Sometimes I think I'm a Nomad... My Family History Definitely Verifies It!

It probably wasn't my fault, my parents moved a lot. But for some reason, the itch to move was somehow instilled in me, too!


As a kid, my parents moved to the USA from Cuba. They found a nice duplex in Miami, Florida. But, that wasn't the end of a move, but a trend that went on for years! They had the itch to get into better and bigger homes. Especially since they had 4 kids, including me. But, I somehow think that they had the nomad gene in them, because by the time I was 18 or so... we had moved 11 times and even lived in Spain for 3 years in 3 apartments! Friends called us the Martinez Nomads...

Somehow with all the moving around, I think I picked up the itch to move too... Just like my parents, I also moved several times; lived in Georgia in a loft, and several other places. Eventually I also moved back to South Florida and lived in 2 more neighborhoods. In all, I have moved with my parents and with my other half, get this... 24 TIMES!

When I look back, I realize that since my parents moved so much, I never was able to keep friends for long... That makes me sad, because staying for long periods of time in one place, offers long standing friendships, that I couldn't acquire. But it was nice to see other parts of the world. Somehow, all the 24 times moving and traveling has made me appreciative more, our existence in this wonderful planet with all it's diversity and cultures.

Be On The Lookout for Bad Intentioned Individuals This Holiday and Inform Yourself About Pedophiles in Your Neighborhood!

Many children will be playing outside with their new toys this coming Holiday. Please make sure that they are always watched by a responsible adult.

Parents, be very aware of your children, especially during the Holidays. Unfortunately many pedophiles are also out and about, looking for a vulnerable child to kidnap. Pedophiles follow children on bikes, when at parks and of course when there are no parents around!

When I was 5 years old, I was followed by a man in a car who wanted me to get into his car for candy… I was riding on my new bike that I got from Santa Clause. Fortunately my parents always told me to stay away from strangers… I got very scared and pedaled fast, with all my might, back to my parent’s house! They taught me well!

Parents, it’s also important to educate yourselves about your neighborhood surroundings. Please go to KiDSLIVESAFE website, then simply add your neighborhood ZIP CODE, your EMAIL and place a (√) in the small box to the left. Then simply click on the box that says; View Offenders.

At WomenOnGuard.com, we hope you have a wonderful and SAFE Holiday!

My Dilemma to Go or Not Go To Cuba on Jet Blue or Any Other Airline!

My parents decided to come to the United States of America, back in 1961. I was only 2 years old and overheard on a daily basis, the hatred they felt toward the communist Fidel Castro.

I don't blame them... When Fidel Castro took over Cuba, he also took possession of my dad's pharmacy and many other businesses in Cuba. For many decades, people were loosing their possessions, their homes, their music, their religion and more... Yes, he didn't even allow Cuban citizens to pray! In fact, he also was the owner of all the food, as well! A communist with a bottomless appetite to possess, an oxymoron to it's fullest definition of communism.

My parents knew that Communism wasn't of their liking. So we all came to the U.S.A. My mother was pregnant with my sister, who was born a few days after we arrived. They were so glad to escape communism, that they named my new baby sister, after the first lady, Jacqueline!

Eventually my parents became more comfortable here in the U.S.A. but still held a grudge towards Fidel Castro. My parents died a few years back. They thought they would outlive Castro and return to Cuba one day, but unfortunately they didn't...

I sometimes watch on the internet pictures of Cuba, the land, beaches and architecture... Of course I've heard stories of how happy everyone was in their native land. But that was the past and now is the present. JetBlue airlines has started to fly passengers to Cuba and plans to go 300 times each week! Sounds nice, but would my parents think, if I go to the island? Will I be breaking the rule and going there, when the Castros are still in power, protecting their profits? What would my parents think of that? Plus, the Castros still have many political prisoners!

I guess, I will wait and hope that before I go to Cuba one day, the country will have become a democracy. That's the only way, I would be able to enjoy the island nation... When it's people are free and live in a democratic country, just like the good old U.S.A!

You Hear About Rape Or Domestic Violence... But What About Child Abuse In Our Country?

Whether it's because parents are having financial problems, they are getting a divorce, are fired from their job... It doesn't mean that they should take it out against their children!

Unfortunately, many parents do take it out against their children. Some simply don't care, are stressed out, have alcohol problems, or the parents themselves need counseling! But this shouldn't be an excuse for abuse.

• From 2008 to 2012, overall rates of victimization declined by 3.3 percent, from 9.5 to 9.2 per 1,000 children in the population. This results in an estimated 30,000 fewer victims in 2012 (686,000) compared with 2008 (716,000).
• Since 2008, overall rates of children who received a CPS response increased by 4.7 percent, from 40.8 to 42.7 per 1,000 children in the population. This results in an estimated 107,000 additional children who received a CPS response in 2012 (3,184,000) compared to 2008 (3,077,000).
• Nationally, four-fifths (78.3%) of victims were neglected, 18.3 percent were physically abused, 9.3 percent were sexually abused and 8.5 percent were psychologically maltreated.
• For 2012, a nationally estimated 1,640 children died of abuse and neglect at a rate of 2.20 children per 100,000 children in the national population. 

Keep in mind that these figures are between 2008 and 2012. New figures might reflect higher or lower abuse. By law, no individual or family should abuse their children under any circumstance!

If you are aware of children abuse around your area, you should immediately notify the "Children's Bureau: An Office of the Administration for Children and Families".

FDA: Limit Arsenic Levels in Baby Rice Cereal

NBC NEWS
by SUSAN WAGNER
APR 1 2016

Concerns about the potential health risks from arsenic in infant rice cereal has prompted the Food and Drug Administration to propose limits for one of America's favorite baby foods.

The FDA is taking steps to reduce inorganic arsenic (the more toxic form) in infant rice cereal. Long recognized as a carcinogen, and absorbed in food crops like rice, recent health data led to the new advice for pregnant women and infants.

In 2016, FDA completed an analysis of evidence linking relatively high levels of inorganic arsenic during pregnancy with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The FDA also found that exposure to arsenic may result in a child's decreased performance on learning and cognitive tests.

Relative to their size, infants consume about three times more rice than adults. At 8 months of age, rice cereal is often the centerpiece of an infant's diet.

Traces of arsenic are present in many foods, including grains, fruits and vegetables, but rice absorbs it more easily than most foods do. Rice cereals have long been one of the first foods given to babies.

The FDA released a draft guidance Friday that proposes an action level, or limit, of 100 parts per billion (ppb) for inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal.

The agency tested 76 samples of infant rice cereal from retail stores and found that nearly half met the agency's proposed limit of 100 parts per billion of inorganic arsenic. More than three-quarters of the samples had levels at or below 110 parts per billion.

"The proposed limit is a prudent and achievable step to reduce exposure to arsenic among infants." said Susan Mayne, Ph.D., director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

Pregnant women are advised to eat a variety of foods, including varied grains, such as wheat, oats and barley.

Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D., executive director of the Consumer Reports Food Safety & Sustainability Center, which released a report on arsenic levels in rice in 2014, is concerned the proposed limits don't go far enough.

"While Consumer Reports is pleased to see that the FDA has finally proposed a limit on arsenic in infant rice cereal, and it is close to the level we recommended more than three years ago, we remain concerned that so many other rice-based products consumed by children and adults remain without any standards at all. This is particularly true of children's ready-to-eat cereals."

The FDA acknowledges the wide range of arsenic found in rice and rice products and wants food makers to get their products from sources with the lowest inorganic arsenic.

In a statement to NBC News, Gerber says its cereals already meet the FDA Guidance levels.

"We have worked closely with our trusted rice supplier and their growers as well as researchers from agricultural universities to achieve some of the lowest levels of this element in U.S. grown rice," the statement said. "Through these combined actions we already meet the level proposed by the FDA."

What are parents to do?

The FDA offers the following advice to parents and caregivers of infants. It is consistent with advice given by the American Academy of Pediatrics:

Feed your baby iron-fortified cereals to be sure she or he is receiving enough of this important nutrient.
Rice cereal fortified with iron is a good source of nutrients for your baby, but it shouldn't be the only source, and does not need to be the first source. Other fortified infant cereals include oat, barley and multigrain.
For toddlers, provide a well-balanced diet, which includes a variety of grains.
Parents may consider rice an important first food for infants, but it shouldn't be the only source, says Dr. Jennifer Lowry, chairperson of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Environmental Health and Chief of Section of Toxicology at Children's Mercy in Kansas City, Missouri.

"I wouldn't say don't eat rice," Lowry told NBC News. "I would say, don't only eat rice. Eat other grains in addition to rice, and eat other grains first."

Published studies, including new research by the FDA, indicate that cooking rice in excess water (from six to 10 parts water to one part rice), and draining the excess water, can reduce from 40 to 60 percent of the inorganic arsenic content, depending on the type of rice — although this method may also remove some key nutrients.

The FDA will accept public comments on the proposed limits for 90 days.

Dr. Shelly Choo, a medical fellow with NBC News, contributed to this report

Do You Think It's Important To Let Children Know About Sexual Orientation?

Your children know if their piers are girls or boys, but they should also know that kids like themselves, also have orientations toward the opposite sex and the same sex, as well.

Love towards another person has been around since the beginning of time. This attraction also exist's in the animal kingdom, as well! Children at an early age, pretty much know who they like to play with, who they care for the most amongst their friends, who they just don't like and who, for some reason unbeknownst to them, they are attracted to. Unfortunately, most of the time, parents know more than they want to accept. This parent mindset, has ruined many people's lives and in some cases has ended in death.

It's time for parents to realize that attraction or love, does not only exist amongst opposite genders. Parents should know that love is deep in the heart and soul, and no medicine or operation will change the sexual orientation of a person, no matter what the gender is. When your children become adults, they should have the freedom to pick a life partner and not be restricted by society, for their own personal choices.

Our government last week, changed the way we accept the sexual orientation of couples in the USA. We followed what other countries around the world have accepted as the normal: Two people, who love each other and have the liberty to get legally married.

Pool Safety for Children in the Summer

Summer officially starts tomorrow, but many people are already swimming in coastal areas. Typically, this is the time of year when parents have concerns over their children's safety at beaches, lakes and pools.

Photo by Remco Douma

Parents are aware of the dangers that children confront when faced with deep water, yet with all the action going on during these summer outings, sometimes it's easy to get distracted from dangerous situations. Parents should always supervise their children when they are in the water. Supervising means watch them at all times, do not also read, have a phone conversation, barbeque, mow the lawn... A drowning occurs very quickly and quietly and can very easily happen unnoticed! It is also advisable for parents to take CPR classes, because every second is crucial when someone is drowning. In fact, it is advisable for parents to be in the water with their children. In other words, to be close enough, in case something should happen and they can act quickly. This is especially critical if you are at the beach, river or a lake.

Pool Alarm

If you happen to have a pool, there are some things you can do to prevent your children from drowning, especially if they are toddlers. Install a fence around your pool. It should be at least 4 feet high with self latching doors that open out and are not reachable by a child. Also, it might be a good idea, not to have water toys lying around when the pool is not being used, such as balls, masks, rafts, etc. It will be less tempting for a child to want to get in the pool and play with their toys, and you happen to be inside the house unaware of what's going on.

Another thing you can do is purchase a Pool Alarm for your pool which is a must if you have children. It comes with a monitor and a receiver. The monitor is easily installed outside, on the the pool deck. It senses unusual splashing and will sound an alarm outside as well as through the receiver which is mounted inside your home! The monitor is always active or on. You simply have to put it into the sleep mode, if you want to go for a swim. If you're inside or outside and you hear an alarm go off, you will know someone or something splashed into your water hole! It is also a great safety monitor if you have pets that are outside in the yard and happen to get near the pool and accidently fall in. The monitor can be installed up to 200 feet away from the receiver. Click on the link above for more details on this alarm.

Have a wonderful and safe summer!

Hot Dogs are choking small children at an alarming rate

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is pursuing some food manufacturers such as hot dog manufacturers, to place a mandatory warning label on their packaging. Studies have shown that 1 small child dies from chocking on food every 5 days. Apparently hot dogs are 17% involved in those choking incidents. Any food that can cause choking in small children such as popcorn or hard candy, etc., would be required to have a warning label. The AAP mentioned that some food that naturally comes in a shape or form that can cause chocking, for example grapes, would not require the label warning. Only foods that are manufactured or processed, would be affected.

Of course some hot dog manufacturers, among other food manufacturers, are not happy with having to place a warning label on their products. They feel it would deter parents of small children from purchasing their products. It's important to mention that 2 well known hot dog manufacturers have already labeled their products with warnings, prior to the AAP's request. These hot dog manufacturers are Oscar Mayer and Ballpark.

It's important to not just have warning labels but to educate and warn parents of small children about the possibility of them choking on food. Parents should be educated on how to feed their children, on how to cut certain foods into small pieces, etc. We hope that the AAP's request will at least start people talking about the risks, especially when feeding hotdogs to kids.

For more details, please click here.

Detroit 12 year old boy shoots a woman to death

Demarco Harris, a juvenile, killed 24 year old Trisha Babcock on August 1st , during a robbery just after midnight in Detroit, Michigan. He shot her in the chest with a gun after a struggle. She had been sitting in her car and later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Demarco Harris could face life in a Michigan prison for his felony. The prosecutor's office filed the case with an adult designation. In the state of Michigan, this means that a child is tried in juvenile court and after conviction, a judge has the option to sentence the juvenile as an adult or a juvenile or the decision can be postponed until the child reaches adulthood. Demarco Harris was charged with felony murder, armed robbery, having a firearm during a felony and violating curfew!

Times have really changed. What parent of a 12 year old, lets them out on the streets of Detroit pass midnight? Did the child's parents know he had a gun? Many parents accuse the schools or society in general if their children become criminals. But there is no excuse for parents to loose that special bond and communication with their child. It is up to the parent's, not the school, not the church or society, to raise children.