Retirees Living it Up

This article really puts the idea of taxes into perspective for me. As we grow up, we may get our first job as an adolescent or as a young adult and on average we may spend anywhere from 30-60 years wokring depending on benefits, taxes, socialeconomic status and geograohical location. People work hard for their money and I am a believer that everyone should get to keep what they earn besides the taxes that come out for governmental reasons. However I think it is important that our elderly are seen as a priority rather than an annoyance. "The general attitude in the Netherlands—if you ask the man in the street—is that people who have worked their entire lives should be protected from poverty," says pension expert Maarten Lindeboom, an economist at the Free University of Amsterdam." Just like in the Netherlands, they want to take care of the elderly after that have worked all their life.

This forms a bit of a circle, we as little kids need to be taken care of, we can help around in some ways but some of our "helpful" chores will need to be fixed at a later time. Then it is our turn to do the care taking by providing for our children, and like a sandwich generation, we may need to provide for our parents as well. Then comes retirement where we should be able to live off some of the money we earned but also be taken cae of by the country whom we have worked for. It's now their time to relax and enjoy life, so let them.

Post Baby Love

This article was perfect timing for what I have been dealing with these past couple weeks. My roommate just found out her parents are dating after being divorced for several years. They split when the kids were in high school after being married for 22 years. The relationship had turned to be about the kids and what is the best parenting technique rather than talking about each other, going on dates and making each other laugh like they had used to.

In "Is There Love After Baby?", the article talks about a woman nemaed Stephanie and her daughter Linda. "We're managing Linda very well. But with Art's promotion from teacher to principal and my going back to work, and feeling guilty about being away from Linda, we don't get much time for us." Yes, I can only imagine how much time a child must  take out of the typical day, but I think it is very important to steal at least ten minutes for conversation, laughter, share stressors, talk about work or the day. Those moments need to be cherished to the spark stays alive.

Keeping the Spark in the Marriage

These articles interest me quite a bit. I come from a family who my parents just celebrated 25 years and I have only had three boyfriend who all lasted over 18 months. I think that keeping the other partner interested is very important. We as people like to feel important, loved, attraactive etc.. People need encouragement even after they are comfortable and have been married for years that they are still madly in love.

Listening to the radio this morning driving up from Seattle, The Wolf had some marriage advice on what to promise each other and I agree with these: (www.seattlewolf.com)

Fitz's 10 Commandments of Marriage by Fitz , posted May 16 2013 11:38AM

1-Thou shall not cheat 2-Thou shall get medicine in the middle of the night 3-Thou shall forego sexual contact every once in a while 4-Thou shall fight and scream during your fight 5-Thou shall compliment your spouse 6-Thou shall date each other (date nights) 7-Thou shall flirt with thy spouse 8-Thou shall laugh together 9-Thou shall rub feet and scratch backs 10-Thou shall cuddle sometimes without having sexual contact These may seem silly but they are the basics of how a relationship starts: flirting, compliments, dates, movie nights, giggles, late night make out sessions etc... If as soon as a couple has kids, theses should not all of a sudden disappear. A couple became a couple for a reason and it will take work to keep the couple strong but I think it is possible :).

Pubescent Children

I thought these articles were interesting because I could relate to "Teens Before Their Time" quite personally. I developed fairly early myself and the teasing, the discomfort and the embarassment was horrible. I felt out of place, ugly and fat compared to all the other girls my age. When kids should not have a care in the world except doing their homework, I was worried about making sure my t-shirts were laarge enough to hide my chest, or how I would sneak toiletries to the bathroom without looking like a weirdo. The stress of being the first one to hit puberty doesn't seem like it should affect someone as it does, but it can actually be very depressing. I would lie to my friends so I didn't have to go to pool parties, or tell my mom to say no when I come to her later that afternoon to ask permission to have a sleep over.

My family however was incredibly supportive. Unlike some parents like in the article who wouldn't allow their daughter to go to slumber parties, my mom was all for it. She taught me some tricks of the trade and would even come pick me up late at night if I chose not to stay the entire evening. I personally think that if children continue to start puberty early then it is important for the families to be supportive and willing to answer questions when the child decides to ask.

Tough Guise

"Tough Guise" was a very interesting video to watch. I had seen it before in a Sociology class and it has more meaning to me now. I am currently dating an awesome guy who to me, is the ideal man. He is smart, supportive, caring, thoughtful, funny and I always have fun with him. Not one of the characterisics I listed is typically a masculine trait however those are all triats I value in men and women who I choose to be friends with.

The video mentions how men need to put on a 'front' in order to survive around other guys, and I agree. As a female I find watching men together can be comical and sad at the same time. The guys that are the "bros" the working out, checking out the muscles, swearing, acting tough. Then the guys who I can tell are great friends and just have a good time together. I think men and women both need to work on embracing who we are. There is only one Tom Brady; not all men are going to be tall, dark, and handsome, or rich, athletic, talented and buff. Just like not all women are going to be Beyonce; fit, curvy and sexy or talented, beautiful and a role model. Media has put so much pressure on men and women and I think it is very important to surround ourselves with people who care about us for who we are and who will support us in our goals.