Page 2 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, May 1, 2020

2 May 1, 2020 Commentary Desert lightning news s. nevaDa Desert lightning news s. nevaDa news May 1, 2020 3
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Intentional parenting Feeding Hope:

by Chaplain (Capt.) Jerry Stout over the water’s edge, so I yelled, “High knees, boys, high knees!” Team 432 hands out
Moody AFB, Ga. Unfortunately, with the sound of the waves they misinterpreted
my instruction. The intensity in their faces strengthened as they
If you’re a parent, my guess is you’ve thought about what it’s ran ashore yelling, “Chinese, Chinese!” We’ve been to the beach
going to be like when your child leaves home one day. And if every year since, and you know what we boys do as soon as we hit
you’re a parent during this quarantine, that day can’t come soon the water? You guessed it, the good ole Stout Chinese water drill! pizza during COVID-19
enough (just kidding … but seriously). Once you rekindle or create a tradition, make sure you capture
Many of us have exhausted our weekend routines over the past those memories. It is 2020 folks!
months as we’ve been quarantined to our homes with our little All of us have cameras in our pockets, including most of our
ones. We’ve played the board games, watched the movies, sung kids! A buddy of mine has a great family photo where they’re
the songs, chalked the driveways and re-organized the closets. circled around the table and there’s a circular cake being held
Right about now we feel like college freshmen who walked into the by his mother. However, there’s a flat edge on the bottom of the Air Force photograph by 1st Lt. Faith Brodkorb
neuroscience lecture thinking we signed up for home economics. circle, which most certainly catches the viewers eye. His mom Staff Sgt. Christopher Hahn, 824th Base Defense Squadron
What did we get ourselves into?! makes this cake every year to remember when they got the flat non-commissioned officer in charge of the armory, walks
Perhaps some expert wisdom could provide us with some tire on their vacation and everyone made fun of dad for kicking with his daughter after the homecoming ceremony at
guidance as we slowly exit our homes and reenter our communi- and swearing while he changed out the tire! That photo sits in his Moody Air Force Base, Ga., May 9, 2019.
ties. Doug and Cathy Fields, experts in marriage and family mat- living room 20 years later.
ters, provide helpful tips on creating positive and fun memories. Another thought about making memories: You’ve got to work
As a parent, you’re building memories whether you’re inten- to create adventures. If you live near water, go fishing at night … Parents, stop buying boring bagged popcorn. Get an air popper
tional or not. So here’s the question, are they going to be good in fact, do it at midnight! If you live in the city, I don’t know, go and make it on the living room floor!
memories or bad memories? Now, when I mention memories, rat hunting! Take those fancy DOD headlamps out for a night Let’s be honest, nothing said here is rocket science. But many
your buttons may be pushed because you don’t have good memo- hike around the neighborhood. Mix up the activities, surprise of us lack confidence in parenting because we simply don’t have a Air Force photograph by Staff Sgt. Omari Bernard
ries of growing up. Maybe there was some pain or abuse in your them with the timing, and loosen the rules for a change. Create plan. We’re winging it! Regardless if you have toddlers or quaran- A first sergeant from Creech Air Force Base delivers
past and the childhood scenes that play through your head are opportunities that would normally go against some of the house teenagers, it’s never too late to change the trajectory of whatever pizza to hand out to Creech families during a drive-
not good. For that, I’m terribly sorry. I don’t know what you’ve rules (rebels!). Parents are stressed out these days and our children your child needs. You are the single greatest influence in your thru dinner give-away event in Las Vegas, Nev., April
been through, but I do know that you understand the power of are no different. Having adventures with mom or dad helps them child’s life. Your actions, values and beliefs determine who your
memories. Here’s the good news: we can all redeem our childhood release anxiety, diminish their fears and lessen their hostility and child becomes more than anything else. The only time someone 10, 2020. The event was executed in an effort to boost
memories by creating new ones with our children. anger. It’s a myth that the fun goes away as you mature. In my else gains that influence is when we, as parents, check out. My the morale of Airmen and families, who were asked
Let’s start with family traditions. If you don’t already have one, humble opinion, that couldn’t be farther from the truth! Ancient friends, you don’t have to be a perfect parent to be a good parent. to stay in their vehicles, as first sergeants, and other
make one up! Traditions add to the flavor of good memories. Ice wisdom literature assures us that a cheerful heart is good medi- Reread the first line of this article again and imagine standing volunteers, handed them pizza while maintaining
cream sundaes, scavenger hunts, coaster catch at restaurants … cine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. The opposite of on the front porch, waving goodbye to your kids. What I should minimal contact and practicing Centers for Disease
these little things are remembered for decades! fun isn’t serious. The opposite of fun is, well, not fun! have asked was, what will your children be thinking about YOU? Control preventative measures.
My boys’ first trip to the ocean was a hoot. Having grown up in Which brings me to my final point, you want to try and be a My hope is they’ll be thinking that their parents loved them so
the upper Midwest, they hadn’t experienced sand, waves, seashells parent who emphasizes fun. If your kids don’t have fun at home, well. Wouldn’t that be great? Remember, you’re their hero, and
and ocean breezes. In typical boy fashion, they bolted into the I promise, they’ll look for it somewhere else. To make fun happen this crazy culture has nothing on you! My friends, we’re in this
ocean only to get rocked by an inbound wave. As they tirelessly you have to schedule it. Dads, sit on the floor and play Pretty- together, and we’re going to have the hap-hap-happiest time ever.
tried to head back to shore, they struggled to get their short legs Pretty Princess. Moms, pull that hair back and start a Nerf war. Blessings!

Coming together through social distancing An Airman from Creech Air Force Base waves to Airmen and families during a drive-thru
Air Force photograph by Staff Sgt. Omari Bernard

dinner giveaway event in Las Vegas, Nev., April 10, 2020. The event was only possible
through the good will of Creech AFB first sergeants and 432nd Aircraft Maintenance
by Senior Airman Caleb Nunez a result, we are becoming increasingly kind humans are social creatures and we need to We are now, more than ever, finding ways Squadron civic leader Ken Howe, who worked together to offer free dinner to boost the
MacDill AFB, Fla. toward each other. communicate to survive. Where we could to remain connected with those who matter in morale of Creech Airmen and families during COVID-19.
Even though I am seeing people panick- send a quick text before, many of us are choos- our lives because we understand that they can
Troubled times tend to amplify both the ing and hoarding supplies, I am also seeing ing to make a phone call. FaceTime dates are be gone at any moment in a crisis such as this.
positives and the negatives in humanity. And neighbors helping each other. Even though becoming the best option to socialize while It is difficult to predict how the COVID-19 RIGHT: First sergeants from Creech Air Force Base deliver pizza to hand out to Creech
while social media focuses on the negatives, I am seeing people behave carelessly, I am protecting the safety of everyone involved. crisis will evolve. Things might get worse families during a drive-thru dinner giveaway event in Las Vegas, Nev., April 10, 2020. The
amid the severity of the current situation, a also seeing support groups popping up My family has had two birthdays since before they get any better. We face more chal- event was executed in an effort to boost the morale of Airmen and families, who were
beautiful thing is occurring. everywhere. A lot of acts of kindness are the quarantine started. We got about 20 of us lenging times ahead, but eventually, things asked to stay in their vehicles, as first sergeants, and other volunteers, handed them pizza
We are physically more isolated from each happening around us at all times. And while to join a group FaceTime for both of them. It will go back to normal. Like everyone, I hope while maintaining minimal contact and practicing Centers for Disease Control preventative
other than we have ever been, but I believe these acts of kindness might not get our at- was a mess! But we were all together despite this happens soon. I miss complaining about measures.
this time of crisis and social distancing is tention as much as people fighting over toilet our physical distance. We also revived an how tired I am or how much I “love” my job. Air Force photograph by Staff Sgt. Omari Bernard
ultimately bringing us together. paper, we should continue to perform them old WhatsApp family chat, where we can all But mostly, I hope that when that day comes,
COVID-19 does not differentiate when it as much as we can. share memes or argue about politics or just we remember this crisis as one that brought america, from Page 1 care workers, first responders, military, More dates and times will be posted is difficult to move funds appropriated
comes to race, religion or social status. We The most noticeable development is that plain roast each other. It feels like time has us together and made us kind to each other. essential employees, and aims to unite all when available. for one area to be moved to another,
are beginning to realize that we are all in this we are checking in on each other more often. stopped and somehow reverted back to when I The challenge will be to keep it that way while The Blue Angels, based at Naval Air Americans in the fight against COVID-19,
together (cue High School Musical song). As Regardless of what any introvert says, was growing up with my cousins all together. we go back to our daily lives. The teams welcome and encourage and would probably require Congres-
Station Pensacola, Fla., and Thunderbirds, it also fulfills critical training require- viewers to tag the flyover on social me- sional approval.
based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., typi- ments for both teams. Pilots must execute dia with the hashtag #AmericaStrong. While the 2020 air show season
cally fly at more than 30 air shows each a minimum number of flight hours to There has been some criticism con- is on hold, pilots of both teams have
Desert Lightning News, So. Nevada edition is Department of the Air Force or Aerotech News and For all submissions, a name and phone number
published by Aerotech News and Review, a private Review of the products or services advertised. of a person to contact must be included in the event year to demonstrate American military maintain proficiency. These flyovers will cerning the costs involved. Officials continued to fly in order to maintain
firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force. Everything advertised in the publication shall be questions arise. aviation. This year, both teams have been incur no additional cost to taxpayers. pointed out that money had already proficiency requirements. It is impor-
Contents of Desert Lightning News, So. Nevada edition made available for purchase and use of patronage All material is edited for accuracy, brevity, clarity forced to cancel many performances In order to reach the maximum been appropriated for the current air tant to remember that service mem-
Desert Lightning News Staff are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national and conformity to the Associated Style Guide, to
Paul Kinison, Publisher, Aerotech News and Review by, Aerotech News and Review, the U.S. government, origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political include military ranks and proper writing etiquette. in response to Department of Defense number of Americans, some portions of show season — money that, at this bers assigned to the demonstration
Stuart Ibberson, Editor the Department of Defense or the Department of the affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the Corrections: Desert Lightning News staff direction resulting from the COVID-19 America Strong will feature only the Blue time, is not being used. As anyone teams are still active duty members
Tinna Sellie, Editorial Layout members strive for accurac y each week . outbreak.
Sandy Bueltel, Advertising Sales Air Force. purchaser, user or patron. If you notice an error in fact, contact the Desert Angels or the Thunderbirds, while others who has experience with the military of the U.S. military and, as such, must
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