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Strollerderby
What are London's riots really about?
London is burning, headlines scream. For days now, rioting has spread throughout the city and to other parts of England.
What’s it all about? My teenage stepson just asked me what was going on over there. “I know the Brits love a good riot,” he said, “but what is this one even about?”
It’s a good question. Right now, in the midst of the literal and figurative smoke clouding everything, it’s hard to tell what’s happening. Even many of the journalists and bloggers on the ground seem confused. Those who aren’t are probably oversimplifying things.
Here’s a quick look at what sparked the London riots, and what’s keeping them going.
A recent article suggests that as many as 2 million American homes with kids contain unlocked, loaded guns.
I was floored when I read this. I have six kids who have gone on countless playdates over the years. I never once even thought to ask the parents if they kept a firearm in their house. Parents make sure to tell caregivers about their children’s allergies. We make sure a parent or responsible teenager will be there to watch the kids at all times. We worry if there’s a trampoline or pool at the house and we ascertain that someone will be monitoring the kids while they’re jumping or swimming. But how many of us think to ask, “Thanks for having my daughter over to play, Mary. Oh, by the way, you don’t have a gun in your house do you? I just want to make sure my child isn’t accidentally shot”? Not only have I never asked this question, but no parent has ever asked me this question when I’ve watched their children either. I guess it’s just not something you think about.
My mother and daughter, April 2010.
The death of a child is unimaginable for most of us, and for those who have experienced it, surely a tragic, life-altering event. The Chicago Sun-Times ran an emotional piece this week serving as a reminder that Mother’s Day lacks all sense of celebration for those who’ve lost a child to violence.
Mothers gathered Sunday at St. Sabina Church in Chicago to attend a ceremony unveiling a sculpture by J.S. Kenar depicting “a young girl being menaced by an unformed stick-like human figure with a gun,” ”aimed at reminding all who see it that the battle to save lives is an ongoing one.” Violence against children and teens in Chicago has been a major issue in the last year or more; CNN reported in May of 2009 that 36 school children had been murdered, more than one a week during the school year. At that time, “The Rev. Michael Pfleger… ordered the American flag at St. Sabina Church hung upside-down — a historic sign of distress — to symbolize the growing death toll among the city’s youngsters.”
Other types of loss were noted this Mother’s Day, including a silent vigil in front of the White House by Mothers of Lost Children, which according to CNN’s iReport represents women whose children are in the custody of abusive fathers. Attendees included “Mildred Muhammad, ex-wife of the DC sniper, and… Katie Tagle and Amy Leichtenberg, both who lost their children in murder-suicides with their abusive fathers.” And of course mothers who have lost children to illness and accident feel the same grief.
Though women mourning their children have heavy hearts on what should be a holiday, losing a mother in young adulthood can sting badly, too. New York comedian Mindy Raf, who was 28 when her mother passed away, says she tries to keep a sense of humor about being bombarded with all of the Mother’s Day gift ads that pop up each May. “It’s hard not to feel left out, or feel like there’s extra salt in the wound on Mother’s Day. Like when you get an e-mail reminding you it’s not too late to save on your flower order. Um, sorry, but you’re wrong ProFlowers. It IS too late to. . .”save 10% on my mother’s day bouquet to Carol.” Bex Schwartz, a 31-year-old writer/director and pop culture commentator, is still grieving the loss of her mother, who died of cancer last year. Continue reading »
Spanking is one of those issues that divides parents into groups — loud, opinionated groups who have a hard time understanding the other side’s viewpoint.
Spankers say that they never hit out of anger, than a planned and controlled slap is an appropriate punishment for a child’s trangression. Non-spankers say that violence begets violence and that there are other, less severe ways to teach children to listen.
The latest study on spanking scores one for the non-spankers.
A court has ruled three police officers innocent of using excessive force after they Tasered a visibly pregnant woman pulled over for a speeding ticket.
Run that by me again? What is it about “shooting electricity into a fetus” that sounds reasonable? Continue reading »
South Hadley students at a vigil after their classmate’s death in January.
UPDATE: School officials say they won’t comment on the story until they meet with an attorney. Jeez, not so much as a “this is regrettable” or “more could have been done.” Teachers watched the abuse Prince received the day she took her life, and yet no mea culpa from the school. Talking to your attorney first, isn’t that a line used by guilty people? The more I let this story sink in, the sicker I get. Here’s video from CBS News: Continue reading »
Arguably, bullying is a part of life for some kids. Tough as it is, no one expects a kid to die from bullying.
But that’s just what happened at a Massachusetts school.
In January, Phoebe Prince, 15, hung herself from a stairwell in her family home. A prosecutor claims the taunting and physical threats from nine teenagers pushed the young girl to take her own life. Another boy, 11, took his life in nearby Springfield last year after also facing fierce bullying. Continue reading »
Joslyn Gray 
Amber Doty 
Julianna Miner 
Monica Bielanko 
Sierra Black 
Meredith Carroll 
Carolyn Castiglia 
Sunny Chanel 
Madeline Holler 
Wendy Michaels 
Rebecca Odes 
Danielle Smith 
Danielle Sullivan 
Katherine Stone 
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