Author: pattyjones

During these busy times when parents feel like they need more than 24 hours in day the First Couple is holding a Forum on Workplace Flexibility on March 31st. This is all in an effort to make the workplace an environment that supports parents so that they do not feel they have to choose between career and family. Labor leaders, CEOs, small business owners, policy experts, moms, dads, and advocates are going to discuss ways to promote work place flexibility.

Work balance issues have been a top priority for FLOTUS who herself was once  a working mom. A few years ago she was working full-time as a vice-president and faced some of the same challenges that many working mothers deal with everyday. The challenges and concerns of parents are being given a voice in the highest office in the land. Hopefully this will make life better for working parents and their children. In what ways do you think that workplace flexibility can be promoted?

Posted by Patty Jones

How cool is this? 21st century Mom-In-Chief, First Lady Michelle Obama, wants to help children develop into healthy adults by having a coordinated effort in the home, school and in the communities. She understands that 21st century children are into technology and what better way to get the message of healthy living across than through video games?

KaBoom the nonprofit organization is mapping out playgrounds across America to help parents locate where their children can play. After launching Let’s Move! FLOTUS is challenging amateur and professional software designers to come up with an app for healthy living. The contest will be judged by leaders in the field of gaming, nutrition, and technology so this will be a star studded affair with the purpose of healthy living.

In an unprecedented approach the Obama Administration has invested $10 billion over 10 years to strengthen the Child Nutrition Act. To help parent’s pediatricians have been encouraged to give parents a detailed plan for health and fitness for their children. The FDA is encouraging companies to come up with customer friendly labels. Marian Robinson, the First Grandmother, was truly a role model for her daughter. She was a PTA mom who raised two remarkable and accomplished children and is now helping to raise the weeMichelles.

 Speaking as Mom-In-Chief FLOTUS urged parents to take the responsibility for their children’s health. Healthy habits start at home but must not end there. FLOTUS issued this challenged at the National PTA on Wednesday. How many software developers are going to take up this challenge?

To read the First Lady’s remarks at the National PTA Conference click here.

 Posted by Patty Jones

Yesterday First Lady Michelle Obama  visited Brinkley Middle & Pecan Park Elementary Schools, in Jacksonville, Mississippi, as part of her Let’s Move! campaign to reduce childhood obesity in a generation and promote healthy eating. Mrs Obama was greeted by loud cheers and applause. This is truly a non-partisan issue that requires all who love children to make healthy changes.

As Mom-In-Chief Michelle Obama knows that there are times that you must motivate by encouraging positive behavior and she did exactly that when she visited the  schools. Brinkley & Pecan Park are considered to be models for exercise and healthy eating. The schools curriculum’s have incorporated teaching about healthy lifestyles to change behavior.

FLOTUS was joined by Governor & First Lady Barbour of Mississippi who have been engaged in a “Let’s Go Walking” campaign to encourage exercise in the state. According to statistics, Mississippi is the most obese state in the Nation and the state government has been working to reduce the rates of obesity.

The First Mom has an amazing ability to connect with children by asking for their help to make healthy choices. She encouraged the children in attendance to make better choices, such as less television watching and more activity. FLOTUS also highlighted new sidewalks that the Mayor of  Jacksonville had installed. 

The goal is ambitious but can be achieved in a generation, which Mrs Obama says can be done when everyone gets involved, including parents, nutritionists, governors and mayors. This may very well be a shining example of how government, parents, and communities can work together. 

Posted by Patty Jones

 First Lady Michelle Obama  has embarked on an ambitious goal, to eliminate food deserts in 7 years. But what are food deserts? Let us define them before we talk about the goal that she has set for us as a nation. In the video below  FLOTUS explains what food deserts are  and her plan to eliminate them as well as the implications that food deserts have on a community. Eliminating food deserts will lead to the creation of  healthy food oases in both rural & urban areas.

For more information on the FLOTUS’ plan visit LetsMove.gov. I have gone to LetsMove.gov and used their grocery template and shopping tips which I found to be informative and useful.

Have any other Michelle Obama Watchers had experience with using the resources provided at LetsMove.gov?

Posted by Patty Jones

If the first couple can find time to go to their younger daughter Sasha’s parent-teacher conference with all the issues that are happening in the world then shame on you parents who do not attend your children’s parent teacher conferences. The image of FLOTUS & POTUS going to Sasha’s parent-teacher conference sends a powerful message to Sasha that she is important and that her education is important to the Leader of the Free World. POTUS & FLOTUS both hold Juris Doctorate degrees from Harvard and education is important to them. They have talked about parent’s responsibility of keeping kids on tracks and making sure that homework is done. In this global environment with competition increasing it a quality education is become more important than ever. How are you promoting education in your own home with your children?

Posted by Patty Jones

FLOTUS spearheaded the National Mentoring Month initiatives at the White House yesterday, Wednesday, January 20th. Last November the First Lady, along with some of her White House staff, began a mentorship program with Washington, DC area girls. Well yesterday it was the boys turn as she and President Obama welcomed a new group of mentees.

Leadership is about giving back and inspiring others. Letting them know that the future belongs to them and if they can dream it, it is achievable. The First Couple is certainly doing that and using the most powerful seat in the world to convey that message.

The event included high profile government officials, members of Congress, Corporation for National and Community Service, the Federal Mentoring Council, and Washington, DC area mentees. The mentors were there to share their experiences with their young mentees and to assist, encourage and inspire, and to answer questions.

The First Lady has mentored young girls on state dinner protocol, the importance of volunteering, and filling out job applications. POTUS & FLOTUS are role models to so many young people in America and having this White House event spoke volumes of their commitment to mentoring.

POTUS and FLOTUS highlighted the need for virtues of hard work, perseverance, and determination to succeed in spite of all the distractions that confront young people today. POTUS dispelled the false notion of pop culture that success is instant and encouraged the mentees to focus on commitment, persistence, effort, and hard work. He then cited the importance of mentors in the lives of successful Americans like Maya Angelou, Steve Jobs and, Dr. Carol Greider the Nobel Prize winner.

 Here is footage of the First Lady mentoring in Denver…

Posted by Patty Jones