What Can You Do When Someone Spreads Rumors About You

I would guess it's safe to say that all of us at one time or another have been both the bully and the bullied one especially on a smaller scale like spreading gossip or being the subject of said gossip. 

As interesting as it is to share stories about people we know, how do we really know what is true and do we ever stop to think how the person might feel if he/she heard what we were saying? And how do we feel when we hear a rumor that's being spread about us...perhaps it hurts, whether or not there is a small grain of truth to the talk.

Here's what one expert (KidsHealth.org) had to say on the subject:

KidsHealth.org: Someone is Spreading Rumors About Me. What Can I Do?

There is this girl at school, and we don't really get along. She keeps spreading rumors about me and people are turning against me. What should I do?

- Sam*

Some people spread rumors as a way to intimidate others and gain status or popularity. But spreading rumors as a way to turn people against someone is a form of bullying — and it can have serious consequences for the person doing it.

Spreading unkind gossip in person or online is not a decent or mature way to act. It hurts the person being talked about, and it intimidates other people.

Read the entire answer at KidsHealth.org>>

Happy Organize Your Home Office Day!

Did you know that this Saturday (March 9th) is Organize Your Home Office Day? Do you have time to celebrate with me by spending a few hours doing some spring cleaning? Perhaps your home office doesn't need a major overhaul...I've found that just cleaning off my desk and filing away the mass of papers that seem to accumulate over time is often enough to renew my appreciation for my workspace.

And, I do love my home workspace...it's comfortable, cozy, and full of light (a must-have in Seattle). I'm surrounded by many of my favorite things including items that inspire me and my writing.

Ready to tackle the task of organizing your home office? Here are a few articles I found helpful:

• Design a Home Office You'll Actually Work In (Forbes.com) - by DailyMuse
• 20 Home Office Organizing Tricks (RealSimple.com) - One trick that I plan to try: #1 PileSmart binder clips with erasable labels
• 10 Ways to Organize Your Home Office by Monday (HowStuffWorks.com) - by Stephanie Watson - My favorite tip (but least-favorite task) is #1 on how to organize your computer files
• 31 Days of Home Office Organizing Tips (The HomeOfficeOrganizer.com)

And if your bout of organizing has inspired you to tackle other rooms in your house or if you just need a little guidance on the organizing process, check out these useful books:

• Organizing for Your Brain Type: Finding Your Own Solution to Managing Time, Paper, and Stuff by Lanna Nakone (Available at Amazon.com) - Nakone is a professional organizer and the book is full of practical tips and techniques that help you put into practice the newfound knowledge of how your brain wants things organized.
• Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern (Available at Amazon.com) - This is one of my "go to" books on organizing that I skim every time I find myself overwhelmed by an organizing task. 

Helping Your Child Through a Divorce

In my latest Bully Dog book, A Penny in Time, the main character Dusty struggles to process her parents recent divorce and how to deal with her father's new girlfriend. Divorce is a stressful event for all involved but especially for children (even teens) who do not yet understand the complexities of adult relationships.

Parents in the midst of a divorce can help their children through the process. Here's an interesting article I found at KidsHealth.org with helpful suggestions on breaking the news, dealing with your child's reactions, and maintaining consistency. Read the entire article on the KidsHealth.org website>>


KidsHealth.org: Helping Your Child Through a Divorce 

Thousands of kids experience the stress of divorce each year. How they'll react depends on their age, personality, and the particular circumstances of the separation and divorce process.

Every divorce will have an effect on the kids involved — and many times the initial reaction is one of shock, sadness, frustration, anger, or worry. But kids can also come out of it better able to cope with stress, and many become more flexible, tolerant young adults.

The most important things that both parents can do to help kids through this difficult time are:

• Keep visible conflict, heated discussions, and legal talk away from the kids.
• Minimize the disruptions to kids' daily routines.
• Confine negativity and blame about each other to private therapy sessions or conversations with friends outside the home.
• Keep each parent involved in the kids' lives.

Most adults going through separation and divorce need support — from friends, professionals, clergy, and family. Don't seek support from your kids, even if they seem to want you to.

Read the entire article on the KidsHealth.org website>>

STOMP Out Bullying

Congratulations, STOMP Out Bullying for being selected as one of Fox Sports Media Group's highlighted charities for 2013! Fox is airing PSAs and mentioning the organization during events to spread awareness and raise funds for this amazing organization.

STOMP Out Bullying(TM) is a non-profit organization founded in 2005 that is dedicated to raising awareness, educating students, and providing resources around bullying and cyberbullying.

Its many celebrity ambassadors help spread the word and its website is definitely worth a visit. You can share your bullying experience, watch celebrity videos and PSAs, get help via chat with trained volunteers, read and view the stories of others who've been bullied, and much more. STOMP Out Bullying(TM) also sponsors the BLUE SHIRT DAY(TM) World Day of Bullying Prevention each year.

Connect with others committed to the cause on Facebook (facebook.com/STOMPOutBullying) and Twitter (twitter.com/STOMPOutBullying).

Schooled: A Humorous Tale of Middle School Bullying

A book I highly recommend for upper elementary and middle school students on the subject of bullying is the funny and engaging book Schooled by Gordon Korman. The characters are easy to relate to and wonderfully quirky.

Excerpt from the back of the book:
"Capricorn (Cap) Anderson has never watched television. He's never tasted a pizza. Never heard of a wedgie. Since he was little, his only experience has been living on a farm commune and being homeschooled by his hippie grandmother, Rain...

...Right from the beginning, Cap's weirdness makes him a moving target at Claverage Middle School (dubbed C Average by the students). He has long, ungroomed hair; wears hemp clothes; and practices tai chi out on the lawn. Once Zach Powers, big man on campus, spots Cap, he can't wait to introduce him to the age-old tradition at C Average: the biggest nerd gets nominated to run for class president...and wins.

Will Cap turn out to be the greatest president in the history of C Average? Or the biggest punch line?"

For an in-depth review of Schooled visit About.com's Children's Books section. You can also find out more about the author on his website.