Spread the "word" to end the "word..."

It is time to “Spread the Word to End the Word,” and tomorrow, 31 March, events throughout the United States and around the world will make people stop and think about their hurtful and disparaging use of the word “retard.”

Most people don’t think of this word as hate speech, but that’s exactly what it feels like to millions of people with intellectual disabilities, their families and friends. Using "retard" as a term of derision is just as cruel and offensive as any other slur.

What It's All About
Spread the Word to End the Word will raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the R-word and encourage people to pledge to stop using it. America will be asked to declare their support for more respectful and inclusive language, specifically that referring to those with intellectual disabilities.

"The earlier we can start teaching this awareness, the easier it will be to reverse the language, " wrote James Saetern of Sacramento, California, in an e-mail to Special Olympics. "This is not just a day of awareness, but a movement to end hate as a whole."

Ideas are pouring in. To date, we have heard of more than 700 events and activities happening throughout the United States – and around the world. They range from tables set up in malls, to grade-school assemblies on differences to all-day kiosks and movies at college campuses. The commitment and creativity are growing. Below is a sampling of events planned for tomorrow:

• Spread the Word to End the Word online youth rally
  Live stream at www.schooltube.com, 12:35 PM Eastern Time.
  The 50-minute rally will feature actor Eddie Barbanell from the hit movie “The Ringer,” Special Olympics athletes and volunteers, and original music performed by rap artist Rush. Also on the program are original videos produced by young people. High school students across the country will be asked to take the pledge to stop using the “R” word and to help raise awareness among their friends. The rally is being produced by Miami Palmetto Senior High School 11th-grader Noah Gray, Special Olympics Florida and SchoolTube.
• Take The R-word Pledge Rallies
• American University, Beirut, Lebanon
  Soeren Palumbo's R-word speech played hourly; movie at 6 p.m., "The Loretta Claiborne Story"; posters, pictures, online R-word signups.
• All high schools in Delaware, USA
  All 40,000 students will be asked to sign pledge boards in their schools.
• Tower Hill School, Newark, NJ, USA
  Spread the Word day as culmination of a week of exploring disabilities
• Fort Worth Independent School District, Fort Worth, TX, USA, all day
  Lunch-time rallies, video shows, student testimonials and R-word pledge boards
• University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA, all day in high traffic areas
  Sign pledge boards, visit www.r-word.org, get information.
• Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in five campus locations
  See posters, sign pledge boards, talk with committed volunteers and Special Olympics athletes.
• University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA, all day in student union
  Sign the pledge board, talk about why you support the campaign, get stickers, buttons and bracelets
• Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA, all day on campus
  Sign the R-word pledge, see big-screen displays of Special Olympics and R-word videos.
• Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA, USA, all day on campus
  Sign pledge boards, get buttons, bracelets and stickers for free, buy T-shirts

How It Started
Created by young people with and without intellectual disabilities, Spread the Word to End the Word is one element of Special Olympics’ vision of a world where everyone matters, where everyone is accepted and, most importantly, where everyone is valued. Leading the way in promoting acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics opposes prejudice and discrimination, continuously working to dispel the negative stereotypes associated with this population — the use of the R-word being one such stereotype. In a world that has worked to eliminate pejorative racial and ethnic language such as the “N word,” among others, the R-word is gaining popularity.

Tomorrow, young people across the country will lead local efforts to raise awareness and collect pledges on www.r-word.org from peers and the community to vow not to use the R-word. Actor and activist John C. McGinley, of the hit show “Scrubs,” is helping with this effort by making national media appearances on behalf of the campaign.

What YOU Can Do

• Send us your plans to Spread the Word at r-word@specialolympics.org.
• Take the R-word pledge to not use the word "retard" as a put-down
• Download Spread the Word to End the Word resources

After 31 March, let us know how your Spread the Word event went. Send a report, photos and videos to r-word@specialolympics.org

National Down Syndrome Day...3-21

So I totally missed National Down Syndrome Day...lol But in honor of that day I want to post this from my DS group forum....

I wish I would have known...
What Parents Wish They'd Known

This booklet is a collection of thoughts from parents of
children with Down syndrome, who responded to this question:

What do you know now that you wish you'd known from the start?


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I wish I'd known that it wasn't the end of the world.

--Joseph, dad to Janna (3 years)


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I wish I'd known Down syndrome does NOT make being my son's mommy,
or loving him, difficult or different.

--Kathy, mom to PJ (8 ½ months)


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I wished I'd known just how much like a "typical" newborn my baby would look like
when she arrived. I was a bit scared and feared the unknown, but was pleasantly surprised:
Ten fingers, ten toes, two eyes, two ears, a mouth and a nose . . . PERFECTION.

--Robyn, mom to Amarli (7 months)


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I wish I'd known to listen more and assume less.

--Chris, mom to Stevie (3 years)


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I wish I'd known that I could be the best advocate for my child.
I didn't even know what the word meant, but I know now that I have no problems
standing up for Hope, and this has made me better at standing up for all my children.

--Debra, mom to Hope (4 years)


I wish I'd known how much having a child with a disability in my life
would change the person that I am.

--Robert, dad to Hope (4 years)


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I wish I'd known that I would say and feel so often, "You're so smart!" or "You are the cutest kid
in the whole world!" I wish I'd known I would use words like "sparkling," "vivacious," and
"infectious laughter" when describing my child. I underestimated her.

--Nancy, mom to Gabriella (3 years)


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I wish I'd known how very joyful and in love I would be every second of every day.
When my son was born, I worried, can I do this? I cherished that worry because it meant his
was a life worth worrying about. I'm glad I know now that I don't have to worry.

--Kitty, mom to Nathanael (2 years)


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I wish I'd known that my daughter would be so able. To clean her own room. To charm grown men.
To plant the garden with me. To play dress-up with other little girls. To read and write.
To be a friend that cares and shares. She is so able.

--Jeni, mom to Joy Daisy (6 years)


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I wish I'd known that my baby wasn't going to die. We were left with so many unanswered questions and I thought for sure that it meant she would die within hours.

--Renee, mom to Kennedy (4 years)


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I wish I'd known what a wonderful teacher my older son would be.
He is Owen's inspiration for everything—walking, talking, playing, climbing, eating, etc.
Jason treats Owen like a kid, which is exactly what Owen is.

--Tricia, mom to Owen (2 years)

I wish I'd known that my son would develop a personality like any other child.
I spent so much time wishing his babyhood away wanting to know what he was going
to be like. I wish I had relaxed and enjoyed the sweet baby I had.

--Ann, mom to John (5 years)


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I wish I'd known that this unexpected journey that began 4 years ago would not be one of sadness,
but of unspeakable joy, filled with more love and pride than I ever thought possible.

Shirley, grandmother to Aleena (4 years)


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I wish I'd known . . .
Not everything I read would happen to my child.
I would love her more than anything else on Earth.
Her hugs and kisses are real, from her heart.
She is just like any other kid.
She would make me a better person.
Her laughs are the best music.

--Jennifer, mom to Brook (2 years)


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I wish I'd known how incredibly in love I would be with my daughter, how much fun
this whole process would be, and how amazing our friends really are.

--Francine, mom to Sofia (3 years)


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I wish I'd known that my son would attend his local school, and would have lots of friends
who just accept him and like him for who he is. I wish I'd known how
happy and normal our family would be.

--Naomi, mom to Callum (5 years)





I wish I'd known . . .
That it was OK to feel broken-hearted when we first heard the news
That having a child with Down syndrome is NOT a life sentence
That my son would have his own agenda for doing things
And that it's a privilege to be his mom.

--Sara, mom to Nathaniel (9 years)


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I wish I'd known that, although they say our kids "stay little longer," they still grow up too fast.

--Meredith, mom to Brianna (2 years), Emma (5 years, adopted),
and Micah (1 year, adopted)—yes, all three with Down syndrome!


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I wish I'd known that my daughter would bring me only happiness, not pain.

-- Destiny, mom to Lily (9 months)



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I wish I had known that my son would have received two awards at the end of second grade:
one for achievement in the Accelerated Reader program, and the other for being a "Number 1 Best Friend."

--Vicki, mom to Aaron (8 years)


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I wish I'd known that children with Down syndrome just as loveable, kissable, snotty, tantrum-throwing, bubble-blowing, huggable, and milestone-making as their siblings.

Ava, mom to Daniel (3 ½ years)


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I wish I'd known that I didn't have to be afraid, that it would all be just as it should be.

--Rhonda, mom to Alex (8 years)


I wish I'd known how deeply in love I would be with my son, and how
I wouldn't know what to do without him and his diagnosis of Down syndrome.

--Vonda, mom to Noah (9 years)


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I wish I'd known how much joy and happiness Olivia would bring,
not only to me and my wife, but to everyone around her.

--Mike, dad to Olivia

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I wish I'd known that she would survive two heart surgeries and continue to thrive
despite leaks within her heart. Her tiny heart was once a great big hole,
but it's full of a great big love that we get to experience each day.

--AJ, mom to Janna (3 years)


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I wish I'd known he would be so full of life! He is intelligent, creative, a sports nut—
just like his siblings. He's a social butterfly, a love bug, an amazing little boy.
I wish I would've known he would be more like us than different.

--Jennifer, mom to Brady (3 years)


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I wish I'd known . . .
That his sisters would love him so much
That he would have an awesome throwing arm
That he would have lots of friends
That he would read and love books
That he would do all the wonderful things little boys do.

--Anjie, mom to Adam (5 years)




I wish I'd known I would look Avery and NOT see Down syndrome.
I see her as this amazing, smart little cookie—strong-willed, self-reliant, and cute as a button.
She walks around like a little queen in a parade, waving, hugging, and talking to everyone.

--Kathleen, mother to Avery (3 years)


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I wish I'd known having identical twin boys both with Down syndrome would bless our family
more than we could have ever thought. They work together, play together, and show us
how to take life one day at a time, and enjoy every moment.

--Stacy, mom to Caleb and Isaac (2 years)

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I wish I had known that she would get through her heart surgery, that she would crawl
and walk and play just like any other kid, that she would be able to communicate so well,
and that life would be so normal.

--Karyn, mom to Talitha (2 years)


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I wish I'd known that it isn't that hard, and that my daughter isn't different
from any other little girl her age. All my dreams for her can come true!

--Kelly, mom of Alexis (2 ½ years)


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I wish I'd known how normal and silly moms of kids with Down syndrome really are!
I thought they were all supermoms that were like angels in the flesh—now I know the truth!

--Cas, mom to Jirah (2 years)


v

I wish I'd known life wouldn't be defined by the myths and misconceptions I had
about Down syndrome, but instead, it would be as "normal" as normal gets,
and my son would fill my life with love and joy beyond comprehension or measure.

--Sandy, mom to Lucas (19 months)

I'm actually glad I didn't know much about Down syndrome when my son was born.
I think if I had, it might have ruined those moments and that connection I had with
my son the moment I saw him. I would have thought of the negative,
not of the fact that I had a little boy who I loved and was perfect.

--Judah, dad to Jaemen (3 years)

v

I wish I'd known the pure joy, happiness, pride, love, and dedication that my baby would show us all. I wish someone would have told me that this baby was going to change my outlook on life, make me a better mother to his siblings, a better wife to his daddy and a better person to this world.

--Carmen, mom to Jaemen (3 years)


v

I wish I'd known that it was ok to grieve and scream, cry, vent and be angry. I wish that a facility or network had been in place to reach out to me, instead of the other way around. I wish that every parent coming home today could see my girl and how she smiles and loves.

--Amy, mom to Larkin (2 ½ years)

v

I wish I'd known not to believe everything the doctors said my child would not achieve,
such as breastfeeding. I wish I'd known the immense gratitude my son would bring to my life
just by reaching up and touching my face. I wish I'd known that I would never feel shame
for having a child with Down syndrome.

--Andrea, Mom to Alex (10 months)


v

I wish I'd known the new lesson on love that AJ would teach me would fill my heart
in a way I wouldn't have thought possible. I wish I had known of all the
positive changes I would see in my other children.

--Ibby, mother to AJ (2 years)


v

I wish I'd known I was strong. My husband and I always thought we were the people who
couldn't handle raising a child with Down Syndrome. Actually, there's really nothing to "handle."

--Stephanie, mom to Megan (4 years)

I wish I'd known the stands would erupt with cheers when she got a hit in baseball,
and that her classmates would circle around her with love and protection if anyone was mean to her.
I wish I'd known that "being slow" would mean savoring every step, every puddle, every blossom.

--Michelle, mom to Ciarra (9 years)


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I wish I'd known that children with Down syndrome are NOT happy all the time.
Darah throws temper tantrums and needs time-outs just like every other three-year-old.
I wish I'd known that when Darah was first born, she was MY baby. When she was in the NICU, I felt like the hospital owned her and was afraid to speak up with my concerns and questions.

--McKenna, mom to Darah (3 years)


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I wish that I had known that my broken heart would one day heal,
and the love that I felt for my son was the cure.

--Kristy, Mommy to Zachary John (3 years)

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I wished I'd known we were going to be okay, that this one little chromosome was just a tiny piece of our lives. I wish I'd known that the dreams I had of the little girl with long dark hair were still going to come true! That while she may beg for a green Mohawk at times, she's still that little girl in my dreams.

--Leah, mom to Angela (12 years)

v


I wish I'd known that this would be such a marvelous journey,
and that everything would turn out . . . JUST FINE.

--Jackie, mom to Emily (28 years)

Lera Pictures...

Go over to my photography blog to see the rest of the pics of Little Lera... click HERE

Stay-at-homes mom's salary

NEW YORK — If the typical stay-at-home mother in the United States were paid for her work as a housekeeper, cook and psychologist among other roles, she would earn $138,095 a year, according to research released on Wednesday.

This reflected a 3 percent raise from last year's $134,121, according to Salary.com Inc, Waltham, Mass.-based compensation experts.

The 10 jobs listed as comprising a mother's work were housekeeper, cook, day care center teacher, laundry machine operator, van driver, facilities manager, janitor, computer operator, chief executive officer and psychologist, it said.

The typical mother puts in a 92-hour work week, it said, working 40 hours at base pay and 52 hours overtime.

A mother who holds full-time job outside the home would earn an additional $85,939 for the work she does at home, Salary.com reported.

Last year she would have earned $85,876 for her at-home work, it said.

Salary.com compiled the online responses of 26,000 stay-at-home mothers and 14,000 mothers who also work outside the home.

Hailey's Dance Comptition...

This past weekend Hailey had her 2nd dance competition of the season. It was a local comp and there wern't to many other studios there but it was still fun. We had a FULL day of dance. We got there at 7:30 and left around 9...it was a LONG day to say the least! Hailey did a great job this weekend and ended up with some great scores for her solo's, and won title for Miss Petite Revolution and her group jazz got the highest score for the whole comp. 11 and under!!! That has never happened before in her 4 years of competing so this was a huge huge accomplishment. Gotta also give props to her great teacher Jennifer!!! I also had 3 photos that made the top 3 for photogenic!!!! Hailey won photogenic and when the announcer asked her who took her picture she so wanted to say my mom...but she said ummmm my umm Carmen...lol Too cute!!! Anyways, next weekend is all about soccer and Jay, his arm is finally getting better and he's off to play soccer now!!! I tell ya, that kid and sports...it was literally killing him not to play or go to practice. So, hopefully we're on a road to recovery!!!

I posted some pics of Delaynie...

Go to my photography blog to see Delaynie's photos click: HERE

Are You a "Dance Mom?"

*Do you have a child who wears "booty shorts" most of the day?
*Do you take your child out in public with their hair all done up and makeup on?
*Do you get nasty looks when your daughter is out in public dressed and looking like that?
*Do you know what a pirouette is?
*Have you listened to countless hours of music to find just the right solo song?
*Have you blingged? Do you know what that is?
*Do your child's dance costumes cost more than an outfit for you?
*Do you feel like your second home is the dance studio? :)
*Have you ever been talked into taking an adult hip hop class, just to end up doing it in recital?
*Do you ever have to put super glue on your childs feet because they are cracked and bleeding?
*Have you ever had the pleasure of watching your child up on stage?
*Have you ever had the over whelming feeling of happiness to see your child succeeding and so happy up on stage?


Well...I'm a "Dance Mom" and it's worth all the heartache, headaches, tears, cheers, time, dedication and money!!
I Love you Hailey!

Photo blog...

I decided to create a photo blog just for fun...not any of my business work, but just my fun photography! Any ways, check it out. I'm going to create a button or something for it so you can click on it from my site but until then here's the link : HERE