A writer once wrote, "No nation is greater than its mothers, for they are the makers of men" But, when I turn on my television and see the numbers of mothers who are killing their children I must ask myself, "What drives a mother to point of killing her own child?" "What is it in our society that makes a mother feel so desperate, so alone, that she believes her only recourse is the death of herself and her children?" Andrea Yates, who killed her five children; Dee Etta Perez, who shot her three children; Deanna Lany, who beat her two sons; Lisa Ann Diaz who drowned her daughters; Dena Schlosser, who fatally severed her daughters arms; and now Gilberta Estrada, who hung herself and her children. Not to mention the countless number of babies that are born and left in dumpsters even with the passing of a new law that says they can leave them in safe places and receive no repercussions.

Loneliness, poverty, depression; what demons lurk behind the erstwhile smiles of these women that lead them to believe that death is the only option.

Women have suffered hardships for years. Slavery, the Great Depression, living during the Civil Rights Era, all of these times were hard, but you never heard of mothers killing their children. Instead that reached deep down inside themselves and mustered whatever strength they could to make sure that their children had better lives than they did.

What has changed? Nothing could be more devastating that being raped by a slave master, forced to have his illegitimate child, and then being forced to raise that child. Yet, these things happened and many of these children and/or their grandchildren grew up to be productive, effective citizens in our society.

During the Great Depression and the Civil Rights movements, money was scarce, but somehow people managed to take the little they had and turn it into something great. Material things were not the norm. What was more important was love of the family, togetherness, and morality.

Could it be that as a society we have focused so much on gaining material wealth that we have forgotten about people? There was a time when neighbors knew neighbors, intimately; when everyone in the neighborhood had a stake in raising good, well rounded children. If, a mother was suffering and needed support, she could go to the neighbors house and be assured that whatever they had would be shared with her and her family.

Motherhood is a gift from God and it should be cherished. However, in our day it has been massacred. It is mocked. Unfortunately, too many mothers exercise selfishness with small regard for their children whom they largely ignore.

Then their are those mothers who really try to do better, but because of bureaucratic red tape, and long waiting lines, they are left to their own devices to try to make it. Where is the love and support? Where is "Big Mama", "Mamaw", and Grandmother, who can help teach and nurture these young mothers? Or have they become a sign of the past as well.

Mothers are supposed to be the teachers of compassion, love, forgiveness, honesty, and integrity. Yet, because society has all but given up on these qualities, they are forced to spend their time looking for their next paycheck. Many of them can't even be with their children when they are ill because their jobs won't allow them to be off. Instead, the children drag off to school feeling bad and lacking the security and comfort of a mother's love. What have we done?

If, we don't cure the disease that is eating away at motherhood and do it soon, our nation is headed for destruction.

Cheryl Lacey-Donovan

Cheryl Lacey-Donovan is an author, educator, and inspirational speaker. Her first book Women What the Hell are You Thinking: An Inspirational Guide to Becoming a Virtuous Woman of God was released on May 1, 2007 to rave reviews. Women What the Hell are you Thinking remained in Amazons top 10 hot new releases during the entire first two months of its release. Cheryl is also the host of Worth More Than Rubies an internet radio talk show that airs on http://www.redchurchradio.com She has been a mentor for Christian Women Today for one year and is the founder of A Virtuous Woman-31. Cheryl has been happily married for 14 years to her husband Keith and she has two adult sons and a stepdaughter. She is a member of the Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. Cheryl plans to release two more books before years end. Wheres My Mama: The State of American Motherhood in America and Some Day My Prince Will Come, but Am I Cinderella? Look for her new releases in the fall and winter of 2007.

Mrs. Donovan is available for interviews and conferences. info@avirtuouswoman-31.org

Just because you own one of Americas premier luxury makes doesnt mean you must pay a mint for car insurance. True, Cadillacs are not cheap cars but you shouldnt have to pay a premium for your Cadillac car insurance. Are you in the market for better insurance coverage for your Cadillac? Do you want information that could save you hundreds of dollars per year on your Cadillac car insurance? If you answered yes to either question then please read on as I have important information that can result in big savings for you.

Over the past decade, the Cadillac line up has been overhauled to compete much more effectively against foreign luxury brands. No longer simply Lincolns chief competitor, Cadillacs are routinely mentioned in the same breath as Mercedes, Lexus, and BMW when comparing global luxury brands. Like the foreign brands, insuring a Cadillac can be an expensive proposition. However, just because you can afford a Cadillac doesnt mean you want or should have to pay the highest Cadillac car insurance rates going. With a little research, you can come across sizable Cadillac car insurance savings.

Depending on the age of your Cadillac and the coverage that you seek as well as the coverage required by your state, your insurance rates can vary drastically. In addition, there are some other things which can determine what you will ultimately pay:

Your age

Your personal health

Your driving record

Your address

Your deductibles

Your Cadillacs age

Your annual miles driven

and more!

When purchasing Cadillac car insurance there are various insurance elements that comprise the entire insurance policy including:

Liability insurance This element protects you in the event that you have an accident, specifically if you damage property or hurt someone else in the accident. The more coverage you have, the better you are protected against legal claims that could arise against you.

Collision insurance If your Cadillac gets damaged, do you have insurance to cover repairs? Any vehicle with a value of $3000 or more should have collision insurance. You are required to have this type of coverage if your car is being financed through a financing company.

Comprehensive insurance This insurance element protects you in the event of some other loss including theft, wind damage, vandalism, etc.

Other parts of the insurance puzzle include insurance against an underinsured or uninsured motorist as well as medical insurance in the event you lose work, etc. Of course, you must determine what insurance works best for you. The key to all insurance is for you to reduce your risk, so dont skimp on coverage.

Finding cost effective Cadillac car insurance can be done by calling various agencies for a price quote or, if you are pressed for time and want to see multiple quotes at once, by visiting an online car insurance quote company such as Insure.com which can turn up the information that you need. Should you go with the company that has the lowest rates? That is usually advisable, but only if they can also provide the agent assistance you need when you need it. You can obtain that information by visiting a consumer satisfaction site discussing insurance companies, contacting your states consumers affairs department, or by asking friends who are satisfied customers of the car insurance company that interests you.

Yes, affordable Cadillac car insurance is a possibility. Do a little online research and you could turn up some big savings.

Copyright 2006 Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance automotive writer for the Cadillac Country Club a website dedicated to helping loyal Cadillac owners save money on car insurance with useful tips and information about car insurance quotes.

Let's face it, if you're living with this condition, controlling male menopause is an important issue for you.

Unfortunately, it isn't given much attention at all in the media, and the existence of male menopause has even been strenuously denied for years.

Importantly, after men started to adamantly speak up about their male menopause symptoms and medicine began to take the condition more seriously, a fundamental question was asked: does male menopause have a physical cause or is male menopause psychological? Meaning: is it all in the head?

The roots of the condition should not be confused with the symptoms of the condition itself, which can definitely be either physical or psychological, as you'll discover below.

Male menopause symptoms

First lets look at the different male menopause symptoms. While the well-known ones include loss of libido and erectile dysfunction, there are many more signs that emerge when one takes a closer look.

Other physical symptoms may include:

• Hypogonadism, or low testosterone levels
  
• Increased risk of heart disease and heart attacks
  
• Increased fatigue and overall loss of energy.
  

In addition, male menopause psychological indicators may include:

• Increased irritability
  
• Decreased enjoyment of life
  
• Mood swings
  
• Depression
  

Having listed some common male menopause symptoms, how can a man suffering these go about controlling male menopause?

Sometimes it's acknowledged that the root of the problem for these symptoms is low testosterone level; in such cases, testosterone replacement therapies may be employed.

Testosterone is known for its role in muscle-building, giving us a deep voice, sex drive, aggressiveness and assertiveness, energy, and in short, is the essence of what makes a man a man.

However, testosterone is a also a key hormone in other bodily functions such as cholesterol control, the regulation of blood sugar levels, and helping to create strong healthy bones. In fact, among the giveaway male menopause symptoms is the loss of bone and muscle tissue. For this reason, controlling male menopause symptoms is a consideration in preventing osteoporosis.

Different testosterone replacement therapies used for controlling male menopause include: testosterone injections, testosterone releasing patches, testosterone creams, and testosterone pellets inserted underneath the skin.

Testosterone injections may cause emotional swings, however, as it can be difficult to maintain an even level of testosterone in the bloodstream this way since one gets a large boost at time of injection....which then levels off and falls again prior to the next injection.

Testosterone injections can also be painful, and many men prefer one of the other methods for controlling male menopause symptoms. In any event, speak with your doctor about the best course of action.

Although male menopause can occur as early in a mans life as his thirties, it most commonly occurs in the ages between 40 and 55. By the age of 55 the amount of testosterone in the bloodstream has declined in significant amounts compared to the age of 45. By the time a man enters his eighties, he possesses the same level as a pre-teen boy.

The reason male menopause symptoms are not as dramatic as women's menopause -- and perhaps why the existence of the condition was denied for years -- is that a womans primary sexual hormone, estrogen, drops drastically with time whereas the male hormone testosterone tends to drop gradually over time.

Whether you suffer from emotional symptoms -- irritability, mood swings, depression, or physical symptoms such as low libido, lack of energy -- controlling male menopause symptoms is important for being able to enjoy life fully again.

Although you may feel adamant that you have male menopause, don't attempt self-diagnosis; talking to your doctor about it will lead to you being a better informed individual with respect to controlling male menopause symptoms.

Learn more about male menopause symptoms and controlling male menopause at Testosterone-Booster-Guide.com