kindly.

Sometimes I am glad I have a son instead of a daughter, because as much as we have progressed, we still have a long way to go. The media continues to portray women in negative ways, and eating disorders among young girls continues to be a serious problem.

I was really happy to see the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty begin and continue, complete with videos that address these issues. Their goal is to reinforce the belief that women should be appreciated just as they are, even by stating, "Every girl deserves to feel beautiful just the way she is."

"Advertisers in general bear a large part of the responsibility for the deep feelings of inadequacy that drive women to psychiatrists, pills, or the bottle. " ~Marya Mannes, But Will It Sell?, 1964

I remember peer pressure growing up because I was taller than the boys until I reached the 7th or 8th grade. I was also kind of a nerd and more interested in academics and reading than cheerleading and parties. I am happy to see girls being encouraged to do so much more than when I was growing up and an emphasis being placed on appreciating everyone's diversity, rather than making girls feel out of place for being "different."

As parents of young girls, how do you reinforce their self-esteem and confidence to help them overcome some of the biases that still exist for women? Do you feel like things have progressed since you've grown up?

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]]>dove campaign for beautyDoveCampaignForBeautyinternational women's dayInternationalWomen'sDayTrish RobinsonSat, 08 Mar 2008 11:00:00 ESTStore in North Carolina selling inappropriate items to minorshttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/07/store-in-north-carolina-selling-inappropriate-items-to-minors/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/07/store-in-north-carolina-selling-inappropriate-items-to-minors/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/07/store-in-north-carolina-selling-inappropriate-items-to-minors/#commentsFiled under: ,

When I was a teenager, I remember going to the mall and looking around Spencer's Gifts at all the crazy and wild items in there. Several things were embarrassing and I was unsure what they were. I haven't given it much thought since my teen years, but apparently the items being sold by Spencer's has gotten worse.

A group of parents in Durham, North Carolina set up an undercover operation in which they filmed minors going into the store attempting to buy sexually explicit items. A group of teenagers were able to buy sex toys and when asked if there was an age limit in the store, the clerk responded that the only thing they could not sell to children was lighter fluid.

Several parents then took a video camera into the stores to document the items sold by the store. In fact, when they attempted to post their video on YouTube to warn other parents, the video was found to be too graphic and flagged as inappropriate. The parents questioned why the items can be displayed openly in the stores to minors but is considered inappropriate for anyone under 18 on the internet.

An ABC News affiliate in their city conducted an investigation to see what teens could access inside the store and sent three 13- and 14-year-old girls into the store with a hidden camera, where they were not questioned while they viewed sexually based cards and toys.

When questioned about their policies, Spencer's said, "Spencer's understands our obligation to maintain an environment of trust appropriate for the guests who patronize our stores. In every location, we inform our guests, before entering, that a small portion of adult-themed merchandise is on display in the rear of the store. It is also our policy to discourage the sale of items with an adult theme to guests under the age of majority. Spencer's has a 60-year tradition as the authentic destination for fun, humor and unique merchandise targeted to our core 18- to 24-year-old guests, but we also respect the choices of all individuals who visit our stores."

I was unaware that Spencer's sold sex toys but I am aware of some of their items that might be inappropriate for minors. While parents of younger children can avoid these displays or the store completely, what about teenagers who either hang out at the mall with friends without parental supervision? Should these types of mall stores be more aware of minors in the store and separate their display cases to prevent younger children from viewing these items?

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]]>spencer giftsSpencerGiftsTrish RobinsonFri, 07 Mar 2008 15:00:00 ESTDo you take your children with you to vote?http://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/04/do-you-take-your-children-with-you-to-vote/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/04/do-you-take-your-children-with-you-to-vote/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/04/do-you-take-your-children-with-you-to-vote/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Today is a big day in Texas, and while part of me is excited to see what happens with today's primaries, part of me will be relieved to get a break from all of the campaign commercials. As I mentioned recently, my son has taken a big interest in the presidential campaign this year.

Texas has a two-part primary, which is nicknamed the "Texas Two Step." Part 1 involves voting in the primary election, and Part 2 is a caucus where you bring your stamped voter card back at 7 p.m. and you can participate in the caucus. However, this process only applies to the Democrats. (I guess I just told you which party I'll be voting in today.)

I will be taking Kyle with me to vote and participate in the caucus and for him to experience the voting process. In fact, several people from the Houston area will be updating their twitter stream with results from their area caucuses (cauci?).

I saw several stories on the news of children participating in mock primaries at school to help them understand the political process. I remember voting in elementary school during the presidential elections but I cannot remember who won. I think the news coverage this year has been extensive; therefore, it's probably impossible for children to not be aware of campaign issues. Good Morning America had a great segment this morning featuring 7- and 8-year-olds discussing the election and I was blown away by how informed these kids are.

What about you? Do you take your children to the polls with you? If you live in Texas, are you going to take them with you to the caucus? Will you be taking them with you to vote in November?

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]]>Trish RobinsonTue, 04 Mar 2008 15:30:00 ESTChildren's mannershttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/01/childrens-manners/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/01/childrens-manners/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/03/01/childrens-manners/#commentsFiled under: ,

When my son was younger, he would have friends over or play with kids in the neighborhood and I would give them all snacks, drinks, and let them come in and out of the house while they played, never reprimanding any of them. Oh the times, they are a changin'.

My son rides bikes with a few kids a few streets over and there is one boy who comes over here under the disguise of asking Kyle to go bike riding, and within 15 minutes, is encouraging Kyle to come back inside and play video games. I tolerated it for awhile, until the boy started dictating to me what snacks to buy for his next visit.

"I don't really like Rice Krispie treats, can you buy some Ding Dongs?" He asked me.

In the past, I would have probably been nice and picked up some Ding Dongs the next time I bought snacks, no big deal, right? Well, when he was giving me his shopping list, a thought occurred to me. This kid was never invited over in the first place. So, I sent them outside and told him, "If you don't like Rice Krispie treats, maybe you can run home and get a snack and come back later?"

I also keep water bottles in the refrigerator and buy those individual packs of lemonade (which are awesome and so easy). I was informed that I should be buying a different kind and a different flavor, because he doesn't like lemonade and he sometimes gets thirsty when he comes over.

I laughed at that one. This boy stays home alone quite often and he is literally starving when he comes over here to play with Kyle. I have fed him many times because he will sometimes knock on the door, claiming to want to ride bikes when he is really only wanting something to eat. I thought that would make him gracious and thankful, but the last time I grilled hamburgers, he told me he didn't like the buns with sesame seeds and to please buy him some seedless buns.

My refusal to cater to his needs has not prevented him from stopping by. I do feel sorry for him, because he has no structure at home, no supervision, and even left for several hours without anything to eat. These things really should not excuse rude behavior, though, and I'm hoping my son might be a positive influence for him. We'll see.

Is it really necessary to cater to the neighborhood or just feed them what's available and send them outside? I think I fall somewhere in the middle of this issue. I keep snacks around or usually have cookies or something baked but I don't take orders and run a restaurant for the neighborhood.

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]]>Trish RobinsonSat, 01 Mar 2008 17:00:00 ESTMother arrested after being told to stay off school propertyhttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/29/mother-arrested-after-being-told-to-stay-off-school-property/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/29/mother-arrested-after-being-told-to-stay-off-school-property/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/29/mother-arrested-after-being-told-to-stay-off-school-property/#commentsFiled under: ,

I have spent many hours at the school, in the principal's office or in parent-teacher conferences. Having a child with ADHD means that I might not always agree with the school or I have to be a little more assertive in dealing with some teachers to make sure my son's needs are met. However, it has never gotten so bad that I have been banned from the school.

A mother in Katy, Texas, has behaved so badly that she was told never to return to her daughter's elementary school. When she came onto the school property with her daughter, the police arrested her.

Lisa Babin was sent a letter by Katy ISD which warned her not to return to campus and if she ever needed to go on campus, to request permission. The letter stated, "Due to recent disruptions that your presence, demeanor and actions have caused at Schmalz Elementary, it has become necessary to restrict your access to facilities and staff."

Babin denies the charges, claiming the principal just doesn't like her because she asks too many questions. However, a quote from the school principal, Karen Ladner, states that Babin had been threatening school officials for years. Ladner even claims to have a recorded conversation of Babin which says, "You know, God help (Principal) Mrs. Ladner -- if I walked up to her lying on the ground, knowing CPR, I could just take my long black heel and jab it deep into her chest."

Babin denies the charges, but I'm not sure how she can do so when the conversation is recorded. Babin also claims that the principal just doesn't like her. I have had many disagreements with school officials over the years, because I have always been against medicating my son. However, no one ever banned me from the school and threatened to arrest me if I returned. The real victim here is Babin's daughter, who still goes to school there and has to be torn between what she's hearing from her mother while still attending the school.

Is there really anything that would convince you that Babin should be allowed on school property and might be a scapegoat of the school principal?

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]]>Trish RobinsonFri, 29 Feb 2008 11:00:00 ESTWho gets custody of the pets?http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/27/who-gets-custody-of-the-pets/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/27/who-gets-custody-of-the-pets/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/27/who-gets-custody-of-the-pets/#commentsFiled under: ,

In my regular visits to the family law courtrooms of southeast Texas, I stopped in recently to watch the divorce hearings in one of the local courts. Several cases were very short and sweet, but one case took up the majority of the morning. A couple was not only fighting for custody of their children, but they were also trying to decide who would get their dogs.

The husband had agreed that the children would continue living with their mother, with him having liberal visitation. However, a problem arose with the children's pets. The mother had never wanted the children to have pets and refused to let the children keep the dogs at her house. The children's father had bought both children a dog for a Christmas present against his wife's wishes. The children had their pets for two years and now with their parents divorcing, they wanted their pets to live with them. The children's mother insisted that the pets should live with her soon to be ex-husband, and the children could see their pets when they went to visit their father on weekends.

Their mother's refusal to let their pets stay with them had upset the children so much that the father was considering asking for custody of the children. He was trying to get the children's mother to reconsider her decision and she was refusing. The judge stated he could not force the mother to keep the dogs against her will and told the father if he wanted to ask for custody, it would be considered, but not based on his wife's refusal to keep the dogs.

The case was not settled and had to be set for trial. The parents will now fight a bitter battle for custody of the children because of the children's desire to live with their pets full-time.

What do you think? Should a parent be flexible when a child is already attached to a pet or is it acceptable for these children to only see their pets on the weekends with their father?

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]]>Trish RobinsonWed, 27 Feb 2008 15:00:00 ESTIowa program helps parents avoid jail time and pay child supporthttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/26/iowa-program-helps-parents-avoid-jail-time-and-pay-child-support/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/26/iowa-program-helps-parents-avoid-jail-time-and-pay-child-support/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/26/iowa-program-helps-parents-avoid-jail-time-and-pay-child-support/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Is sending a deadbeat dad or mom to jail for not paying their child support the best solution? Most states take drastic measures to collect child support from parents who are avoiding paying their child support by suspending their driver's license, garnishing their wages, or even putting them in jail. Putting someone in jail never made sense to me, because how can someone make money to pay their child support from jail?

A program has been started in Iowa that offers help to parents who are not paying their child support by job training or substance abuse rehabilitation. Parents who are delinquent on their child support can avoid jail time by participating in this program.

A program coordinator helps identify the reasons why the parents are unable to pay their child support and attempts to find community resources to help them, such as transportation, employment or substance abuse. They will also be required to attend a parenting class.

Barbara Lacina, a regional director for the state's Child Support Recovery Unit, says that Polk County has already been able to collect over $316,000 in past-due child support from parents involved in this program. The program has also helped these parents avoid over 8,000 days of potential jail time.

Lacina stated that she has also seen an improvement in parental relationships in some of these cases, including one father who was able to regain custody of his children from foster care after completing a substance abuse program.

A lot of parents might not be the stereotypical "deadbeat parent," where they just choose not to pay their child support. Do you think this program would be helpful in other states? Isn't rehabilitation and assistance a much better solution than putting the parents in jail?

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]]>Trish RobinsonTue, 26 Feb 2008 11:30:00 ESTSocial media safetyhttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/25/social-media-safety/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/25/social-media-safety/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/25/social-media-safety/#commentsSocial media sites get a lot of negative attention with regard to children. We regularly hear stories in the news about a predator on Myspace or a young girl who runs away with someone she met on Facebook. I admit to my own internet addiction and try to monitor my son's usage, and luckily, he is not interested in the social media as much as video games. And lucky for me, he's not as addicted to Twitter as I am.

Therefore, I was pleased to run across this article in which various people have volunteered to be mentors for kids who have various problems and want to talk to someone. Of course, my antennae go up immediately and wonder how they can prevent kids from being taken advantage of by someone who volunteers and might not have positive motives.

M.T. Rainey launched the site Horsesmouth, where kids can write to someone and discuss their problems and be put in touch with someone who can give them advice.

I used to do volunteer work for Crisis Intervention of Houston, and I know firsthand that sometimes people just need someone to listen or just to be able to vent for a little while. Occasionally, it helps someone realize that their problems might not be so catastrophic once they discuss them with someone else. It's very easy to blog things out of proportion in your head when you have no one there to listen to you. These days, a lot of us are cut off from the outside world by technology. It also might make it easier for some kids to be more open, knowing they are not sitting across from an adult or fear the risk of getting into trouble.

Maybe more sites like this one will help kids feel like they might not be so cut off from asking for help or discussing their problems.

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]]>Trish RobinsonMon, 25 Feb 2008 12:00:00 ESTA teen's perspective on politicshttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/22/a-teens-perspective-on-politics/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/22/a-teens-perspective-on-politics/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/22/a-teens-perspective-on-politics/#commentsFiled under: ,

As I mentioned earlier this week, my son and I attended the Obama Rally in Houston on Tuesday, and last night we attended the debate in Austin. My son wrote about the debate from his perspective and I thought I would share some of what he wrote with you.

I attended the debate tonight. I wasn't sure if I would understand what all they said because sometimes they use a lot of big words I don't understand. My mom wants me to pay attention this year because she calls this election historical. She told me that I should remember this year when I'm older.

A reporter from a TV station in Austin saw me with my mom in the press room and asked me why I was there. I told her that I was helping my mom and also writing for my school newspaper. She asked me what I thought of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. I told her I liked both of them but that I cannot vote this year. She asked me who I would vote for if I could vote and I told her probably Barack Obama. I don't really know who would make the best president. I like Barack Obama because he is biracial like me. I sometimes feel like I don't fit in and people ask me my race. I tell them that I am mixed and they don't know what that means. My dad was black and my mom is white. I think Barack Obama is like me because I can relate to my mom, who is white, and also to my dad, who was black. My mom told me that makes me fit into both races but I sometimes feel like it means I can't fit in anywhere. Barack Obama makes me feel like I can fit in and maybe one day be president, too.

I have ADHD and sometimes people think I'm not smart or that I need extra help doing things. My mom told me that it means my mind just works a little different from everyone else and I have to make sure I pay attention when I want to daydream. People say that Barack Obama is different and can't be president because he's not like everyone else. I think that maybe he just thinks differently from everyone else and his mind works like mine. That doesn't mean he's not smart and can't do a good job if he's elected president.



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]]>Trish RobinsonFri, 22 Feb 2008 13:30:00 ESTPicky teenage eatershttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/22/picky-teenage-eaters/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/22/picky-teenage-eaters/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/22/picky-teenage-eaters/#commentsFiled under: , ,

My son has always been a picky eater. When he was younger, I spent hours coming up with ways to get him to eat healthier or to devise ways to disguise food so that he might like it without knowing what it was. This started the "sniff and sneer." He would get his food, look at it questionably, and then lift the plate to his nose and sniff it. Most of the time, he would also make a face and put it back down.

I would insist that he try it, but by that time, he had mentally convinced himself that he hated it and even forcing it in his mouth would bring on a grimace. People continually told me that he would outgrow his pickiness, but as the teenage years approached, it only got worse.

Kyle has never liked cheese. What kid doesn't like cheese? He won't even eat pizza unless the meat is on top of the cheese so he doesn't have to taste it. He now eats in the lunchroom at school, so I have a lot less control over what he's eating when I'm not around.

There are times when he eats non-stop and I have to make sure he's not eating an entire box of cupcakes or eats a huge serving of meat with nothing else. I buy a lot of fruit, and that seems to work, but the balanced meal issue is becoming a problem. Also, with the scares recently in the news about meat recalls, I want to encourage him to eat more vegetables and a lot less beef. Lately, it seems that Kyle's diet consists almost totally of beef.

There are numerous suggestions out there for how to get younger children to eat healthier and ways to include healthier choices in their menu. How in the world do you do this with a picky teenager who can't be fooled by food disguises?

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]]>Trish RobinsonFri, 22 Feb 2008 11:30:00 ESTReinforcing the importance of experiencing historical eventshttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/19/reinforcing-the-importance-of-experiencing-historical-events/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/19/reinforcing-the-importance-of-experiencing-historical-events/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/19/reinforcing-the-importance-of-experiencing-historical-events/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Politics and the presidential campaign are all over the news. There is no way to turn on the television without hearing something about one of the presidential candidates. I recently wrote about the discussions I have had with my son regarding current events, including this year's historical presidential election.

The Texas primary will be held on March 4, 2008, so we are seeing a lot of campaign coverage on the news right now. I have not yet made a firm decision about which way my vote will go in the primary, but I am intrigued by both of the Democratic candidates because of the history that will be made with this election. My son has been expressing quite a bit of interest in the primaries, asking various questions about delegates and other phrases he hears on the news. Kyle is especially interested in the popularity of Barack Obama because he shares the same heritage as Senator Obama.

Tonight in Houston, a rally will be held for Barack Obama and I plan to take Kyle. I continually remind him of how important this election is and hopefully he will remember this year when he is an adult. I am hoping that he will grow up and look back and be able to say that he went to see the two historical presidential candidates in the Democratic Party speak at rallies in Houston. We are also going to attend the debate on Thursday in Austin, and I am looking forward to sharing this experience with Kyle. However, I have to contain myself and not overwhelm him by turning it into a school assignment or making it sound like "work" and taking the fun away for him.

I have been trying to think of ways to make these events more memorable for him and ensure that he understands what he is experiencing but I don't think he will fully comprehend until he is an adult. Do you have any suggestions on how to increase the value of what we're doing and impress upon him how lucky he is to be old enough to remember this presidential election?

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]]>Trish RobinsonTue, 19 Feb 2008 11:00:00 ESTHow early is too early for college preparation?http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/19/how-early-is-too-early-for-college-preparation/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/19/how-early-is-too-early-for-college-preparation/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/19/how-early-is-too-early-for-college-preparation/#commentsFiled under: ,

When is it too early to start planning for college? I know it's never too early to start saving for a child's education, but I am referring to looking at schools, thinking about majors, and all those things I did when I was a junior and senior in high school.

Recently, I began receiving material from various colleges for my son. He recently filled out a questionnaire at career day at school, and now various colleges are calling him to discuss their school and curriculum, and inviting him to come and visit the campus.

I was surprised by these phone calls, because it seems too early to begin looking at colleges, when he still has 4 more years of public school. The admissions personnel who call want to discuss what Kyle is planning on doing with his life, classes he wants to take and majors he is considering. I remember when I first started college, I was still undecided about my major and what I really wanted to do (sometimes I still feel like declaring myself Undecided). I am puzzled how these college administrators think that a 15-year-old boy already knows exactly what he wants to do when he graduates college.

When is the right time to begin talking to kids about their future and college? It takes every ounce of patience and strength I already have to make sure Kyle gets his homework, is on top of his assignments and maintains his grades. I am concerned that exposing him to decisions about college and conferences with college personnel might put additional pressure on him that he doesn't need right now.

Is it crazy to think that kids should be able to enjoy the few years they have left before having to think about adult responsibilities and college majors?

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]]>Trish RobinsonTue, 19 Feb 2008 08:00:00 ESTChildren's behavior in restaurantshttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/17/childrens-behavior-in-restaurants/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/17/childrens-behavior-in-restaurants/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/17/childrens-behavior-in-restaurants/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Yesterday, I didn't feel like cooking and the weather was rainy and kinda gross, so I ordered takeout from a local restaurant. When I walked in to pick up my order, there was a child around 7 or so by the counter running back and forth and screaming. I could not see her parents anywhere so I assumed that she belonged to one of the ladies working at the front of the restaurant.

As I waited on my order to be brought out, she stopped, looked at me, and screamed, "Go to Hell!"

I looked at her and said, "Now that's not a very nice thing to say."

She screamed at me, "My dad says all women are evil!"

"Where *IS* your father?"

And with that question, she ran off. I looked into the restaurant and saw her run to a table with a man who appeared to be on a date, because there wasn't any interaction between the little girl and the woman to indicate this was her mother or stepmother.

It took every ounce of willpower I had not to walk over and approach that father and tell him to discipline his child and teach her a few manners, including not to scream and curse at strangers. However, I knew I would just feed his anger and chip on his shoulder about "evil" women if I said anything at all. As I finished paying and went to leave, I asked the hostess why they didn't ask the man to leave because his daughter was behaving so badly. She said the manager did not want to ask someone to leave because of the behavior of a child -- they were a family friendly restaurant.

In my opinion, if an adult had been behaving this way, he or she would have been thrown out immediately. I think that some flexibility and patience should be shown towards children in restaurants, but that type of behavior should never be tolerated. Being from the south, I wanted to ask what my grandmother used to always say, "Were you raised in a barn?"

Do you think parents should be asked to leave a restaurant if their children are out of control or harassing other customers? Where do we draw the line on what is acceptable and what is not?

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]]>Trish RobinsonSun, 17 Feb 2008 13:00:00 ESTHow can we keep our children safe at school?http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/16/how-can-we-keep-our-children-safe-at-school/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/16/how-can-we-keep-our-children-safe-at-school/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/16/how-can-we-keep-our-children-safe-at-school/#commentsFiled under: ,

I read with sadness the recent stories in the news regarding the college shootings in Illinois. It is a very bad sign that kids in America cannot feel safe on a college campus and as a parent of a child who will be going to college soon, it scares me to death.

Yesterday, that fear spilled over onto my son's school campus. A report was made that a student had brought a gun to school and a student claimed to have seen it in his locker. This lead to a rumor to begin circulating that something had been planned for lunch and as the rumors spread, they got worse and the students became very frightened. The police were called, the students were searched and interviewed, and no weapons were found. The police searched the entire school and found nothing to lead anyone to believe that anyone had a weapon or that any students were in danger.

I am relieved that nothing bad happened, but this also upsets me. My son now lives in a world where he has to be afraid to go to school. Not too long ago, the worst thing I was afraid of was a tornado warning where we all had to sit on the floor facing the wall and cover our head.

Kyle has told me stories of kids who come to school bragging about taking drugs or owning illegal weapons. He expressed his fear to me yesterday about what to do if someone came into the school and began shooting people. I went over various scenarios with him and made several suggestions on what to do and how to protect himself. As our conversation continued, I couldn't help but get upset that parents now have to have these types of conversations with their children.

As a parent, how do we protect our children as we send them out into the world, not even knowing ourselves what new dangers will show up that day?

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]]>Trish RobinsonSat, 16 Feb 2008 13:00:00 ESTValentine hangovershttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/15/valentine-hangovers/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/15/valentine-hangovers/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/15/valentine-hangovers/#commentsFiled under: ,

Yesterday, I picked up the carnations to take to the school for my son to hand them out to his female friends. When he saw me, his face lit up and he smiled as he walked across the cafeteria, trying to appear cool but being unable to stop smiling. I wanted to stay and watch him pass out the flowers and watch the reactions of everyone, because as I have mentioned before, I doubt I will get very much feedback on how it went.

When I picked him up, he still had one of the carnations. I asked him if I had bought too many, and he said that he had actually received a carnation anonymously. Of course I had to know all the scoop.

"Who do you think sent it to you?" I asked him.

"I dunno, maybe the card just fell off."

"Well, do you have any idea who it might be?"

"No, I'm sure I'll find out one day soon," he casually told me.

"So aren't you curious at all about who it is?"

"I guess, maybe a little. I need a red pen for school tomorrow."

I guess I will never know who sent the anonymous carnation and looks like I'm the only one who cares. He did tell me that the several people said "Ooooooh" and teased him when it was delivered. I guess that little tidbit is better than nothing.

So, did your kids survive the Valentine's Day activities at school?

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]]>Trish RobinsonFri, 15 Feb 2008 12:00:00 ESTValentine's Day pig with heart-shaped spotshttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/14/valentines-day-pig-with-heart-shaped-spots/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/14/valentines-day-pig-with-heart-shaped-spots/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/14/valentines-day-pig-with-heart-shaped-spots/#commentsFiled under: ,

I always loved the book, Charlotte's Web, where all the animals and Fern worked together to turn Wilbur the pig into a star, saving him from the slaughter.

A pig in England recently became a huge star by being born with heart-shaped spots.

Valentine was born 10 days ago on Byford's Farm in Taynton, near Newent, Gloucester, in England. Eric Freeman, the farmer who breeds Gloucester Old Spot pigs, said this is the first time he has seen a piglet with such a clearly shaped mark.

Freeman, a founding member of the Gloucester Old Spot Pig Breeders' Club, has been breeding these pigs for over 25 years. The pigs have recently returned from near extinction. In describing the breed, Freeman stated, "There has been a lot of interest because they are a fatty breed and it's a different taste to the normal type of pig - it's much more succulent."

Hopefully, Valentine's recent popularity will spare her from the slaughter the same way Wilbur's popularity saved him by his best friend Charlotte.

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]]>valentinevalentine pigValentinePigTrish RobinsonThu, 14 Feb 2008 12:00:00 ESTRadio station Valentine's Day giveaway: free divorcehttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/14/radio-station-valentines-day-giveaway-free-divorce/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/14/radio-station-valentines-day-giveaway-free-divorce/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/14/radio-station-valentines-day-giveaway-free-divorce/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Most radio stations give away prizes like concert tickets or days at the spa. However, a radio station in Charleston, West Virginia is promoting themselves as your "I Hate Valentine's Day station."

WKLC-FM or Rock 105, took applications through 4 p.m. yesterday and at 5 p.m. today, will award one listener a free divorce that includes 10 free hours of attorney time with Charleston attorney, Rusty Webb.

Not everyone celebrates Valentine's Day with candy, flowers or jewelry. Plenty of people are single or separated and might not feel like celebrating. The station manager, Jay Nunley, states that only people who are serious about getting a divorce should enter the contest. I would hope that isn't something that needed reminding.

"Sure we can give away concert tickets, and we do," said Nunley. "That's going to make you happy for a little while. This is the chance to make someone happy for the rest of their life."

While this might not be the most romantic Valentine's Day prize, I bet there is someone out there who will be able to use it. I know firsthand how expensive attorneys can be.


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]]>valentinevalentine's dayValentine'sDayTrish RobinsonThu, 14 Feb 2008 10:29:00 ESTSleeping and substitutes and schoolhttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/13/sleeping-and-substitutes-and-school/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/13/sleeping-and-substitutes-and-school/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/13/sleeping-and-substitutes-and-school/#commentsFiled under:

When your child has a substitute teacher, is the day wasted or is it just another school day?

Yesterday, Kyle had an X on the back of his shirt and I asked him who wrote on his shirt.

"I don't know, I was asleep."

"Asleep?" I asked him. "What are you doing sleeping in school?"

"We had a substitute today and she said we could either read a book if we had one or sleep, so I slept."

I understand that teachers are not in the classroom every day, but shouldn't a substitute be left something for the students to do? If the teacher was unable to prepare an assignment for the class, shouldn't there be someone who can give an assignment instead of just letting them sleep for an hour?

I have asked this question of the administrators before and they told me that there are times when teachers have emergencies and have to leave suddenly and are unable to prepare instructions for a substitute teacher. I still think that if I was a substitute teacher, I could find something for the class to do besides sleeping.

Should substitute teachers be left assignments for the class? Are they just babysitters or should they be required to provide instruction for students in the classroom?

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]]>Trish RobinsonWed, 13 Feb 2008 08:00:00 ESTMiddle school valentineshttp://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/12/middle-school-valentines/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/12/middle-school-valentines/http://www.parentdish.com/2008/02/12/middle-school-valentines/#commentsFiled under: ,

Recently, my son came home and told me that the school is selling carnations that will be delivered to students on Valentine's Day, that they are $2 each, and he wanted to buy 10.

Ten carnations? Why in the world would he want to buy 10 carnations? He told me that he has several friends who are girls and he wanted to give them a carnation for Valentine's Day. I thought giving 10 carnations was a bit excessive, and told him so. I tried to figure out if he's just giving out drive-by valentines in the hope that one of them will stick or if there might be one or two girls that he really likes and narrow it down.

I was also a bit annoyed that a middle school would do this on Valentine's Day, already starting the vicious cycle of making girls feel bad on Valentine's Day if they don't have someone give them a gift.

His answer showed me that he's either really good at working his mom or he has a sweet, considerate heart and is on his way to being a selfless, giving adult. He told me that he eats lunch with a group of friends, both boys and girls, and most of his female friends do not have boyfriends. When the sales were being conducted during the lunch hour, he felt bad for them that so many girls were bragging about getting carnations from various people. "I just want to make them smile, Mom, and have a Happy Valentine's Day because they're my friends." What female heart wouldn't melt at that reason? Either way, I'm now $20 poorer and 10 girls will be getting a carnation for Valentine's Day.

What are other middle schools doing for Valentine's Day? Am I overreacting by thinking that middle schools should not be encouraging kids to "pair up" or enabling behavior that will leave some girls feeling left out? Is this considered peer pressure or just an innocent way to enjoy the day?

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]]>valentinevalentine's dayValentine'sDayTrish RobinsonTue, 12 Feb 2008 11:30:00 EST