Freedom: What's Your Definition? 

FREEDOM…a great feel good word.  However, freedom is a double-edged sword. Freedom is not just what I think freedom means. I have to be respectful of others’ definitions of freedom.  We all have our own definition of the word, and we measure everyone else by that yard stick in our head.  With freedom we also have responsibility. 

In June we celebrated the end of World War II, when young men graduated from high school and immediately joined the service and headed to war.

The Korean War called up many men who had already served in World War II. Then Vietnam, a divided nation with people actually spitting on veterans.  There are those willing to die to defend our Country and those who want to talk about freedom, but aren’t willing to fight or to sacrifice for freedom.

When I think of Freedom, I think of and salute the United States Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy,  and Merchant Marine Academy.  Every day on the seven seas, in space, and on many continents they are working to keep America Free and moving us forward in technology.   I’m not sure Americans know or appreciate what these Service Academies do for America.

Orlando resident Ms. Jones is helping to care for four of her grandchildren this summer. Parents have to return to work, but most summer camps have to limit the number of children they accept as a result of the pandemic and CDC social distancing guidelines. Ms. Jones has taken on the responsibility of being there for her grandkids. She enjoys doing fun activities with them.

Orginally published in Miami Kids magazine. 

Summer is finally here! We are all ready for a much needed break from homeschooling, and looking forward to some fun. However a less structured day, and minimal supervision can spell trouble for some kids and teens.

“It’s hard to keep tabs on your kids in the summer. Having family rules are essential all year, but perhaps even more so during the summer. They help keep kids, especially teens, out of trouble and give parents a little bit of peace of mind that their kids know guidelines exist and hopefully will be followed,” said Peggy Sapp, Informed Families President and CEO.

Establishing family rules are important. What are your rules? If you want to learn how to set and establish rules, contact Mery Dominguez at mdominguez@informedfamilies.org or 305-856-4886 about joining an Informed Families’ Parent Peer Group.

Spending time together as a family is great too. If you are looking for some ideas, don’t worry we have got you covered. Check out the list of activities of family-friendly summer activities below.

When we talk about raising healthy kids, we often focus on Mom as the primary caregiver. Let’s not forget about the equally important role that Dad plays in shaping a child’s life.  In fact, according to the National Fatherhood Initiative, father love is also a better predictor than mother love for certain outcomes including absence of delinquency and conduct problems, absence of substance abuse, overall mental health, and well-being.

Over the years, Informed Families has worked with some terrific dads like Alvah Chapman and Frank Borman, and some who have served as father figures to many including Don Shula and Butch Davis. We salute you all!

Fathering Lasts a Lifetime and Beyond

We are celebrating dads this month - Father's Day is June 21st. Two months in lockdown because of COVID-19 has really shifted the perspective of some fathers. Parenting is a hard job, and we always hope for the best.After raising our two daughters, my late husband Neil and I helped raise our seven grandchildren. It’s not easy being a dad. But it is the most important thing you can do. I think Neil said it best in the article below.

Peggy 

Informed Families’ 35^th Annual Dinner at Joe’s took place this year on the planned date and time of May 18^th at 7 p.m. Due to COVID-19 the world was different.  Joe’s Stone Crab, and all restaurants in Miami, was closed, but our outstanding network of friends proceeded to meet and greet on Zoom!

What fun! Forty-nine people logged in to see each other and say hi.  The evening was dedicated to Coach Don Shula, who with his wife Dorothy, chaired the first Annual Dinner at Joe’s. The first committee was a Who’s Who in Miami: Betty and Alvah Chapman, Susan and Frank Borman, Dale Webb, Peter Bermont, Mary Eaton, JoAnn Bass and the Sawitz Family. This network of friends and families made Informed Families the success it is today.

Congratulations to the FIVE WINNERS of the Informed Families Virtual Scavenger Hunt focused on the dangers of underage and binge drinking. They will each receive a $25 Amazon gift card for answering all of the game questions correctly. All winners were randomly selected.

1. Noelle Taylor – Collier County

2. Arbens Darius – Hillsborough County

3. Gio Vanegas – Miami-Dade County

4. Lelani Delgado – Orange County

5. Heather Newby – Seminole County

Informed Families would also like to congratulate Janine Mojica from Lake Nona High School in Orange County on winning a $50 Amazon gift card for having the most student participation in the Virtual Scavenger Hunt.

Thank you to everyone who joined in the game. We hope it was informative and fun. Stay tuned for future contests and games!

The correct answer to each question was posted on the Informed Families website at 9 PM the day after the question was sent out. Here are all the questions and answers in case you missed any or weren't able to join in the fun. 

With marijuana being legalized in more and more states, many teens now believe it's safe for them to use. But evidence shows it's not. Make sure you and your kids can separate fact from fiction when it comes to marijuana.

MYTH: It’s safer than alcohol

FACT: Alcohol and marijuana are both associated with serious problems, especially if used by teens and young adults under age 21 – when the brain and body are still rapidly developing.  

MYTH: It’s okay to drive while high

FACT: After alcohol, marijuana is the drug most often found in the blood of driver’s involved in crashes.

Why Do We Turn Everything Into a Reason to Drink?

Social gatherings, bars and dining in restaurants are off limits for Cinco de Mayo this year, but many of us still plan to celebrate in some fashion - probably with a Mexican beer or margarita in hand. Have you ever stopped to think about why we turn everything into an opportunity to drink alcohol? Cinco de Mayo generates beer sales on par with the Super Bowl.

How did Cinco de Mayo (which commemorates the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862) turn into a bigger celebration day in the United States than Mexico? It’s all about selling you something of course. Cinco de Mayo really took off when beer companies started sponsoring Cinco de Mayo celebrations to promote and sell beer. Is this really that different from the advertising tactics employed by Big Tobacco?

Some well-intentioned parents may think that allowing their teens and their teens’ friends to drink at home under adult supervision will keep their kids safe, and lead to healthier attitudes about drinking. The truth is that underage drinking can lead to serious negative consequences for both parents and teens:

1. Supplying alcohol to underage youth actually increases (rather than decreases) the risk for continued drinking in their teenage years, and can lead to problem drinking later in life.
   
   
2. Research shows that teens who perceive their parents to be more permissive about alcohol use are MORE likely to abuse alcohol and to use other drugs.
   
   
3. A majority of states have civil and or criminal penalties for adults who serve alcohol to minor at home. Under “social host laws”, party hosts are held responsible for car accidents and other disasters resulting from alcohol use at their home.