Dear Senator Udall,
You could do our children a better service by providing them opportunity to work.
The healthiest opportunity you can give a child is to teach them how to do volunteer work.
Doing something for another, and without pay, would give them a sense of purpose, achievement, pride, self-confidence, respect of other people's property, and work ethic.
Please give some serious thought to what I’m about to suggest:
Outside their homes, what view sheds do children see the most? If you answered, “sidewalks, roadways, rail roads, streets and highways,” you’d be spot on.
Now picture what they see: Fast food containers, poopy diapers, plastic bags, beer bottles, Styrofoam cups, mattress, plastic bags, blown tires, garage sale signs, pigeon poop, dog poop, cat poop, plastic bags, human poop, cigarette butts, pop cans, weeds, razor blades, spit, cardboard, political candidate signs, plastic bags, the occasional chair or couch, clothing, gum, needles, “Send us money and we’ll get you a date” signs, a thrown away pet, and plastic bags.
What our children see, are people who care so little about themselves and their neighbor, they demand the government seize their neighbor’s money so they can buy stuff to later throw in the neighbor’s yard.
Senator Udall, you can help change that, by encouraging them to get outside and go to work.
If work is presented the right way, there’s not a reason in the world it can’t be fun!
So instead of keeping ourselves in a chronic state of angst over whether or not we’re providing children streaming entertainment, let’s teach them how to work.
Get them outside where they can hike up and down banks, ravines and barrel pits while picking up the before-mentioned.
Hefting huge bags of trash will develop their muscles and character.
Exposing them to the elements, whether rain, blizzard, sunshine will teach them how to endure and get on with a task.
They'd grow an appreciation and respect for of our resource providers, who work come rain or shine.
They’ll learn the difference between factual science and fantasy opinions.
They’ll learn the difference between earning and stealing something.
Get them outside where they can learn how to operate a hose, a scraper, and some good concrete detergent.
Then when everything’s sparkling clean, send them back outside with flowers, shrubs, trees and maybe even some ornamental rocks. Show them how to properly dig the hole that will accommodate annuals, perennials, evergreens, deciduous and more.
Imagine the horticultural lessons they’ll learn.
Then keep taking them back outside where they can learn how to maintain those living things, and keep their new, beautiful surroundings free of the ugly stuff.
I can’t think of a better way to weld children to nature.
Can you?
I'd sure appreciate a note that shows you really read this.
Thank you.
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COMMENT FROM SHARON BOGGIE
Hi Roni - Guess I just don't know how to use Facebook because I made a comment and it didn't show on my new fangled email/facebook stuff.
I wanted to make a comment regarding your 'comment' to Sen. what's his name regarding kids getting out to seeing what life is all about.
Last Saturday, Lisa had set up a day with Matthew's baseball team (unbeknownst to John because he was in Nashville attending an FBI info seminar) to come down to the ranch to help brand and castrate calves. John of course was worried about injuries...not being a safe 'sport' to partake in. But you know Lisa....Everything will work out just fine!!!!!
Most of the team showed up. One wasn't the least bit interested and one wasn't allowed to because 'mom was worried'. The rest of the 'city' kids AND their parents came including the parents of the kid who wasn't interested. Dale and I were entertained Easter Sunday as Lisa showed videos and stills of the event. It was absolutely priceless. These boys stood around not knowing what to expect until John 'informed' them in no uncertain terms that one mistake could be disastrous. Hesitency ensued at O Dark Hundred but by quiting time at lunch time, ALL boys took great pride in their accomplishments and learned that "Yes Sir!" was a phrase to use at all times. In spite of a few weak moments at the site of the first castration, they all cowboyed up and did a tremendous job. In fact, one dad got so excited he insisted on trying his hand at the whole process. One little boy who came along with his big brother was assigned the task of 'ear tagging' and he did his job to perfection. John took all the new cowboys out to lunch at The Spur in Larkspur and you never saw a more 'shot in the ass' crew in your life.
You have to give many people credit, the way I see it. Lisa for organizing the thing, John for being a great role-model, patient teacher and strong leader, the parents for supporting and taking the chance of something new and a bit dangerous for their sons, the coach for supporting the 'team work' cause...because it was based on teamwork and the boys themselves for not being afraid of new experiences. Isn't that what America is all about? I am so proud of 'my kids/grandkids' and fellow friends and team members and their parents who exhuberate what all of us should be supporting. These kids learned alot about animals, working together, doing a hard job for no monetary return and had a wonderful experience while having 'fun'.
I'm sure they were all walking a little slower and moving a bit more gingerly the next day but heck, the baseball practice the next day will loosen them all up. Plus the young teenage girls will be duly impressed by the bicep bruises. Hopefully, the thigh bruises will only be referred to!
Just thought you might want to know there is still hope in the young generation if we allow them to do and be all that they can do and be.
Yea ranch/farm families. A dying breed but will always be around in one way or another, even if it is "I remember when" fond memory.
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