Marge Kennedy once said, “In truth a family is what you make it. It is made strong, not by the number of heads counted at the dinner table, but by the rituals you help family members create, by the memories you share, by the commitment of time, caring, and love you show to one another, and by the hopes for the future you have as individuals and as a unit”.
The type of support Mrs. Kennedy speaks of is, for many, provided first by our family, and later by peers, teachers, and other adults. According to Search Institute, who listed Family Support as Asset no. 1 of the 40 Developmental Assets, there is a strong relationship between effective family support and positive childhood outcomes, particularly higher academic achievement, healthy peer relationships, effective family communication, positive behavioral adjustment, and better mental health.
There are many variations of family including biological, extended, foster families, guardians etc… Regardless of how people have come together, the word “family” implies warmth, a place where the feelings of the heart are nurtured, where security and support act as a buffer against external problems. Families grow and move through life together, inseparable in the heart.
The good news is that according to a national Search Institute survey, 64 percent of the youth surveyed felt they had Family Support in their lives. What about the other 36 percent of youth? How can parents/guardians make them feel loved and supported?
The other piece of good news is it’s easy! Hug them or say, “I love you,” don’t assume they know how much you love them. Pay attention to them, listen to them, and take an interest in what they’re doing. Let your love for them show in the way you look at them, the words you say, your tone of voice, and your body language. Make it a point to be sure they hear your message of love and support loud and clear at all times. Develop openness so that the children in your family know that you’re available and you’ll love them—no matter what.
If Marge Kennedy was correct in her statement “A family is what you make it” than you as a parent/guardian have the influence to shape your child’s life. Youth are longing for the kinds of rituals, connections, memories, love and support only a family can provide.
“Want to know more about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them? Visit www.search-institute.org/assets.
This article was brought to you by Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention. For more information about ASAP and 40 Developmental Assets contact Allison Heidorn, project assistant, at 540-6772 or visit www.asapcoalition.com.
To the editor:
What do we want and expect of the person who will be representing us in Augusta? We are voting for the future. We want someone who will be the voice of the people in Maine – someone who will listen and follow up with investigation and response. We need a leader who is above self-serving party line interests, who knows the issues and can work through consensus building for the common good. Wade McLaughlin is ready to work in Augusta for all of us in Maine.
Wade grew up in the Aroostook County farming community of Limestone. Growing up on a potato farm, he knows the value of hard work and the need to keep a weather eye out for unexpected changes that might affect a desired goal. Wade has demonstrated a high interest in a good education through his work in schools and with special needs children. He continues his involvement in community services by working on committees and dealing with issues that will make government more friendly and accessible to Maine citizens.
Who and what we vote for in November may have a crucial impact on our lives economically, healthfully, and philosophically in these uncertain times. We need to support the leaders who support us. Wade McLaughlin is the young man who has the energy, experience and desire to be that leader in Augusta. Vote for Wade McLaughlin on November 4th for House District 3 – Caswell, Grand Isle, Hamlin, Limestone, New Sweden, Van Buren, Woodland, and Cyr Plantation, plus the unorganized territory of Connor Township.
Board Member
To the editor:
In just under a month, we the people will be at the polls getting ready to vote.
I would like it if everyone could just take a moment and remember the last eight years and how the United States has gone from doing OK to, “Oh my, what’s going on in the world?”
We need to stand up straight and say it’s enough and we want a change. If we don’t change government elected officials, then we can’t change the outcome of this country.
The United States will keep going further and further into debt, if we don’t do something about it. I’m not trying to tell people who to vote for, I’m just trying to make you understand that if something doesn’t change then our elderly, veterans of war, our soldiers in Iraq, and our children will suffer for our stupid mistakes, so please be smart this year and vote for a change.
Caribou
To the editor:
Each year, Mainers are exposed to the misleading and politically motivated “legislative scorecard” from the Maine Economic Research Institute.
I take my voting record seriously and care deeply about improving Maine’s economy, and the MERI scorecard has nothing to do with that. The people that put out this stuff are solely interested in getting members of one party elected over the other. The blatantly partisan “business scorecard” has little to do with actual votes that affect business and everything to do with rigging the system to give Republicans high scores and Democrats low ones.
In this year’s report, only one Democratic member of the entire Maine Legislature received a score of 66, barely a passing grade, while most scores hovered around the 10s and 20s. Meanwhile, only a couple of Republicans scored lower than the Democrats’ highest score of 66, with most members receiving scores in the 80s and 90s.
There are 186 members of the Maine Legislature; 186 human beings with different ideas, values and opinions. Are we to believe that independent-minded Maine lawmakers split exactly down party lines so cleanly and perfectly? I don’t buy it.
Part of the “scorecard” involves picking bills that will most assuredly go down party lines to get to the desired outcome. And the other part uses paid lobbyists to subjectively rate the legislators on their “approachability” based on their own agenda. This means that half of a legislator’s score is randomly assigned by corporate lobbyists who give no reasoning behind their decision.
This year, MERI went after legislators who voted to support significant issues such as health care for working families, safety training for workers, cutting income taxes for the majority of Maine people and consumer protection measures. I voted my conscience on these measures, which is what I believe my constituents want.
Many reputable organizations rate legislators on issues such as health care, the environment, and business. Done correctly, they are tools for citizens who may not have the time to research issues that matter to them. Done poorly, like the example here, it is just noise designed to distract Maine people away from the real issues facing the state.
To the editor:
One of the worst atrocities to hit this country was when the citizens were introduced to the absentee ballot. Even though the intent was to create a system for elderly shut-ins, handicapped individuals, and those who would not be in the communities where they voted through no fault of their own such as military service members, it has been abused to the extent that now the states have allowed anyone to use this system to vote and to go so far as to vote months ahead of time for an individual of their choice. This leaves no way to change their vote if they change their minds in the interim thereby possibly electing the less qualified individual by their own stupidity.
No one has abused it more than the organization called ACORN on the national level and they’ve targeted in on a candidate they want elected who has a questionable background, who has been actively involved with individuals who have conducted terrorist activities against and within this country. His name is Barrack Hussein Obama. One must want to remember the saying of Muslim extremist that they must blend in with the very societies that they want to ruin and wipe them off the face of the earth.
Anyone who saw the interview this man had with George Stephanopoulos, an old Democratic strategist, when he made the miscue about his Muslim faith and was quickly corrected by buddy George about his Christian faith (which caught him off guard) should think long and hard about what they think of this man who may get elected to the most powerful position in the country and the damage that can be done under his watch while he would be empowered to lead this country.
I would also like to say that the Democratic Party, my party, had many other better choices of black candidates who are true Americans such as Colin Powell or Allen Keyes, and many others who would been better candidates than Barrack Obama, who is of questionable character.
We are blessed with the fact that we do have another choice for president of our great nation and that is John McCain, who may not be as charismatic but is a proven true American along with his running mate Sarah Palin, also a true and very capable American.
Let’s take the time as true Americans to go to the polls, get into a voting booth and vote our conscience.
Caribou
