Blogging With Mommy

Archive for the ‘Charity’ Category

In the fifties, if some drama occurred, the women rallied in their kitchens bake a basket of muffins or a casserole to soften the trauma, illness, or emotional upset of a fellow mommy and her family. While the modern mom may bake something, she is more likely to seek out her superpowers and go to work. In the case of my mommies and friends, this means you throw a party.

I’ve mentioned my friend Bonnie before and how I established an online support group called Betties for Bonnie. I have also noted I am just a small part of this large community of love and friendship. Last weekend a small segment of this group whipped up two separate parties for my gal Bon. While I only attended one event, it was a testament to the modern mother.

Instead of having a bake sale, Lisa – a teacher by day – brought together a group of women to throw a party and hold a silent auction. She took over our subdivision clubhouse, threw in a band – thank you Mr. Moody – and her fellow mommies brought food and other necessities. Did Lisa have any experience in fundraising? Nope. But obviously didn’t need it because she did a great job and produced a fun night that brought in a lot of money for medical bills and insurance premiums. And quite frankly, everyone who came had a great time

While Mother Nature did not play nice with our outside event, the mommies did. They all came out in the pouring rain to show their support and have a good time with their follow moms and husbands. It was more than a great night. It was a fabulous example of the modern mom who is unafraid of taking on new challenges, walking into unchartered territory, and simply taking control of world around her.

The modern mom may not iron her husband’s shirts or make sure there is a hot meal on the table every night. What we do is rally in true Betty Rubble style. We fight cancer, we take charge, and we do take care of our Betties when needed.

I believe in taking care of your own. I believe in small towns and those who derive income from the vacationers who come to spend quit weekends or lazy summer vacations. They are picturesque American and the heart and sole of our country. They are our roots and a constant reminder of the world before iPhones, wi-fi, and Tivo.

My mother-in-law has a cabin up in Hale, Michigan. This tiny little town is in the middle of nowhere and it completely small town USA. Flags line the one and only street in town, people are friendly, and life is simple. There isn’t even a McDonalds. The grocery store – there are only two – closes early and you have to watch the clock so that you can pick up supplies for dinner before the workers go home. You also have to stand in line at seven am for fresh black and white doughnuts that melt in your mouth. I love all of this and I love Hale.

A few years ago a grandmother I know was speaking of Uncle Kracker buying a cottage on Long Lake. She said “the lake isn’t going to be the same now that cousin whoever bought a place”. She proceed to rant slightly about The Bachelor TV crew filming on the lake when bachelor Bob was popular and that the music crowd was going to party it up and remove the small town feel.

While I love Carrie and suspected she may be right, she was actually wrong. Cousin somebody was really Uncle Kracker. His love for Hale and the residents of this tiny town is evident in his video. He takes the best of Hale and proudly displays it to the world. His love and admiration for the people of this small town is apparent. While I liked this song before, I fell in love with it once I saw the video and the images of the city of Hale that I hold dear.

For us Hale is a magical place. It is quit and calm. It includes the cabin that was built by my in-laws many years ago when the children were small, space limited, and laughter filled the air. It includes lines on the wall that mark my daughter’s growth spurts, as well as water shoes that my children wore when they we just babies. It is family. I am so happy that Uncle Kracker sees this family and uses his media power to show it to the world.

It just makes me Smile.

When I was a child, my grandmother reinforced the concept of charity and giving back to the community. Through example, she showed me the importance of finding your superpower and using it for the greater good. While my grandmother made a mean pot of Spanish rice, yummy cinnamon rolls, and always had time to make us a fried bologna sandwich, cooking was not her superpower. Her superpower was the care and support of others. She was always willing to leap in and care for the sick, support the underdog, and wisely guide my two sisters and me. She always had the necessary emotional strength to be a caregiver and she never appeared to lose her “spring chicken” energy.

My superpower is not nearly as awesome as my grandmother’s had been some twenty years ago. That being said, her actions imprinted my soul and she taught me charity begins at home, work, church, or within your subdivision.

What is my superpower? It isn’t gardening, an Einstein-like mind, patience, or athletics, even though I would have given anything to be Nadia Comaneci as a child. And although I can whip up a mean Thanksgiving dinner, it isn’t cooking. My superpower is Internet marketing, technology, and organization, which in my household, is also referred to as a control freak.

How do I use my superpower? I use technology to help when help is needed and when I am completely ill prepared to help in other ways. I have built websites for charities, I have helped organize and promote fundraising events, I am the Girl Scout cookie mom each year, and I’ve organized and set up a support group for my friend Bonnie. Bonnie is a breast cancer survivor who recently had her cancer return. At the kick off meeting for this event I spoke about superpowers. As the need for vegetarian meals was brought up, I saw many eyes glass over in fear. I immediately said cooking a vegetarian meal was not my superpower and thus I would not be cooking. I said we needed to each find our own superpower and use it to help benefit Bonnie and her family. And we have and I believe done so well. I have been emotionally touched time and again by the actions of others. I created a support website using Lotsahelpinghands.com, my friend Jill sold raffle tickets with her sales superpower, Kenny mowed the lawn with his superpower, Christian rallied his band and played at an event with his superpower, and so on.

God has granted us each a superpower and I believe one key to both professional success and personal enrichment is to figure out what this superpower is and to embrace it.