Erin's Law

Do Your Part ~ Help Pass Erin's Law

Erin's Law, is a bill that requires that children be educated by law in schools on sexual abuse in a child friendly manner, for the purpose of informing and protecting students from sexual abuse.

Read More Here:

http://bit.ly/bGkjga

One in three girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused (i.e., rape, voyeurism, sexual dialogue, fondling, touching of the genitals, vaginal, anal, or oral rape and forcing children to participate in pornography or prostitution) before their eighteenth birthday.

You Are My I Love You

You Are My I Love You
 by MaryAnn K. Cusimano & Satomi Ichikawa

(I bought this book for my daughter, Grace for Valentines day when she was only 17 months old. ) 

I am your parent; you are my child.

I am your quiet place; you are my wild.

I am your calm face; you are my giggle.

I am your wait; you are my wiggle.  

I am your carriage ride; you are my king.

I am your push; you are my swing.

I am your audience; you are my clown.

I am your London Bridge; you are my falling down.

I am your carrot sticks; you are my licorice.

I am your dandelion; you are my first wish.

I am your water wings; you are my deep.

I am your open arms; you are my running leap. 

I am your way home; you are my new path.

I am your dry towel; you are my wet bath.

I am your dinner; you are my chocolate cake.

I am your bedtime; you are my wide awake.

I am your finish line; you are my race.

I am your praying hands; you are my saying grace.

I am your favorite book; you are my new lines.

I am your night-light; you are my starshine. 

I am your lullaby; you are my peekaboo. 

I am your good-night kiss; you are my I love you.  

To purchase this book through Amazon, click here.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day 

Thank you to MY mother (Eileen LaVonne Mickelson) for raising me, taking care of me, teaching me about God, loving me, and believing in me.  I love you mom!  TJ

National Police Week

National Police Week

The week of May 10-15, 2010, has been designated “National Police Week”, a time to honor officers who have fallen in the line-of-duty and in recognition of the sacrifice of those loved and left behind.

Tears of a Cop

I have been where you fear to go

I have seen what you fear to see

I have done what you fear to do

All these things I've done for you.

I am the one you lean upon

the one you cast your scorn upon

The one you bring your troubles to

All these people I've been for you.

The one you ask to stand apart

The one you feel should have no heart

The one you call the man in blue

But I am human just like you.

And through the years I've come to see                      

That I'm not what you ask of me

So take this badge and take this gun

Will you take it anyone? 

And when you watch a person die

And hear a battered baby cry

Do you think you can be

All those things you ask of me?

FAMILY TIME HELPS KEEP CHILDREN SAFE

One of the best ways to strengthen the child safety guidelines you teach your children is to make sure you spend some dedicated quality time with your kids each day.

With the amazing array of things that must be done each day, and all the unexpected things that pop-up, family time moments can easily be squeezed out of your day's activities.

You need to know that children who are listened to are less likely to seek approval from inappropriate people. This can mean a real difference for a child who is approached by an adult who asks for help finding a cute puppy. Looking for a puppy is a hard thing to resist (even for many adults.)

Children in that situation who are tuned-in to their relationship with their parents can have an easier time remembering and following their parent’s guidance on how to deal with adults who are exhibiting dangerous adult behaviors--(step way back, yell “NO!”, run away, and tell a trusted adult.)

We suggest that you prioritize time together with each child, perhaps during an evening snack of cornflakes, during a walk, while driving, or right before bedtime. Your simply being there, being present, undistracted and not pressured is often the most important thing you can do each day.

Even ten minutes a day of kind, openhearted, nonjudgmental attention can make a huge difference in how your kids know you. These times together can be the building blocks of your lifelong relationship with your children.

You can ask open ended questions like, what were the highlights of your day? Or, what was the funniest thing that happened? Be sure to share your own experiences as well.

You can help your children learn to talk feely about themselves and their feelings.

If they tell you someone has made them feel uncomfortable or scared, be sure to listen carefully and quietly ask questions. Let them know you have heard their concerns and take them seriously. Let them see you act on helping them with their difficulties.

Tune-in to each child. You know each one has their own individual needs.

By establishing an ongoing emotional and conversational bond, your child can know for certain that you will always back him or her up should they need to follow your safety guidelines of yelling "NO!" and running away to tell a trusted adult should they feel they are the recipient of dangerous adult behaviors.

Perhaps the most vivid reminder of how important family time can be to the emotional well being of your child comes from Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped from her bedroom in June 2002 and found in March 2003.

When speaking of her despair during her ordeal she said, “I always knew that no matter what, I’d still be part of my family. They could change my name, change the way I look, starve me to death. But they couldn’t change that I am Ed and Lois Smart’s daughter. That was a very powerful thing to me.”

This knowledge of your love and trustworthiness can help sustain your children during whatever tough times may come.

Written and brought to you by the Polly Klaas Foundation. 

Celebrate Safety!

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
I had the privilege of meeting Child Advocate Mr. Marc Klaas at the event held on March 31st in Sacramento.

The events included an infomative luncheon, a Family Safety Symposium, and a wonderful dinner and awards banquet that evening.

I had the honor of being project lead for the Family Safety Symposium.  We had over 30 venders on site, including local and state law enforcement.

I also had the privilege of hearing Mr. Scott Juceam speak about his precious Hannah Rose. Do Not Shake Your Baby!

If just one person learned a child saving technique through the events that day, I am satisfied. Please join me in helping to spread the word about awareness. Do not be afraid to get involved. If you see something out of the ordinary, call the police.  Be a voice for our children!

Sheriff John McGinness and Tamara Mickelson

                                                     Chaplain Mindy Russell with the
                                         Law Enforcement Chaplaincy of Sacramento

My team from the Family Safety Symposium.  I could not have done it without all of you! Thank you from my whole heart!

Left to right:  Jica, Cassie, Lori, Tamara, Christopher, Annalissa,
and my sister, Kristin.

Julia Croteua from Julia Croteau Photography and her daughter, Brittany.  Julia volunteered over 10 hours of her own time to capture this wonderful day's events.  Thank you Julia for your great skills and making this event memorable for everyone!  

Crime is going up in Sacramento! Dwight and Lynne Brown are the Crime Prevention Consultants you need!  They come to your home and give you tips on preventing crime!   Thank you both for coming to the Family Safety Symposium and the dinner. Your business is definitely  an asset to Sacramento!





                Precious Junior Deputy in the making!

.    

Sacramento County Sheriff's Department
          Mounted Horse Patrol & K-9
              Thank you for your time!

I am pleased to announce the winners of the Sacramento Zoo family four pack - from the Family Safety Symposium raffle:

1.  Mr. Mark Sconce - donated his ticket back into the raffle.  I pulled the next name in its place.    

     Thank you Mr. Sconce for your donation. 

2.  Ryan Pulis from Sacramento

3.  Emily Davenport from Carmichael

4.  Tom Purser with "ALLDATA" in Elk Grove 

5.  Denise Bellacera with "Courage to be You" in Sacramento - donated her tickets to a family in need.    

Thank you to the following venders and businesses volunteering your time at the Family Safety Symposium:

Positive Option                             Klaas Kids                                 Flahive Law Firm 
Hannah Rose Foundation              Kovars Karate                           Sacramento Children's Home
Sacramento Zoo                           Kinder Music                             California Highway Patrol
Boy Scouts Troop #367               Sacramento Child's Advocates   Weideman Pediatric Dentistry
Bikers Against Child Abuse          AT&T                                        California Family Fitness
Penny the Clown                          Magic Smiles                              Dr. Solars Magic Show
Crime Prevention Consultants       RAD Kids                                  The American Red Cross
NH Enterprises                            Courage to be You                      Edward Jones Financial Services
Only Love Children's Center        New York Life; Laura Roberts    Sacramento Metro Fire Department
107.9 The End                             Dilly Dally the Clown                   Bounce House by Dana
New York Life - Mark                Sacramento County Sheriff's Department (SSD)
SSD Horse Patrol                        SSD K-9                                    SSD Reserve Forces
SSD Explorers

MISSION LINEN SUPPLY - Thank you for your generous donation of tablecloths.

TARGET - Thank you for your generous donation of balloons.

Find a Nanny or Babysitter Near You!

Looking for a nanny (live-in or live-out) or an occassional babysitter?
Log onto http://www.nanniesgalore.com/ and search free. 

You may be a single parent, work full time, or just need to run errands for a day; whatever your circumstances are, you will need childcare at some point.  Find quality childcare and prices you can afford.

Are you a nanny or babysitter looking for a job? Post your profile FREE! Find the perfect family with the right fit for you!     

Families...

Join now at 50% off through the end of April in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month!

Nannies Galore

Quality You Can Afford ~ Care You Can Trust