Generation X, typically the children of Baby Boomers born between the years of 1965-1980 tend to have a complicated reputation depending on who you ask. Some view them as a feral generation never to be spoken of poorly without consequence, while others view them as innovators pushing us into the future. But in recent years, Gen Xers have been dubbed the "worst grandparents" by social media users.This multi-year conversation started when a video went viral calling Gen X out for being "terrible" grandparents, claiming that they never want to help with grandchildren. It didn't take long before other Millennials piled on to air their own grievances about Gen X grandparents. Most people criticizing the "new grandparents" were genuinely perplexed as to how they did not want to be more involved in the lives of their grandchildren. Family baking fun in the kitchen.Photo credit: CanvaKylie Muse reveals in a video that she felt neglected by her Gen X parents growing up, saying, "It's quite a common theme for Gen X parents to be neglectful in some capacity and it's just crazy to me how more of them haven't learned from the past 20 to 30 years, instead of these grandparents seeing their kids having kids as an opportunity to restore the health in their relationships with their kids by showing up and helping them during the hardest transition of their lives, they would rather double down and compromise their relationship with that next generation. All for the sake of hyper-individualism and pride." @kylies.muse Gen x grandparents and their beloved empty nest ? just say you hate having a family ? #grandparents #grandparentsoftiktok ♬ original sound - Kylie ꩜ The critique coming from the younger generation is not lost on Gen X, and they started coming out in force to respond with such vigor you'd think John Hughes had just announced the re-release of The Breakfast Club. It would seem that some of the people complaining of the lack of involvement have not considered that Gen X could have valid reasons for not immediately jumping in to take on grandparenting in the way some expect. A man by the name of John S. Blake gives a candid look into why Gen X was neglected as children and, in turn, became hype-independent at an early age."As a Gen X who's been on this earth long enough to have some hindsight I can tell you this, being independent at a young age is not a flex, what it actually means is capitalism is so brutal that our parents were forced to neglect their own children to stay alive. My generation was struggling so much that we had to leave our children unattended in order to produce enough so that we could afford to exist," Blake says. @blackfluidpoet Replying to @ellens0061 #foryoupage #homealone #fyp #foryou ♬ Slippin' - Re-Recorded - DMX But perhaps one of the most heart wrenching explanations comes from an elder Millennial who goes by the name Amazing Dea. In response to another Millennial who asks about Gen X being let off the hook, Dea shares, "Being as though you look like you might be a younger Millennial, let me go ahead and enlighten you. Generation X and older Millennials had to live through more than just this pandemic. We had the crack epidemic, we had the AIDS epidemic and let me tell you something, it was scary as f***." Dea went on to explain that there were apartment complexes burned due to high populations of people with AIDS living in them and how they would witness people go from being completely normal to being addicted to crack in a matter of weeks. It seems that depending on socioeconomic status, Gen Xers lived wildly different lives with the common theme being growing up entirely too fast at an extremely young age. Three generations smiling by the sea.Photo credit: CanvaAnother person kindly breaks down the confusion over why Gen X isn't rising to the occasion of being award-winning grandparents. In response to the criticism she replies, "We grew up in a different time, first of all. A lot of us, meaning me, Gen X, I was raised by boomers. A lot of us did not get raised by our grandparents. We were like the feral kids, like by 7 and 9 years old we were actually babysitting our brothers and sisters, alright."The woman explains further in the video that Gen X doesn't want to raise their grandchildren or simply be babysitters, that there's a difference between expecting grandparents to be involved and expecting them to be babysitters. @that1crazy72 Let’s take it a step further. You share DNA with your grandkids they are part of you not everyone gets the privilege of being a grandparent so if you are one take that as a blessing #genxgrandparents ♬ original sound - That1crazy72 In many of the response videos shared by Gen Xers, they certainly seem to love their grandchildren and children alike, but there's a discrepancy in expectation. The consensus of the forgotten generation seems to be that they had adult responsibilities much too early, were exposed to adult life experiences at a young age, and were often left to their own devices for long periods of time while also being told that their voices didn't matter. While the argument seems to be around their lack of involvement as grandparents, they appear to be saying that they want to enjoy the freedom they didn't have as children, while being valued as a person and not a babysitter. In many follow up videos, Gen Xers gushed over their grandchildren and how they loved when they were around. It's just that they draw the line at raising them. Maybe for some, their experiences with their own childhood isn't enough to move Gen X out of the "worst grandparents" category, but for others it provides much needed context.

So many of us, even those with full-time jobs, are looking for ways to make a little extra money. It’s vital not only for these challenging economic times, but it’s also a huge factor in creating real financial freedom. This is certainly something most millionaires have figured out. But it can be hard to figure out what that side hustle could be. It's even harder still to know whether or not the effort we put in will pay off in dividends. Many of us have a distorted concept of “passive income,” thinking that the side hustle we choose will require zero effort at some point. Unfortunately, other than investing, that’s not entirely true. However, there are definitely ways to drum up side hustles that make sense with your lifestyle, that draw on your own interests, skills, and values, and truly add to your life, whether they be through acts of service, reselling items online, or creating new items (be they artistic or practical).You can see this reflected in the answers given when someone on Reddit recently asked, “What’s something you do on the side that makes real extra money?” This OP added that they were hoping to raise an extra $2000 a month, and people were quick to be candid about how doable that really is. As someone pointed out, "$2K/mo is really more like a second job than a side gig" in terms of how much time and effort is needed. Still, there are some pretty unique and time efficient ideas below, like private baseball coaching and being an elderly companion, that could get someone close to $500 a week. Here are some of our favorite responses:1. "I sell rare house plants on the side. ""If I want some money for a spa or date night, I’ll just chop and propagate some plants for an easy $300-$500…Rare alocasias, monsteras, and anthuriums. There are a ton of people who collect, trade, etc. It’s my hobby, which has made it so easy to turn into a side hustle. Best part is it’s all cash." A woman selling plants.Photo credit: Canva2. "Election work.""Literally in 14 days this year, I'll gross $6,900. Long days, easy peasy work."3. "I host bar trivia." "It's usually three hours a night, and it makes me about $150 a night (plus tips). I'm actually trying to make this my full-time job; I enjoy it so much. It's not hard to buy trivia games or hook up with an existing company. I am independent and write my own games that I try to sell on the side."4. "I have a kettle corn pop-up.""I do fairs, festivals, pumpkin patches, and can turn $300 of product and space rent into $6k+ sales in a day. Some states require [a food or vendor license] but in my popcorn is exempt from licensing because of its very low risk for foodborne illness."5. "Landscaping." "Cash under the table, you dictate how many jobs you want to take on, and you can focus on one specific neighborhood to limit gas mileage. A mower, trimmer, blower, and small trailer will all pay themselves off in three weeks. It’ll beat you up a little, but it’s rewarding work. It’s also extremely straightforward. As long as you do what you’re supposed to do, the customer will be happy. Don't target people with complex yards. Drive through the neighborhood and find someone who's obviously over a month behind on mowing their lawn. Knock and offer to do it for $40. Tell them you'll come back every two weeks if that works for them. Get to a point where you've got 10 or so yards on rotation and you can knock them out in a day. $400 for a day's work every two weeks, under the table. Do more or less depending on how much or little you want to make." A man trimming bushesPhoto credit: Canva6. "I used to flip furniture on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. "I did have to invest in a small trailer and a good cleaner. But I would get free or cheap furniture. Clean it and spruce it up. Sell it for a couple hundred bucks. Mostly couches."7. "I make cosplay props for people." I use my personal social media, and I have a commissions page on Ko-Fi. People will see what I usually make and ask me if I am able to make a certain prop. I will then make an agreement with the customer before starting the work."8. "I put up and take down Christmas lights on weekends and evenings from October to January." "$24k a season is very doable, but you gotta be able to haul and carry ladders, confidently and safely climb up and down ladders, and be OK with working in the wind and rain in the coldest part of the year. It isn’t glamorous, but it can be a nice chunk of extra money."9. “If you're even a little handy, you can make good money as a handyman in elderly neighborhoods." "My dad started out just helping neighbors with hanging curtains, painting bathrooms, etc... after about a year he was busy enough to quit his full time job and just work for himself. You don't need a lot of tools or an expensive truck, but if you can operate a drill, swing a brush, and are good with old people - there's good paying work out there for you.”10. "I work as an ad model." "All kinds of ads. Internet, TV, print. Work is sporadic and irregular, which means you'd better have solid income from a main source. But a little $500-$800 check from time to time sure comes in handy. "Generally, one can set up an account for a small annual fee on places like castingnetworks.com or actorsaccess.com. Specifically, it would be better if you would connect with a local talent/modeling agency. They will also ask you to sign up for a talent website, and you’re going to need professional photos. Spend money on THAT, for sure. Good photos are critical!" Two models posing.Photo credit: Canva11. "I did Rover for three years, boarding dogs in my home." "I made $11k a year consistently. Month to month could vary widely, $0-$2k, but I always finished the year the same. But you really should have some experience and be an actual responsible person, because dogs are living beings and deserve proper care. You also need to account for things like Rover fees (20%), taxes, insurance, supplies, and licensing laws. You will end up working all holidays because that's the busiest season for dog sitting, and you'll need to commit your schedule months in advance." 12. “Over ten years ago I started my own hummus business." "Took a bit to get started but once I was accepted to different farmer’s markets, I made pretty good dough. But omg setting up a tent and tables at 5:30am on weekends was not fun after a couple of years. It was called Bean There, Done That and I had tons of creative flavors (and punny names).”13. "I started a YouTube channel a few years ago, and now it’s actually pulling in between $1,500 and $3,000 a month!" "It’s nuts!!! It was just a hobby. I talk about tech stuff. I review computers, network-attached storage systems, and occasionally a tech company I follow pretty closely. My channel name is the same as my Reddit name. It did take several years before money started flowing, but now it's a pretty great side hustle because it's something I would do for free anyway." A Youtuber creating contentPhoto credit: Canva14. "I participate in focus groups and research studies." They're a pretty cool way to spend a couple of hours, and they usually pay $150-$250 a pop. I do this with several research companies in my area because most of them only let you participate once every few months. So, if you keep filling out questionnaires and screeners with various research companies, you can rotate through them and get picked more often. Using this method, I participate in one or two studies per month. I've actually been grinding hard on applying for research studies for the last few months to pay off my credit card debt. Been making some pretty good progress!"15. "Deliver pizza for a local place under the table." "You can do pretty good Friday night through Sunday."16. "My very first month of donating plasma, I made $900." "Paid for my three-and-a-half week road trip last summer to Canada. I only do it once a week now because the center closest to me changed their hours, so I get $40 a week instead of my usual $100, but that’s still an extra $160 a month I put back into savings that doesn’t have to come out of my normal paychecks, it’s just extra. So that’s nice. I do miss the $400 months, though." A handy man coming in for repairsPhoto credit: Canva17. "None of these enterprises have made me two thousand a month individually, but all of them combined have equaled that over many months of production." "Edible mushrooms. Microgreens. Composting worms. Compost. Vegetable plant starts. Cloned fruit trees. I've been doing these for years, and I sell directly to consumers, no restaurants or middlemen."18. "I make about $120/hr coaching baseball lessons." "I’ll spend a weekend with 10 lessons coaching middle school to college athletes. I also charge $75/month to program throwing/pitching training. This can be 10-30 pitchers a session, ranging from high school to professional. It’s about 5-15 extra hours a week."19. "I used to sell my artwork online, it was a good $15,000 to $20,000 a year."20. "I work freelance in the arts." "I’ve done a decent job advertising my own business and have developed a side hustle doing social media marketing for other small businesses. Writing posts, finding imagery, and scheduling the posts in advance. The amount of actual work varies from month to month, but the retainer fee does not, and it’s made my life much easier and more predictable."21. "I started a cleaning business." "It was very easy, and I did it on Saturday afternoons. I just posted my contact info, services, and prices to local online communities. I worked for a young, wealthy couple cleaning a condo two to three times a month. I got around $600 extra per month for just a general cleaning. I also now include move-out cleans, which can get me $400-$600 per job. It's not huge cash, but it helped me kick a car note down from $24k to $16k. And that was with one client." A cleaning teamPhoto credit: Canva22. "During the winter, I sell 3D-printed ornaments and make between $100 and $300 a week for the first two to three weeks of December." "I specifically target the last-minute crowd and get most of my work through word of mouth. Production cost per ornament is $1.04. It takes me under an hour to make/edit the model, and then it takes 5-8 hours to print, but that can be done while I'm sleeping. I charge between $15 and $25 for an ornament. Last year, I also started selling name ornaments for $5 a pop, but they take under two hours to edit and print, so they're easy to make in large batches. These customers also tend to message me throughout the year, so I make around $600 during the Christmas season and $20-$100 other months. So kinda $20 here and there with a big yearly payout."23. "Real estate Photography." "It's usually $150 per house, $300 if it's a large property, and I need to use a drone. It takes about an hour to shoot and less than an hour to edit. I usually do two to three houses throughout the week. I'll stop on my way home from work, then on Saturday, I can group appointments by location. My busiest Saturday was seven houses. It's really easy. You just need a camera capable of HDR and a lens with a wide angle. I use a Nikon 16-24mm and a tripod."24. “I do side work car repairs." "And by repairs I mean mostly just brakes. To get 4 brakes and rotors done at a shop today is typically around $1000 or more, because they up-charge parts and labor. I am able to do it for people for around $600. I charge $300-400 in labor (for 2 hours of work), and the parts just cost what they cost. So I save people a few hundred dollars and I make a few hundred myself. Sometimes I do one of these a month. Sometimes I do a few of them. I would like to get one a week, cause then I could legit get an extra $300 a week.”

If you've never played musical chairs, well, you must not have gone to Physical Education in the 90s. Along with parachute day, duck duck goose, and the now-banned-almost-everywhere dodgeball, musical chairs was a staple game for all elementary school kids.For the uninitiated, the rules are simple: some number of participants stand around a circle of chairs. The problem is, there's one fewer chair than there is people. Music plays and the players walk, dance, or skip around the chairs in a circle. When the music stops, you've got to find a seat as fast as possible—before someone else does! If you're the odd man left standing, you're out, and the game continues with the remaining players. A new chair is removed each round until one winner remains.The game is frantic and intense, with bouts of quiet tension in between. It's also extremely silly and sure to draw fits of laughter from everyone playing. Sounds fun, right? So why should kids be the only ones who get to enjoy it?Bryant Park in Manhattan, New York City recently played host to, if not quite the biggest game of musical chairs in history, certainly one of them. Musical chairs can get pretty ruthless. Giphy Eat your heart out, Mr. Beast.Nine hundred adult New Yorkers showed up one recent evening for a chance to take home a commemorative chair and a $500 gift card. But mostly, they showed up to have a good time and in that, they were all winners.Contestants were broken into smaller groups of 30, where they competed in semi-final heats. Each group would have one winner, who would then go on to compete in the "Winner's Circle." During the contest, full-grown human beings hopped, skipped, and chicken-wing-flapped their arms as they circled the chairs, then frantically tried to find a place or face elimination. In a recording of the event, all you can hear is laughter, gasps, and raucous giggles as these adult strangers run and topple over with glee.According to The Times, the ultimate winner was 50-year-old Amy Beron, who had come from Tennessee to visit her daughter in New York. "[Beron] claimed the title in the absence of friends in the crowd, as camera flashes lit up her shocked face. She had seen on social media that the event was taking place, showed up alone and walked away a winner." - YouTube www.youtube.com Officially, the largest game of musical chairs took place in Singapore in 1989. It featured 8,238 contestants and took over three hours to crown a winner.But that's got nothing on the world's biggest pillow fight, which took place in 2018 with nearly 8,000 participants.Here's the thing about adults: There's a part of all of us that deeply misses being a kid. We're nostalgic for the memories and the way things used to be, yes, but we also miss when our main purpose in life was to have fun and experience joy. When we were carefree and a little reckless. Many of us are always trying to recapture just a bit of that, whether it's through art like coloring books, adult summer camp, or large-scale and completely absurd competitions like Bryant Park's musical chairs.And though it looks like things got a little competitive in some of the musical chairs heats (in the video above, you'll see a guy get knocked over as a woman fights for his chair!), this kind of thing is generally very good for us. Playing with others helps us feel like we belong, just as it did when we were kids. It boosts our mental health and provides a much-needed escape from a world that feels like it's doing its best to beat us down.You can watch the entire competition pretty much from beginning to end, including the dramatic moment that Amy Beron officially out-duels the last competitors, here: - YouTube www.youtube.com Most large-scale community gatherings like this suffered a cruel and sudden death in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. Once the worst was over and the masks mostly came off and we were free to mingle with strangers again, it still didn't feel normal to congregate like this. It's so heartwarming to see strangers coming together again, hear them laughing again, and watch them enjoy the outdoors together—even if it is in the most ridiculous way possible.

UFC champions and fans show their love for Trump. The post Video: They All Love The Real Champ! appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

Restoring law and order to Newsom's insurrection. The post Trump Deploys National Guard appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

The United States Northern Command confirmed that 500 U.S. Marines stood on alert in “prepared to deploy status” at Twentynine Palms, California, as news broke that protesters had swarmed onto the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles. Nick Sortor shared video from local news coverage of the ongoing protests, which showed protesters blocking the highway near Union Station at Alameda St. “Hundreds of drivers are now trapped on the expressway with violent rioters,” he said in the accompanying X post. ? #BREAKING: THOUSANDS of anti-ICE rioters have now TAKEN OVER the 101 freeway in Los Angeles HUNDREDS of drivers are now trapped on the expressway with vioIent rioters IT’S TIME: DEPLOY THE MARINES! pic.twitter.com/2f9A9PcnLW — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 8, 2025 The U.S. Northern Command issued a press release late on Sunday detailing the number of troops who had already been mobilized — as well as those who were standing on alert in case they were needed to augment those already the ground. PRESS RELEASE: USNORTHCOM statement regarding protection of federal property and personnel in the LA Area. Approx. 2,000 @TheCalGuard soldiers have been placed under in a Title 10 status. Read more: https://t.co/Hew1buGKyN pic.twitter.com/9Cwj08cYK5 — U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) June 9, 2025 The press release read: By direction of Secretary of Defense and in coordination with U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), approximately 2,000 California Army National Guard soldiers have been placed under federal command and control in a Title 10 status to support the protection of federal personnel and federal property in the greater Los Angeles area. As USNORTHCOM’s land component command, U.S. Army North stood up Task Force 51, with a two-star general, as the ground command and control element over the Title 10 forces. At this time, there are approximately 300 members of the California Army National Guard’s 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team deployed at the following locations in the greater Los Angeles area: Los Angeles, Paramount, and Compton, California. Additionally, approximately 500 Marines from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines at Twentynine Palms, California, are in a prepared to deploy status should they be necessary to augment and support the DoD’s protection of federal property and personnel efforts. USNORTHCOM will provide more information as units are identified and deployed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had already warned on Saturday that he had already placed a number of active duty Marines on high alert at nearby Camp Pendleton, preparing them for the possibility that they might be needed if the situation worsened. Sortor shared a series of photos and videos showing just how bad things were getting on the streets of Los Angeles. Protesters carrying foreign flags turned on officers who attempted to clear the freeway, throwing objects at them and forcing them to retreat. ? #BREAKING: Illegals with foreign flags are now PELTING officers who are trying to clear the freeway with objects, forcing them to retreat under the overpass THIS IS TOTAL ANARCHY, and it’s getting worse by the second. WTF ARE YOU DOING, @GavinNewsom?! pic.twitter.com/e2sytUXkZL — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 8, 2025 Blackhawk helicopters could be seen circling the protest, and Sorter quoted a senior Trump official as saying, “We WILL NOT bend the knee.” ? #BREAKING: DHS Blackhawks have been spotted circling the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles Senior Trump official tells me “we WILL NOT bend the knee,” and more federal assets are being deployed as we speak WE THE PEOPLE HAVE YOUR BACK! ?? pic.twitter.com/LYPCpjPUIe — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 8, 2025 Democratic Mayor Karen Bass blamed President Donald Trump for the “chaos” that was unfolding but claimed that she had it under control. Meanwhile, the video showed alongside her showed “TOTAL ANARCHY HAPPENING LIVE.” ? JUST IN: LA Mayor Karen Bass SLAMS Trump for deploying troops, and insists she has everything under control Meanwhile, the camera view next to her shows TOTAL ANARCHY HAPPENING LIVE. DEMOCRATS LIE TO YOUR FACES. She even goes as far as JUSTIFYING the riots, and says people… pic.twitter.com/byAyNTKVyY — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 9, 2025 ? #BREAKING: Anti-ICE rioters are now SETTING FIRE to multiple vehicles in the streets of Los Angeles NO POLICE ARE IN SIGHT. We still have HOURS until dark, and this is CONTINUING to grow. INVOKE THE INSURRECTION ACT! ? @camhigby pic.twitter.com/32vt2SEByS — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 9, 2025

Former Vice President Kamala Harris declared on Sunday that she is supporting the anti-ICE protests in and around Los Angeles, claiming the demonstrations have been “overwhelmingly peaceful” despite violent clashes with federal authorities. Harris, who has a home in Los Angeles and has been mulling a run for California governor, said in a statement that she is “appalled at what we are witnessing on the streets of our city.” But instead of focusing on how troublemakers hurled rocks, concrete, and fireworks at federal officers and their vehicles, Harris took the opportunity to criticize her 2024 election opponent, President Donald Trump. “Deploying the National Guard is a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos. In addition to the recent ICE raids in Southern California and across our nation, it is part of the Trump Administration’s cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic and division,” Harris said. “This Administration’s actions are not about public safety — they’re about stoking fear. Fear of a community demanding dignity and due process.” Harris extolled protesting as “a powerful tool — essential in the fight for justice” without acknowledging the rioting that prompted Trump to deploy the National Guard. “And as the LAPD, Mayor, and Governor have noted, demonstrations in defense of our immigrant neighbors have been overwhelmingly peaceful,” Harris said. “I continue to support the millions of Americans who are standing up to protect our most fundamental rights and freedoms.” Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have vociferously opposed Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and touted peaceful demonstrations. These Democrats also took time to relay messages discouraging acts of violence, destruction, and vandalism. Harris did no such thing and faced criticism for it. “No surprise that the most incompetent Vice President in history stands with the illegal alien rioters,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) quipped in a post on X. “We all know you support lawless, violent, illegal alien rioters. That’s why you lost so badly in November. Back to irrelevancy you go!” said White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson. Fox News contributor Joe Concha observed, “This statement tells us 2024 Kamala wasn’t real and she was always 2019 Kamala all along on illegal immigration.” Police have said several people have already been arrested in the protests that erupted as federal agents began to detain and deport a number of the dangerous criminal aliens who were the targets of raids throughout the Los Angeles area. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of a man accused of throwing rocks at law enforcement vehicles, injuring a federal officer, and damaging government vehicles. “Hit a cop, you’re going to jail … doesn’t matter where you came from, how you got here, or what movement speaks to you. If the local police force won’t back our men and women on the thin blue line, we @FBI will,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. The bedlam continued on Sunday as protesters swarmed a freeway in Los Angeles and set cars on fire in the downtown area.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a move set to benefit half a million more young students, the UK government announced that beginning in September 2026, all children in England whose families receive Universal Credit will be eligible for free school meals regardless of income level. This significant shift in policy means that the current income threshold of £7,400 (around $9,430 USD) a year will no longer apply. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the measure “a down payment on child poverty” and emphasized its importance in supporting children’s attainment. “This is a statement of intent,” he said, “to give every child the best possible start in life.” Providing nutritious school meals is a critical step in closing the opportunity gap for these children. Tackling child poverty head-on Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the policy could lift 100,000 children out of poverty and would save families around £500 (approximately $640 USD) a year. Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Phillipson said her own experience of growing up in poverty makes this a personal mission: “It’s my moral mission to ensure fewer children grow up in the kind of poverty I did.” The policy is supported by a £1 billion (about $1.28 billion USD) allocation from the Department for Education, covering costs through 2029. Phillipson stressed that schools would not have to divert funds to support this expansion, with more financial details to be outlined in the upcoming spending review. Savings for families, support for schools Currently, about 2.2 million children in England, or 25.7 percent of all pupils, are registered for free school meals. Eligibility requires both receiving Universal Credit and having a household income below the £7,400 threshold. These requirements have meant that many struggling families fall through the cracks. Kate Anstey of the Child Poverty Action Group praised the new policy, noting that it would now reach “all children in poverty and those at risk of poverty,” not just the two-thirds currently covered. She called it “a sign of what’s to come.” The initiative has drawn wide support from education and advocacy groups. The Association of School and College Leaders called it “a welcome step forward,” while the Sutton Trust highlighted its potential to remove hunger from the classroom. Challenges and next steps Despite the positive reception, Labour has yet to take a firm stance on scrapping the two-child benefit cap, which limits benefits for most families to their first two children. Asked whether the cap would be lifted, Starmer pointed to the broader strategy in development: “We’ve got a task force. It’ll come out with a strategy… I want to get to the root causes of child poverty.” Phillipson confirmed that removing the cap is under consideration and could be addressed in future spending decisions. In addition to expanding meal access, the government has pledged £13 million (about $16.7 million USD) to food charities and plans to review nutritional standards for school meals. However, concerns remain about access and enrollment. Children eligible for free meals must still be registered by their parents, which MPs have noted can be a barrier for non-English speakers or those unfamiliar with the process. Despite calls for automatic enrollment, Phillipson stated that no such changes are currently planned. Eligibility standards vary across the UK. In London and Wales, all primary school children receive free meals, and Scotland offers them through the first five years of school. In Northern Ireland, the income threshold for eligibility is about double that of England, at £15,000 (around $19,100 USD). Christine Farquharson from the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimated that eventually, an additional 1.7 million children could benefit, and around 100,000 children might be lifted out of poverty, though she emphasized these results will take time. “Today’s announcement will not see anything like 100,000 children lifted out of poverty next year,” she said, noting that eliminating the two-child cap might be more cost-effective in the short term. Still, the announcement represents a clear policy shift toward addressing inequality. As Starmer said, it’s a step toward ensuring that all children, no matter their background, arrive at school ready to learn.The post Free school meals expanded to 500,000 more children under new UK government policy first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Unlike Mother’s Day, which was swiftly embraced and made official in 1914, Father’s Day spent decades in limbo. Though it finally became a national holiday in 1972, the idea faced resistance for years—ironically, in a society dominated by men. Why was Father’s Day controversial? Many men in the early 20th century balked at the idea. At the time, Mother’s Day was framed around femininity and sentimentality, often celebrated with flowers and sweet gestures. But applying the same emotional tone to fathers didn’t sit right. As some historians have put it, men “scoffed” at efforts to “domesticate manliness” and considered the holiday a commercial gimmick. There was also a broader cultural mindset: in a patriarchal society where fathers were seen as authority figures, why dedicate a special day to them? Weren’t they already running the household? The women who fought to honor fathers While many dismissed the idea, two women worked to make Father’s Day real: Grace Golden Clayton proposed the first known Father’s Day service in 1908 after a mining disaster in West Virginia left hundreds of children fatherless. Her tribute, though heartfelt, didn’t catch on beyond the local community. Sonora Smart Dodd, however, made waves in Spokane, Washington, in 1910. Raised by a single father and inspired by Mother’s Day, she advocated for a similar holiday to honor dads. The city organized an official celebration on June 19, 1910, with churches delivering sermons about fatherhood and boys donning roses in tribute. It wasn’t an easy road to national recognition Despite early efforts, Father’s Day remained unofficial for decades. Congress rejected early proposals, and even as presidents from Woodrow Wilson to Calvin Coolidge supported the idea, legislation stalled. Progress resumed mid-century: In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day by executive order. In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed it into law. The role of Father’s Day in hard times Economic forces helped the holiday along, too. During the Great Depression, retailers used Father’s Day to encourage spending on “practical gifts.” Later, during World War II, it gained traction as a way to honor men serving in the military and support American families. Rethinking what it means to be a dad Today, Father’s Day is about more than gifts. It reflects how much our view of fatherhood has changed. Fathers are no longer just breadwinners; they’re emotional anchors, caregivers, and partners. Whether a dad likes to barbecue, build LEGO castles, or read bedtime stories, Father’s Day now celebrates the diverse ways men show up for their families. And that’s perhaps the most meaningful part of the holiday: recognizing not just who fathers are, but the many roles they play in shaping their children’s lives.The post A surprising look at how Father’s Day came to be first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.