![]() Spring Break is rapidly approaching, or may already be here for some of you. As the parent of a tween, I know how easy it is for kids to get the "boredom bug" during extended breaks from school. My son in particular tends to go completely stir-crazy when he's off for more than a couple of days. He's 12, so he's at that awkward age where he doesn't want to play with his toddler siblings all day, and he's certainly too cool to pal around with his mom. He likes to "do his own thing" most of the time, and tends to run out of things to do quite rapidly. This leads to frustration not only for him, but for me, too! That's why I was so excited to learn about the My Friendship Bracelet Maker Traveler from Choose Friendship. This is the same company that brought the Grandpa invented My Friendship Bracelet Maker Original to the scene some time ago. They even have an awesome My Ribbon Barrette Maker, too, which is a must have for families with little princesses. I plan on buying one of these to make barrettes for my little Sophie! Anyhow, the My Friendship Bracelet Maker Traveler is an awesome way to combat Spring Break boredom for older kids and tweens. My son is very crafty and artistic, so I knew right away that this innovative bracelet making tool would provide him with hours of entertainment. Using this portable tool and tons of detailed patterns, you can create beautiful friendship bracelets to suit anyone's individual style. There's even a handy tote bag to carry the My Friendship Bracelet Maker Traveler in while you're on the go! When our bracelet maker arrived, I immediately thought to myself, "Why didn't I think of this?" I remember using scotch tape and the back of a notebook to try and make intricate bracelets when I was a kid, and it was so easy to pull the threads loose, ruining the bracelet. My Friendship Bracelet Maker Traveler eliminates the need to start over from scratch over and over again, since it provides a work station that holds your threads securely while you work. Bye-bye, scotch tape, and good riddance to frustration! There are detailed instructions and video tutorials on the My Friendship Bracelet Maker website that make creating stunning bracelets easier than ever before! All you need to know is how to thread the bracelet maker and a few simple knot techniques, and you're good to go. There are patterns for beginners, intermediate users, and even bracelet making pros! This is a great way to keep a child's interest and challenge them while building self-esteem. Here is my son's first attempt at a bracelet using his My Bracelet Maker Traveler. He made this bracelet for his friend, Autumn. Since her name embodies all things fall, he chose to make a simple stripe design in rich shades of brown, yellow, and orange. Kyle absolutely loves his My Friendship Bracelet Maker Traveler. He is having a great time learning new knots and patterns, and plans to make a bracelet for each of his friends. While he loves creating these bracelets, he is even more excited about what these bracelets stand for and the message they're meant to send. You see, my son, like many kids, is the victim of bullying. Ever since kindergarten, he has been targeted by other kids because he's "different." He has been called names like "gay", "faggot", "queer", "girly" and much, much worse. He has even been physically assaulted. Why? Because rather than play with a football or action heroes, my son prefers art and music. He is sweet and sensitive, and just isn't like a lot of the more macho boys. Of course there is nothing wrong with him. He is a good kid with a big heart, tons of empathy, and loads of compassion. But kids can be cruel. It breaks my heart to see my baby come home in tears asking why these kids won't give him a chance and get to know him. It hurts me, and it makes me angry. No child should ever feel like they're anything less than perfect, just the way they are. It doesn't matter if you're African American, Hispanic, or Asian....If you're tall, short, fat, or thin...Or even if you're gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. We all have worth, and we all deserve to be treated with respect. Appearances can be deceiving. While we may look very different on the outside and may have different lifestyles, we're all the same on the inside. We all have hopes and dreams, fears and sorrows, and we all just want to be happy. We all DESERVE to be happy. That's why Anti-Bullying measures are so necessary nowadays. Kids are getting hurt, feeling alienated and worthless, and are even committing suicide because they're bullied. It is truly an epidemic. People need to be aware of how our kids are being affected by bullying, and how we, as a society, can put an end to this insanity. I am pleased to announce that the folks at Choose Friendship, the makers of My Friendship Bracelet Maker, are aware of this growing issue and are taking matters into their own hands with their "Inside Out" Anti-Bullying Initiative. They have launched a great music video that's available on iTunes, Amazon, and Rhapsody. They even have a vibrant, colorful line of t-shirts that read "Choose Friendship Inside Out". Proceeds from song and t-shirt sales will be donated to non-profit organizations that support anti-bullying initiatives. Take a look at this video. It's quite powerful and sends a very clear message: Choose friendship, not bullying. Show this video to young people in your life. Start a conversation with them about bullying. Help them come up with ways to combat this issue in their own school. We CAN make a difference, one household at a time! Now this is a cause that as a mom, I can feel good about. It's our job as parents to teach our kids to treat others with dignity and respect, and that while we may have differences, we all have worth. My son is actually talking to his guidance counselor about the Inside Out campaign, and is hoping to form a "Friendship Club" at his middle school where kids can use these bracelet makers to make their own bracelets to spread the anti-bullying message. What a great way to promote friendship and solidarity among kids! I am hoping to see his school incorporate My Friendship Bracelet Maker into their extracurricular clubs and activities.
Overall, we're loving our My Friendship Bracelet Maker and the message that Choose Friendship is sending to young people. This innovative tool is easy to use, engaging, and will provide hours of creative fun for tweens. I would definitely recommend picking one up for fun rainy day or travel activities! HOW TO CONNECT: You can learn more about My Friendship Bracelet Maker and other great products on their website. You can also become a fan on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions! WIN IT! I am thrilled to announce that one very lucky reader will receive their choice of either the Traveler, Original or Barrette maker. How cool is that?! Please use this easy Rafflecopter form to enter. This giveaway is open to US Residents 18+ until 11:59PM on April 15, 2012. No PO Boxes. Winner will be drawn using Rafflecopter's Random Number Generator. All entries will be verified, so play fair! I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. Thanks for entering, and Good Luck! ***Disclosure: I received complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
38 Comments
Wendy
3/28/2012 04:35:18 am
Yes, I was harassed, teased and belittled because I was a little chubby. Once some mean boys said I was a whale and "harpooned" me in front of the school. I look back and I was quite thin! Kids are so mean. As a mother, I feel horrible for the things my kids go through and sadly, I think it happens to one degree or another for all kids. :(
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Ann Fantom
3/28/2012 11:12:16 am
Yes, I was bullied. I just suffered through it and tried my best to avoid the bullies.
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Gladys Parker
3/28/2012 12:55:08 pm
Yes, quit school at 15 and moved away.
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Gladys Parker
3/29/2012 12:31:42 am
In elementary I tried to get home asap to avoid them
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Cindy B
3/29/2012 02:52:29 am
I had a girl in junior high try to bully me but thankfully both our parents got involved and stopped it
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Kristi C
3/29/2012 11:51:04 pm
I was bullied because of my height and eyesight. It was a struggle to deal with as a child. I surrounded myself with true friends to help me through it.
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Christina L
3/31/2012 01:24:37 am
Yes When I was 5 a bigger girl pushed me down on the sidewalk and made me scratch up my face. Im not sure how we fixed It. Im sure my mom called the school
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Gladys Parker
4/3/2012 06:00:31 am
Often the bullies learn there ignorance from home so it is very hard to solve. One of the boys that bullied me was the sheriff's son. He punched me in the mouth on the school bus and I had to be taken to the ER but he only got 1 day in school suspension. It is hard being a child.
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4/6/2012 01:16:15 am
Being poor in a middle class society set me up to be picked on but also being rich in a middle class society causes them to be picked on. Couldn't everyone treat each other the same? It depends alot on how we are taught at home.
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heidi h
4/6/2012 10:12:18 am
Yes I fought back and suffered for it and even learned from it.
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Gladys Parker
4/7/2012 04:01:22 am
I joined Girl Scouts in Junior High so I could catch the late bus and not have to ride with the usual kids.
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Gladys Parker
4/9/2012 09:19:36 am
Thinking back it is a real shame as I remember the bullying started in Kintergarden, how can children so young know to make people feel uncomfortable?
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4/9/2012 09:31:58 am
I have been teased and bullied. I think I gave them verbal replies back.
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4/9/2012 09:38:49 am
I am signed up for your e-mails but are not receiving them. Help!!!!
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Cindy B
4/9/2012 05:16:30 pm
I was bullied once for a few weeks. My mom said it was because the other person didn't know how to be my friend and to confront her and she and I ended up being tolerable/friendly towards one another. Thanks for a great giveaway
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Christina L
4/10/2012 12:05:47 am
I was bullied at the city boat landing by a group of mean girls. Me and a few other friends. We just left..Really what was there to do?
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Gladys Parker
4/10/2012 12:49:58 am
Being bullied tears a child down, makes them insecure as a person. What we can do is try to build them up. I don't think I got my sense of self until after I left school.
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Marcia Goss
4/10/2012 05:10:08 am
No, I don't remember ever being bullied. I feel sorry for the kids who are. All parents should teach their kids to be tolerant and respectful of others.
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Jessica Hays
4/10/2012 12:52:29 pm
yes, the school counselor took care of it
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I was bullied through out middle school due to my momS being "gay". Due to the bullying it took a long time for me to accept my mothers for who they are, now that I am an adult I fully accept them and have friends who are "gay" as well. To cope... well, I didn't really cope, I just acted out and was a troubled child. Now I find myself very protective of my daughter and want to cry w/her every time she comes home from school upset because someone made fun of her, even though it is just a "little joke" or giggle about a comment of an article of clothing she is wearing (Justin Beiber shirt) or her winter hat that had a kitty on it. To other family members they don't see or understand why she is hurting, but I feel the hurt w/her even over something "so silly". Sorry, strayed from your question.
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CYNTHIA
4/11/2012 04:03:57 am
Yes, in high school. just got through school day to day.
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Gladys Parker
4/11/2012 07:07:35 am
I think schools in general should address the problem more with the students and parents. I seen a great program that visited schools on CNN I wish more had the chance to participate. It felt awful feeling that bad in a place that is mandatory to go!
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Marcia Goss
4/12/2012 04:20:43 am
No, I was never bullied in school. What makes a bully think that it's ok to do this to someone else?
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Gladys Parker
4/12/2012 09:36:50 am
My youngest was torment by this one boy and when the school said nothing they did had helped I went to his home. His mother spoke with me for a few minutes and called him at least 8 names in that time. I felt so sorry for the boy I left. The following school year I heard from her friend the state had taken all her children away. Sad situations sometimes cause the worst of situations.
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4/13/2012 04:36:42 am
I was born with a cleft lip and palate and, yes, I was bullied. I tried to teach the bullies about my birth defect and told them about all the surgeries I had had and would have to fix it. Sometimes they "got it", other times they were just as cruel. It didn't help that we moved a lot while growing up so I would have to go through it all over again at the next place.
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Gladys Parker
4/13/2012 11:39:39 am
I think having in school therapists (not guidance counselors) would help a lot of the children that are bullied and some of the bullies themselves. I believe it would have helped me.
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april yedinak
4/13/2012 09:53:25 pm
Kids did try to bully me when I was little- we were military and moved a lot so I was always the 'new' kid. Add the fact that I was poor and nerdy and I was a huge target. Unfortunately, in my case I spent my entire childhood in near daily fist fights.
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jodi lasher
4/13/2012 10:42:39 pm
I have never been bullied but my kids have. It's a hard situation to deal with. The first thing they did was report it and if it continued i have told my kids to stick up for themselves and not take it. NOW NOONE picks on them because they know they cannot get to them.
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Gladys Parker
4/14/2012 08:53:56 am
I believe sometimes children with low self esteem can take innocent joking to be bullying also. I took a lot of things the wrong way not that I really try to remember kintergarden.
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Sylvia
4/14/2012 09:00:26 am
I was picked on a little, but never bullied. Overall I think that I grew up in a pretty accepting community. More definitely needs to be done to prevent and punish bullying.
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Kayla
4/14/2012 12:44:28 pm
I was bullied in school because I am short, but I walked away from it and got an adult.
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Gianna
4/14/2012 04:16:51 pm
I learned how to defend myself physically and it stopped.
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kathy l pease
4/15/2012 01:15:59 am
i was not bullied as a kid that i can remember but it breaks my heart to see the consequences of it today
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Shirley Pebbles
4/15/2012 06:36:17 am
I was. I remember walking different ways home because I was afraid. I just thank God I am no longer in school.
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Gladys Parker
4/15/2012 08:22:49 am
I am very impressed with companies such as this that use their influence to help a cause as important as being bullied / bullying!
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Michelle H.
4/15/2012 09:31:51 am
When I switched schools, I was bullied. I was lucky to have my faith, my family, and I had other activities outside of school that kept me busy.
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Sand
4/15/2012 12:03:03 pm
I was bullied a lot because of my weight & vitiligo. I used poor coping mechanisms but once I got into therapy, that helped a lot!
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I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud Mom of 3 amazing kids. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com Links We Love :Archives
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