Inspirational Guide for Young Mothers With a Dream‏

Source: www.blackpr.com, www.blacknews.com

Philadelphia, PA (BlackNews.com) - FCS Books, a division of Family Care Solutions (FCS)--a nonprofit organization that promotes economic independence, educational awareness and social responsibility to improve the quality of life for families with children--releases its first book this fall to empower, inspire and educate Moms. Professor, May I Bring My Baby to Class? is a resource and guide to help young mothers navigate the obstacles blocking their dreams to pursue higher education.

Founder of Family Care Solutions and Author Sherrill W. Mosee encourages young mothers to take control of their destiny by completing their education. She guides them through the process and shows why higher education is important for both moms and their children. Professor, May I Bring My Baby to Class? includes compelling stories written by mothers who accepted the challenge of going to college while caring for their children, in spite of the odds stacked against them.

Meet Melissa, a young mother of four who left a troubled street life to return to school to make a better life for her family. Today, a student at the University of California at Berkley, Melissa now realizes the unlimited possibilities that lay at her feet with a college education. "After getting through my first semester, I realized that school wasn't that bad, and I could do it...This is dope homie; I'm sold," she says.

Professor, May I Bring My Baby to Class? also includes information about colleges and universities that offer on-campus child care, housing for women with children, financial aid, and other support services for student-parents plus tips and resources to help readers on their journey to graduation day. They will also be able to chronicle their own story, challenges, triumphs and dreams in a handy journal.

Professor, May I Bring My Baby to Class? would be a great inspirational gift and resource to any Mom with a dream to pursue higher education. For more information about the book or how to pre-order it, visit www.fcsbooks.com Family Care Solutions, a nonprofit organization that promotes economic independence, educational awareness and social responsibility to improve the quality of life for families with children, is the only community-based agency in Philadelphia which offers child care assistance to help eliminate the financial barrier of the high cost of child care for student-parents in higher education.

College is an option when you have children...It may be harder, but it can be done! I am living proof! (thanks to www.strayer.edu)

How Old Is Too Old To Participate in Easter Activities?

I have lived in the DC area for several years and around springtime, I always have one heck of a pity party because I have never been able to get tickets for the White House Easter Egg Roll. In prior years, we witnessed lines for days only to get turned around and my youngest son asking me, "But why?" This year, the tickets were given away online and although I couldn't see the long line in cyberspace, I still couldn't get through. My son, who is ten (the oldest wanted to attend just to see the Obamas), was upset that I couldn't get the tickets. Again.

"This may be my last year to celebrate Easter," he said to me when I came home from work that evening.

"Why? You're only ten, next year you can get tickets," I answered, scrambling to fix dinner at the same time.

"Mom, you know the website said for 'kids up to age ten only'," he explained. He walked away.

It finally hit me. My kids are growing up! Hooray! Oh, sorry, was having a moment there. I did feel a little guilty about not getting those tickets again, but, I did take him to an event to celebrate Easter activities for kids.

The National Zoo, home of the Panda in the historic Woodley Park in Washington DC, had a wonderful event for us to attend. The zoo is not far from my job, so it was easy to get to, being Metro accessible and all. I took him to the Annual Easter Monday: Celebrating the African-American Family event. Glad I went early!

The event started at 10:00am. Sponsored by radio station WHUR 96.3 FM, my son participated in an Easter egg hunt where he and a bunch of other age eleven and under kids were scrambling for wooden eggs. At the end of let's say, five minutes, they had to go to a table and trade in their eggs for prizes. My son picked out a soccer ball keychain to match his soccer ball themed basket.

He played games such as beanbag toss in the meerkat's mouth, ring toss on the flamingo's beak, and Frisbee toss in another kind of mammal's mouth (sorry, I don't remember). There was a man dressed up as the zoo's traditional panda, sitting and waving inside of an Easter egg shaped bubble. People snapped pictures, even yours truly.

Watching my son act a little shy when it came time to create a crafty bag so he could receive candy gave me the uh-oh chills. I thought, "He just might be growing out of this." But then when I glanced around the table spread with glues, pictures, festive decals and markers, I realized there were a host of parents with toddlers and kindergartners providing assistance with their bags. My son did make a bag after I explained to him that he wouldn't receive candy if he didn't. I even helped by writing his name in 80's graffiti style!

The Hoola-Hoop contest he did not participate in, although I did see boys wanting to win the prize. I looked over at my son who shook his head, "No way Mom." Okay, maybe five years ago he would have won this competition.

After exhausting the events and noticing a semi-large crowd, we decided to leave. What was priceless about this outing was hearing my son say, "Mom, I can't wait to come back next year."

I smiled as I snapped a picture of him standing proudly near the sign that read, "Easter Monday: Celebrating the African-American Family."

Perhaps we are all never too old to participate in Easter activities.