Hunger in America

With this being an election year, you've no doubt heard politicians and pundits claim there is no such thing as hunger in America. They say it's impossible because of the obesity rates, but the truth is 16 million children go to bed hungry and many others eat unhealthy meals because theirs parents either cannot afford or do not have access to healthy food.

The Food Network documentary "Hunger Hits Home" examines hungry in America by introducing us to real families who have difficulty putting food on the table and people working to stop hunger. The documentary is a touching eye-opener to the reality of hunger and poverty in the United States. You can view the full documentary below.

Poverty and hunger do not discriminate. Fighting poverty and hunger shouldn't either.

What are you doing to help? Start by signing this petition to get our elected officials to support federal nutrition programs. I did and I hope you will, too.

Source: The Food Network

Book Excerpt: Socialpunk

 

About Socialpunk:

Ima would give anything to escape The Dome and learn what’s beyond its barriers, but the Chicago government has kept all its citizens on lockdown ever since the Scorched Years left most of the world a desert wasteland. When a mysterious group of hooded figures enters the city unexpectedly, Ima uncovers a plot to destroy The Dome and is given the choice between escaping to a new, dangerous city or staying behind and fighting a battle she can never win.

Prologue:

After playing God for six years with the world he created, he couldn’t control any of his subjects, none at all. Over the years, he had watched them evolve and become the sum of their own choices rather than the sum of his; and for that, he regretted ever giving them life.

A small, blinking red light from just inside his eyelid reminded him of the news they sent him earlier that morning. The company had cancelled his funding and would shut down his project within three months. According to them, the project cost too much and took up too much space, and the inconclusive results couldn’t be published reputably, now or in the future.

Six years of his work, tens of thousands of lives at stake—and he could do nothing to save any of it. He bowed his head, letting his chin rest on the rim of his breakfast smoothie. The smoothie reeked of powder—crushed pills—but he supposed he had better get used to it. He wouldn’t be able to afford the luxury of real food after they canned him.

He closed his eyes and called up the camera view of one of his favorites, number 3281. She fascinated him; he couldn’t deny it. When he had designed her, her pre-teen rebelliousness lit fire in her eyes. A survivor, he’d thought. He’d meant for her to have it all—to grow up, to get married to the love of her life, and to have a beautiful family of her own someday.

But he had only given her sadness so far. Instead of creating a strict father, he had given her an abusive one. Instead of creating a loving boyfriend, he had given her a friend who could never love her. And instead of creating a strong, proud mother, he had given her a meek one, who watched the whole thing unfold and did nothing about it.

He looked at his last and final creation sitting in the chair across from him—his own son, not awakened yet. The law forbade him to have any children of his own, so this boy would substitute.

But he had done the unthinkable with this creation—he had bestowed on it his own thoughts, emotions, and decision-making processes. He’d given the boy his own mind, his own physical characteristics, his own wants and desires.

He had never done so with any of the others because of the dangers of investing too heavily in any one of his subjects. But who could he kid? He had not stayed objective thus far, watching some of his subjects more closely than others, wishing for the happiness of some at the expense of others. He had become an abomination, a monster of his own doing, who had created subjects only to watch them suffer.

He couldn’t forgive himself; not now, not ever. His eyes lingered on the vial that sat next to his breakfast smoothie, that he’d stowed away for the day when they destroyed all his work, his entire world. He would save it, tuck it away for now, for as long as he could protect them. When things spun out of his control, he would drink it and end himself the way he had ended them.

In the ancient stories, gods frequently gave their sons as gifts. Now, he would give his son as a gift to her, number 3281. So she could be happy in her last months on earth, before they destroyed her with the rest of them.

About the Author:

Monica Leonelle is a well-known digital media strategist and the author of three novels. She blogs at Prose on Fire and shares her writing and social media knowledge with other bloggers and authors through her Free Writer Toolkit.

To purchase Socialpunk:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

The New Teen Drug Craze

By Dana Arevalo,

P.O.V. Contributing Writer

It seems nowadays individuals are finding more and more ways to get high. Growing up in the midst of the 80s, I remember being well-versed on drugs through health class in school. I do not recall my parents speaking to me about drugs at all. I definitely knew that they existed but fortunately I was too scared to try. During that time, I learned about drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, crack, heroin, LSD, alcohol, etc. Today teens are grabbing anything and everything for a quick fix. I believe it has gotten way out of hand, and society may be leaning toward the social acceptance of marijuana usage as it is becoming legal for medical usage. On a positive note, parents are beginning to teach their children about drugs at home, indicating a solid parental involvement; however, drug abuse still continues to rise due to the readily available substances that are being used.

Throughout this week, I have been seeing numerous stories on hand sanitizer. Since hand sanitizer became a popular method of hand cleaning, I haven't liked it. It was around me all of the time and any time a patient or a staff member used it, I would immediately know. It had a strong pungent odor, similar to drinking alcohol. I would often joke with my co-workers asking if they have had a drink at lunch, an early happy hour. I wouldn't even allow my children to use it, to this day I carry anti-bacterial wipes.

Once thought of as protection from germs, hand sanitizer is now used as an alcoholic beverage. Apparently teens have figured out how to make shots that are more potent than a regular shot of alcohol. They extract the ethyl alcohol with salt and drink away. It is extremely dangerous due to the proof contained in the drink, almost double. This trend or fad has been most relevant in California, but now that the media has shared, I am sure it will become more widespread. It really concerns me that individuals are determining ways to get high so easily. Just last year when going to the pharmacy to fill the popular allergy medicine Allegra D, the pharmacy required a license and a special signature due to the fact that this medication contained a substance that was being used to get high.

Where is the world heading?

Source:

Dangerous Trend Teens Guzzling Hand Sanitizer

Six Year Old Handcuffed After Tantrum

By Rhonda Ramsey,

P.O.V. Contributing Writer

At Creekside Elementary School in Milledgeville, GA, the family of a six-year-old kindergartner named Salecia Johnson is upset and disappointed with both police and school officials. Salecia was handcuffed and taken to a police station for allegedly throwing furniture, tearing items off the walls and knocking over a shelf, which injured the principal.

"A six-year-old in kindergarten?" Earnest Johnson, the father of Salecia Johnson, asked.  “A six-year-old in kindergarten? They have no business calling the police and handcuffing my child," he told WMAZ-TV.

But according to Milledgeville Police Chief Dray Swicord there is no age discrimination in the “rules.”

“Our policy states that any detainee transported to our station in a patrol vehicle is to be handcuffed in the back. There is no age discrimination on that rule."

Johnson's aunt, Candace Ruff, said that her niece "might have misbehaved, but I don't think she actually misbehaved to the point that she should have been handcuffed and taken downtown to the police department. Call the police? Is that the first step? Or is there any other kind of intervention that can be taken to help that child."

Ruff also claimed that Salecia was alone in a holding cell and complained about the handcuffs hurt her wrists.

"She said they were really tight. She said they really hurt her wrists," Ruff told the Associated Press. "She was so shaken up when we went there to pick her up."

Swicord denies that the child was in a holding cell. The Associated Press reported that he said she was held in the department's squad room and given a Coke.

I don’t know about you, but I am not sure what to say. I am imagining this “tantrum.” I am wondering where all of this rage is coming from, and I may never know. But I cannot imagine a six-year-old in handcuffs.

So what do you think?  If you are unable to restrain a six-year-old and the child is “out of control”, should she/he be handcuffed?  What about if it was your own school-aged child? What would you think? And let us ponder this beyond the tantrum or the initial feeling many of us may have; that our child would not act this way.

What do you think of a six-year-old being handcuffed?

Sources:  http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com

4/24 Poll of the Week: Divorce

This week's Tuesday poll question is what causes people to divorce?

The results of last week's poll are below.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Last week's question: Will life be better or worse in 100 years?

Results: Better 0%, Worse 100%, Other 0%

Strange Addiction Kills 30-Year-Old Mom

If you hear that a bad diet killed someone, what do you think of? Maybe an obese person who ate too much fat or perhaps someone with high blood pressure eating too much salt? How about a woman addicted to soft drinks?

In February, a 30-year-old mom in New Zealand died suddenly of a heart attack. Bad nutrition was to blame, more specifically hypokalemia, also known as low potassium. So how did she get this condition? A combination of eating little food, smoking around 30 cigarettes a day and drinking 8-10 liters of Coca-Cola on a daily basis. That's the equivalent of 2-2.5 gallons a day.

The woman's boyfriend said the first thing she did in the morning was have a Coke. It was the last thing she also did before bed and she drank it all day long in between.

This had me wondering what she was injecting in her body, so I consulted the label on a 12-ounce can of Coke. This is what I found:

45 milligrams of sodium

34 milligrams of caffeine

Carbonated water -- water infused with carbon dioxide

High fructose corn syrup -- sugar

Carmel color -- food coloring

Phosphosic acid -- used to acidify the beverage, one study linked it low bone density

Natural flavors -- unspecified on the label

The label also goes on to say, "Not a significant source of fat calories, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, sodium and iron."

Why would someone willing ingest something into their body that has no nutritional value? This woman was addicted to Coke. If you, too, are addicted to soft drinks, take her death as a warning and start watching what you put in your mouth.

Sources:

Cola habit behind death of 30-year-old New Zealand woman?

Nutritional Facts -- 12 fluid ounce can of Coca-Cola regular

A Closer Look at The Recent Lottery Craze

The following post was written by a guest blogger. It's views do not necessarily reflect the views of P.O.V.

By Alvina Lopez

The frenzy over the huge Mega Millions jackpot that broke all previous records has only recently ended, but many aspects of the drawing remain unclear. Winning tickets were sold in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland, and so far the majority of ticketholders have kept their identity a secret as they set out to split the jackpot of $656 million. It’s hard to believe that only three tickets won out of the millions upon millions of people who entered the lottery, but then again the odds were high, like 1 in 175,000,000 high.

So what do we make of the lottery now that the nationwide craze has passed? It’s strange to consider how quickly the national obsession grew and then dissipated. Millions of people paid for a chance at that huge payout, millions of people lost out on it, and now we’re expected to go about our daily lives. But the effects of playing the lottery are much more significant and complex for some people in this country, and I’d like to spend some time discussing them.

A gamble for people with lower incomes

The sad truth is that the lottery is an event that mostly appeals to people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, giving millions the unlikely hope that they could become rich overnight. A recent article in the Christian Science Monitor explains that 1 in 5 Americans actually believe that winning the lotto is a solid plan for financial advancement. But if winning the lottery is less likely than the odds of getting struck by lightning while driving in a car, how can planning to do so be considered realistic? It doesn’t seem so, and they millions of Americans who throw their hard earned money on the contest week after week would likely agree.

The lottery does a good job tapping into the collective “what if” scenario of millions of Americans who ignore the odds against them; rather than face the daunting odds, they instead envision buying a new house, a new car, and a new life with the winnings that they’ll likely never see. It’s a phenomenon known as the availability heuristic, explained in an article from MSNBC on the lottery as our ability to predict the outcome of an event based on how easily we can imagine the outcome. Since we can easily imagine winning the lottery (buying luxury items, picking up the tab for everyone at a restaurant, etc.), it becomes much easier for us to imagine that we can win the lottery if we just give it a try. And so the dangerous cycle continues.

How much do sales benefit education?

Losers of the lottery attempt to temper their defeat with the knowledge that a percentage of their ticket sales goes on to fund public education in some capacity. Indeed, the Mega Millions website states than an average 35% of ticket sales goes to education in each participating state. But the distribution of the funds and their exact percentages vary from state to state. For instance, The Houston Chronicle recently reported on the complexities surround the education-bound proceeds from the Texas Lottery. Though the Texas Lottery donates nearly 40% of ticket sales to fund public education in the state, the paper reports that these funds do not necessarily expand the amount of money available to schools. According to the Chronicle, the money from the ticket sales merely accounts for a percentage of a previously established education budget. If the amount from the tickets exceeds the education budget, then the excess is placed into a fund meant for general state budgetary matters. In other words, the Texas lotto contributes a set amount of funds to the state’s public education budget every year, regardless of the size of the jackpot prize.

Of course the situation differs state by state, but the Texas example proves that even advertised benefits to the lottery are more complex than meets the eye.

What’s your opinion?

How do you feel about the lottery in your state? Do you enjoy participating in the lottery to have a chance at the big bucks, or do you view it as a joke of a gamble?

Sources:

Christian Science Monitor

Why Even Skeptics are Buying Mega Millions Tickets

The Houston Chronicle

Alvina Lopez is a freelance writer and blog junkie, who blogs about accredited online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email alvina.lopez@gmail.com. 

Zimmerman, Martin, and Justifiable Violence

By Dana Arevalo,

P.O.V. Contributing Writer

Brief

Where are we at with the Martin Zimmerman case?  Many leaders are pleading with the public and lawmakers to change the "Stand Your Ground" rules in fear that Mr. Zimmerman is going to get away with murder. Many other are asking, "Will he get a fair trial?"

I am outraged where the Zimmerman Martin case has taken society. The case from the beginning screamed racism. People are wondering how and why something as such could take place. It is extremely apparent that individuals are taking sides solely based upon race; it wouldn't be so controversial otherwise. From the start, I have looked at the case from the standpoint of a parent. Is my view correct? No, not quite.

Is A Picture Worth 1,000 words?

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. Pictures of Treyvon and Zimmerman are bold in my mind, as the news kept flashing them, and, completely taking race out of the equation, it was a clear act of power. Mr. Martin a young powerless boy versus Mr. Zimmerman a large-statured older man with a powerful weapon, a gun. While my initial thoughts very well may be the truth, it wasn't such a good approach because there is so much more to consider. I am being told, the pictures of Treyvon are allegedly from grade-school. There is also so much hearsay and speculation surrounding this case: Mr. Zimmerman's initial injuries, Treyvon's behavior in school, Mr. Zimmerman's prior arrest history, so on and so forth.

In general, we are taught self-defense, especially when we feel our life is being threatened. The question in here lies, whose life was threatened that night? Should this case even be considered self-defense? The media pulls in the audience by highlighting words such as race, armed, unarmed, teen, young gentlemen, youth, prove, death, etc. Furthermore, could the violence have been avoided? There are two sides to every story and then there is the truth. Unfortunately, we will never get to hear Mr. Martin's side.

Vigilante Justice

One might also want to consider whether or not they support vigilante justice. I am divided on this issue, as well. I do not condone violence, unless it is warranted. At times, it is clearly warranted, especially when one’s life is in danger. I, however, in no way support "civilians" carrying weapons. If a civilian wants to have a gun in their household, legally registered behind lock and key, that is their business, as they are protecting their family and their property. I am absolutely turned off, however, by citizens walking the streets carrying weapons, claiming to be self-proclaimed neighborhood watchmen, it all points to something bad waiting to happen. Most carrying these guns have never been to the shooting range nor properly know how to handle violent situations. They often have good intentions, but lacking the knowledge how to handle dangerous situations often leads to death. Leave these encounters up to the professionals.

Stand Your Ground

Now many are debating over whether the National Riffles Association (NRA) stand your ground law will affect the entire case. In some cases, these laws protect the shooters in the support that they "justifiably" acted in pulling the trigger regardless whether or not the victim died. What makes people so divided on the "Stand Your Ground" laws are that they vary state-by-state. I personally remember going to the shooting range in Florida; I loved it, however, the entire time I was in the state, I felt nervous and uneasy due to the fact that it was normal for civilians to walk around carrying guns like cell phones. The Stand Your Ground laws in Florida, allow one to utilize a weapon and pull the trigger without hesitation or "police" back-up if they have a "reasonable" fear of death. In this case, I feel the justifiable and reasonable fear will never be proven, as one cannot deliver their story.

Open to You

What are your thoughts on this case? Is vigilante justice warranted? Please share.

Sources:

George Zimmerman Expected to Take the Stand in Trayvon Martin Murder Case, Legal Observers Say

Bloomberg Blasts NRA Over Stand Ground Laws

State of Florida

Good News About Sad Movies?

By Rhonda Ramsey,

P.O.V. Contributing Writer

"Tragic stories often focus on themes of eternal love, and this leads viewers to think about their loved ones and count their blessings," said Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick, lead author of the study and associate professor of communication at Ohio State University.

Studies showed that after watching “tear jerkers”, people thought about their own personal lives, situations and relationships, which boosted their life happiness. What seems to be sad, or negative (watching a sad story unfold), actually made people happier. People were reminded of their own lives; they began to think of the positive aspects of their lives.

I must say, my favorite movies and books are indeed dramas. (Depending on what kind. I prefer not to cry, but I do like enjoy something deeply moving). Although I did enjoy this article, as I almost always enjoy different perspectives on things I don’t spend much time analyzing (like “why do I love tragic films?”), I don’t share this feeling. Again, I can definitely see where the study is going, and where the researchers are coming from. I just wouldn’t fall into the category of those who immediately count their blessings or have boosted life happiness.

It is always good to be find reasons to be grateful -- but I personally find my heart a bit heavy for the people and situations who inspired the movies or books, not my own personal life.

What do you think? What are your thoughts on tragic films or books? If you like them, how do you relate?  What makes you pick the tragedy over the comedy?

Source:  Science Daily

4/17 Poll of the Week: The Future

This week's Tuesday poll question is will life be better or worse in 100 years?

The results of last week's poll are below.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Last week's question: Would you marry someone of a different faith?

Results: Yes 66.7%, No 33.3%, Don't Know 0%

False Accusations Rip Family Apart

Much is said about child protective services, most of it negative. This is because we only seem to hear about the organization when it fails, when CPS fails to protect a child in danger or when it takes a child from a home when no abuse is present ruining the parents' reputations.

The O'Shells are just such a case. In 2008, their newborn was taken away from them after it was discovered she had several broken bones. The authorities suspected abuse and during a supervised visit when the little girl simply turned her head away from her parents, they felt their suspicions were vindicated.

A doctor, however, had other ideas. He suspected a rare genetic disorder and ordered tests. Unlike CPS, his suspicions turned out to be correct.

But the diagnosis did not come early enough for the O'Shells. The same day the doctor had his hunch, the little girl's parents died. Depressed and grieving he was being accused of beating his child, William O'Shell killed himself and his wife, Tiffany. A few months later baby Alyssa died of her disease. She was less than a year old.

Alyssa's grandparents are fighting for justice. No one believed the family when they said William was not abusive. Even his own attorney told him he would end up in prison and would loose everything that meant something to him -- his family, job and military status.

They aren't angry at child protective services but they believe a through investigation should have been conducted. It wasn't and a family is forever ruined by the accusations.

While we never hear about the cases when CPS did its job correctly, there are enough cases of when they do their job incorrectly make me think its employees need retrained. They need to be objective and remove children to foster care (or conversely keep them in their homes) based on concrete evidence not first impressions and personal feelings.

What do you think? Was CPS justified in the O'Shell case?

Source: Rare Disease Mimics Child Abuse and Tears Family Apart

Mentoring: A Tribute to Those Who Lead

By Dana Arevalo,

P.O.V. Contributing Writer

The month of January was filled with dedication to mentors.  I briefly watched bits and pieces of an episode of The View (ABC) in which their whole show was dedicated to mentors.  All co-hosts had mentors at some point in their career.  I feel that while many people are passionate about following an ultimate career goal and or dream, having a mentor will take you to the next level.

I have had a few mentors throughout my life; all powerful females.  One was a very powerful business woman.  I had the opportunity to work with her for a short time.  One of the most powerful stories that she told me was of her husband's tragic death just months after they were married.  I looked up to her because despite this tragedy she became a successful business person.  She was articulate, well-versed and also carried herself very well. 

Another powerful mentor whom I look up to is Melina, the founder of P.O.V.  Melina is truly a wonderful person.  I often ask for her advice on everything pertaining to writing.  I also enjoy her point of view opinions.  Before I met Melina, I would have never had the confidence to write on topics such as politics, violence and the like.  She is part of the reason my writing career has began to take off.  I cannot thank her enough.

I am personally a mentor and truly love it. Why mentor? Mentoring gives me the ultimate satisfaction and feeling I helped or taught someone how to do something with skill and expertise.  It also gives me a chance to share my knowledge and optimism with others. I started mentoring last June.  I mentor college level students in an attempt to help them feel less stressed, providing them with tools and techniques such as time management, study skills, family issues and much more, ultimately helping them with their path to success.    

Source:

ABC’s The View to Honor National Mentoring Month

Three-year-old Adventurer Goes Unnoticed by Nursery Staff

By Rhonda Ramsey,

P.O.V. Contributing Writer

Early March around 2 p.m., three-year-old Ashton Addison was recently found by a friendly dog walker after scaling a 7 foot spiked metal fence to escape his nursery school.

The toddler’s mother, Lisa Mckenzie says: “It could have been so much worse, even just thinking about the fence itself.”  She adds, “I’m also so relieved that a kind, caring person picked him up and took him back to the school.

“I still can’t believe he managed to climb it but he is a really clever little boy.”

Even after a head count gone wrong, the staff did not realize the precocious child had gone missing. Lisa was reportedly concerned that staff did not realize Ashton had gone AWOL.

She was also unhappy that she wasn’t told about the incident until she arrived to pick him up at 2.45 p.m. on Monday. (Ashton escaped around 2pm...and was found within 10 minutes)

When I read this article earlier this month, my first thought was: HOW SCARY! I absolutely could not imagine. I certainly would not be happy to pick up my child and learn of the day’s action nearly an hour later.

Ashton has been kept out of nursery school since the incident, and Lisa said, “I’m in talks with the school about whether he will go back at the moment. But if he does, the school say an extra eye will be kept on Ashton.”

I must say I am wondering why mom/dad/guardians were not notified immediately, along with many other concerns. But I will limit them. I am more curious about what you think. Would you let your child go back to the day care/nursery after this type of incident?

Source:  Toddler Escapes From Nursery by Scaling 7ft Spiked Fence

4/10 Poll of the Week: Interfaith Marriage

This week's Tuesday poll question is would you marry someone of a different faith?

The results of last week's poll are below.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Last week's question: Which social networks do you belong to? (Select all that apply.)

Results: Facebook 100%, Twitter 25%, LinkedIn 25%, MySpace 0%, Pintrest 0%, Google+ 25%, Cafemom 75%, MyLife 0%, BlogFrog 50%

Piece of History Up for Bid

The 100th anniversary of the Titanic is Sunday, April 15, and to celebrate, a piece of history is going up for auction on that date. A mint condition ticket to the launch of the Titanic in 1911 from a Belfast, Ireland, shipyard is up for bids as part of an auction being held by Bonhams auction house in New York City. The ticket is expected to sell for $70,000.

The ticket is just one of 5,500 Titanic artifacts which will be up for auction.

This isn't the first time pieces of the doom vessel have gone up for bid. And there has been controversy over the years as to whether or not this is a means of preserving history or destroying it.

While I have no problem with the artifacts being rescued from destruction and decay at the bottom of the Atlantic, I believe these artifacts deserve to be displayed in a museum. That way not only can they be enjoyed by others but they can be properly preserved.

What do you think? Should artifacts be taken from historic places and later distributed? Or should artifacts be left where they are?

Source: Unused Titanic ticket on sale

As a Stepmom

The following post was written by a guest blogger. It's views do not necessarily reflect the views of P.O.V.

By Denisse Estrada

As a Stepmom.......

1. I'm not playing house with your child and my husband.

As a stepmom I'm trying to rebuild my own family, a very real family that includes my husband, my children. And your daughter, who isn't mine.

Some stepmoms will grow to love their stepchildren and some won’t, but they're doing their best to ensure the child still grows up feeling happy and loved.

I'm nurturing my marriage that has been once broken and trying to figure out my role in my stepdaughter’s life. And while you knew your place in your child's life from day one,stepmoms can spend years trying to find theirs.

2. It's not about YOU.

A stepmom's priority is her marriage and her children. When she does something for her stepchild, often the motivation has nothing to do with you. It's not about trying to make you look bad or make you feel "less than."

My motivation is the safety and happiness of my stepdaughter. The motivation is the love I have for my husband and my own children.

I'm trying to do the right thing -- something you never did with my marriage and children.

Similarly, when I support my husband, the intention is not to go "against" you. In fact, there are times when I, as a stepmom, actually side with you, although -- unless you have a decent relationship with me -- you'll never know it.

3. I, as a stepmom, often feel powerless and alone.

I have no legal rights of my stepdaughter. I understand this; my stepchild already has a mom and a dad. But it gets difficult when I'm turned away for trying to obtain something as simple as a copy of immunization records for my stepdaughter. Or when the doctor's office won't give me any information, even though I will be the one driving the child to the appointment and giving her the medication.

It's a hard pill to swallow, especially for stepmoms like me who have taken care of their stepchildren since they were very small.

It can make a woman feel unimportant and insignificant. It's a feeling only a fellow stepmom could understand.

In addition, stepmoms are often powerless when it comes to their stepchild's behavior.

This is daily struggle, because I am greatly affected by the unwanted behavior, but I don't have the authority to do anything about it. If I'm lucky, my husband will be supportive and listen to my concerns, but this isn't always the case.

4. When you contact my household, it often feels weird and disruptive.

I know you have the right to call your child as often as you'd like. And I understand you need to talk to my husband occasionally about parenting issues. But it can still feel like an intrusion -- specially when that's what you were in my marriage prior to my stepdaughter's birth -- an intrusion.

Stepmoms are constantly struggling to find ways to bond with their stepchildren. And when you call, it interrupts the activity in my house and my stepdaughter is immediately distracted. Any bonding that was going on is gone.

I feel as though you've crept into every aspect of our lives. And you calling my house is another painful reminder of that.

5. Stepmoms don't cross your boundaries on purpose; they just can't see them.

You complain that the I am trying to "parent" your child. But a fundamental problem seems to be what moms consider "parenting," stepmoms consider "being responsible" or "supporting their husbands" -- specially when you as a mom don't understand that a mom is ALWAYS a mom. You don't pick and choose when.

Remember, many stepmoms aren't sure of their role.

They're stumbling along, figuring it out as they go. And it's difficult to try and do the "right thing" only to realize you've just caused mom a coronary. It's not intentional.

I wish there was a rule book. I wish the situations were black and white. I wish we could be on the same page as mom and dad, and know how to handle every situation.

But I don't.

This is where neutral, open communication would be to everyone's advantage.

Unfortunately, for many stepmoms their first experience of mom is an emotionally charged phone call or text telling her she has "no right" to do whatever it is she did. To a stepmom, this feels like you're kicking her when she's already down. It comes as a shock because again my primary intention was to help my husband and care for my stepdaughter.


6. A stepmom's marriage has a 60-70 percent chance of failing.

And one Boston study reported that 75% of the women who were surveyed said if they had it to do all over, they would NOT marry a man with children. Guess what? You took that option away from me when you got pregnant while I was still married to my husband. That says a lot about the difficulties I face as the stepmom, the stepmom you made me become.

This may not mean much to you personally, but it means your daughter will have to experience the prolonged process of a second home and deal with the aftermath of two-home parenting.

7. Stepmoms are often disrespected or ignored by their stepchildren.

There are various reasons for this, among them understandable and agonizing loyalty conflicts for the child, but regardless it still hurts. I am only human!

Life isn't always flowers and butterflies at the other household. Many children feel weird about having a stepmom and I do my best for your child to feel at home. They don't know what it means or what to do with it, so they act out or just ignore the stepmom, which is awkward for everyone, specially for my children whom also didn’t have a choice in this living situation.

And most stepmoms don't have "unconditional love" to fall back on. When a child misbehaves, wreaks havoc, or throws a tantrum, parents may get angry and frustrated, but their unconditional love makes it bearable.

I'm not so lucky. There's no unconditional love coming to rescue me from wanting to scream at my stepdaughter or run the other way, sob somewhere private and never look back. All I have are difficult feelings and nowhere to put them.

But I do come back, day after day, because I believe my marriage and my family which includes my stepdaughter are worth it.

8. A simple "thank you" can go a long way.

Stepmoms wish you'd give them even the smallest acknowledgement. For a lot of women like me, being a stepmom is one of the hardest things I've ever done. Often, my needs and wants come last, my schedules aren’t my own, and I'm affected by a situation I didn't create.

Many stepmoms like me take excellent care of their stepchild, with little or no reward. They get no thank you, no love from the child and no appreciation from anyone but their husband -- if they're lucky.

They make many sacrifices in order to be with the man they love. So to only be referenced as "she" or (even worse) to be completely ignored by you, can hurt them deeply. What they wouldn't give for a simple "thank you" or a nod in their direction.

I believe that kind of recognition can heal wounds.

Do stepmoms ever act from ego or a sense of competition with the ex?

Sure, just as some moms do, specially when you crept into my marriage.

But it's important to grasp the implications of a bigger context here: being a stepmom is uniquely difficult and confusing. If you're a mom, could you see yourself struggling in my shoes?

Perhaps, one day, with a better understanding of each other, the mom/stepmom relationship will be one of championing the other, instead of automatic conflict.

Denisse Estrada is an ordinary 24-year-old mother who has a extreme passion for her life and family. She’s a stay-at-home mother, making a difference in the lives of her two children and stepdaughter. Denise has always loved writing -- at a young age she would enter in writing contests -- and loves to write from the experiences she’s endured in her life. She finds herself writing about her day-to-day struggles as an outlet and hopes one day others mothers find her inspiring and helpful to their personal struggles.

Civilians Replacing Police Roles: Violence Sucks

By Dana Arevalo,

P.O.V. Contributing Writer

The Treyvon Martin case has forced me to re-think the entire concept of having civilians replace some of law enforcement's roles and duties.  To me it is irresponsible and outright dangerous.  Some individuals are too eager to act as heroes, lacking the proper skills and techniques to handle potentially violent scenarios and at times, they create their own violent situation.  Please note, in no way, do I disrespect individuals who long to become law enforcement officers, as my father was an officer.  I just feel for their families, the victims and those who have to live through the pain of losing their loved ones. 

Just yesterday, April 4th, in Brooklyn, New York, an auxiliary cop, Francky Aleger, was shot and killed. Auxiliary cops are those who volunteer their time to protect their community.  While it is completely different then the "self-appointed" neighborhood watchman (or was it) - we have two innocent victims - Treyvon Martin and Francky Aleger.  No one knows how or why he was shot.  His wife mourns, wondering why anyone would want to hurt her husband.  Another good man lost to violence, leaving small children without their father.  Is it truly worth it - selfless acts of kindness versus physically leaving existence and your loved ones left to mourn? 

Then we have a group called the "Guardian Angels".  Civilians who walk the streets, knowingly unarmed in an attempt to protect local communities.  In 2011, there were several police layoffs throughout New Jersey, many in areas that need law enforcement the most - inner city areas such as Newark, Paterson, and Camden, NJ.  I, personally, feel that if criminals know that unarmed "angels" are walking throughout the city, crime may rise.  Citizens are given the right to arrest, sounds extremely dangerous and a scream for extra violence.  I feel very unsafe with this notion.

In closing, I in no way support civilians replacing professional law enforcement.  I also commend these innocent men and women who selflessly put themselves out there in an effort to protect their community. 

Sources:  Auxilary Shot Dead

The Guardian Angels Arrive in Patterson, NJ

Beware Takeout Window Thieves!

By Rhonda Ramsey,

P.O.V. Contributing Writer

In Augusta, Maine, in late March, a “burger thief” struck a McDonald’s fast food takeout window...ahem...

Three young men, who ordered $20 worth of food, were probably stunned to find their bag snatched just as an employee handed the meal to the driver. The suspect ran between a car and the drive-thru window.

A nearby witness flagged down an officer leaving a nearby convenience store. Lt. Christopher Massey found the assailant in a nearby Arby’s parking lot tearing into the McDonald’s bag. Massey tells Kennebec Journal, that the suspect swore at him and ran into the woods; he was never caught. And, you may or may not like to know, according to Massey, McDonald's management did not press charges against the thief.

Huffington Post calls the clever suspect who swore at officer Massey and ran into the woods, “The real Hamburglar”...my brain switches to “Is this a joke?” mode. But Massey says:

"They claim they didn't know who he was." 

Then, as I read on, they say that this does happen every so often. Really?

Yes really. "They said that does happen occasionally," Massey said.

So, I have a question. Have you experienced this? Has anyone you know experienced this? Please share. I have to know what went through your mind when you bought your food, and what felt like a gust of wind tore your bag from your hands. (It’s probably not funny at the moment! I seriously can’t imagine what goes through these people’s minds these days!)

Oh. And please feel free to share if you happen to have been a “Hamburglar” at some point in your life.

Source: Hamburglar at MaineMcDonald’s

4/3 Poll of the Week: Which Social Networks Do You Belong to?

This week's Tuesday poll question is which social networks do you belong?

The results of last week's poll are below.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Last week's question: What is your opinion of the Trayvon Martin shooting?

Results: George Zimmerman was justified under the Stand Your Ground law 0%, This was a racially motivated shooting 0%, Not sure 50%, None of the above 50%

The April Fool is on These Products

Yesterday was April Fool's Day. And for 10 products, the joke is on them. They're being investigated by Federal Trade Commission for truth in advertising.

The following are 10 products with unbelievable claims:

Hand sanitizers: The claim here is that they kill germs. Turns out most don't have enough alcohol in them to be effective. Best stick to regular hand washing with soap and water.

Taco Bell: We've all heard the claims that the restaurant chain's beef isn't really beef. That's why they can sell their menu options so inexpensively. Turns out the FTC doesn't believe their claims either.

iPhone: Steve Jobs claimed the iPhone 4 has more pixels than the human eye can detect. A diagnostic firm says "not so".

Eclipse gum: Despite what the ads say the gum does not kill bad breath causing germs.

Airborne: We've all seen the commercials of people preventing a cold by taking Airborne. In reality, it's nothing more than an herbal supplement.

EasyTone: Reebok claimed wearing these shoes would give you a better butt. The company pulled its ads after the FTC they were liable for $25 million in refunds for false claims.

Zabar: Similar to Taco Bell and the beef, Zabar is being investigated that its lobster isn't lobster.

Acai berries: These berries purposively help you lose weight. Several companies used this claim to sell products. Turns out it's not true.

Audiomasons: Purposively their speakers are more eco-friendly by 20,000%. Impossible.

Nivea: The company claimed one of their creams helped burn fat. Scientifically impossible.

What do you think of companies that use outrageous claims to sell products?

Source: 10 products with outrageous claims