Getting Political

I don’t usually get into politics, on facebook, with my friends,  or in any other public forum, because politics and friends don’t usually mix. I learned to keep my views to myself when I was going to cosmetology school, the number one rule, other than not turning someone’s hair purple or making it fall out, is don’t discuss politics or religion. I am also a firm believer in the freedom of speech and the freedom to have your own ideas and values. Where I draw the line is when someone tries to take away my freedoms, the freedoms that my husband, father, grandfathers, grandmother, and all of the soldiers that have given up their lives have fought for. You see, I have this “friend” that regularly posts about his wanting to become an expatriate and live in Europe for the rest of his life, he hates our social system, our education system, our healthcare, and our freedom to have weapons. He constantly posts about our not being the number one super power that “we boast about” and he goes on to brag about his great adventures in Europe and how anyone that does not live that lifestyle is not taking advantage of life. 

I think that he is a pompous ass.

His most recent post was about gun control and how our society is 2^nd class because we are 18xs more likely to be shot than a German citizen is. He thinks that we all tote guns because we are afraid ALL OF THE TIME, that if we took away the right to own a gun the crime rate would decrease in America, etc. I do not agree. I think that the “bad guys” would still have their weapons and we would be defenseless.

I think that my “friend” has this utopian idealism that is a pipe dream, but then again he also thinks that you should take from the rich and give to the lazy. That’s right, I said it… I don’t think that all poor people are lazy but I do think that our welfare system is broken and taking from a hard working person to give to someone that refuses to look for a job because they are getting a government check each month is a bunch of hogwash! I think that people on welfare, unemployment, and those on food stamps should be given drug screenings. I think that people that have committed robbery of any kind should not be allowed to own a weapon because they clearly don’t know how to make good decisions. I think that any person that is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be required to take a nutrition class, and I think that there should be a tax on junk food (ALL OF IT, fast food and store bought junk food), I think that those taxes should go to pay for the socialized medicine that is being pushed on our country, those taxes should pay for the healthcare of people with coronary heart disease that is not genetic and stems from a bad diet and lack of exercise. I think that preventative medicine should be number one on the doctors list instead of reactionary medicine.

Children should be forced to pass health and physical education classes with a C or better and I do not give a CRAP if they don’t want to get dirty or sweaty, they are in school to learn about life and get an education, not to be pretty. I think that parents need to take a more active approach in ensuring that their kids are learning the life skills they need to make this world a better place but sadly too many parents are more concerned with being their kid’s friend or trying to be the next cougar on some reality housewife show.

I could go on and on about what needs to happen and how things should be but they aren’t and the only yard that I can keep clean is my own, so I will take care of my family and teach them the tools to succeed, I will ensure that my children know how hard their family has fought to keep this country free and what it means to have the freedoms that we have, I will show my children gun safety and when it should be used, and I will make sure that they understand that life doesn’t just happen to them, they are the captains of their destiny. The choices that you make are the choices that shape your future!

Role Models

My Mom after her 1st Full Marathon, My HERO

As I ran the Mannheim ½ Marathon I got to thinking about heroes and role models. I thought about how when we are children we read stories about heroes, princesses and princes, knights in shining armor, dragon slayers, etc. The list is unending, but who are the people that really made a difference in our lives? Our parents, our teachers, the neighbors, our friend’s parents, our parent’s friends. I think about the people that are considered role models today and it scares me. I worry for future generations when today’s role models consist of teen pop stars that wear too little clothing, drink underage, go to jail, and make bad decisions publicly. I hope that I can ensure that Clark has a surplus of good role models in his life.



My Dad, the man that taught me how to be an active parent.

You see, before the race started I got to watch as my friend’s husband interacted with our other friend’s children, how he made up superhero names with them, how he fed into their imaginations, how their eyes sparkled when they talked to him and when their make believe scenarios weren’t crushed by some adult that refused to entertain their childish thoughts. I watched in awe. I’m glad to know that there are adults out there that can embrace their inner child, even if only for a few minutes, to be a hero to a kid.

So while I ran I wondered who would be Clark’s hero? Who will his role model be? I certainly hope that it is his father and me, but I hope that there are other adults out there that will encourage his imagination, that will guide him in the right direction. Lord knows that there are going to be plenty of people in his life’s path that will want to lead him in the wrong direction, there will be people that will do so even though that isn’t their intention, but I hope that there are more role models providing respectable and wholesome events in his life than bad.

I think that the reason the run provided me time to think about this subject was, not only because it was so long and we were out there FOREVER, because on the side of the road were children of all ages watching as we passed. These children were our cheering section; they clapped, yelled, beat drums, and held their hands out to give high fives. I wasn’t able to high five every child that I came across but I slapped every hand that was close enough. I watched as some of the runners would just pass those tiny little hands without even a second thought. It made me grimace. I mean really people? You are running the same pace as me, maybe a little faster, so I know you aren’t winning this thing! Sticking your freaking hand out to the side isn’t going to slow you down any, what is the harm in making that kid feel like they are contributing?  Those kids made my day! LITERALLY! I don’t think that I would have made it without them. 

My Sister, an amazing role model

As I slapped high fives with a little girl I wondered if she too would one day become a runner, if she would catch the running bug from me as I trotted past or would she be disheartened by all of those runners that didn’t take the time to show their appreciation? I can’t wait to take Clark to a race, one that he can sit on the side and high five runners of all ages and genders.  I can’t wait until he sees that his mommy and daddy are amongst those runners that give high fives. I hope that he too will catch the running bug. If not, I won’t love him any less but I hope that even if he doesn’t catch the bug he still supports the people that do. I hope that by giving a high five to those kids I was a role model for them, someone that didn’t crush their hopes, and someone that appreciated their support even if they didn’t realize that they were the ones that were so important on that day.

Conquering Fear, I hope Clark will too.

I hope that I can be a role model to the children that I come in contact with, someone that they can learn from, respect, trust, and confide in. Do you know of any great role models for children these days?