Category Archives: Bullying and Children

Tuesdays With The Angels-Bullying Legal Immigrants is the Opposite of Kindness

Posted on by

In the news, the political bullies are spreading falsehoods about legal immigrants. All of us unless we are of Native American descent come from people who made many sacrifices to get to our democracy in the United States of America.

Bullying everywhere across the world should stop. I remember when my late daughter, Kate, as a six- year- old brought home a friend from school. I spoke to the mother on the phone and Kate never mentioned the girl had a different skin color  or was from a different country. Children are born with  goodness in their hearts. However, many adults in our beautiful world are teaching bullying by their words and actions. How unfortunate to lie to our children about people from other ethnicities or countries.  Does the bully know that Bullying is synonymous with the word hatred? Three truths: Bullying with lies hurts our children’s future. Harmony, Kindness, Forgiveness bring us all a life of love. The Bully Never Wins.

Tuesdays With The Angels-Bullying and Our Children With Special Needs

Posted on by

Bullying is always a theme in my novels and was  part of my memoir, Special Needs Children The Angels On My Shoulder. Recently, a seventeen- year- old boy, whose father is running for our vice president, was bullied by a person in the media.  For me and many others, this cruel commentary was unacceptable in our supposedly civil society.

For twenty-five rewarding years I spent the school days with children with disabilities and special needs. Many now are considered neurodivergent. As I wrote in my memoir, my encounters with these children filled my soul. They were my own teachers giving unconditional love to all with many having no agenda except to be accepted into family and friendships.

These children and adults with special needs don’t choose their life’s path, this is their life experience and they should be respected. How do we handle such bullying in the media where some have become like the typical school yard bully? We need to  teach our children and all children self respect and respect for others while protecting and caring for them. How sad this media bully must be who didn’t apologize as of this writing.

When the loss of my daughter overshadowed my life, I remember how my classroom of children with special needs cheered me onward with warmth and gratitude. They changed my life,  they were my own teachers. They showed me respect, sympathy as caring attitudes came natural to them. The Bully Never Wins because most of us thankfully don’t have bullying inside our hearts. I pray that this bully and others  someday realize what most of us know, that truly children with special needs are our angels unaware.

Tuesdays With The Angels-Animal Rescuing, Teaching Kindness To All

Posted on by

One of my life’s greatest blessings has been my steadfast love for animals.  As a mother, grandmother, and retired teacher of children with special needs, I have  found joy in loving my children, grandchildren, my students and  all the animals I’ve rescued over the years. Showing our children and grandchildren how to treat animals should be primary by example always. My soon to be published novella, The Dog Who Came For Christmas An Angel’s Tale is just that, a love letter to all the animals my husband, Dave and I have rescued over many years and the animals our own children and friends have rescued.

Those who treat our children poorly are clearly those who could also be animal abusers. The bully never wins in all my fantasy Mystic Bay Series and how I wish it could be true in our own towns across the world. Love and Kindness Wins!

Bullying is at the helm of hurting our children, our animals and ourselves. It must stop and it can if every adult could find it in his or her heart to gather their families together and discuss  earth’s most precious, the children and animals of the world. My new book will be out soon and I pray it touches someone’s heart, touching as many more as possible.

Tuesdays With The Angels- Angel Inspirations-Animal Rescue

Posted on by

Bless The Beasts and the Children, one of my favorite songs from the seventies, has a wonderful lyric. “Keep them safe, keep them warm.” I’ve written many times about protecting our children from man’s inhumanity to man. As of  now bullying  is considered almost the norm in politics, dividing people. However,  I also feel strongly about the well being of  our animal friends. Protecting them from animal abuse has recently driven me to write it as a main theme in my new novel coming soon.

My husband and I  have rescued many animals and continue to advocate for them around the world, whether companions to people or in the wild. They are innocent and vulnerable and the poor way some individuals regard them shows all of us what these people are made of.  Animals can’t speak for themselves. Just like we all should share in protecting the children of the world, we are also the animals’ voices of hope. I believe in hope, love and helping those who need our strength and our kindness. 

Angels inspire me. Why? Because I surely met an angel in human form once when the loss of my daughter turned the light out in my being for a time. And all these years later as the light turned on knowing angels were really near,  I became a writer, writing about angels with novels storied with goodness, kindness and redemption.

Taking care of those who have no voice is my fervid hope. Children and the animals of the world need to thrive. Bless the Beasts and the Children. Everyday I  ask the angels for help with problems, as I navigate this precious life I’m given.  I am always sure they are telling me to follow my heart. I know for sure they are listening.

 

Tuesdays With The Angels-Every Child In The World Deserves Kindness

Posted on by

When I grew up, I knew angels were near. It just was a belief I held strongly and now that I am older, I still hold fast to this belief. I pray each day that  2024 may be the time the world takes notice of the effect war, bullying and suffering has on all the world’s children.

We are supposed to be children’s role models, their safe havens, their soft place to learn and grow.In my last blog I wrote, “Every child in the world deserves a wonderful life.”  I sure wish I could shout out these words for all the world to hear. But my shouting is found in my writing only and as I write, I hope my readers make sure they teach the children in their lives kindness, nourishing them with the  emotional fulfillment and love they need to grow into loving adults.

I pray angels will be near guiding us, helping us all understand yet the angels can’t do the work for us. It’s my 2024 hope that every adult will do the best they can for the children  in their lives and ultimately the children will  learn that bullying and hate are the losers and most importantly, kindness and  love will always win again and again. 

Tuesdays With The Angels- Angels & Love In Our Hearts

Posted on by

As I write about angels, knowing it is my calling, I have a real angel to thank. Once, my friend and I met a man who I know was an angel. My dear friend, Nancy, encouraged me to go on a girls trip with her to Houston  after my daughter, Kate, died tragically. All hope was gone for a happy life without her, I feared. But we met an elderly gentleman who appeared human standing in the mens department of a Houston upscale store. We all said hello. We exchanged pleasantries and then went on our way.

The next day Nancy wanted to shop an hour away in a little town neither of us had ever been to.  We had just entered the store but suddenly the same man came up to us. We were surprised to see him. Was it a coincidence? We talked a moment and then he said, “See you at the airport.” We  turned away to look at gifts both thinking how odd it was to see him again. We turned back to say goodbye again to the man yet he was gone. It’s been over twenty five years since I’ve seen him, yet I can still see his kind face clearly in my mind. My fear of flying had escalated after my daughter passed away. We  went outside and looked up and down the street but  he was nowhere. We sat down at a little table outside. We both wondered if  he was an angel sent to comfort me.  It was then my fear started to leave and the beginnings of hope returned. 

I believe angels come when we need them the most. They come to us with a spoken word or a smile. Some angels appear human and some have actually appeared with wings to many of us. I know in my heart that the love light the angels bring us is real. It’s from a higher power, which is God to me.

In these times of trouble in the world, when hate and bullying try to dominate everyone’s thinking, I believe in my heart that thinking about angels and asking for their help truly can change a moment. I pray the angels will help all the children across the world. I pray for their  chance to be free, for their peace, for their laughter and song to lift up to heaven. I pray that if we all visualize the world at peace, it will help all of  our days and nights. I pray for a world where our grandchildren will be safe, where hate is replaced by love and  the bullies of the world will finally see the light of angels and learn what I know to be true. Love is all we ever need. I’m sure I met a real angel that day and  I’m also sure all angels whisper to us, “Love is the only way to find a place to call home.”

 

Tuesdays With The Angels-All Children Deserve A Wonderful Life

Posted on by

It’s A Wonderful Life has always been my favorite holiday movie. Maybe it’s because the theme of the film is truly about love and kindness and how it changes everything. In the film, an angel comes to change George’s life. George is a man who wants to end his life as the bully in the town has seemingly ruined the family business. Clarence, the angel, appears showing George what life would have been like if George had never been born. In the end George realizes his unselfish kindness to the townsfolk and his family has saved the business and that he really does have a Wonderful Life. 

I encountered an angel once long ago when hope seemed gone after my daughter died. The angel, like Clarence, appeared human to me and comforted me with his words. He seemingly disappeared and I realized it had been a true miracle in my life. I knew then putting my family first was paramount. Life had to go on and my children needed me more that ever.

I believe we must give our children a wonderful life as best we can. Through the wartorn world now, the children must be at the forefront of every adults mind. The children are the world’s future. They watch us, they learn from us. They can learn love or they can learn that bullying, another word for hate, is okay. Bullying has no place in our world. We must nuture our children as best we can. Just as George’s town helped him thwart the bully with their kindness, every child deserves protection from the hate in the world.

I believe in angels. Knowing that angels are here guiding us in seen or unseen ways gives me hope in humanity and human kindness. For hope and dreams and being kind to others helps our children no matter where they live in our world. Bless the children of the world for they all deserve a Wonderful Life.

Tuesdays With The Angels-The Bully Never Wins

Posted on by

I just watched the film, Alice and Wonderland, with my grandchildren. What a powerful message the children’s story presents about friendship and standing up to bullying. The queen in the film reminded me of some of the politicians and media personalities of  today.

To me the ugliness of the bully personality is at risk. Why? Because the courageous self esteem it takes to stand up to a bully will always win out. I often wonder why everyone can’t work together in a more civilized manner as role models for our children. I remember twice being bullied as a child. Though it was decades ago, I still remember the hurt and anquish it caused. 

On our TV’s and cell phones we are bombarded with the criticizing and name calling of others that depicts these despicable traits of the bullies who, to me, are all cowards. As in Alice In Wonderland, the queen doesn’t win in the end. Alice ends up with the friendships and the powerful courage needed to thwart the Queen.

I write novels about angels. And I’m happy to say, in my fantasy writing mind, there is always a bully character. But in every one of the novels, the bully learns a lesson and ultimately moves in a new direction towards kindness. The possibility of change is always present. Every one of us has the power to stop the bully in their tracks and to teach them by our actions.

Psychologists can answer why human bullies become bullies. I only know that I happily watch my own children teach their children how to act, how to care for others in a kind way. Teaching starts with the parents. Being a role model of  kindness for our kids matters and could change everything.

I will keep on writing the bully into my stories and pray with hopes and dreams in tact that one day real bullies will take a look in the mirror and find their own aha moment. Will they learn there’s strength in love and conviction? Will they learn there’s courage in standing up for oneself and in standing up for the vulnerable ones, our children?

The queen in Alice In Wonderland, ended up friendless. Actually, if she was a real person, I’d feel sorry for her. The bullies in the world are missing the sheer joy that being kind can bring. That’s why the bully never wins. The words joy and kindness are not included in the definition of a bully .

Tuesdays With The Angels-The Bully Never Wins-Teach Children To Be Their Own Hero

Posted on by

20 Moon Rd. An Angel’s Tale is my 5th in the Mystic Bay Series.  There is always a theme in my books where the bully is thwarted. Madam Norma, who has recently died was the oldest psychic in town and everyone was unaware that she saw angels everywhere. Also, she had the kindest and calming demeanor with all who knew her.

In the story her spirit asks Angel Ken, who is an angel living a human existance to write her memoir. Madam Norma shows Angel Ken scenes from her life. One scene he writes in the book about her in particular stands out.

It’s around 1940, a rude blond woman walks in the grocery store Norma is managing. Madam Norma is also the acting mayor of the town. The rude woman pushes her way in front of a customer who is trying to pay for her groceries by trading  farm eggs for her groceries. The rude woman puts down the customer calling her a ‘ragamuffin’.

Madam Norma asks the rude woman to apologize to the customer and let the customer back in front. The rude woman becomes incensed and calls them all ‘hicks’. Madam Norma is firm,  “Miss, please leave the store now. My customers have shopping to do. There’s a grocery in Hillsboro, the next town north. Perhaps you can find what you are looking for there.

The rude blond woman turns on her heels and storms out. This is what we can teach our children…..to thwart the bully when walking away isn’t possible. Using a quiet confidence  the children and anyone else can stand up to a bully. Children need guidance to be their own hero in the making.

Tuesday With The Angels- The Bully Never Wins-Bullying Hurts

Posted on by

There’s beauty in being sensitive to the differences of others. As a child I remember a little girl who bullied some of us on the block and others made fun of kids at school. I remember how I wanted the little girl to be my friend and yet she would pick on us. I remember my friend, Nancy’s mother talking to us about it. Long ago her mother helped me realize it was wrong to make fun and be mean to others.

Bullying is still hurting our children. Many of us have been bullied at one time or another and we remember it. It hurts our development of self esteem. During those times I felt bullied as a child, my self esteem was low. I  never would have believed then I would write about bullying, or be a retired educator, or write books about angels. What kind of role models should we be? We should discuss bullying with our children often. It’s one path to end bullying.

Even before I met the man I know was an angel sent to comfort me when I lost my daughter, I knew God and angels existed. I ask the angels everyday to show me the way to love and kindness. Encouraging our children  to walk away and find other friends who are nice to them helps our children grow into confident adults. There’s beauty in being sensitive to the needs of others. Being kind is powerful. The bully never wins.