A Foundation for Happy Siblings

Saturday, September 2, 2023 by  

People often ask me how at 13 years apart our children are so close, so bonded, so happy as siblings, so thoughtful with one another.

From the moment we told our 8th grade son I was pregnant, we made his comfort level & happiness our #1 priority.

I told him he would be her Superhero Big Brother! I also pointed out that the 

benefit of the huge age gap was that there would be no sibling rivalry ever – she would never want his big teen guy stuff & he would never want her tea sets and Barbies. It was just easy from the very beginning.

I also put him in charge of the baby shower gift registry. Phillip showed him how to use the zapper in the baby section at Toys R Us. He took great pride in our confidence of his decision-making as he compared & contrasted each item. We also let him zap a few goodies for himself so he felt extra special, too!

The baby shower was a big party not just for ladies – we had family, friends…girls, guys, kids. We three opened the packages later that evening. Phillip read the cards, I wrote the list of names & we had our son open the packages. It was exciting because every present was so beautiful and HE chose each item himself. When he found a bonus package here and there for 

himself, it was like a birthday or holiday. We made that shower so fun for him.

The following day, he & Dad built the crib, changing table, bassinet, play sets & anything else that needed assembling. Our son felt accomplished & connected!

On the day of her birth, he waited with my Doula, opening a surprise gift from his soon-arriving baby sister. He spent the time reading the instructions for his new IPod & testing all the cool features! What a sister!

When he first held the baby, he noted how tiny & delicate she was. He was in awe.

bright spot flowerThe Bright Spot – Our son has lived up to his incredibly important role as Superhero Big Brother! He was there for each milestone & helped teach her how to walk, go down a slide, tie her shoes & zip her coat. He saw her 1st missing tooth, took her on her 1st sleigh ride and taught her how to ride her bike. For every 1st, her Superhero Big Brother was there!

For a monumental event in our family’s life, click this link: BHUp   

Click here for The Making of a Superhero: Superhero Big Brother


Bianca

Our Soldier Surprises His Sister at School!

Sunday, December 22, 2019 by  

Our son is a Soldier in the Elite 82nd Airborne Combat Aviation Brigade.

Our B-e-s-t CHRISTMAS ever as he comes home unexpectedly & surprises his sister at school after being away for a year!

Starts off with a few kids, then hundreds gather to form a huge semicircle to witness the surprise! The Principal says he saw a horseshoe form with nearly 600 kids!

Thank you to all of the students who came up afterwards & thanked our son for his service! 

Credit: Buddy Brown, Lyrics: Daniel Brown, Album: Deep South ~ Stop When You See a Uniform

Click this video below:

So proud our son has earned the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, his Aviation Wings, the Marksman Sharpshooter Award & he proudly wears the French Fourragere of the Ordre de la Libation awarded to the 82nd Airborne during the Historic Battle of Normandy. 
Then our Soldier surprised his Grandma ~ we love those outstretched arms!!
A woman sitting at the next table cried during this reunion. It was overwhelming & beautiful for all.
bright spot flowerThe Bright Spot – Celebrating the holidays together!!


Bianca

Dress Blues

Friday, May 31, 2019 by  

“A much-anticipated & well-earned graduation celebration…on this momentous day, these Soldiers join the ranks of the world’s finest Army. The Soldiers have been infused with the Army’s 7 core values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.” (Fort Jackson graduation booklet)

Less than 1% of the US population serves. The United States has over 1.4 million troops including 865,000 in reserve.

Fort Jackson is the US Army’s main Basic Combat Training hub producing over 60,000 trained, disciplined & physically fit warriors per year!

The Fort is a phenomenon unto itself: 81 square miles – that is 4 times the size of Manhattan!! Yeah, digest that for a moment. 52,000 acres with over 1,000 buildings & 10,000 folks at any given time.

 

We had no contact with our son aside from (2) 27-second phone calls November till Christmas, then after the holiday break, click:(Boots in the House), there was zero contact allowed except letters so our family activity from January 3 – February 5 was to send him 24 letters.

Remarkably, the hardest part of those months was The Forge – which actually started on his birthday! THE FORGE: 96 grueling hours with less than 10 hours of sleep on little to no food * 54-mile walk with 80 pounds of gear within the 52,000-acre fort * live fire overhead day & night with simulated combat testing all limits of human endurance.

“Since 1917, Fort Jackson has carried out its sacred responsibility of “Forging America’s Army” by transforming civilians into Soldiers. These Soldiers are the lifeblood of the readiness of the United States Army.” “Basic Combat Training transforms volunteer civilians into Soldiers…ready for close combat…through realistic training…including marksmanship, hand grenade employment, and chemical, biological and nuclear survival [including radiological]…with field training and testing through The Hammer, The Anvil & The Forge.”

10% don’t pass. They must undergo training again…and clean the stadium after graduation!

 

 

  

         

    

Our son was one of the last 48 Spartans. After graduation, the Soldiers packed & left at midnight for their advanced training locations. Our son was transported to Virginia where he will train as a Black Hawk engineer and is commissioned to serve 8 years (6 active/2 reserve). He was voted by his peers at combat training most likely to stay in the military making it a 20+ year career. Sounds about right! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joint Base Langley–Eustis is the only Black Hawk training facility in the world! There are Soldiers from many different countries studying at this U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School.

                    1/3 of the advanced training Soldiers are booked for the Night Owl shift – school classes from 1am to 7am!! That’s what he was assigned.

Uh, let that sink in for a moment. Wakes at 9pm for breakfast, physical training & studying till midnight, classes 1am to 7am!!

Every class is intense & chock-full of information. If any Soldier misses a single class during Advanced Training, they are sent back to the 1st day. No exceptions. It’s like Chutes & Ladders on speed with every chute back to 1st place!!

Our son will be part of the 18th Airborne Combat Aviation Division, part of the      1st-to-Deploy Emergency Responders Unit! Oh, boy.

 

But the good news is that his barracks are brand new – he doesn’t have to room with 60 guys now, just 3 to a room and we can Facetime him!!! 

Dear son, we are soo proud of you!! Congratulations & well done getting through the rigors of combat training & good luck on your studies! (See latest UPDATE below the video!)

What makes me so happy is that our son is very happy with his decision. Thank you for choosing to protect our country!! 

 

Here are highlights by Videorama Productions from this beautiful graduation: Click this video to enjoy:

Also, be sure to see the new UPDATE below following this video!

 

Update June 2019

Proud our son was selected as Master Sergeant of Leadership for a platoon at his base in Virginia. And with his outstanding performance during advanced training, he has now been commissioned to our nation’s premiere US Army’s Elite 82nd Airborne Division, regarded as the best-trained infantry on the globe. (Photo Credit: US Army / 82nd Airborne Division / Staff Sgt. Kissta DiGregorio)

Unfortunately, that also makes them the Department of Defense’s #1 responders to crisis contingencies worldwide within 18 hours. Scary, but we pray for peace for all! (Photo Credit: US Army)

 

Our 82nd Airborne Black Hawk Engineer has also been recommended for Flight Instructor.

Meanwhile, when he does have downtime, he’s relaxing with this adorable little kitty who belongs to his battle buddy & wife who live on base.

In July, he’ll move to North Carolina to the largest military base by population in the world with over 50,000 active duty personnel on more than 163,000 acres covering 4 counties. (Manhattan is 14,000 acres)

bright spot flowerThe Bright Spot – We are thrilled with all of your accomplishments, dear Son, and look forward to your wonderful future ahead!! 

The AA on the 82nd Airborne patch means “All American!” He just received it with his wings yesterday!! So proud!!

 


Bianca

Everyone Needs Their Mum!!

Monday, June 6, 2016 by  

England, Britain, Great Britain, Grandma, English beauty, English skin, grandchildren (64)a

We had a 2-week window between Phillip’s last chemical injection and the start of his radiation. It will be 40 rounds of daily radiation from June through August. He wanted to see his Mum. Click: Amazing Grace. Everyone needs their Mum at a time like this!

So we took our little one out of school late May/early June for this family emergency and visited relatives in Europe. Aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, Godchildren, close friends, everyone we could see within 2 weeks.

Phillip’s mother was overjoyed! Her 89th birthday was in June and she said seeing her son was the best gift ever!

Naturally, everyone we saw wanted to know how treatments were going. We could not rehash the details over and over. Not only is it draining for us but we didn’t want these conversations to overwhelm or frighten our youngest. Most of the time, we can shield her from it but when you’re traveling from home to home – or pub to pub, as is the case in England – folks want to catch up and we’re very sensitive to little ears in range.

Plus, we have striven to reclaim normalcy in the household & beyond for our family. Playing with friends & doing cool things was a mainstay.

England, Spring, Summer, countryside, English countryside, playing, flowers, zipline, zip line, pub, pubs (26) England, Spring, Summer, countryside, English countryside, playing, flowers, zipline, zip line, pub, pubs (28) England, Spring, Summer, countryside, English countryside, playing, flowers, zipline, zip line, pub, pubs (40)  England, Spring, Summer, countryside, English countryside, playing, flowers, zipline, zip line, pub, pubs (43) England, Spring, Summer, Lego, legoland, Lego Land, Legoworld, Lego World (2)  England, Spring, Summer, Legoland, Legoworld, Lego Land, Lego, Lego WorldAnd Legoland was awesome but laying on the grass topped all!! Why? Because there are no ticks or pesticides for ticks at all where Grandma lives and Darling was so happy!! It’s the little things, isn’t it?

England, Spring, Summer, countryside, English countryside, playing, flowers, zipline, zip line, pub, pubs (2)cu

Downton Abbey, Harry Potter, England, bamboo, (37)  While staying for an overnight with dear friends about a hundred miles south of Scotland, we ventured with the girls to a nearby castle where parts of Harry Potter & Downton Abbey were filmed, click: Castles & AngelsOxford, Oxford University, England, Eagle and Child pub, Harry Potter snitch, Exeter (8)a

Later, we drove nearly 300 miles south to Oxford to visit the university and delve into the history of this beautiful medieval city, click: Oxford 

And because our budding marine biologist, during these 2 weeks, would unfortunately be missing a highly-anticipated field trip to the beach to explore the biodiversity of the water’s ecosystem, we wanted to do something special for her and booked her for Seatrek at what’s known as Europe’s 1st SeaTrek, Sea Life, SeaLife, Europe's 1st Sea Bed Walk, Seabed walk, marine life, marinelife (29)Seabed Walk: SeaTrek

Her 5th grade teacher kindly allowed our daughter to give a full presentation to her class on the 3 adventures above & what made each so special.

And speaking of 5th grade, the Friday we left for the airport was the same day her class was split into just girls/just boys earlier that morning for “The Talk.” You know the one. Menstruation, growing bodies…

But unlike the lecture we had in school when I was that age – along with a cartoon movie with dancing flowers depicting our blossoming into young ladies – this talk was not only about girl stuff…but boy stuff, too! Would be shocking, but the school explained that with the advent of the Internet, kids see much more than we did at this age and need to know more material to educate and protect themselves.

England, Spring, Summer, countryside, English countryside, playing, flowers, zipline, zip line, pub, pubs (22)Spotted Dick PuddingHumm… Still found it shocking. But it certainly made for fits of laughter – of which we need much of these days – and especially with a silly 5th grader! as we passed England, Spring, Summer, countryside, English countryside, playing, flowers, zipline, zip line, pub, pubs (6) by unassuming pubs like the Dandy Cock, or were served Nobby Nuts (salted peanuts) or when we read Spotted Dick on the menu – a British sponge pudding made with raisins & served with custard – but I mean, seriously, come on!

England, Spring, Summer, countryside, English countryside, playing, flowers, zipline, zip line, pub, pubs (11)  England, Spring, Summer, countryside, English countryside, playing, flowers, zipline, zip line, pub, pubs (9)

When we all revived in the car from laughing so hard, we arrived at one of Phillip’s oldest friend’s for a lovely meal. No, not at the Dandy Cock. We walked over buttercup-covered hills and along lakes & clifftops.

 

England, Spring, Summer, countryside, English countryside, playing, flowers, zipline, zip line, pub, pubs (13)

England, Spring, Summer, countryside, English countryside, playing, flowers, zipline, zip line, pub, pubs (17)  England, Spring, Summer, countryside, English countryside, playing, flowers, zipline, zip line, pub, pubs (19) England, Spring, Summer, countryside, English countryside, playing, flowers, zipline, zip line, pub, pubs (20)

bright spot flowerThe Bright Spot – finding the hilarious things in life out of the simplest moments! And appreciating the glorious countryside with our loved ones.

 

 

 

 


Bianca

Color a Positive Thought – 10-year-old’s Perspective

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 by  

My husband met Harry Bell by happenstance.Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (7)

If anyone understands the value of early intervention, positive thinking, and the reinforcement of basic values, it is Harry Bell.

Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (18)

He was born in Bridgeport to a troubled young mother, and raised by his aunt, who realized he needed a male role model.

His aunt connected him with a local family who had a son that ended up being Harry’s 3rd grade teacher.

 

Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (5)

Their efforts paid off. Today Harry Bell is employed by both the Bridgeport Board of Education and the University of Bridgeport as a Security Officer.

Seeing so many children going through some of the same problems, Harry was determined to do something about it. He developed a very special coloring book, Color a Positive Thought! He explains how it’s an anti-bullying, self-empowering, positive thinking tool in our May 12th broadcast on WGCH radio (archived links below.)

Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (19)

Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (9)
The book has had such a positive impact on children & the community. It can be found in schools, pediatrician offices, everywhere!

Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (10)  Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (13)  Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (6)a    Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (4)

Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (1)  Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (3)

Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (16)   Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (14)Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (8)     Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (17)Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (11) Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (21)Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (12)   Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (15)     Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (20)  Color a Positive Thought, C.A.P.T., Harry Bell, positive thinking, positive coloring book, coloring book (22)
Our 10-year-old loves Color a Positive Thought and gives us her perspective on it as a child. Here are some snippets of the second half of the interview, just click image below:


May 12, 2015 ChitChat with Children – a 10-year-old’s perspective

Our daughter’s principal & teachers enjoyed the interview and her 4th grade teacher even played it in the classroom.

Harry Bell, William King, Color a Positive Thought, radio show, WGCHWe were thrilled to give voice to a man who’s had such a difficult upbringing, was able to pull himself up, surpass expectations and fulfill his dream. To hear the full hour, click: Full Interview.

bright spot flowerThe Bright Spot – This was his 1st radio interview and Mr. Bell & his liaison, William King, were amazed at how much this 10-year-old gleaned from Mr. Bell’s book. Very inspiring!

Click here to order the book: Color a Positive Thought


Bianca

The Basket

Sunday, January 25, 2015 by  

Technology, texting, messaging, IPad, IPod, SmartPhone, Blackberry, tablet, teens, kids, The Basket, The Let's Talk Mom, tech savvy (2)A few years ago, my husband, Phillip, held out his hand resolutely and said to our son, “Please give me your phone.” Our then 19-year-old’s eyes darted to his buddy and then back to my husband. “You, too,” he said to the friend, holding out his other hand.

They both stiffened but did as they were asked, my husband’s calm but firm voice indicated determination so they weren’t about to question it.

Phillip took the phones and dropped them into a basket on the table. Then he added his Android, the I-pad, I-pods, remotes and a Blackberry.

“We are reclaiming dinnertime,” I announced. “No more texting under the table, watching TV or the old ‘Let me just look that up’ on the I-pad. We’re going to have dinner with family and friends and we’re going to t-a-l-k…you know, like in the olden days…”

Technology, texting, messaging, IPad, IPod, SmartPhone, Blackberry, tablet, teens, kids, The Basket, The Let's Talk Mom, tech savvy (3)It was like sucking the life out of these boys. They sat fidgeting in their chairs, eyes shooting to their phones every time they vibrated in the basket. They were jittery, practically sweating, like withdrawal symptoms of plugged-in addicts. These teens were plugged out of the world right now and had to actually communicate for a FULL 30 minutes with real human beings in front of them.

Phillip and I are not against technology in the least. Quite to the contrary, we are social media networkers ourselves connected via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, IM, blogging, texting, and even building a number of websites for several successful businesses throughout our region. Our company,                     ID CardGuard, purely revolves around technology.FaceTime, Facetime, Barbies, playing Barbies, Barbie, Friends, playing, good screen time, screentime

We enjoy the latest gadgets and encourage our children to learn & use technology to stay abreast of cutting-edge innovation and advancements in the modern world. We Skype with family across the ocean and Facetime with friends across the miles.

Technology, app, apps children and senior citizens, senior citizens, veteran, Korean War, Korean War Vet, old and young on technology, Smartphone

 

One of our greatest teachers of the latest technology is our Uncle Danny! 80 years old, he can out-teach and     out-talk any techie!

 

 

Math, Math in play, playtime math, good screentime, good screen time, Barbie, Barbies and math, Skipper, Barbies sisters

Technology can be very good if used for learning, information and fun with friends far away like playing Barbies or using the screen like the Smart Board at school for math lessons for Skipper and her sisters.

Technology, texting, messaging, IPad, IPod, SmartPhone, Blackberry, tablet, teens, kids, The Basket, The Let's Talk Mom, tech savvy (1)

With the increased use and need for technology in our everyday lives, new limits had to be set. Call it Common Sense or pure frustration with overuse, boundaries had to be set!

When it comes to family time, enough was enough! With kids off to school early in the morning, sports and other extracurriculars taking up afternoon time, and little ones going to bed at a decent hour, dinner may be the only chance to spend quality time – so reclaim it!!

Even if it’s only 2, 3 or 4 times a week together, make it count.

Get a basket & sound the call in your family. It’s been years now since we’ve implemented “The Basket” and everyone – the family, teens and friends – all agree dinnertime is a lot more fun. We talk, we laugh, we joke, we communicate and we do it UNINTERUPTED!

One year, I was out with family & friends for my birthday dinner and someone at the table was sending out an e-mail on a small hand-held device. “I’ll only be a minute,” he said hastily when I gave him the eye. I asked him why he was doing it in the first place. “I send out e-mails here and there and it helps me save some time.”

“Save time for what?” I queried. “You’re trying to save up a minute here and a minute there for what? To create a pocket of imaginary “saved time” for something really special…like perhaps a birthday dinner with a loved one?” I don’t even think he hit Send. He pocketed the device, I pocketed my pissed-mist, and the evening was lovely.Bianca Tyler, Bianca & Phillip, love, smiles, eyes, eye contact, joy, party, sweet love, love

There are so many people who are texting, tweeting and Facebook-ing people they aren’t with, can’t see and sometimes don’t really know while they are out with people they DO know who are sitting in front of them waiting for them to stop texting!

The Bright SpotTMbright spot flower  – Be present with your kids, your parents and your real friends, they’re waiting for you to “see” them. Put down your techno-paraphernalia, hug your kids, look in your spouse’s eyes and communicate with the people in your real space.

Phew! Yes, I feel better now. Happy Parenting!


Bianca

Positively Me!

Saturday, February 8, 2014 by  

Friends, happy girls, 3rd graders, fun, friendship, pure joy

The Positively Me program offered to 3rd grade girls to boost confidence, teach assertiveness & expression, and offer strategies to prevent bullying was positively fantastic!

Offered free by the Junior League of Greenwich, this intensive 2-day event encourages new friendships while the girls develop strength and resilience through skits & role playing, dance, journaling & thoughtful conversations about the painful consequences of bullying.

Let's Talk, Talk Radio, WGCH radio, Bianca & Phillip, Bianca Tyler, Bianca Tyler's husband, Life, Love & Parenting show, parenting radio

Why 3rd grade?

Unfortunately, bullying is starting earlier & earlier; it’s a topic Phillip & I have covered often over the past 15 Seasons on our parenting radio show “Let’s Talk!” currently on WGCH, formerly on WSTC & WNLK. (All shows are                           (All shows are archived on this site.)

Little Girls Can Be Mean, 4-Steps to Bully-Proof Girls, Early Grades, Dr. Michelle AnthonyOne of our popular recurrent guests and parenting experts, Dr. Michelle Anthony, experienced something similar with her little 2nd grade daughter. That painful situation prompted her to co-author Little Girls Can Be Mean – 4 Steps to Bully-Proof Girls in the Early Grades.

Positively Me: only 4 sessions per year, 36 girls per session. The program has run for 5 years and waiting lists get longer year after year. It was marvelous to see the girls beaming each evening at pick-up, full of laughter and stories and joy.

Positively Me, Positively Me program, Junior League of Greenwich, button page, button braceletThey brought home beautiful button bracelets that matched button cards where each color represented something special, drawings/writings/self-portraits in their special journals, t-shirts with signatures of each participant, water bottles, sparkly feather pens, tote bags with the adorable Positively Me logo and mountains of coping skills to nip future snafus in the bud!  Positively Me logo, Positively Me program, Junior League of Greenwich, anti-bullying

The program taught them to take pride in themselves and their accomplishments; achieve great things; stand up for what they believe in and to be Positively Me!

The girls had a special visit from a martial arts Sensei (master) who had them write their greatest fear on a wooden board and then he taught each girl how to smash through that wood with their bare hands…breaking through their fear. That was a popular activity! Other events included a yoga class, pajama party and crafting dog toys to donate to Adopt-A-Dog.

Happy kid, happy girl, high self-esteem, positive look on life, strong, smart, positive, kind, thoughtful (1)It is no wonder this program continues to grow and expand.

The Bright SpotTM bright spot flower – A poem – with permission from our 8-year-old - to share with you written in her Positively Me journal:

STAND STRONG:

LOVE is my Guardian

When Days like Today Get in my Way,

I’ll STAND STRONG!

Journaling during this 2-day event:

Positively Me Snippet
 


Bianca

Airlifted St. Patty`s Day!

Sunday, March 17, 2013 by  

Today the world celebrates St. Patrick’s Day. I love the festivities, I love being in parades,Parade, Stamford Ford Lincoln, St. Patrick's Day parade, St. Patrick's Day, celebrations, Mustang, Ford Mustang, Black Mustang, Family, parades and family I love Ireland having studied at Trinity College in Dublin, and I love that even though I’m not Irish, everyone can be Irish for the day. But there is a special reason for a few of us to celebrate: 7 years ago today our son helped save the life of his schoolmate. They were 14 years old.

It had snowed a few days earlier and a bunch of boys went sledding at school. But part of the steep hill had iced over during the night. His friend’s sled flew across the ice and he lost control slamming his head into a brick wall.

2013-03-17_13-08-04-aThe boys didn’t want to get into trouble at school and panicked. They thought it best to get their buddy inside without telling anyone. Our son stood up and said no. He ordered one kid to run and get adult help. He told another to call 911. He ripped off his coat and wrapped it around his friend who was in shock. He told the rest of the boys to not move him at all. His friend received a plate & 37 metal staples in his head. The doctors at the hospital where he was airlifted said had he been moved, he would have died. The immediate actions to get help, warmth and stay calm saved his life.

Boy Scout at September 11 memorial, Yankee Stadium, Credit-AP, September 23, 2001, Boy Scout waving flag, patriotic, New YorkOur son had learned emergency care in Scouts. He knew it was right to risk reprimand from the school administrators rather than risk someone’s life.

The Bright SpotTM bright spot flower – Both boys are 21 now. We are so proud of them ~ fine young boys grown into fine young men.

More about our son: http://www.theletstalkmom.com/tea-talk-momversations/the-making-of-a-superhero/
Credit: Associated Press


Bianca

Our World Community Comes Together!

Monday, December 24, 2012 by  

AngelsBorn & raised in picturesque Connecticut just 30 minutes from Newtown, I was devastated to hear the news on December 14th. I sat in church longing for words from our clergy to help make sense of the tragedy. My heart was so heavy, my eyes and cheeks burned with tears for the parents, siblings, grandparents and friends who lost 20 of America’s babies and 6 heroic adults that fateful morning.

Christmas was about a week away and the kindly folks of that small, beautiful town felt grief beyond measure. Understandably, the holiday lights remained unlit.

Our church held several prayer vigils for the victims & surviors that horrific night, the very next morning and throughout the week. A Christmas concert had been planned for later that week and the question came up, “Should it be cancelled?” I and the rest of the congregation were so heavy-hearted. I expected the pastor to say it was cancelled.

But instead he said, “If we do not sing, evil wins. If we do not help our community move forward, we lose. If we do not light our God-Love-Togetherness-Making-Sense-Christmastime-Healing-light-community-understanding-resolve-strength-December-2012-1-300x169 trees and our candles, evil wins. If we do not help others to start healing, we lose.” “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you!” (Isaiah 60:1)

The Litany: “I live, at times…grieving the loss of loved ones…” “Oh Lord, You are my Light! Come, dispel my darkness!”

Closing Litany: “If we walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another…”

A fellowship from around the globe! Calls poured in from our grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends shocked by the news. The world community mourned the little children & brave adults all together and everyone’s wishes for strength, love, healing and comfort are flooding the families in Newtown.

456 children attended the school. There was only 1 homicide in that charming, rural town in the last 10 years. The parents will need help. The siblings will need help. Not talking about it to trusted friends or professionals could repress feelings and cause future problems. Many may feel “Survivor’s Guilt.” This tragedy has hit many adults and children in many parts of the world. We had a friend whose 8-year-old son didn’t want to go to school. Children need to feel safe. Parents need to address this in age-appropriate terms and only you, as a parent, know what your child can & cannot handle informationwise.

God-Love-Togetherness-Making-Sense-Christmastime-Healing-light-community-understanding-resolve-strength-December-2012-2-169x300

Phillip & I wanted to do what we could to help promote healing. We asked family therapist & trauma expert, Melissa Cook, to speak on our Live call-in radio program, “Let’s Talk!” on 1490am to give specific advice on steps families & individuals - directly & indirectly – could use to start to heal and repiece their lives. All shows are archived on this site, just click here:


Bianca