26 Things I do with My Children

What do I do with my children?
1. I dance with them.
2. I discipline them by taking away privileges or spanking.
3. I help them to learn by giving them little assignments.
4. I pray with them.
5. I try not to leave them here and there by friends and family.
6. I encourage them to ask questions to people in the community.
7. I sing with them.
8. I do hula-hoop with them.
9. I try to give them a fruit every day.
10. I try to limit the number of candies they eat to none or less than two in a week.
11. I give them water to take to school, not juice.
12. I give them juice at night with dinner.
13. I let them sweep and take the sheets off the bed.
14. I encourage them to take part in Flower Show, Fun Day and other competitions.
15. I encourage them to walk with me.
16. I teach them dances from the 90s - soca especially.
17. I take pictures of them.
18. I tell them how I feel - even when I am annoyed I let them know they are annoying me.
19. I put them to sleep before 9pm.
20. I wake them up by 6am.
21. I let them sleep a little late on Saturdays unless we have an event to attend.
22. I take them to church.
23. I sometimes let them learn the hard way - you keep destroy your schools supplies and you will walk emty-handed.
24. I tickle them.
25. I think I encourage good hygiene.
26. I love them even when they get on my nerves.


Of course life is never limited to a list so I do a lot more!
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POEM: The Youth are Calling

The youth are calling
for us to reply.
They are crying loudly,
they don't want to be denied.
How can we save them?
We need not ask when.
We need to be proactive
so they can be content.
What do they ask for?
Just for nurturing and care,
they need good role models
so their lives can be repaired.
We need to pray for our youth,
we need to pray for their parents,
We have to pray for the community
for our lives to see improvement.
Our youth need good leaders
who implement good plans.
They need Godly direction,
to be great women and men.
Your question may be,
"What is my role?"
We all have to work together
to help the lost souls.
We all have to unite
and fight for the same good causes.
Let us lead our people
like great men such as Moses.
The youth are calling,
We can hear their cries.
When they call at your door,
what will be your reply?

© Linette Rabsatt

POEM: I May Find Mine by Linette Rabsatt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EojWyEstJ-c

Virgin Islander Publishes "Colour and Learn"

I would like to say Congratulations to Virgin Islander, Steve Lennard on publishing his "Colour and Learn" Colour Mathematics Book For Early Primary. He is a Virgin Islander who enjoys teaching and taught in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Education. He also is an Assistant Pastor at his church and the Deputy Director of the HL Stoutt Community College's campus in Virgin Gorda..

We look forward to more publications from Mr. Lennard!

Music Makes Me Love Sweets

"Brown Sugar" by D'Angelo and "Candy" by Cameo are two R&B songs that sing about something that is literally and figuratively sweet. Both have a great beats, a fun video and lyrics that talk about a 'sweet' girl. Peaches & Cream (Featuring P. Diddy) (Album Version) is another sexy song that gets the taste buds excited. Blackberry Molasses by Mista is more of an uplifting type jam which features Bobby Valentino.

"Sugar Boy" is soca by Patrice Boy and I love the way she speaks about her "Sugar Boy". You know this can only be sweet words. Nu Vybes brought us "Sugah  Band" and this had the people clubs and festivals going crazy. As the lyrics say "The people just can't get enough of the sweetness...."

Common's Like Water for Chocolate was an awesome album that had one of my favorite songs "The Light". In a previous blog entry, Confessions of a Chocolate-aholic who also loves cheesecake, I shared how much I loved chocolate.

These are only a very short list of songs or albums that talk about sweets. If I continue, I will probably want to eat sugar for breakfast.

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The Girl Who Felt She Had It Rough

Once upon a time there was a girl who felt that she had it rough. She fell in and out of love. She leaped between life and death. She creeped through the valley and soared over the hills. She dodged several bullets and caught many stars. She ran with the lions and slumbered with the snails.

Her life was never dull but never exciting. Her pockets were never full but the back pocket always had $2.00. She showed appreciation to who helped her and still commended those who ignored her cries. She fell and she got up. She lived her art and her art was a reflection of her.

She proved that life was just never perfect or balanced but that we all just need to scream, cope and run when needed. We need to cry sometimes and other times, breathe or react, or all of the above. Between the rising and the falling, she stood, sat, laid and crept her way through. Quiet or loud, whatever it took, she dealt with the blows given and she returned a few too.

Being the rebel, she was still passive resistant. A risk-taker who was also a coward. She took late action but was also proactive for what she wanted.

She evaluated and dreamed forward only to realize that all she needed to do was live.

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POEM: Starter

I'm shattered
my brain is scattered
not that it matters
to you I'm a squatter
but as my wound spatters
my clothes are tattered
so your words can't flatter
or stick me in the batter
in the abyss of the matter
at hand is a disaster
but I stand smarter
alert like a master
but as tame as a starter

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What Can A Bum Teach You

I like to make a joke that the persons who most people think are crazy are the sane ones. These people seem to live in an alternate universe and just move at their own pace. We, the sane ones, have more chronic diseases, fatigue and stress. The bums are happy within themselves and rely on everyone else refuse and kindness to survive.

We, the sane ones, are caught up in getting rich, keeping each other down and burying our kin. We are awful to our family, friends and co-workers. We set traps, dig holes and deceive to get ahead. We, the sane ones, will trample our fellow man just to get ahead.

What kind of life are we living if we have to do that? People are no longer satisfied with the basics and are always seeking to outdo one another. We no longer look at other persons as an example to live by - we look to see how we can have bigger and better than our neighbor.

The bum just wants a cool, safe night. Some are secretly rich watching us run the rat race so they choose to beg us. Some decided that the rat race was too much for them or their spirit and mind gave up trying with the fantasies of the world.

What can this teach you? Never underestimate anyone and never discriminate or classify anyone. Live your life and try your best to do right.


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Helping Hands Abound

I can be a helper in my community without being in an organization, politically elected or by being rich. We all can do small things to help those around us. Everyone has their struggles, however, we have to find positive ways to inspire each other.

I'll always say that I have amazing friends who are always thinking of others. I like that because that behavior rubs off on me in a "pass it forward" kind of way. LIME in the BVI, when they were still Cable & Wireless, had a motto - TEAM - Together Everyone Achieves More. I think this is so true.

If we all unite and fight for the same cause, then we can get results faster. Working together makes a job lighter. I know that there a fables that read differently but it all depends on the tasks and the leadership involved.

Good work is not always recognized but a kind-hearted person is someone who will have patience and be humble. They help because they are compelled to. God somehow directs them to help others even if they did not plan to. When more than one person is sent by God to assist another, multiple blessings are flowing.

Let's work together and see how we can help someone in need, a non-profit organization or an environmental cause.

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"Power Seeker" or "Change Leader"

I was never interested in "Power Seekers" to run my country. I am always looking for "Change Leaders" who make decisions that may seem controversial but really are in the best interest of the people. It is hard to find leaders like that today because the power always seems to get to heads.

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely".  This statement is true. Leaders need to be reminded that we, the people, have the power and that they can be replaced. However we seem to get complacent and accepting of what they do to us. While efforts may seem futile in any situation, there is always a recourse. Never feel that managers or leaders are the final destination. Everyone is only put in a position for a time and this includes you and I.

We want "Change Leaders" who are going to stand up for justice. We all have our biases but we have to maintain a level of professionalism in exerting our duties. No country should accept leaders who constantly ignore the needs of their constituents.

Everyday we realize that our lack of preparation is causing several emergencies in our country today. However, we can not make the statement that  "lack of preparation on your part does not constitute an emergency for me". We all have a part to play and a role to speak up and out when we see our leaders are not chartering a clear course.

We have seen that our people are sick with several chronic diseases for years now. Health Education programs needed to be implemented in the primary schools for how long now? School lunch programs in conjunction with the agricultural sector should have already been in place. What kind of lunch is chicken and chips? Children consume this every day today. We are crying that in 2000 there were 2 dialysis patients but in 2010 there are 38 with 10 bordering to be added to that list.

There are statistics in front of us crying out that we are not being proactive in taking care of our people, our infrastructure and our environment. What are we going to do now? Keep listening to the "Power Seekers" or work with the "Change Leaders?"

A "Change Leader" would be the one who will say we are heading for a deficit and subsidies will have to be cut. However, this type of leader will seek alternative ways for people to still survive like sending us to the Small Business Bureau, Labour Department or National Bank to create cottage industries. Our people are spoiled into believing that handouts are how to get ahead. There will be scholarships, compeitions etc and they never see it fit to take part. We just prefer to receive the infamous "white envelope".

"Change Leaders" have to curb this behavoir. However, there will be families in need and assistance should be given but teach them how to fish in the meantime.

What type of leader do you seek to be? I am up for change!

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