The Mom Pledge..Take A Stand!

I'm a mother, a daughter, a friend, a "sister", a sister-in-law, a daughter-in-law, niece and an aunt.

I'm also compassionate, passionate, sympathetic and empathetic.

What I am NOT is hateful, demeaning, cruel or mean-spirited.

Over the years I have been within the internet world, I have seen some pretty wild, nasty, hate-filled and prejudiced words thrown at others. Complete strangers mind you.

Especially among fellow MOTHERS. And primarily between one "mothers-friendly" site and within the blogosphere.

Am I 100% innocent of not saying something out of haste or anger that was hurtful to someone on the internet? Nope. I'm no angel and will never claim to be.

But I also won't stalk someone and leave such hateful things like what I have seen and even at times (literally) got sick over.

Blogging in particular is an outlet for many different people, for many different reasons. Mothers are of the Blogosphere's top contributors.

As a mother myself, between this blog and my other blog, The "Mental"-ist Mom, I talk about my kids in one way or another. The secondary blog mainly revolves around my son who is disabled due to several mental health issues and what my life is like in raising him to be as normal as he can be. And to show that outward appearances CAN be and at most times, ARE deceiving.

If you are a mother, a blogger and a mom who is AGAINST other mommy-bloggers that can have "verbal diarrhea", leaving hate-filled comments on other's posts or "stalk" other mommy-bloggers (or any blogger really), as a means to TEAR DOWN others, instead of wanting to BUILD THEM UP and offer *support* or encouragement, then I *HIGHLY* recommend that you take the MOM BLOGGER PLEDGE today.

The Mom Pledge Blog features every weekday a fellow Pledge within the community who is standing up against negative mom bloggers.



The Pledge (via The Mom Pledge Founder, Elizabeth Flora Ross)...

I am a proud Mommy Blogger. I will conduct myself with integrity in all my blogging activities. I can lead by example.

I pledge to treat my fellow moms with respect. I will acknowledge that there is no one, "right" way to be a good Mom. Each woman makes the choices best for her family.

I believe a healthy dialogue on important issues is a good thing. I will welcome differing opinions when offered in a respectful, non-judgmental manner. And will treat those who do so in kind.

I stand up against online bullying. My blog is my space. I will not tolerate comments that are rude, condescending or disrespectful.

I refuse to give those who attack a platform. I will remove their remarks from my blog with no mention or response. I can take control.

I want to see moms work together to build one another up, not tear each other down. Words can be used as weapons. I will not engage in that behavior.

I affirm that we are a community. As a member, I will strive to foster goodwill among moms. Together, we can make a difference.

...Now, if only more of us women (mothers or not) can be like this. Women are known to be catty and cut-throat. But to be so to someone you don't even know is just despicable and disheartening.

There are REAL feelings being felt behind those screens, reading the words of hate and disrespect. Real tears fall EVERY single day because a fellow mother had the gall to spew vile from her fingertips.

What if it was being said to you (aimed at the guilty who may read this)?? How would YOU feel if those harsh, demeaning, hurtful, hateful words were "spoken" to you? You don't REALLY know the blogger's life. How much she is TRULY hiding away from the world, only letting out certain pieces.

So now, I beg you, choose your words carefully. You never really know how deep another's pain may be already. To add "insult to injury" can potentially end with disastrous results. Bullying should have been left behind in the school-age years. And stalking should NEVER happen.

Take the pledge with me today. MOMMY-BLOGGERS UNITE!

Thanks, Angel! Yep, I'm Still Standing. (School Bullies)

Thanks to my gal pal, Angel and her post in regards to SCHOOL BULLIES, it got me to thinking back to the days of being a child that was severely picked on. Mostly for my outward appearance, thanks to my trache.

I'd lost count over the years of how many times I walked in the door from school, crying so profusely, my mom couldn't understand a word I was trying to say.

One day though, the school's prime "tough guy" bully pushed me a bit too far...And it wasn't even aimed at me! It was a disabled child with Cerebral Palsy. He could walk with aid from a walker. Needless to say though, Mario was a real ass that day. He ripped the walker away just to do it, and sure enough the boy fell to the ground. I was in Fourth Grade at the time.

After witnessing the incident, I walked up, snatched the walker back and punched Mario. I swung. He fell. And I gave the boy back his walker and walked him to the office.

Sure, I got in to trouble for slugging the bully. But HE got in to even MORE trouble that I did, due to his actions that started the entire chain of events. He (Mario) also decided to leave ME be after that.

Before Mario, and yes, after, I still had some kids that were utter jackasses towards me. But in later years, I forgave them and realized it was not them, but their PARENTS and their LACK of teaching their CHILDREN better.

So to ALL of them (kids and their parents alike), I have one thing to say to you after all this time...

I'M STILL STANDING!



"And did you think this fool could never win
Well look at me, I'm coming back again
I got a taste of love in a simple way
And if you need to know while I'm still standing you just fade away"

"Once I never could hope to win
You starting down the road leaving me again
The threats you made were meant to cut me down"

"Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind"