The people of the Ukraine want you to know why thousands of them are protesting in the streets.  

There is only one reason.  They want to be free.  

It takes courage to stand up for freedom.  

We can help.  We can be a part of their solution.

Please watch this powerful two minute message, just sent from streets filled with terror.  

Share the stories with your friends and family.  Share this video.  Contact your leaders.  

Show that you support these courageous people.

The country’s largest teachers union is no longer a cheerleader for Common Core national education standards.

In a letter to the National Education Association’s 3 million members, President Dennis Van Roekel issued a sharp critique of Common Core. It marks the first time NEA has voiced concerns about the standards, a key initiative of the Obama Administration.

The NEA once enthusiastically supported Common Core, making Van Roekel’s criticism noteworthy. POLITICO said it meant a “rocky road ahead for the Common Core standards” and would “give opponents of Common Core a boost.”

In his letter, Van Roekel stops short of completely abandoning Common Core, calling instead for a “course correction” to fix implementation.

“NEA members have a right to feel frustrated, upset, and angry about the poor commitment to implementing the standards correctly,” Van Roekel writes.

The National Education Association’s concerns come nearly a year after the American Federation of Teachers raised problems with implementation of the standards. AFT President Randi Weingarten said, “they simply don’t get it in Washington.” She also called the implementation of Common Core worse than HealthCare.gov.

Just last month, New York State United Teachers, part of AFT, voted to pull its support for Common Core. The union consists of 600,000 members in New York.

“Teachers unions shouldn’t be surprised the implementation was botched,” said Lindsey Burke, the Will Skillman Fellow in Education at The Heritage Foundation. “This is what happens with one-size-fits-all bureaucratic initiatives.”

Currently, 45 states and the District of Columbia have adopted Common Core standards, although the intense debate in some states, notably Indiana, could result in changes.

Learn More

•  Is Common Core Leaving Students Unprepared in Math and Science?
  
• Common Core Implementation Will Be Worse Than Obamacare
  

Happy Presidents Day!  Although the official name of the federal holiday we are celebrating today is Washington's Birthday, a number of state and local governments (and businesses) call it Presidents Day.

As Patriotic Moms will celebrate Washington's Birthday on February 22 (the date George Washington was born), today is a good time to share some great videos about our other presidents.  

These one minute videos are packed with helpful information about the leaders who have helped shape America. You could learn a little about all of the presidents in an hour.  Or, you could select a few of your favorites.  

Presidential Minute

1. George Washington
2. John Adams
3. Thomas Jefferson
4. James Madison
5. James Monroe
6. John Quincy Adams
7. Andrew Jackson
8. Martin VanBuren
9. William Henry Harrison
10. John Tyler
11. James Polk
12. Zachary Taylor
13. Millard Fillmore
14. Franklin Pierce
15. James Buchanan
16. Abraham Lincoln
17. Andrew Johnson
18. Ulysses S. Grant
19. Rutherford B. Hayes
20. James Garfield
21. Chester Arthur
22. Grover Cleveland
23. Benjamin Harrison
24. William McKinley
25. Theodore Roosevelt
26. William Howard Taft
27. Woodrow Wilson
28. Warren G. Harding
29. Calvin Coolidge
30. Herbert Hoover
31. Franklin Roosevelt
32. Harry S. Truman
33. Dwight D. Eisenhower
34. John F. Kennedy
35. Lyndon Johnson
36. Richard Nixon
37. Gerald Ford
38. Jimmy Carter
39. Ronald Reagan
40. George H.W. Bush
41. Bill Clinton
42. George W. Bush
43. Barack Obama

Birthdays of our leaders give us opportunities to introduce our kids to some of the wonderful men and women who helped make America great.

February 12th is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.  

When he was born, there was nothing to distinguish him from other babies.  

As a young boy he enjoyed walking, running, wrestling, reading, and doing math.   

Rising from the humblest of beginnings, he was elected President of the United States at a time of great national turmoil and division.  His leadership was a key factor in the eventual unity and restoration that took place.   

Abraham Lincoln Resources

• Photos of Abraham Lincoln
  
• Quotations of Abraham Lincoln
  
• Resource and Activity Book for Kids

Abraham Lincoln’s Life

• Timeline of Lincoln’s Life
  
• Young Abe Lincoln
  
• The Story of Abraham Lincoln
  
• Abraham Lincoln’s Autobiography 
  
• Lincoln and Depression
  

Stories

• Lincoln and the Little Girl
  
• Training for the Presidency
  
• Honest Abe
• Lincoln the Lawyer
  
• Mr. Lincoln and the Bible

The Civil War

• America and the Civil War  (4:04)
  
• Civil War Turning Point  (3:08) 
  
• The Emancipation Proclamation 

Speeches

• First Inaugural Address
  
• The Gettysburg Address
  
• “House Divided” Speech
  
• Second Inaugural Address
  
• Lincoln's Most Important Speech  (3:02)
  

Proclamations

• Proclamation of a Day of Fasting
  
• Emancipation Proclamation
  
• Proclamation of Thanksgiving
  

Possible Activities to Enjoy on President Lincoln's Birthday
(Choose the activity, or activities, that you think could be fun and meaningful for your family.)

• Young Abe enjoyed wrestling, walking, running, and an early form of baseball.  Spend some time enjoying one of these, or another sports activity your family enjoys.  Talk about the importance of wholesome recreation.
  

• Abe loved cats.  He adopted orphaned kittens, and enjoyed playing with them.  He also enjoyed dogs and horses, and his family had two goats when they lived in the White House.  You could spend some time enjoying your family pet(s), get a kitten for your family, spend some time with horses, or visit a local pet store. 
  

• Abraham Lincoln loved collecting and telling jokes and stories, and many of his quotes are famous.  Each family member could find one or more  stories,  jokes, or quotes to share with the rest of the family.

• Abe's favorite hobby was to read and learn.  Have a family read-a-thon complete with fun snacks and soft pillows to relax on.  Abe loved to read so much that he sometimes borrowed books from others.  You could go to the library and "borrow" some fun books to read -- maybe something about Lincoln -- or read some of the stories above.  Or you could do some activities from the Resource and Activity Book to learn more about Abraham Lincoln.
  

• Abes favorite foods were fruit salad, cheese, and crackers.  You could enjoy these for a fun snack while you participate in your activities.

• Abraham Lincoln had more than his share of  struggles and failures.  You could watch "Famous Failures" and talk about how our failures can help teach us what we need to know to succeed.  Or you could tell a couple of experiences Lincoln had when he struggled with depression, and discuss how our struggles can help us grow.

• When he was president, Abraham Lincoln wrote a number of speeches and addresses that expressed his feelings.  You could memorize or recite one of his speeches, like The Gettysburg Address, or The Emancipation Proclamation, or you could write something that expresses your feelings about America.

• One of the great accomplishments of Abraham Lincoln's life was helping to bring freedom to the slaves.  You could watch this short video and talk about why that was so important.
  

• As an adult, President Lincoln enjoyed going to plays.  You could go to a play together, or enjoy a modern day variation -- go to a movie, or watch a good video at home.  You could include this one minute summary of President Lincoln's life.

• Abe enjoyed people and loved to visit with friends and neighbors.  You could visit some friends or invite them to join you for some activities in your home.  You could even bake a birthday cake and have a birthday party for Abraham Lincoln where you tell a little about him (see above), enjoy a few activities, sing Happy Birthday, and have cake and ice cream.
  

One of our important responsibilities as parents is to help our children learn how to define themselves, who they are, and what they can become.

Lizzy Velasquez was born with a rare syndrome and was once called "The World's Ugliest Woman."  In this TEDx video, Lizzy shares powerful insights into how she decided to turn things around and create her own definitions of who she was and what she could accomplish and become.

Lizzy also tells how her parents helped her overcome the bullying she faced as she grew up.  Her message is valuable for all parents, especially when our children are confronted by bullies or by other difficult challenges in their lives. 

If you know anyone who might benefit from this message, please share.  So many people are carrying heavy burdens.  Who knows who you might be able to help?