Of Doughnuts and Cupcakes

Of Doughnuts & Cupcakes

Ok.  I lied.  This isn’t actually about doughnuts and cupcakes.  Seriously though, If I told you my subject in the title I’m afraid you wouldn’t keep reading.  But now that I’ve given you a teaser you have to keep reading, because you’re curious.  Yea!  I win!  You see, my subject is a little less sweet—more like brussel sprouts.  Good for you, but not nearly as yummy as doughnuts & cupcakes!  So without further ado, (and now that you’re hooked!) I’ll begin..please hang with me.  

Project Show Up!

How Mother’s Can Effect the Political Process

For reasons unknown, my 5 year old has started requesting that we listen not to stories and music on the way to school, but to the local news station.  He especially likes to know what the weather’s going to be, and if there are any accidents on the roads.  I don’t mind listening to those-I want to know too!  It’s when the “real” news comes on that I start to squirm, switch back to Curious George, and wonder (again) just what type of world I have brought my 3 beautiful boys into, and how they are going to navigate their way through it.  Sigh.  How sad.

But wait! The question isn’t the lamenting “what have I brought my children into”, but the empowering “what am I going to do about it?”  Because in the end, the outcome of political elections and public policies directly effect the subject of my greatest passion-my family.  Don’t believe me? Take a look at this-I recently went to congress.org and searched for family related Bills and Resolutions under current legislation.  Below are the keywords and the number of bills and resolutions related to each.

Education 2596

Family 1408

Foster Care   106

Mental Health 388

Mothers 130

Religion 260

Special Education  86

That is a lot issues that could effect my family!

Now what?  How do we become involved in shaping the world our children are living in?  And how, FOR THE LOVE, are we supposed to choose leaders among women and men who are whining, complaining, and name-calling on a national stage?! Honestly, if I want to see that type of behavior, I can pop some popcorn, sit in my living room, and watch my 3 little boys decide who gets to play with the “good” toy car!

Searching out some answers involved a long distance trek——all the way across my neighborhood! My wonderful neighbor Enid Greene Mickelson served as a congresswoman in the 104th Congress in 1995.  She was the 3rd woman from Utah to serve in congress, and the 1st Republican woman from Utah to do so. Enid currently serves as one of Utah’s representatives on the Republican National Committee.  Lucky for me (and you!)  Enid agreed to sit down with me for a discussion about the importance of mother’s in the political process and policy making.  Below are questions and answers from our conversation, as well as an action plan to get you started!  

Q & A With Enid Greene Mickelson

How did you become involved in the political process?

“This is going to sound funny, but you talk about the Power of mothers’-it was my grandmother.  I knew she paid attention to it.  That was something that stuck with me, that my grandmother loved this country, and she would talk about the importance of going to vote.  I remember too, going with my mother when I was just a little girl, going into those big old clunky voting machines.  That left an impression on me as a child, that I would go to vote with my Mom.”

Why do we need more women, specifically mother’s to be involved in the political and policy making process?

“Women have a different perspective- that is one of the reasons we need more women involved in the public sector, not fewer.  Because we as mom’s are used to having to try to conciliate.  We are generally a little bit more emotionally aware in some respects than the men are.  We have a different skill set.  Those skill sets are very much needed.  It can't be all about who pounds the lectern the hardest or shouts the loudest. And we have that power.  If we would just exercise it.  53% of voters are women.  Think-if we would just show up more, what kind of impact we could have. We can impact the tone of the room.  The more women in the room the less likely you are to have the fist pounding, and raised voices.  We generally don't do it that way.  We make our influence felt in a different way.  It is so needed.”

What suggestions do you have about where to start, and how to become involved in the political process and policy making?

“Show Up-so much of this seems harder and more complicated than it is.  Don’t be put off with that. If you stick a toe in the water, usually you find out, “this isn’t nearly as hard as I thought.  I have an opportunity here to make a bit of a difference.”  You don’t have to be an expert overnight.  

I do believe there are seasons in our lives.  We want to have it all.  But we can’t have it all at the same time.  You have to choose how much time you have at each stage of your life, and your child’s life.  Maybe the time for you to run for office is not now, or ever.  But you can always do a little something. You can write a letter to the editor.  You can take your kids for a walk to pass out fliers for a candidate you support.  Just keep at it.”

This year is an election year.  How can we narrow down all of the information out there, so that we can be informed when we head to the polls on November 8th? 

“There is no one book that you’re going to pick up that’s going to be “the one.”  It’s like anything else- you’ve got to spend a little time yourself figuring out what work’s for you.  And that’s frustrating for people, because we all feel like we don’t have time for anything.  But you don’t have to be a policy expert overnight.  One of the problems we have right now is it is too easy for people to find the voices that simply reinforce what they already believe.  It can’t be so simple all the time.  You need to challenge yourself occasionally.  You need to say “okay this other person isn’t someone I would usually agree with, but have I thought this through?” What I tell people, is when your trying to find the facts, never get all of your information from one source.  I take bits and pieces from different places, and after awhile, anyone will feel comfortable in saying “this is a source I can get good information from.”

Project Show Up!

             Look at this simple list of next actions.  Figure out where you are, then take the next step today! 

Register to vote.

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Determine where your polling place is, and when the next election is.

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Research where candidates stand on issues important to you and your family.  Look at multiple sources (yes, even the one’s you may not agree with!)

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VOTE!

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Choose one or two issues you are particularly interested in or passionate about. 

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Sign up for e-mail updates from your city council, state legislature, and congress on those issues.  

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Respectfully share your thoughts, opinions, and solutions with policymakers working on policies related to issues you have an interest in.

Top 5 Things To Be Offended By Today!

Error. Re-routing. 

 I hear those words a lot from the GPS on my phone. I am easily distracted you see. But luckily, my trusty phone re-routes my course so that I can finally get from point A to point B.

 After listening to the vitriol spewing forth on both sides regarding the controversial natures of such important topics as red cups, OCD sweatshirts, and witty road signs, I'd like to share
a teeny tiny observation. 

ERROR! RE-ROUTING!

 If we're going to be outraged and angry, let's take aim at some things that are truly worthy of being outraged, angry, and offended by!

Please Insert Outrage Here:

Here is just a small sampling of thing's to be offended by today.    Tell everyone on social media how these things make you feel, AND what you're going to do about it.

1.  There are currently 108,000 children in the U.S. Foster care system who are ready and waiting to be adopted.  They range in age from under 1 to 21.  20% are teenagers. All need a home.  All deserve a family.

Go And Do! Learn more at Adopt U.S. Kids

2.  According to the Walk Free Foundation, there are approximately 35.8 million people enslaved worldwide.  60,100 are in the U.S. Nearly 1/3 of those enslaved throughout the world are children, some as young as 5.

 Go And Do!  Become A Modern Day Abolitionist-learn more at  Operation Underground Railroad and The Walk Free Foundation

3.  The National Alliance to End Homelessness reports that during a single night in January 2014 there were 578,424 people experiencing homelessness in the United States.  49,933 were veterans.  

Go and Do!  United States Interagency Council on Homelessness

4.  In South Sudan MILLIONS of women and children trek up to 8 hours each day to collect water from marshes, ditches, or hand dug wells where the water is often contaminated with parasites and bacteria-bringing sickness and death.

Go and Do!  Water For South Sudan

5.  Unicef estimates there are 30 million refugee children on the run from violence and oppression.   Syria is the world's largest producer of refugees.  There are 4 million on the run from Syria.  2 million of those are children.

Go and Do! Unicef-Syrian Refugee Crisis

So there you go.  5 things to be truly offended and outraged by.  

Go and Do.

Crazy Little Thing Called "Nice"

Ok, today I am embracing the crazy.  I am going to propose a radical new idea.  Oh yeah, you better believe it's going to be big.  Here it is-are you ready?  Let's be nice to each other. On Purpose.

Yup. You heard me.  Let's be nice to other people.  Like really nice.  Like on purpose nice.  And I'm not talking just to your family.  Oh no.  We are going to do this right.  Let's be nice to people we don't know well, maybe even strangers.  Even the people who "keep to themselves."  Especially them.  Because come to find out, according to modern psychology, us humans need each other.  Article on Psychology Today

Oh yes, you freedom lovin', gun-totin', independent American thinker who doesn't need anyone and can pull yourself up by your own bootstraps- even you.  We need positive social relationships.  We need connection with one another.  If nothing else, we need at least a few people we have contact with who can notice when our thoughts are going to crazytown- and gently guide us back to reality.

And then we can do the same thing for them someday-because at some points we will all go a little nuts.

Where is all this coming from you ask?  Well, you see, last week after yet another mass shooting in the U.S., a radio talk show host in my area asked his listeners what he thought was the root cause of the near constant irrational violence we see in the US.  It got me wondering if maybe there is a common denominator in the lives of those who commit these crimes, that individual members of our society could take control of and change.

And this is what I came up with.  (Close friends please let me know if I have gone to crazy town on this one.)

In a country where we value individuality and independence as our top priority, we pretend that we don't need each other.  I mean just check our Facebook pages and Pinterest boards.  Life is blissful and perfect! (insert smily emoticon here.)  But here's the truth (as I see it anyway.)  Life is hard.  No seriously, sometimes life completely sucks.  And the only reason life is worth living when times are sucky is that we can have positive human connections to those around us.  And ice cream.  But mostly human connection.

So what do we do for people who have to go through the sucky parts alone?  We should probably just let them be right?  Give 'em their space and privacy?  Um, no.  Remember crazy town?  I am most likely to visit that particular locale when I am upset, lonely, angry, or a combination.  Do you know why my train doesn't get that far?  Because the people I am positively connected to are sure to de-rail it.

So can I offer a suggestions? Something that every person in society can do that might help curb the violence? Can we all please agree NOT to give each other space in the name of respecting privacy?  Let's keep an eye on each other, and take an active interest in each others lives.  Especially the lives of those we may not know, or of people who just "keep to themselves", or who might live in different circumstances.

Because the only way we're going to get through the sucky-crazy-wonderfulness that is life,
is together.




Looking for easy everyday ways to "be nice on purpose?" check out my Everyday Service pinterest board!

Screentime for Kids...

Found this very interesting article.  Now you'll have to excuse me as I go tear my children away from the screen for some family fun!

Psychology Today Screentime Article

Simple Sunday Solution: LDS Sharing Time Primary Schedule

I created this little sticker chart for a little guy at my church.  The way it works is after each part of the routine (opening song; opening prayer, scripture, and talk; singing time; and sharing time) he can put a sticker on his chart.  We give this little chart to his parents after church, and they give him a little reward.  It is working wonders!  Not only does this little guy get a treat, but he is doing really well and doing what is expected and participating during this part of church.  Hope this can be helpful to you!  (Chart was created using graphics from found online at LDS.org)

Tallyho!

Lindsay

Simplifying Sunday

Ok, I know it's Monday, but I've still got Sunday on my mind!

Sunday.  A reverent day, where children sit quietly through church soaking up all the wonderful spiritual material, then return home to find activities that will nourish and edify their little souls.  Or watch Sponge Bob.  Either way.

Okay just kidding (sorta.)  Sundays can sometime's be an adventure at our home.  Sometimes there may even be yelling while getting everyone ready for church.  (Hypothetical.  Don't judge.)  So, in an attempt to bring a little order back to Sunday, I am creating a few things to help simplify it.

First things first.  I decided to make a list of "goals" I have for Sunday's, what I really want to get out of them.  Because I do want Sunday's to be different.  I am grateful for a day of rest, I sometimes just need some ideas to help us be restful and not just bored!

I want my Sunday's to be:

1.  Meaningful
2.  Calming
3.  Restorative
4.  Unifying
5.  Spiritual
6.  I want my kids to actually like Sunday, and the chance to take a break from all the screens.  Call me crazy.

To that end, I created a list of 50 family friendly ideas--- great for a quiet, simple Sunday.  I'm also including a card that kids can fill out with activities they would like to do.

I'm going to have my kids choose some things off of the list to fill in their
card for that Sunday.

Either my husband or I will mark things off as they do them.  They can turn in the filled out papers after dinner for a treat.  

Summer Sanity!

It's summer, it's summer!  I feel a little bit like Olaf from "Frozen" right now... you know the part where he sings about how awesome he thinks summer will be?  There's a line from the song that say's "Bees'll buzz, kids'll blow dandelion fuzz, and I'll be doing whatever snow does in summer."  Ok, just replace the "snow" with "mom" and that is how I am kind of feeling right now!  Kids are out of school tomorrow, and I have visions of us lovingly spending screen-free time together, doing a service project everyday, and throwing in a few educational activities to help prevent the summer slide, no one will be grouchy and there will never be any fighting because we will be so busy having fun!  Sigh.  Won't it be beautiful?

But I happen to know what happens to snow in the summer, and I'm pretty sure somewhere that Kristoff is whispering to Anna that he's just going to tell me the truth-summer as a mom can be hard!  Trying to stay up on the yard and house while keeping little one's entertained and engaged is a lot of work! We will definitely have a lot of fun, but I've done this summer thing a few times before, and here is a more accurate picture of what also might be coming....Mom!  I'm hungry!  Mom!  I want to watch another show!  ...MOM!  I'M BORED!

I've done this summer thing a few times before (my boys are 10, 7, and 4.)  So after years of trial and error, I've decided that the following plan will work best for my family (and my sanity!)  So feel free to borrow any of the ideas, and the printable's below.  Simply right click on the image and click "save image as" to save to your computer.  The "Summer Bucket List" is sized to be 8 x 10.  The daily schedule is sized as a 16 x 20( but can be printed as an 8 x 10.  I just printed mine at Costco.  (Clipart used were created by KPM Doodles on Etsy.)

  

The Plan!

1.  Print the above images.  I framed mine so that I could write on the glass with dry-erase markers.  

2.  Sit down with your family and fill out the bucket list of things we would like to do.  We had each boy pick one thing that was most important to them, so we could make sure at least that happened at some point. 

3.  I will fill out the daily schedule each night for the coming day.  Plans may change, but at least there is a plan!  On the left, I will write in the meals for that day.  Hopefully to stave off the constant groans of "I'm hungry!" and "there's nothing to eat!" In the middle section there will be a loose schedule.  I'm not adding times--when the kiddo's have had enough of one activity, we will move to the next.  In the third column I will have jobs for the day as well as our fun activity for the day.  

Quick Tip 

The hardest thing about summer for me has been trying to get all of the normal house and yard jobs done while the kids were all home.  My solution this year is that we will do a little bit of work each day, and we will do it TOGETHER.  Wish me luck!

My (Sample) Schedule:

Wake Up

Get Ready:  Dressed, breakfast, hair and teeth brushed, room tidied

Outside Time:  Play outside, go on a bike ride or walk to the park, etc. Spend 20 minutes working together on the yard while we're out there.  

Snack

Brain Chase-I heard about this program last year.  We tried it and loved it!  It is online learning combined with a global treasure hunt.  Highly recommend!  For my littlest guy this is when we will read stories, do puzzles, etc.

Lunch/Cleanup-I will probably have the boys spend a few minutes doing a 20 minute household chore right after lunch.

Outside

Quiet Time- Guess what?  Mom's and Dad's.  Need.  Breaks!  It's important all of the time to have breaks and rest periods throughout the day.  It is even more so in summer when there is so much going on!  The kids will each be able to choose a few toys or activities that they can play with quietly in their room for 1 hour. (Based on the age of your child, just make sure the environment is safe, and that they can call you if they need you.)  There is a great podcast called "Mommy's Quiet Time" over at Power of Moms with lots of great tips to help encourage quiet time with your own little one's.

Planned Activity-Some days this might be a bucket list item.  Other days it might just be something fun (and easy!!) we have found on Pinterest-to see my board go here. 

Dinner/Cleanup-My goal is to have everyone help with making and cleaning up dinner.  I'm going to try it. No guarantees. This time of day is usually a little tricky at our house-everyone is starting to get hungry, tired, and a little grouchy with each other. I'm hoping this will keep us all busy and I won't have to play referee while getting dinner on the table.

Play Inside or Outside- The best part of the day as far as I'm concerned is those golden hours just after dinner when everything is pretty much done for the day, the heat starts to wane, and the kids can play in the yard!

Bath or Shower

Story, Prayers, Bed!

I hope some of these things can be helpful to you.  It doesn't have to be involved, but it is nice having a plan!  What has worked for you over the summers?  Please share!

Tally Ho!

Lindsay