H20=Heart, Humor & Optimism With a child, it is not written.  And "In the end" never determined    by "In the beginning."-Margo@MomOpinion Matters MomBlog Wednesday, June 10,2009 Homeless in the Afternoon I had to go to a big electronics store about our new flat screen TV. There is something wrong with the remote, not to mention that I am absolutely hopeless when it comes to anything hi-tech. While waiting, I noticed eight teenage girls lounging on couches in front of the huge flat screen displays. It was late afternoon on an extremely hot day. So, there they were with air-conditioning, on comfy furniture, in a safe environment. piled up on each other, laughing and talking. But then, a manager came by and ordered them up and out.  I overheard her tell a colleague that they had come in before, and what did they think? They could use the store as a living room? The teenagers moved pretty quickly but lingered still in the store, walking up and down aisles. I got the assistance I needed, but I left thinking about those girls. Would they have been in the store had there been somewhere else to go as comfortable and/or secure? And what did it say about them, and their personal circumstances. I wish I had had a chance to talk to them so I could find out. Meanwhile, with everyone working, and homes empty or perhaps far away where do older kids go? Where will these teenage girls go to pile up on each other and laugh and talk? There is something wrong with this picture. Margo@MomOpinion Matters Email: margo@momopinionmatters.com MomOpinion Services

Oh no, not another "on sale" sign! She's going in! Time to negotiate! One scoop, vanilla, in a cup! (Tonka spending 'quality' time with Mom) *MomBlog I am an empty nester except when my college grad comes home on vacation, with friends, with laundry, and with grocery lists, and except for my dog Tonka, who at 7 years of age is still a toddler in thunderstorms, cannot eat alone, and for whom the word play would illicit an instant jump up in the dead of night, from the deepest sleep. But as a mother who continues to find children wondrous, and  young people compelling, I plan to make the most of my wise perch!  I warn you, it’s high.  Very high. I can see a lot!  A whole lot!   I have binoculars! Very strong binoculars! Margo@momopinionmatters.com MomOpinion Services ***************************************************************************************** also visit: www.loveourchildrenusa.org Ross Ellis Founder and Chief Executive Officer Love Our Children USA 1.888.347.KIDS info@loveourchildrenusa.org www.loveourchildrenusa.org   Love Our Children USA is the national nonprofit leader that honors, respects and protects children. Its mission is to break the cycle of violence against children.  Celebrating its 10th year as 'the Go-To' prevention organization for all forms of violence and neglect against children in the U.S.   Keeping Children Safe … Strengthening Families   A member of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Council   A registered GuideStar charity