#535...on rages of a different kind. The Choking Game.

Thanks to Sister Rose Pacatte, old ghosts came back to haunt me today.

And some ghosts, it seems, never learn to die...

And so, I thought I should do a little Ghostbusting of my own today, and hope you all will please join me with getting the word out - even if it's only in your own home, or own street, or school, or community.

for Ghostbusting you see, is really an easy task - real ghosts just hate it when we talk about them - it scares them away.

It switches the lights on.

It wakes the neighbors.

It opens the closet door on them for all to see.

and as an extra, extra, bonus - some kids will hate you for it -

for busting up their playtime - for being a kill joy - for "over-reacting" -

for being uncool.

for being a parent. (You know, exactly the kinda stuff we live for..)

Now gather closer peoples and listen up.  This alert just might save your child's life.  I'm not kidding.

Please read the story of Sister's nephew, Gabriel - who died accidentally while playing a very dangerous "game" - called the choking game.  Visit his mother's website - devoted to Gabriel, and who has worked herself to exhaustion trying to get the word out - so that he did not die in vain.

Yes, you heard right, the choking game.

Also called the Passing Out game, or Spacemonkeying, or The Dreaming Thing game... “suffocation game,” “blackout,” “funky chicken,” “space monkey,” “flatliner,” “tingling,” “suffocation roulette,” “space cowboy,” “knockout,” “gasp,” and “rising sun,” to name a few. (kids can be so creative.)

My own ghost, is now 11 years old.  I thought we were an isolated event.  I never realized how far reaching, how pervasive, and how persistent this children's game still is

today.

This game is in your own town, right around the next corner, the next block, or maybe even in your next room.

My ghost came into my house on a beautiful clear sunny day - when my daughter who wasjust 12 or so, came bounding into the house - laughing and giggling, eager to tell me about this cool game that her friend had just "done to her."  (Three words a mother never, evah, evah, evah, wants to hear...)

"Mom! - guess what (name intentionally omitted) just taught me - let me see if I can do it to you!..."  "It's really fun - it makes you feel like you're almost going to pass out and it makes you tingly all over!.."

Immediately, I felt my parental antennae go up...and a cold chill go down my spine.

My daughter - my vibrant, intelligent, honor student, beautiful, christianity awarded, innocent, young daughter - proceeded to then tell me and demonstrate how her friend applied pressure on either side of her neck - "right here" (over the carotid arteries)...

"...and Mom!  I almost passed out!"  "Everything went black and my ears were ringing.." "It was really funny..." "and afterward I got all tingly all over!"  "Joey even fell to the ground - hysterical laughing...and then he did it to the other kids and now they're all out there now trying learn how to do it."

WHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAATTT!!!!  I screamed..

At that point - complete horror turned to anger and every fiber of my being had to be held in check to not reach out and strangle my incredibly stupid innocent daughter for myself.  (That would be considered justifiable homicide, right?)

My daughter looked at me dumbfounded as I immediately grew my second head and ran outside to break up the little choking ring that was taking place right on my own front lawn. 

The other kids immediately noticed my two heads too, as I freaked out on all of them for being so stupid. (It's a parent thing)  Once I calmed down, I explained exactly what they were doing to each other physically, and asked them if they understood how dangerous and deadly this game is and could get. I asked them how they would feel if they accidently killed their friend - or themselves..with this game.

Upon hearing that - they were amazed that I now grew a third head - and honestly didn't believe that kind of thing could ever happen. "But it's only a game!"

In the end, all of the parents got called, as well as the school, and the pediatricians. I happened to sever a couple of my daughters friendships for her too, as a result.

Incredibly, some parents even thought I was "over-reacting". Ya know, making a mountain out of a mole-hill -   "It's just kids being kids..."

Unfortunately for them, I'm still waiting to lose sleep over that.

Please, talk to your kids. Familiarize yourself with the warning signs, find out which monsters are hiding out in their closets or under their beds.....

After all, when all is said and done - your kids and their friends will be around to hate you for it.

but that, we can all live with.

 

I'm curious - Anyone else out there have their own story? 

 

for more info: 

http://www.stilllovingmygabriel.com/

http://www.ksbitv.com/home/1839477.html?video=YLO