Feeling Helpless in a Changing World?Get Up and Do Something About It with Your Kids

         So much is happening around the world right now that we often can feel overwhelmed. Whatever your political orientation, you may be struggling to keep up with a cascade of changes that soon may be impacting our families on a daily basis: climate events, economic uncertainty, geopolitical instability, and a fundamental set of questions about what it means to be a citizen. What’s one to do?

          Humans evolved in small communities. Child-rearing, food security, protection from danger, and communal awe of the divine all  came about through face-to-face contact on a daily basis with a common purpose in mind: sustainable life and well-being. We have a small community here on City Island. What can we do – as adults and with our children – to create sustainable life and well-being for all?

·       Think globally, act locally: Share your resources with global organizations that do work that reflects your values. Sit down with your kids and talk about where to make contributions – they may want to save the whales while you may want to eradicate smallpox. Both can be valid, yes? In the meantime, support our local groups who are trying to make a difference: think both/and instead of either/or when it comes to your advocacy.

·       Choose action over despair: Go to a rally to support a cause you believe in. Bring your kids. Take advantage of the local bird walks and clean-up opportunities. Show up to support a local politician you have voted for and make your advocacy a topic of family discussion.  Join a local Habitat for Humanity project and bring your teenagers. Doing nothing is a choice and sometimes not a healthy one.

·       Change your family’ lifestyle: Compost. Make food donations every time you go shopping. Drive less. Stop buying water in plastic bottles. Sit down as a family and write to your elected representatives every Saturday morning over a family pancake breakfast. Do all of this with your kids. Make family commitments over dinner to make the world a better place – whatever that might mean to you.

·       Listen to your children’s concerns and validate them as you seek to create a family plan of action: One of the best things we can do as parents is to model listening skills. Take time to hear what your child is saying, respond with empathy, and then ask, “what can we do about that?” It will work every time.

Citizenship in the USA is both a privilege and a responsibility. Work to have a government that mirrors your values. Children learn from their parents what is means to be a patriot and a citizen.

Living on City Island is also a privilege and a responsibility. Strive to have a community that mirrors your values. Children learn from their parents what it means to be part of a community.

So what are you waiting for?