Daily Dose of BS March 28 free range parenting

Kids should be able to walk outside, walk to school, and stay home alone right?  A new law in Utah now allows for free range parenting.  What?  Isn’t this the goal of every parent everywhere?  The bill redefines "neglect" in Utah law so that kids can participate in some unsupervised activities without their parents being charged.  The official definition of neglect is failing to care for properly, the state or fact of being uncared for.  My goal as a parent is to nurture my kids, help them to grow and help them to become productive members of society.  I feel as though I have done those goal by allowing my kids to first of all be kids and feel safe at home, secondly by giving them the chance to go out and explore, sometimes on their own and sometimes by being tethered to either my wife or me.  I most certainly wouldn’t let my 3 or 4-year-old play at the park alone but may have let my 5-year-old have a little freedom to walk ahead of me on way to park, depending on the child.  My twins walked half way home from school to meet me by about 2^nd grade and could go to the park to play at about the same time.  They were 9 ½ to 10 when they felt comfortable with being home alone when there was a quick run to the store.  Letting go is part of the parenting process and now in Utah letting your kids be kids is on the books.  Maryland kids under 14 may not be out unsupervised.  

Daily Dose of BS March 1 guns

Looks like both Walmart and Dicks Sporting goods will be limiting some of the guns that will be sold at their brick and mortar and their online stores.  Is this what needs to be done?  Will limiting the purchase of guns and ammo to those that are 21 and older stop the flow of guns from the stores?  I see how hard it is for a 17-year-old to get beer or whatever else they want to drink.  Heck even picking up drugs is hard right, it is illegal and there are no illegal drugs flowing in the veins of the typical city.  Oh, there are, I get that these stores are trying to help with the problem of guns making it into the hands of those that are younger but do you think that this symbolic gesture is just that a gesture that really has no merit?  I am not sure what needs to be done.  The only thing that I can think that would really work is for all of us to say something if we see or hear something, at least someone will then be able to help before the preverbal Schmidt hits the fan. 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 22 teachers armed

According to debate.org 60% think that teachers should not be armed.  In the state of Wisconsin state attorney general and a couple of legislators think that teachers should be able to pack heat.  I saw an infographic the other day saying that we guard the president and government officials with guns, celebrities, and other dignitaries who are looking to be safe.  As a father of 4 I think that my most valuable asset is my children, shouldn’t they also be allowed the same protection that heads of state are offered?  If the old saying is true that our children are our future, shouldn’t we protect our most valuable assets?  On the other hand, I do not feel as though every teacher should be armed, I think there must be training and back ground checks and more training and psych evaluations and more training.  But I think that our children’s lives are worth it.  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 7 girl scout cookies

The sugar high began last week with the knocking on doors and sales pitch in hand.  I am talking Girl Scout Cookie time.  I am like most the rest of America and am enjoying the different flavors of yesteryear with the thin mints and the carmel delights, also enjoying the new smore cookies as well, only thing that they are missing is the gooey mess, but they taste good just the same.  I saw a few posts on Facebook the last few days about some consumers are upset that the girls are selling the cookies in front of some of the marijuana dispensaries around the country and doing quite well I might add, one girl sold over 300 boxes sitting outside the shop.  Should she have been able to sell them there?  I think so, as long as its legal, what are your thoughts? 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 24 wednesdays

We are at the half way of the work week.  Good old Wednesday, a downhill slide to the weekend if you will.  I personally like Wednesday because it is a half-way point, and at our house it is CCD night.  Productive I read a stat that said Wednesday is the 3^rd most productive day of the week it goes like this Tuesday is the big day with 51% feeling productive, followed by Monday then good old Wednesday at 15%.  For me Wednesday is my longest day at the office I have to stick around for a brainstorm meeting then off to take on the day.  It is funny that Friday has only 1% of the population being motivated, for me I am pretty motivated on Fridays too, motivated to get my stuff done and get out of work that is.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 20 Ferguson

Ferguson Missouri is in the national media yet again today.   This protesting is continuing and is reminiscent to me of the Rodney King riots.   I am not sure I get the mob mentality that is going on here; I think that I am getting to old.  When I am unhappy something I work to try to fix the problem not to add to the problem by rioting and pillaging.  I guess I am lucky that I have a soap box to stand on to share my opinions, to share my ideas and thoughts.  Oh wait we all do it is called social media, more specifically facebook and twitter.  Let’s work on starting to mend what ails us and stop trying to drive that wedge deeper than it already is.  In the words of Rodney King, can’t we all just get along?  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 24 Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas. Prior to last year I have always just said Merry Christmas and got upset by those that said anything different. During the past year I have had the chance to talk with many people about this, friends, foes and allies, as well as a few church leaders about the saying of Merry Christmas. Rabbi Saul Prombaum I think said it best, saying that we are all so politically correct these days, that we let the little things bug us, and I agree, we let the little things get under our skin, what one person says or doesn’t say isn’t going to make or break my day or my life and why should I let it. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Seasons Greeting, and here are hopes for a great New Year to all my family, and friends both old and new. May you enjoy the best of days.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 9 stop bullying

October is anti-bullying month. I think we have all experienced bullying in some form or another, what starts sometimes as good natured ribbing can turn into the worst experience to that point for a kid and can be a stressor for that child. We all give our siblings and our friends a hard time, but once in a while that hard time keeps up and the line gets crossed, that is when it is considered bullying, we picture the bully to be the hard ass kid from down the street, but in fact it can be anyone from a brother and sister, to your parents, to friends, family, teachers and bosses. Here is how to define bullying its Intentional- aggressive and a deliberate attempt to hurt another person, it is repeated- over time to the same person or group of people and there is a power imbalance- the person bullying has more physical or social power than the child or children being bullied. Lets stop the bullying.

Daily Dose of BS April 2 vote today

I know I keep beating the drum of vote, vote, vote but it is important.  I know in Wisconsin we have had an unprecedented number of elections in the past 18 months but, the ability to cast a vote is a privilege that is opened to most people over the age of 18.  The sad thing is that so few people take the time to go to their polling place to exercise their right to vote.  When the United States was founded only a select number of white men were able to vote, we all need to exercise our voice to be heard.  Today is the non-partisan Election Day in Wisconsin.  We get to vote for mayors, city council, Supreme Court, and many other local issues, and seats.  Please take the time today to help to write history.

Daily Dose of BS February 20

Every two minutes we take as many photos that were taken in all the 1800’s.  Over 140 billion that’s billion with a B photos are now stored on facebook, if the old saying is true that is equal to a lot of words.  Most of us have a camera with us at all times, wondering what I am talking about check your phone.  We are becoming chronic over sharers, this is why I quit following twitter, I don’t need to know that you are brushing your teeth, getting to work, or eating a salad somewhere, if you were eating bugs or some weird thing, then maybe I would want to know, but why is it that we feel the need to post every little meaningless thing in our lives to social media?  I mean does anyone care?  Also we feel the need to be connected, do you really need to carry on a phone conversation with anyone while you are in line at the grocery store?  Here is something new hang up the damn phone and talk to the person in front or behind you in line, just smile and say hi.  Your hello may make that persons day.  Could you go a day with out being plugged in?  From tv, to phone, to internet could you do a day, two, a week?  I go lots of weekends without checking emails, on the computer, but feel naked with out my phone.  

Daily Dose of BS February 9

Social media, maybe it should be called time sucking media. Some love it, some hate it, most of us tolerate it. Since social media became big a few years ago, it seems to be the way that kids and even adults communicate. I am guilty of it, and if you are reading this on facebook, I am guessing you are also (especially if you respond). It has brought out the voyeur in us. How often have you clicked on someone’s profile to see what they are up to, even if you didn’t know them? We can check up on our old friends without them even knowing. Follow our favorite celebrity, our kids, or even the local radio guy. I am not saying it is bad, because it is not, it gives many of us an outlet, in fact I never knew I liked writing until I was challenged to come up with something everyday to post to my facebook account for my job.