Change Ready or Not

The pressure is on for parents to make sure that their children do well in school. Those of us who want to do the research will look at league tables, Ofsted reports, local press and even will watch kids as they walk around our area hoping to get a feel for the local schools around the area. Some parents will have spent the autumn term visiting schools in the hope of getting a 'feel' for the place and the deadline for applying for secondary and primary places has passed.  It's all a bit stressful isn't it? Some parents will relax now that they have managed to choose some schools while for others the 'nightmare' has only just begun. Many parents now wait to find out if they the schools that they have chosen have in turn selected their child. I do not envy any parent going through this emotional roller coaster! I have been there, got the tee shirt and been wearing it. But is that the end of the journey? No. Sorry I can't dress it up. There is more to come. ...

I wouldn't say that I am a particularly religious person but when someone talks sense I just have to listen. Yesterday I was running through my Facebook posts. I normally do this to either post something inspiring/uplifting or to find stuff that is just that: uplifting. Yesterday I came across a Facebook post where Steve Harvey was talking to Bishop T.D Jakes. I have been hearing about TD Jakes for ages and must admit that when I got back into twittering that I followed him (more so to have some positives amongst the self-promotions/  and information that takes place on that social medium. Any way he said five tips for live that spoke to me and I felt eager to share with you. Here they are; 1.   Own your own happiness -  Lusi@rgbstock.com At this time in my journey I can clearly say that I am happy. I chose to be that way and have created that in my life.   It is truly a state of my mind. It is not due to anyone else but my own actions, thoughts...

yellow positive@www.freeimage.com When you are recovering from a difficult incident, a past event, a break up, or anything where you are trying to heal it can really seems so hard to stay positive. I went on a negativity "diet". Never thought that idea would come out of my head but it did and I actively spent time ensuring that I only "fed" myself positives.  I realised that by surrounding myself with positive minded people meant I had natural pick me ups. Positive thinking people see opportunities and possibilities and this gives off a positive vibes and created positive vibes in me.  I felt good about me, my life and  I wanted to share this good vibe with those around me. This experience, this cloud of possibility, lifted me up when I was in danger of slipping into 'negativeville'.  I realised that if I couldn't always surround myself with positive people that I would need to fill myself up. By doing so I would develop and sustain myself and p...

The other night I went to listen to Diane Abbott MP deliver a Redmond O'Neill Memorial Lecture: From Ferguson to London Black Lives Matter. Ms Abbott gave a good lecture. She historically contextualized the psyche that has implicitly linked Black people to the concept that we are somehow inhumane. This false conceptualisation has encouraged some white people to view black people as 'animals' and as such has allows black people to be treated and perceived as animals therefore never having to refer to our humanity (crudely stated but you get my meaning). Whilst listening I wondered how could we move forward from this current place. I mean what could I expect in a half hour lecture? Yes unity and solidarity in numbers against injustice is a good tactic. Unite with others who suffer this same stigma gives us common ground to fight against state oppression. But how can we expect to change the state and its way of dealing with diversity and those who are different?   (Mm...

 I have been struggling with what I feel has been a real dilemma for me. The question has been should I vote  and if I vote who should I vote for?   Woody@rgbstock.com Last night my friend took me to see a film called   SELMA ( highly recommend). Within the first few minutes I was hit in the head, and my heart, over my so called "struggle".   What planet have I been on?  How dare I insult the sacrifices made for me so that I can sit here pondering whether I should vote or not!  I don't have the right to ponder. Vote I must. Whilst the whole film resonated loudly impacting upon my mind, body and spirit there was one line that hit home. Now I am not quoting the exact words but it said something like...... our ancestor’s blood pumps through our veins and so we are ready........ How could I really have thought it was not worth voting this year? My struggles/ dilemmas around voting have been internal and personal. I...

As a parent regardless of size, race, religion and all the things you believe separate us. We love.  I can stare in your eyes and know that we share the same struggles when it comes to our children. I know that love is what we all give to them be it in different ways. We want the best for our children no matter how that may play out. We struggle or may have different ways of expressing the love we have. Some will judge the wisdom of why I may do things the way I do them or the way that you may do things the way that you do them. But we love. We are trying to learn how to be the best parent that we can be. hearts in a box - www.rbgstock.com Sometimes it seems like pure   hard work and at other times it seems effortless. Sometimes we are filled with guilt about oh so many things. For some of us we think we do not have the blue print that we want because if we are really honest some of us don’t want to be the kind of parents that our parents were to us. It’s ...

I guess you always experiment on the first child because you are learning the ropes. Sometimes we can make a big mistake thinking that one size fits all. I have two children both of whom are different. Thank God! When my first child was at primary school she couldn't understand maths. Or should I say she was finding it challenging.  I spoke to her teacher to see if there was anything that I could do to help. The response was that she would grow into it and to give her time and see. So I gave it time and each parent consultation I walked away feeling that I was not helping my child. Each time she had homework I found I was more and more frustrated with her. I used to yell at her for not doing the work and when she gave me dumb answers I used to go ballistic.  screamin by ralaenin Yeah I know not a good look but I know you have been there.   I had  timetable posters plastered on all the walls in her room. More posters to help her than I had art work hanging ...