Salem-News.com Family articles Page 35

Tattoos, Rap and Saggy Pants

I get the same rolled eyes and glazed over looks that I gave my parents. I guess it’s karma, it’s payback time, and it’s the inevitable generation gap.

(AGOURA, Calif.) - The journey from child, to teen, to young adult to parent seems to have similar stops along the way for most everyone. My college years were during the “age of stupidity,” as a man I greatly respect refers to the ‘60s and early ‘70s.

As a love-child and soon-to-be yuppie, I was thoroughly convinced that I would be a different parent to any children I might have than my parents were to me.

Housing Opportunity Bill Passes Senate, Major Win for Oregonians` Affordable Housing Needs

House Bill 2436 will provide aid to low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Oregon Senate passed legislation this morning that will significantly increase resources available to address Oregon’s affordable housing crisis.

“This is a major step moving us towards long-term solutions for Oregon’s affordable housing needs,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin).

Biden, Duncan Urge Accountability, Speed in Spending AARA Education Funds

Meeting brings together state school heads with Vice President and Education Secretary.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - Speaking with state school superintendents from around the country yesterday, Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan urged swift action and exceptional accountability in the disbursement of education-related recovery funds.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law last week, represents America’s largest-ever investment in education.

Money, Money, Money

I will have to live the life I preach and take the same, at times, harsh medicine I’m asking them to swallow

(AGOURA, Calif.) - I had naively hoped never to live through times like my folks did, with The Great Depression.

Senate Votes to Raise Compensation for Orphans and Widows of Workers Killed on the Job

SB 110 increases compensation for college age orphans, burial costs.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Legislation to increase benefits provided to the families of Oregon workers killed on the job or permanently and totally disabled from their work was approved by the Oregon Senate this morning.

“This legislation honors the memory of Oregonians who have experienced the tragedy of work place death and disabling injuries,” said Sen. Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland), chair of the Senate Commerce and Workforce Development Committee.

A Hamster and Some Dead Birds

In addition to the warm happy times, kids realize that LIFE has its harsh moments, its realities...

(AGOURA, Calif.) - One of parenting’s biggest challenges is when to protect your kids from “Life” and when to let them learn the truth about it. I experienced this twice, in the past couple of years, in interesting and similar ways…one when it “wasn’t time” and one when it was!

My younger son, when he was 7-years-old, wanted a hamster, after playing at a friend’s house that had several.

Their “Mommy” hamster had just given birth to several baby hamsters and they graciously gave a darling one to my son. Since it was around his birthday, we went to the pet store and bought a nice hamster cage and all the trimmings. I made him promise to clean the cage, once a week, and he agreed.

They`re Growing Up

The first disappointing moment occurred when the boys ganged up on me and refused to call me “Daddy” anymore.

(AGOURA, Calif.) - There are so many passages for parents, with their kids, as they grow up. I remember the “big ones” like first words, first steps, and first poops.

Rock n Roll Forever

Times have changed, I guess, but sitting through this last concert experience makes me want to buy or rent old Ed Sullivan shows and sift through my parent’s 33 1/3 record albums!

(AGOURA, Calif.) - My two sons really enjoy contemporary music; especially rock ‘n’ roll. My older son (just turned 15) has become a good guitarist and, in fact, this interest is the first one I’ve seen him passionate about.

When he was a home-schooler, he took a college course in Music Appreciation. So, together with this primary music knowledge, and the various concerts and music that both boys have been exposed to by me, I felt they were entitled to attend a recent concert event, the KROQ Rock Invasion; an all-day rock festival with several contemporary headline acts and many up-and-coming opening acts.

We’d attended a Bruce Springsteen concert at Dodger Stadium, an Eric Clapton concert at the Hollywood Bowl and Green Day and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Metallica more recently.

There`s No Such Thing as Quality Time

All our new technologies have only made most people more overwhelmed, busier. It’s these moments that matter most in our lives - the little ones, like building a Legos with your 9-year-old and figuring out where the mistake was.

(SANTA MONICA) - I learned a great lesson this past weekend with my kids. It’s something I knew, but had never experienced so directly.

There’s no such thing as quality time, only QUANTITY time (with kids). Some people believe that they can schedule "quality time" with their kids, in which they think their kids will open up, reveal what’s really going on, and "share".

They want to schedule this time the way they schedule a business lunch. BUT, kids don’t work on these kinds of schedules!

Expose: DHS-CPD, Part IV

Taking the state agency to task for shortfalls in management and a host of other problems that all too often never see the light of day.

(SALEM., Ore.) - In my last three guest pieces, I touched on several ways in which DHS-CPD, and their affiliates, have violated State and Federal laws.