As a child, I remember rolling my eyes when hearing such statements … but now, I’m thinking, “WHAT THE HECK!!  The kids today don’t know how easy they have it.”  And quite frankly, I believe we’ve only got ourselves to blame, as parents. 

When did the standard change?  When did it become acceptable for it to be more important to be a ‘friend’ to our children, rather than a ‘parent’?  How did it become the norm that children aren’t held responsible for doing anything?  Or being responsible for anything they do?  And how in the world do children not get their mouths washed out with soap for saying some of the things they say … TO THEIR PARENTS??   

All of this has become the norm.  And what do the kids get in return?  New video games!  Fast food!  Cell Phones!

A few years back, and I’m not saying how many, I was responsible for doing chores.  It was my part in the family.  The few things I was able to do to help out, allowing things run smoothly in our home.  When I was 10 or 11 years old (pretty close to how old my two boys are), emptying the dishwasher … mowing the lawn … cleaning my room … folding laundry … those were things I just did. 

Without question. 

And if I did question … well, I don’t know what would happen … because I NEVER DID!!! 

Today, I feel, children believe they are “entitled” to everything.  Without earning a darned thing they are given.  And the parents not earning the respect they should have from their kids.

It was just the other day, I realized my rugrats are no better.  They don’t do crap around here.  And while they don’t have cell phones … they do have their share of video games and fast food.  I’m just sayin’.  Guilty.

It’s amazing when these ‘light bulb’ moments go off in a mother’s head.  A certain rage takes place when you realize you’ve been cheated. 

Or cheating.  Cheating your kids that is … because these same children that are not made to hold any sort of  responsibility … will be lost when they grow up and have to move on and out on their own.  They will not know how to function.  They will have no clue how to care for themselves.   Another light bulb moment … maybe that is why it is not uncommon for grown children these days … to live at home into their twenties, sometimes thirties.  When you look at it like that … it all makes sense, doesn’t it?  Good grief.

So, I frantically do what I know … and that is to pull up GOOGLE.  What else would I do?  Hello?

And I find something perfect.  Exactly what our family needs.

CHECK THIS OUT …

Does anyone else feel their family and children are slipping away from what they had envision for them … just because ‘that’s just the way it is’ in today’s world?  Are you caught up in the hype or have you been able to stay strong and raise your kiddos ‘old school’?

Since my kids log online each day, I plan to use this new way of keeping track of their chores … and rewards.  I’ve shared it with my kids and they have expressed interest and excitement by using online chore manager.  I’ll let you know how it goes …

Your thoughts?  Where are you and your family when it comes to chores and responsibility?

However, should it be celebrated “by” everyone?

Many believe that handing out trophies to every child on a soccer team instills self confidence in them.  Score shouldn’t be kept.  Everyone is a winner!  That every piece of artwork, no matter how good or bad, should be praised as if it were a masterpiece.

On the other hand, it seems as if just as many believe the opposite, that those children are just being set up for failure because not everyone wins in life.  I happen to be one of those people.  I personally think that telling children that they played ‘equally as good’ as the other team and/or players, is flat out lying to them.  If they didn’t play as well, that’s okay.  I will praise their effort, and hope they will strive to do better … but fact of the matter is … they didn’t win.  They weren’t the best.  So why should they be told they were.

If everyone is praised and rewarded the same, wouldn’t you think kids will quit trying as hard to do their very best?  Will they just sit back and skate by … knowing their reward will be the same as the kid who worked his tail off?

Many people disagree with me and feel that if  every child is pointed out as being a winner, it will build the self confidence that will help them later in life.  That in order for them to grow into productive adults, their self esteem must be instilled in them at an early age.

What’s your take?

Should every kid take home that soccer trophy?

On Tuesday, September 8th, the President of the United States will address the nation’s children via a live speech being broadcast on the White House website and C-SPAN, along with others.   According to the White House, the talk will be along the lines of a pep talk encouraging students to stay in school and set goals for themselves.  Some other people believe there is more behind the address than just that.

Judging from the news, blogs, and radio the parents of the children in school seem to be divided as to whether or not this speech should be shown in school on Tuesday.

• From the DesMoines Register
• From the Press Citizen

What are your opinions on the issue?

That’s the crisis our education system faces today.  Our children have grown up as digital natives.  They don’t know a world that didn’t include sophisticated gaming software, iPods, or computers in most homes.   But their teachers are not digital natives.

In fact, many teachers are afraid of the digital era.  And without meaning to, creating a digital divide in the classrooms.  I know lots of teachers are wrapping their arms around technology and completely engaging their students.  But I also know many are not.  Or their districts put up so many barriers — they can’t.

Well guess what.  Our kids have a message for us.

The question is — what are we going to do about it?

~ Drew McLellan

I’ve been perusing the website to try and get ideas of something different than what we usually do- which is wander around trying to find things I’ve heard about.  That rarely works.  So I am checking out the Just For Kids page now and can hopefully move on to a page that tells me what’s new.

So I am asking for advice.  Has anyone been to the fair this year?  What must we do?  Or do you have a favorite thing you always do that I should make it a point to find?

Let me know what we just can’t miss!

~ Jody

As I was thinking about our upcoming visit I realized that my daughters may be the last in this family to have a farm to visit.  Neither of my parents farm and though Doug’s brother technically lives on a ranch they have only a few horses (and it’s outside of Dallas.  Ick.)  It makes me sad to think that my grandchildren may only visit a farm through a school field trip or an outing to a place like Living History Farms.

It almost makes me want to buy an acreage and raise a few animals and a garden.  It would be more of a hobby farm, but that still counts, right?

When I was growing up I hated living on a farm because I couldn’t do anything in town (no Brownies or Girl Scouts, no after school birthday parties, very few sleep-overs) because it was an hour long round trip for my mom to pick me up.  After I graduated high school I couldn’t wait to leave Iowa for the “big city” and left the state for 10 years.  And now I’ve come back and come full circle- wishing for the quiet, clear nights in the country and a few acres to call my own.

Anyone else feel that way?

by Jody

Well, sorry to disappoint.

The truth is, I probably have far more to learn from all of you than you have to learn from me!

Take, for instance, the subject of getting your kids to help around the house. Or just picking up AFTER THEMSELVES. My husband and I are nearing our combined wits’ end on this topic. In fact, he called me at work today, clearly having run out of patience. “How am I supposed to get the kids to help without fighting with them all day?” Sadly, I had no answer for him.

It’s gotten to the point where my kids will raid the refrigerator, slurp down a Go-Gurt, and just leave the still-oozing tube on the carpet. They don’t even think twice!

I keep wondering where we went wrong. It’s not like we’ve ever condoned that kind of behavior, and it’s not like they see us throwing our apples cores behind the couch. We definitely haven’t been immaculate housekeepers over the years, but we’re not disgusting slobs either. We like things clean. We like things tidy. Most of the time, we just get overwhelmed and run out of time to get it all done.

We’ve tried yelling. We’ve tried bribery. We’ve tried a point system for positive reinforcement. We’ve threatened spanking. We’ve tried guilt. We’ve referenced Bible verses. Nothing seems to work.

So if there’s something that works well for you, or you have an idea of how we can get our three hoodlum boys (ages 10, 6, and almost 4) to pitch in and be responsible members of our family, please, PLEASE comment!

Otherwise, Nanny’s gonna be getting a call…

Posted by Paula @ boogersandburps

One activity that my husband used to do with his family growing up was to play “Get Lost in the Country.” No, this isn’t that hazing prank where you find yourself naked and blindfolded in the middle of a cornfield. Instead, you just jump in the car with the family, gas up (I know, I know…THE PRICES!), and head for the outskirts of town.

Decide where you’ll begin, and then decide the order in which your kids will have their “turn” giving directions. Start driving, and when you come to the first place where you can turn, have the child whose turn it is say either, “Left,” “Right,” or “Straight” and then follow your child’s command. When you come to the next place you can turn, have the next child give the direction.

Now realize, this may lead you off the blacktop and onto gravel. Embrace the gravel! You will get your best glimpse into rural Iowa on the gravel roads. If one of your child’s directions has you driving on a dirt road, go for it, provided it’s not a mud road. Getting stuck and having to walk three miles to the nearest farmhouse is NOT part of the game. Once when we were playing this game with my husband’s parents (Yes, we even play this as adults!), we ended up driving on a dirt road that kept getting narrower and narrower until we came to a dead end in the middle of a cornfield. Now THAT’S getting lost in the country!

While you’re getting “lost,” notice the scenery along the way. Have your kids see how many different kinds of animals they can identify. Count the number of barns or windmills. What colors are the tractors you see? How about wildflowers?

After you’re good and lost, next comes the challenging part: finding your way back home. Now, it usually helps if you’ve got an Iowa road map with you. If you don’t, well, you’ll be playing the advanced version of the game! Show your kids on the map where you’ve driven and how you’ll now get home. Figure how many miles you’ve gone. And if you pass an ice cream shop on the way back, for goodness’ sake—stop!

You may be surprised at how refreshing it is to stop focusing on the destination for once and just enjoy the ride.

Contributed by Paula
boogers and burps

Of course those who live in Ankeny already knew that…  There is an amazing sports area that little league and soccer clubs from all over the state come to for tournaments.  Great schools.  A parks system ithat is wonderfully large and easily accessible. Summerfest has one of the largest parades in the state (it’s even longer than the state fair parade!) and everyone in town is involved.  It’s very close to Saylorville Lake for boating, hiking and picnics.  And being a suburb of Des Moines there are many jobs (almost recession proof as many are in tech, banking and insurance), restaurants and lots of shopping.

When I moved from Minneapolis most of my friends were shocked and many still say “But aren’t you in the country?”  It’s a common misconception of Iowa- one that I am happy to let the rest of the country keep as if they knew how great it was here they would all come…  With this article I guess the secret is coming out…

Posted by Jody @ Iowa Geek