November!!!

The Holidays are fast approaching and the year is running down the final stretch. It is obvious to see that the stores are preparing for the rushes. Seeing the lights, tinsel, trees, and turkeys, inevitably instills a sense of urgency for most people. Urgency to get a head start on your holiday shopping , whether gift or grocery, there always seems to be challenges in getting everything thats needed. There is also the looming preparation for travel and/or incoming relatives and friends. Even with all of this craziness, the holidays are my favorite time of year and the craziness often adds to the fun.

An element that is easy to over look with the craze of the holidays is how easy it is to make a difference in other’s lives. This time of year always bring a sense of uplifting and giving and that should not be limited to people that you know or are related to. Sure, everybody should do their part all year round, but during these couple of months, ways of contributing seem to find us. Something as simple as dropping a few coins in a bell ringer’s bucket can go a long way. Or what about becoming a bell ringer yourself? There are numerous food and clothing drives that can seriously benefit from your participation, and it gives you a chance to clean out your closet and pantry! Toy drives can make a HUGE difference in children’s Holidays across the country. Pick one and take a little something, you will feel as good as the child that ultimately receives the gift.
One of the area’s most eye opening events is the annual Toy Run at Independence Harley Davidson on December 5th. This will be the 21st Toy Run and reaches deeply into the community. Choosing select families that really need help in making the holidays magical, the Toy Run provides the gifts needed and delivers them in a truly unique fashion. There will be an opportunity to meet at Independence, see all the bikes, celebrate, and bring extra gifts. Then upwards of 250 Harley’s and one big truck will descend on area neighborhoods to deliver to the chosen houses. Most riders will be strapped with gifts and candy for children eager to see what the commotion is all about when entering the neighborhoods. This is truly a one of a kind event. Contact Independence Harley for more information.

If shopping is your thing and you just can’t wait until that turkey dinner is over so you can get up at the crack of down to chase down the year’s biggest shopping day, what are you going to do with the kids? Powersports is offering an all day camp on black Friday to help you out. Dragging the little ones around will do nothing but wear them out and slow you down, let Thad and the gang take them off your hands for a little fun-filled while. If you are looking for a unique gift, or you need a place to host your holiday party, check out Winestyles. Located behind Cheddar’s on University, they are eager to help with your event or just a unique gift.

Cooler temperatures will be heading our way soon, so remember to keep warm and spend some time with family, as always we have some ideas on how to do this on our Family Events page. This is our 12th issue already completing our first year! Thank you for reading and we look forward to seeing you around town!

Geoff Spahr
Publisher, AYC Magazine

Dance for Fun!

Dance for Fun, By Susan Quiring
www.SusansBallroomDance.com


This year’s season of “So you Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars” is off to a great start. Young or old, male or female, many of us share a common dream of swooping elegantly around the dance floor.

Dan Barbee, who has taken dance classes from Susan’s Ballroom Dance for 5 ½ years, says, “For families and mature adults, we don't have to dance like stars but we can still enjoy it even if we forget a step every now and then. When our partner looks at us and smiles, the lost step is forgotten in an instant. As we get older, there are still plenty of dances and steps that we can do. We don't have to be stars; we can just simply enjoy the dance and each other. Dancing is an activity that can be shared by all ages--at home, at the club, or in the ballroom.“

The benefits of dance for our youth are endless. What they learn now will serve them well by giving them confidence and allowing them to practice social skills in many different situations. In addition to dancing being fun, it is healthy, and excellent at helping you meet people all through your life.

Dancing makes you smile, makes you move, and allows you to truly enjoy music even though you may not be able to sing or play a musical instrument. It is easy to dance whether you are 10, 30, 50, 70 or older. “I just danced a swing and a waltz with a 96 year- old gentleman at the Carriage Inn just 3 weeks ago,” Susan Quiring commented. “Many, many good memories are created around the music and the dance.”

Most women love a man who can dance. Once you have taken a few lessons, you can go out dancing socially and yes you can also dance at weddings! It enhances a marriage, and it’s for all ages. Just a half hour of continuous dancing can burn up to 400 calories. How many of us can do cardio for a couple of hours and not realize how much time has passed because we’re having so much fun?

What are you waiting for? Do you want to learn the elegant Waltz or tango, the sultry Cha Cha, Salsa or Samba, or maybe you love to Swing or Hustle? Whether you are getting married, are looking for a way to build your social network, want a fun way to burn calories, or you are a teen wanting to impress a girl—whatever your reason, Get out there and learn a step or two!

By Susan Quiring
www.SusansBallroomDance.com

Buddy Walk - Oct 11th!

What a Friend Means to Dillon

By Sondra White

Darla smiled as her son climbed into the car after school that day.
“Momma, a fwiend’s comin’ ober later, OK?” he said with his usual excitement.
She paused, gave him another big smile, and replied, “Sure, Dillon―that sounds great!”
It wasn’t the first time her 15-year-old son had come home from school with the notion that a friend might come over. She knew it was unlikely; especially considering this was his first week as a freshman at Iola High School. But why ruin his fun by asking a bunch of questions? It couldn’t hurt to let him wonder if someone might actually show up this time.

You see, unlike most kids his age, Dillon never had any friends drop by to play or just hang out. Rare was the time he was invited to a birthday party or sleepover. It was no one’s fault. Their five-acre country home doesn’t exactly lend itself to frequent neighborly visits. And it’s human nature for most children to steer clear of those who are different.

Dillon’s Grand Entrance

Dillon was one in about 700 Americans born with Down syndrome. He made a dramatic entrance into the world with a webbed intestine, a mangled heart and only a 50-50 chance of survival.
“When my grandparents came to the hospital, they looked through the window and noticed the doctors were frantically working on Dillon,” Darla said. “They told me that life flight was on the way to take him to Houston, and that’s when I really went crazy!”

Oblivious to the pain of a C-section through which Dillon was delivered, Darla insisted on driving to Houston with her husband, Shane, to be near their son, who was admitted to the Turner Unit for infants in critical condition. In the hours that followed Dillon’s parents would learn that not only did he have a webbed intestine that required immediate surgery, but he was born with Down syndrome and serious heart defect.
“It was a long and traumatic beginning, but at 11 months Dillon had open-heart surgery, and since then life has been great!” Darla says. “He was welcomed in Iola as a miracle kid.”

No Imaginary Friend

About 30 minutes after Darla and Dillon got home from school that day, she heard the sound of rubber on gravel as a vehicle drove up to the house. A few second later, she heard a car door slam.
“I didn’t think much of it,” she says. “I figured it was Shane coming home from work early or maybe the UPS man.”
Suddenly, Dillon was dashing down the hallway toward her, yelling at top of his lungs, “Mom! My fwiend’s here! My fwiend’s here!”
“I still thought that Dillon might have been imagining all this,” Darla said, “but sure enough I looked outside and there he was―a real-live friend who had driven over to our house to hang out with my son!”

Brett introduced himself to Darla, gave Dillon a high five, and the two casually walked away toward the back room to play video games. They had met that day at school, and Bret had asked Dillon if he could come by to hang out after school. Having never met a stranger in his life, Dillon said, “Sure!” and gave Brett directions to the house. Miraculously, Brett actually showed up.
“They played video games, shot BB guns and went fishing down at our tank,” Darla said. Shane got home later and asked, “Who’s that down at the tank with Dillon?” When Darla told him the good news, they let the boys hang out until nearly 10 p.m. “Shane finally had to break up the party and tell Brett to go home so Dillon could get some sleep,” Darla said. “Dillon told us it was the best day ever.”

The World Through Dillon’s Eyes
Dillon’s been enrolled in public school since the age of 3, and has been included in all classes and activities. “The teachers, administrators and most kids don’t treat him any differently,” Darla says, “but as he gets older it becomes clear that he doesn’t advance the same way other children do.”

Despite cognitive challenges that make it difficult for him to read, write and speak, the word “can’t” does not exist in the Dyke family vocabulary. Dillon loves to ski on snow and water, plays golf and ping-pong, drives a go-kart and boat, and enjoys fishing with his brother.
“Dillon has made me a better person and actually makes everyone who knows him a better person,” Darla says. “I always tell people, ‘If you could see the world through Dillon’s eyes for one day, you’d see a beautiful place.’ He sees no bad in anyone. Even when other kids are cruel―like the time not too long ago that a bully pushed him into a locker at school―he says, ‘It’s OK Mom, they can still be my friends.’ ”
Walk for Acceptance

Darla says it’s this unconditional love and acceptance in people with Down syndrome that brings meaning to the Buddy Walk―an annual fundraiser for the Down Syndrome Association of Brazos Valley. “This to me is the most important message of Buddy Walk,” she says. “If our children can show such remarkable caring for others, it’s only fair that we accept them for who they are, regardless of their differences.”

Through the Down Syndrome Association, the Dyke family and others like them have grown through support and activities that focus on education, sharing and advocacy. Darla says it’s nice to know she can always turn to a group of friends who are nonjudgmental and share a common bond. “I never feel alone like I did before,” she says, “and I’ve made the best friends anyone could ask for.

“People with Down syndrome are almost like everyone else in the world,” she says. “But they have a much better understanding of life and love.”

To register for the 6th Annual Buddy Walk, go to www.downsyndromeofbcs.com.

Welcome to October!

Oh my gosh, the heat has subsided! We may have had to deal with multiple dreary days filled with rain, but I think after the brutal heat of this summer, it has been a welcomed change. October brings cooler temperatures and many family activities offered in our area. October is also the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many, many lives have been affected by this disease, so even something as simple as a prayer would be appreciated. The annual Buddy Walk is upon us and is a great way to spend some outdoor time and get some exercise! Please learn more about this wonderful and rewarding event and how to participate; I urge you to take a moment to read this month’s Buddy Walk spotlight and come out on October 11th.

Speaking of participating, I think I will take lasts months message of slowing down and spending quality time with friends and family one step further. This month’s Halloween celebration is a prime opportunity to not only spend time with your family, but also to relax, let go, and have fun with them. Instead of merely making sure that your children have wonderful costumes, make sure that you have one too! I know, I know...you don’t have time, or somebody might see you, your too tired, or you just think its goofy. Being goofy is half of the fun and if you have young children, it’s the part that they will really understand! Seeing you dressed up, especially if they get to help, will be just as exciting to them as being in their own costumes. It will also provide a lasting memory that will talked about for years.

When I was a child, the neighborhood fathers decided to get together and put on a haunted house. They each dressed up, went trick or treating with their kids, and then met at the community pool where the haunted house was for everybody to enjoy. I was very young at the time, in fact, too young and frightened to walk through the haunted house, but I can remember that my father was Frankenstein (and a good one at that, these dads weren’t messing around!) Now that I think about it, I remember one father was an escaped crazed ape, another was a frogman-like sea creature swimming in and out of the pool, and another was a lunatic scientist host for the house. That particular Halloween I went dressed up as……I have absolutely idea. My best friend, who’s father was the crazed Ape, I have no recollection what he was dressed as. How is that for a lasting impression on a child? I can’t remember what my friends were dressed as, but I can remember the Dad’s costumes and even other specifics about the haunted house! Point is, the parents did something special that year, they participated with their children and the neighborhood kids, and although it may have been scary - it made that Halloween a lasting memory because our fathers and “the adults” dressed up just like us!

I’m not saying that you have to dress up for Halloween, much less put on a haunted house. I am simply encouraging you to participate in the events and things that your kids are involved in, whatever their age, and whatever that may be. You may find it very rewarding on different levels and even if they don’t act like it now, they will benefit from it. Take advantage of the cooler weather, as Tom says feed the birds, and enjoy this great community that we are lucky to call home. Thank you for reading AYC!

Geoff Spahr
Publisher AYC

Q & A with Dallas Shipp, of the Shipp Agency

Q: I own a local business and my insurance policy is supposed to pay for my lost income if I’m unable to open up because of a fire or storm. However, I was without power for nearly a week after Hurricane Ike and my insurance company said that wasn’t covered. Why not? – Gene, College Station

Dallas Shipp: While your current insurance policy may not cover that, the commercial product available through The Shipp Agency does include lost revenue and payroll expenses due to electricity outages. It’s a coverage that is not always available with all companies though, so you may want to shop around. You may be surprised what other coverages are available that you don’t currently have.

Q: I’m looking into buying a new house, but was told that if there was a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, it could keep me from closing because I wouldn’t be able to purchase homeowners insurance, which is required by my mortgage company before I can close. What is this about? It’s not like we’re on the coast. – Jessi, College Station

Dallas Shipp: This is a very valid concern. While we are not located in a coastal county, once a storm enters a certain quadrant (basically, when it goes past Cuba/Florida and into the Gulf) the coastal counties get locked down because insurance companies have no way of knowing where it’s headed, and they’re not going to take the risk of writing a policy and paying a claim the next week. If a storm appears headed for Texas, insurance companies will stop binding coverage further and further from the coast.

Take Hurricane Rita as an example. There was massive damage along the coast, but there was also significant damage further inland because of tornados and hail, all the way up to Jasper, Nacogdoches and Shreveport. That’s why it is important to secure insurance as early as possible when purchasing a home.

Q: I had hail damage to my roof a couple of years ago when we had a bad hail storm, and my insurance company said that they would only pay for a portion of cost to replace my roof. Why do I purchase insurance if they aren’t going to pay to fix my house? Anonymous, College Station

Dallas Shipp: This is a huge difference from one insurance company to another and it’s called “replacement cost.” If you don’t have replacement cost on your home and your property, you’re wasting money on an insurance policy that might save you a couple of bucks a month, but in the long run, is just going to leave you angry. If you had replacement cost coverage on the dwelling—and read your contract carefully because some companies will say you have replacement cost on the home, but they’ll exclude coverage from your roof, which is probably the most likely part of your home to be damaged from hail or strong winds.

Q: I keep getting letters in the mail about an umbrella policy for ‘added liability protection,’ but what does that mean? Erin, College Station

Dallas Shipp: An umbrella policy is a very critical piece of your family’s protection plan. If you’re involved in a lawsuit, it will provide you with an extra million dollars in protection, before the plaintiff can touch your personal assets. However, the biggest reason to make sure you have this in place, is that if an insurance company has an extra million dollars on the line, they’re going to provide you with a very good lawyer at no cost to you. The key to remember here is that you don’t have to be guilty to be sued, and even if you did nothing wrong, it will still cost thousands of dollars to defend you in court. This protection is typically available for about $10/month, and is a no brainer.
_____________________
Have a question about your insurance? Email Dallas@theshippagency.com today. If your question is answered in next month’s edition of AYC Magazine, you’ll receive a free sandwich from Firehouse Subs!

The Mom's Corner...

The MOST Important School Supply

I love school supplies. I mean, I really love school supplies. I love markers, pencils, tape, folders, dividers, crayons (Oh, there is nothing like new crayons), index cards, sticky notes, binders, colored paper (Oh, I especially like colored paper), Sharpies, calendars, spirals glue, highlighters, scissors…I love it all!

I have always loved school supplies. In fact, school supplies are the one thing that that drove me to make truly bad decisions as a child. It is true! I would have never dreamt of stealing anything, hoarding anything, or hiding anything from my parents; however, when it came to school supplies, I am guilty of all three! And, I will be honest, while I have learned to restrain myself around school supplies these days, I will admit that they present a true area of weakness.
You might think I am slightly crazy (and I am), but I know there are many of there out there like myself who have the same sort of sick fascination with school supplies. Yes, I have seen you in the stores trying to get to the school supplies before me!

For so long school supplies were – to me – a symbol and foundation for all that can be learned. I related the opening of a box of school supplies to opening a door to innovation. With those tools (school supplies), I believed my own self was the only limit to the creativity that could be expressed, and there was nothing that excited me more than being engaged in thought and producing a product with pride.

Somebody told me the other day that I probably decided to go into teaching because of my love/obsession for school supplies. While I would deny that wholeheartedly if you asked me in person, I will admit as I write that there could be more than an ounce of truth to this statement.
Thus, it would not surprise you that I also once believed to be a good educator that I had to have oodles of school supplies. I remember going out my first year as a teacher and spending hundreds of dollars of my own money to be sure that I had the materials I thought I needed to adequately teach the students in my class. The materials that had been provided were not sufficient, in my opinion, for the anticipated quality, thinking, level of learning, and product I wanted to have in my classroom, and I was convinced that if I had the right school supplies I would inevitably achieve that level of greatness I so desired of myself as a teacher and of my students as learners. More simply stated, I believed the more I filled their desk, the more of their mind I was filling as well.

And, the same was true when I became a mother and sent my children to their first days of school! I eagerly filled their backpacks with the supplies I had bought with joy, and dreamed of the great things their minds would soak up because of them.

Yet, what I failed to realize was that it was not the supplies with which I was filling their backpacks that supported their learning, spurred their thinking, and provided an avenue for creativity, it was the love with which I packed them that did these things…and more.
I have also come a long way as an educator. I have been known to still purchase massive amounts of markers and scissors for my classroom, but I know that it is not the color of the paper on which I print the assignment or the sticker I place on their paper that builds a relationship, makes learning meaningful, or encourages originality. Rather, it is the heart with which I do these things that will ultimately enhance the classroom environment and promote the authentic learning I seek as a teacher.

You see, no matter how many colored pencils or folders I purchase, the involvement, time, dedication, support, encouragement, passion, and heart I give my students and children is ultimately what will make the difference in their learning.

My husband recalls a story of his childhood schooling where his mother helped him glue pictures, tables and headings to a project: “I think that project is why I love the smell of glue,” he says. (I know, he is weird like me!) “But, it is not the glue that has stuck with me for so long, “ he goes on, “it is my mom’s help and support.”

I know you are going to be shocked, but I did not buy the obscene amount of school supplies this year. I resisted the urge! I fought the temptation! There have been no $.10 spirals and only minimal amounts of $.25 crayons…I still love them, and I still have a strangely weird obsession for them; however, as we started school this year I made that bigger investment that will assuredly inspire my students and children to greatness…I gave them more of me…and that is the greatest thing I could do!

Welcome to September!

Can you believe that it is already September? Where is 2009 going and why is it in such a hurry? As I walked into Hobby Lobby last week, I wiped the sweat off my brow and turned to see Christmas decorations! I could hardly believe it, but I guess it is true. Although it certainly doesn’t feel like it outside, Summer is coming to a quick close and Fall will soon be here. September brings yearly events that make the weeks fly by even quicker. Area students of all ages are now back in school, football season is starting, baseball pennant races are tightening, and retail stores are preparing for holiday rushes. Everywhere we go people are preparing and looking ahead; it seems that nothing is slowing down and to say that life moves fast is a severe understatement. For this letter, I would like to mention this quick pace of life that we live in and encourage you to slow down, even for just a minute.

Preparing for tomorrow is vitally important and I am not one to downplay its importance. With all the responsibilities that we each have every day, there is an understandable peace of mind to be found if you put things in place and have a little something to fall back on – whatever that may be. However, in the fevered pursuit of this goal, we often overlook things that may not seem as important, but we may not get a chance to do again. One of my favorite commercials currently on television asks…”When was the last time you went to the Aquarium with your daughter….on a Tuesday?” The reason I like this spot is not because I like the Aquarium, or the credit card they are advertising, or even the fact that I have a young daughter, but it’s the message I take from it. It reminds me that simply slowing things down once in a while and spending time with those you cherish can be much more lasting that any meeting or deal you may be working on. I was recently looking through pictures at my grandmother’s house and I didn’t see a single one of business events that my Grandfather was involved in. What I did see were pictures of family and friends, events and vacations, many of which involved people that are no longer with us and deeply missed, making that time in the photos that much more valuable. Although the pictures ranged in age, some did not seem that long ago, another testament that life moves quickly and can change at any moment.

I am not making a soapbox stand, the simple message that I am trying to drop here in my little corner is to enjoy each day you have with those that you enjoy, love, and cherish. Work hard, set goals, provide, plan, and prepare…but I encourage you not to get lost in only that. It’s easy to do, especially in this time. Don’t miss out on the window of time that we all have to make memories and develop relationships. Balance your time, spend a little extra with friends and family. If you take care of it, work will be there, people may not. We never know what is going to happen tomorrow. If and when it is your turn to share pictures of yesteryear, make you aren’t looking for yourself in all of them and wondering where you were, because you sure won’t remember which meeting you were at!

Family, friends, and community are gifts, they are not givens. We are lucky if we have them and as time continues to fly, by take a moment to share a little appreciation. What you get back might just be the “something to fall back on” that we are all looking for! Until next month….

Geoff Spahr
Publisher, Active Youth and Community Magazine

The Mom's Corner - Dog Days of Summer

Oh, the dog days of summer ARE upon us! I really have a love/hate relationship with summer, and as August approaches each year I cannot decide if my relationship is more of a love or a hate.

In March and April we start making a list of all the things we want to do over the summer – the closets we are going to clean, the mini-trips we are going to take, the camps we are going to attend, the major projects around the house that just do not seem to get accomplished during the school year…There is so much I want to do! My summer list is always a mile long, and I become determined to check off each and every one of the things on it.

We begin each summer not just with oodles of gusto, but also with joy as we tackle each of the things on the long, long list. Yet, as August approaches our excitement fades and the joy we found at the beginning of summer sometimes seems to be replaced with annoyance, a feeling of duty and dread. Instead of cherishing the long summer days, we begin counting down how many are left until the start of school. Perhaps it is the relentless heat that wears on me, perhaps it is one too many times of hearing the comment “I’m bored” and the question, “When are we going to get there?”, or perhaps it is simply just me, but nonetheless, my amusement with summer fades - in a bad way.

For the last two days we have been in the van with all four kids and a dog. We have been in ten different states and crossed two time zones. And, as I write I now, I am still hundreds of miles from my beloved Texas.

This trip is one of the biggest things on our checklist for the summer and assuredly something that we had been planning for months. Thus, the anticipation that led up to it for both the kids and myself was great, but as we were pulling out of our driveway in the wee hours of the morning, I wanted nothing more than to pull the van back in the garage and return to the comfort of my own bed. And, I could not help but to think as I grumpily buckled in the four sleeping kids in the car that I would be happier if I was still in bed and did not have to go on the stinkin’ trip. Perhaps this climax to our summer was just too much for me! Is this really what people call a “vacation?” I was looking for peace, rest, and relaxation…

Oh, and there have been some moments when I wanted to loose my cool and turn the car around…like when we were half-way to Houston and our oldest son said, “I am so sorry, but I left my shoes at home!” (That my husband and I asked him at least four separate times to put on!) Are you kidding me? Or, when I ask the three boys to go into the restroom to change clothes and one comes out with his shirt on backwards, one wearing his much younger brother’s shirt and the third wearing his father’s underwear…and seeing NOTHING wrong with any of these situations! Again, are you kidding me? Or, what about when the baby decided to stay awake for over twelve hours on the first leg of the trip? Are you kidding me?

But, somewhere on the flip side of the mighty Mississippi in the stillness of a rest stop in Tennessee, I looked at the splendid of the Smoky Mountains in the distance and the kids playing hide-in-seek in the trees that I was reminded not just of my blessings, but I found the peace, rest, and relaxation I was seeking on the summer vacation I was taking. It was then that this trip became not something on my checklist, but something that filled me with joy that the dog days of summer sometimes steal from you.

Did I mention that I love August?

And, in the last, few, precious days before the start of school, may you find joy and check off your list relishing in the sweetness that only the dog days of summer could bring.

Welcome to August!

The other day I was speaking to an old friend of mine and we were discussing the intricacies of life, challenges, and rewards that we go through on a daily basis. This particular friend I met two weeks before we started college at Texas A&M (Fish Camp), and through the years we seem to have reached many lifetime milestones at about the same time. Graduation, Marriage, Purchasing a home, Children….so needless to say, we have always had a lot in common. As we were talking, we began comparing and contrasting the areas in which we live, and I started thinking back about the College Station I first moved to in 1996. This was the College Station that both he and his (now) wife lived in as students. It truly is an exciting and remarkable difference to the College Station we call home today. One that I know is attributed to the remarkable quality of residents that live here. I am not taking anything away from this area of yester-year, I have loved it here since I arrived- However, it seems every time I turn around, there is a new store, new company, or new event taking place making this a absolutely wonderful place to live and raise a family. Sure, I am certain that I am not alone in being just a bit tired of the orange traffic cones everywhere we drive, but it’s a sign that things are happening here and that we are growing. Just off the top of my head, I can think of 3 or 4 new shopping centers full of new businesses (FatBurger, Ace Hardware, Wellborn Package Store, Next Level Sports…just off the top of my head).

My friend lives in a suburb of a big city and had the complaints of traffic, safety, and general big city blues. These are all areas in which I feel that College Station shines. Our “heavy traffic” runs from about 7:45am-8:15am then from 4:45pm-5:15pm. You can deal. Our safety is not a upfront concern as our ample police force does a wonderful job. The pace seems just a bit slower than general rat races found elsewhere. All in all, I am confident that we live in one of the most family friendly communities possible, not only in Texas, but in the United States. I don’t know how many times I have heard many of my friends say “I’d love to live in College Station”, but it is often followed by, “I just don’t know if I could actually do it” or “my wife would never go for it”. Heck, I even have family members who think I am stuck in a little bumpkin college town because they knew somebody who went to Texas A&M in the 60’s or 70’s and haven’t been here since! It makes me laugh and we all know that they are wrong! Leads me to believe that what we have going on here is still somewhat of a secret. To be completely honest, I am happy to keep it that way!

I love it here and with that said, I wanted to thank you - the community, because you are responsible for it! Thanks for giving me a platform for this publication, thanks for reading, thanks for contributing, and thanks for wonderful place that we call home! If there is anything that you know of that AYC can help the community with, please drop us a line. We always welcome and encourage contributions from our readers and want to serve you to the best of our abilities. I look forward to hearing from you and please try to stay cool and hydrated. We’ll catch you next month!

Geoff Spahr
Publisher, Active Youth & Community

Mom's Corner - Patriotic Duty...

I once taught with a lady that believed it was “our patriotic duty to have kids and to raise them right.” Each day at lunch in the workroom she would drone on in reference to this belief. In fact, she even said that it was because of this belief that she entered the education profession! At the time I was not married, surely did not have kids, and thought this woman was perhaps the craziest person I had ever met.

I just could not see the act of having kids as being any sort of “patriotic duty,” and “raising them right” might be one of the many things I was to help do as an educator and I surely hoped to do as a parent, but, again, a patriotic duty to do this? Not so much I thought.

It just seemed to me that this lady had taken this perspective a little too far…
Since then, this crazy lady has retired, and I wonder if she is even still with us. I have changed a little too…been in education ten years, almost finished two advanced degrees, become the mother to four...You know, times have changed for me!
So, the other day I was standing in Target, all of my kids having some sort of melt-down, looking at American flags when I could not help but to recall those many workroom lunches with the crazy lady and her speeches on “patriotic duty.” I will admit, I laughed out loud as I recollected. And then I thought: “If this is really one of my patriotic duties, I am a horribly bad American!” I had just told the 8 year old that he earned the right to ride in the cart until we left the store (yes, he is too old for that), threatened to take away the 4-year-old’s twenty favorite toys, mortified the 10-year-old just by correcting him in public, and resolved myself to the fact that the baby was going to scream until I was good and ready to leave Target! Oh yea, I am a fine American!

Yet, as I stood there with a brightly colored American flag in hand, I could not help but to think: “Here I am raising kids in the greatest country in the world, and as their mother, it is my duty to teach them about and instill in them patriotism – a devout love - for this great nation.”

While I am sure each generation sings the same song about their predecessors, when I think about my children and how I have raised them thus far, I fear they do not have the same understanding or pride in what it means to be an American as I did at their age (those many, many years ago).

Case-in-point…Standing there in Target with the American flag in hand my 4-year-old asks, “Mommy why do you want to get that flag? We can find a prettier one!” To which the 8-year-old promptly replies, “Because it is an American flag and you were born in America.” The 8-year-old had a point, but he was totally missing the mark on what it really means to be an American.

I did not throw the flag in my cart…Instead, I held it close to my heart as we headed towards the checkout line. It was at that moment that I decided it was time for me to start anew with my patriotic teachings to my children, and I as a parent needed desperately to reframe the meaning of what it means to be an American for my children.

Ten years later I finally understood just a little of what that crazy lady preached about each and every day at lunch!

I am going to be honest, I do not know exactly what I am going to do to portray my American pride or to open their eyes to the greatness of this fine nation to my children. I do not have a master plan…

Instead, I am finding every teachable moment I can. On our way to school we look for American flags; we play counting games with the numbers of stars; when we put the flag in our yard we talked about proper display; when the news comes on and they speak about our troops, we expand on the conversation; we say prayers for our country…Have any other ideas?

With that, I hope you and your family enjoy the 4th of July, and on this anniversary of the birth of our great nation, may you take time to appreciate it and those that have given the greatest sacrifice for it…and spend some time with our youngest Americans so that they might grow to have the same pride and heart for their country.