Military Spouse Day -
May 9, 2008: Proclamation by President of United States of America
Military spouses embody the courage, nobility of duty, and love of country that inspire every American. On Military Spouse Day, we pay tribute to the husbands and wives who support their spouses in America's Armed Forces during times of war and peace.
The legacy of military spouses began when colonial Americans were fighting for independence. Martha Washington boosted the morale of her husband's troops by visiting battlefields and tending to the wounded. Since then, members of our Armed Forces have served our Nation accompanied by the steadfast love and support of their spouses and families.
While our men and women in uniform are protecting our country's founding ideals of liberty, democracy, and justice, their spouses live with uncommon challenges, endure sleepless nights, and spend long periods raising children alone. Many military spouses are also committed volunteers, serving other military families and local communities. Our Nation benefits from the sacrifices of our military families, and we are inspired by their courage, strength, and leadership.
On Military Spouse Day and throughout the year, we honor the commitment spouses have made to freedom's cause. To learn about ways to support our troops and their spouses and families, I encourage all Americans to visit www.americasupportsyou.mil.
Now, therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 9, 2008, as Military Spouse Day. call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities and by expressing their gratitude to the husbands and wives of those serving in the United States Armed Forces.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Friday, May 9, 2008
Mom's best advice
Don't be in a hurry to grow up, your time will come
Love many Trust few
Take care of your pennies, your dollars will take care of themselves
Always paddle your own canoe
Always wear lipstick, even if you’re just going to HEB!
Respect your loved ones, respect others but above all respect yourself
Only God can judge, be nice to everyone and smile
Choose a job that you will love and enjoy for the rest of your life, not for the money
If you’re going to do something, do it right and with your entire heart
Put yourself first because no one else will
Never forget where you came from
Wait until you are married to have sex
You had a life before him - and you'll have a life after him. Get rid of that zero and get yourself a hero
Never do or say anything you wouldn't want to see on the front page of the local newspaper
It's always better to be friends, before you become lovers
You are a lady. Always behave like one, always look like one, always speak like one and you will see that you will always be treated like one
Never allow anyone the power to make you feel bad about yourself
Puppy love is but for a second ... Lust if for but a minute ... But Love is forever
Marriage is not only about happy days and sunshine. It is about the good and bad, sunshine and rain. Enjoying the rainbows is what makes a marriage
Love many Trust few
Take care of your pennies, your dollars will take care of themselves
Always paddle your own canoe
Always wear lipstick, even if you’re just going to HEB!
Respect your loved ones, respect others but above all respect yourself
Only God can judge, be nice to everyone and smile
Choose a job that you will love and enjoy for the rest of your life, not for the money
If you’re going to do something, do it right and with your entire heart
Put yourself first because no one else will
Never forget where you came from
Wait until you are married to have sex
You had a life before him - and you'll have a life after him. Get rid of that zero and get yourself a hero
Never do or say anything you wouldn't want to see on the front page of the local newspaper
It's always better to be friends, before you become lovers
You are a lady. Always behave like one, always look like one, always speak like one and you will see that you will always be treated like one
Never allow anyone the power to make you feel bad about yourself
Puppy love is but for a second ... Lust if for but a minute ... But Love is forever
Marriage is not only about happy days and sunshine. It is about the good and bad, sunshine and rain. Enjoying the rainbows is what makes a marriage
Step-mothers day
What are the rules about step-mothers and ex mother-in- laws on mother’s day?
Divorce360.com has 10 etiquette tips for the modern day divorced family
Flowers picked from the garden, a breakfast of peanut butter and jelly served bedside....ahhhh, it’s mother’s day again. But now, along with the sticky kisses and homemade cards, you have to deal with a stickier issue - your kids step-mom and your ex mother-in-law….on the same day? Check out the new rules and etiquette on how to handle, survive and thrive this mother’s day.
· A significant number of children will spend this Mother's Day, May 11, without both biological parents. According to a study by the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University, only 63 percent of American children grow up with both parents — the lowest figure in the Western world.
· In the old days, etiquette rules included which side of the plate you put your fork on and not burping at the table. Today, they include navigating divorcing parents, whether to get a stepmom a gift and what happens when Mother's Day falls on the weekend Dad is supposed to have the kids. Situations like these call for a new understanding of good manners.
· "If the kids come home and say we got this great present for the step mom and mom didn't realize the relationship was there, it can be very political and open up some new wounds," said Carolyn Ellis, author of the New York Times bestseller "Thrive After Divorce". If Dad's really moved on and re-married, dealing with the stepmom can require all the manners you've got.
· "If children have a stepmom and a biological mother who are actively involved in parenting, Mother's Day can be problem, said Dr. Judith Wallerstein, who has spent 30 years studying the effects of divorce on families. “There's no question the priority should be given to the biological mother. On other hand, the stepmom may be very devoted and would be in considerable pain if she's ignored. Meanwhile, there's considerable pain for the mother if the stepmother shares the day.”
· "Grandmothers are often even more important after divorce." So, respect her relationship with your children by not standing in the way if your children want to honor her on Mother's Day. She may be your ex mother-in-law, but she is still the grandmother of your children,” notes Dr. Wallerstein, cautions.
Divorce360.com has 10 etiquette tips for the modern day divorced family
Flowers picked from the garden, a breakfast of peanut butter and jelly served bedside....ahhhh, it’s mother’s day again. But now, along with the sticky kisses and homemade cards, you have to deal with a stickier issue - your kids step-mom and your ex mother-in-law….on the same day? Check out the new rules and etiquette on how to handle, survive and thrive this mother’s day.
· A significant number of children will spend this Mother's Day, May 11, without both biological parents. According to a study by the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University, only 63 percent of American children grow up with both parents — the lowest figure in the Western world.
· In the old days, etiquette rules included which side of the plate you put your fork on and not burping at the table. Today, they include navigating divorcing parents, whether to get a stepmom a gift and what happens when Mother's Day falls on the weekend Dad is supposed to have the kids. Situations like these call for a new understanding of good manners.
· "If the kids come home and say we got this great present for the step mom and mom didn't realize the relationship was there, it can be very political and open up some new wounds," said Carolyn Ellis, author of the New York Times bestseller "Thrive After Divorce". If Dad's really moved on and re-married, dealing with the stepmom can require all the manners you've got.
· "If children have a stepmom and a biological mother who are actively involved in parenting, Mother's Day can be problem, said Dr. Judith Wallerstein, who has spent 30 years studying the effects of divorce on families. “There's no question the priority should be given to the biological mother. On other hand, the stepmom may be very devoted and would be in considerable pain if she's ignored. Meanwhile, there's considerable pain for the mother if the stepmother shares the day.”
· "Grandmothers are often even more important after divorce." So, respect her relationship with your children by not standing in the way if your children want to honor her on Mother's Day. She may be your ex mother-in-law, but she is still the grandmother of your children,” notes Dr. Wallerstein, cautions.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Bond with teens
8 ways to bond with your teen.
Hanging out with the parents doesn't usually top a typical teenager's to-do list. It's just not, well, cool, according to most teens. But Anne Marie Gabriel, a holistic psychotherapist at SANA Healthy Living in Toronto, says teens are seeking parental guidance and direction, and it's up to the parent to make the first move. "The rebuffing is peer pressure," explains Gabriel. "They're looking for guidance because they have so many inputs [from friends, media, boyfriends, girlfriends]." The key is to strike a balance between being a fun parent and the disciplinarian and provider.
With this in mind, here are some ways to get the bonding underway.
1. Ask your teen to teach you how to produce an online photo gallery.
Most teens today were raised in the digital age and are whizzes when it comes to anything technological. Why not bond over lessons on how to make a digital photo gallery or a family web page or blog?
2. Read the same book or join a book club.
Being able to discuss a book you're reading is an intellectual and intimate pursuit. The bonding is even happening when you are reading alone, as the anticipation of meeting and discussing your thoughts about the book creates an instant connection.
3. Take a mini road trip and let them drive.
This is perfect for the teen with a new driver's license. The destination could be anywhere, but venturing out to visit the family homestead or another fun spot of your teen's choosing would fit the bill for an afternoon of bonding. It could be as simple as regular practice sessions in the country or on city streets so that your son or daughter can perfect his or her driving skills. Buckle up!
4. Go to the spa.
A weekend getaway or a day spa treatment provides the necessary elements of relaxation and pampering to put mom and daughter into the right frame of mind for serious bonding. Even dads and sons can treat themselves to some pampering at a spa. How does a massage after a round of golf grab you?
5. Consider a cycling holiday or camping trip.
There's nothing like a little survival out in the woods or a long-distance cycling adventure to kick-start some heart-to-heart quality time with your teen. No television set, sharing stories around the campfire and sleeping under the stars is a prescription for bonding at its best.
6. Make a family scrapbook.
There's nothing like poring over old photos, birthday cards and concert tickets to kick the nostalgia level into high gear. This is a surefire way to learn more about teens and for them to learn a lot about you when you were their age. Be honest and don't be afraid to reveal the real you.
7. Bake cookies.
This is probably the oldest bonding technique in the book, next to fishing and taking the dog for a walk. Choosing recipes and planning for the baking session is nearly as much fun as the baking itself. And don't forget to lick the bowl!
8. Join a gym or go to a yoga retreat.
Not only will having a fitness buddy for emotional and inspirational support keep you both motivated to attend classes, but it will ensure a regular and long-lasting commitment to building a close relationship. Think of all the shopping you can do afterward.
Hanging out with the parents doesn't usually top a typical teenager's to-do list. It's just not, well, cool, according to most teens. But Anne Marie Gabriel, a holistic psychotherapist at SANA Healthy Living in Toronto, says teens are seeking parental guidance and direction, and it's up to the parent to make the first move. "The rebuffing is peer pressure," explains Gabriel. "They're looking for guidance because they have so many inputs [from friends, media, boyfriends, girlfriends]." The key is to strike a balance between being a fun parent and the disciplinarian and provider.
With this in mind, here are some ways to get the bonding underway.
1. Ask your teen to teach you how to produce an online photo gallery.
Most teens today were raised in the digital age and are whizzes when it comes to anything technological. Why not bond over lessons on how to make a digital photo gallery or a family web page or blog?
2. Read the same book or join a book club.
Being able to discuss a book you're reading is an intellectual and intimate pursuit. The bonding is even happening when you are reading alone, as the anticipation of meeting and discussing your thoughts about the book creates an instant connection.
3. Take a mini road trip and let them drive.
This is perfect for the teen with a new driver's license. The destination could be anywhere, but venturing out to visit the family homestead or another fun spot of your teen's choosing would fit the bill for an afternoon of bonding. It could be as simple as regular practice sessions in the country or on city streets so that your son or daughter can perfect his or her driving skills. Buckle up!
4. Go to the spa.
A weekend getaway or a day spa treatment provides the necessary elements of relaxation and pampering to put mom and daughter into the right frame of mind for serious bonding. Even dads and sons can treat themselves to some pampering at a spa. How does a massage after a round of golf grab you?
5. Consider a cycling holiday or camping trip.
There's nothing like a little survival out in the woods or a long-distance cycling adventure to kick-start some heart-to-heart quality time with your teen. No television set, sharing stories around the campfire and sleeping under the stars is a prescription for bonding at its best.
6. Make a family scrapbook.
There's nothing like poring over old photos, birthday cards and concert tickets to kick the nostalgia level into high gear. This is a surefire way to learn more about teens and for them to learn a lot about you when you were their age. Be honest and don't be afraid to reveal the real you.
7. Bake cookies.
This is probably the oldest bonding technique in the book, next to fishing and taking the dog for a walk. Choosing recipes and planning for the baking session is nearly as much fun as the baking itself. And don't forget to lick the bowl!
8. Join a gym or go to a yoga retreat.
Not only will having a fitness buddy for emotional and inspirational support keep you both motivated to attend classes, but it will ensure a regular and long-lasting commitment to building a close relationship. Think of all the shopping you can do afterward.
What mom wants
What Moms Really Want for Mothers Day
By Dawn Hamm
Every year my boys ask me what I want for mothers day and every year I tell them the same thing, all I want is to sleep in and have a quite peaceful day, no kids fighting no laundry to do or meal to make just a nice day and if I want to lay in bed all day let me! Im not saying gifts aren't nice but I don't need more knickknacks or bottles of bubble bath, I'm good til next Christmas thanks. Well this is what I found that most women want and no its not diamonds but hey we wont complain if they're given.
Hallmark did a survey recently and this is what women said they wanted for Mother's Day, Something she wants but wouldn't buy for herself, yes guys you have to figure that one out by your selves! A day of no cooking or chores, pampering being waited on hand foot and while your at it a nice massage. A Mothers day card that she will keep for years and add to her collection.
Other women have said that they would love to have breakfast in bed that they didn't have to make or supervise. A day just spent lying in bed reading or watching tv, that's right guys give her the remote! Hey it's just for a day!
Most women want the same thing a nice peaceful relaxing day with no kid's fighting and the sun to be shining.
Here are some tips on making Mom's special day something she will remember for along time maybe even long enough that she wont yell at you the next time you think its funny to see if you can jump off the roof and land in the pool. But you didn't and she had to rush you to the ER for a broken arm..
Let mom sleep in if you don't see her, think of it as a good thing
Make mom an easy breakfast in bed toast/english muffin and coffee/tea will do
Clean your room
Ask her if there's anything you can get for her more coffee, a book the remote etc..
Let her take a HOT shower and don't knock on the door asking to use the bathroom.
Have Dad take you to the park
Bring home moms favorite take out for lunch
Sit at the dining room table and have lunch and not fight with your brother/sister
This is a great time to give mom her gifts/cards
Your half way there
Clean up lunch mess
Tell her to go take a nap
If the phone rings don't bother her, telemarkerts will call back tomorrow
Remind dad that you have a project due tomorrow and you haven't even gotten started and you need stuff from the store for it.
Stop fighting with you brother/sister
Clean house mom loves you and will know you tried
Make her favorite meal for dinner or order out if you have to, she will understand
Anything chocolate for dessert is always a winner
And last but not least tell her that she's the best mom and you wouldn't trade her even for that new game system that's coming out in a few months.
By Dawn Hamm
Every year my boys ask me what I want for mothers day and every year I tell them the same thing, all I want is to sleep in and have a quite peaceful day, no kids fighting no laundry to do or meal to make just a nice day and if I want to lay in bed all day let me! Im not saying gifts aren't nice but I don't need more knickknacks or bottles of bubble bath, I'm good til next Christmas thanks. Well this is what I found that most women want and no its not diamonds but hey we wont complain if they're given.
Hallmark did a survey recently and this is what women said they wanted for Mother's Day, Something she wants but wouldn't buy for herself, yes guys you have to figure that one out by your selves! A day of no cooking or chores, pampering being waited on hand foot and while your at it a nice massage. A Mothers day card that she will keep for years and add to her collection.
Other women have said that they would love to have breakfast in bed that they didn't have to make or supervise. A day just spent lying in bed reading or watching tv, that's right guys give her the remote! Hey it's just for a day!
Most women want the same thing a nice peaceful relaxing day with no kid's fighting and the sun to be shining.
Here are some tips on making Mom's special day something she will remember for along time maybe even long enough that she wont yell at you the next time you think its funny to see if you can jump off the roof and land in the pool. But you didn't and she had to rush you to the ER for a broken arm..
Let mom sleep in if you don't see her, think of it as a good thing
Make mom an easy breakfast in bed toast/english muffin and coffee/tea will do
Clean your room
Ask her if there's anything you can get for her more coffee, a book the remote etc..
Let her take a HOT shower and don't knock on the door asking to use the bathroom.
Have Dad take you to the park
Bring home moms favorite take out for lunch
Sit at the dining room table and have lunch and not fight with your brother/sister
This is a great time to give mom her gifts/cards
Your half way there
Clean up lunch mess
Tell her to go take a nap
If the phone rings don't bother her, telemarkerts will call back tomorrow
Remind dad that you have a project due tomorrow and you haven't even gotten started and you need stuff from the store for it.
Stop fighting with you brother/sister
Clean house mom loves you and will know you tried
Make her favorite meal for dinner or order out if you have to, she will understand
Anything chocolate for dessert is always a winner
And last but not least tell her that she's the best mom and you wouldn't trade her even for that new game system that's coming out in a few months.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
A kid for mom
Mom deserves a new kid for Mother’s Day. And while he may not look like anyone else in the family, and he might drool a bit, he certainly won’t spend all day in front of the TV and he’ll always be on time for dinner.
Food For The Poor, a Florida-based nonprofit is offering special gifts for that special mom – including goats galore (kids), bundles of baby chicks, plenty of pigs, marching bands, fruit trees, rice and beans, and a whole lot more.
Food For The Poor, a Florida-based nonprofit is offering special gifts for that special mom – including goats galore (kids), bundles of baby chicks, plenty of pigs, marching bands, fruit trees, rice and beans, and a whole lot more.
Thank a teacher
A Tribute of Thanks to Teachers
The Nation's Largest Teacher Thank-You Card project is an effort to collect thousands of thank-you messages to teachers from individuals across the nation.
Add your teacher to the card.
The Nation's Largest Teacher Thank-You Card project is an effort to collect thousands of thank-you messages to teachers from individuals across the nation.
Add your teacher to the card.
Have an apple
The National Parent Teacher Association started Teacher Appreciation Week in 1984 to recognize teachers who dedicate their skills and abilities to educate our children. This week, May 5 through May 9 is Teacher Appreciation Week.
There is an actual day called Teacher Appreciation Day. According to the National Education Association, the origins of National Teacher Day are murky. Around 1944 Arkansas teacher Mattye Whyte Woodridge began corresponding with political and education leaders about the need for a national day to honor teachers. Woodbridge wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt, who in 1953 persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day. The date this year for Teacher Appreciation Day is Tuesday, May 6, 2008.
A simple way to express your gratitude is to send e-mails to teachers expressing your appreciation for sharing their gift of teaching with the children of our community.
Learn more about this special day.
Who was your favorite teacher and why?
There is an actual day called Teacher Appreciation Day. According to the National Education Association, the origins of National Teacher Day are murky. Around 1944 Arkansas teacher Mattye Whyte Woodridge began corresponding with political and education leaders about the need for a national day to honor teachers. Woodbridge wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt, who in 1953 persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day. The date this year for Teacher Appreciation Day is Tuesday, May 6, 2008.
A simple way to express your gratitude is to send e-mails to teachers expressing your appreciation for sharing their gift of teaching with the children of our community.
Learn more about this special day.
Who was your favorite teacher and why?
Monday, May 5, 2008
Mr. mom
Six smart steps for potential stay-at-home dads
How fathers can fully understand their choice and prepare for consequences.
There are many routes to work-family balance. For some, it’s a matter of finding a workplace that allows you to put family first without sacrificing a paycheck. For others, going the at-home route is the most attractive option.
Becoming an at-home dad is as easy as telling your boss “I quit,” but it should be approached like any other life change — with a good deal of clear-headed consideration. There are six steps that all would-be at-home dads (and their wives) should take to fully understand their choice and prepare for the consequences:
Step one: Find the goalposts
Staying home is a radical change for any working parent — male or female — and families that decide to have dad stay home need to articulate why they’ve made that decision. The responsibility of the at-home parent needs to be well laid-out, too: what are the child-rearing expectations? The cooking/cleaning/housework expectations? How do family roles change during the weekend? At night? Every family comes up with different answers to those questions, but every family needs to ask them.
Step two: Be aware of the implications
Along with death and taxes, at-home fathers can be certain they’ll have to fend off stereotypes and correct the general confusion that surrounds at-home fatherhood. The harkens back to step one: a father who understands clearly what he is doing at home and why can do a far better job of explaining his choice than a parent who elected to stay home without examining why.
Step three: Run the numbers
Having a parent stay home has huge economic consequences, and it is vital that every family ready to make the plunge reviews their finances. That means a brutally honest, point-by-point monthly budget that shows what gets cut when dad’s salary disappears. Of course, such a budget can also be a comforting document. Cutting out spending on daycare, commuting, work clothes and takeout dinners can run more than $20,000 a year for a family of four, which can takes some of the fiscal sting out of staying home.
Step four: Build in some outs
At-home fatherhood can easily become a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week job, but like any endeavor, time away from the “workplace,” is enormously valuable. Any at-home parent should give themselves a chance to recharge their batteries away from the kids: enroll in a class at a local college, find a flexible part-time job, focus on a particular hobby. Those efforts carry both the short-term benefits of renewed vigor as well as long-term benefits should at-home fathers begin to transfer back to the workforce.
Step five: Consider an exit plan
Very few at-home fathers stay out of the job market forever, and coming up with a strategy for when — and how — to reenter the workforce can help both blunt the impact of leaving a paid job as well as aid in transitioning out of the home years down the line.
Step six: Shoot for greatness
It is fundamental truth that you get out of any effort what you put into it, and parenthood is no different. Waking up every day and shooting to be the best possible dad doesn’t only give the children the richest possible environment, it gives fathers a great deal of satisfaction. A dad who parks their child in front of the TV all day may be less exhausted at day’s end than an engaged dad, but they’re also less fulfilled. There’s much to be said for taking pride in your work, whether it be forging widgets or forging young minds.
How fathers can fully understand their choice and prepare for consequences.
There are many routes to work-family balance. For some, it’s a matter of finding a workplace that allows you to put family first without sacrificing a paycheck. For others, going the at-home route is the most attractive option.
Becoming an at-home dad is as easy as telling your boss “I quit,” but it should be approached like any other life change — with a good deal of clear-headed consideration. There are six steps that all would-be at-home dads (and their wives) should take to fully understand their choice and prepare for the consequences:
Step one: Find the goalposts
Staying home is a radical change for any working parent — male or female — and families that decide to have dad stay home need to articulate why they’ve made that decision. The responsibility of the at-home parent needs to be well laid-out, too: what are the child-rearing expectations? The cooking/cleaning/housework expectations? How do family roles change during the weekend? At night? Every family comes up with different answers to those questions, but every family needs to ask them.
Step two: Be aware of the implications
Along with death and taxes, at-home fathers can be certain they’ll have to fend off stereotypes and correct the general confusion that surrounds at-home fatherhood. The harkens back to step one: a father who understands clearly what he is doing at home and why can do a far better job of explaining his choice than a parent who elected to stay home without examining why.
Step three: Run the numbers
Having a parent stay home has huge economic consequences, and it is vital that every family ready to make the plunge reviews their finances. That means a brutally honest, point-by-point monthly budget that shows what gets cut when dad’s salary disappears. Of course, such a budget can also be a comforting document. Cutting out spending on daycare, commuting, work clothes and takeout dinners can run more than $20,000 a year for a family of four, which can takes some of the fiscal sting out of staying home.
Step four: Build in some outs
At-home fatherhood can easily become a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week job, but like any endeavor, time away from the “workplace,” is enormously valuable. Any at-home parent should give themselves a chance to recharge their batteries away from the kids: enroll in a class at a local college, find a flexible part-time job, focus on a particular hobby. Those efforts carry both the short-term benefits of renewed vigor as well as long-term benefits should at-home fathers begin to transfer back to the workforce.
Step five: Consider an exit plan
Very few at-home fathers stay out of the job market forever, and coming up with a strategy for when — and how — to reenter the workforce can help both blunt the impact of leaving a paid job as well as aid in transitioning out of the home years down the line.
Step six: Shoot for greatness
It is fundamental truth that you get out of any effort what you put into it, and parenthood is no different. Waking up every day and shooting to be the best possible dad doesn’t only give the children the richest possible environment, it gives fathers a great deal of satisfaction. A dad who parks their child in front of the TV all day may be less exhausted at day’s end than an engaged dad, but they’re also less fulfilled. There’s much to be said for taking pride in your work, whether it be forging widgets or forging young minds.
Gifts for mom
Mother's Day is Sunday. Are you stumped on what to get her? Here is a site with gift ideas for every kind of mom. Stylish mom, gardening mom, eco mom gadget mom and more.
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