GenerationOn: Teach Your Kids How to Give Back This Holiday Season

I recently received an email from Cara Smith at generationOn.org and discussed a little about the concepts behind the generationOn website. I don't post up everything I get in my email, as you know, but this one caught my attention for several reasons. The first line read:

"This holiday season is an opportunity to inspire kids to get involved in bringing positive change to their communities.  In addition to receiving the gifts of knowledge, self-esteem and empowerment that come with youth service, kids can give back just by joining generationOn at www.generationOn.org."

It caught my attention enough to file it to the "come back later" emails. And, I'm glad that I did. The website is adorable! The concept is perfect for parents who want their child's online experience to be enlightening and enriching. I noticed lists of 65 activities that children can do to make a difference in their community. There is a "What issues do you care about?" vote. There are even areas for parents and teachers to peruse.

So, now you're thinking: great, another website...bla bla bla...

Why You Should Check It Out

If this year is a little tight on the money (hey, we're all feeling that economic crunch!) and you have it in your heart to show your kids the spirit of giving, generationOn and Hasbro and Toys for Tots has teamed up to let you and your kids do just that!

According to the email:

"For every service pledge made between December 3 and December 10, 2010, Hasbro will give a toy to a child in need through the Toys for Tots Holiday Gift Campaign (up to 100,000 total toys)."

Toys for Tots is so dear to my heart, as they have helped my children before when times were rough for us...it was last minute, right before Christmas and when I talked to the Director, he said, "Come right on down and get some gifts for your children.

It's simple to join in the giving this year: go to generationOn.org, have your child make their pledge and a child will receive a toy for Christmas this year. I have 5 children (I think Kodie-Bear is too young...LOL) who can help five other receive gifts this year- it's a valuable pledge for your children AND you help a child in need.

Can you think of a better way to spend time with your child and help another this holiday season? If you find any other programs like this, let me know!

 

Did the Father in Michigan Kill His 3 Missing Boys?

Just as I'm feeling all warm and mushy about the holiday season, I hear a breaking news story on Nancy Grace about a father who allegedly killed his three little boys and my heart starts to ache for the mother. Did John Skelton kill his three boys, who are 5, 7 and 9 years old?

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/11/28/2010-11-28_search_for_missing_boys_in_michigan_continues_after_their_dad_john_skelton_tried.html

John Skelton was found after his attempted suicide. 

The lies and the stories are all twisted...first, John says that he gave little Alexander, Andrew and Tanner to this woman that he met on the Internet to deliver to the mother, but the police say that the "purported relationship does not exist". And, why would he give his precious boys to some woman to deliver to the mother?

Then, the cops say that John confessed to killing his three boys and dumped the bodies in an abandoned school with a teddy bear each. No such luck...there were no bodies found.

Then, the cops report that John confessed to dumping the bodies in a restaurant dumpster. Again, no bodies.

But, nooses were found in the father's house...

In the frigid cold with high winds along the Michigan and Ohio border, hundreds of people have formed to create search teams, searching several bodies of water with sonar equipment and acres and acres of land for the three little boys...and the search continues. The boys have been missing since Thanksgiving...is there still hope?

John's sister claims that the boys are safe...but won't tell her where they are. Sound fishy? You would think while sitting in jail on a $3 million bond, the father would decide to reveal their location...unless, of course he killed them. The charges that they are holding him on right now? Kidnapping.

Blame the Mother

Why is it that people are so quick to judge and blame the mother in this situation? She's not out there, avidly searching for her little boys...why not? She's a sex offender...and because of her past (what the heck does that have to do with finding her little boys?) the press is tearing her apart. I don't see how that has anything to do with the fact that her little boys are missing, she had nothing to do with it, and her heart is broken.

Why are people always so quick to judge mothers when their children are missing - or murdered? The Skeltons were separated...the boys were obviously with the father at the time of disappearance!

As a mother of 5 boys, my heart goes out to Tanya. I'm praying for her...she must be dying inside.

The search party doesn't want to give up hope that they will find the Skelton boys cuddled up, keeping each other warm somewhere...but it looks grim.

"The search has consumed Morenci, a town of about 2,000 residents 75 miles southwest of Detroit. Last week's annual Christmas parade has been canceled, and City Hall shut down so it could be used as a command center. 

Police have released Skelton's photo and are looking for anyone who may have seen the boys or the Skeltons' blue Dodge Caravan between Nov. 25 and Nov. 26. Police have seized the van, but were trying to determine where Skelton may have taken them before he attempted suicide," according to Foxnews.

Ugh! What a damper of the spirits, but I will say that the search efforts are amazing! All of the people involved are out there in both Michigan and Ohio in the freezing cold and wind to try to do their part in helping the mother find her children, and that is overwhelmingly beautiful!

So, what do you think? Did John kill his precious little boys?

Mommy Rantings 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Is Officially Up and Going!

Don't miss out on the official Mommy Rantings 2010 Holiday Gift Guide and upcoming holiday giveaways! It's a season for sharing, giving and loving and you will find it all right here, as we have a bunch of celebrations this month! Forget about just celebrating Christmas! There are THREE! Count them, three birthdays this month in our family, so let the celebrations begin! They already started here!

On Veronica's birthday (Dec 1), I announced the winners of the Baby Kiss and Coo DVD's and on December 15th, which just happens to be Lucas' birthday, I will be announcing the winners of the Reader's Digest Disney's Tangled books. Did you think I just randomly picked days? :)

And, this is just the beginning...a "sneak peek" of what is coming up....I have several sponsors this year and just to give you an idea of upcoming giveaway items: a set of candles, a Christmas gift basket, Softlips, Snikiddy's and a whole lot more! Stay tuned and don't forget to visit the Mommy Rantings Official 2010 Holiday Guide to get some ideas for shopping this year!

Happy Holidays!

Baby Kiss and Coo DVD Set Winners!!!

Yay! Thanks to the Baby Kiss and Coo team for deciding to sponsor this giveaway and send out - not 3 sets of DVD's (2 in each set) - but 6, due to the influx of emails that I received! They're feeling charitable this year! You all are awesome! Announcing the winners:

Random.org chose the following numbers....

Drum roll....

4, 13,  and 1...soooooo

Congratulations, Holly, Discovering the Me in Mommy, and Elizabeth!

Complimentary sets will be given to three more winners, Erin, Jennifer and Angie! Congrats to you all, too! I'll be in touch with all of you! Come on back for more giveaways! I have many more lined up!

A Very Diva Birthday!

Okay, I promise I'm not going to cry...

It's officially my little Diva's birthday.

 

Okay, she's not my "little" Diva anymore...("Mooooooom!"...wipe the tears from the eyes)...she's my 10 year old Diva today. And, she's not even my oldest...This is my oldest...who is also 10. That is, until December 15th. Yes, exactly 2 weeks every year, these two are the same age...(and this year, it is 10!). Boy, am I starting to feel old! Shhhh! (Won't mention whose birthday is right around the corner...it's not mine!)

Back to the Birthday Girl...She's my arts and crafts child. The one that can make anything out of a piece of paper. She loves music and has a way of trying to weasel her way out of every bit of housework she is delegated. She's absolutely wonderful with her two littlest brothers and little kiddos in general. She's strong minded, and I love that about her, and yes, beyond being a Diva, she's definitely a Drama Queen.

As the only girl squished into a pack of 6 children, we have surrounded her with brothers who she will one day be glad she has to look out for her...(I promise, you'll be glad one day!)

Happy Birthday, my Diva, my Princess, and my Little Lady packaged all in one 10 year old! Ten years ago, your Dad and I had the opportunity (at 11:55 pm November 30, 2000) to choose whether to have a November baby or a December baby...so I held you in for a few more minutes to give birth to you at 12:00 a.m. on December 1, 2000. (Thank God for epidurals!)

I Love You, Veronica. Hoping you have a wonderful birthday (and birthday weekend) this year!