Every parent has been there. You are attending a parent meeting for your child’s class, sport, or extracurricular activity, and here it comes: the pitch to pull in parents to volunteer. If you are shy, your palms may start to sweat. If you are feeling busy, you might have a knee-jerk no-can-do response. If you have had a recent bad volunteer experience, you may be thinking, Never again.
Summer shorts and tees purchased, washed and folded neatly in the duffle bag. Bug spray and the one allowable stuffed animal all packed. Immunization card submitted. Survival snacks tucked away. We were ready for her first week away from home on her own. My daughter was 10 years old and headed to summer pre-teen church camp.
Many girls shudder at the thought of going bra shopping with their mother. But Kate van der Merwe believes it’s an important bonding and learning opportunity for her and her teen daughter, Isabelle. “We’ve all got boobs, they’re not going anywhere,” chuckles van der Merwe. “The more comfortable we can make our daughters with their own bodies, the better.”
In my opinion, disrespectful behavior is at an all-time high in our society. Stress seems to be fueling an increase in angry outbursts, unconscionable remarks, and a general lack of accountability. I have certainly noticed this in my daily life, in my work life, and in my family’s experiences outside the home. So what can we do to counterbalance a sudden spike in road rage, uncivil treatment, overreaction - or even when we feel like ‘going off’ on someone ourselves?
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