Good things come to those who...

Runaways

In recent months, there have been many teens in New Brunswick who have run away from home. Luckily, to the best of my knowledge, they have all been found safe and returned home. The question I have to ask is: will they always be that lucky?

Teenagers run away when there is a conflict they can't resolve, fear resolving  or have something to hide. They see leaving as easier than coping. In some cases, it's not only an escape from a situation, but a punishment to their caregiver. Sometimes it's plain and simply a cry for help, but what if that cry goes horribly wrong?

A child who runs away puts themselves at great risk, terrifies their family and friends and also wastes the RCMP resources. Police and search and rescue teams often spend countless hours searching for these kids, when often they're just hiding out in a friend's basement.

It's the kids who don't have a "safe" place to hide that concern me most. Where are they sleeping each night and how long before their resources run out? Kids in these situations make themselves extremely vulnerable and are easily manipulated. What started off as the "easy way out" may go horribly wrong.

My heart is broken for every family that has to deal with a runaway situation. The constant worry for your child until they are returned home safely is something that no parent should ever have to deal with. Until these kids are parents themselves, they won't fully understand what they have put their loved ones through.

If your child ever runs away or goes missing, get his or her photo out into the social media world immediately. Facebook, Twitter, email-use them all. You can also visit Missing Kids Canada or The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the USA .

Have you taught overseas? I need your advice...please.

Dear fellow bloggers;

I need some advice.

My husband is a teacher, but there aren't any teaching positions where we live. So, we're considering making a really big move. I have talked to many friends who have taught overseas, but I would really like less biased advice from people who don't know me personally. We want to go somewhere considered "safe", somewhere that will provide airfare and accommodation, and somewhere with a decent school system, because our kids will be in kindergarten and grade 2. Ideally the pay grade would be high enough that we could also save some money while there.

We have considered Nunavut, Korea and the UK.

Any personal accounts of an experience you've had would be greatly appreciated. Places you would recommend, or not, and why?

Thank you in advance! Every comment shared is a big help!

Jackie

Thursday's Rant

To make it in New Brunswick, you either need to know someone important who can get you a good job you don't necessarily deserve or you need to be a tradesperson. Otherwise, you have two choices: 1-pack up your things and move out West or 2-stay put and live just barely above the poverty line.

I have spent weeks now looking for a day job that would allow me to work opposite shifts from my husband, so that we can avoid the $1,500 a month daycare expense for our kids. Putting them in daycare is a last resort because most jobs around here won't even pay enough to cover the expense.

I have an education, but around here, I'm lucky if it earns me more than $11 an hour. My husband has his Bachelor of Education, but there aren't any teaching jobs available because existing teachers won't retire. A teacher's pension is based on their highest paid 5 years of service, so they stay on longer to increase their pension. Not only does this affect incoming teachers, but it also means that teachers are teaching past their expiry date, which can impact negatively on the children they teach. Ugh!

It's such a frustrating situation. I am ready, willing and more than capable to work, but what's the point if my pay won't cover daycare? Why would I work to have someone else raise my kids and still not come out on top financially anyway? What a crazy system we live in!

The Universal Childcare Benefit, in Canada, is issued to each family every month and this is meant to help pay for childcare. Why does this money not go directly into the daycares so that they can lower the cost to families?? Instead, people who don't need this money and don't even require childcare are getting $100 or more every month that could be much better spent. I have to be honest and say when that money gets direct deposited into my account, it likely gets used for groceries. I'm sure most families would report the same thing.

So, for now, I remain a stay-at-home-mom, unemployed, trying hard to pay the bills and looking for someone who wants to pay me to write.

Bullying Can Start as Young as Preschool

When my son was in preschool, he experienced his first dose of bullying.

Before my son was 5, he was sweet, polite and not yet exposed to the meanness of children. He loved to play construction and blocks, but he would also play tea party with the girls. At some point during his first year at preschool, a group of little girls decided that they no longer played with the boys and were at times very cruel to my son. It broke my heart for him because he was happy to play whatever they wanted. I didn't think he would have to deal with this kind of thing until big kid school started. I was wrong.

After that situation settled, he made a group of all boy friends. He happily played with them and forgot about the girls. He didn't encounter any type of bullying the following year in preschool and nothing at all came up until kindergarten.

Within the first month or so of kindergarten, my son wore a stripped, navy and white shirt to school. Some of the kids in his class made fun of him, saying that it looked like he had worn his pajamas to school. My reaction, at the time, was to tell him that he didn't have to wear the shirt to school anymore. Looking back, I realize I was just trying to protect his feelings, but I had an opportunity to teach him an important lesson. Instead, he taught me one. "No thanks, Mommy. I want to wear the shirt again tomorrow." I have never been more proud of my incredible son than I was in that moment. He wasn't going to let those kids affect him or how he dressed.

I know my son may encounter bullying at different times over the years, but I am confident now that he will handle himself better than I could have hoped.

RIP Cory Monteith

The toxicology reports are in and the word is that Cory Monteith died of an "accidental heroin and alcohol overdose." What a sad, sad and preventable loss.

I can't help but think about his poor family and his fiance, Lea Michele. Monteith was my age, 31, and had so much life ahead of him. He was set to marry Michele in only 2 weeks time.

He was so incredibly talented and seemed to have such a bright future ahead of him. His absence on Glee won't go unnoticed. I will be very curious to see how they address his departure.

Far too many people in Hollywood die from very similar circumstances. I hope this is an eye opener for others suffering with addiction as Monteith was.

Sad, sad, sad. He will be greatly missed.

Parents Decide What Kids Eat. NOT Kids

I am constantly amazed by what "food" people will feed their children. You don't have to be a Holistic Nutritionist to know that nuggets and fries should not be staples in your diet.

This morning I over heard a conversation. The mother of a roughly 6 year old said, "He's a fussy eater. I can only get him to get nuggets, fries and Kraft Dinner." I nearly jumped out of my seat to shake some sense into this woman. He eats that way because you allow it. 

I will never for one minute pretend that my children don't eat things they shouldn't, on occasion. I would never lie and say they haven't eaten fast food or had one too many sugary treats, but I can say very confidently that my children don't live off junk and my 5 year most certainly does not dictate the menu.

Until our kids start school, we decide 100% of the time what they can and cannot eat. If your child will only eat junk, it is because that is what you have provided for them and then when they wouldn't eat the healthier options, you caved and allowed more junk. Who is the parent here?

If you are experiencing extreme eating problems with your child, it may be time to visit a Naturopath or Nutritionist to look further into what is going on. There are certainly cases where a child may have an intolerance to a food, which could be at the root of the problem. Something to consider.

Our health and eating habits as an adult are a reflection of how we ate, and were taught to eat, as children. Teach your children, while they'll still listen, the importance of eating well. When they are all grown-up, they will thank you.