BlogHer - drugs - Comments

Older and Stronger Read the Bills Act

DDCPrez — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:59:36 -0600

DownsizeDC.org has been presenting the Read the Bills Act for over
three years.

And it doesn’t come in the sunlight only when it’s fashionable.
DownsizeDC.org has generated nearly 150,000 messages to Congress in
support of this bill.

1) It requires 7 days before the vote, instead of 72 hours.
2) During those 7 days the bill must be posted online so that watchdog
groups like Heritage, talk show hosts, and the general public can read
the bill too — during the very time the public is most likely to be
interested in the bill.
3) It requires the bill to be read aloud, word for word, by the clerk,
during business, with a quorum present. This should mean fewer and
shorter bills passed because there are only so many hours in the day.
4) It requires the bill to include the language amended, instead of the
standard fare, like “strike the word ‘the’ and replace it ‘a’ in line
2, subparagraph a, section 5, article C, of USC 123.45″
5) It applies to bills coming up for review and renewal under sunset.
6) It’s a law with an enforcement mechanism, instead of a mere rule, which can be waived on a vote by vote basis.

You can check it out at…
http://www.downsizedc.org/etp/campaigns/27

What's Your Favorite Part?

JessSanders — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:47:17 -0500

I have fond memories of my 2 brothers and I sitting around the table as close to nightly as possible with my parents, talking about our days, our frustrations and wins, have casual conversation and act goofy.

As a parent myself now, I have a newfound respect for how hard it was for my parents to consistently create those memories! My husband and I try our best to do the same and keep the tradition alive.

I see that I am making a difference when my 3 year old feels comfortable initiating conversation. "What was your favorite part of the day, Mama?" he asked me over veggie soup and cornbread this evening. A question that we often ask him through the course of an evening meal. We talked easily about our days and connected. With any luck, we'll be doing the same through his childhood and teen years and he won't have to think about things to say to his parents because he's been having conversations around the dinner table for as long as he can remember.

Unappetizing Company

Patois — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 10:45:51 -0500

I remember being much better behaved than my own children are. Of course, my siblings and I lived in fear of my father, so I'm happy my kids feel safe enough to act like themselves. But, oh, what I'd give to get through a meal without disgusting sounds or constant bickering! I do buy into the idea of dining together. We do it so often, however, that we're going to dine alone Monday night. ;)

Unappetizing Company

Patois — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 10:44:26 -0500

yeah I think it is just about making yourself and the whole

Crunchy Carpets — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:19:20 -0500

family dynamic available. I make sure no matter how preoccupied I am..to give my full attention to the kids when they are bustin to talk about something.

We also try to do as much as family...walking home from school....watching a fave show together...anything.

Look for me at http://crunchycarpets.com or check out the ladies at www.wetcoastwomen.com

Misery like company

nakedanarchists — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:14:06 -0500

Not that I wish anyone poorly, but I am laughing at others' commiserating about the plight at the table! Our conversations mostly center around the fare: too many "chunky" foods, "you know I don't like this", "eating with elbows on the table makes it go down easier when I'm tired", "If I actually eat this, do I get dessert?", "other families get to eat pizza," and my favorite: "if only we would buy a microwave like normal people, maybe your cooking would be better."

Writing this has inpired me to get takeout tonight :-)

http://nakedanarchists.wordpress.com

great point

Amy Gates — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:41:44 -0500

Excellent point, Sue. Thanks for giving those other examples of ways to spend quality time with your kids. :)

Amy
Crunchy Domestic Goddess

BlogHers Act contributing editor

alternatives exist

sueblaney — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:39:25 -0500

While having dinner together is the ideal, when kids are teenagers often after school sports and other activities interfere. The objective of the family meal can be achieved in other ways... a parent can schedule regular one-on-one time with each teen by going out for coffee on Saturday mornings;turning the radio off in the car; making a ritual of a cup of tea at 9pm each evening...the point is to carve out time where families can just hang, be together and allow natural conversation to emerge. Even crabby teens who are appearing to give signals that they don't want parents around much need to know they are wanted and that parents will make time for them.

Sue Blaney

www.PleaseStoptheRollercoaster.com

www.ParentingTeensInfo.com

What's that?

Amy Gates — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:27:34 -0500

"Not to mention that I can't remember having an uninterrupted conversation with my husband."

What is that uninterrupted converstation thing you speak of? ;oP

Um yeah, they don't happen often around here either, at least not until after the kids are asleep.

Amy

Crunchy Domestic Goddess

BlogHers Act contributing editor

LOL You are NOT alone!

Kathy333 — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:32:48 -0500

Most dinners consist of us sitting down, the toddler plowing through her meal, and then asking if she can get up and play. We insist she remains and talk for a few minutes. She tells us about her day and then we let her go. Then the baby wants down because her sister is down. Or the baby screams for the condiments, no matter how much we have already given her.

So, you are definitely not alone! I just keep thinking if we make this a habit then one day when they are a bit older it will click, and work.

My husband and I don't really have a full conversation until after the girls leave the table!

Kathy

Mama Marathoner

Allbusiness:Working Mothers

Am I doing it wrong?

nakedanarchists — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:11:32 -0500

We have family dinners 5-6 nights a week, but they are FAR from harmonious! Between an 11 yr old fighting with her 8 yrd old sister, a toddler and general mealtime/meltdown craziness, the intelligent conversation and daily check in does not flow. Not to mention that I can't remember having an uninterrupted conversation with my husband.

We are so far removed from mealtime harmony that I have put a sign in my dinig room : "The Road to Civilization is LONG and Tedious."

I'm sticking with it, though, no matter how much therapy they will all need after the "family dinner experience".

http://nakedanarchists.wordpress.com

Family dinner in front of the TV

IAAdmin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:00:25 -0500

When my kids were a little older, we did have family dinners, but many were spent watching the evening news. Although I know watching TV while eating dinner is discouraged, for us, it worked. The news brought out discussions that were otherwise considered taboo, like crime, rape, local weather, etc, which often times lead to lively discussions.

Oh, the traditional conversations about how your day went, what you and your friends are doing, were definately part of the equations, but I learned and taught many ideas during those family dinners while watching the news.

Iowa Avenue

Got it!

Kathy333 — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:18:17 -0500

The book is called "Food for Talk" and the author is Julienne Smith. I met her at a NAWBO meeting about a year ago, and I posted this blog about her book-you can check it out for some information about what the book contains. Very interesting and great for those dinners when you are so tired you can't think (which is most of ours around here these days lol)!

Kathy

Mama Marathoner

Allbusiness:Working Mothers

Eating is Learned Behavior

DawnMaria — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:46:10 -0500

I haven given talks on meal planning for various MOPS groups around here and I'm amazed at how many moms, who are mostly stay-at-home moms, struggle with getting dinner done. Many had careers before kids and never learned to cook. Many don't like to cook, but when you have a family, they need to eat, just like they need clean clothes.

I love to cook, but as my kids have gotten older and now that I'm back to work PT, getting dinner made has become more challenging. My husband travels a lot too. We get about 3-4 meals together a week between kids' activities, my older son's job and my husband's travel.

Aside from learning to eat a variety of foods and learning about manners (I don't allow complaints about food) we learn about each other through conversation. But I don't want to give the impression that every meal is a happy meal. We've had plenty of meltdowns, both adult and child, at the table.

In Europe they take a long time to eat their meals, it's a beautiful ritual. They don't have the obesity rate that we do either. I have to believe there's a connection between the two.

Dawn Maria

Method to the Madness
http://www.dawnmaria.com

Great Post

NurseBarb — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:17:11 -0500

Happy to see Mom Central mentioned, since I'm the "Health Mom" there. I posted on this when the data came out a few weeks ago. Here's a short out-take:

In my practice caring for teen girls, I've seen that it's more than just sharing a meal. As most parents can attest, a teenager's mood mimics a theme park roller coaster ride. One minute they're happy, talkative and engaging, and the next they're barely concealing their contempt, boredom and may be rolling their eyes as they struggle to sit at the table just long enough to eat.

What I know about teens, especially girls, is that we need to be there for them through all of it. The Good, Bad, and the Ugly. Family meal time is an anchor for them, it's a time and a place that's stable for them in their constantly changing world. Even if you're not talking to your teen during dinner, just being together communicates that you love and care for them.

I've been in practice long enough to know these same difficult teens and watch them blossom into fantastic young women and mothers. I've asked them about the obligatory family meals. So many said, that even when they felt miserable and when they were at their worst, these meals were an important reminder that people cared.

You can see more at www.NurseBarb.com

Be well,

Nurse Barb