It’s not uncommon for us to have siblings; but what about the ones that don’t? We’re called only children, and about 20% of all families have only one child. I am included in that 20%, and there are a few things I’d like to get straight.

Myth: Only children are spoiled.

Truth: No way! Only children are treated the exact same way every other child is, siblings or not. I think most people assume we are because our parents don’t have to spend money on multiple kids- but it’s not true.

Myth: Only children are lonely.

Truth: It honestly depends; but everyone gets lonely sometimes. Most of the time, I’m happy with my life and I don’t crave for a sibling because I’ve never had one, so I have nothing to miss. There are a few times, though, when my friends talk about their siblings that I start to feel sad and wish I had someone to grow up with, too.

There are tons of stereotypes about only children that aren’t true; things like: only children don’t do well in school, or only children are depressed. Just know that when you hear these, they aren’t true. Research actually tells the opposite: only children do better in school and have better lives. Of course, you don’t need to be an only child to obtain these things, either!  Many people with siblings have high scores in these subjects, too.

It’s also known that people with siblings wish they were only children; but the truth is, life without their siblings would be so different then life with them. Maybe without 2 kids, you wouldn’t have gotten a sale on your vacation package and wouldn’t have been able to go with only 1. Or maybe your sibling wouldn’t have introduced you to ____. Either way, siblings or not, be happy with what you have and know that a lot of stereotypes aren’t true.

By: Kati, GEB member

Soft, cuddly, and sleepy- they’re cats! Cats LOVE to relax, and although people stereotype them as ONLY loving to sleep, playing can be fun for them too. Here, we’ll take a look at cats, and how we can take good care of them as pets.

Just like dogs, cats come in tons of different sizes, colors, and personalities. Some of the most common cat breeds are Persian, Tabbies, and Siamese, but these are just a few! Cats need lots of things to insure a good bond between you two. They need food, water, lots of toys and treats, and a cat bed for taking nice long naps. Cat equipment is more on the low side, but like anything, it can add up after a few years. However you plan to spend, make sure your giving your cat lots of attention and love!

Cats aren’t animals who need lots of training. Sure, they have to be housebroken to go in a litter box, and you wouldn’t want a ferocious cat stalking around your house! Here, I’ll teach a nice and easy way to train cats in simple ways. All cats learn at different speeds- one cat may be better at one thing than another, and vice versa. Make sure to be patient, and remember- when you’re frustrated, your cat will be too. Start by teaching your cat a command (if it’s needed). For example, if you’re housebreaking your cat, a command isn’t needed. Cats go on their own. Although, you have to teach your cat where the litter box is, and that that is the place to go. Award your pet with a treat for doing something right, and remember, take it slow.

Cats clean themselves, so you never actually have to give a cat a bath- which is a good thing considering cats HATE getting wet.  Cats also don’t like being woken in the middle of a nap, which is why you should play with your cat when they are awake. Your local pet store will have lots of toys, such as toy mice, so your cat will always be entertained. Just make sure your cat is under supervision, especially when playing with something that can easily be choked on, or can hurt the cat in any way.

So, whether you’re planning on getting a cat, want a cat, or already have a cat, now you’re the cat expert! Just remember that cats can sleep a lot, but just like any pet, they need LOTS of attention! Make sure to keep playing and caring for your cat!

By: Kati, GEB member

Dogs are exciting to think about but you need to know a few things first. Each different species of dogs is called a breed. If you don’t have a dog, and would like one, there are a few things you should know. First of all, dogs need a lot of space to run around. Some options you should consider are getting a fenced in yard so your dog can run around. This is a great option, except it’s pretty costly. Therefore, the other option is making sure a family member is home during the day to play and give your dog lots of exercise… if neither of these options are available, getting a dog and keeping him/her healthy will be a bit more tiring.

Every dog needs grooming- whether it’s done by you, or someone else. Hiring a groomer will add up, especially if you do it monthly, which is the basic amount of time that dogs should have in between grooming. On the other hand, grooming your dog yourself is much less money, but much more work. The grooming process requires a bath, drying, and brushing the fur. Giving the bath is a little tricky- make sure your in clothes you don’t mind getting wet. To start, find a good bathing spot. Make sure the water is more on the cold side than the warm side- what’s warm for us could be burning hot for a dog, since their skin is more sensitive than ours. Next, squirt one drop of soap and rub it in your hand. If the soap can cover both of your hands with a medium coat, then it’s perfect. If it’s too much, wash off the soap and start over, and if it’s too little, add some more. Once you have your amount of soap straight, start rubbing the soap all over the dog’s back, and its belly and paws. Do NOT rub any soap near the eyes, mouth or nose, so be very careful when doing this. Once the soap has been rubbed all over the dog, rinse all the soap off. Rinse all over at least 3 times to make sure all the soap is off! Once the washing process is done, simply pat the dog dry with a soft towel. The brushing process is much more simple- simply move the brush in small strokes where fur covers the body. Do not brush on underside, because they have almost no fur.

Now for the fun part of dogs- playing with them! Dogs love to be played with. Some simple games to play are fetch, and tug-a-war.  And whenever a dog does something good, feed him a treat! Make sure the treats are small, so that you can give them numerous ones throughout playing. Another good time to use treats is during training.

So, now you now the basics of having a dog! Of course, dogs need and have much more things to learn about- but these are the priorities that you should definitely know!

By: Kati, GEB member

Some headlines have named Marisol Valles Garcia, a 20-year-old criminology student, “the bravest woman in Mexico.” Marisol recently became police chief of Praxedis G. Guerrero, and she is both the first woman to be appointed to the position and the youngest.

Praxedis G. Guerrero is a small town in the state of Chihuahua, which borders the United States. It is also one of the most violent places in the state – police officers there, including the former police chief, have been kidnapped and even killed. It is also close to what is considered the most dangerous city in Mexico, Ciudad Juarez, where citizens are afraid to leave their homes during the day, and dare not leave them at night because of violence. It is a place where drug cartels (or drug gangs) consider themselves above the law, where police and citizens alike live in fear for their lives.

But in Ciudad Juarez, citizens refer to Marisol as “La Adelita,” a woman warrior who fought during the Mexican Revolution, and whose name symbolizes women of strength and courage.

“We’re all afraid in Mexico now. We can’t let fear beat us,” Marisol said after being sworn in.

Marisol says that she hopes to end the citizens’ fear by empowering them to take back control of their cities. She is focusing on a growing force that now has 13 mostly female officers who will remain unarmed.

“My people are out there going door to door, looking for criminals, and [in homes] where there are none, trying to teach values to the families,” she says.

Her goal is to establish programs to help unify neighborhoods, and to take public spaces—like schools and parks—back. She hopes citizens will rely on each other and form neighborhood watch groups.

Although Marisol has received local support, not everyone agrees with her ideas. Some people feel it’s foolish for a municipal police force to go up against drug cartels, which are extremely dangerous, violent, and supplied with as many weapons as small armies.

Others are willing to give her a chance.

“It is not likely things will change from one day to the next,” says Arturo Gomez, a local resident and farmer, “but let’s see what a woman can do…”

What do you think about Marisol and what she and her town have to overcome? Do you think her tactics will cut down violence in the area? How big of an impact can a small police force make?

Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below!

Megan

New Moon Intern

Have you ever dreamed of hearing interviewers greet the nation’s leading with the words, “Ms. President”? In Brazil, that dream is now a reality. Following a growing trend in the region, Dilma Rousseff, 62, was elected as Brazil’s first female president. She defeated her opponent, the former governor of Sao Paulo Jose Sierra, with 56 percent of the vote.

Before being elected, Rousseff served as the former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s chief of staff and energy minister. Mr. da Silva specifically chose Rousseff to succeed him and even campaigned for her.

“He treated this campaign like [his own] re-election campaign,” said sociologist* Demetro Magnoli.

President Rousseff’s supporters are willing to look past the fact that she doesn’t have any former elected official experience (such being elected governor or mayor).

“If it were only about experience I would never vote for her,” said one supporter. “But she has a good team behind her. Today is much better off because of [former President da Silva's] government. He did more for me than any other president.”

After winning the election, President Rousseff promised to focus on wiping out poverty, saying it is an “abyss that still keeps us from being a developed nation.”

To do this, she promised to build more low-income homes, expand a community-policing program, and improve the quality of education and health care. Of all these things, she feels education is “the most important issue facing Brazil.”

What do you think of Brazil electing its first female president? Do you think that it will help the U.S. and the world move forward in taking female political candidates more seriously? Which other female presidents have you heard of?

Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Megan

New Moon Intern