So then, imagine my surprise when I read a news article today about an alleged violation of that right at the U. S. Supreme Court Building.  From reading the article it would appear that a group of middle school students and their teacher as well as a few other adults, were at the Supreme Court Building taking pictures when they decided to step to the side to pray.  The details are a bit sketchy, however it is being alleged that a police officer told them that they must cease and desist; stop praying and move along because it was against the law.

        Either there is more to this story, or the police officer was/is badly mis-informed, or some other reason was at the basis of being asked to move along.  From my impression of the article, it sounds as if it was a peaceable gathering.  However, as I said, details are sketchy. 

         Either way, the freedom to exercise religion is one of the various reasons this county, of the United States of America, was formed in the first place.   That is what democracy is all about; a society that is exhibited by a formal equality of privileges and rights.  It goes against the grain of most people to have someone tell them how and when they can exercise their religion, or their lack of religion.  It would be even more offensive to have something, of that nature, take place on the very steps of the symbol of our governing legal authority.  How odd and disheartening to have even the perception of a squashing of that freedom of religion, in such a way.  It is wise to pay attention to anything that could be a danger or a threat to the freedoms that this country endows to it’s citizens; it is our responsibility to uphold those freedoms to the best of our ability.

        While no one should be forced by government to worship or endorse anyone particular religion over another…or to even to have a religious belief in the first place; nor should they be kept from practicing their simple faith building action of prayer.

         Many Americans are feeling as if the very fabric of our country’s foundation is being torn asunder in regards to their religious freedoms.  Legal challenges seem to constantly attempt to disallow any fringe association with an open faith in American society.  From schools, to public ceremonies to work related issues to the attempts to remove any mention of God in our currency or our governing bodies … there are movements afoot to erase all mention of God as a higher power of authority.

         If this story proves to be factual, and the prayer was peaceful and was not unlawful in any other way…then that police officer needs to be educated and disciplined about the rights of Americans to pray where they will; as long as they are not violating any other laws.   If indeed he was somehow encouraged to make a stand against religious freedoms, at the very place where the laws of the land are formed and enforced…then this country had better wake up and hold the highest symbol of authority this nation has, to it’s own declarations of what is, and what is not, lawful. 

         What are your thoughts on this matter?

         There is great debate about whether this policy should or should not be in place.  The Provincetown school district superintendent, Beth Singer appears to be puzzled by the controversy; even though the policy has no age limitation.    This goes above and beyond regular sex ed where parents can opt out of certain aspects of a sex ed program because of their beliefs or their own choice in how they want to explain the facts of life to their children; but, this policy removes that option by eliminating a parent’s consent or awareness.

        The author of the policy believes that all students should be educated about the use of condoms regarding disease and pregnancy prevention along with other issues relating to sexual education.  News reports say that she believes the controversy is surprising, but good as it gets people discussing the issue.  She has said that the policy was not created with the intention of giving condoms to children in elementary school.   It will probably now be geared for middle school and up, if I understand this correctly.  However, I think that is wrong because even though it does happen, kids should NOT be having sex.  If they are having sex then it is up to the parents and that child/teen to discuss how things should be handled; it should be a private family matter.

      It seems that, the school committee that approved the policy will re-examine the way that the policy is written because opposition to the policy has arisen over the availability of condoms to grade school children without having to notify the  parents, of said students.   Golly, I wonder why the parents are so upset…I mean…it is not like the school is trying to take over the role of the parents or anything, right?  >by the way, that is SARCASM if you are not getting that without hearing the “tone” of my voice.

       My feeling is that anytime a school or agency tries to usurp the authority of a parent over their children… it is wrong.  By creating a situation where kids can skip going to their parents for something as important as birth control or a device meant to protect them while having sexual relations with another person (whether it be another minor or not) is a serious problem. 

         First of all, minors having sex is not ok.  It happens yes; yes it does.  However, our society is sending kids mixed messages about whether that is appropriate.  Everything they hear and see in the media is sexually charged.  Yet, legally (and morally) sexually activity with another minor is wrong.  It can get them brought up on charges.  A minor having sexual relations with an adult is illegal, and damaging emotionally, physically and spiritually.  

        Any sexual activity can expose them to sexually transmitted diseases.  It can damage them emotionally and socially at a time when they are just discovering who they are as an individual.  It can put them in a situation where they have to choose how to handle the consequences of a pregnancy; ie: raising the child, adoption, abortion and the after-effects of any of those choices.  A minor is not typically in a position to handle the life long implications of such choices; often their choices are made while in crisis.  They often do not have the finances, the education, the housing or the emotional maturity to handle the consequences of sexual behavior.   Sometimes decisions such as having an abortion, or making an adoption plan, can actually harm them permanently forcing them to seek professional help in the future.  

         No one knows your child like you the parent does.  You understand their emotional make up.  You know what they have gone through personally.  You the parent know their friends and their boyfriends/girlfriends.  It is you the parent who is/was their first teacher in life…they have learned a great deal from you from birth on.  This area of teaching is the parent’s responsibility.  It can be uncomfortable yes…but understand this…no agency or school is going to have your particular set of values on this subject.  They might get taught the mechanics of how sex happens and how to prevent pregnancy…but, they won’t get the personal/moral/religious viewpoint that you the parent has from some other authority in the exact same way as you, yourself would have your kids understand it.

         I understand that not all parents are created equally…some parents will shirk their responsibility or worse, they may care less what their kids are doing; let alone deal with any consequences.  There are abusive family situations as well…that IS when an agency is appropriate to step in and take over the parenting duties…when an adult parent is unfit.  In that situation, a school counselor, a trusted adult or even a member of clergy can be confided in to meet the needs of a kid who is in need of counseling regarding sexual behavior.  But, it is not fair to the parents who do take their leadership position as heads of their households away by superceding their parental authority.

          The fallout of damage to personal relationships due to the alienation of parental authority is real and can hurt your relationship with your child forever. 

          The mere fact of keeping the parents out of the decision making loop, in an area of life that has the potential of affecting their child for the rest of their life which allows them to keep those kind of secrets is unhealthy and just plain wrong. 

          I would hope that this policy helps people realize and respect how important these decisions are and allows them to be decided between parents, their children, and their own family’s medical/spiritual consultants.

       For once in recent months, she is not at the mercy of someone else out to make news headlines from standing on top of her tragic connection to the negative headlines concerning her husband’s alleged infidelities.   I am sure this is not how she originally planned to announce her son’s birth; however,  it is good to have a bright light in this situation…Sandra’s celebration of her new life with her son.

        Sandra who is known for her clean and loving image and reputation has been dealt a raw deal by those alleged mistresses and their stories that they’ve shared in the media.  Their public claims of “sorry for the mess” carries little weight, I am sure.  Their requests for one- on- one time with her to discuss their “relationships” with Sandra’s husband…should not be given the time of day.  Sandra owes them no such gesture.  

       All along, Sandra has kept her peace and her dignity.  Not easy to do with some of the muck that was published.  However, Sandra is now voicing the fact that she is divorcing her husband, and also sharing the joy of her leap into single motherhood.  She has the finances and the support systems to be able to parent quite well as a single mother.  She will not face many of the challenges that many other single mothers face and that is a blessing.   The dissolution of her marriage is a tragedy…leave her alone to heal on that.   Allow her to celebrate and enjoy the things that bring happiness to her and her loved ones; for once, don’t pick at what should be a private family event.

        The People article speaks of the fact that Sandra and Jesse were adopting her son Louis together in January.  Then came the Oscars…they were waiting until that event was over to announce the adoption of their son.  We all know that a week after the Oscars the headlines gleefully announced the assault on Sandra’s marriage.  Women came out of the wood-work to share the gory details of their encounters with Jesse James.  Sandra moved out of the home she shared with her husband and his children from former relationships.   The tabloids took joy in following up one lurid headline after another…and it is unfortunate that there is a huge market for selling such newspapers on the backs of other people’s pain and misery.  It doesn’t speak well of our culture to have such an environment for our children to grow up in, in my opinion.

          She kept quiet in the media, except to declare the fact that an alleged sex tape did not exist.  That had to be painful enough to have to address something related to the horror of those stories; still, now it is easy to understand why she made the statement.  It was to distance herself from being tainted with the poor choices of those who brought down her marriage.  She was not reponsibile for making such personally devastating choices with her own behavior; even though allegedly her husband and those who had physical relationships with him are.  Sandra should not be held accountable for their actions nor should she suffer the loss of her son because of them.  By stating that there was no sex tape with her in it…she was standing tall and distancing herself from the immoral activity that was affecting her because of her association with it just by being married to Jesse. 

        I can imagine the fear and despair she felt as a new adoptive parent.   She had to have been fearful that the agencies that approved her adoption process would rightfully question whether that adoption should be finalized.  It is every adoptive parents concern that “something” will happen to derail an adoption and tear apart a parent-child relationship that has formed.  

        The headlines screamed all kinds of concern about the stability of Sandra and Jesse’s relationship at this point.  It would only be right of those concerned about the welfare of a child to want to know how that would impact Sandra’s son.  Remember, courts have to insure the best interests of the child; that is a big responsibility.   But, for most adoptive parents, any concerns an agency or court would have would normally be addressed privately…not in the media.   No adoptive parent wants something to come into play that would jepardize their blossoming relationship with their child or perhaps end their quest to come together as parent and child.

          For those who have no relationship with adoption, you should know that adoptive parents often live with others putting their parenting under the microscope.   People in general feel that it is ok to voice their input about an adoptive parent should or should not do in regards to parenting their child.  In Sandra’s case, she was a victim of circumstance and timing.  Jesse made those choices and Jesse has to address those issues within himself.  

        Jesse went off to rehab…and allegedly left rehab…only to return.  In the meantime, I am sure the behind the scenes details continued to be worked out in regards to the adoption.   Strength and courage in the face of challenges comes from a person’s internal character.  It doesn’t make the devastation any less with the dissolution of a marriage…however, I am sure that Sandra’s relationship with her friends and family will help her to heal. 

          I would caution readers to remember that there are many “innocent” people in these situations from in-laws to friends and neighbors.  They all suffer when these things happen; that is both the beauty and the pain of having deep personal relationships with others.   With the announcement that Sandra is now adopting her son as a single parent and stating that the adoption is no longer including Jesse, the concerns about stability and appropriateness should now be eliminated.   Louis will be loved, protected, and cared for and that is the goal of adoption.  It is all life changing news that Sandra “chose” to share with People magazine. 

        Congratulations Sandra Bullock on the adoption of your son.  May you have a long, healthy & happy life together as mother and son.  No matter what happens with your marriage, I hope that you are able to continue having a loving and supportive relationship with Jesse’s children.   They will need that and so will you. 

         Life gets so complicated sometimes and the innocent are often caught up in the ripples of negativity from the actions of others.  Sandra has been a constant in Jesse’s children’s life for quite a few years now…hopefully that can continue.  I am sure that the older children have begun to bond with Louis as well…may peace and love be yours once again.  Oh and by the way, let me be the first to say, Happy Mother’s Day in a couple weeks!

Nations around the world are moved towards a sensitivity to the suffering of the Haitian people.  Money and donations of life saving supplies are poring in however, getting the supplies to the most devastated areas are difficult.  There is so much destruction and people are desparate.   Medical care is critical and people have been being treated in the street and in tents.  There is, and has been, a thin line between life and death.  

 Compassion is the fuel that moves people from merely hearing the news of the suffering and becoming involved and committed to doing what each person can to help.  Many people are giving money, some are donating their skills and talents or their time-volunteering to help the people of Haiti.  I read an article that made me question peoples awareness of their sensitivity towards others in need and their own need for a moment when life goes on in spite of what is happening around the world. 

So, it came as a bit of a surprise to read an article about a cruise ship line that stops at a port in Haiti that has made the decision to continue stopping at their destination in Haiti.  After reading about this, I couldn’t help reading the comments at the end of the article.  There were people who were for the cruise ship line continuing to stop in Haiti.  Those people were of the opinion that continuing to bring in tourists with their money would help to keep the Haitian people who were employed at the port working, providing them income during this time. 

The problem is, from what I understand of the situation is that this particular port is on the far end of the island; somewhat removed from the devastated area.  Still, those people who are employed do need jobs.  They do need income.  It was said that supplies were also carried in on the cruise ships.  I don’t know if that is true or not…but, if it is…God bless them for delivering supplies to the island.  The need is strong for medical supplies, food, water, blankets, shelter (many are homeless including the elderly and small children)…and there is a need for caregivers and adoptive families for those who are now orphans. 

Those who criticized the cruise line were of the opinion that tourists had no business partying, drinking, and living it up on the island paradise when they knew full well that human beings were starving and dying of thirst for lack of clean and healthy water just across the island in the area of Port au Prince.  The dead and the dying do not have instant access to the plenty that the cruise line passengers and those enjoying the comfort of the port.  There were comments in this section that wondered how someone could possibly eat, drink and take advantage of the activities knowing of the intense struggle for survivial just miles away.   Is it justification by saying that continuing to vacation there is bringing in money?  Or is it true and therefore ok in the opinion of the reader here?

It just got me wondering…how the human spirit who is sensitive towards those in need decides at what point, life goes on?  I mean, do you do all that you know to do to help, in your spirit and contribute what you can giving yourself permission to go about your business?  Do you just ignore the suffering?  Do you allow the situation to paralyze you and keep you from moving forward in your own life; attending to the daily issues at hand?  Is it possible to find a balance of helping through charity, volunteerism, and prayer; and, living in gratitude for the gifts or blessings in your life?   When is it ok for those who are sensitive to the needs of others in peril translate to a life goes on moment without guilt?  It is going to take a long time for recovery; hopefully, people do not forget too soon and stop acting on the behalf of those suffering who have been traumatized by this natural disaster.

 What are your thoughts as you read this blog post?

See possibly related post: http://www.writewhereyouareblog.com/heros-what-are-they-made-of/

       Today, we send our kids to school and don’t know if they are going to be safe; shot, bullied, knifed, or sexually assaulted.  Children can no longer play outdoors without being supervised, even into the teen years because of kidnapping, sexual assaults, or driveby shootings.  Gang activity has become surrogate family for some youths who either can’t avoid getting pulled in or are forced into it by not having a way to get out of it.

         Shopping centers and banks are prone to violence.  Churches have to have guards because of threats of violence or unrest.  Pastors/Priests/Rabbi’s/or other Spiritual Advisors can’t meet with anyone alone for fear of being accused of wrongdoing or out of fear for their safety.  God forbid that they seek the quiet of the church to pray alone or work…because, someone could come in and do them bodily harm.  The sanctity of the church or God’s house is no longer given the respect it deserves as a place of refuge and spiritual nurturing. 

           Driving along the road you can be injured or killed because someone else may have a road rage problem.  Walking to your vehicle from any business can cause you to be kidnapped, mowed over by another vehicle, chased down and raped or beaten.  It is a randomness that can happen to anyone, no matter their training if they happen to be distracted long enough to be vulnerable.

             You can’t get through a year without hearing of someone shooting at vehicles on the highway or dropping items off of an overpass onto unsuspecting travelors.  Office place or work related violence is becoming the norm.  If someone is fired or is not getting along with their co-workers they hatch a plan to kill, maim and destroy.

            Daycares are under attack, children are being killed, tortured or brutalized by the very people who are supposed to love them and protect them…. or by their very own family members.   We have kids killing neighbors, friends…and enemies; young child or elderly, male/female, it does not seem to matter.  They do not care about the well-being of their fellow human beings.  

          Could it be that they have been “desensitized” towards the feelings or safety of others by years of abuse & neglect role modeled in their own families, or on their choice of entertainment-ie: movies, videos, video games, books and magazines?  Some of those entertainments use violence and sexual assault as part of their entertainment.   Do these offenders understand the line between make believe (acting) and real life?  Clearly, I don’t think they do; or if they do, they do not equate their actions with the consequences that are sure to follow!

               Now, as of yesterday…we have our own military personel firing on their own fellow soldiers with the intent to kill, maim and destroy.    Now the analyzers go into action mode trying to understand such an attack…and yes, that is important.  However, I don’t know about you…but, it gets very frustrating to me to hear of any kind of news item of this nature which then turns into a litany of “EXCUSES” for why the event took place.  Whether it was childhood trauma, abuse, or neglect, religious beliefs, terrorism, fear, anxiety, anger issues or control issues, or an inability to connect with others…underneath it all, it doesn’t change the outcome. 

 There has to be common sense used in how we handle these things; otherwise:

            Being raised to be careful will no longer good enough…we will have to raise our children, our teens and instruct our elders to no longer trust, to no longer give the benefit of the doubt about someone’s intentions.  We will have to teach them to be paranoid about being hurt, taken advantage of …of expecting someone to take out their rage from their childhood on the innocent people in their path on the wrong day.  It is a sick way of thinking…but, to survive the violent society that we have allowed the United States of America to become….we will have to always be looking for things to not be right around us.  Don’t just look over your shoulder, don’t just observe the stranger in your neighborhood…you’ll have to watch your neighbor…make sure he or she is “safe” to be around.   This is not a natural way to live our lives!

         Families, communities, schools, businesses, churches and the armed forces have characters from all walks of life.  People with good intentions, good will, and a willingness to treat others with respect, reponsibility, trust, safety and honor are becoming the minority.  Oh there are plenty of good people out there; but, they are starting to feel outnumbered.  We must build people up, encourage them and reward those who do the right things by recognizing them and their deed…simply for the idea that it IS the right thing to do!!!  

          If we don’t get a handle on how we are heading as a society we are going to be living in a war zone…everywhere we go; just like alot of places around the globe.    It is a sad observation of where we have been, where we are now, and where we are on our way to becoming as an American society, in the future, if we don’t attempt to make some p0sitive changes. 

            However, for those that do spend….they are quickly overwhelmed when they discover the amount of new skills and knowledge that they must acquire before they can even begin to make lots money…not to mention the discouragement that sets in when they realize how long it will be before they learn enough to make that huge investment of money back.  It just isn’t practical to spend thousands and wait 12 months to 2 years to learn enough knowledge and skills to make your money back.  Marketing is a system for selling products or services; and, because it is a system…that means there are many components. 

          What if you could learn some of the techniques that would bring in enough money to pay an extra bill or two a month?  Would that be a benefit to you?  I am sure that it would.  Rapid Cash doesn’t promise to make you millions or guarantee that you will be driving a new car in a week…that is foolishness.  On the other hand, Rapid Cash can add enough cash to your pocket to help take some of the pressure off the average person’s monthly struggles http://tinyurl.com/djr2a7 . 

       You see, what alot of those big named gurus and their programs promise you is unrealistic when you think about it.  In their sales pages and videos…they are flaunting their cars, their mansions and piles of money.  Yes it is possible to acquire those things; however, what they often don’t tell you is that it has taken them years and tons of money to learn how to earn the kind of skills and knowledge needed to make that happen.  It does not happen overnight like that for the average person.  It takes alot of work…and a whole lot of expert help to get to that level. 

          People are often manipulated by those ads to believe that they can achieve that level of success quickly.  Realistically, learning is a process and everyone has to start somewhere.  I am an affiliate for Rapid Cash Marketing.  http://tinyurl.com/djr2a7   They teach you how to use skills and knowledge to earn extra money while you learn those other things about making money online, learning a proven, in- depth internet marketing system that can lead to a higher level of internet marketing success. 

       There is a team of coaches who are there to teach you how to pick up extra cash to supplement your income with skills that you may already have or can quickly develop.   They are knowledgable in many areas and use these skills themselves to earn money online.    Do you have digital photo experience, interviewing skills, graphic arts skills, writing skills, direct marketing skills, writing sales letters, video skills,  voice over abilities, editing skills, etc?  The list goes on…but, if you could learn how to use those skills in an effective way to earn enough money to take the edge off of your present financial situation it would be a blessing right?  

          If you are willing to learn and willing to take action towards achieving some financial success online then check out this link:  http://tinyurl.com/djr2a7   Yes, I will get a financial reward if you were to purchase…but, if their program improved your finances; then, I think you would thank me anyway!   I think you will see the wisdom in investing a small amount of money that will quickly repay your investment if you put in the effort to do what the successful internet marketers Jeff Wellman, Dixie Brown, and Paul Counts instruct you to do. 

        What’s the difference you ask?  Well, spending your time, energy and money without regard for a return on your spending is wasteful.  On the other hand, investing your time, energy and money towards achieving your goal has an expectation of growth or an achievement of some kind.

          When you set goals or mini goals…it is a way of measuring your progress.  If you just wing it as you go…your hopes and dreams have less of a chance for success.  You can always tweak your goals or plan if things start to take a detour…but, if you just let things go in whatever direction the wind blows you will end up chasing rainbows.  While it may be pretty and enjoyable…it may not serve you in the end.  Whatever your purpose is in life…construct a plan of action and put it in force-that way you will not find yourself in the position of having to regret not finding a way to make it happen!

On a personal level…we all have such moments such as the death of a loved one, a divorce, an experience of violence, maybe a long anticipated birth, a reunion of relationship thought forever lost to us, an accident, a buried memory that has suddenly come to the surface; these all can be classified in our minds as, a before and after moment.  It is a moment when time is frozen and we acknowledge that our lives will never be the same; for better or worse.

As a society, when something like the space shuttle Challenger explodes, or a President (John F. Kennedy) is assignated, an icon dies in a shocking way, war breaks out, a huge natural or man made disaster happens to a community, or terrorism like 911 comes knocking down the door of the innocent with brutal strength and power; it devastates not only the morale of an individual; it attacks the personal concept of safety and innocence of not only a nation; but, it has the ability to impact the world.  We once again have a moment in time that is frozen into a before and an after 911.  We are never the same in the after moments, as we were in the before.

We observe it,  acknowledge it, we grieve it, we resent it, we write about it, and we cope with it.  The experience is never to be forgotten and nor are those who have been intimately affected by the loss of life, of the loss of a future with those that they love…nor the impact of losing those innocent people who just happened to be in the very center of a destructive decision, made by those who have been indoctrinated by hate and a desire to control the fate of others.  We must learn from these moments…we must somehow bridge the gap of hatred so that every person’s humaness can be seen, appreciated, respected and valued, as we value our own.   These frozen moments in time must not freeze our hearts and minds…or the enemy wins!

           This is not only a business to the owners…it is a way of life, a scrapbook of family memories and history.  It is interwoven with events of personal and public highs and lows.  To lose this business is to lose a part of themselves and their own personal family time capsule.  I hope it does not happen…you can help prevent it by doing what I did.

         I did my part…I went to their website:  http://getmint.com/ and I orded some of their products…they need to raise $325,000 all total.  They will attempt to do this by selling drams of oil, honey flavored with mint oil…and other mint based products.  The products that I ordered came in a timely fashion and they are great.    I hope the owners can do it…I hope they can raise enough to make good on the loan and once again be the sole owners of their family farm which has been in their family since 1912 when their great grandfather began producing mint oil.  The business has been in their family through four generations.  This brother and sister team are working hard together to hold on to their family’s legacy.   It is a legacy worth preserving.

         Mint is a very beneficial plant…it is great for helping to relieve stress and depression, stomach cramps & digestion, and headaches.   It is powerful at relieving sinus congestion.  It can be added to massage oil to help re-energize tired muscles and body aches.   Mint has antiviral, antifungal, antiseptic, antibacterial properties according to their website…it could be an important part of any first aid kit in my mind.  Those are some great natural health benefits that mint oil can provide…typically without any side effects like some medications people pay hard earned money for.  Mint obviously can be useful in cooking and baking as well.   How can you go wrong with such a great product?

          Why is it so important to aid this company in saving their company?  I think it is vital to try to save local businesses that invest back into the local community.  The owners need employees to produce and package their products.  They add to the value of Michigan and it’s residents.  I like the fact that they are within a days drive from my home.  I am pleased that the owners are invested in the history of their company and their local community and it’s people.  I love the fact that they have not given up…that they are fighting tooth and nail to preserve what four generations of their family have sacrificed to build. 

          Please, aid them by going to their website…leave comments of support; but, more importantly…buy things…buy lots of products…help them to help themselves.  Watch and see what they do in the future if they are successful at beating that foreclosure!  I for one and cheering them on and praying for their success.  To Peppermint Jim and his sister Linette, I hope and pray that you meet and exceed your goal just because you have tried to do everything in your power to honor your commitment!

        Women need to be aware of the danger of taking any over the counter medication during pregnancy; without the advice of their doctor.  Often there are label warnings on packages…but sometimes, they are writting in small print.   They must avoid high stress (pregnant or not…that is good advice).  Pregnancy can put stress on relationships as well.  If the woman is involved in a relationship that is unstable or prone to emotional or physical abuse…she needs to be aware of her vulnerability in that situation. 

       Consulting with those in her community who are trained professionals is important in those situations for their safety and well-being.   Seeking the advice of those who work with abused women is also good.  You can do this on a local level, or you can do it online here: http://www.ndvh.org/ but beware, a woman who is being intimidated or abused at home may have her computer monitored.  If it is discovered that she is reaching out to others…she could be at risk for more violence…so use a computer that is safe to use. 

          It is unfortunate that we live in a world where violence directed towards women happens every day.  We hear, on the news, scary reports of women being killed, by strangers, for their unborn children.  Not only do women have to be aware that such dangers exist;  they must also take precautions when they go out in their communities during their daily routines.  It is sad but true…there are people who live and breathe, who care only about their own wants and desires…some of them are mentally unstable and dangerous.  A pregnant woman has to be very aware of her surroundings at all times.

          If that isn’t enough, women often worry about things like miscarriage, or birth defects.  It is normal to have those thoughts and concerns…but, outside of avoiding drugs/alcohol/smoking and taking care to eat a healthy, well balanced diet rich in folic acid and maintaining a healthy weight; there isn’t much that a woman can do to control things like a miscarriage or birth defect risks.  Well, that is not exactly true…in my opinion, because I believe in the power of prayer in all situations.  God is good and is the giver of life.

        Everyday there is some kind of new discovery about what is, and what is not, safe for a pregnant woman.  Alot of it is common sense when it comes to making choices and decisions. 

         When it comes to exercising during pregnancy…most of the time, medical professionals will tell a woman that whatever she was doing before becoming pregnant is probably safe.  However each woman, with every pregnancy, must see her doctor and decide what is right for her and her baby, at that moment in time; because, situations can change from day to day.  Getting regular checkups while pregnant is always the best advice.  Your doctor or nurse can answer any questions about what you should or should not be doing.

         Which brings me to my next topic, which is a news article on the upcoming flu season; and, women getting flu shots.  It is being recommended by many doctors, according to a news report that I read on the ABC news website, that women who are pregnant, or expecting to be pregnant, get the flu shot when it is released; to help protect them from the swine flu.  The media keeps talking about a possible pandemic regarding the flu.  They say that pregnant women are more vulnerable to the swine flu because their immune systems are lower during pregnancy and it could complicate their health, as well as the health of the baby that they carry. 

           While some advocate getting the flu vaccination…others would caution a woman to be very careful in making that decision.  Again, the best source of information is going to be your health care provider. 

          Now, I know that a woman can’t help but worry about all the things that could go wrong with a pregnancy; but, it seems to me that if you spend all of your time worrying…you won’t have any time to enjoy the pregnancy.  This is the time that she, as a mother, spends bonding with her child as it grows in her womb.   Are there worries; sure there are.  However, those worries do not have to dominate the pregnancy.  Taking some simple precautions during the time that others in her circle of influence are ill, should help to keep a pregnant woman healthy.

           Keeping her opportunities of exposure down to a bare minimum is important; cutting down on some social activities during peak flu season is advisable.  Washing her hands often and well is one of the best ways to avoid becoming sick.  Keeping hand sanitizer in her purse , office, or her vehicle and using it often is a good thing.  Using antibacterial sprays on surfaces that are used in community type environments is good; such as in bathrooms and kitchens.    Avoid large gatherings where exposure to sickness of any kind is greatly increased due to the numbers of people.  

           Of course, the best things that you can do for your baby; you should also, already, be doing for yourself.  Those things are to be involved in a loving & healthy relationship with the co-parent of your child.  Eat balanced meals and get plenty of rest.  Make sure that meats  and eggs are cooked long enough to kill any contaminants.  Wash fresh fruits and vegetables well to get rid of pesticides.   Drink lots of water and milk (preferrably milk that is pasteurized, and without any additives).  Avoid alcohol, smoking, stress and dangerous activities.  If your doctor advises it; take prenatal vitamins.  Exercise under the advice of your physician.   Pregnancy doesn’t last forever and this time is precious.  Worrying about everything under the sun doesn’t change a thing; but, taking steps to ensure a healthy and happy pregnancy does.