Monday Mingle...Twitter Thoughts

True, Tough Cookie Mommy has yet to place her MM post up, but I need to get in gear with my post, as to get on with my busy day that is staring me down.

If you want to participate in her Monday Mingle, click on the MM button below and check out her page and learn how to jump in and join in.



Twitter. I haz one.

My Twitter Account Page Link

As do many people all over the world. Some of us only follow a few people. Some of us follow over what should be obtained (seemingly) by the imagination. Just like on here at Blogger, I don't do a "follow back for a follow". I go with the flow and if I like ya, I follow. Sure, I do the Friday Follow stuff (#FF) on Twitter. But I don't follow everyone else that others post up on their #FF posts.

I think that Twitter can tell a lot about an individual. Their likes, their beliefs, a piece about their life and how they live it.

All in who they follow on their page.

Take for instance, I follow a number of Science pages. And being I have a Bearded Dragon, well, I follow many other owners/breeders/enthusiasts of Beardies also.

Then add in the fact that I love the ABC Daytime Soap Opera, "One Life To Live", which the Exec of ABC, Brian Frons underhandedly canceled and said will last air in January of 2012. So I follow many of the people that are a part of the cast, or are fellow fans of the show.

Also, being that I am a Corneal Transplant Recipient, I follow some of the Donate Life pages, and other pages that promote and educate about Organ/Eye/Tissue Donation.

I'm a Paranormal enthusiast by night after being a wife and mom by day, so I enjoy shows like Ghost Hunters and follow a few of them from TAPS. Plus some other people that are in to the paranormal as well.

All in all, I'm a pretty well-rounded individual with many interests, tastes and experiences of various sorts. As you can probably tell with my "Following" list. And if you stop by to check me out on Twitter, then also be sure to look in to who I am following as well.

What does YOUR Twitter page say about you? That is, if you have one.

CPS

CPS, or other wise known as Child Protective Services.

Can't stand them myself, in all honesty. And with good reason.

In the last nine years, I have dealt with them now at least three or four times. And all involving the same child. And in the end, every time, the reports of "abuse" are unfounded.

Why? Because my kids are KIDS. They get bumps and bruises. My son has a bleeding problem with his nose. And oh my goodness! THEY FALL DOWN and they get HURT.

Kids are no longer allowed to be children. Not when it comes to playing. And also, it's apparent you are no longer allowed to raise your voice, because that is "verbal abuse". And you can no longer spank them (with your hand) because well that's "physical abuse".

People, you all need to learn the DIFFERENCE between punishing or getting hurt and REAL ABUSE.

I got hurt MANY times as a kid. I got yelled at for doing something wrong or dangerous (that I KNEW that I should NOT be doing) and yep, I got SPANKED.

The horror! I had parents that did this thing called PARENTING.

One ER doctor called CPS on me for a "suspicious bruise" from a fall my son had at 18 months old. Guess what? CPS saw EXACTLY where he fell and how and knew then that hey, he GOT HURT.

Another time was after his "big accident" with the bedpost. But it wasn't for that, but for teeth marks left by a cousin. That too was "unfounded" seeing as we as parents did nothing wrong, but it still had to be reported.

Then there were two other times as well where a "suspicion of physical abuse" came to light, one being after my kid had a bloody nose that morning and oh no!! I MISSED a spot of blood on his arm as I was cleaning him up. His bus was JUST pulling up as I got it stopped and got him cleaned up.

So in a nutshell, these days a school, a child-based agency, a hospital or anyone for that matter can call CPS on you. You can LOOK at your kid in the "wrong" way and get called on.

Now a good friend of mine is being investigated for something that was SUPPOSEDLY 'said' by someone else. And this apparently took place a good while back when it was reported. The child in question was already talked to by the Social Worker (at school). The child FLAT OUT denied ANYTHING such as what was stated EVER took place.

Now, the home study portion of the case, where it's basically the "last leg" of investigating to wrap it up and bring forth the agent's findings has been "canceled" THREE or even FOUR times now.

There are kids that are REALLY being hurt and neglected. But you and I are ones that get picked on while the TRULY abused are the ones being neglected by an agency that is to PROTECT THEM.

Those that REALLY need CPS's help get it too late because by then, the children ARE dead.

Where is THEIR justice? I know. It's with the worker who was to HELP them, but instead were investigating and trying to stake the WRONGLY accused.

This "protection system" is so screwed up and ass-backwards, it truly is tragic to watch.

Daydreaming, ADHD & Team Building

It's been a strange start to the week. Monday wasn't too bad as far as Monday's go. Tuesday was Election Day for Mid-Terms. I even voted for Tazmanian Devil to get City Court Clerk. Instead some idiot I have no clue about got the spot. I think Taz would have done a fine job myself. And last night was also the monthly appointment for Bryce, my Special Needs child.

It's becoming increasingly apparent that the medications that he is on for the ADHD are helping. But not to the extent that we would care to see. He is on the maximum dose of Vyvanse. And we are upping his Intuniv to three mgs. to see if that may help a bit more.

But also, the teachers MUST be willing to work more with him. And with us. In a COMPLETE team effort. They have yet to realize that NOT EVERYTHING he does is within HIS control. A lot of it has to do with the ADHD and its severity taking control and causing him to wander, be completely distracted, blurting out, cutting in to conversations or instruction. He even said one of the teachers mainly lectures for the entire time, every single day. An ADHD kid CANNOT handle more than five to ten minute increments of "lecturing".

These people are expecting him to pull off the impossible. To stay on task, focus completely and listen 100% of the time, during the entire day. While us "normal" people CAN do that, a child with severe ADHD cannot. They do not have the control over their brains to obtain such feats.

Even the doctor had agreed with me when I stated that basically my child is in a constant daydream. His brain NEVER slows down enough to tackle one specific thing at a time. His mind is a jumbled mess twenty-four hours a day, unless people are willing to re-direct him, work with him and help ensure that he is keeping on track with the task at hand.

For the last several years, myself and Bryce's Case Manager have hit one stumbling block after another. Even though Bryce is listed BY THE STATE, as well as by FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (seeing as he DOES collect SSDI) as being "disabled", my child has been turned down time and time again for in-school services. This means he cannot get an IEP, a 504 Plan, most accommodations. Why? Because he is SO damn smart and "making the grade", that his disability isn't "showing" enough through his grades to "mandate needs" for Specialized Services through the school system.

Excuse me??? So in a nut shell, they are stating that being my child does not have a severe intellectual impediment, he isn't deaf or blind, can walk and talk just like any other "normal" person, that he does NOT qualify for a damn thing, seeing as he DOES have behavioral issues that severely impact social skills and daily living skills. Just getting him to do a five minute task can take easily twenty minutes or more.

At school, about three weeks ago, he was SUPPOSED TO go to the bathroom that sits kitty-corner from the classroom. But about ten minutes later, he was found to be down the hall at the Second Grade area, just standing there, watching in to one of the classrooms. And he honestly cannot say why, or how he "got there".

He is ALWAYS "forgetting" his FINISHED homework. No matter how much I have tried, the boy is incessantly disorganized with his binder.

All he does is get in to trouble in school for wandering the room, not staying on task, speaking out of turn, bugging the other students in class, not following (multiple) directions (which is EXTREMELY hard for Bryce to accomplish), wandering the halls and being a "behavioral nuisance".

Now, someone PLEASE DO tell me, how are these "problems" that the teachers are always complaining of NOT being addressed in their correct manner? As in, with Specialized Services being readily available and in use with and for my child? How bad does it honestly have to get with his behavior and "daydreaming" for them to FINALLY take a hard look and actually GIVE HIM the services Bryce is RIGHTFULLY due?

Honestly, sometimes Public Education amazes me. And *not* in a good way, mind you. So, if I seem angry in this post, and in general, you can bet your ass I am! I'm tired of the run-arounds, the blind-eyes and the refusal to HELP my child live up to his full potential and get the best educational opportunity available.

"I ♥ Being White"

I'm a fan of many upon many "Like" pages. In fact, almost (now) 650 of them. Yeah, I like A LOT of different things. I'm pretty well-rounded, to say the least.

One thing that I am *not* is racist. I love people and am friends with (or have family members of) all different colors and ethnic backgrounds. Primarily Black Americans.

Over on FaceBook, under the "Discover More Pages" link in your "Other Pages" of your Info Tab, they have various other "Like" Pages to choose from. And believe me when I say EVERYTHING under the sun that you can think of is in that section.

Including "I ♥ Being Black" (Black).

What I am about to say, may slightly offend some people. Then again, maybe it will open some eyes. I'm not looking to make friends with this post.

To me, as a white person, I find THAT page hypocritical. As well as in all honesty, to me, offensive.

That to me, is Reverse Racism. Why? Because, if it were "I ♥ Being Black (Latino, Hispanic, Chinese, Japanese, ect), it is considered acceptable. If there was one aptly named "I ♥ Being *WHITE*" then someone is going to cry foul and call the page and it's members racists for having "white pride".

How is it fair to us Caucasian people to be penned as racists and "(insert race here) haters" for stating that we love our skin color, but ANY other race can do so, and not have one eye batted at them for doing such?

And don't think for a minute that my race isn't downed or 'hated'. I have seen others being called "cracker" and "whitey". But as soon as you as a white person call out a derogatory name of another race, then you are considered a race hater.

There is racism in EVERY area of the human race. And to see the hypocrisy in the "I ♥ Being Black" page, as well as out in the world is sickening to me. This is the 21st Century, people! ALL OF US need to get with the times.

We are not back in the 20th Century, or even the 19th Century, where racism was running rampant. There is no longer slave ownership and segregation. It is time to STOP HANGING HISTORY OVER THE 'WHITE MAN'S' HEAD!!!

How, after at least the last 40 years, can we as a human society still be so damn barbaric? I say it's time that we get it together and GET OVER the past, and move on in to the future.

This goes for racism, homophobia, the way that we treat (all forms of) the disabled and how we treat the sick (such as those with HIV/AIDS).

When all is said and done, at the end of each day, "I ♥ Being A Human Being of Society".