Thursday, July 12, 2012

Great FREE Math, Language Arts & Science Sites To Keep Your Child Ahead of the Class

     School is out and summer vacation had begun but that doesn't mean that learning has stopped.  TJ will be entering 4th grade in a few weeks and we have already begun to work on 4th grade curriculum.  Why not get a head start right?  Since my son is obsessed with the computer, I have found several websites that he enjoys and that I approve of.
The following is a list of free sites:

Language Arts Websites

(strategies for reading success)
2.  www.rif.org/kids/readingplanet.htm
(How to select books and reading activities)
3.   http://games.pppst.com/languagearts.html
(Language Arts Games K-5th grade)
(Current events for kids - sponsored by Time magazine

Math Websites
(Math lessons from Early Math to Algebra)
(Not only has interactive math games, it also has all subjects)
(great site for math)
(A great side from K-5th grades for mastering math facts)
5.  http://www.rainforestmaths.com
(Fun Math Practice)
6.  www.multiplication.com
Multiplication Practice
7.   http://www.mathplayground.com/
(Math games, logic puzzles, word problems & math videos

Science Websites
1.  http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities.html
(Science games for Kids)
2.  http://sciencewithme.com/
(Cool Science experiments and projects)
3.  http://www.chem4kids.com/
(Chemistry info for Kids)

     Check these sites out and let me know what you think of them or if you have some sites that you would like to recommend. 
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Tuesday, July 10, 2012

My Addiction

     Hey you!  Yeah, you!  Come here.  Closer...closer...closer...can I tell you a secret?  If you are one of my friends this will come as no surprise to you but let me whisper it in your ear.  I have an addiction. I do it every day, at all hours of the day but mostly at night.  I like to do it when TJ is in bed and the house is nice and quiet.  Sometimes I do it on the couch or in my bed.  Sometimes I have a glass of wine, before or during.  Sometimes it makes me scream and others times it makes me cuss.  Okay, Okay...I know you are curious and can't wait for me to tell you.  *Takes a deep breath*  I am addicted to...REALITY SHOWS!  There I said it!  Whew, just by saying those six words has taken a weight off of my shoulders.  LOL!!  But seriously, I am addicted to reality shows for a number of reasons.
      My generation grew up with "The Real World."  I think this is the first reality show that I ever watched and I was addicted from the first episode.  Here was this group of young adults who were strangers, living in a house all together and man, the things that went on!  From the relationships, to the random sex, to the fights.  OH BOY, THE FIGHTS!!  Who could forget Season 2 of "The Real World" and the fight between Tami and David?  Who knew that we would see Tami again on reality TV, almost 20 years later, still fighting, on "Basketball Wives?"
     Now I can go on and on about all the different reality shows that I love to watch but I have to say that watching reality shows today, as opposed to watching them 20 years ago, are the emotions that they evoke.  Maybe it is because I have 20 more years of life experience, so now when I see things like men cheating on their mates, dance teachers yelling at little girls and fights between friends, it really pisses me off!  There are some shows that make me so mad that I swear every week that I will not watch anymore but like a train wreck, I can't turn away, so I find myself tuning in week after week and yelling at the TV.  Damn shame, I know.
     One thing about reality TV that seems to have become the norm is the way that Black women are portraying themselves.  I know that the more you act a fool, the bigger the ratings but at whose expense?  I am aware that I am contradicting myself here because I love to watch the drama on these shows, but let me play Devil's Advocate here for a minute.  Although I love to watch these shows, I often time wonder how do these women explain their behavior to their children?  For instance, Tami on 'Basketball Wives."  Let me say that this is a show that I actually did stop watching because it just became too much.  Now, I spoke about Tami being on "The Real World" 20 or so years ago.  Today she is in her 40's, divorced and a mother.  As a mother of teenage girls, how do you explain being a foul mouthed bully?  How do you explain physically fighting and acting a fool on television?  How do you teach your children to "do as I say and not as I do" when you are on national television embarrassing your children, yourself and Black women everywhere? After she bullied another woman by taking her purse and keys until the woman came to her to apologize, I was done.  She had gone too far and as a producer of the show and a Black woman, Shaunie O'Neal should have stepped in and said "enough!"
     It is especially a shame that women who are "supposed" to be part of an elite society of NBA players wives and girlfriends act as though they have absolutely no sense of how to act in public places or self respect.  Who gets dressed up in designer clothing to jump over tables, throw bottles of expensive wine and fight at a restaurant? Have a little couth!     
     Reality shows, love them or leave them, seem to be a part of pop culture that are not going away anytime soon.  I recently came across a site that lists different types of reality shows that are looking for people to be on them.  There are hundreds of them about all kinds of crazy things like, "Does your man take too long to get ready" or "Redneck Interventions."  WOW!
     Although I love reality television, I have to say that I feel sorry for the "writers" of television shows because nowadays there aren't very many scripted shows anymore, although there are some "reality" shows that seem to be very scripted.  Reality television has seemed to taken over most networks and cable channels. Soon they will be taking over the kids channels, as well.
     Take it or leave it, reality television has found a place in my everyday life and although I yell, cuss and sometimes cry, it is one addiction that I will not be kicking anytime soon.
    

Monday, July 9, 2012

Single Parents: Be Loud When Celebrating Your Child's Accomplishments

     When you are a single parent and your child has an accomplishment, you celebrate just a little louder than other parents.  You are excited about that accomplishment not only because your child, did it but because you, as a single parent, helped get your child to that point by yourself!
     Last year when my son received The State Assembly's Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, I wanted to do back flips through the auditorium.  First of all, I had no idea that he was even receiving that award and second, it was the highest award that you could receive!  When they called his name, I wanted to act like I was Dominique Dawes at the Olympics and do a triple somersault to the stage, pump my fist in the air and scream, "YES!  That's MY baby!  HE DID THAT!!"  I could not have been more prouder.
     I can not explain how much validation came from my son receiving that award.  All the hours that I worked as a retail store manager, yet coming home and making sure that his homework was done correctly and that he read 30 + minutes a day, plus, the workbooks that we did on the weekends and during vacations to improve his skills, all paid off.  Although TJ had earned that award, I felt like "WE" had earned it.  My son, the product of a single mother, who worked 50+ hours a week, who had to depend on sitters and family members to care for him while I worked nights and weekends, won The State Assembly Award.  It all was worth it, at that very moment.
     As I walked up to the stage to take a picture of my son, the genius, I smiled with pride and with tears in my eyes because I knew that although I was all alone on this road called parenthood, I was doing a good job and we were going to be alright!!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

From the Book of The Sexy Single Mommy Chapter 1 verses 1-5

     They say that "women are emotional creatures" and that 90% of how a woman acts is based on her emotions.  I am going to agree with both of those statements and I would like to add for the record, that women need to knock that shit off!  Too many of you are walking around with your hearts on your sleeves, crying, "feeling down" about shit, making the wrong moves based on emotions and telling your friends all your business.  All that needs to stop...TODAY! 
     Women are playing themselves because they are so emotional.  You spend too much time over thinking situations, trying to figure out why men act the way they do, what they are going to do next, how come he hasn't called you, etc. etc.  Man, if y'all don't knock it off! You make yourselves look pathetic and who wants to be around someone like that? Ummm...NO ONE!  Women get it together!  You have to start thinking before talking!  As soon as something goes wrong, your mouths start popping off and necks start rolling.  Take a moment and evaluate the situation.  Stop to think if you can benefit off of it before you start popping off and the situation reaches a point of no return.  
     I'm not telling you anything that I don't know about first hand.  I will be the first one to tell you that if my mouth was a sword, I would be writing this from behind bars, doing life because of the things that I have said to men in anger.  I have been there and done that and allowed my mouth to make some really good men run the other way.  Had I held my tongue, removed myself for a moment and took the time to think about the situation, things may have turned out differently.  So since the game is to be told not sold, I am going to take this opportunity to school some of you on a few things.
     Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, most of us watch or or have heard the debates about Mimi and Stevie J.  If you haven't seen it, here is a quick synopsis:  Stevie J is a producer who is sleeping with and apparently gotten pregnant, his artist, Joseline, who is an an ex stripper.  Mimi is his girlfriend of 15 years and also the mother of one of his children. (pictured on the left)  By reading social media, the consensus is that Mimi needs to leave Stevie J.
     Women being the "emotional creatures" that they are have been screaming, "Girl, you need to leave him!" I am screaming, "Girl, leave him BUT before you do, you get everything that is coming to you!"  Now, wait!  Before you start cussing, let me explain my rational behind this statement.  I totally agree that you shouldn't stay with a man that cheats on you, especially one that is obviously as reckless, inconsiderate and flamboyant, for lack of a better word, as Stevie J is.  However, before she bounces, Mimi needs to do a couple of things and in doing that she may have to "act" like everything is good until her plan pans out.  She needs to first, go ahead and accept the house that he offered or better yet, she could get a much better house, make sure that the house is paid for and the deed is in her name and her name only.  Next, if the car or cars are not in her name already, they need to be in her name and paid off and third, she needs to go on down and file for child support and then she bounces.  What she should NOT do is leave and not have shit to show for the 15 years off bullshit that she dealt with.  Don't be no fool, girl!! 
     Another problem with being so emotional is that people will mistake you for weak.  I have been in retail management for years and I can not count the number of female employees that I have had in my office to either reprimand or fire, who start to cry.  There is nothing that I hate more than a weak ass female.  (Well, there are things that I hate more, but weak chicks are close to the top.)  I loose all respect for a woman when she starts to cry in public, especially in front of a superior.  Suck those tears up and cry when you get in the car.  Better yet, cry when you get home and no one is around.  Here's the thing, whatever the situation is, be a woman about it and accept whatever consequences may come. If you feel like you need to cry, wait to your alone and do that.  NEVER cry in  public!
     Another thing (or two) stop getting mad at your man and running to your friends telling them all your business.  Women let me be clear, there is nothing wrong with "girl talk" but I don't care if it's your best friend or not, keep some shit to yourself! Everybody does not need to know everything about your life and your love life.  Women need to learn to shut the hell up sometimes!  You talk to damn much!  Besides, some of you start talking about what your man did and didn't do and you sound like a damn idiot for putting up with his bullshit, so for the sake of not looking like a complete fool, keep somethings to yourself.  Here is a trick to live by.  When you are by yourself, look in the mirror and tell yourself what you want to tell your friend.  If you sound like a dumb ass to yourself, chances are you will sound like a dumb ass to your friend.  Now that you have said it aloud, leave that shit there and move on!  You have to know that what you tell one "friend" will be repeated to your other friends and they will all be calling you a "dumb ass" behind your back.  Trust me!
    Lastly, when will women learn NOT to tell their friends about their man's performance in the bedroom?  I don't even know why I have to talk about this one but apparently I do because there are still some dumb ass women out there, running and telling their friends about how their men are in bed.  Hello, how old are you?  Don't you know that besides being emotional, women are nosy as hell, thus, when you tell them about how good your man is, you have some shady chicks who want to know personally, how good he is.  Don't be that chick who is crying later because her man slept with her "friend."  Remember, conversations about sex with your man is off limits.  Some things need to be sacred and let that be one of them!
      I hope that I have not only enlightened some of you but also put you up on game.  Having emotions is cool and all but damn, you don't have to go overboard with that shit.  Get a grip"  Put your big girl panties on and be a woman.  Crying is for babies and we all know that even a babies cry get old real quick!  


     
    
    

    

Sunday, July 1, 2012

If You Are Depending On Luck Instead Of God, You Are Losing!

     I hear people everyday who complain about their situations but continue to do the same thing and get the same results.  Isn't that the definition of insanity?  How can you expect things to change, if you don't do something differently?  How can you expect your life to be different, if you keep thinking that YOU can do it by yourself?  Those same people are quick to say, "If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all."  REALLY?  The problem here is that you are depending on luck and not GOD to make a difference in your life. Can I say that again?  The problem here is that you are depending on LUCK and not GOD to make a difference in your life!  Someone should be shouting AMEN right about now!
     I have said it before and I will say it again, I am no Saint, yet through the grace of God I have made it through some tough situations and I stand here today because of him.  We all fall down sometimes but if you keep falling over and over again, when are you going to get feed up and realize that you have to do something that you have never done?  When are you going to realize that this whole thing called Life is bigger than you and I?  Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
     God already knew what we would go through, even before we were born.  Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart."  He knew about the trials and tribulations that we would go through.  He knew that someone would have an addiction.  He knew that we would have children out of wedlock.  He knew that some of us would be liars and cheats.  He knew ALL of that, yet he also knew that some of us would have to hit rock bottom before we realized that all we had to do was believe in him to do what he said he would.  He knew that it would take some of us a short time, while others it would almost take their whole lives to figure out that all we had to do was trust in him and things would be better. Now there are some of us who will never figure it out and leave this earth not believing in God and that is unfortunate.  The thing is that it was never God's intentions for us to suffer.  Yes, there are somethings that we go through in life that will test our faith in God but if we stand on his word, we will make it through.  Thank you, Lord!
     Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight."  Those of you keep thinking that you can do it by yourself...YOU CAN'T!  Stop living like an insane person.  Today, you need to give it to God and leave it there. It is time to do something that you have never done.  Do God and see what happens.  I promise you, if you have faith and believe and trust in him, he will make it happen.  Now, let the church say, "AMEN!"
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