News
2008
January 14, 2008 -
Role Models
The other day my sweet, innocent baby girl [She’s eight, Michelle, not a baby anymore. — Ed.] told me she wants to be like Britney Spears when she grows up. The conversation went something like this:
Addy: I want to be like Britney Spears when I grow up.
Me: (Sharp chest pains…Should I dial 911 now or hope she’ll know what do to when I pass out?) Why?
Addy: She’s cool, Mom.
Me: (Trying hard to be calm and not turn this into a forbidden fruit thing) And what makes her cool?
Addy: She’s a rock star. Everyone talks about her. She shaved her head!
Me: (Steady…Steady…) I thought you wanted to be a veterinarian.
Addy: I can be both.
Me: Ohhh, I don’t think so. Not in my house, honey.
Several days later, after calming down to more rational thinking, I did a quick inventory of people who are held up as role models for our children. Hmmm. When I was a kid we looked up to presidents, statesmen, teachers, fireman and such. Entertainers were for, well, entertainment. Times, they are a ch-ch-changin’.
There is hope for our children because there is a collection of people that make for good role models: You. Yes, you, the byway leader. You are involved in your community, sharing your skills, spending your time making your byway and your community a better place. Simply put, you make a difference. Your selflessness and personal contributions range from preserving pieces of history, sharing stories from the past that can help change how we live in the future, nurturing natural beauty and scenic vistas and maintaining strong, unique characters of small towns. Our byway community is made up of movers and shakers, leaders and contributors. Individuals of character, perseverance, vision and leadership. It’s an honor to work with such a great group of people and I look forward to getting to know more of you this year.
It would be great if our children could see what I see.
Instead of what they see now.
Epilogue:
Just as I was completing this message, Addy and I were driving over to the boys’ school to pick them up and we were talking about her homework, learning and school. She told me that she likes math now and she knows that she’ll need it later, and that Britney probably didn’t do her math homework.
I didn’t let her see me smile.