The Age of Venus

    Girls and women are tired of being in the background. It's finally our time to shine. It's the age of Venus, and we're more powerful than even. (Thanks to our ancestors helping to pave the way for all women!)

The Age of Venus

    Women around the world are coming out of the shadows. They're embracing their differences, and using them to recreate themselves. Women are stepping forth, and paving the way for the girls of our future. They're doing so by starting their own businesses, and entering the world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.)

    No longer is it a "man's world," because women are here to stay. We are taking over the workforce, and doing jobs that were once only held by men. We're teaching our daughters and nieces that they too can have their own business or develop video games and apps. There are even programs designed specifically to instill a love of these things into our girls. 

I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar

    I myself refused to back down. I knew this wasn't just a man's world. When I was eighteen I got my first tattoo kit. After a few years of practice on oranges and grapefruits, (and eventually family and friends,) I moved to Florida. The first thing I did was take my portfolio into a tattoo shop. I was hired on the spot. Back then (in 2002,) there weren't a ton of female tattoo artists. Within a year, I had my own booth and my own clients. Eventually I relocated to Alabama, where again, I was hired on the spot. They featured me in commercials, and I worked about 70 hours per week doing what I loved.

    Now a special needs mom, I can no longer be a tattoo artist. So instead, I took my love of writing, and developed it into a freelance business. I can work from home, while still caring for my son, and tending to his home school lessons. Oh and housework. That dreaded h word! But yes, I do that too. And you know what? I'm still happy. I'm more confident than I have ever been [maybe that's just because I'm becoming (older) wise.]

Chrissy Weems

    Another inspiring woman is Chrissy Weems. She is the co-founder and CEO of Origami Owl. (By the way, thanks for having Autism charms, Chrissy! My fellow autism moms and I love that you thought of our kids!) Her experience in interior design, art, and beauty have helped turn her into the force of nature she is today. 

    Wife of twenty five years, and mom to five wonderful children, Chrissy is proof that women can be successful, and still have a gorgeous family. Women can have families, start businesses, run businesses, pave the way in the arts, create amazing video games, and so much more! We can do anything we put our minds to, as can our daughters, sisters, and nieces. By encouraging one another, lifting each other up, and inspiring the next generation of girls to do the same, we can create an equal workforce. One that doesn't see gender, just talent. Fantastic talent and minds!

Monday, Monday.....

Ahh Monday......................... (Cue music from the mamas and the papas)

 When all the kiddos go back to school. No more in and out of everyone's kids tramping through my house. No more feeding and giving drinks out to all the kids. No more breaking up fights and figuring out who said and did what. No more wanting to choke parents for letting their kids act like jerks and treat my son like crap while also letting them disrespect us when we put them in their place. (Funny because they are the first parents to complain when their child is sent home for bad behavior, yet they are also the parents who are never around to see this behavior) No more listening to Liam cry because so and so said this, and so and so did that.

You know, no matter how many times we tell Liam to not play with certain kids, he always forgives and often forgets and plays with them anyway. He has the biggest heart of anyone I have ever met. I enjoy our days together when all of these said children are In school. When I hear the bus in the afternoon my stomach burns and my hearts sinks because I know that it's only a matter of time until something crappy happens.

Yet he insists on playing with them and I can't shelter him from ignorance all his life. I need to teach him right from wrong and how he can be a better person. But you know, help from other parents in the way they are rearing their kids would help. STOP covering up for them. STOP acting like they do no wrong. STOP letting them disrespect adults and bully other children and act like that is okay. You are raising our future. What you do now sticks with them later. You're not doing them any damn favors. 

My son is by no means perfect and I laugh when I hear ignorant neighbors say I think my kid does no wrong. When my kid is wrong he is punished and dealt with accordingly, which is what you should be doing with your kid. Instead you choose to be their friend and so let them do whatever they damn well please. Is it wrong that I sit back and wait for that to blow up in your face????

It's not like it was when we were kids. Your child is going to threaten to kill the wrong person and will a)result in CPS investigations and school expulsions or b)juvenile delinquent charges. When this happens don't look for sympathy here. Hubs and I have been trying to get through to all of you and your kids for the last 5 years. You choose not to listen. You choose not to make your kids listen. Sad really. Part of me feels bad that you don't care enough about your children to make them mind. Part of me feels bad for every child like my son who they mistreat. Part of me is waiting for another child to put them in their place. Hey, I'm  only human. I can only sit back and nurture my son's broken heart and shattered ego because of your child so many times, without growing bitter to you all.

The worst offenders have been told they are no longer welcome here, as have their parents. I also laugh when one parent in particular told her child he's not allowed around mine or our home. Why? Are you afraid he may actually be taught right from wrong, and how to respect other human beings? I am sitting here smirking because these are the people this post targets, and they will never read it. Not because I am hiding it, but because they don't care. The parents that care, like you and I, are the parents that read stuff like this. The parents that get it. The parents that don't let their children, special needs or not, be jerks to other children, special needs or not. We are the parents that are raising our futures right. To that I say, I admire you all! To the rest, you have my pity. I pray my son doesn't read about your child being in jail some day. I pray my son isn't your child's boss some day. I pray my son can always forgive and forget and NEVER treat your child the way you let yours treat my son.....
                                                                   
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