My Opinion. PEACE!: Thanks, Stephen A. Smith

If you didn't know, I am one opinionated chica.  I wrestle with whether or not to include my opinions in this blog.  I've thought about starting another blog and have had this idea for quite some time.  While I work out the kinks and figure out what I'd like to do, I've decided to add some of my opinions here in a series called My Opinion. Peace!  Since this blog is about things relevant to raising my daughter.  I've decided to include this particular opinion hear.  Hopefully, you'll see the relevance, if only indirectly.

At first, I tried to be low key, but after seeing the video, I am even more upset with Stephen A. Smith's words. Actually, not his words, but his one word - provoke. Thinking that maybe he had more insight into what happened, I felt like maybe in this case the woman was inciting her fiance.

We all understood where Stephen A. Smith was going. We all understood his message, but sometimes he's not the most eloquent cat. I've always felt that for the most part intent is more important than what's said- that there is meaning beyond words. So for that, I've always said he may have had a good point, but just included a word that should have been left for exclusion.

PROVOKE (MERRIAM/ WEBSTER): verb \prə-ˈvōk\
: to cause the occurrence of (a feeling or action) : to make (something) happen
: to cause (a person or animal) to become angry, violent, etc.

So what are some of the things that women do that can cause a man to become angry or violent (definiton of provoke)? The answer is it varies with every man who becomes violent toward women. For some men it may be charging and hitting them. For some it might be failing to clean up the house to their satisfaction. "What? I saw you talking to some man at work.? Well this is gonna get you a nice little beating." The actual issues that spark these altercations can vary.

I wished that Stephen A. Smith could have pointed to the specific behaviors that he felt women should avoid, like violence against men. That would have worked in everyone's favor. This is why, to me, Whoopi's statements differ greatly from SAS's.

The one problem that I am now having with the video and Stephen A. Smith is I don't see support for this woman being the aggressor. I do NOT. She doesn't seem scared, but she seems like she's trying to stay away from him. She's walking behind him. He waits for her and then spits on her. She walks ahead of him. He follows her. She turns every attention to those buttons on the elevator ( they can't be that interesting). He's in her face. To me, this man was the one provoking.

In my book Stephen A Smith has apologized.  I'm not angry at him, per se, but those words can never be taken back.  What is a bit shocking to me, is with the release of the video that so many men are now verbally high fiving Mr. Smith for his words, as if he were right all along.

So, thanks Stephen A. Smith. Thanks for reminding us, that it is always the woman's fault. Thanks for making this woman responsible for her own beating. Thanks for helping us to ask the age old question- "What did she do to deserve it?" 

Mental Math tips

Like most on this blog, this post is long overdue. Last Monday, I wanted to do a mental-math-minute type post about adding 8's and 9's, but after thinking about it, I didn't want to do anything that was a shortcut without addressing how to develop number sense. I thought about all of the background information that I deemed helpful, and this long video became the response.

In this video, I give ideas on how to develop a good number sense, share where to find some manipulatives, and show some strategies toward doing math mentally. If you want, you can skip straight to the strategies.

Now, this video is far from perfect. I didn't have a script. I make plenty mistakes and obscure noises along the way, and the volume's a bit of everywhere, so be prepared to turn up and turn down. Still, I hope that the information shared is valuable and worth any adjustments.

For Even Smaller Sums

If the things in the video are a little too advanced for your little one find addition tips for numbers 5 and under here:

For Sums 6 - 10

At the time of the above video, I was considering making another video for addition sums from 6 - 10. I probably won't, but just briefly, this is the order I would do to get me through.

1. The info from "Getting Started With Math" video.
2. Play games (make them up) to solidify addition facts to 5. Use abacus when playing games.
3. Use your fingers and the color coded abacus to learn your "5 and's..." (5 + 1 = 6, 5 + 2 = 7, etc.) to 10.
4. Represent "5 and's..." in all possible ways (fingers, tally marks, abacus, sticks, etc.)
5. Partition 6 into all of it's parts. Use the abacus to begin.
6. Do the same for the remaining numbers to 10
7. More addition games using abacus when necessary.

Thanks for checking out this blog. Hit me up if you have questions or comments.

Facebook Wives Club

Hello. My name is Faith, and I am currently being initiated into the Facebook Wives Club.

In the past, I chuckled when I have seen wives post "Happy Anniversary" or "Happy Birthday" to their husbands on Facebook. Don't you live with him? If he's not around, wouldn't it be more appropriate to call him? Send a text, maybe? Don't you have his direct number? What if he doesn't check Facebook for a week? It's even more weird to me, when wives/mothers wish happy birthday to loved ones who are not on Facebook. It's obvious to me that these exchanges aren't for the husbands, but for the public, and thusly, I've shied away from them.

Even more odd to me is the Facebook prayer. You would think that some people only meet Jesus on Facebook. While I understand the power of corporate prayer and how easy it is just to push the post button on Facebook, some people think that every morning they're supposed to share a prayer with the world, or better yet, post how sweet time was with Jesus that morning. I'm not saying it's wrong. I just sometime wonder why people do what they do.

To each his own, but to me, my conversations with my husband and the Lord are intimate. I don't need to broadcast to everyone every time I have an intimate session, or every time we go out to eat, or every time my world is rocked in the bed room or in the prayer closet. I'm reminded of the scripture where Jesus advises his disciples to do these things (pray and give to the needy) privately. I am in no way condemning those who do their daily Facebook prayers. Please do whatever it is you feel is right. Please follow your own convictions. I'm not against it. Aside from occasional corporate prayers for public situations, it's just something that I don't yet understand.

1 Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6

I am a Facebook user, but my idea is that it's for people I don't see often, people I don't call. I basically post lots of things about my daughter because it's an easy way for loved ones to keep up with her. It's also a public journal of sorts. I do understand people sharing their personal views. This is not to make anybody feel bad. I probably share way too much on Facebook. If there's something I want people to know, however, I just announce it as such. For example, instead of saying "Happy Birthday" to my daughter who is too young to be on Facebook, I'll post that I'm thankful to God for giving me such a beautiful daughter 7 years ago. You see how I got God in there, but I didn't pray to him on Facebook.

So how is it that I am now being initiated into the Facebook Wives Club? It's happening quite coincidentally. Firstly, I have been living separately from my husband for a little bit. We're preparing to move from VA to GA, but he's keeping his job until everything is done. I am staying at my father's house, which is closer to the new home in GA.

Simultaneously, my husband is becoming more and more familiar with Facebook. He was never interested in it before, but for some reason (maybe he has time on his hands because we aren't there) he's on Facebook more.

But for whatever reason, I am becoming a Facebook wife- full of exchanges on Facebook with my beautiful husband who has been a wonderful provider and partner throughout the whole ordeal. I'm wondering when we tackle the final straw of this move, if things will go back to normal. Who knows? But for now, being a Facebook wife isn't so bad.

What do you think? Will I be joining the Facebook Prayer Club next?