Man About Menifee: Parade, Fireworks Makes a Fun Weekend

By David Baker

My first Menifee community event with my family was in the summer of 2010, shortly after we moved here

I was calling around and looking for local Cub Scout Packs for Jeremiah to join when I got an invite from a local Pack to march with them at the Independence Day Parade. I said that we had plans already for the Fourth, but then found out that Menifee celebrates its Independence Day parade the weekend prior to July 4.

So that weekend, we met in the parking lot of Mt. San Jacinto College, decked out in our scout uniforms, and marched to Wheatfield Park, throwing candy to the bystanders. For Jeremiah, who was almost 7 at the time, it was a load of fun. As a parent, it is always fun to see your kid strut his stuff. The parade ended and the rest of the family met us at Wheatfield Park and we walked around to see the attractions.

The kids loved seeing the Sheriff’s Deputies on their horses, the various carnival style games, and of course, the fireworks. Since then, we have had a family tradition of two Independence Days -- one at Wheatfield Park and one with family in San Diego.

This year will be no exception. You will see the parade kickoff at 5 p.m. this Saturday, led by the Grand Marshall, Mayor Scott Mann, followed by several floats and groups marching. One of those will be your local Cub Scout Pack 374, chartered by Menifee 24/7. We will march up La Piedra Road, turn on Menifee Road, and end at Wheatfield Park.

One repeat attraction you may recall from the Menifee Birthday Bash last October will be Gale Webb’s Extreme Sports & Air Show. My kids were thrilled to see the BMX , skateboard, roller blade and scooter stunts performed X-Games style.

Of course, no Independence Day Celebration would be complete without a fireworks presentation. The evening will conclude at 9 p.m. with a fireworks display.

If you don’t have time on Saturday, though, never fear. You can catch other displays around the area for Independence day.

On July 3, the Lake Elsinore Storm plays the High Desert Mavericks at 6:05 p.m. with a fireworks display to follow. Facebook user Ashley B. says, “Go park up at Walmart; it’s a great place to watch em!”

Another friend on Facebook, Sylvia W., says, “La Ladera Park [is a] perfect view of Canyon Lake, referring to the Fourth of July fireworks there.

If you have any other tips for our readers, please post them in the comments section below, and remember, lock up your dogs before you leave for the night.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Menifeee Mom: Taking the Kids Out to the Ballgame

By Karen Thomas

Last week, we continued our summer tradition of attending a Lake Elsinore Storm baseball game.

It was a beautiful evening and we were attending with a large group of friends. I'd like to think my kids have come to appreciate the tradition of the game of baseball. However, like most kids, what they really look forward to is playing on the grassy hillside. You know where I'm talking about: The hill that is in the perfect line of fire for a foul ball. So of course, we all let our kids play there.

This year we discovered that a perk of having older "responsible" children is that we can finally let them have their fun playing on the hill, while we stay in our seats and enjoy the game.

We are relishing in just that thing when we hear a friend yell across our section, "Your daughter is bleeding!" Our daughter's friend had run to report the information to her mom, who then shouted it out to us. I immediately picture blood gushing out of some body part and I jump up and join my friend.

Soon we are running through the crowd towards the hill. I hear an usher call, "Please walk Ma'am," and I'm about to say, "Get a medic!" but when I turn around, he's gone. I've lost him in the crowd. Thinking the worst, I make a quick stop in the bathroom for a wad of paper towels.

We get to the hill and find my daughter at the bottom with a group surrounding her. As I approach, I see the wound ... a small scrape on her knee.

"Seriously?" I ask. Apparently, these kids need a lesson in what justifies yelling "bleeding" across a stadium. Daughter doesn't even want a band-aid. (Good thing I didn't get the medic.) We go back to our seats, fellow spectators question the status of our daughter, and we all enjoy a good laugh about the drama of girls.

A few innings later, I get a phone call. It's the "bleeding" child.

"Mom," she says, "You have to come here right now!"

"Why?" I ask. This time, I want details.

"Because I need to show you something. It's important!"

I attempt to find out what is so important, but she says she can't say it out loud. I have to come see it. When I refuse, she decides to come to me. She arrives in record time (apparently SHE knows how to get away with running). Breathing heavily and looking at me with wide eyes, she whispers, "Mom ... we found ... a dead body. He's got a rope around his neck and is hanging over there!"

"Where?"

"Behind that big wooden board with all the advertisements." Her tone and face tells me she isn't joking.

I think before I answer. Suddenly, I have a rare mom moment -- my brain actually work s-- and I remember something: "Field of Screams."

I assure her that it's fake and must be leftover from the annual Halloween event held at the stadium. I also point out that people work behind that board and if it WAS real, it would have been taken care of a long time ago. It takes some time, but eventually she believes me and the kids all return and settle in to watch the game. The "responsible" older child gives the classic report that SHE told them it was fake. Really?

A short time later, a younger daughter sitting next to me leans over and whispers very seriously, "Mom, don't worry. We used a code word to protect the innocent."

"Huh?"

"You know, the dead body. We didn't want the little kids to be scared, so we called it a 'squirrel' instead."

"That's ... thoughtful," I tell her, trying to keep a straight face.

" If it WAS real, though, we would've been on the news or something for discovering it, wouldn't we?"

Classic. Do my kids have a taste for drama? You bet! But it's nights like these that help build a treasure trove of great family memories. Plus, we now have a great story to embarrass our daughters when the boys start coming around! And just in case they forget, we snapped a photo of the "corpse" on the way out.

Karen Thomas is a stay at home mom of four daughters, has been on the PTA board at her kids' school for four years, and is a volunteer at her church, in addition to her activities as a volunteer soccer referee, a piano teacher, and a runner. Her column will appear here every Thursday. Comments are welcome.

Observations, Questions and Tips About Life: June 26

Featuring Bill Rhoads

Each week, Sun City resident Bill Rhoads shares with us some of his "tips about life." Bill keeps a written record of "tips" that come to mind and has a strong motivation to share them with others. His purpose in doing so is to stimulate his own thinking and to stir some ideas into the pot of life. He believes in God and the Golden Rule.


I used to be a hands-on kinda guy
Developed callouses
Made me insensitive.

You find a way to do the things that are important to you.

I’ve finally succeeded at something.
I’ve practiced and practiced,
I’m finally totally and perfectly dysfunctional.

If you have thoughts and/or responses to Bill's tips, leave a comment here or send emails with your feedback to menifee247info@gmail.com.

The Caregiver's Journey: One Can Never Have Enough Friends

By Marsha Kay Seff

"The Caregivers' Journey" appears here monthly. Marsha Kay Seff wrote and edited the San Diego Eldercare Directory for 10 years. She knows first-hand about the ups and downs of caregiving, as she brought her aging parents to San Diego from Miami Beach in order to look after them. Her column will discuss the challenges faced by adults in caring for their aging parents. Direct email inquiries or responses to mkseff@gmail.com.



My mom used to complain how difficult it was to make friends at her retirement home. Then one day, she stepped into the elevator and said hello to someone she had wanted to befriend.

“I haven’t seen you in a while,” Mom told her. “It looks like you’ve put on some weight.”

The woman glared at her and left the elevator without even saying good-bye. I suggested that next time, she tell the woman how great she looked.

Recently, a student in my writing class also mentioned the difficulty of making friends. He complained that not a single person had invited him to do something in the two years he’d been at the center.

I asked how many people he had invited to coffee or anything else. “None,” he answered.

Close relationships are vital to our physical, mental and emotional health. Friends provide us with companionship, conversation and caring. Unfortunately, chances are that many of your parents’ long-time friends have moved or died or simply lost touch. And social skills can get rusty after you’ve counted on the same people for decades and haven’t had to create new relationships.

If your parents sit in front of the TV all day, it’s time you encouraged them to take action. The first step is connecting with old friends.To make new friends, your folks need to overcome the idea that everyone else their age already has enough friends. Nobody does.

Your parents need to go somewhere they can meet people: a senior center, retirement-facility activities and adult-education classes. If they’re up to it, a part-time or volunteer job can provide a great opportunity to meet others. Even taking the dog for a walk will put them in contact with others.
Your parents need to learn to ignore the junior-high-type cliques and graciously ask if they can join a group.

If someone invites your parents to do something, they need to say “yes,” even if they don’t think they’ll enjoy the activity. They might end up having fun and meeting others.

Once they meet people, they need to be prepared with a topic of conversation: “What’s the best trip you even took? What do you think of the way kids dress today?”

Remind your folks that it’s important not to talk exclusively about themselves or to complain.
Offering to help a new acquaintance who is sick is a great way to spark a friendship. A simple phone call might be enough.

Your parents also need to understand that building friendships requires time, effort and patience.
If you can help your parents make just one or two good friends, you will have improved their lives – and your own as well.

Sponsored by Right at Home, In-Home Care & Assistance, www.rahtemecula.com, (951) 506-9628, loretteoliver@rahtemecula.com. Contact Marsha Kay Seff at mkseff@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Day Camps Are Valuable Opportunities

By David Baker

When I started with the Boy Scouts of America as a boy, I was in the fourth grade, which meant I was in Webelos (WE’ll BE Loyal Scouts). A short explanation is that these are senior Cub Scouts getting ready for Boy Scouts. What this meant for me was that my Cub Scout experiences were fairly minimal, and I went straight into the "traditional" scouting experiences like hiking, camping, and emergency preparedness.

When my oldest son Nikk, now 18, reached first grade, he brought home a flier from school announcing a scout recruitment night. We went and signed him up as a Tiger Cub (First Grader / 6 years old) and so I re-entered the world of scouting as a parent, and it really was a whole new world.

I was learning many things about the scouting program for the first time, considering I had never been a Tiger, Wolf or Bear (first, second, or third grade) Cub Scout. One of the biggest things that I realized I missed out on was Day Camp.

There are many youth organizations that host day camps, or three to five days of various activity stations with kids learning different facts, skills, or other points of interest. The reason they are called day camps, of course, is that parents bring their children for the day and not overnight. These camps are perfect for the younger urban crowd that might not be entirely accustomed to the outdoors.

My middle son Jeremiah, 9, just came back from the week-long Cub Scout Inland Empire 3 Peaks Day Camp, which ended Thursday. He spent all week at the Orange Empire Railway Museum, which is open to the public, doing activities such as Archery, B.B. gun shooting, learning the history of the railway, and making arts and crafts. He had a blast and I was blessed to get to go with him on Thursday for the day as a volunteer.

This location is very interesting and I encourage anyone with children to check it out at least once. In the fall they even have a "Thomas the Tank Engine" train ride for the little Sproutlets. For more info, visit their website.

For those who didn’t make it to Cub Scout Day Camp, or aren’t involved in scouting currently, never fear. This was not the only day camp in the Menifee area, just the most recent one. Starting this week and going through Aug. 9, M.A.R.S. is hosting free day camps at area parks throughout the summer as well. Any Monday or Thursday, head down to La Ladera Park before 9 a.m. and register your child. Besides, if your house is anything like mine, by the third week of June, you’re ready for August to get here already, so anything that gets the kids unplugged and outdoors engaging their brain is a good thing to me.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Menifee Mom: There's Always a Path to the Finish Line

By Karen Thomas

I was able to run in the Fontana Days half marathon earlier this month with a large group of Menifee friends.

In 1986, this race course was the fastest certified course in the world due to its 2,125-foot elevation drop. It is the perfect recipe for pain.

Saturday morning rolled around and at promptly 4:15 a.m., my alarm went off. The last bus to the starting line left at 6:20. Yup, not only did we get to run 13.1 miles down a steep hill, we got to wake up at a ridiculous hour to do it!

As we ran through the course, I was impressed with the spectators. Signs saying things like, "Great Job, Random Stranger!" and "Don't Poop Out Now" donned the course. But my favorite sign, placed so perfectly less than two miles before the finish, stated pure fact, the true motivation most feel at that point: "Run FOR REST, Run!"

But what really touched me that day wasn't the spectators or nabbing that PR, it was the determination of the runners. As I enjoyed my post-race refreshment (a 4-ounce cup full of Gatorade, seriously?) I heard the crowd break out in cheers.

A large group of runners was carrying a fellow runner across the finish line. You see, this man had pushed himself to the very limit and just yards from the finish line, his legs gave out. The other runners could have finished their sprint into the finish, hoping to snag that PR they've no doubt been working towards for months. But instead, forgoing all thoughts for themselves, they chose to help carry another's burden and helped him meet his goal of finishing the race.

As I waited for the rest of my group to come in, I was able to witness many other runners collapse in exhaustion at the finish and a few more needing help to make it those last few feet. One friend commented, "I am amazed to see so many people run 13 miles and then just feet from the finish line, completely break down! What is it about those last few feet?"

I've been thinking about that. Why do we push and push and push and then, when the finish is right within our grasp, do we collapse? What allows some of us to get so far and then NOT make it? Surely, if the finish line were moved another quarter of a mile down the street, it would have played out just the same. Most runners would have found that something inside them to get just that little bit further down the road before letting the sheer pain that has been surging through them for miles take over.

I've begun to realize that life is made up of lots of little races spread throughout our days, weeks, and years. How many times, as moms, have we stayed up all night with a crying baby only to get right up the next morning to get our other kids off to school? Or powered through a hard day, only to collapse on the couch the moment after we FINALLY get that last one to stay in bed? Whatever the race is, what gives us the ability to continue on just long enough to finish when any normal person would have given up long before?

Ultimately, the answer lies in our individual determination. Perhaps it's determination to make sure our kids succeed in school, or the determination that our children will not feel deprived of our love despite an overwhelmingly busy life. Sometimes it's the determination to do better than the generation before us. It's what allows us to push through the hard times, knowing that at some point, it will all be worth it.

Life, like running, is often a mental game. People collapse at the finish line because mentally they know they've made it and they finally let their body give in to the exhaustion. Some have the determination to do it alone, others have a friend at their side to give them encouragement to push to the end.

When we are struggling in the races of life, we likewise need to find that inner strength to push through or a friend to encourage us until we can see the end is near. And then when we do cross those finish line, we can celebrate our victory ... and finally take a nap!

Karen Thomas is a stay at home mom of four daughters, has been on the PTA board at her kids' school for four years, and is a volunteer at her church, in addition to her activities as a volunteer soccer referee, a piano teacher, and a runner. Her column will appear here every Thursday. Comments are welcome.

Observations, Questions and Tips About Life: June 19

Featuring Bill Rhoads

Each week, Sun City resident Bill Rhoads shares with us some of his "tips about life." Bill keeps a written record of "tips" that come to mind and has a strong motivation to share them with others. His purpose in doing so is to stimulate his own thinking and to stir some ideas into the pot of life. He believes in God and the Golden Rule.


Every pleasure has a price
Pay as quick as you can
The weight of these debts unpaid
Brings down many a good man

I won’t get involved in people’s morality or lack thereof
I won’t talk politics, money, religion or love
So … what would you like to talk about?

A friend who does you wrong
Will never forgive you

If you have thoughts and/or responses to Bill's tips, leave a comment here or send emails with your feedback to menifee247info@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Cub Pack 374, Menifee 24/7 Team Up

By David Baker
 
I saw a bumper sticker once that said, "When life hands you lemons, grab the tequila and salt." This, of course, is a whimsical way of saying that when the unexpected happens, roll with it and you never know what might happen.

When we first moved to Menifee in 2010 from Escondido, we found ourselves driving back once a week to take Jeremiah to his Cub Scout meetings. We continued until the summer campout, when he earned his final rank badge that year. Then I started calling around, looking for a local Cub Scout Pack to join.

One day I got a call back from someone at the California Inland Empire Council office, asking me to help them start a new Pack. I hesitantly agreed, and I’m glad I did.

For parents new to scouting, Cub Scouts are boys in first through fifth grade. The whole group is called a "Pack," which is divided up by age/grade into "Dens". There are Community Packs and LDS (Mormon Church) Packs. I’ve always been involved in Community Packs, which are generally sponsored, or chartered, by a local organization, like a church, PTA, or business.

Community Packs generally confine their recruiting efforts to a certain number of schools. This way, the same boys who attend the Scout meetings will also be likely to band together in their schools and neighborhoods, and hopefully set an example for other children when it comes to citizenship and leadership, thereby creating positive peer pressure.

That fall I attended several recruiting efforts at Ridgemoor Elementary, and Pack 374 was born. Originally we had about a dozen boys with their families, with me as the Cubmaster. Our charter organization at the time was the Kiwanis Club of Menifee and we did well with them, got our paperwork processed and had a decent program. I served as the Cubmaster and Kiwanis served as our charter organization from 2010 until 2012.

Unfortunately, the Kiwanis Club of Menifee folded just as I handed the Cubmaster duties to another dad, which made it hard to do all the paperwork that was required, from insurance to individual boy registration. The Menifee Youth Foundation came to our aid as a temporary solution. I say temporary because they were already chartering another Cub Scout Pack, as well as a Boy Scout Troop (boys ages 11-18) and a Venturing Crew (boys and girls ages 14-21).

Then I had an idea for a local business. Why not our own Menifee 24/7? I called Doug Spoon and we had a meeting with the current Cubmaster, and together we decided it would be a good fit for all involved. We got the paperwork filled out and we are all official.

We will be having our Kickoff to Summer Pack meeting on Tuesday June 25 in the evening. If you are interested in finding out more, please log on to www.pack374.org and click Contact Our Pack and we can get you the exact time and location.

On behalf of the boys of Cub Scout Pack 374, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Doug Spoon and the entire Menifee 24/7 team for joining us on this adventure.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Menifee Mom: More Than One Way to Skin (Shave) a Cat

By Karen Thomas

Ah, the end of the school year. A sure sign that summer is here ... and a glaring reminder that I have yet to do my spring cleaning!

I've lived a few places in my life, but I must say that here in Menifee we get the dirtiest windows out of anywhere. I'm sure I'm not the only one to open my blinds on a beautiful sunny morning and find I can't see out! Thankfully, we are also enjoying "June Gloom" season, so perhaps these cloudy mornings will allow me to put off that unpleasant task just a little bit longer?

Unfortunately, this week there was one spring task I just couldn't delay any more: shaving the cat. "Why shave a cat?" you ask. Well, let's just say it is one way to avoid hairballs and their accompanying cat vomit as well as rid my house of cat hair and pokey burrs from that noxious clover weed we all love in Menifee.

Yes, I could just brush the cat every day, but what mom has time for that? Besides, it's a great way to make your cat look like a dork.

For all you cat lovers out there, in my defense, I didn't actually set out to get a long-haired cat. He actually showed up at our door several years ago. We tried to find his owners, but failed. He was friendly and housebroken, so we figure he was a casualty of the housing market crash and abandoned when his owners vacated. It just so happened that my kids had been praying for a cat (go figure... it was the only way they could think of getting one since mom and dad kept saying "no"). Needless to say, that week our kids' prayers were answered.

If you've never had the opportunity to shave a cat, I must say you are missing out. I used to take him to the groomers, but who can afford the $80 they charge? And besides ... it is such fun! (Apparently there is a "special handling fee" for uncooperative pets. Seriously? Are there really any cats that cooperate?!?)

This is not a one-person task, which is one reason it has taken me so long to get to it. I have to find a spare hour in between homework, soccer, piano, and church activities to bribe my children into helping me. Now that homework is a thing of the past (wahoo!), it is much easier. So, once donning all the victims/children with leather gloves and ensuring I've got the sharpest animal clippers around, we get to working as fast as possible.

It seems the youngest two are the only ones willing to help this year. (The older ones are on to my scheme.) It starts peacefully, but once we move to the belly ... game's on! Not only are we getting hissed and scratched at, but he has managed to stink things up pretty good.

I soon notice the youngest has found the bicycle pump and is now using it to blow in her sister's face. She starts laughing, the cat manages to get away from us, and the older child finds great pleasure in screaming "get the cat!" as she chases him around the garage.

As she chases the cat, I get a moment to survey the scene. Not only have we managed to cover the entire floor in cat hair, but due to the running and screaming, cat hair is getting spread around even more.

Eventually, we do finish and I'm pleased that I've only missed a few spots and received only a few scratches in the process. Somehow, the kids have declared the event "great fun," the cat is now in hiding, and I'm pleased to have crossed a task off my list. Now if only I can figure out how to make window washing just as exciting, I might get my kids to help me get that task done too!

Karen Thomas is a stay at home mom of four daughters, has been on the PTA board at her kids' school for four years, and is a volunteer at her church, in addition to her activities as a volunteer soccer referee, a piano teacher, and a runner. Her column will appear here every Thursday. Comments are welcome.

Observations, Questions and Tips About Life: June 12

Featuring Bill Rhoads

Each week, Sun City resident Bill Rhoads shares with us some of his "tips about life." Bill keeps a written record of "tips" that come to mind and has a strong motivation to share them with others. His purpose in doing so is to stimulate his own thinking and to stir some ideas into the pot of life. He believes in God and the Golden Rule.


The more I look, the more I see
Everything is exactly the way it’s supposed to be
It all comes clear checked line by line
God has a plan that’s surely mine

The older we get
The louder we snore
Fortunately, we and our mates
Lose our hearing
At proportionate rates.

Strength can pull down or lift
Only with compassion is it a gift.

If you have thoughts and/or responses to Bill's tips, leave a comment here or send emails with your feedback to menifee247info@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: It's Really Easy to Do the Right Thing

By David Baker

Parenthood is full of moments, both high and low. There will be times when kids let you down with their behavior. Other times, they surprise you and do something completely mature and responsible.

Nikkolas surprised me that way the other day.

My wife, Jennifer, and Nikk were driving across the 215 and Newport, taking Alexandra to her Wednesday afternoon Girl Scout meeting at Bell Mountain Middle School. They were over the freeway and next to the Ralphs Center when Nikk said, "Is that guy all right?"

The traffic light at Antelope was green, but there was an elderly man in the lead car slumped over in the driver’s seat. All the cars behind him were flashing their lights and honking. Jennifer pulled over and Nikk sprang into action.

He stopped the oncoming cars, rushed to the driver’s side window and assessed the situation. The man’s eyes were closed, and he was lying over the steering wheel. He knocked on the window first to see if the man would respond.

The man sat up with an extremely startled look on his face. He looked at Nikk and said, "It’s OK, I just fell asleep," and sped off, leaving Nikk standing in the middle of the street with a puzzled expression on his face.

Now I know what you’re thinking. That was more than a little anti-climactic.

The moral of this little anecdote is twofold. One is acknowledgement that Nikk put himself out there to help someone seemingly in distress, and although it was not a true emergency, he was prepared to respond as though it was. The second is to question why is it that the only one to get out and check was a teenager who had to cross three lanes of traffic – both ways – to do the right thing?

Don’t get me wrong; this behavior from Nikk should not be a surprise, but I am still pleased with him. There is no one formula that is going to give you a guaranteed turnaround to producing quality citizens, but a good start is to make sure you spend quality time with them when they’re young. That’s why for Father’s Day, you’ll see my kids and I at La Ladera Park for Menifee’s Annual Father’s Day Campout.

For the last several years, the Riverside County M.A.R.S. program has put on a low-cost campout with various kid-friendly attractions like arts and crafts, a rock wall and of course s’mores at dusk. This is the perfect opportunity for the urban camper to get a change of scenery and renew and strengthen the bonds between father and child. If you wish to participate, simply print and fill out the attached form and fax or email it in. It’s well worth it.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Menifee Mom: A New Face, a Familiar Family Challenge

Editor's note: Today we welcome our new Menifee Mom, Karen Thomas. She has lived in Menifee for eight years. She is a stay at home mom of four daughters, has been on the PTA board at her kids' school for four years, and is a volunteer at her church, in addition to her activities as a volunteer soccer referee, a piano teacher, and a runner. Her column will appear here every Thursday. Comments are welcome.

By Karen Thomas

Last weekend, I read an article reminding me of the importance of giving your kids your undivided attention when they are talking to you. Being a busy mom of four active girls, this can, well, be quite difficult, to say the least. So it struck quite a chord with me and I resolved to do better.

This past year, I have become a "runner." I guess I'm allowed to call myself that because I've now competed in two half marathons, a 5K and a 10K, and I am even part of an unofficial running group here in Menifee. As other runners know, the enjoyment of running often comes from the fact that it allows us to "clear our heads" and "de-stress."

So there I am, headed out on my last "speed-work" run before the Fontana Days Half Marathon, held last weekend, when my husband suggests I bring one of the kids along. I give him "the look." He sees it and says, "Oh come on, it will be great," and then announces, "Kids, who wants to go with mom?" Two kids jump up and say, "I do!" Of course...

Soon I am headed down the road, iPhone armband in place and headphones in ears, when one of them starts to talk. (Remember, I am supposed to listen.) So an earbud comes out and I hear, "Can we watch a movie tonight?"

"No, Dad and I decided we want to stay home from our date and have family game night tonight instead," I reply in short bursts between breaths, thinking they'll be excited to spend an exciting evening with Mom and Dad playing "Uno Attack."

"What? That's not fair!" A whiney, complaining argument is starting to brew. Here I am trying to run for speed and focus on my breathing, my form, and my pace, and she wants to argue about a movie? Not happening!

"Do not ... argue ... with me ... right now ... I am trying to run!" comes the broken response.

For the next mile, the kids take their position behind me, earbuds return, and I enjoy a quiet run ... with the guilt building that I didn't take the time to listen to my kid. So much for clearing my head. We come to some dirt trails on the side of the road and I hear, "Can we go that way?"

"No!" I shout, and I keep going. Strike two.

Soon, the mom guilt takes over and I feel bad. Really, these kids just want to have fun. Besides, I saw some great rollercoaster hills on that dirt trail .... so I relent.

"Hey girls, do you want to go back and take those trails?" Cheers follow.

We then proceed to have a great time sharing a moment together. That awesome afternoon breeze we Menifeeans love is in full force and we are headed straight into it. But the joy of running up and down the hills and seeing my kids' excitement is worth it.

So maybe I didn't follow the article's advice very well, and maybe I didn't get to "clear my head" in the way I expected, but in the end, I "heard" what my kids really wanted AND enjoyed a good run. In my book, that spells success.

Oh, and date night was fun too!

Observations, Questions and Tips About Life: June 5

Featuring Bill Rhoads

Each week, Sun City resident Bill Rhoads shares with us some of his "tips about life." Bill keeps a written record of "tips" that come to mind and has a strong motivation to share them with others. His purpose in doing so is to stimulate his own thinking and to stir some ideas into the pot of life. He believes in God and the Golden Rule.



Love:
When you’re younger
It's the hunger
When you're older
It's the shoulder

If you’re a man of few words,
Chances are you have a limited vocabulary.

If an understanding could not be misconstrued
Could it then be construed, or strued, or misprostrued?
None of the above?

If you have thoughts and/or responses to Bill's tips, leave a comment here or send emails with your feedback to menifee247info@gmail.com.