I'm scared for our country. Truly concerned... not trying to exaggerate or be overly paranoid, but I'm worried for the country that my kids are growing up in.
Unlike many others, my concern is not because Obama is President. I don't like everything he's done, hasn't done, or plans to do/not to do... but I don't think that he alone will be the downfall of America. Our country has survived much worse and came out stronger for it. We've survived scandals, wars, domestic unrest... and we typically learn from them and move forward.
No, I'm concerned for what seems to be the chaism in our country. It seems that so many Americans fall into one category or another.
Some are completely apathetic about the political process. They don't vote, don't pay attention to legislation, don't know who their leaders are or what their actual jobs are, don't know what the Consitution actually provides us, and don't really care to find out. That worries me. I see so many Facebook posts and (even more scary) articles that expect leaders to do things that aren't within their powers. As a social science teacher, it makes me feel like my profession fails our young people. We don't do a good enough job. We help high school seniors learn enough to pass a standardized test and check a graduation requirement box... but we don't teach them to appreciate or really understand the country that they live in. In many schools, students get a little over 3 months to learn how their government functions. I'm not sure colleges are much better... seeing as my PoliSci class in college wasn't much more than a glorified high school class (sorry CSUB :().
The other side are people who are so entrenched in their political party that they can't step back to see the forest for the trees. I'm reminded of House and Senate members who have promised to vote "no" on anything supported by the President, regardless of its merit, simply to discredit him. There are democratic leaders who have stunchly refused to compromise with Republicans on anything, period. That is not the point of government. Our representative democracy only works when those we vote into office are mature enough to examine each piece of legislation for its merit and benefit to constituants... not to simply vote along party lines and brag about it. That's laziness at its worst.
I feel like America has become extremely spoiled... we don't appreciate the blessing we have to be able to vote our officials into office. We disrespect the process by throwing a hissy fit when the guy we wanted doesn't get sworn in. We refuse to watch our leaders speak on TV simply because we don't like them... instead of respecting the process and appreciating that our leaders were elected by the people. We decide to throw a tantrum for 4 years until its time to try again... refusing to move the country forward or make progress because we can't have it our way.
It becomes even more offensive when Christianity is used to defend our disrespect. A year ago, a Kansas Representative sent an e-mail to others in the House asking them to pray that our President is killed and that his wife be left widowed and his daughters orphaned. His reasoning? Psalm 109. We now have leaders who serve at a Federal level misusing scripture and taking it out of context to justify hate and evil... simply because we disagree with the President.
So yes... I'm concerned for my country. Not because I worry about the action our country may soon take on weapons. Not because our President may restructure health care or raise taxes on some. I worry because I think we've lost sight of the big picture. We're passing down to our children the idea that if we don't like someone in authority, it's okay to say horrible things about them... that if we can't have what we want, we just throw a temper tantrum until it's time to try again... that if we don't like someone in authority we should just ignore them because they aren't deserving of our attention and respect.
I really pray that we, as a nation (and I include myself in this), realize how blessed we are and follow the Scriptures which so clearly tell us to respect our authorities and show Jesus' love to everyone around us, regardless of political affiliation or lifestyle choice.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
What I'm Loving Wednesday - The Book Edition
Happy Wednesday! I rarely blog more than once every few weeks... but I'm procrastinating and don't want to do actual work :) There are a few things that I've come to love lately... so I thought I'd share!
I've never done well with devotionals. It's not from lack of desire... it's just that they're usually either too short for me to get anything out of them, or too long for me to be able to sit still long enough to get it done. This devotional is absolutely AMAZING. It's 365 devotions... most of them right at 1 page on my Nook, including the scripture text. I know we're only 2 weeks into January, but so far I've been able to do it every day! Some days it hits me harder than others... but they're always wonderful! If you have an eReader, it was only $7.50.
Ahhhh... this is an AWESOME series!!! Did you like The Hunger Games? No? That's okay, because Divergent is WAY better than that. You liked The Hunger Games? Great, because then you'll absolutely love Divergent! I can only think of one bad thing about this series... that book #3 doesn't come out until this Fall. I'm also sort of hoping that this series doesn't follow the current trend of trilogies... I'm hoping it goes on much longer than that (though I doubt it... it looks like the storyline will be wrapped up with one more book).
Friday, January 4, 2013
So you're not a parent?
I'm finding more and more that people enjoy giving advice on things they aren't experts in. I'm finding more and more than I can be one of those people. It's something I'm truly trying to work on in the New Year... call it a resolution or whatever, but I'm trying to mind my own business (with one very clear exception that I won't get into online).
ANYWAY... something that I've noticed lately is how many people who don't have children like the judge those of us who do, and our glorious children. I can't blame these people, as I know I was guilty of that as well. There are certain things you have to experience to understand, and even after experiencing them you never become fully enlightened. That being said... a few things I've always wanted to say to those who see me with my children on our "off" days...
1. Kids cry. The fact that I'm not immediately coddling my child when he cries doesn't mean I'm mean, neglectful, or don't care. It means that I've reached the point in parenting (aka, #2) where I know that coddling a child who is crying because he can't have what he wants doesn't help anyone. I also know my child's cries and know when he's genuinly hurt or needs something, and when he doesn't. I've already reached the point where I've learned that, unfortunately, sometimes there are things that HAVE to be done. It doesn't hurt my child to fuss for a few minutes while I finish putting chicken in the oven and wash my hands... or, frankly, write the last 2 lines of an e-mail before quickly pushing send and getting him. I promise that my child knows how much I love him and also knows that the world doesn't revolve solely around him.
2. You know alllll those things that your child will never do? Guess what? Your child will probably do them at least once. It doesn't mean you're a bad parent, just as it doesn't mean I'm a bad parent. Your child will probably throw a tantrum in a store... once. It won't become a habitual occurance because you'll immediately take care of the situation and teach your child that you won't tolerate that behavior... but it will probably happen. Children are tiny little humans who are still learning the boundaries of appropriate behavior... they often learn these boundaries by testing them. Nicholas tried that... once. It was humiliating for me, but he learned and we both grew.
3. Please don't tell a parent how to discipline their child unless they ask you. This really goes for everyone, but especially those without children yet. Every child is different... even in the same family. Some children respond well to time out, others to mild spanking, others to taking away toys. When you have children, you'll have to learn your child's personality and temperment, then decide on how to best discipline. Take heart that I know my children well. I may not have dealt with that situation the way you think you would have, but when the time comes, you may find that your current "parenting plan" gets tossed in the garbage in favor of what works best for your kid. It's happened to me.
4. Try not to judge that tired mom that spoke to her child too sternly, or gave in on the candy aisle. Try not to look at her in annoyance because "her kid will never learn if she does that" or "she's just a little girl, give her a break." The majority of us moms are doing the best we can and just have bad days... you will have them as well. There will be days when 7 o'clock rolls around and all you can think in your head is "I love my kids but WOO HOO for bedtime!!!" Your patience will run thin... some days it will run out. That's okay.
5. Lastly... parenting is rarely, if ever, what you expect it to be. Your children will be nothing like you and everything like you at the same time. It's both beautiful and maddening... trust me. My oldest was a difficult baby... active toddler... sensitive young child... I'm still trying to figure out how to balance maintaining some sensitivity with making sure he isn't eaten alive by the world. He has my attitude but dislikes most school stuff... love sports but isn't all that into music. I'm still learning daily how to be better mom to him. Just about the time I think I'm getting the hang of the oldest, I have to re-learn everything I thought I knew about motherhood because the baby is NOTHING like his older brother. My point? Our kids didn't come with instruction manuals... yours won't either. So before you start thinking "I'd never do that" or "my kids will never do that," remind yourself that kids are kids and you'll do exactly what we're all doing... the best you can.
ANYWAY... something that I've noticed lately is how many people who don't have children like the judge those of us who do, and our glorious children. I can't blame these people, as I know I was guilty of that as well. There are certain things you have to experience to understand, and even after experiencing them you never become fully enlightened. That being said... a few things I've always wanted to say to those who see me with my children on our "off" days...
1. Kids cry. The fact that I'm not immediately coddling my child when he cries doesn't mean I'm mean, neglectful, or don't care. It means that I've reached the point in parenting (aka, #2) where I know that coddling a child who is crying because he can't have what he wants doesn't help anyone. I also know my child's cries and know when he's genuinly hurt or needs something, and when he doesn't. I've already reached the point where I've learned that, unfortunately, sometimes there are things that HAVE to be done. It doesn't hurt my child to fuss for a few minutes while I finish putting chicken in the oven and wash my hands... or, frankly, write the last 2 lines of an e-mail before quickly pushing send and getting him. I promise that my child knows how much I love him and also knows that the world doesn't revolve solely around him.
2. You know alllll those things that your child will never do? Guess what? Your child will probably do them at least once. It doesn't mean you're a bad parent, just as it doesn't mean I'm a bad parent. Your child will probably throw a tantrum in a store... once. It won't become a habitual occurance because you'll immediately take care of the situation and teach your child that you won't tolerate that behavior... but it will probably happen. Children are tiny little humans who are still learning the boundaries of appropriate behavior... they often learn these boundaries by testing them. Nicholas tried that... once. It was humiliating for me, but he learned and we both grew.
3. Please don't tell a parent how to discipline their child unless they ask you. This really goes for everyone, but especially those without children yet. Every child is different... even in the same family. Some children respond well to time out, others to mild spanking, others to taking away toys. When you have children, you'll have to learn your child's personality and temperment, then decide on how to best discipline. Take heart that I know my children well. I may not have dealt with that situation the way you think you would have, but when the time comes, you may find that your current "parenting plan" gets tossed in the garbage in favor of what works best for your kid. It's happened to me.
4. Try not to judge that tired mom that spoke to her child too sternly, or gave in on the candy aisle. Try not to look at her in annoyance because "her kid will never learn if she does that" or "she's just a little girl, give her a break." The majority of us moms are doing the best we can and just have bad days... you will have them as well. There will be days when 7 o'clock rolls around and all you can think in your head is "I love my kids but WOO HOO for bedtime!!!" Your patience will run thin... some days it will run out. That's okay.
5. Lastly... parenting is rarely, if ever, what you expect it to be. Your children will be nothing like you and everything like you at the same time. It's both beautiful and maddening... trust me. My oldest was a difficult baby... active toddler... sensitive young child... I'm still trying to figure out how to balance maintaining some sensitivity with making sure he isn't eaten alive by the world. He has my attitude but dislikes most school stuff... love sports but isn't all that into music. I'm still learning daily how to be better mom to him. Just about the time I think I'm getting the hang of the oldest, I have to re-learn everything I thought I knew about motherhood because the baby is NOTHING like his older brother. My point? Our kids didn't come with instruction manuals... yours won't either. So before you start thinking "I'd never do that" or "my kids will never do that," remind yourself that kids are kids and you'll do exactly what we're all doing... the best you can.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)