Doing a bit o' good

Ladies and gents, I've tried not to stand on my soap box too much with the blog. I don't think it's the right media to push an agenda. But JourneyMama's post today inspired me to say a few words. There is so very much extreme poverty and injustice in the world. Every 3 seconds a child dies from the effects of extreme poverty - through malnutrition, starvation, unclean water supply, lack of access to medicine - that means that while you've read this sentence 3 children have died preventable deaths. Trafficking in human beings is now the 3rd largest money-making business in the world, behind arms and drug trafficking. That includes children being trafficked into sex slavery as well as women forced into prostitution.

One picture I'll never get out of my head is an elderly man in Kiev bending down to lick melted ice cream of the pavement. That's poverty. Of course, there are plenty of people in the world who would be jealous of a meal like that. If you think you're poor or struggling for resources, think again. Whoops! 5 more children just died from poverty-related causes.

So I ask you, what are you, personally, doing to contribute to the solution? You can be a part of the solution, or your complacency can be a part of the problem. Step up, take a stand. Get involved. My personal favorites are NightLight, Trade As One, International Justice Mission, World Relief, and World Vision. If none of that appeals to you, google Servants Anonymous, CARE, Food for the Hungry, and there are plenty of other organizations out there vying for support. Choose one. Choose more if you want. But don't just sit there sipping coffee behind your 17" DSL empowered screen. Do something. One person can have effect transformative change on the world.

Post a comment. Tell me what cause you've been supporting or plan to support. Let the blogosphere know. Your silence encourages complacency.

Parenting help needed!

Okay folks. Here's the dilemma. All the 'experts' agree that spanking is bad. A good number of parents say that spanking is sometimes the only way to stop a bad behavior or behavior pattern. I don't want to use this to debate the utility or ills of spanking - it's one of those polarizing issues that do little to foster a sense of mutual trust and encouragement.

But, I do want to ask all you parents of little ones out there (where "little ones" means toddlers and preschoolers) for creative discipline ideas. We're all aware of time-outs, but what do you do to creatively respond to bad behavior? For example, a friend of mine won't let her 3-yr old wear her favorite pajamas if said 3-yr old refuses to get ready for bed. I think that's creative! So what do you do? Please tell me specifics! How do you make the punishment fit the crime, so to speak?

Potty training: day 1

We're about 6 hours in, and so far accident-free with Bean. Until... sitting at lunch...
Bean: "Mama, does Little Man need a new diaper?"
Me: "No, Bean, do you?"
Bean: "Mama, Little Man's just wet. He's just wet."
Me: "Bean, are your p*anties wet? Did you tee-tee in your pants?"
Bean: "No silly mama! I tee-teed in my v*gina!"
Well thank you for setting me straight!
Back in diapers now, by her request.

Me so proud!

Here he is! My brother is being awarded with a very prestigious military award, and you can read about it here. It's the Douglas MacArthur leadership award. Rock on Rob! The article talks about why he was given the award - from his stellar leadership capabilities with his soldiers to "being at the tip of the bayonet" (I could go without hearing about that part) to earning the trust and respect of the local Afghans. Me so proud. Okay, I'm done gushing now.

There's a lizard...

... in my playroom. And not a cute little gecko either. He came in through the mold room. Apparently the "airlock" in the room doesn't really keep lizards (or ants, we found yesterday) 'locked' in the room. I suppose if lizards can get through, so can air (and the mold spores)... So, who wants to come over for dinner? Lions and tigers and mold, oh my! (and lizards and spiders and ants too!) Now doesn't that sound pleasant?

And the kicker, we found out today that they aren't insured either! So, the moral of the story at this point, when you hire a contractor, make darn sure you have your own copy of their business license and proof of insurance!

Today's agenda

Things already completed:

• Meals planned for the next 9 days
• Grocery shopping done, groceries put away
• Birthday gifts purchased for 4 people (you wouldn't believe the deals I got!)
• One load of laundry (not folded though)
  

Things still to be done (in order of priority):

• Cook dinner
• Clean out fridge and pantry (tomorrow is trash day)
• Sweep floors
  
• Vacuum downstairs
• Mop swept floors
• Fold laundry
  
• Clean out seldom used toys from playroom and either trash or donate

I should be able to do (most of) that today... If the kids continue to nap. I'll update you later.

**Anyone have any brilliant ideas for a St. Patty's day craft?**

Updated Thursday morning: I did the first 4 on the list, but then Bean's fever spiked and I had to rush her to the ER. We're back home now, the fever is down, and all her tests came back with good news. So, she has a virus, but it was so nice to come home to a (mostly) clean home!

Self image and daughters

I was at the doctors office last week (many times in fact) and there was a woman there with her 8 year old daughter. There's a big full-length mirror at the doctors office that my toddlers love - they make faces at it, wave to themselves, do all sorts of silliness in front of it. But then this 8 year old stood in front of the mirror, gazed at herself, and called her mother over to stand in front of the mirror.

Mom came up and looked at herself from different angles. And constantly as she looked at herself, she talked about her imperfections - "honey, look how big my butt looks!", "look here, honey, I almost look pregnant with this big belly!," "oh my gosh! I had no idea my roots were showing like this! Why didn't you tell me, honey?!" All this to an 8 year old. I think it's a natural stage for girls (and probably boys too) to judge themselves, and specifically their bodies. Is it really necessary to show them how to criticize their bodies? And if mom is doing it openly, she's showing her little girl that this is the right way to view yourself.

In fact, after mom sat down, the girl took up her mom's example and started criticizing her own body. Mom's response? " Oh, sweetheart, aren't you a little young to say things like that?"

I'm not so experienced in giving girls a positive self image, since my girl is only 2. But I'm pretty sure the example above isn't gonna do it.