Growing up, I enjoyed getting books as gifts. Reading was something that my mother took seriously. I could read exceptionally well before I even began infant school, due to my mother's teachings. I loved skipping through the pages of beautiful children's book, but even at that young age, I noticed that something was missing. I wasn't in these books. I didn't see faces that looked like mine, I didn't see hair that looked like mine. I said to myself then, that one day I would write a book that I could see myself in. Little did I know, but one day this would indeed be a reality. I'm all grown up now and this book is now a reality for little girls of colour to skip through and see themselves in. I want this book to give them a space to realize that they don't need to change who they are and that they should love and appreciate their beautiful dark skin and the beautiful crown on their heads. It starts with the youngest members of the Kingdom. If the...

Sometimes it's hard to believe that students are still going to school for the purpose of learning based on the number of violent videos that surface on social media sites. Thankfully, in the midst of these horrific videos we see glimmers of hope of students who continue to excel in school. Believe it or not I have a level of fear when it comes to walking in their midst to get off the streets either before school ends or after majority of the students have gone home. Why am I fearful? Students no longer war with their hands or by throwing words they now walk with knives and other weapons.  Fighting in schools has become such a common practise that I basically expect it once I log on to my social media account. What is alarming from time to time when I do end up viewing these recordings is that so many times adults can be seen watching and even recording. Is it that adults no longer see the need to reprimand children or is that they see it more important to get fame fro...

I've always been a fan of school challenge quiz, both at the primary and high school level. I enjoy watching my local programmes more than I do internal ones. Every night I ensure that I tune into the TVJ Junior School Challenge quiz program and no matter what my day was like, seeing those children exercising their analytical skills brings nothing but joy to my soul. Just to see them smiling with pride as they get their answers correct and also remaining composed when they come up short on the answers. It gives me hope that there is still some good in my country and it encourages me to keep on hoping and doing my part to shape the minds of the youth of Jamaica I want to encourage each and every Jamaican to support our young people. Watch the activities that they are engaged in and let them know that they are doing in a good job whether they are victorious or not. What we say to them today has a lot to do with who they become in the future. Our country already has too much nega...

Birthdays,graduations, marriages and other eventual activities in life have come and gone. You were there to celebrate each and everyone with your child. There are others who are just starting out on the parenting journey or they are in the middle of it. I'm here to offer a little advice to parents who believe they have figured it all out. I'm not a parent but I have parents who I still live with so I still have to interact with them pretty frequently . I have come to the conclusion that, back when my parents were growing up the physical needs were the only thing that mattered to parents. As long as they fed their child and sent them to school that was enough. Well, there is more to parenting such as the emotional needs of a child. Some parents might be saying to themselves at this point that a child shouldn't be having emotional problems as they are just children. You provide your child with beautiful gifts, shelter, food and clothing but you neglect them when ...

Growing up,my parents always pushed the need to have good manners and  show respect to my elders. They not only told me the importance of good manners but they also lived it. Walking on the streets of my country each and everyday as left me wondering if good manners are a thing of the past. When I enter a taxi I always stop to say good morning,when I pay the taxi driver and receive my change I say thank you,however I've noticed that others don't often return the favour. I was in a taxi a week ago and I told a lady good morning and she simply chose to ignore it.  The young people in our country are either not learning the importance of good manners or they just simply don't care. Is the lack of good manners related to the fact that our young people feel they are too grown? It always warms my heart when I come across a young person who will exercise good manners. It is such a rare commodity that it even takes me off guard from time to time. This issue of our young people not ...

So the relationship has come to an end and you can no longer stand to see his face and you get upset every time you think about him. The story of the bitter baby mother is a very familiar one to us as we see it on social media platforms and in television shows. As like every other issue these days the first place to air grievances is on social media. Bitter baby mother believe they are doing what is best for their child but it's actually the total opposite. The best thing for the child is to have their parent in their lives if of course that parent isn't mentally ill or otherwise dangerous to the safety of the child. A bitter baby mother should never pretend a father from having a relationship with his child because of her hatred for the man. Whatever went wrong between the both of you is between the both of you the child has no part in that. I recently watched a movie where the mother hid from her daughter for years that her father tried to connect with her because of her hatr...

Today, while walking in Spanish town with my mother we came upon a high school student arguing with a older man. The man said to her that she had no manners and the high school student said to him that " if him see manners a give weh a shop". I often address females as ladies on my blog but I didn't address this high school student in that manner. Her behaviour does not qualify her to be called a lady. It worries me that this is a very common behaviour among our children here in Jamaica and the rest of the world. Our children show little or no respect for anyone anymore. They say what they feel and they do what they feel around you. I remember going on a coaster bus one evening and seeing students kissing and feeling up each other around adults. When they were confronted they didn't care to hear any of the warnings of the adults. What examples are we setting for the future of our world? Do parents teach children good manners anymore? In many cases the answer is no bec...

Firstly, to all my readers let me ask you how many of you actually remember in details your basic school graduation? It's that time of year when schools and the education ministry are knocking heads as to the expensive graduation packages. I believe that the hypeness associated with basic school graduations is just for parents to have an outlet to show how nicely they themselves can dress and how well they can dress their children. I attended Spanish town infant as a child and I remember having a very small service nothing spectacular. I then went on to St.Catherine primary where we graduated in our uniforms and the very same thing happened when I graduated from Wolmer's Girls. Do I feel any less than those who graduated in gowns at every stage of their academic journey? I sure don't. Parents spending over $10000 for a child who the following week won't even remember half of what took place. If you want to have a big celebration create one at your home and stop pleading...

" I want to give my children everything that I wasn't given as a child", how often do we hear these words being said by parents? Very often right? It's a very good concept but parents please don't forget to give them the things that you received as well. The more times have evolved the less time is being spent with those who we care about. Parents are busy working hard to give their children all that they didn't get as a child that they forget to give them the most valuable of things, love. Now more than ever children are suffering from depression and seeking outlets to get attention from because they aren't getting it from their parents. The social media world paints an image that dressing in matching outfits with your child or posting several pictures with your child shows that you are a good parent. A picture is just a picture and it can hide one thousand stories.  I can guarantee you that when your child grows up what they will remember most is the lov...

In recent times, our country has been sent into shock waves as it relates to the increases in acts of violence towards our children. It sends pain throughout our bodies as Jamaicans because our future is hurting. Calls from all sectors can be heard about what measures can be taken to ensure that we put a stop to this problem. It starts with each and everyone of us as Jamaicans because at times parents aren't around or even those who are around aren't setting the best examples for their children. Throughout the month of May, I decided to start a challenge called the Saccheen Laing read one book a week campaign. I decided to do this challenge as a means to show our young people that reading can be fun and we as the older ones do enjoy it. I added the element of posting a selfie after the end of the week along with a caption with a lesson that you got from the book. This challenge was an oasis in the midst of the Charlie Charlie challenge and other challenges that add n...

Mother's Day is coming up a do many of us are either excited to show our mothers how much we love them or we will spend the day thinking about the memories that we shared with them while they were with us in this earth. Many of the life lessons that we go by each and everyday we were taught by our mothers whether they be good or bad. These days many mothers seem to use their child as more of am accessory than a vessel to be fed with the right nutrients needed for both physical and mental prosperity. For those who perhaps aren't aware as mothers it is important for you to do the best you can to teach the best values to your children. There are those who have mothers who have neglected their responsibilities completely and they are left to learn on their very own. For these individuals it's important that we who belong to the wider society impart knowledge to them as best as we can. Teaching your child is very very important but many of us either forget what we were ...

I am just a child I say to myself as I put on my uniform and my mother greets me with a smile I am just a child but my body makes people question why? Why I as a child have a six months belly before me ? I sit in class and try to learn My baby kicks me as a reminder of the nightmare I now call life The nightmares take me from my class to the night my light turned to darkness I left school about 5pm after netball practice See I was the best player on my team It was late so hurried to catch a bus As I walked the street to my home I realized I wasn't walking alone The footsteps drew closer and I became nervous Two heavy hands held me back and my uniform was lifted from my back His eyes were dark and empty He buried my body with his and took every ounce of my purity I am a child I shouted and he only laughed I am a child I repeated and he only continued to thrust The blood poured from my young vessel and I knew my gift was lost forever He stood up and said thank you...

Our island Jamaica is really going through some hard times recently as it relates to the increase in acts of violence against our children. Recently, a fourteen year old female student was killed in the parish of St.Thomas. Since the brutal murder of the student a lot of talk can be heard about the early hours that students have to wake in order to travel several miles in order to go to school. This is a subject that I am very familiar with as I had to journey from the outskirts of Spanish Town every morning to reach school by 7:30 at Wolmer's High School for girls. Interestingly, however throughout my entire high school life I was probably late just once as I received perfect attendance for several years. This journey taught me good time management and respect for time. There were several times however when I would use my first class to catch up on some well needed sleep this didn't go down well with my teachers.      On the flip side of things, I had the privilege of ha...

The news comes on one,two, three lives gone again in a Jamdung Twelve dead in Mobay everybody worried  Uncles,aunts,brothers and sisters  everybody fall victim  Police have no answers,politicians drive by just another day in Jamdung After 5 gone you walk fast on the road Sweat pours down your face as you hear the first gun shot ring out Hands firmly placed on your heart as you hear the screams and shout People around you walk by as if nothing is wrong how comes nobody cares about crime in Jamdung? Children going missing everyday but we turn our faces the other way Then suddenly your sister is gone for days and you don't know what to do All of a sudden you see the faces of the girls you turned your face from Then it finally hits you crime is serious in Jamdung A text comes in on your phone saying congrats you have won You run to the bank to collect your millions Couple hours later your bank book is empty  Tears flow from eyes as you...