As I sit and scan the channels to find something good to watch, I stopped on BBC World News. I usually watch it to be updated on what is going on outside of the U.S. and they started talking about the Migrant crisis. They have been traveling for so long and it seems like nothing is being done. They started talking about how the migrants have just arrived on the Slovenian border between Slovenia and Croatia. They are being allowed to travel through to get to Austria. It was reported that 6,000 arrived the other day and they are being told only around 2,000 people will be let in at a time. This is only a small number as to the many that are still making their way over. There are few being let in at a time as of right now but no one is being told when and how many will be allowed to cross. The frustration is building as the migrants are sleeping outside and trying to find shelter as they wait (not to mention that it was cold and raining for the past several days). It seems like things are going to continue to get worse for migrants as they wait. Croatia has closed off their border to migrants as well as Hungary, they are running out of options. With all the people who are traveling across there are also many who did not make it. My heart breaks when I see or hear anything about them. I couldn't imagine having to leave my home and be forced out of my country and head to places where I am not wanted. People focus on the politics of the country and that the people have no rights to cross over into another country, but they are people. It is so easy to dismiss the issue because it is not affecting us here in the U.S., but when they try to come here (as they are) what are we going to do? There is an article released that is saying the cities in America that have been given refugees are giving permission to send more. My heart breaks when I think of these people. The things they have suffered, the things they left behind, none of them wanted this. As people we need to care only because we are humans. I always loved thinking of when the tsunami hit in Haiti and how everyone here in the U.S. was finding out ways to go and help. Whether it was sending money or sending out teams of people with supplies to help, we were there. If there is one thing I loved was knowing that despite our differences when people are in need we unite and help. For now all we can do is pray, and if given the opportunity to help in anyway, do it. Give kindness and be given kindness. This world can be an ugly place, and it doesn't need to get and uglier.
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Today just over two hours ago my dog Tiffany became not such a baby anymore. She is now a mommy. Over the past few weeks we noticed her getting bigger and her little body changing. Now just about 3 weeks after we noticed she had puppies. We were worried that we would have to help her or do something to help the puppies. But by the time we got to her she had already one puppy. The umbilical cord was still attached and before we knew what was going on she cut it of and ate it (a little gross but something that dogs do). When we the first baby we were thrilled. Then after leaving her alone for sometime we came back into the bathroom where we set her up with blankets and everything that we noticed there was a second one. It was crazy to see them. As I was sitting there, staring at this tiny little dog, with the even tinier babies I was astonished. Here she sits and we didn't have to tell her what was going to happen, she didn't ask us what to do, she just did it. How amazing that God created these creatures with natural instincts to just do what they need to do. She sits here with her babies and is just caring for them. They can't even open their eyes and they walked over to her to be fed. It just amazes me how unexpected life can be, but also how blessed it is.
Many of us have heard of this thing called "Terrible-Two's." This refers to the awful stage in a child's life where the sweet innocence of a baby turns into a destructive two-year-old. Parents of all walks of life have their terrifying stories to tell. These stories range anywhere from their child coloring on the walls, to cutting their hair into seven different layers. Every parent has one or more stories about their kid, no child is perfect. This is not something to be avoided, but the questions to ask are, "How long does this stage last?" "How bad is my child going to be?" and "What can I do as a parent?" This is an area where I myself am asking for help and cool parenting tips. For those of you reading this who know me, know that I am not a parent and I am not planning on being a parent any time soon. I ask only because of my sweet, precious perfect little goddaughter Elizabeth. My two year old goddaughter, Isn't she pretty? She belongs to my older brother and sister-in-law. When we found out that they were pregnant (with their second child) no one was more excited than I was. I was going to love that baby more than anything. When they told me it was a girl, I was happy to finally have a little girl I could smother. With some unexpected job opportunities, they were leaving to Michigan and she would be born in Michigan. The day before they left was the day of my 18th birthday, and for my present my brother and sister-in-law woke me up extra early to give me my birthday present. They told me I was going to be her godmother, I started to cry. Not only was I going to be a big part in this little girl's life but I was going to be like her third parent. When I Met her in Michigan from there on out I was buying her gifts and making everything I could for her. I was also planning out my trip to be there when she was born. It was around midterms and while should have been studying I booked my flight. There were some delays. My best friend was getting married on October 4th, and Elizabeth decided to come a week earlier than expected. I got the news on the 3rd that my sister-in-law was going into labor and although I wanted to be there I had to fly out the next week and see her. My two year old goddaughterIsn't she pretty? She belongs to my older brother and sister-in-law. When we found out that they were pregnant (with their second child) no one was more excited than I was. I was going to love that baby more than anything. When they told me it was a girl, I was happy to finally have a little girl I could smother. With some unexpected job opportunities, they were leaving to Michigan and she would be born in Michigan. The day before they left was the day of my 18th birthday, and for my present my brother and sister-in-law woke me up extra early to give me my birthday present. They told me I was going to be her godmother, I started to cry. Not only was I going to be a big part in this little girl's life but I was going to be like her third parent. When I Met her in Michigan from there on out I was buying her gifts and making everything I could for her. I was also planning out my trip to be there when she was born. It was around midterms and while should have been studying I booked my flight. There were some delays. My best friend was getting married on October 4th, and Elizabeth decided to come a week earlier than expected. I got the news on the 3rd that my sister-in-law was going into labor and although I wanted to be there I had to fly out the next week and see her. When I arrived and was able to see her, I fell in love instantly. I had always loved children and had many little one's in my life, but she was now mine. I hadn't told my brother but since I was younger I always wanted to name my daughter Eliza-Beth (split into her first and middle name) but recently I have decided to have all boys (because it's my choice, duh!) so in some ways she's the little girl I always dreamed of. We celebrated her second birthday last week and it was a blast. It was Hello Kitty themed and I could not believe how much time has gone by. It seemed like yesterday I was on a plane to meet her and here she is running around like a crazy toddler. I love her to death and my life changed when she came into the world. I couldn't imagine living without her.
Due to some recent changes she will now be living with my family and I. Which brings me to my concern of the Terrible- Two's. Overall she is a good little girl but is already showing traits of trouble. I have had to break out of her blue eyed spell, my parents on the other hand, have not. She uses her charm more than anything to get away with whatever she wants. She doesn't scream or throw fits (only when she fights with her brother) but she is already becoming more and more manipulative everyday. She will ask me for candy (she's at the two-word stage in her development) and after I explain to her that she cannot have candy until she eats her food, she goes and asks my father for candy. Not knowing (usually) that I had just told her she cannot have candy, he will give her a piece or two just to show her he loves her. After this she will then come back over to me and show off the candy she has. Another time she kept asking to go swimming, we have a built in pool but always make sure the kids are out there with an adult (look into getting a pool gate if you have younger kids) and I was with her home alone. She was desperately asking to go swimming and I would tell her "you're not going right right now." She is no longer taking no for an answer so she replied "Yes, Am!" and we battled for a little while. After this she was then crying and ran out of my room and laid on the couch 'fake crying'. I was not going to let her think she could win, I then went over, picked her up off the couch and held her gently. I told her to look at me in the face and I explained "Nina is finishing some work, after I am done we will go swimming, so for now you can watch cartoons until I say." She quickly wiped away her 'fake tears' and smiled saying "Yo Gabba Gabba" which is her favorite show of all time. She watched two episodes and then we went for a swim. I won the battle, but I am scared I will not win the war. I know this is only the beginning, and I will not let her become a child I cannot take out in public. It is so hard dealing with toddlers, and then again this one isn't technically mine. If you are a parent or someone who interacts with children what are some tips and tricks you have learned? I would Love to know! |
AuthorReggie is a college gradute with a degree in English. She loves traveling and hopes to one day stay on the battle field for missions. Life is a book and everyday is an adventure, follow her on this journey and see the world through her eyes. Archives
November 2017
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