We have decided, and the winner (of the contest I mention last week) is DarkenedAngel (DA) !!! Well done DA.

There were many amazing entries, however DA's entry was especially emotional to read.

I have decided to also give a runner up prize of m$5000 to alishas-mummy for her entry.

Note: I am aware of DA's comment that she didn't want the moolah is she were to win, however I made a promise and will fulfill it by awarding the m$20,000. From there DA can work out what she wishes to do with it. Remember moolah can be cashed in and used in real like (ie: spending it or giving it to charity)

Below is a copy of DA's winning entry...

Dear Reader,  

Today, in my home over a cup of coffee, I was talking to a community social worker who runs a local parenting group. She was telling me all about the benefits of such groups, emphasising the support from other parents and the valuable and practical experience and advice that can be learned from them, as opposed to a text book or supposed expert. I laughed, and turned on my computer.  

I went to the internet and typed in www.minti.com, such an easy URL to remember. I stepped away and said, “Like this?” and let her sit down and have a look. She was astounded that such a site existed, was completely free to join and use, and even more astounded that the site had almost 25,000 members from all over the planet; who had written over 6000 parenting advice articles from their own personal experiences and research, with dozens more being added by parents every week. She then flooded me with questions.  

 “What about personal support for parents?” I showed her a blog written from someone having a bad day and all the supportive comments that it had received. She noted the time stamps and was amazed at how quickly the responses of support and advice had been. She was almost in tears as she read the beauty and feelings of real caring within some of the comments.  

“What if someone has a specific question they want to ask?” I showed her the Questions and Answers section. Lots of specific questions, with advice articles linked to them by other members, as well as many valuable and intelligent, heart-felt answers that had been given so quickly.  

“How safe is it? I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about internet sites.” I explained how the Administration keep a close eye on things, and usually at least one of them can be found online at any given time of day or night. Even when the Administration members aren’t around, the other members look after each other. Just about everything can be reported, and when that happens, whatever is reported vanishes instantly and gets reviewed, and if it is deemed appropriate and suitable it comes back, otherwise it stays off the site. Any member can report anything they find offensive or unsuitable. The members have to behave themselves or they can be removed from the site as well. I suffer from severe anxiety, and this is the only internet site that I have found that I feel completely comfortable and safe to be a part of.  

“Yes, that’s all fine and well, but it’s not like the members can meet for coffee and let their children interact and play together and learn social skills…” she saw the expression on my face and said, “Or are you going to tell me that happens over this internet site as well?” She quickly changed her tone of cynicism as I opened up the Virtual to Reality group on the site and showed her photo after photo, and story after story, of members meeting up for coffee and playtimes. Her jaw dropped. Predicting what her next question would be, I then showed her advice articles about staying safe on the site, meeting with other members in real life, and how to go about such social interaction both on the site and off without getting into trouble or dangerous situations. Her jaw dropped.  

“And being the internet and worldwide, this is accessible and active 24 hours a day?” That’s right. Just then my phone rang. It was another member of Minti asking me if I could get some advice from the site for her situation because she didn’t have internet access at the time. That was too easy to do, I found what she needed to know within seconds. When the call was finished, the social worker asked me where the girl that phoned was from – over 1000 kilometres away. We met up with each other when I was on holiday in her city.  

Minti (www.minti.com) is the most amazing site for parents I have ever come across. It breaks down the walls of social isolation that many parents face. The members are real people with real problems, and real solutions. Whether you are a parent of your first newborn baby, your teenage grandchildren are becoming difficult to understand, or you are planning a child and want to get a better idea what you can expect, Minti has the answers… or we will quickly find them for you!