Bruised child's 'good woopin' T-shirt, beating shaming backfires on mom

Florida mom Melany Joyce Alexander's shaming punishment backfired. Alexander sent her bruised child to school wearing a shirt bragging up the "good woopin" received, reported the Washington Post Feb. 24. The kid's crime? Poor grades. Mom objected to an F grade point average. Alexander was arrested and charged with child abuse.  Bruised child's 'good woopin' T-shirt, beating shaming backfires on mom 

Celebrate Valentine's Day when you're single, or just survive the day of romance

Valentine's Day is fine for happy, committed couples. A little kitschy, with the overemphasis on superficial fluff. But Valentine's Day can be miserable if you're single or in a dissolving relationship. How do you celebrate (or just survive) a day devoted to romantic love when you're not in a romance? The Washington Post suggests we just skip Valentine's Day schmaltz or at least dial down the hype. Here are other suggestions for singles to survive Valentine's Day.  Celebrate Valentine's Day when you're single, or just survive romance schmaltz 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day printables, civil rights worksheets, lesson plans - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15 which is celebrated as Martin Luther King, Jr Day the third Monday in January--Jan. 19, 2015. Teachers and homeschool parents, here are free printable lesson plans on MLK Jr., to teach children about this brave civil rights champion.



First, help students relate him on a personal level with Time magazine's Jan. 15 article on what Martin Luther King Jr. was like as child. Next head to Activity Village for a printable collection of MLK Jr. activities. There are American history lessons on civil rights, bus boycotts, Selma and Montgomery marches and more. Students make text-to-self connections writing about what freedom and justice mean to them. Use these to explore Black History Month in February.  

Martin Luther King Jr. Day printables, civil rights worksheets, lesson plans

Free printable Catholic Advent calendars for a Christian Bible Christmas

The Catholic Christian season of Advent begins November 30, 2014 and goes for four weeks till Christmas. Many families follow Advent calendars. Some contain candy or prizes to countdown to Christmas. The Daily Mail, on November 24, listed even more lavish commercial Advent calendars prizes: nail polish, gifts, toys, jewelry, cosmetics, even beer!



While there's nothing wrong with a little treat, materialism defeats the Advent purpose: to focus on God. Constantly receiving teaches children (and adults) to be even more aquisitory than they already are at Christmas. If they're getting all season long, where's the magic of Christmas morning? Advent is about preparing for the coming of Christ with acts of charity.  Free printable Catholic Advent calendars for a Christian Bible Christmas

Don't let people's behavior keep you from doing what you know is right

I'm dealing with a situation right now where someone near and dear to me is acting very far and unloving. This has been an on-going situation stemming back decades. Things will go smooth--until that person determines they shouldn't Everything's fine, till he decides it's not. Then he turns into a hateful, horrible controlling monster. Are there mitigating factors? Meh. Sure. Crazy schedule, exhaustion, lack of family time, stress at work, smoking. Does that excuse it? No. Most of the factors he has no control over. But he does control how he acts.  Don't let people's attitude and behavior keep you from doing what you know is right

One in four West Michigan kids goes hungry, Kids Food Basket helps food insecure - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

 Think holidays and what comes to mind? Food, feasting, family, gift exchanges, decorating, joy--did you list these? If you did, you're one of the lucky ones. Some folks, many of them children, worry about when they'll eat next. And Michiganders, believe it or not, we have a high percentage of those. A staggering 1 in 4 kids goes to bed hungry.One in four West Michigan kids goes hungry, Kids Food Basket helps food insecure - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

Diwali 2014 kicks off Hindu Festival of Lights with Dhanteras

 Diwali--the Hindu Festival of Lights--kicked off for 2014 on October 20 with Dhanteras. The actual Diwali celebrations happen a few days into the festival--October 23 and 24, 2014, says West Michigan Hindu Temple. Diwali--or Deepavali--is the Hindu lunisolar calendar new year which begins with the month of Kartika (October or November in western Gregorian calendar). Sikhs and Jains observe Diwali light festivals too.Diwali 2014 kicks off Hindu Festival of Lights with Dhanteras - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com