When the judges were trying to choose a winner of the Duckey Eco-Essay Contest, Calvin the Catfish was clearly a front-runner. We loved that he didn’t let his blindness hold him back, but instead pushed him to do great things. But there was one small concern that arose: catfish are fresh water fish. How would we be able to incorporate him into our team of saltwater dwellers? It didn’t take long for the judges to decide that this stumbling block didn’t matter. That is what’s so great about Calvin and this story: we all come from different walks of life. And that’s okay. Our backgrounds are a reflection of who we are and that’s what makes us all unique. Despite where we come from, we all have the ability to come together to make positive changes in the world around us. I’m excited to have Calvin on board and look forward to seeing the new adventures that await him and the team!

My grandmother used to tell me that the best thing that you can do when you are faced with a problem is to just sit down, grab yourself a Coke, and do some thinking. Action is always better than reaction. Too many of the world’s problems are caused by rushing into something before we give ourselves time to think. The things we do today will affect our future – but most importantly the future of our children. If we taught our children at an early age to think things through before reacting, maybe we would not be facing some of the problems we are faced with today. Our kids can do a lot of things, but unfortunately we tend to leave them out. Let’s step in and start discussions with them about the world. Let’s teach them how to be better people and how they can get involved with important issues. And in these particularly hard times, why don’t we make the time to sit down with them, grab a Coke, and do some serious thinking.

It’s safe to say that times are tough. The stock market keeps falling. Houses now sit on the market for months. And families are finding it increasingly difficult to make their money stretch. While it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle of these dismal times, we shouldn’t lose track of the one thing that means the most. It’s not our cars, houses or our money. It’s family. I know it may not seem like it now, but this recession is a valuable learning experience, one that will better our families and make them stronger. Instead of sheltering the kids from it, take time to explain to them what is going on in the world around them so that they are able to respect the things that they do have. Spend time with them and show them that while the news may seem to stress the importance of the housing market, stock market, and the value of a dollar, it’s really a strong family system that counts. An old Burmese proverb put it best: “When in test, family is best.”

It’s no coincidence that every character in “Duckey and the Ocean Protectors” has their own very special talent. Polly Puffer Fish has the ability to produce strong bubbles that keep human litter at bay. Nicky Nautilus has a roomy and speedy shell that can carry her friends to their destination quickly and safely. And Denise Dolphin can create whirlpools that bind enemies together. But just as each of these characters has something at which they excel at, so, too, do each of us! However, it’s up to you, parents, to help your kids discover their own strengths! No one is going to be great at everything, but finding that one special talent can really give him or her a boost in confidence. So don’t be afraid to explore different things! Some kids excel at sports, while others would rather play a musical instrument. Some prefer painting, while some love to dance. Whatever it is, let them explore it and find out if this interest is where their “hidden” strength lies. Just like Polly, Nicky and Denise have special talents, our kids do too, and it’s up to us to make sure that they recognize them!

For many kids, the excitement of winter has faded and cabin fever is setting in. So why not plan an eco-friendly and healthy activity to do while waiting for spring to arrive? Not only is it a great way to beat the boredom, it’s also the perfect way to spend quality time with the kids. Here are some eco-friendly (and tv-free) activity ideas:

Go to the library. The library is a great place for kids to let their imagination roam. Save paper by borrowing books and returning them when you’re done. Most libraries are free, making it not only eco-friendly and educational entertainment, but a cheap one, too.

Recycle old goodies. Before throwing something away, see if you can use it for crafting. Use buttons to make necklaces, newspapers for decoupage, or plastic bottles for musical instruments. Be creative!

Take a hike. Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t still go for a hike. Let the kids choose the destination and have them point out the different animals and trees they see along the way. And if there’s snow on the ground, look for animal tracks and try to identify them (at the very least, you’ll find prints from birds, squirrels, dogs, and cats).

Have a picnic inside. Kids love cooking, so let them choose what treats they’d like to make and have them lend a hand with the ingredients. After you’ve whipped up everything, spread out a blanket in the middle of the room and enjoy some homemade food with the kids!

A friend of mine has a teenage daughter and lives with her aging parents. In the Japanese culture, a multigenerational house is commonplace. Grandchildren eat, sleep, play, and live their daily lives with the grandparents and great-grandparents. It’s just what they do. And now, President Obama and his family are living in multigenerational style in Washington, in a 200+ room house big enough for the most extended of extended families. The multigenerational household I’m referring to here is not one borne out of necessity. I’m not referring to the grandparent who is raising the grandchild because his parents aren’t present. Nor am I referring to the elderly grandfather living with his daughter’s family because he can’t live alone or needs extra care. I’m talking about families who, by choice, live together in order to enrich each other’s lives, to work as a team to raise children to be honest, loyal, and kind people, and to simply enjoy each other. Children can learn so much from older generations and the older generations have so much to share. They are a snapshot of history and what better way to pass on history than by sharing stories, answering questions, and encouraging questions. Time passes to quickly in today’s society. We must guide our kids and take stock in what’s important, and that’s family values.

As a kid, I would visit my grandparents’ farm nearly every weekend. Here is where I learned one of life’s most important lessons: hard work builds character and integrity. Today, it seems, we have forgotten some of these fundamental truths about life. Our society today casts our kids onto a hamster’s wheel. They are inundated with media messages and technology that move so fast you need a speed boat to keep up. So how do we engage our kids in conversations about hard work, dedication, loyalty, and the privilege of freedom? It’s our responsibility to teach them. Yes, our responsibility. We have to talk with our kids, share our own experiences of how we grew up and how our parents did. Tell the story of how you delivered 25 newspapers in an hour on your paper route for three years in order to buy a new bike (to deliver more papers). Remind them that not only did their grandmother not have a flat screen, she had no screen, and listened to the news on a radio while she knit socks and hats and sweaters to clothe her family. As adults, we always talk about how we want to leave our planet in the best shape possible for our kids, and their kids. But what kind of message do we want to leave in our children’s souls? My grandmother, who was part Cherokee, always said to me, “When you visit the forest, listen to the trees. When you go outside, listen to the wind. When you go to the seashore, listen to the water and waves. They are telling you a story. All you have to do is open your mind and take the time to listen.” These are the things we must teach our children.