Bandwagon Approaching - Listen to the Music!

Today I will not jump on any bandwagons. Instead, I will read the music and the lyrics, find my rhythm, and march the road to the beat of my own drum. ~ AZ Mom of Many Hats

I am not one to jump on bandwagons. I never have been.

It’s not that I think there is something wrong with standing for a cause – there isn’t. It is a very noble thing to support what you think in your heart is the right thing. Society has improved and evolved by people standing together and standing up for what is right.

My issue is with bandwagons.

Bandwagon has a couple of definitions.  It’s exactly what the name says – a wagon that carries a band.  It’s also a cause or group that appeals to people because of apparent success. Both definitions have a draw factor.

Should we jump on bandwagons blindly though?

It is ingrained in my personality to not simply follow for the sake of following.  That is not me, not my own personal style, and not my need.  But, I know that there are those who want and need to be a part of the latest thing.  This is not a lacking or a flaw; it is simply part of who they are.  However, whether we resist the popular pull or feel drawn to it, I don’t think we should jump onto bandwagons blindly.  There is danger in that.

Would you board a train, a plane, a taxi or a bus, simply because you liked the song that was playing over the speakers? 

If you answered this question with “yes” – you are much braver than I am, and I wish you a safe trip.  But, my own answer would be "no".  I would want to know more about the driver, the vehicle, and the destination.   

Bandwagons are much like these vehicles.  They have tremendous appeal, popular support, and often celebrity endorsements.  They play a great song. Not that this is bad… but this appeal can overshadow the sense of responsibility as individuals to find out information about the events surrounding the bandwagon.   There are questions that should be asked before joining in.

Do we know all sides of the story?

Do we know who is at the reigns?

Do know where the wagon is heading?

After asking these questions, if you are comfortable with the answers you find, then climbing on may be what your heart tells you to do. The band on the wagon may be playing your song. It is a good and noble thing to follow YOUR heart.

For me, however, I have a need to investigate and contemplate.  Wagons are great for some, but I need to reflect upon what is right and true to my heart.  Often it is the song that is blaring from the wagon that matches my heart.  However, I need to know that I am in control of my participation. So, I will listen to the music and the lyrics, find my own rhythm, and march down the road to the beat of my own drum.

What do you think? Do you jump on bandwagons?

Is There a Doctor In The House?

Stuffy noses, sore throats, ear aches and tummy aches. Skinned knees, pinched fingers, and splinters. Sunburns, rashes, mosquito bites, and bee stings. Broken arms, broken friendships, and broken hearts that need mending.

Whether it is physical or emotional, often time our kids are in need of Dr. Mom.

As moms, we know our kids. We know their health, we know their pain tolerance, we know their attitudes, and we know their emotions. Because of the intimate nature of the relationship we have with our children, we can sense their needs better, I would say, than anyone else.

I can look at one of my daughters and know that in the next half an hour she will be in the throws of a migraine. Her demeanor, posture, and energy level that I know so well change just enough to signal to me that the headache is about to hit. I can tell by a certain glassy look in another daughter’s eyes that she probably has a case of strep throat. Still the third, I can see in the color of her cheeks and the change in her attitude that she will soon be suffering from a sinus headache. I can hear in each one of their voices when something is not right with a teacher, a best friend, or a boyfriend. I know my children.

I take my children to the doctor for regular check-ups and when they are sick. I firmly believe in the healthcare system and the benefits of seeing the doctor regularly. I believe in responsible vaccination, responsible use of antibiotics, and a proactive approach to staying healthy. God bless the amazing and wonderful doctors that we have available to us in this country. But, as wonderful as the system and these doctors are, they do not have the bond and knowledge of my child that I do. And, they do not have the remedy for every ailment.

Sometimes, the best doctor is Dr. Mom. We have that special remedy that can heal the things that the medicine the doctor prescribes can’t. We know the secrets passed down to us by our moms - the secrets that heal, make whole and comfort our little ones. We now how to prescribe the mom hugs, mom kisses, and mom comfort that help our children get better. We know the right things to say to distract from the pain, ease the fear, and mend the emotions.

Dr. Medicine, thank you for all you do to heal our children’s bodies. But only Dr. Mom has the special cure to heal their hearts.

Moms, be proud to wear your doctors hat (or coat) today. You are the only person in the world who has earned the PhD of your children.


*Image courtesy of google/ pro.corbis.com