50 Ways to Save Our Children

Did you ever wonder why certain people seem chronically happy and content with themselves, while others seem perpetually in a state of angst? Is this especially the case with women? Most of us are doing double-duty job shifts, and so we might be a little grumpy about that. But another reason is our built-in mental filter that often scans for the negative, and inadvertently canceling out, or diminishing the positive in our lives. 

Specialists who study happiness have come up with some basic rules-of-the-road to facilitate keeping that smile on your face.

1.  Be grateful. Take time to reflect on the things you're thankful for.

2.  Make peace with your past; acknowledge your mistakes, and get on with it.

3.  Write it down. Journal. Give yourself credit. Put your history into context. Reminisce about how you learned your lessons, and recognize the good things that resulted.

4. Use exercise and music to shake off your bad moods.

5. Do away with negative rumination. Turn a situation that you have catastrophized into a quest for positive resolution.

6. Be more assertive.  Call upon your imagination to conjur up new solutions to problems you face.

7. When you freak out and lose patience, switch gears. Talk to yourself. Think about five things around you that are positive, and dwell on them for awhile.

8. Challenge your fears.

9. Take care of your health. Spend time with health-conscious people.

10. Chill out.  Relax. Breathe. Rejuvenate.

There.  Don't you feel better now?  Have a beautiful day.

May is a special month in many ways.  For one, it's a count-down month for kids - they know there are only two more months of regular school, and then they can enjoy some summer free time!  Two, and most important, it's the month designated to celebrate Mothers -May 11th is Mother's Day - so don't forget to visit your mom, or give her a call.

I'm the mother of four, and so there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about and worry my children and their welfare.  I am concerned with their educations, their health and nutrition, and their ability to be secure and safe in the world. And though I'm in my fifties, I know my own mother still worries and cares about me too.  It's what mothers do. 

At 50 Ways to Save Our Children, we understand that there are times when life circumstances make it tough for many mothers to give their children what they need.  Prenatal health care is not available for everyone, though it should be.  Many women in Ethiopia and other underdeveloped nations still die in childbirth; and others sustain injuries by protracted labors.  Economic hardships make it difficult for some women to survive.

Fortunately, there are ways for us to help.  Many excellent organizations have stepped up to help mitigate some of the challenges women face.  We can join them by donating to their efforts.  By working together, we can provide much needed resources to help mothers worldwide take care of themselves, provide for their children and improve their families' lives.   

You can help honor mothers who are facing extreme difficulties.   Check out the following websites to see what others are doing, and get involved.   And if you are thinking of sending your mom flowers, visit Mercy Corps and send her a bouquet that will not only brighten her day, it will also help women in need.

50 ways.org wishes a Happy Mother's Day to mothers everywhere. Visit the following sites for more ideas.

 

Accion

Fight Fistula

The Child Health Site

The Women's Funding Network

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It's sad that we need to have a month set aside to bring awareness to these crimes, but there it is - and the reason is simple; people still don't realize how rampant sexual assault is. The organization, Peace Over Violence, which runs the oldest rape crisis hotline in Los Angeles, is holding its 10th Annual Denim Day in LA on April 23rd. This is a day when women are encouraged to wear denim. Why? You won't believe this; this day was inspired because of a rape conviction that was overturned by the Italian Supreme Court because in their opinion, the victim was wearing jeans - so clearly she had to have "invited" her rapist to rape her -- the court decided the victim had helped her rapist, therefore they called the rape consensual. Are you kidding me!? Is it possible that in this day and age a court could suggest such sillyness? Sadly, my friends, such false thinking still occurs. This faulty logic needs to be rebutted. Clearly we need awareness campaigns and outreach activities -- and obviously, we need education. Rape is a crime of violence. It is perpetrated against people of all ages, wearing all different types of clothing. Show solidarity with women and sexual assault victims everywhere by wearing Denim.

Parents are good at worrying. We all do it, because parenting a child is a huge responsibility, and the world can be a complicated, difficult, and sometimes scary place. So what do you worry about? Studies show that among other things, we worry about our children's health. Millions of people are unable to afford health insurance -- there are 2.7 million uninsured people in Los Angeles alone. We're also concerned that our kids are growing up too fast, and that the media influences them in unhealthy or inappropriate ways. We're worried about sexual predators in our neighborhoods and on the internet, and afraid that environmental hazards like pesticides and pollution are threatening our children's health and vitality. In a survey conducted by the Global Strategy Group and published in Parents Magazine last fall, parents responded overwhelmingly that they felt our politicians are failing us; that our elected officials should be doing a better job of directing our tax dollars toward our kid's education, and to our nation's healthcare. However, this study also found that very few parents actually contact their local representative to voice their opinions. As parents, we will most probably always have something to worry about. And though many problems are beyond our control, we owe to ourselves and our kids to make a stand for the things we care about, and to affect changes when we can. This requires us to make choices, and to raise our voices. Vote. Send letters and emails to your local representatives, Congressmen, Senators. Our participation is valuable, and perhaps by getting involved, we can bring about changes that will give us one less thing to worry about.

Did you realize that of all the serious crimes in the United States, sexual assault is the most common? Sad, but true. It's also the least likely to be reported. Why? Because victims are afraid they won't be believed. They're often embarrassed and ashamed because of the intensely personal nature of such attacks. Many victims also fear that they might somehow be blamed for it, or told they encouraged it in some way. Just to be very clear, sexual assault is never the fault of the victim. It is a crime of rage, power and control, and is committed against women, men, boys, girls-- even babies. Here's a salient bit of information that may shock you; most assaults are committed by someone the victim knows. Be Aware. April is Sexual Assault Awareness month. Studies have revealed the ugly reality that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys will be sexually assaulted by time time they are 16 years old. Be prepared and preventive. Make sure your children are given sexual assault prevention information when you talk to them about personal safety. Make sure your kids have a list of "safe" people they can talk to if someone touches them or tries to touch them in their private areas. visit www.kcsarc.org for more information.

When I read Three Cups of Tea, I didn't really know what to expect - but I couldn't put the book down. I love the mountains - something about the air, the beauty, the majesty grabs me in a way nothing else can. This story, while set at altitudes few people can handle, is not just about climb on Pakistan's K2, it is about a man who single-handedly made schools for girls in these villages a reality. Greg Mortenson deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. He co-founded The Central Asia Institute to help fund schools, bridges, water works, and women's centers. He also founded The Pennies for Peace organization to educate American children about the world beyond their experience. His monumental efforts to bring schools to the villages of Pakistan - those remote villages that exist at the top of the world, in the shadow of the Karakoram Range, are awe-inspiring. Read the book. You will be amazed. Schools for girls...what a concept.

Community activism works. One example of how individual people can bring about positive change, is a grass-roots company, Mama's Hot Tamales. Mama has grown her company into a small business and workforce development program that is helping to bring Angelenos together one tamale at a time. She has targeted MacArthur Park -- located in Central Los Angeles, as a destination worth saving, and is harnessing her formidable resources to encourage the community to get involved to revitalize it. Weed and seed is a program based on the concept of weeding out the negative acitivites such as crime and apathy, and seeding in positive activities such as community safety events, recreational, health and community celebration festivities. Visit her website to see how you can help, and get involved. www.mamashottamales.com

With health care costs ever escalating, flu viruses whipping around the country, and type 2 diabetes on the rise, parents need all the help they can get to keep their children healthy. Prevention is the key. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend some basic steps to protect children and families from illness. One of these steps is to get the flu vaccine. Teaching kids (and adults) to cover their mouths and noses when coughing and sneezing is another step - and finally, getting everyone to wash hands often will go a long way toward reducing the spread of germs. Based on a recent University of Arizona study, it only takes one child coming home from school with the flu to spread flu germs to 60% of your household surfaces - so disinfecting frequently touched surfaces (like phones and door knobs) can help protect the rest of the family.

Exercise and healthy eating habits are vitally important. Studies show that type 2 diabetes has increased. With type 2 diabetes, the body doesn't respond properly to insulin. Children who are inactive, overeat, and/or who have a family history of diabetes are at greatest risk of developing this illness. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children with diabetes do not need to be on a special diet, but special attention must be paid to good nutrition, and regular and frequent eating.

An important part of health promotion, is making sure all children have health insurance. Regular check-ups, routine doctor visits, and regular dental care are essential for overall health. If your child is uninsured - sign her/him up today. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has information on health insurance programs - many of them free -- in your state. www.insurekidsnow.gov and www.coveringtheuninsured.com .

Also, as we consider ways to promote health and prevent illnesses, it's essential that we focus not only on acute medical problems, but also on mind-body wellness and overall psychological health. It is critical that we reach out for support if our children or other family members are struggling with behavioral, cognitive and/or mental difficulties, like depression, and ADHD.

Visit these websites to learn more about health promotion and illness prevention, and to discover ways to encourage Healthy Habits for your family.

www.mentalhelp.net

www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov

www.nmha.org

www.aap.org

Micro-loans can make a life-altering difference for women trying to lift themselves out of poverty. There are an estimated 1/5 billion people worldwide in poverty. Nearly half of all impoverished families in the developing world depend on the income generated by women. For most of these impoverished people, small loans would allow them to improve a business or start a new one. Based on information from FINCA, a loan as small as $25.00 can allow a Guatemalan woman to sell more tortillas, providing her with the extra income she needs to keep her children in school. Village banking, which uses the principles of self-help and free enterprise provides impoverished individuals with loans - not hand-outs. Micro loans build discipline, self-confidence, responsibility and independence, as women create and grow their own businesses. Women have proven to be responsible borrowers, diligent savers and competent managers. They use their income almost exclusively to benefit their children. Micro-loans can be the foundation of solid solutions to poverty rather than merely a 'band-aid' of sporatic charity or hand-outs that merely gloss over the problem. As each loan is repaid, the borrower's credit line increases, empowering the borrower to do even more. Village banks can truly be a way out of poverty for millions, and by donating to them, you can be sure your donation will immediately help at least one person make a palpable difference for herself and her children. Make a donation to a micro-loan organization today. Finca, www.villagebanking.org and, www.Kiva.org are great places to start. Click on links to help today, or donate to www.50ways.org and we'll donate it for you.