We must do everything we can to protect ourselves and our children from human traffickers. There's some helpful tips in the video as well as the links below. Article described in video - Protect Yourself and Children from Becoming Victims of Human Trafficking: https://www.more.com/lifestyle/protec... For tips and help, visit https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

​Here is the article stating the FBI's rescue of 84 minors that I speak of in the video: ​http://www.wowt.com/content/news/FBI-helps-rescue-84-children-from-sex-trafficking-451500493.html

*Not a complete list... and it keeps growing.*

The presentation begins with an introduction to how Mamma Z started creating children's books and kept doing what made her happy - ART! She then goes into reading the first Zombie Squirts book to the group, with a few helping hands, of course.

Here, she starts the anti-bully discussion and adds a demonstration featuring her little friend, Eggert! This activity explains how we need to choose our words wisely because you can't take it back once it's said. It also shows how words can hurt someone on the inside.

The next activity is the Anti-Bully Pledge with the Zombie Squirts! Here we fill in the zombie outline with positive words that we can say to other people to help lift them up. Then all the children sign the poster to make their pledge and hang it up for all to see! If time allows, the kids make their own NO BULLY posters to hang for their schools!

Of course there's goodie take-home bags for the children containing coloring sheets, stickers, bookmarks and erasers! Not to mention a 20% off coupon for books at our online store! ;) http://www.zombiesquirts.com/zombie-s...

SPECIAL THANKS to the Roots & Shoots after-school program at College View Heights Elementary and Girl Scout Troop 40006, both in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Thank you for having us! To book a presentation with Mamma Z within the Omaha/Lincoln/Council Bluffs area, contact mammaz@zombiesquirts.com!
~ Mamma Z

In this video Mamma Z breaks down her inspiration behind the cleats and you can also watch the WHOLE drawing and coloring process from start to finish!! (In super fast forward, of course, we couldn't make a 4 hour long video!)

Alex Collins of the Baltimore Ravens was the original inspiration behind creating my own cleats for the #mycausemycleats movement!

This was by far the best response this mother could have gotten to tell her son. Not only is it inspiring, it's from one of the best football players in the game! He didn't HAVE to do a shout out or say anything AT ALL...but he did and that's what makes him such a special person. 

​He truly inspired me to get all the materials together and make these cleats for the #mycausemycleats movement!

Once I heard about Alex Collins and his amazing story with Carl... I started researching the NFL Bullying Campaigns and players that also are trying to fight the bullying movement! 
​
I found this blog post :

I started on the left Cleat and just allowed myself to be expressive without a lot of restrictions.  I knew I wanted a bunch of bright colors and words that inspire me in my fight against bullying.
​

• No Bullying
  
• Be Buddy...Not a Bully!
  
• Speak Up
• Say No To Hate
• Words Do Hurt
• Show Love
• #mycausemycleats
• Love
• Stop The Hate

The goal is to get the attention of the NFL, Nike, Alex Collins and the other NFL Players that endorse Anti-Bullying Cleats!
​

Awww... what a great picture of Izaac with his new fan art poster!
His grandmother and giveaway winner, Nicole, reads the Zombie Squirts books to him often as he loves to look for Captain Crawly! Thank you, Nicole, for supporting the Zombie Squirts' anti-bullying message and sharing our children's books with your family!
~ Mamma Z

Many who know me, know I am a HUGE Star Wars fan. This parody poster is a result of a desire to write a story about the Zombie Squirts gang dressing up as Star Wars characters to watch a movie premiere. However, I fear that now Star Wars is owned by Disney, I may get my pants sued if I sell a book using the likes of their property. So, I decided to make this instead.

I hope to someday bring the story to fruition as possibly a freebee comic strip short or something of that nature. To put it in a nutshell, a couple of the Squirts girls get told they can't wear certain costumes because they're not the right gender. As you can see in the poster above, Lily is Bobba Fett and Annie is Darth Vader.  In the short story, it is explained that you can dress up as whomever you want! It doesn't matter if you're a boy or a girl, if it makes you happy, do it! I, as a child, ALWAYS wanted to dress up as Darth Vader or the Incredible Hulk for Halloween but my mom wouldn't let me... I had to wear my dance costumes that made me look like a princess or Uncle Sam.

I was not pleased. LOL

I think it's important to let children express themselves freely without consequences of being shamed by parents, siblings, friends, etc.  Confidence is built by self-expression so we can't keep shaming and taking it away from others. Confidence builds self-esteem, which can help counteract any bullying directed towards them, plus help other victims by standing up to the bullying as it's happening. Bring kids UP, not down.

~ Mamma Z

A: I was asked by my Job to create some custom stickers that were zombie-themed for children! I happily obliged. I came up with the Zombie Squirts and purchased the rights to them, I had an amazing idea for a children's book series. 

A: Some of the stories are based on my own life. When I was younger, I moved from Chicago to North Dakota. I did not know anybody and I got made fun of and teased a little bit. But there were people who came to my rescue and made things great for me!

A: I know when you are young...you think it's the end of the world when somebody hates you or if they call you names. But, ITS NOT! Those people aren't going to count after school...if you don't want them to!

Howdy Folks! To celebrate the new #StarWars movie, we decided to have a #GIVEAWAY!! What do you get when you #draw adorable #zombie #kids as #darthvader, #lukeskywalker, #hansolo, #bobbafett, #C3PO, #PrincessLeia, and #Yoda?? A #kickass #fanart #poster, that's what! And we're GIVING ONE AWAY!! Go to the following link to register for your chance to win this numbered (16/24) and autographed, 18"x18" poster board print created by yours truly!

REGISTER HERE!!
http://www.zombiesquirts.com/star-wars-giveaway.html

One winner will be announced #newyearsday! Good luck!!
~ Mamma Z

What is it like to be bullied
First, your heart gets hurt to the point of being broken
Your tears build up to the point of over flowing
Your mind begins to think that you're worthless
This is what being bullied is like
There are times you want to run and hide
Maybe something even worse like taking your life
I know what it is like cause, I was bullied myself
The feeling is something that will take time to heal
Not all people are out to hurt you
In fact, there are people out there who can heal you
At times I know you want to get back at whoever
Revenge, my friend, is never the answer
Show the bully and others love and kindness
The bully has been bullied themselves
They know not what they do
Everyone is different that is OK
That is what makes this world so fun to live in
So, to all the bullies out there stop what you do
You can do something that can really hurt someone
To all the people who have been bullied
Cheer up, there are people out there who love you

Chris Lynch aka Sir Poet
11-2-17
4:38pm

As a parent, you take special pride in your children, after all, they are your offspring. They are an extension of yourself in many ways, so anything they do or not do is a direct reflection of you as a parent in the eyes of society. When your kid is a model of perfection, it brings a prideful tear to your eye..

BUT... What happens when you get the news...

YOUR kid is the school bully. 

**screeching halt** **record scratch** **crickets chirp**

This can be a difficult pill to swallow right away. But, NO NOT WORRY! This is something that you can easily address and give them the ​proper guidance on how to correct the behavior and show them why it's important that we make sure everyone is treated equally and respectfully

Do your children know the effects of bullying? When I ask this question, parents always say, "Yeah, they know. We have talked about it before!" 

I'll stop most of them right there and clarify what I mean by the question. Just because you "told" them or "talked to them" about bullying, does not mean they fully UNDERSTAND what bullying is and why it can be harmful to other children. Because, if they DID fully understand it, they would not be doing it. 

Tell them about the 4 types of bullying:

• Physical
• Emotional
• Cyber
• Social

Although we will not be getting into these 4 specifically here, it is important to talk to them about each one and their individual effects. There is a chance they did not understand that what they were doing was actually bullying. This could be a great opportunity to bring up bullying to them.

Bullying doesn’t happen because the victim encouraged it. The bullies need to know this! It is your duty and obligation as a parent to help them realize that the choice they made was wrong and ended up hurting the true victim.
​
Even in group and peer pressure scenarios, the choice is theirs to make. Tell them it is better to dissociate from such groups that make you do “bad things” to others than be part of it. That IS a choice they do have.

Maybe the reason why your kid took the approach that most bullies do is that they do not fully understand the importance of empathy. Developing this trait is extremely important in our society. Next time your kid bullies someone and you have a talk with them, tell them how they made the victim feel. This will encourage them to develop empathy for others. Sometimes a simple "sorry" may​ not be enough. You may have to take it a step further:

• Write out an apology letter to the victim
• Give the victim a peace offering gift