According to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll, nearly three-quarters of Americans questioned last week — 74 percent — said they encounter profanity in public frequently or occasionally. Whether its from the TV, waiting in the line at McDonalds, have company over or your children’s friends it is very possible that your children and mine are hearing these dirty vocabulary selections and maybe …….(dun dun duuunnnnn) EVEN SAYING THEM.

I don’t use these words everyday and definitely try not to have them ever exit my mouth. Its not uncommon for me to hear them here and there. Random people, great normal friends, aren’t phased when one slips up between conversation. I wouldn’t say I am offended by foul language. That is a sobering thought and afer reading these statistics I am beginning to face the facts that maybe, just maybe, I am becoming comfortable with them being spoken as well as the rest of the public.

I was always taught that this was ill mannered, and burned into my brain that curse words are not necessary to get my point across. Deep down inside I still believe that. These words have adult meanings and I firmly believe that a child speaking them is a different story. These words are disrespectful and still are highly offensive to some and morally wrong.

I don’t believe that washing his/her mouth out with soap is a humane way of handling the situation. As a child I remember using “potty” language and my mother would send us off to the bathroom and have us hold our tongue. That sounds like a lame punishment but I hated it and I chose my words a lot more carefully. I am not sure what will happen when the situation arises but I am not looking forward to the day that those ugly words come out of the mouth of my beautiful child.

Am I a dork mom because I don’t say curse words and my child is not allowed? Am I on the school bus in 5^th grade all over again? Dork or not, being respectful of each other is important. Am I too old-fashioned and strict by being bothered by these words? I am only in my twenties but sound as if I am 63.

“By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach.”  Winston Church Hill

“The worst feature of a new baby is it’s mother’s singing”

Kin Hubbard

I often wonder if new singing sensation moms sing to there children. I wonder if Madonna has sung her daughter to sleep, or if Drew Lachey sings to his wife’s tummy? For someone that sings for a living and everyday of their life, I often wonder if chart toppers have often taken the time to sing a lullaby to their biggest fan.

During a recent paparazzi run in, singing sensation Britney Spears drove with her child on her lap, neglecting to put her child in a car seat as an effort for a quick escape against a picture hungry attack on her and her son. I know life as a celebrity must be difficult and dangerous. We all agree that the best place for a child is not at a steering wheel but clicked in and safe. Unfortunately a mother’s instincts can’t be evaluated on celebrity status or vocal skills.

Kin Hubbard joked about a mother’s lullabies but each child deserves the right to a great mom and dad and the safety he or she can provide. Unfortunately, every child does not get that treat.

To the right of my computer sits a 3 month old pleasant foster baby boy that was placed with me 2 days ago. I don’t know the exact condition of his parents and like the Britney Spears situation it is not my place to judge. What I do know is that this is an adorable baby that deserves nothing less then having his mother hold him, love him and sing to him, world renowned vocalist or not.

I hope Britney Spears sings lullabies to her son and she values his smiles much more then her gigantic paycheck. Every child deserves to be loved and every child’s smile deserves to be enjoyed!

I must say that the hardest challenge that I have had to face is once again having an empty room in our house. Our 3rd Foster child is now one more child gained in our heart, and one more child gone from our home.

Barbara Johnson is a speaker/writer and said “Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.” Stripping your gears…..You can say that again. I feel like I am constantly revving my engine and wasting a whole bunch of fuel. Everyone always remarks on how they could not be foster parents because saying good bye would be a hard thing to do but the anticipation of the phone ringing or the next “placement” to take “place! is the genuine heart twister for me!! The waiting is excruciating.

I absolutely hate the word patience. Lets just say if I had a class on patience I would definitely get a failing grade. I hate the word because I am not good at waiting. I am one of the first ones to admit that waiting and me do not get along. I know that currently having no placements is a blessing for the children that are loved in this world and am glad to see that these children are not in the system.

I feel that I have this space to fill and I am very eagerly waiting for the next one to come!!

I feel guilt for eagerly waiting to get my next placement because it realistically means a destruction to a family unit and that is not good at all. My motives are purely the WANT to help these kids but am I being selfish. I am waiting for these children with open arms but……my arms are getting tired.

We all have our convictions but child abuse is wrong and unfortunately affects in the United States, approximately three million children a year. That is on average, one report every ten seconds. That is depending on those incidents reported, not counting those children being neglected and abused behind closed doors, unnoticed and untold.

April 5th 2006 was labeled the day of hope. A day to a make a resolution and a change. A day meant for all Americans to keep the victims of child abuse and neglect in their thoughts and prayers in an effort to break the never ending battle against child abuse and neglect. This is a day to give opportunity to victimized children hope for the future and a reminder to the people of faith, nonprofit organizations, and volunteers to partake in the fight against hurting children.