So I continue my search for making the change I want to see in the world. Right now the one area where I have the most control is myself. I’m exercising, trying to stay up on current events without losing myself to depression, trying to eat healthily. While not always succeeding, at least the Starbucks scrip purchases keep the numbers up for my child’s school, so I suppose that is something.
I’m attempting to meditate more. That has been a bit hit and miss. Translating it into my daily routine has been challenging but I’m getting there. I haven’t written as much this past month, though I seem to have had a lot of interest in my opinion piece on the legalization of Marijuana. Who knew? I’m still learning WordPress, and am my most ardent critic when I find myself needing to learn more.
I have managed to connect more with people. I value hearing the opinions and insights of others. I’m constantly learning how difficult it can be to make real change. We so often get bogged down in the discussion and rumination of problems. The navel-gazing of my parents time has turned into the mobile phone gazing of ours.
It is strange how, now that I’m older, I find my greatest influence is in my family and listening to those around me. The actionable items are so much more challenging in a time of tight budgets and armchair quarterbacks.
I’ve come to admire the entrepreneur who incorporates philanthropy. The non-profit who manages forward in a greed induced world. The ethical business person who does what is right despite “optics” to whatever generation is currently in vogue.
Lately, I have found some of the most effective changemakers, are Moms. Dads too of course, but more often the Moms are the ones who are in charge of ushering kids here and there while keeping households running and finding time to do what empowers them. Dads more often have the full-time job that can financially support the family. This is not exclusively true, but still the greater norm. If one parent is not working or is more in charge of the kid agenda, they by circumstance have to be more flexible. They are the ones who manage to squeeze in chores, meals, ways to stay up on current events, be it jogging or driving with the latest podcast explaining how to build a micro-economy or following trends on Pinterest for the next fundraising activity. These are not the sorts of activities that rise to a resume when a parent wants to return to the work-force. It can be challenging to craft a CV that includes these “softer” skills, which quite frankly aren’t always so soft.
I am constantly amazed by those with more than one child who are able to do all these things, and work, and coordinate the perfect after school activity for entire classes. And God forbid you add single parent into the mix. Those are the true heroes out there.
Still, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. While I may live in awe of the Mom who chauffers 4 kids to 5 events in one day, they may crave to be able to sit back and write and research the latest ways to eliminate chemicals from our food chain. The furloughed teacher who coordinates after-school events for kids whose parents are working is often the resource that working parents are continually grateful for saving them when stuck late for a presentation.
Here is to the unsung heroes out there doing there best to raise the next generation. Be the parent working, with the kid in after-school care, or the Mom or Dad running the monthly scouting meeting. You are the change. Thank you for what you do.