Applicant #64: Robin Dowdy

Robin Dowdy is a mom from Seattle.

My video application:

A bit about me:

I am Robin Dowdy, a Seattle-area mom who has two kids, a husband, dog, and two newly acquired fish.

I am your typical over-active mom who is intense about work, play, and parenting. I am active in many communities and love the outdoors. I fall asleep exhausted each day and wake up wondering what the adventure will be today. Sometimes I am more excited about the adventure than others...

Overall, I realize that while I may not do it well all the time, I am sure living each day to its fullest!

My blog post:

Everyone needs a job…

I thought it would be a good idea to take the Brownie troop on a field trip yesterday to buy ribbon for headbands.

We had three moms, ten second-graders, and two younger brothers. We only had to walk half a mile. No problem.

All melted down rather quickly. Before we even left the school one girl sulked by a tree because she wasn’t the leader. Another became angry because the first was sulking and another cried at my leg because she was supposed to be the leader and no one was listening properly. Soon, they were in groups running, walking, screaming and crying.

The distraught leader wouldn’t let go of my leg.

“They aren’t listening to me! They are supposed to listen to me because I am the leader!”

“Well, it looks like they just want to run ahead. That’s not being mean.”

“No! I can’t run because my legs are tired and they know that! They are running just to be mean! I am the leader; they are supposed to listen to me!”

“How about we get to the store and then work it out, OK?”

“Noooo!! Now you aren’t listening to me! I hate this Brownie Troop!”

She broke down sobbing as we crossed 24th St. I was at a total loss.

All I wanted was to buy ribbon.

The little boys shot imaginary superhero rockets at cars, the gaggle of runners leaped onto the sidewalk with screeches and squeals, and the slower ones are compared leaves they have found from the sidewalk. I began to lose my mind.

Once we reached the store, the fighting began in earnest. Each girl fought to be the leader the first in, and to choose the ribbon. I soon realized, we can’t have just one job, they each need a job. Even the little brothers needed a job.

“Listen up!” I shouted. Not always effective, but the lure of headbands made them eager to comply.

“We need some help here. Who will be the paper holder?”

Hands flew up into the air, arguing stopped. I chose two, one for each group.

“Who will be the writer?

Who will be the price checker?

Who will be the time keeper?

Who will be the skateboard park watchers (the little brothers needed work)?”

In less than two minutes this mess of fighting, sobbing girls had been whipped into shape and come together for a united purpose: ribbons! The jobs were trivial in the grand scheme of things, but vital to each girl.

Of course, they still fought over which ribbon, velvet and elastic to choose, but it was driven by each girl executing her own role. It seemed that when they didn’t have to fight to be there, they figured out what they wanted to do. We even got back to school without much crying.

Hmm… simple really. They each just needed a job.

Robin