Don’t Complain About Farmers With Your Mouth Full

Buy organic or not to buy organic, now there’s a deep question!    The subject is heavily debated, especially given the cost of organic being more expensive.   As for my house, most recently we have more organic products in our shopping cart and we feel better for it. 

Of course it makes sense that in order to produce an organic product it requires more of an investment, unfortunately, that cost has to be asorbed somewhere, and often it’s by the consumer.   We enjoy the organic products, therefore I’ve vowed to not complain about the farmers with my mouth full.

My sister, I consider to be an Urban Farmer – and chuckle everytime I think of her little plot of land in the middle of the city of Atlanta.  She started square foot gardening last year – took off like gangbusters!   She’s also invested in a 1/4 slab of ‘organic’ beef for her freezer and is adding chickens this year for both eggs and food. 

So now I have a gardening box in my yard, and bags of dirt ready to prepare the magic soil mixture.   The beauty of square foot gardening is that you build above ground (no digging) and it’s literally in square foot sections, versus row gardening.  It’s compact, and should require little to no weeding.  (I was sold with the words of no digging and very little weeding).

I purchased ‘organic’ seeds as to inspire healtier plants, chocked with extra nutrients and care, to not stunt their ability to provide awesome results later.   I actually have my seedlings growing.  I’m excited and optimistic.  I have a nagging little voice in my head that keeps saying I’ll be successful provided I don’t forget to water them or harvest them before they go to seed.   I have a second nightmare about a giant bunny eating all the goods.

I have big plans for Arugula, Romaine, Salad Bowl Lettuce, Jalepeno, Red Pepper, Eggplant, Zuchinni, Yellow Squash, Pumpkin, Green beans, Watermelon, Sunflower, Cilantro, Basil, and Tomato (grape and big boy).  

In preparation, I bought two books: 

1.  The Square Foot Garden, by Mel Bartholomew  http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

2.  A book on Home Preserving –  yes, I’m absolutely feeling lucky, the bad news is that my ‘crop’ isn’t your typical preservable food.  

I’ll do my best to be an ‘organic grower’, my backup plan is to beg my sister to feed us OR better yet, I’m exploring the location of local growers to buy from.  http://www.localharvest.org/

My ultimate goal for the summer is to avoid the produce aisle at the grocery store.    I’ll try to grow it myself or visit some of the local farms for our produce. 

Just an FYI, we didn’t go in on the beef – we simply don’t eat a lot of beef.  We’ll forgoe the chickens, I have a strong feeling, I’d just name them and then not be able to kill and prepare them.  I know my limits.

For more information about Organics for beginners:

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipes/article/0,28747,1815651,00.html?xid=outbrain-mr-1209

 http://www.cookinglight.com/eating-smart/smart-choices/how-to-buy-best-organic-foods-00400000042865/1

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2010/03/is-organic-better-making-sense-of-organic-choices.html

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When it rains, it pours

I believe that God moves me to my knees to spend time with Him, to hear His council, especially when my world is spinning.  It’s like the rain, you can smell it, feel it’s presense, before it descends. 

So when all things seem to come at once, I try to not give in to the drama.  I get on my knees.  I pray for the Holy Spirit to guide me, for peace, for a sense of calm.

This month has been a whirlwind of waiting for our family – we’re waiting for news on our Acworth home closing;  We’re waiting for news on my Dad’s latest hospitalization with a staph infection from a broken bone and his pending surgery;  We’re waiting for organizational change announcements; We’re waiting on Greg’s CD project completion; We’re waiting on my knee to heal or to find out what’s next;  We’re waiting for changes. 

In preparation of them, we pray, discern, and decide courses of action that we can take.  We wait to see what’s revealed before we act, all, we pray in accordance to His will.  Greg and I don’t always pray together on these things, but what I’m confident of is that Greg prays, and so do I.

In the midst of all of this I feel God’s presence, like the rain.  We’ll wait to see if it will rain or pour in this season of waiting.  Either way, I feel calm, and ready for whatever comes.  I can choose to run around like Chicken Little claiming the sky is falling or I can lift my face to the heavens and prepare for rain.

Bring on the rain. 

Hosea 6:3 –  Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.

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Little pitchers have big ears.- John Heywood (c.1497-1580)

I’m curious, more than I probably have time for.   I was looking up ‘sayings’, just out of pure curiousity.  I came across the following:

Little pitchers have big ears

Of course I had to find out what the heck that meant. 

LITTLE PITCHERS HAVE BIG EARS – “Children hear and understand more than you think they do. The play here is on the resemblance of the ear to the handle of a pitcher. It is an ancient saying, having been recorded by John Heywood in 1546: ‘Auoyd your children, smal pitchers haue wide eares.'” From “The Dictionary of Cliches” by James Rogers (Ballantine Books, New York, 1985).

I must say that John Heywood had some good lines to share, from way back in the day 1542-6!!  No doubt still used today.  Now knowing that they’re from 464 years ago, makes you wonder the context in which they were delivered.

In any event, I’m sure that my big ears as a child, helped me remember some of these gems that I could still use today.  464 years of ‘big ears’ all around keep them alive.  Amazing.

Beg’s the question, what old sayings do you still throw out to your friends and family?  Have you checked to see the origin?

Just for fun try these Heywood’s on:

Haste maketh waste. (1546)

Out of sight out of minde. (1542)

When the sun shineth, make hay. (1546)

Two heads are better than one. (1546)

Love me, love my dog. (1546)

Beggars should be no choosers. (1546)

All is well that ends well. (1546)

The fat is in the fire. (1546)

I know on which side my bread is buttered. (1546)

One good turn asketh another. (1546)

A penny for your thought. (1546)

Rome was not built in one day. (1546)

Better late than never. (1546)

An ill wind that bloweth no man to good. (1546)

The more the merrier. (1546)

You cannot see the wood for the trees. (1546)

This hitteth the nail on the head. (1546)

No man ought to look a given horse in the mouth. (1546)

Many hands make light work. (1546)

Wolde ye bothe eate your cake and haue your cake? (1562)

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On Saturday, I had a horrible, terrible, very bad MOMMY day

I want to start this by saying I’m not proud of how I handled my Saturday.  I’m not a perfect mom (but I secretly wish I was).  I made Saturday much harder than it needed to be.  I’m not even sure why I’m writing this….

The Example:

Have you ever seen the lady at the local large retail store who has 2 kids, whining, running, and appearing flat out defiant? You look at face and she’s tense, REALLY tense. Barking orders “get over here”, “stop that”, “what part of no didn’t you get?”, “if you do that one more time you’re in trouble” ….

You see her and think, wow, she’s going to lose it. Because you’re having a happy shopping experience with your children, you shake your head in shame at the volcano in the next aisle. You contemplate asking her if she’s ever heard of Love and Logic, or Magic 1-2-3, which are two discipline strategies for dealing with kids.

Saturday, I WAS THE VOLCANO!!

Hindsight, being 20/20 and big on lessons learned, I started to unwind the events leading up to my eruption. 

The Background:

They wanted to ride bikes with their friends, I took them shopping instead. 

The Horrible, Terrible Situation:

G wanted new skate board wheels, the store we were in didn’t carry them.  He whined about it… incessantly.  He asked me to ask someone, there wasn’t anyone around in sporting goods, so I moved on.  I grew weary of whining, warning one was issued “They don’t have it, stop complaining about it”.  For each complaint I started counting “one”…, “that’s two and if get to three and I’ll stop looking for the wheels all together.”  Nice, as if that was going to help calm his concern.  I didn’t have to go to three,  but clearly he was bothered.

We moved on looking for care package items for my grandmother, the boys, scattered.  The intent was a team effort, it turned into an individual search and obtain.  I like to have visual on my kids in a store, not seeing them freaks me out a little.  So I started with the “come here”, “stay with me please”, “stop, stop, STOP”.

At one point M accidently hit the skate board obsessing child with the shopping cart.  It hurt.  I didn’t want to listen to more whining, I ignored him.  Skate board boy shoves cart back at his brother, new whining erupts.  I’m determined to still be shopping, they’re getting agitated with each other.  Skate board boy elbows me and then stomps when I try to redirect him while he’s upset.  Wrong move.  I futher redirect my mini volcano and tell him where to stand and demand he pull himself together.  I refuse to listen to his complaint.   I get more stomping, and a shove.  Wrong move number two.  I leave the cart and the store (a grossly altered love and logic strategy), but not before going nose to nose with G to let him know I was not happy with him and why.

The Assessment

In reviewing the horrible, terrible, very bad mommy day, I discoverd MY problem:  I stopped listening and I, not once, was empathetic.

The Lessons Learned

To have the opportunity to “DO OVER”, I would have stopped when he was disappointed and listened to him get if off his chest.  I could have found an associate (which I did on Sunday) who confirmed they didn’t carry skate board wheels.   I could have explained that it wouldn’t be good use of money to buy a new $70 skate board for wheels that probably cost $20.  

Before we launched into the care package project, I would have set the expectations up front.  We’re a team, and talked about what my grandmother likes, favorite colors etc.,

When he was hit by the cart I should have stopped and listened to his hurt feelings.  Asked M if it was an accident.  Had the apology issued and asked if everyone was ready to move on. 

I should have stopped pretending I was shopping alone and that the escalating incidents going on around me were going to resolve themselves magically.  I should have stopped and simply listened and confirmed it with empathy and maybe even a hug.  All G wanted was someone to hear him.

I’m sorry little man, that’s my bad. 

Our Sunday trip was pleasant.  Yes, we went back and did it over and our execution was MUCH BETTER.  Next time you see a volcano, please pray for them; and if you’re in “the moment”, do your best to love your kids right where they’re at.

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Fun Chores for Kids

In an earlier blog I said I’d share some of our favorite “fun chores”.  Make it a game and my boys will play hard!!   So here are some things that have worked for us.  The key is using a timer, it makes it exciting to try and finish the task in a set amount of time.  The pay is not monetary, it’s high fives all around.  We offer them opportunities to earn some money, but there’s some things you do to contribute to the family home. 

1.  Sock Rodeo – I don’t know about your house, but I find socks EVERYWHERE.  To make sure they make it to the laundry I place a basket in the hall outside the laundry room, and begin the sock rodeo.  Boys run from room to room to see who can round up the most socks.  This works for shoes that get away too. 

2.  Laundry sorting – set three baskets out, one with a white t-shirt, second with a piece of dark clothing, third with piece of light colored clothing.  The job is to sort a pile of clothes into the baskets by shade of color. 

3.  Beat the clock – this one can be done as a team or individual.  In the room needing to be picked up, set a timer for 5 minutes and pick up.  It’s amazing how much can be done in 5 minutes.  I bring along an empty laundry basket to capture those things that don’t belong in the room and a trash bag to collect things that just need to go forever.

4.  Room jar – I’ll walk around the house and write down the names of the rooms that need to be straightened up.  Pick the room out of the jar, set the timer for 15 minutes and go for it.   Then we have 15 (timed) minutes of play, then pick the next room. 

5.  Dust Brigade – I don’t know why they think it’s so much fun, but my boys love to dust furniture.  I have noticed that they’re a bit heavy on the dust cleaner so I’ve taken that as my ‘to do’.  We clear all the table tops.  I spray, one wipes, the third decorates (replaces the items back on the table tops). 

6.  Vacuuming!  I don’t care how old your child is, if they can push the vaccum they can do it!!  My guys actually fight over who gets to vaccum!  Insane I know!  The job’s not perfect but I just tell them to do their best, stick to the walking areas! 

7.  Salad chef – we had a hard time getting our son to eat vegetables.  So he had the job of “Salad Chef”, put an apron on him, grabbed a step stool, individual bowls, cut up lettuce, assorted ramikins of toppings (chopped celery, carrot matchsticks, croutons, cran-raisins, nut/raisin trail mix, grape tomatoes, etc).  His job was to assemble the salads for each person at the table.  My youngest son was always a bit heavy on the croutons for his own salad, but he ate every bit of what he made.  If you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up, one of his answers is a Chef. 

8.  Set the dinner table – this was always a doggy downer until I agreed that we could have a candle lit dinner table if they did a nice job.   I like candle lit dinners 🙂  We also occassionally use table cloths, so if I’m met with whining when I ask, I tell them they can pick out the table cloth, for whatever reason, that works. 

9.  Sorting stuff – my guys have stuff, lots of stuff.  Stuff that’s good, stuff that’s broken, stuff that’s been around a long time and is no longer loved.  We sort stuff into two boxes and a garbage can.   Box 1 – Stuff that we love and we want it to live here;  Box 2 – Stuff that we don’t love anymore but is in good enough shape to be loved by someone else.   Garbage can – for stuff that is broken, missing pieces or is flat out trash; I don’t sort it, the guys do.  If they don’t want the stuffed dinosaur anymore, let it go, even if it really is cute.  If they want to keep the crumpled paper w/ the drawing and the water ring, let them keep it.  So long as it has a place it’s fine with me. 

 Take the ‘give away box’ and put it DIRECTLY into your car – do not store it in the hallway or the guest room.  Escort it right out the door – otherwise you’re opening a door to have it ‘re-evaluated’ and generally that happens 10 minutes before company arrives.

10.  Leaf blowing – we bought a light weight back pack leaf blower and ear protection.  I know, you’re shaking your head, but my kids, fight over who get’s to do this chore too.  If you’re doing yard work let them see how tall of a pile of sticks they can build on the blue tarp or in their wagon.  

It took me a while to get used to the help, sometimes it’s easier for me to just do it, but often I’ll ask the boys to pitch in.  If I can help it, I try to not correct what they’ve done.  G made his bed, the blanket is crooked.  I leave it alone,  and just thank him for making the bed, he feels proud.  Win, win.    

We’re not perfect in our execution, it’s not necessarily routine, but when you need help maybe this is a good short list of things a kid under 10 can do.   Keep the time frame short, and fun, play music, join the race – chores don’t have to be dreaded, make it fun.  

I’m sure there’s a ton of ideas out there, if you’ve got one, please share!!!

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Take your Kid to Work Day Reaches a New Level

Call me crazy, but I think there’s a huge difference between taking your kid to work so they can see what you do for a living, and letting your kid do your job.   

All the major news channels were covering the story of the children dispatching planes at JFK, under the guidance of their father, who is an air traffic controller.   The FAA seemed to have issue with the incident, and rightfully so.  Even closely supervised, and correctly pronounced, it probably wasn’t the best idea.   

I chuckle thinking about one of my sons hosting a business process conference call for me, or facilitating a meeting.  After all, from there perspective, how hard could it be to solve problems over the phone or come up with new ideas to make business better?  Facilitating workshops would be considered easy in their minds.  All you need sticky notes all over the wall, white board, giant pads of paper, all the soda you can drink and magic markers!  It’s is a dynamite way to spend a day.  If anything really tough came up, my child would pull out the notorious bobble head,  ‘huh?’ or some wacked out statement, such as “I like pie!”   

Although the kids directing air traffic had a concept of what they were doing, they really didn’t have the big, complex picture of the impact.     I understand the intentions of the Dad who wanted to create a fun moment to remember by allowing the kid’s to interact with the pilots and give direction.  However, if I’m a passenger on the plane, please save it for the simulators.

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Mr. President’s Cholesterol Lowering Walk

President Obama decided to take a walk instead of the motorcade, apparently joking that he’s trying to reduce his cholesterol levels.  After watching the CNN Video, I’m thinking that he may have had a spike in blood pressure.  If not his own, then all the people around him for certain.

Happy walking!

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Killer Whales – A Captain Obvious Study

I just watched the video clip from CNN, where Occupational Safety and Health Administration warned in a 2006 report that “swimming with orcas is inherently dangerous and if someone hasn’t been killed already it is only a matter of time.” This all based upon a video and incident occuring in SeaWorld Park in SanDiego.

The CNN clip seems to imply that if people had read the report, it could have saved lives and that Seaworld had issue with the original report. I took a look on the OSHA site, couldn’t find standard guidelines for working with live animals but did find the General Duty Clause.

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, requires employers to “furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees”. Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to “comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act”.

OSHA appears to be set up to conduct an ‘audit’ against guidelines. Likely the audit response being directed by specific audit criteria is in my opinion could be a reason why Seaworld had issue with the initial report (18 pages). Thus the final report being 10 pages long, removing those pieces that could not scientifically prove their points or were considered opinion. I can’t fathom Seaworld would dispute the dangers of working with Killer Whales, if they did then they wouldn’t have the protocol at all.

Here is an accident/tragedy that has occured. Inspectors (auditors) come out to investigate and write up a findings report. In order to inspect you have to have some pre-determined criteria to inspect non conformance against. So we went from tragic event to audit mode. As a person who is often asked to provide audit responses, I likely would have refused the report findings based upon their interjected opinion, not against the criteria that would demonstrate non- conformance with standards.

As an auditor it’s critical that you base findings on fact, not opinion, and not offer any recommendation to changes in behaviour. The action to correct behaviour is owned by the business who is executing the processes. An auditor however, can make recommendations to modify the standards, or create a governance model for future incidents. In this case there isn’t a ‘marine life’ oriented guideline that I was able to find.

Per Seaworld provide information – Killer whales are opportunistic predators, they eat 3-4% of their body weight daily; They eat fish, and marine animals, or other animals they get get ahold of such as polar bears and moose.

SeaWorld has done the research, I’m certain they shared the results with their trainers.  They created specific protocol that was to be followed just for trainer safety. I don’t believe anyone shrugged their responsibilities in informing instructors. Seaworld may need to spend more time ensuring that protocol is followed.

I think that, as anyone can become “comfortable” in their responsibilities, that it’s very possible that a Killer Whale Trainer could lay down their guard a bit, but certainly not with the intention of being harmed or killed.

I don’t need an archived OSHA study, delivered a week after Dawn Brancheau was killed by a Killer Whale (Tilikum), to tell me the dangers of the whales. Seems like every news report surrounding Dawn’s unfortunate death, clearly indicated that she was aware of the dangers, perhaps didn’t act within protocol, and wouldn’t think about blaming Tilikum for behaving like a Killer Whale.

Here’s my Captain Obvious Report:  

If I’m a Killer Whale Trainer and pop myself near or into the water with a Killer Whale with big teeth, and think that I’ll be fine every time I do this…. I’m stupid.  As an informed trainer, I know the inherent dangers of my job, I’m also aware that accidents can occur at any time.  If I’m not comfortable with the risks then I should find something else to do.  If I love my role, I perform with caution and understanding that an incident is always possible, without warning.

Killer Whales are intended to be wild. In captivity, it is not outside the realm of reason that Killer Whales should behave as they would in the wild. Unless we find a talking Whale that can explain what triggers each tragic incidents (which I attribute to natural instinct), all we can do is continue to study them and take the necessary precautions. If the animal has been taken out of their natural environment, we are responsible for it’s care until it dies of natural causes.

There have been accidents with Killer Whales in captivity, Dawn Brancheau being the latest tragic victim. So instead of the media pointing out the obvious; and activists priming the pump to argue about the whale’s future; we take a few minutes to honor a woman who loved what she did for a living, knew the risks and did it anyway.

Rest in peace Dawn Branchaeu.

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Expect Nothing?

I’m a mom, I have two boys under the age of 10. Some days I believe I speak a completely different language, given the looks of total confusion on their faces or the active response of “huh?” or “mmmmmm”.

Maybe “huh” is the primal caveman response for “say again”; “mmmm” roughly translates to “do I have to?”

It’s very interesting how early the selective hearing phase begins. I can ask them to feed a pet, take out trash, carry in groceries, and either I’m met with a blank stare and “huh”? OR I get the deep “mmm” groan and a head that moves about like a bobble head.  It’s particularly funny to me when I can be in another room and whisper “ice cream anyone?” and they come running.  I’m not looking to offload household chores, just a little help here and there, I’m even willing to make it fun (I’ll save fun chore ideas for another blog).

So I recently spent time with my Grandmother, mother of 5, she’s in her 90’s. She witnessed one of our ‘huh’ moments followed by no action on the request to clear the table for dinner. My Grandmother leaned into me and said, “When it comes to kids helping out, you should expect nothing, so you won’t be disappointed and when they do help you’ll be delighted”.

I personally think I can expect something so long as I’m consistent and share expectations.  Grandma’s advice comes to mind when frustration rises, especially when the huh’s and bobble heading is frequent. It helps remind me that they need time to be young boys and play. At the same time I think it’s important to ask that they participate and be responsible around the house, how else will they learn how to be on their own? 

What do you think about the “Expect nothing and you’ll never be disappointed” approach?

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