Distracted Parenting Unlawful

Our world is quickly discovering the risks of cell phone use when driving, but recently I had a moment where I wished there was a law for distracted parenting. While at an orthodontist appointment for my daughter I watched as a boy came out to see his mom in the waiting room. Having just walked in I couldn't help but see him smiling from ear to ear as he said, "Mom! Guess who got their braces off?" I am sure the announcement came with no surprise as that was likely the plan of the appointment, but the response from the mom is what caught me off guard. She was sitting on a couch facing away from where her son was walking towards her. She replied saying, "Oh. Let's see." Her son quickly realized that she hadn't looked yet and walked around to the other side of the couch so that he could be in front of her and said, "See mom? They took them off." The mom, who was obviously involved in an urgent matter on her phone stuck to it without averting her eyes to her son even for a moment. She did manage to reply, "Oh. That's great." The son realized quickly his enthusiasm was not shared by his mom, but un-daunted took another try, "They left the retainer in but the braces are
gone!" With that, mom peeked up and quickly back to her device while muttering, "Oh good." I watched in shock and disappointment. Feeling sorry for the young man and slightly guilty for times in my life where I have played the same role of distracted parenting, I glanced at the screen as the mom prepared to shut down her world saving effort ... only to find some bubble popping or matching game. It's not worth a high score, one more email, or facebook post. Distracted parenting needs to be banned, it's killing our kids.

Good Food Is Good For Us

We likely understand the benefits of eating well, and in this "New Year" resolution phase that many have entered, we strive towards a healthy food lifestyle. So what does it take to eat good food? Is it about monitoring carbohydrates or reducing portion sizes? Is the miracle found in a "South Beach" or "Weight Watchers" cure? What if the best thing we could do to eat well and feel good is to make sure our food is made by real people? If you are wondering what I am talking about, check out this quick video:

At Life 360 in Ponoka (A Youth Unlimited/YFC and First Baptist Ponoka Partnership), we have found that the value of good homemade food may be more significant than we initially thought. Not only have we discovered how much the youth are enjoying a weekly home cooked meal, eaten around tables like families, there is more to it than just food. Sure a trip for fast food could meet the hunger pangs and leave the group "satisfied," but this is more than just food ... it is good for us to sit together, eat together, and talk together. Sharing delicious home cooked meals on Tuesday's from 6:00pm - 8:00pm at Ponoka FBC. Life 360 - Looking In, Reaching Out. For youth in Grades 7-12.

Mixed Messages

You may have seen the incredible Dove videos that strive to build self-esteem and "Real Beauty" for women and girls. This is an example in their campaign for real beauty:

It shows the painful reality that just by walking down a city street, or turing on the TV, we find ourselves bombarded by messages of what is real beauty. Dove does a great job of trying to bring it to light. Unfortunately, they have a bit of a mixed message!  I just have such a hard time hearing the message they communicate when Unilever, the company that owns Dove and Axe, can use such polarizing marketing schemes. I can’t help but think the “real beauty” idea is strictly a ploy to sell, in the same way that over-sexualized women is their ploy to sell to Jr. High boys! Sneaky but effective, Unilever has managed to use Dove for targeting the issue of low self esteem among girls which they simultaneously work so hard to create in the way they present body image through their Axe advertising.