Bye Bye Bullying

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CRAVE Denver is the most unique and stylish guidebook for Denver living. Character Clubs founder, Julie Watson Smith, is a featured woman entrepreneur in the latest addition. This book is a celebration of women entreprenesses that showcases some of the most creative, interesting, and gutsy proprietors throughout the Front Range.

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Natural Disasters and our Children

Earthquakes, nuclear meltdowns, tsunamis and more: with cable television, it doesn’t matter if these disasters are in our town or thousands of miles away. We now experience them in our own living room.

As a concerned citizen, I am captivated by the round-the-clock media coverage. However, as a parent, I must consider the affect of these “disaster reports” on my children.

With the constant images of destruction from recent earthquakes in Japan, my children are no longer asking me as many questions about our upcoming plans for spring break. Instead, they ask why those families don’t have homes, or why can’t the children find their parents. They now fear that something will happen and they’ll lose their dad and I. They hold our hand a little tighter, snuggle a little closer, and never want to let us out of their sight. This reminds me of how my husband and I felt on our son’s his first birthday, September 11, 2001. We held him closer, snuggled him tighter and didn’t let him out of our sight either.

It is difficult to explain to our children that accidents happen, but your children need to know the facts about these types of disasters. And, they should hear it from you rather than the sometimes diluted, exaggerated versions they hear elsewhere. Let your children know that because we see these things on the television doesn’t make them any more likely that they will happen to us. To be sure that you are prepared, though, take this opportunity to talk to them about what your family can do to stay safe by creating a home emergency plan and preparing a safety kit. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has a fantastic, family-friendly website to help parents and kids find ways to discuss natural disasters. Reassure your children that there are many people working to help others in need, and that your family can help too. Encourage them to brainstorm ways to help. Here’s a few ways to get you and your child started:

• Penny drive: Collecting pennies from neighborhoods, classrooms and more is an easy way to earn funds to help others out.
• Adopt a family: Fulfilling the needs of a family in need by providing clothes, toiletries, baby goods and more is an activity all family members can do.
• Fundraisers: Lemonade or cookie stands for younger children and bake sales, car/pet washes or garage sales for older kids are a great way to earn money for charitable causes.
• Community outreach: Working with local agencies such as your school’s Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO or PTA) or church is a wonderful way to reach out to local and national families in need by organizing and participating in special events and activities.

Unfortunately, our world today is filled with unpredictable and unforeseen events that affect our sense of safety and well-being. Children may find fear in a catastrophic event, but they can find comfort and security in our response to it. With consistent love, compassion and communication, we can alleviate our children’s fears and strengthen not only in our families, but our communities and nation as well.

~jws

* * *

Here are some guidelines for a well-stocked basic emergency preparedness kit:

• Keep enough supplies on hand for a minimum of three days per person.
• One gallon of water per person per day.
• Non-perishable canned foods that require no refrigeration and minimal preparation or water. (Don’t forget the manual can opener!)
• Cooking and eating utensils
• Battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries
• First Aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask or cotton t-shirt to help filter air
• Moist towelettes
• Tools including wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape to create “in-place” shelter
• Mylar blankets
• Garbage bags and plastic ties
• Family necessities including important documents, daily prescriptions, eyeglasses, contact lenses, infant formula and diapers, wipes.
• Cell phone, disaster plan, map of local area for evacuation
• Clothing
• Money
• Books, coloring books, crayons and/or small games for children

For more information on where to donate or volunteer, you can contact the following agencies:
• American Red Cross (redcross.org)
1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669)
• Guide Star (guidestar.org)
(757) 229-4631
• Salvation Army (salvationarmyusa.org)
1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
• United Way (unitedway.org)
(703) 836-7100

12 Months of Service in 2011

This holidays are over but that doesn’t mean the spirit of kindness has to be packed away with the ornaments and leftover gift-wrap. Strengthen the essential habit of service year round while also connecting with both your child and your community through the following ideas.  (There’s a little something for everyone here!)

January
Martin Luther King Day of Service
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on Martin Luther King Day (1/17/2011) to help one another and serve their communities. To find opportunities in your community, visit http://mlkday.gov/

February
Great American Bake Sale
The Share Our Strength Great American Bake Sale is a national campaign to end childhood hunger by holding local bake sales. You bake the goods and then hold your own bake sale to raise funds to put an end to childhood hunger. To sign up and promote your bake sale, visit www.greatamericanbakesale.org.

March
The Rotary Club
The Rotary Club’s motto is “service above self.” From dictionary donations to working to end Polio, the Rotary Club certainly makes service a habit. To find out the needs of your local Rotary Club, visit www.rotaryclub.org.

April
Volunteer Connection
I Volunteer! Day turns the county into a community brimming with compassion. Sponsored by Volunteer Connection, the event puts hundreds to work each year, supporting local nonprofits by painting, building, cleaning and helping anyway they can. For more information, please visit www.VolunteerConnection.net.

May
Special Olympics
Love a sport? Good with a camera? Come take photos. Organizational skills? Help plan events. Just want to meet some of the most amazing people in the world? Special Olympics hosts sporting events throughout the year. (In 2009, they averaged 121 events a day around the world.) They are always in need of people who may be able to play on a mixed team of people with and without intellectual disabilities, take pictures, help plan events or just meet amazing people. It’s at the local level where Special Olympics volunteers meet the athletes. That’s where perceptions start to change and where the miracles take place. Find out more at www.SpecialOlympics.org.

June
Think Humanity
Think Humanity is focused on making a difference in the lives of refugees in Africa by distributing malaria nets and medications, education and clean water projects. They are looking for donations, 96% of which go directly to support their mission. Check out www.ThinkHumanity.org for more details.

July
Make a Wish Foundation
I wish I may, I wish I might have this wish…Impact the lives of a child with a life-threatening medical condition by making their wish come true. Make a Wish has many opportunities to sponsor wishes, volunteer or just make a donation with the national or local chapter. Visit them online at www.wish.org to find out more.

August
Humane Society
The Humane Society needs an incredible amount of help. This year, volunteer at your local Humane Society. Work the cash register at the shop, walk the dogs or even foster a pet. The little fuzz-balls will be so grateful. Many local Humane Societies have programs for the whole family to volunteer as well. See www.www.HumaneSociety.org.

September
Community Theaters
Fall means it’s theater season, so this is a great time to support your local art community. Buy a ticket (or four) and watch the arts and culture community blossom before your very entertained eyes. Theater not your “thing?” Purchase the tickets and donate to an agency helping at-risk youth. A quick search on Google will help you find the community theaters (and youth agencies) in your area.

October
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Become a Big Brother or Big Sister. When you mentor a child, you can help them realize their potential and shape their future. It is an ideal way to shape your community into one that helps children learn to lead this day and every day. For more details, see www.BBBS.org.

November
“I Have a Dream” Foundation
Adopting a family during the holidays is a tremendous way for businesses and individual to spread the love. Beginning, in 19990, the “I Have a Dream” Foundation matches gift-givers with hundreds of local low-income families. To find your match, check out www.IHaveADreamFoundation.org.

December
World Aids Day
Take a moment on World AIDS Day (Dec 1) to honor those who’ve lost their lives to HIV/AIDS – or take action to prevent the continued spread. To locate local projects or discover more ways to help, visit www.WorldAidsDay.org.

Hand in Hand

I was cleaning out my files the other day and came across the poem that I read often when I worked with the elderly. I’ve held onto it as a reminder that I am never alone. And, neither are you. I look forward to building a strong community of character so no child, no parent, no anybody feels alone.

xo,

Julie WS

Hand in Hand

I see you standing there,
All alone in life.
Come walk with me,
Hand in hand.

I see you living life,
without a purpose.
Come walk with me,
Hand in hand.

I see you there
Without a friend.
Come and we will walk,
Hand in hand.

I see you there with
No one to care for.
Come and we will walk
Hand in hand.

You have lost someone
Very close to your heart.
Come walk with me,
Hand in hand.

You act like
You are defeated.
Come and we will walk,
Hand in hand

I see you with
No one to love.
Come walk with me,
Hand in hand.

I can’t give you all of these things.
I can only help you find them.

I can give you
Someone to love.
Come and we shall walk,
Hand in hand.

~Anonymous