Interesting Afternoon In The Life Of A Parent

By Beth

I drove home from work today like usual, stopped at WalMart to pick up a few things and took my normal route home. On my way, I noticed traffic was very heavy and stopped ahead. I really didn't feel like waiting so I took the "back way" home. Before I could turn off, however, I noticed several police cars heading to the intersection (where the blinking yellow light is) and that there were hastily arranged road blocks and ROAD CLOSED signs up. Hmmm..

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Activities For Kids

By MAD21

During the summer months and the kids are out of school, and you are trying to find things to do, check out Activities for Kids for some ideas. They have everything from planning a party (printable invites to party themes and games), arts and crafts, recipes, and my favorite: The Summer Internet Calendar. You can use theirs, or create your own based on some of the things they have on theirs-it's a GREAT idea.

So don't just just plop the kids down in front of a DVD or mindless TV, set out on an adventure of exploring the internet as a learning experience for you and your children, plan dates to go to museums, specialized camps, the zoo, or make a cool new recipe.

Whatever you do, just make sure to spend time with your kids. They love every minute they have with you.

Have a great summer.

Identity Theft?

By MR, Age 14

The word identity is used in many different ways, but when you apply it to a person, its most essential definition is: "the distinguishing character or personality of an individual." A distinctive personality is what every teenager strives to find. "Coming into their own" or "discovering who they really are" have become common ways to define the search for an identity that a young person undergoes. Everyone is unique with indivdual ambitions, weaknesses, hopes and plans. Each of these things plays into how our ultimate identity is shaped.

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A Family's Fight Against Chemo. Who Decides?

A family in Minnesota is fighting for the right to allow their son to choose to NOT receive chemo as a treatment for his cancer. So far they are losing. The courts have ordered them to get new x-rays to determine if the cancer has grown/spread, and will issue a court order for him to begin treatment if it has. They will go so far as to put this child into the foster care system in order to do so. The boy has said that if they force him to get the treatment, that he will kick and fight. Doctors from several children's hospitals have testified during this case. They all talk of therapies that help the kids get through treatments. But all are unsure if they could or would 'force' a kid to receive the treatment.

There are a lot of issues surrounding this story, not all is as it seems.

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Kidlandia

By MAD21

Our kids love, love, love maps. Real maps. Fake maps. Maps they make themselves. Stories about maps. They just love them. We found this website that was created by someone who loved maps when they were little, too. And then grew up to work for Disney. Kidlandia ("A Kingdom for Every Kid") is a website where you can go and create your very own map. Including either real names or ones you make up. Basically, you choose one of four different map styles and then you fill in a bunch of information, and they will generate a really cool map that includes all the information you gave them. The final product can be a little pricy, but it's not too bad. The smallest print is a 12"x16"canvas scroll and costs $39.95.

Go check it out. Not only will kids love it, it is a really great gift idea! Here is a review of the site with comments from people who have tried it.