I am thinking about giving up on blogging...Still love to go and stalk other blogs. But I have been getting so busy with my work, and fustrated with those I work with. I have met some amazing people, and heard many inspiring faith filled stories. So until we meet again. Goodbye.

Signs your child is a bully or can be one.

Wondering what the recipe is for creating a bully? Well, I have some good news. We are beginning to have some answers thanks to a new study by Douglas Gentile and Brad Bushman published in the July issue of the Psychology of Popular Media Culture. This study identified six risk factors that, when co-existing in the same individual, are good predictors of that individual's risk of becoming a bully and of, at some point, engaging in aggressive behavior. When all six factors are present, risk of aggression increases significantly. One or two risk factors are not enough to create a bully, but when you get to three and past four risk factors the risk increases significantly. By six risk factors, as stated above, it is fairly likely that the individual will engage in aggressive behavior. The study by Gentile and Bushman looked at 430 children ages 7-11 in grades 3-5 from 5 Minnesota schools. For this study, children and their teachers were surveyed twice in a year- usually six months apart. Physical aggression was measured using self-reports, peer nominations, and teacher reports of actual violence. Related: Signs that Your Child is Being Bullied Here are the combination of risk factors that predicted future aggression and bullying behavior: 1. A tendency toward hostility 2. low parental involvement 3. gender with boys being more likely to be physically aggressive 4. a history of physical victimization 5. a history of prior physical fights *and 6. media violence exposure. It's important to keep that media violence exposure alone is not enough to predict aggressive acts. It is only one piece of the puzzle. So, before you restrict your kids from all forms of media keep this study in mind. This study may help us identify kids who are at risk for aggression and allow us to help them before they become entrenched in this sort of behavior. This is invaluable information for parents and educators. I would like to see this study repeated with kids of all ages as we wrestle with this troubling issue.

A new calling

Yesterday morning I was at home getting ready for church when I received a call from the Bishops secretary. The second councilor wants to meet with you at 12:15 today. Are you available? Of course, now for those who aren't LDS, it can only mean a couple things. You've done something wrong,you are going to be giving a talk in church or your getting a new calling. Well I had only just been called late last year into Cubs; and I hadn't done anything wrong...so maybe I am being asked to give a talk. Well I went into the Bishops office, said our hello's,I gave a prayer and was asked how things were in cubs...great...learning new things and to love the boys I teach. Well we are extending a new calling...your name has been mentioned for Second Councilor in Primary. I am not someone to say no...what you need to realise is that this is the Lord's calling. And unless I really felt I couldn't do it justice...I had no right to refuse. So next Sunday I will be set apart to work with the little ones in our church.

Spring is on its way

In 2 weeks I'll be ----hum hum. And I am going on a road trip to see my kids out in Lethbridge. I will on the way out stop in Regina for our wards temple trip. While out in Lethbridge I am meeting up with a dear friend to go and spend sometime in Cardston at the Temple there.
I have to say its been decades since I was last in Cardston and am looking forward to going.

Life goes on...

Its hard to believe that I have been home from my first real vacation for about 3 weeks now. It was wonderful. The flight to Las Vegas was uneventful. We arrived and returned in one piece. I had the opportunity to share the LDS temple with my mother and sister. We went there on Sunday and did a brief walk around, smelling the flowers and admiring the tranquility of this majestic building. Behind the temple is a chapel. And when you stand on the grounds you can look out and see downtown Las Vegas.
On Tuesday I had the chance to go to the temple for the morning. Peacefulness surrounded me during my stay. There are sessions every 1/2 hour, and you don't need to book, just show up. I added a dear friend's name to the Temple role. Later that night I found out he had passed. Although saddened by this news. Bobby Joe was expecting it and we had made arrangements to meet up their.
I went back again on Thursday, I cried for him actually sobbed. But realised it was for the best. He is at peace and one day will be joined by others.
Its been awhile since I have been in cubs. We are getting ready for the kub car rally. The great thing is to see the boys so excited. Planning and decorating their cars. Next year it will be Lanes turn. I'll be prepared.

welcome to 2012

January came in like the purr of a kitten. The weather is unseasonably warm right now with not much snow. We took the opportunity today to go tobogganing at Assiniboine Park. And as you can see Lane had a great time. We tried out the bigger hill, and Lane wasn't to excited to try it again. So we stayed on the smaller hills, but had fun anyway.