Parenting is hard! We want our kids to grow up right. But, because we’re human, we get tired of repeating the same things again and again–like how dirty their room is, they forgot to do their chores, why we constantly have to remind them to do their homework, that they broke their promise to do something…. Today’s Thursday Thought quote gives us good reason to try to be more patient with our precious children.
Salary.com has added up the monetary worth of a parent who stays at home to care for his or her child: $162,000. That’s $5,000 more that last year. If you are in that position (although not getting the money), you know the myriad of jobs being a stay-at-home parent entails. And next time you’re asked, “Do you work?” you should reply, “Yes. I earn $162,000 a year but I donate it all.”
One of the least-loving places we visit is where our child’s team competes. Be it soccer or softball, you’ve sat in the stands, cringing when a parent cusses at the referee or some adult encourages fighting or intentional injury, either directly or indirectly by non-verbal approval when it happens. This can be an opportunity for you to be a good example to your child, the teams, and the adults who aren’t acting like good role models.
There are many things you can do. Ask that man not to use ethnic slurs around your kids. Find something during the game to compliment the small, awkward child on the team.
If your child acts with violence, make sure your language (body and verbal) clearly indicates your disapproval. In front of other adults and the team, express your appreciation to the referee for his time and fairness. When you leave, have your child help you dispose of your family’s trash, plus what was left by people around you. Keep your eyes, ears, and heart open; you’ll find ways to be an example that your kids can look up to.
A terrible fear of any parent is turning around and seeing nothing but a crowd of strangers and not their child. I still remember the feeling, and my “child” is almost 33. I took all the precautions I could think of back then. But this video offers some that I didn’t think of. If you don’t have young children or grandchildren, please pass this on to friends who do. (Note: The sound may not work for you, but it’s only a musical background–no spoken words. The captions give the information.)
https://www.facebook.com/officialplayfull/videos/2069570226698205/?t=90
Many of us find ourselves in the position of being a primary caregiver, whether to a child, a spouse, a parent, or a grandparent. Yet, we need to keep our jobs, too. This makes for a very full–and tiring–life. But we do it out of love.
There are ways to ease our burden of love, though. AARP has a few tips to do just that. Learn about those tips at their Balancing Work & Caregiving.
(Thanks to Tina Silva Blease for providing this chart.)
Imagine visiting your dad in a nursing home. The woman in a nearby room is alone and unable to fend for herself. Get past the sights and smells of the place and into what she might be feeling. Here’s one woman’s experience, in her own words:
PLEASE…I’M HERE…SOMEBODY…. I know you’re visiting your father in the next room, but I’ve called out a dozen times for a blanket. You must have heard. Please get someone for me. Last week I was so thirsty, but nobody would answer my call button, and the woman visiting her friend in the other bed became irritated with me and closed the curtain between us. This morning I heard the laughing—again—one aide mimicking my slurred speech, the other calling out my daughter’s name like I do when I really get feeling down. I’m old, but I’m not deaf or stupid. I’ve been in this place for so many months, I’m less than a piece of furniture. If you tell someone in charge and wait to be sure something is done, then I’d be so grateful. No, it won’t get you in trouble, but, chances are, nobody will even think about treating your dad the way they’re treating me. Please… somebody…please.
Then, take a minute to give her a smile or ask if she’d like you to get someone to help her. You may be the only bright spot in her week. And watching out for other people’s parents shows honor and respect for our own.
The controversy isn’t new–it was brewing when I was teaching many, many years ago. The difference now is that there are several studies proving the obvious: kids are too tired to learn during their early morning classes.
The proposed solution is to start school later. The main argument I’ve heard against that is that it will mess up after-school activities, like sports and clubs. I’m not for it for another, more practical reason. That is, if school begins later, kids will con their parents into letting them stay up later, which defeats the purpose. I can hear it now–“Mom, Dad, school doesn’t start until 10:00 so I can stay up later because I can sleep late.”
If parents would stop giving in to kid-logic and make them go to bed at an earlier hour, the problem is solved. I’m a mom; I remember bedtime battles. But there are certain things we need to put our foot down about. A youngster’s being in an alert state so he/she can learn is one of those things. It’s up to parents to take responsibility.
Two probable Presidential candidates (Christie and Paul) came out today advocating parental choice in whether to have children vaccinated against measles and other diseases. Christie soon backtracked, but Paul remains adamant. This idea of parental choice is one I hear often. Let’s take a look at it.
First, remember that the controversy over vaccinations began many years ago, as the result of a report–since discredited as unscientific and inaccurate–and a claim by a researcher–since exposed as as self-serving and fudging the data. The scientific world totally denies Rand Paul’s absurd statement that vaccines cause mental illness or any other condition.
Back to parental choice. The choice not to vaccinate a child is a choice to put him in danger of being one out of the nine babies out of ten in a room exposed to measles to catch that disease and possibly suffer resulting hearing loss, deafness, pneumonia, encephalitis, or even death.
Parents don’t have a legal choice to beat their children, starve them, lock them in a closet, or leave them alone for several days. That’s called “child abuse” or “child endangerment.” Refusing to provide a child with proven protection against a potentially debilitating disease–how is that “choice” rather than “child abuse/endangerment?”
School’s out, kids are home–many weeks stretch out. Here’s a summertime quote that contains a solution for many parents.
“A lot of parents pack up their troubles and send them off to summer camp.” (Raymond Duncan)
[Saturday is the 1st day of summer. Enjoy!]