Mom Faces Trial After Daughter Found in Storage

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/the_black_diaspora_news/13452
Wow......

School Bus Fight - Racially motivated or not?

This happened in Belleville, IL (a stone's throw from STL) yesterday.  It's been on the news & is being discussed on many radio shows.

http://www.kmov.com/topstories/stories/kmov-stlouis-news-090914-schoonl-bus-fight.17dc4b476.html

What punishment should the aggressors receive? 

What punishment, if any, should the driver receive?

Should anything be said/done to the on-lookers, photo & video takers?

Let's talk about it!

Babies & Fools

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

They say God takes care of babies & fools. I, for one, know that it's true.

My boy, who thinks he's grown, but still a baby & a fool, finally realized the err of his ways. Tired of job hopping & wanting something better for himself, he enlisted in the National Guard.

I wasn't overly thrilled but anything beats the path to self-destruction. Yesterday, he called me excited about the test they had given him & the trade options offered. My son, affectionately & sometimes not so, called "the boy" is going to basic training next month & will have a gig as a Water Treatment Tech! Of the options offered, he chose this, as he found the science of it all "very interesting". You could've knocked me over with a feather!

God is taking care of my baby!!

Now I wonder when & if I can start to collect on those "loans"....hmmmm. *lol*

Love,
Stephon's Proud Mama (once again!)

PS ...and he also needs $165 to get his car fixed until his money starts. That's my boy!

16 & Pregnant - Part I

I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  However, I take full responsibility for my actions.  I have a love that I'd never known, several grey hairs, a trunk full of disappointments with a few proud moments sprinkled here & there, endless sleepless nights and a voicemail/email full of, "Ma, I need (insert any random amount of $$ here)".  That's my boy! 

As I look(ed) around at the proud mommies to be, flossing those baby bumps (and I think that is the cutest term ever) I can't help but wonder what it would've been like to be preggo & proud.  At 16, I was anything but. 

I contemplated telling my grandmother.  I knew she'd "fix" it so I wouldn't ruin my future...after she recovered from the heart attack I would cause her.

I contemplated telling my mother (who I now know was bi-polar due to her traumatic birth & several brain surgeries) and depending on the day, that could've gone either way.

I talked it over with the donor & decided to come clean with my mother.  I practiced what I was going to say & everything.  I knew she was at the doctor's office & I would be ready when she got home.  She comes in the door & before I could say a word, she utters, "Guess what?!  I'm pregnant!"  WTF??  She can't be pregnant.  Her baby is 14  & I'm pregnant!  Damn.....

I never fessed up.  I just kept my shame to myself.  She did get wise when I was puking every morning before leaving for school.  She walked in on me once & bluntly asked, "Are you pregnant?"  I tearfully replied, "I don't know."  Hell I knew & never even took a test.  She looked in my face & said, "The hell you don't! I can see it your face."

I was still in denial for 4 months.  I not only disappointed myself, but my mama, grandparents, elder relatives & educators.  I know I truly hurt my grandparents & after I started to show, they never saw me.  I knew I wouldn't be able to take the looks in their eyes.  Cuts like a knife comes to mind.

I finally came to grips with it, when I could no longer fit my own clothes (I wasn't skinny but on the trim & slim side) had to start wearing the donors clothes...back when short sets were in.   I can say I did look cute in them.

I decided I'd just face the music.  I still went to school everyday, shame & all.  I maintained my A- GPA, but I became one of "those girls".  Fortunately, I didn't miss a beat.  It was a long hot summer in the unairconconditioned STL Public School System, but I survived it.

I had my baby a week before school started back.  Thank God, I didn't have to go back to school pregnant.

The saga will continue.....

Missouri State's Sales Tax Holiday Set for August 1-3

http://dor.mo.gov/news/2008/EkEZuuyV.htm
Time to get those back to school items!

My "Baby" is Growing Up

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Other

My son, sometimes referred to as "the boy", lives in Jefferson City, MO so I'm not there to "mother" him as before.

I knew about two (2) ER visits he had and was honestly expecting to receive the 2 bills ($100 each) for his co-pays. I was reviewing my medical plan EOB (explanation of benefits) and noticed the claims for him. I also noticed that his co-pays were PAID. I don't think you heard me. His co-pays were PAID! *twirl & faint*

I called & left him a message asking if he did in fact pay his co-pay. He texted *eyeroll* me with: "i did pay it Ma cuz i need to save my favors for bigger stuff".

Now this is the same boy who has given me the blues for the last several years. I kinda cut him off, but I really didn't. I did make it clear that I was no longer gonna take care of him as before. However, I did keep him covered insurance wise.

My "baby" is growing up....sniff-sniff & hallelujah!

Other People’s Kids – Part I

Last July, I became guardian to 4/5 of my sister’s kids.  I love these children, but keep in mind, I don’t like kids (and I don’t feel guilty about it)….love them to death, preferably from a distance.  You can keep all of these lil crumb snatchers outta my personal space.  My son is an only child for a reason.

 

 

Let me tell y’all about Showtime aka Pretty Ricky.  He’s 13, smart & all his life folks have thought he was my son, not my nephew.  I call him Showtime because he’s very animated.  I also call him Pretty Ricky at times because he has this Bone Thugs thing going on with all this hair on his head & he thinks he’s fine.  He’s also quite fashion conscious.  At least as conscious as a 13 year old can get.  He’s pretty independent & of his 4 other siblings, he’s my favorite….just don’t tell him.  He’ll attempt to use it to his advantage.  He’s also a Gemini & works my nerves & the Rockwood School District’s with his moods.  This boy was moody from the day he was born.

 

 

Then there’s Cool J who’s 11.  They call him that because his real initials are LL.  Since he was about 2, I’ve called him Cole Brown, because he’s short & thick.  His genetics dictate he’ll {probably} never be taller than 5’6”.  He’s a mama’s boy to the bone!  He’s quite sensitive at times & a pit bull at others.  True Piscean.

 

 

Then there are the twins – 7 year-old Cancer females.  They are as different as night & day.  One is kinda bossy and must be heard.  The other is shy and reserved. 

 

 

This is where Nanny Rose, may she rest in peace, saved my life.  Without blinking an eye, she was willing to take them all if it meant keeping them out of the system.  Fortunately, it didn’t come to that.  She took her girls and I kept the boys.

 

 

This is also where having the kind of relationship I have with my manager paid off.  Due to the bullshit that comes with my bloodline, keeping secrets is too damn hard to do, so I've always shared most of the BS with her so she knew what was happening with me.  I've worked under her for a decade and just like my mother, she can look in my face and know that something's amiss.  Even tho she's partially disabled she offered to help.  She also made it easy for me to miss countless days from work to handle this situation.

 

 

Anybody who knows me, knows I had no intention of mothering any more children, let alone those who belong to someone else...family or not.  I used to be soooo glad my mother didn’t have a house full of kids, especially since I was the oldest.  She even told me once, had my father (who was 3^rd of 11) lived, she probably would’ve had a bunch of kids.  Despite all that, now is the time when multiple, responsible, capable & caring siblings would so be a blessing!  Alas, that’s not the case.

 

 

These kids have literally turned my life, my house & my wallet upside down & inside out.  I was footloose & fancy-free for a minute & then duty called.  I was free to come & go as I pleased with worrying about the well being of someone else.  I was free to sleep all damn day & skip meals if I so desired.  Me & “my friend” were free to walk around naked as the day we were born & make as much noise during those intimate times as we wanted, without covering up, locking doors & worrying about virgin ears hearing grown folks business.  God forbid if these boys accidentally see my “dawgs” roaming free or his "solider" seeking some attention.

 

 

When the situation 1^st arose, honestly, all I could think about was how I would be effected & how my life had to change. Selfish?  Maybe.  Honest?  Definitely!  I had to remember what my mother taught me about my selfishness a long time ago.  She would say, “MDB (of course using the entire name she had so carefully chosen for me), it’s not gonna always be about you!”  Let’s just say I think my mama knew.

 

 

To be continued……

Parents Who Reward Bad Behavior

This is something that also chaps my ass - bad ass kids with the best money can buy.  Why?!?! 

Help me understand why Man-Man can fail all his classes & cuss the teacher out, but he's wearing the latest, most expensive gear & has a video game set up that would bring a tear to Sony's eye.  Help me understand why Kee-Kee won't get up off her lazy ass, sweep the floor, take out the trash or wash a dish, but she goes to the salon for pampering like clockwork, as if she has a damn job.  These things are a priviledge, not a damn birthright.  These lil fuckers have gotten over like a fat rat! 

With the exception of having too much mouth & being way too sassy (I've got memories of the split lips to prove it), I was a pretty good kid.  I certainly didn't have everything I wanted, but now that I am grown, I realize I did have everything I needed.

I used to be envious of kids who had 'things' (like Jordache jeans & Colecovision to name a couple), I didn't when I knew damn well I was more deserving than they were.  Just didn't seem fair.  I now know that my mother was taking care of us using her widow's pension & my grandparent's were also retired & not even trying to hear about spending that kind of money on material things.

As the old folks say, we live and we learn & they ain't never lied.

I promised myself that if I ever had kids (and I did way too soon), I'd go to the end of the Earth to provide him/her with some of the things he/she wanted, providing he/she was deserving,

Those who know me, know my boy had a different idea.  I, in turn, let the punishment fit the crime.  The last video game system I purchased was a Sega Genesis (trust that I still play me some Sonic on ocassion).  

He was about 12 the last time he had a birthday party, the last time he saw his name on a box under the tree & the last time he traveled for anything other than a funeral.

Tennis shoes that costs more than one of my utility bills were definitely out of the question.  He did get lucky a few times tho when I found a BOGO 1/2 off sale & I could cop a pair also.  I've even gone so far as to prepare a steak & shrimp dinner (one of his favs) and not offer him a bite.  It's Top Ramen or Chef Boyardee for you son.

The law states I have to provide adequate food, clothing & shelter.  It says nothing about spending my hard earned dollar on the latest & greatest for an ingrate.  He didn't do what he I required of him, so I only did what the law required of me.

Most of my friends say I'm a mean-ass moma & was too harsh.  Damn that.  I work too hard to give my money to an undeserving anybody....especially one I gave birth too.

As always, the floor is open.

Record number of pregnancies reported at Gloucester High - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/05/29/17_gloucester_high_students_are_said_to_be_pregnant/
“A state public health official is urging Gloucester officials to take swift and decisive action, including allowing prescription birth control, to curb a spike in teen pregnancy among students at Gloucester High School, where a record 17 girls are pregnant.”

Due Date vs. Delivery Date

Mothers/Fathers: 

This is a simple one - when was your/her due date & when was your/her actual delivery date?

Being that I was 16, pregnant and in denial until I started to show, a lot of my experience is a blur to me, but I will never forget that day.

Doc's estimated due date was September. 6.  The boy child decided August 28 was the day.  I remember being teased by my cousin {the day before I popped} about being pregnant for so long & I jokingly said, "I'm having this baby in the morning since you're so sick of looking at me!"  *eyeroll*  Lo & behold, it was no joke.

I remember when they wheeled me to the maternity ward and the nurse asked, "When's your due date, doll?"  I tearfully replied, "Sept. 6."  She said, "Close enough!"

.....and so it began.

7 year old wanna-be hoodrat steals grandmother's SUV for a joyride!

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2008/04/26/pkg.seven.stolen.car.wpbf
My crazy, 'bout to be broke ass would've been all over youtube...in handcuffs! I would've beat the bacon off of his lil rotund ass!

Once I got done beating the dogsled shit outta him, his ass wouldn't see another snack for as long as he lived!

*see why I don't like kids??*

Update - Crash kills girl on bike, injures brother

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/326BF2BEEF0C071B8625743A0012367C?OpenDocument
After watching the news & listening to the eyewitness reports (mostly minor children playing nearby), my heart is broken.

I thank you all for the support & prayers!! It means a lot!

Prayers Needed

http://www.kmov.com/topstories/stories/kmov_localnews_080428_ax.ac44f877.html
I need all the praying people to send up one for this family. I've known the 14 year old boy all his life (he's my BFFs {former} stepson). I didn't really know the little girl, but I do know the pain of burying a child.

How Much did Your Baby(ies) Weigh?

This is another one for Starrdustt.  Her MiniMe (fetus) is a little less than 7 lbs and Mama thinks she's a little porky already. 

My mother was diagnosed diabetic after having me.  Diabetic women tend to have larger babies.  I was 9 lbs & 1.5 oz.  My middle sister was 9 lbs & 10.5 oz.  My baby sister was 11 lbs & 1 oz!  My mother was induced several weeks early with her because she was still growing.  My grandmother was convinced that she was carrying more than one baby.

My son was 8 lbs. & 6 oz.  My mother was in the delivery room with me & when they said his weight, she yelled, "Ha Mercy!  We don't do tiny babies."  The doc & the nurses got a kick out of that one.  I delivered without the aid of drugs.  I'm a soldier dammit, but the boy will remain an only child...on his mama's side!

My sister's 3 boys were all over 8 lbs & the twins were a little over 5 lbs each - which is great for twins.

I also need to add that all of the aforementioned deliveries were vaginal.  No C-Sections for this clan!

Now, how much did your baby(ies) weigh & how were they delivered? 

Fellas, even tho you ain't birthed ahn baby, feel free to tell us about your offspring.

4 Year Old may have Accidentally Killed His 2 year Old Brother with a WWE Move

http://www.kmov.com/video/index.html?nvid=232535&shu=1
My heart is breaking for this young mother.