Role as a Parent

As parents it’s our responsibility to teach, guide and encourage our kids. If we do our job right they go on to become responsible contributing members of society.  Teaching practical life skills and philosophies are important parts of developing our children into well rounded and happy adults.  

Many parents say they only want the best for their kids. My parenting goal, by contrast, is “only the second-best” for my children.

In many instances, my husband and I have not chosen the “best” option or the most expensive choice for our children – child care, schools, clothes, toys.  Often the top choice — by reputation, review or other metrics — is too pricey, too far away or too inconvenient for us.  By contrast, the second-best option may not be the very “best” by outside standards, but it’s the option that works best for us as parents or our family as a whole.

To be sure, there are some areas where the most expensive does equal the best and where you do get what you pay for.  Food is a good example: cheap processed vs. pricier organic. To offset the cost, we have a home garden that both boys help us in.  They get to learn about growing things and the responsibilities of taking care of it.  They then get to reap the rewards when they get to harvest some fresh corn or tomatoes.

We surround our kids with a good marriage, low on conflict and stress. We are busy with family, school, homework and chores, but I think we set a great example to our boys.  We may not be the very best at everything, but we are the best for our boys.

As parents, we are striving to teach our boys these things before they leave home.

Practical life skills we will teach our boys:

…that doing proper grocery shopping, including meal planning, shopping with a list and comparing prices, can save them a considerable amount of time and money.

…there is more to cooking and baking than simply opening a can or reheating a meal.

…that no matter what the fashion is at the time, when it comes to school, work or special occasions — dress appropriately so you don’t send a message of laziness.

…how to grow and care for a plant. This is a relatively easy and inexpensive way to instill responsibility.

…how to change a car tire so that when they get a flat they are less likely to be stranded on the side of the road not knowing what to do.

…to drive responsibly and to be acutely aware of the consequences of drinking and driving, even if they are the passenger.

…that they can save money on books if they frequent the library.

…how to do standard maintenance on their cars  and around the house.

…that they can have a lot more fun if they build things from scratch.

…how to tie a variety of knots so whether they are tying up a boat or pulling a car out of a ditch they are better armed.

…how to barbecue a perfect meal paying particular attention to pre-grill prep and special recipes.

…the importance of reading food labels. Not only to become aware of individual ingredients but to also know the quantities of sugar, additives and types of fats they contain.

…how to hem pants, sew on buttons and patch worn knees.

…how to type properly with both hands on the keyboard. In a society where computers are used for nearly everything, learning how to type properly will increase their efficiency and productivity.

…how to create an effective budget that allows them to live within their means and continually reduce their debt.  We involve them in our budgeting and goal of being debt free in now 33 months.

…how to read a map and use a compass.

…how to swim and tread water, as this can save lives.

Philosophical life lessons we are teaching our boys:

…that they can be happy if they choose to be happy.

…that a smile is the simplest thing you can do to truly brighten the day of someone else.

…about compassion and how they can go beyond empathy by truly understanding and feeling other people’s pain and suffering.

…that there is no such thing as being too polite. You can never say please, thank-you or excuse me too often.

…how listening without judgment, criticism or offering solutions to problems, is a guaranteed way to show someone you care.

…that respect goes beyond being kind to their elders – it also includes property, people in general, animals and even themselves.

…to focus on enjoying what they already have instead of wasting time focusing on what they don’t have.

…that NOBODY knows EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING.

…that it’s okay to be wrong as that’s how we learn.

…to pursue things that are right for them as opposed to blindly following what society says they should do. The road less traveled usually brings the greatest rewards.

…that nobody will care as much about their money as they will, so they should choose their investments wisely.

…that people usually do the best they can with the information and knowledge they have at the time.

…that if something looks too good to be true it likely is.

…that the more they become attached to a thought or idea in the future, the greater their disappointment (suffering) will be when it doesn’t play out as planned.

…that friends may come and go but family will always be by their side. Always.

…that they will get more than they ever could have imagined simply by being kind and generous to those less fortunate.

…that life is short and that they should make the most of each and everyday. They should do things that make them smile, that make them feel alive and energized. Live.

…to remember that life is more about enjoying the journey than simply reaching the destination.

How I see my role as a parent — I’m here to guide them, teach them and make sure they are well equipped with the skills, knowledge and common sense to survive and thrive on their own once they leave home. 

Swiss Chard

I just planted a fall/winter crop of Northern Lights Swiss chard.  Thank you, Cary!  Can't wait to have some to share!  

Variety is always good for the garden and the plate, but the most versatile and easy to grow leafy green in almost all conditions is  Swiss chard.  It is full of nutrients and comes in a variety of colors.  It can be used in place of lettuce, spinach and even celery.  It grows long into the summer and can take frost quite well, even wintering over in some places, like under my cold frame.


Swiss chard is bursting with nutrients like vitamins A, E, K, C, several B vitamins, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium and dietary fiber.  It is a good course of calcium and contains possible cancer-fighting properties.  It has been used throughout history to treat everything from ulcers to dandruff.  Most important, is its delicious taste!

What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

I wonder… is this a question that you’ve asked yourself?  A question that you’ve asked others that you know?

We are imaginative, innovative and inspired souls; we believe in a hardworking life, but do we ever consider taking the time to think about failing in our pursuits?  Do we ask ourselves which way “to do it,” “which idea to go with?”  Do we research the different ways it has already been done?  Do we question our co-workers or colleagues or families for their opinions on proceeding along with it and the possible outcomes?  Do we write up detailed business plans or perform our due diligence on it?

Or are we so moved by passion in our inspirations that we never really doubt what we should do?  We know what we must do, but how do we resolve in our our minds whether we should do it?  How do we know that it is just too good of an idea not to do it?

I sincerely do not believe that it ever occurs to us… perhaps until much later… that “it” might just not work.  Maybe someone tried it before and abandoned the idea for reasons long forgotten.  It is only now… far into the process… that the insecurities begin to creep onto the path of our determination and we might allow hesitation to stand in the way of our inspired motivation.

For those of you who do not know me, I am Mo Bacon, a small town home-grown girl who believes that she was born with nothing special.  I had no trust fund, no silver spoon, no blue blood family name.  I was not raised in Europe or the Far East.  I am not a Harvard grad or an employee of Microsoft.  I do not speak several languages or have a husband who is president of a bank.  I am just an ordinary girl from a lower middle-income family in a small town no one has ever heard of… who believes that she played her best hand with the cards that were dealt her.  I am very comfortable with my humble beginnings in this world and the cosmos’s shuffling of my cards.

Who else am I?  I am a “sponge” of sorts.  I am a storyteller.  I guess I must admit that I am a creative soul… difficult to understand, almost impossible to second-guess, and always known to follow the voice of “instinct and reason” that no one else can hear… never mind predict or understand.

I believe in guardian angels, unexpected miracles, the strength of family, the power of hard work, and the love of a forever friend.

I know that nothing is easy and nothing is free.  I have learned that at the end of the day anything worth having has to be worked for, and every single thing in life worth winning and keeping has its price.  My ancestors were great writers only to become respected after their death, they were some of the first to settle in this brave new world, they fought in the Revolutionary War, signed the Declaration of Independence, explored and settled new states with Daniel Boone, fought on both sides of the Civil War… against all odds, they stood steadfast and worked hard for what they truly believed in.

I know that every morning when I get out of bed, before the sun rises in the east, that I have no idea what my day will bring as the sun makes its own journey west to set among the most vivid of oranges and reds.  I am fairly certain that my day will not be boring, and I often pray that it will be quiet and calm; I beg for no more drama… in any aspect of my life.  But then I shower, dress, get into my car, and drive towards my success, my failure, my “miracle” of the day.

Will today be the day that - out of the blue - I have a new idea that simply cannot wait?  Will today be a day in which my life changes forever?  Will I allow my instincts to take me where I need to go?  I have followed them for so long that I no longer think to question them; I just go where they whisper in my ear and I become the character on the pages they have written and handed me.

What would you… what would I… attempt to do if we knew we could not fail?  Would you create and complete what you have imagined and sketched?  Would you sing, dance, write a poem; would you get married; would you have a family; would you write a book; would you open a restaurant; would you create something new; would you start over; would you pretend that nothing scares you, that no one intimidates you, that everything is actually achievable; would you celebrate your successes and learn from your defeats; would you forgive your enemies, praise your competitors, and lend a helping hand to someone else in need; would you be humble in the wake of success and ignore the troubled face of failure; would you remember the lessons of yesterday and search for the answers of tomorrow; would you try and try again and all the time pray you know how to tell when the time has come at last to close the door forever or will you know if this time, one more time, is the time to simply close this door behind you as you turn the knob and walk through the next one?

… I think you… I… already have.

Coincidence?

Coincidence, destiny, fate - in one moment lives can collide and change forever.  Yet chance encounters aren't necessarily accidental, in fact, you make your own luck by being aware of the world around you.  In effect, we influence our own destiny and future.  

Some of the best memories and the longest friendships start by coincidence and chance encounters.  Just think back to the what if's and wonder what if you didn't take that chance, didn't say hello, didn't do the spontaneous... We are creatures of habit, but I am so thankful for those chance encounters that turn into lifelong memories and friendships.

NASA STEREO-B spacecraft was a million miles from Earth when it shot this video of the Moon transiting the Sun. 

It is no great wonder if in long process of time, while fortune takes her course hither and thither, numerous coincidences should spontaneously occur.

—Plutarch.Plutarch's Lives: Vol. II. "Sertorius"

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
-Robert A. Heinlein

Getting back to my old self

Early to Bed, Early to Rise...  After a back breaking long day in the garden, two cold beers with dinner at the mexican restaurant, I passed out as soon as I took my shoes off last night about 8:45pm.  So, up at 6:30 this morning to start my day.  The windows are open and the crisp morning air after the rain is refreshing!

As I laid there listening to the rooster crow, I heard one of the baby chicks from the shed answering.  Of course the chick's wasn't a crow, just a long drawn up peeeeeep.  That pretty much confirm that we actually have 6 hen chicks and one rooster man chick!

Going to get my coffee in me, make myself some bacon & pancakes and go takes some pictures of the garden when the suns comes up! 

These Old Bones

I must say it was a very productive weekend!  I actually cleaned up the house and mopped the floors, though only got one basket of laundry folded while watching a movie...  It was beautiful weather, so I couldn't resist working outside every chance I got!  

My only trip to Lowe's yielded a gallon of mis-tint for the beach condo bathroom, a new rake, Cilantro plants and Dill.  

I tilled and fertilized (all natural chicken fertilizer & lime) a garden box and placed a soaker hose under the newspaper mulch.  Year two as a recycled soccer goal, the netting on the tomato support is still in excellent condition.

I actually ate my first four asparagus fresh from the garden!  I just put them on the grill for a minute with the skirt steak and potatoes.  They were so good!  Exciting to eat the first mini harvest of the year!

The peas and carrots are sprouting.  I planted some Kohlrabi seed next the the carrots.  We'll see how they do.  They should have already been out, but I happened to find the seed packet left over from last year.  Also planted some Dill!  Last year's is still being used, but that's one thing I like to keep on hand.  The Cilantro is already being used!  I picked a couple of sprigs Sunday evening for dinner.

In keeping my head start going, I also raked, composted and mulched.  I planted some various sunflower seed in the sunny side bed.  Hoping they do good over there.  I noticed my Autumn Fire Sedum is coming back over there and has reseeded like crazy, along with the Lavender.  I'm hoping to get the bed full of easy to tend sun-loving plants.

The Baby Chicks spent the day Saturday & Sunday outside.  They love the freedom and try to flap their wings as if they could fly.  I found a nest of ant larvae and let them feast!  The hens tend to ignore the chicks.  They aren't the motherly type, but boy they can lay some eggs.  5 eggs a day from our 5 hens adds up quickly! 

I am stove up now though after all the hard work.  I feel the age of my bones and joints after working that hard outside! I could hardly move last night.  Herbal muscle ease to the rescue and I'll be better in no time... just in time to do it all over again next weekend!

Garden Photo Album 

Chicken Photo Gallery