My employer wasn't thrilled when I started a family in 2008 and it was evident that my days were numbered when I returned from maternity leave. GumdropSwap.com is quite a departure from my Design Production Manager job at a furniture retailer. The failing economy late last year was the timely excuse for them to sever ties. I was faced with being unemployed and a child that quickly outgrew clothing. I saw ways that consignment and resell shops were failing their customers. This gave me an idea for a new business. I can serve families, save them money, and help the environment. I realize that running this business takes a culmination of all of my design, administrative, organizational and problem-solving skills. It's like I've been training for this job my whole life.

Please click on the link below and watch the video.

im saddened. just when you think you've saved one, you've lost another one. So, why the 'church' is having 'church', this is the area that's left untouched when it comes to intervention...after school programs, in-school mentoring, etc...she can't be no more than 6yrs old and her perception is warped already on so many levels!
And her parents!!! that's a whole 'nother issue...

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=100999489920532&ref=mf

Peace and many Blessings Sistahs,
It has been a while since I have posted a blog on the site, but I have been very active reading the posts you all have written.
Currently, until the end of the week, I am working as a Program Assistant for an after-school program at an elementary school. I have never seen so many children who give up so easily. They seem to always be frustrated, they are not really open to new things and of course the followers syndrome is deep. It is very frustrating. I introduced them to affirmations and we have done the acrostic poem. I even had them stand in a mirror and say their affirmations five times. I am trying my hardest to stay patient, but it is very hard. I wanted to contirbute my lack of patience to the fact that I am seven months pregnant, but I am sure that that is only half of the reason. I want to help these students, because they are true reflections of who I am and where I come from, but sometimes the wall is so hard to move.
Sistahs, please send your loving energy to these students. They are beautiful people and they have so much to give and do, but they need our love and support.

As we all know, the hearing child is highly receptive to sound. From the “Whooo-hoo” during an exciting moment to the soft lullaby in a mother’s arms, your child’s mind records the waves as communications that provide touching memories throughout life...

Greetings YMIB Sistahs,

My Princess recently turned five and I noticed that her bottom teeth became spaced. Not long after that, she informed me that her two bottom teeth were loose. It seems like just yesterday she was a babe in my arms and now she's about to start losing her baby teeth. With that, comes the childhood lie: the tooth fairy.

My Princess' father and I agreed that our daughter would not be raised to believe the childhood lies that we grew up with: Santa Clause, the tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny and others.

My dilemna is that my FAMILY will undoubtly make comments about the tooth fairy to my daughter along with the "ritual" of placing the tooth under her pillow in expectation of money upon awakening. I do not wish to go on with this charade. Family members will agrue that "it's all in fun" or that "there's no harm" in having her believe these lies, but I don't agree.

Have any of you had to deal with this issue with your families? How did you deal with it?

Ase'!

Goodmorning Ladies,

not sure where to begin so i'll just ask

is it unreasonable to ask that our child be fed meals that i prepare and provide?
( even when other parents do not chose the same?)

to ask that our child not be fed processed foods but fruit instead, for snacks.. ?

to give her water, not juice?...( regardless, she has been given juice and lemonade...)

when we joined this facility we established this outright from the get go and it was agreed on, and now offense is taken when we ask that she adhere to what we established.

my husband said that he dont know how it is prepared and just wants our child to eat the home prepped food provided. She took great offense to this, to the point that she stated that she will not give our child anything from her house...not even fruit, that we should just provide it all.

This is frustrating... very frustrating

there are other things i dont like, that i have noticed as time has passed but i suppose all is flawed right?

we pay a low rate and well, you get what you pay for i suppose

I write or send information about autism, but I have never shown pictures of my inspiration. Here they are Curtis, 16, severely autistic and Tyler 12, PDD, NOS, very high functional.

My Boys

I just got finished submitting my final paper for my gender and society class. My paper's topic was on gender inequalities and stereotypes taught by parents, sometimes through religion. Within this topic I ended up discussing how expectations regarding achievement to sons and daughters are often communicated differently by parents. As a result of that I had over a page on my notion and thoughts why its done in the African American community, specifically that girls are pushed more than boys. I'd thought that I'd also share my thoughts here. So here they are:

I knew that girls should wipe their booms front to back, but I just did not really internalize that it could lead to an infection that could kill. I knew that infection could kill you but WOW. Check out this news report.
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl030508jbmadison.257e9ab9.html

feeds me
cold
wet (cause he sucks on 'em a lil bit first)
french fries

cause he loves me
and he likes to share...

Can anyone suggest a natural hair care product for my 10 month old baby girl who has very dry hair?

I've tried, Jane Carter's Hair solutions, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, and some of the non-natural products (Always Indian Hemp, Optimum Dry Hair Solutions, Lady Hilda) with no success.

I stopped using anything in her hair two days ago and now it seems like when I comb it, her hair is coming out.

Any suggestions with great results will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

AllyB

The little one and I spent our Sunday afternoon doing some arts and crafts projects using popsicle sticks, and even went “green” by recycling an almond milk box into a bird feeder. He had lots of fun, except now I am stuck with 1,000 popsicle sticks. Came up with a fun way to serve the plane jane PB&J...we call them lunch k-bobs!! He loved this and I left the peanut butter off and served it on the side so he could dip his sandwich squares and apples in it. It went great with some cold almond milk!