On the Ball

I was talking with a teacher at BUNCO last month and she mentioned that the kids in her 4th Grade class don't have chairs, rather they sit on large exercise balls. The idea is that the balls not only encourage good posture, but they also allow the kids to do what kids do naturally - fidget. The exercise ball also helps your core (back and abdominal muscles) because you're body is constantly adjusting.

I thought I would give it a try. I use an exercise ball at the gym for abdominal exercises and am amazed how a little movement is needed. I found one at Walmart for about $15. It came with a hand pump and exercises.

I am on my second day and really enjoy it. Time will tell if there is any helath benefits, but I find myself better able to concentrate with it. Here is an article on 10 Reasons to use an exercise ball as your chair.

The Disposable Child

I don't know what to think about this story about parents dropping their teenage kids off in response to the Safe Haven Law. Minnesota has a Safe Haven Law that allows parents of newborns to drop them off at hospitals etc, no questions asked if they feel they can't deal with a baby. I understand and applaud this law, I think it is a win/win situation for everyone. The babies have the chance to grow up in a loving home instead of being killed or abandoned by the birth parent.

However, Nebraska is taking it a step further and allowing parents to drop off a child of any age. The people interviewed for the story obviously have been struggling with their child, but I am sorry, who doesn't struggle with a teenager. Surely there are other programs that can allow for the parents to get help for their child without adding the additional burdon of abandonment. I can only imagine what a teenager would feel if their parent basically said, "Sorry, I don't love you enough to help you through this rough time. "

From a Fox News Report :

Todd Landry, director of Health and Human Services' division of Children and Family Services, said that in nearly every case, the parents who left their children felt overwhelmed and had decided they didn't want to be parents anymore. None of the kids dropped off so far has been in danger, Landry said.

Too simplistic? Probably. Mark and I survived the teenage years relatively unscathed. Our kids are well on their way to becoming productive (we hope) members of society. But what kind of society are we when we let people to dump their children simple because they are "difficult"

I know that this happens all over, even without a law. I believe the lawmakers had the right idea in mind, to protect the children, however, when we let government take over what should be a family and community issue are we really doing it for the kids?

A new Beginning

The 35W bridge opened today after over a year of construction. It was on August 1, 2007 just after 6 pm that the bridge collapsed. There has been a lot of controversy about the bridge. It cost too much, they built it too fast, etc. Watching the coverage on the bridge that night, I never could have imagined that in such a relatively short amount of time, such a beautiful structure could have come out of that tragedy.

The party that is for Choice, as long as your choice is the same as theirs

It saddens me when I read posts like this. Women have been fighting for decades for equal right for women. But women continue to be the worst enemy of other women. Instead of supporting each others decisions, we tend to try to pull down other women who seem to be trying to do what we can't or won't do. Sarah Palin has gotten an incredible amount of criticism for daring to serve her country while also being (horrors) a Mom.

The same party who is strident about a woman's choice seem to be the most vocal in trying to limit Sarah Palin's choice because they don't agree with her choice. They are saying she should think of her kids, that she can't do it all. Suddenly are concerned about the children.

Not just another Hockey Mom

I was in the Xcel convention center last night when Sarah Palin gave her acceptance speech. I liked her before, after listening to her speech I also respect her. Much has been made of her reference to being a hockey mom. To me, it shows another facet of her personality and what has made her the woman she is today. Speculation is rampant about whether she is qualified for the Vice President position which I encourage. The better informed a voter is, the better choice will be made. However, for the press and especially MSNBC to continually harp on her personal life and choices goes to far. Susan Estrich had a great article that speaks to this issue.

Let's hear it for Hockey Mom's!

Congratulations to John McCain for selecting Sarah Palin for his Vice President pick. Much has been made about her lack of experience. Excuse me? She is a hockey mom. What other experience could you ask for? Hockey Moms send their kids into a sheet of ice with 2 thin blades, a couple of yards of fabric between them and a piece of hard plastic that has kept thousands of dentist in business.

Hockey Mom's are tough, they encourage their kids to do more then they think they can, cheering them on while inside praying that their child completes the game without injury.

Besides Sarah's leadership skills as a Govener, her experience as a hockey mom is experience enough for me.