Family drama, sort of? Just venting really. (Chelsea)

 I hope I didn't come across as suggesting that Chelsea's niece is being abused or neglected (in the eyes of the law). That was not what I meant!! Bonita, I don't know if the latter part of your post was directed at me or not.

Life *is* unfair, and sometimes we have to work with the cards we're dealt. Kids, like adults, do their best to cope when things aren't ideal.  

Dog_ma

 I hope I didn't come across as suggesting that Chelsea's niece is being abused or neglected (in the eyes of the law). That was not what I meant!! Bonita, I don't know if the latter part of your post was directed at me or not.

Life *is* unfair, and sometimes we have to work with the cards we're dealt. Kids, like adults, do their best to cope when things aren't ideal.  

no , No , NO just a feeling in general... Living in my own home is a study in why life is not what I thought it would and should have been....  Some days I could strangle my adult kids happily.... but Then I rein my emotions ins and try to figure out how to make sure the kids  keep growing and what else I can do an an ever smaller budget to make things more interesting, , educational and loving.   I wish life could be for them what it was for me, and my mother was horribly ashamed of how poor we were and how little she felt was being done for us.  I never , knew we were poor until I was older and looked at our family photos...can you imagine the shock??!!  She raised 6 of us, all but two through college and that was thier choice, instead they went through three or four different trade type schools . I still remember her ironing for "rich" people at 10 cents a piece.

If I direct something AT some one unfortunately they know it, I use names and get really obnoxious...imagine that ?!!

My thought process is at best chaotic, between multitasking and damage control I juggle so many thoughts at any given time it is easy to put things badly in email ... I hope I did not make you feel I was being snarky as I surely did not mean to be!

Wish you were coming to the Rodeo , Ekco would have such a brilliant time !!

Bonita of Bwana

I only  just got to this thread and chelsea I'm so sorry   It's hard enough for me to leave Will somewhere if he is crying but at least I know he will be well cared for and happy once I have left and taht does make it easier.  Basically, when I leave him with his Nana or at nursery I know he is the No 1 priority and anything he needs, they jump to it!  In that sense, he gets BETTER care than when he is at my house!  Please give Alleen a big hug and tell her that even if you are not at the house, you will ALWAYS be "there" for her and will always listen if she wants to talk to you.

I haven't read all the replies yet but I would try offering to the parent to help out and have her more often.... or maybe even have the baby occasionally so she gets some quality time with her parents, which it sounds like she needs?

Offer to go and help AT their house while they are there and maybe they will pick up tips seeing how YOU interact with Alleen - and maybe with the baby too.  Like, you could ask Alleen to HELP you with the baby, perhaps that would have an impact as I bet the parents haven't tried that, getting her involved so hse does not feel pushed aside.

I wish you all the best and I'm sending caring thoughts and hugs for little Alleen.   This change must be very hard for her, but I am sure you and her parents can come to some arrangement to ease it a little for her.

My gut is saying that she just wants to be more involved.  Not necessarily to get more attention.... not "get given everything she wants when she wants it" kind of thing.... but just to be involved, included.  Sitting on the sidelines looking in is hard for a child and it's not really beneficial to her in any way in the long run.  I think the family need to learn to do things TOEGETHER even if it means more effort.

When someone asks advice on a 2nd dog/puppy, don't we say that it's important to still give th FIRST one one on one time and attention so taht they don't feel resentful and their "training" doesn't slip, causing behavioural issues?  Why should it be any different with a child? 

janet_rose

Tag School Reading System (new product)

Leapster2 Learning Game System (new product)

After looking at current Leapfrog products a bit, I would start with the Leapster 2 (pink or green) and some of the games that go with it (sold separately)

• Kindergarten
• 1st Grade
• 2nd Grade
• Backyardigans  (age 4-6)
• Batman: Strength in Numbers  (age 5-7)
• Batman: Multiply, Divide, and Conquer  (age 8-10)
• Bratz: The Jet Set  (age 8-10)
• Cars  (age 4-6)
• Cars Supercharged  (age 5-8)
• Cosmic Math  (age 6-10)
• Creature Create  (age 4-9)
• Disney Princess: Enchanted Learning  (age 4-6)
• Disney Princess: Worlds of Enchantment  (age 4-7)
• Dora the Explorer: Camping Adventure  (age 4-7)
• Dora the Explorer: Pinata Party (age 4-7) - poor rating
• Dora the Explorer: Wildlife Rescue  (age 4-6)
• Finding Nemo  (age 4-6)
• Go Diego Go!   (age 4-7)
• Incredibles, The  (age 7-9)
• Letter Factory, The  (age 4-6)
• Letterpillar  (age 4-7) - poor rating
• Math Baseball (age 6-9)
• Number Raiders  (age 4-7)
• Mr. Pencil's Learn to Draw and Write  (age 4-8)
• Pet Pals  (age 4-7)
• Ratatouille  (age 4-7)
• Reading with Phonics: Mole's Huge Nose  (age 5-7)     
• Scholastic Animal Genius  (age 5-8)
• Scholastic Clifford  (age 4-6)
• Scholastic Get Puzzled  (age 5-8)
• Scholastic Math Missions  (age 6-9)
• Scholastic I SPY: Treasure Hunt  (age 4-8)
• School House Rock - America Rock  (age 8-10)
• School House Rock - Grammar Rock  (age 6-8)
• Scooby-Doo: Spooky Snacks!  (age 5-8)
• Sonic X  (age 5-7)
• SpongeBob SquarePants Saves the Day  (age 5-8) - there is also an L-MAX version
• SpongeBob SquarePants Through the Wormhole  (age 5-8)
• Talking Words Factory  (age 5-7)
• Thomas the Tank  (age 4-6)  [Thomas & Friends: Calling All Engines]
• Wall-E  (age 4-8)
• Word Chasers  (age 6-10)

NOTE:  The original Leapster is being sold for $20 off in some places.  It can not connect online to the LeapFrog® Learning Path.  The Leapster games play on both units.

Then I would get the Tag (pink or green) and some of the cards/books that go with it (sold separately):

LeapFrog® Tag National Geographic Kids: Activity Cards - Land Animals  (age 4-8)
LeapFrog® Tag National Geographic Kids: Activity Cards - Birds and Sea Animals  (age 4-8)
LeapFrog® Tag Funny Phrases  (age 4-6)  (to be released on August 1, 2008)
LeapFrog® Tag Super Speller  (age 4-7)
LeapFrog® Tag Kid Classic Storybooks

• Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type  (age 4-7)
• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom  (age 4-7)  (to be released on August 1, 2008)
• Little Engine That Could, The     (age 4-7)
• Olivia  (age 4-7)  (to be released on August 1, 2008)
• Walter the Farting Dog Goes on a Cruise  (age 4-7)

LeapFrog® Tag Activity Storybooks

• Disney Princess: Adventures Under the Sea  (age 4-6)
• Disney/Pixar Cars: Tractor Tipping  (age 4-6)
• Fancy Nancy at the Museum  (age 4-7)  (to be released on August 1, 2008)
• Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends: The Golden Paddleball  (age 5-7)
• Go Diego Go!: Underwater Mystery  (age 4-6)
• I SPY: Imagine That!  (age 4-6)
• Kung Fu Panda: Po's Tasty Training  (age 4-6)
• Miss Spider's Tea Party  (age 4-6)
• Pirates! The Treasure of Turtle Island  (age 5-7)
• SpongeBob SquarePants: The Tour de Bikini Bottom  (age 5-7)
• T. Rex's Mighty Roar  (age 4-6)

Always check the age level on a game or book.  Look at the Amazon.com reviews before buying.

Both the Leapster 2 and the Tag allow parents to connect online to the LeapFrog® Learning Path to see what their child is learning. Kids connect online for extra activities and rewards.