October 2018 – rawfamilyblog

“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” Luke 12:48

This is my political philosophy. I have been given much by living in this country. I have great parents and a fun childhood marked with a good education. I am raising my kids in a good community and my kids are pretty awesome humans (but I’m biased).

So when I vote, this drives my vote.

It means I want an equivalent education (particularly through high school) for all regardless of race, poverty levels, gender, religion. It means we make sure that our people entering adulthood have the skills necessary to be productive members of society. (Whether they use those skills or not is up to them!)

It means I think we should have health care regardless of race, poverty levels, preexisting conditions, religion or parental employment status, gender, religion. No one should be denied reasonable health care at reasonable costs, and the options to make their best choices with their doctor as their guide, not a for-profit insurance agent.

It means every citizen over 18 is afforded the ability to vote. And the barrier to vote is low. Whether I can read or write. Whether I can drive myself to the polls or whether I need a ride.

It means that People of Color are not demonized. That the sheer numbers of young black men in prison for nonviolent crimes is unacceptable, particularly when compared to the white individuals for the same crimes. (Read Michelle Alexander’s book “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” if you want the numbers.)

It means our military is treated with respect. They and their families are provided enough to eat and be housed. Families are provided adequate support while their service member is deployed. Veterans are treated with respect and have access to all the tools needed to retire, or be re-integrated to the private workforce.

We were given this great big earth that provides so much our needs. We must treat that the environment with respect, and we should not treat it as a means to an end. Businesses must be required respect the world within which we live, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and so on.

I don’t want walls keeping people out. I want to offer them the opportunities I was given by the location of my birth.

Much was given to us. Much is demanded.

And here I am, same as every year, trying to figure out how we got through those 365 days so quickly… Jiggs is 6!

This year, we have finished K-readiness, and started Kindergarten. We have learned to ride a bike without training wheels, played T-Ball, and two seasons of soccer. We danced our way through the Nutcracker and a recital.

Your teachers constantly send us praise for you behavior choices at school, and that makes us proud. We hear that you can be counted on to use your manners, follow the rules, help your peers, and be respectful. Way to go Jiggs.

Watching you play sports has been incredible. It’s clear you’ve had to sit on the sidelines too long, and when you get a chance to be on the field, you shine. In your first year of soccer, you scored a lot of goals, set people up to score, and had fun running the field with friends. In T-Ball, you somehow made the play of a lifetime with a full on tackle, while wearing a skirt! In dance, they put you up with the older kids last year and you stepped up and learned more.

I like watching you take on challenges head on day in and day out. While I will never know what’s going to come out of your mouth at either your sisters or I, your joy in playing with them is evident. You’ve enjoyed your role as the baby of this family, and sometimes I’m absolutely stunned that we got to 6 already. Other times, it’s hard to imagine you haven’t always had this ability to fill a room so completely.

And, this year, I think you came into your own as a Jiggs rather than a Bits. Your personality is so vibrant that Bits just doesn’t cut it anymore. So world, I present Jiggs. We are grateful for your presence, and your life and your full belly laugh! Your energy at whatever you are doing (singing in church, playing sports, or throwing a temper tantrum) will serve you well for the rest of your days.

While I sometimes wish for life to slow down, I know that you are ready to have life go a million miles an hour and see what’s down that road. And so Jiggs; enjoy 6. Enjoy Kindergarten and whatever else takes your time, energy, and love this year. I will do my best to watch, appreciate, love, and cheer you on! I love you Jiggs.