Outraged over Penn State

I know this is a blog about my sweet little girl, but this Penn State tragedy has me really fired up.  I need an outlet.  Let me start of by saying I am absolutely appalled and sickened by ANY HUMAN BEING that can hurt a child.  I am angry that this Sandusky man used his position of power to sexually abuse young boys.  I am angry that underprivileged children were suppose to be attending a program to improve their lives and they were so profoundly hurt in the process.  I am angry that the world is this disgusting that so many people at Penn State University knew about it and did nothing but tell the man not to bring children to the campus.  Puke.  I am a teacher--I may be taking a hiatus--and I am a mother...children are my heart and my life.  Sexual abuse against children is not something you reprimand and move on...it is a HEINOUS CRIME against a CHILD.  It is a legal issue.  Shame on you Penn State for not protecting children.  If adults don't protect them, who will??????

As a teacher, I was a mandated reporter, meaning I was required to report any suspected abuse to DFACS (Department of Family and Child Services) immediately.  If I did not do this, I would go to jail.  I personally reported several incidents and did so without regret because it was for the protection of the child.  While I was bound by law when I was teaching, I would absolutely report any abuse to DFACS/ authorities now if I knew it had happened.  It's called a HUMAN CODE.  Penn State staff-- where is your morality??  If you know a child was in the shower on campus with one of your coaching assistants, you call the police.  Period.  I have loved Joe Paterno for as long as I can remember-- actually adored him.  He has been an excellent coach, mentor, and citizen...but here's the bottom line for me...he dropped the ball by letting this slide...everyone at Penn State did.  It is a jarring reminder that we are always one mistake away from losing everything.  And this was unacceptable mistake.  But, you have ton be responsible for your choices especially when they involve protecting our children.  The choice he chose to make by allowing this to be covered up, allowing Sandusky to remain on staff, and allowing the incident not to be reported to authorities enabled the situation with his inaction.  It ultimately cost him and it should have.  He wasn't the only one who did wrong, but he was one amongst the group.  We are all worried about his amazing coaching career...well what about the 8 boys that are psychologically damaged by these sinister actions?? Unacceptable.  It is just unacceptable.

Children need our protection, our love, and security in a cruel world.  These poor victims got none of that.  In fact, they go just the opposite thanks to the incompetence of those hired to represent Penn State.  I am over people feeling sorry for the people at Penn State that made adult decisions with the information they had.  I am worried about the victims who didn't have a voice and who have been deeply scarred.

I think the U.S. needs to make a push that all people, not just teachers and health care professionals, are mandated reporters.  We need to protect our children first and foremost.  Who cares about football when lives are being destroyed?  This is absolutely intolerable and I am appalled that a university could be this careless and dismissive when it involved the precious lives of children.

A Not so Happening Halloween...

Well, Ella's First Halloween was sort of a bust.  She spent the afternoon at the doctor being treated for her second ear infection in 6 weeks AND getting her flu shot booster.  By 4 o'clock she was quite a mess and not up for much of anything except for  crying.  We didn't blame her :( We were suppose to dress her up and take her over to her friend Hudson's house.  They were going to take some pictures together and spend some time playing while we got to socialize with his parents (and our good friends) Jen and Matt.  Well, it was a great plan in theory, but didn't work out.  Ella cried from 4-6:30 when she promptly passed out from pure exhaustion.  Poor thing.  We hate seeing her sick.  We did put her in her Tinkerbell costume for 10 minutes and attempted to get a couple of pictures for the baby book.  I'll post what I have below.  All I can say is I hope next Halloween goes better.  We didn't even take Ella to a pumpkin patch this fall!!  I've been looking at all the adorable pumpkin patch pictures people posted on Facebook and can't help but feel guilty for not taking her.  It's just we've been either out of town, in town with visitors, or on the go...it just never seemed like we had any time this fall...Halloween snuck up on us!  I guess we need a Halloween re-do next year...we'll go to the pumpkin patch, take a hayride, carve a pumpkin, be well on Halloween, and wear the costume for more than 10 minutes...that's the goal at least.  Looks like we'll have some time to prepare since it is like 356 days away! On a positive note, she made the cutest Tinkerbell for those 10 minutes and she was a trooper considering how poorly she felt--she was a sweet little Tink!!

So, back to these ear infections.  The doctor and I are pretty certain that Mother's Morning Out is the culprit.  So, Ella is out for November and possibly the remainder of the year.  We have been back to the doctor TWICE since Halloween.  That makes 3 times in nine days.  I really enjoy the time I have to myself Tuesdays and Thursdays...but Ella being sick is totally not worth it.  So, as much as we both LOVE MMO, I think it's time to throw in the towel.  She may go back at the beginning of January...but more than likely not-- unless she gets a huge immune system boost.  The doctor said she may do better in a year or so.  In the meantime, I hope she finally gets well...she's been so pitiful :( 

Other than that,  Ella is growing like a weed and can stand on her own without holding on to anything for like 20 seconds.  We wonder if she's going to be walking by her first birthday--we think she will. She's learned a couple of new tricks like copying sounds and words you say...like dada, mama, baba..it's so cute...she's like a little echo.  Then she'll want you to copy the sounds she makes!  Brent discovered this "copycat game" and she LOVES it.  We're trying to get a video, but I swear she's camera shy.  She totally won't do it in front of the camera.  We're having so much fun with her right now and can't believe her 1st Birthday is only a little over a month away.  Where has the time gone??  One thing is for sure, she is her own little person and hasn't lost any of her spunk, spark, energy, or sass.  She's a little hoot and we just love our little Tink!!

I may be biased...

I may be biased, but I think Ella is the most wonderful child in the world.  Bold statement you say??  Well, yes...but I'm her mother...I'm suppose to think that.  I think all good parents think their child(ren) is/are the most wonderful in the world.  It comes with the territory of being a mommy and daddy.  When you have a child you watch, praise, savor, and internalize everything your child does.  When I was young, my mom would always tell me she thought that I was the greatest girl in the world.  I'd always say, "Of course you do, you're my mother"...but there is something about this that is so powerful.  You're not always going to be the best, get everything you want, or have it easy...but isn't it REASSURING to know that your parents, and grandparents, think you are the most special thing to happen to this world- EVER?  It builds your confidence and security.  We all think our children are the greatest... hopefully all of us have been made to feel like the greatest by our parents too.  There is nothing like being someone's pride in joy in a world that isn't always so nice. This morning started off at 5:45...with Ella covered in a giant "blow out" of poo poo.  It was everywhere and she went straight into the tub before she even had her bottle.  But, here's the beauty of this...poo covered and all, as her mom and dad (tag teaming clean up duty), we still think she's the greatest thing the world has ever seen.  And that it the magical thing about a parent's love.  It's unconditional and know no bounds and no matter how "yucky" the situation may get...they love you just the same. 

As I thought about it some more, I was reminded that it's like God's love for us (and His is even greater in magnitude...I honestly can't imagine).  He loves you just the same even when your life gets "poo" covered. So no matter what, God's still here to remind you that you're the greatest person in the world and love you unconditionally.  And that gift is priceless.  No one is perfect, but isn't it wonderful to be loved in spite of our imperfections??  I think so.


So enjoy your day!!  I'll be spending mine with the most wonderful girl in the world..in my eyes...a blessing I thank God for each day!!  Hope you are feeling like the most wonderful person in the world today too and know you are loved! :)