tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34355315721364284842024-02-19T03:10:42.947-05:00April Scarlett's MotherboardUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-18323597463822711172012-09-09T15:22:00.002-04:002012-09-09T15:23:33.091-04:00Potty on the Go? Um....NO!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PBy2QND4QpVBuoldy_6oY-nSKeD_ZUd21ZYJvpk-0HjDqTcM2lqRjBlzvPq_kI2wzoKe9_4tpielMduUJ74elNE-fSV631tQy3NiawZHizbKvhUOJ-Fc3s1rrK-p5vsKeyXqpENeFHY/s1600/24046343-260x260-0-0_Baby+Bjorn+Baby+Bjorn+Potty+Chair+Ocean+Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PBy2QND4QpVBuoldy_6oY-nSKeD_ZUd21ZYJvpk-0HjDqTcM2lqRjBlzvPq_kI2wzoKe9_4tpielMduUJ74elNE-fSV631tQy3NiawZHizbKvhUOJ-Fc3s1rrK-p5vsKeyXqpENeFHY/s1600/24046343-260x260-0-0_Baby+Bjorn+Baby+Bjorn+Potty+Chair+Ocean+Blue.jpg" /></a></div>
If you had any reason to hit up a search engine for potty training info within the last week, you were sure to find the latest parenting goof, resulting in gasps heard around the world, before finding any tutorial advice.<br />
<br />
By "goof", I'm being polite. <br />
<br />
Last week, in Utah, a mom decided it would be far more convenient for herself to bring potty chairs in place of booster seats, and to potty train her two young girls right at the table of a bustling deli while they ate their lunch. I'm not kidding. <br />
<br />
Check it out <a href="http://moms.today.com/_news/2012/09/06/13704965-crib-note-is-potty-training-on-the-go-a-no-no?lite">here</a>.<br />
<br />
At first my reaction was just sheer shock and disbelief. I wasn't going to even write about it because everyone else was covering it and voicing their own opinions. The more it sat, however, pun-intended, the more it bothered me for reasons I haven't yet heard in the media.<br />
<br />
Public health issues aside, I think this mom is really selfish. I don't mean because she is interfering with the lunches of many, or disrupting the ten suits at a business meeting two tables over. I think she is robbing those two little girls of learning social norms, and not permitting them the privacy for which they are entitled. Potty training is more than physicality. It is about preparing our kids to be appropriate, teaching modesty and dignity, and most of all, creating an environment where kids can feel important and take pride in a monumental accomplishment. It is an opportunity to make our kids feel special, not be gawked at by the pastrami-on-rye eater two feet away (Did I mention the girls weren't dressed?)<br />
<br />
Why would a parent do this? Because it is easier and more convenient for HER? <br />
<br />
Now I get that there are people out there who will oppose the whole modesty and dignity part of my argument because they believe kids should be proud of their bodies and not forced pre-maturely into modesty. That's fine...but not in a public restaurant, and not while sitting on a potty chair. And why while they are eating? I don't care if you are in public or in the privacy of your own home, I've never heard of teaching table manners and potty training simultaneously. Maybe that's just me. <br />
<br />
What do you think? Am I off my rocker here?<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-43719691386243363242012-07-24T17:24:00.000-04:002012-07-24T17:24:13.399-04:00We Are The World: Nostalgic Sentiment and Motherly PrideI grew up in the eighties. Unlike some, I really loved that decade,
especially the music. I still love it. One song in particular takes me
waaaayyy back, and makes me happy...moves me even.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIwxKUHKH8RdUPO9O3-OtQLmcW0idaajT5jEdtG-2vNlK85KpuSaB8hcCBLpm6Cs-VIN1t4EAroIcR3vK8zcpgt7cZhfwGk2zTt1BQl82L-VwY9z5-2rLC4Kn0V7RJkuQ7U5SK912LpE/s1600/VB+Opening+Night+2012+Grammys+054.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIwxKUHKH8RdUPO9O3-OtQLmcW0idaajT5jEdtG-2vNlK85KpuSaB8hcCBLpm6Cs-VIN1t4EAroIcR3vK8zcpgt7cZhfwGk2zTt1BQl82L-VwY9z5-2rLC4Kn0V7RJkuQ7U5SK912LpE/s200/VB+Opening+Night+2012+Grammys+054.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
"We
Are The World" was a compilation of all the great singers/songwriters
of the time. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and
produced by Quincy Jones. The idea was to bring together a huge number
of incredibly talented and famous artists, and create a record that
would sell across all demographics to raise money for humanitarian aid
in Africa. It worked. That single raised over 63 million dollars in
1984.<br />
<br />
There was a video of the song, taped during the
recording session, that played on MTV over and over (back when MTV
played strictly videos and was hosted by V-jays), now you can see it <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9BNoNFKCBI">here on YouTube</a>.
Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Hall and Oates, Duran Duran, Bono, Michael
Jackson, Bruce Springsteen,Paul Simon,Kenny Rogers,Billy Joel, Tina
Turner, Willie Nelson...and on and on and on...<br />
<br />
The
trend to help Africa continued in the summer of 1985 with Live Aid...a
completely different scene, a global effort to have live performances
coincide all over the world to help end hunger in Ethiopia. That was
the first time I cried watching Bono and U2 onstage (wouldn't be the
last)...to this day my favorite band of all time.<br />
<br />
There
was just something about growing up with all of that music on a
mission. Not only were we in love with our rock stars, but they made us
care about more than big hair and leg warmers. They opened up our eyes
to the rest of the world.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GDEYgLwwfXX3DabRItNi6h3QXLrAOygdOxPptOFtJnAPxzLdgVbC6aD3N9xiNBAx8LLaxaDFeikPRwBp9mU0KOMNYm_ateLSAr4pnHgqI9W6t1b33BvhzzK83WHZ_amovLuL1FEUpdU/s1600/VB+Opening+Night+2012+Grammys+050.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GDEYgLwwfXX3DabRItNi6h3QXLrAOygdOxPptOFtJnAPxzLdgVbC6aD3N9xiNBAx8LLaxaDFeikPRwBp9mU0KOMNYm_ateLSAr4pnHgqI9W6t1b33BvhzzK83WHZ_amovLuL1FEUpdU/s200/VB+Opening+Night+2012+Grammys+050.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
So
imagine 25 years later, in a darkened auditorium, 100 student
performers close their summer show with a rendition of "We Are The
World". Leading a kids cast of 2nd-5th graders, my son sauntered slowly
down the aisle toward the stage. At the top of the steps, he entered
into the pool of stage light just as the chorus began to boom, "We are
the world, we are the children". My son's voice bellowed out the song,
joining in with the older cast...heartfelt for him too, just in a
different way.<br />
<br />
I didn't expect to be emotional. I knew
the song was coming, had heard bits of it during rehearsal. This was
the first time, though, I had ever heard Sam sing it, <i>seen</i> him sing it, especially while wearing his USA for Africa tee shirt. I get misty just thinking about it.<br />
<br />
The
mixture of nostalgic sentiment and motherly pride is powerful stuff. I
am so happy my son had the opportunity to learn about the song, learn
what it meant to so many. More than that, it was so nice to have this
very special moment with him, a musical and emotional connection from my
past to his present.<br />
<br />
(Cheap Plug: Sam is a member of Saline Varsity Blues. Go to <a href="http://www.salinevarsityblues.com/">www.salinevarsityblues.com</a> for more info.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-41851307392978769612012-05-08T14:24:00.001-04:002012-05-08T14:24:14.269-04:00Scary Clown Idea Goes Too Far<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheifXVbkynSg1uhI8RgqM4VPYW8s3eT0oS0O9jRiVbFcVF8EPATkX6UMou7Lpf1hmywQ5vSgDvvWyuQEEYAQ4l6lmXo3QCZHO3d4vUIKAJtsysmfnBYYfMlIynH0Kum_YaU3z7_5aGkhk/s1600/scary+clowns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheifXVbkynSg1uhI8RgqM4VPYW8s3eT0oS0O9jRiVbFcVF8EPATkX6UMou7Lpf1hmywQ5vSgDvvWyuQEEYAQ4l6lmXo3QCZHO3d4vUIKAJtsysmfnBYYfMlIynH0Kum_YaU3z7_5aGkhk/s200/scary+clowns.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is not Dominic Deville. Click on the link to see the person from the article.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is true. You can now hire a scary clown to threaten, torment and completely freak out your child for their birthday. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/08/evil-clown-birthday-surprise-dominic-deville_n_1499369.html?1336485415&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009">Dominic Deville is a professional clown.</a> He's not the happy, floppy, sunshiny, rainbow and balloons kind of clown, however, his MO is to scare your kids half to death. Happy Birthday!<br />
<br />
This is a true story. The week of your child's special day, Mr. Deville promises to leave messages for your child in the form of scary notes, texts, and emails. He will tell them they are being watched, and that soon he will get them, or they will be attacked when they least expect it. After stalking your child, when he finds the time is right, he will hit them in the face with a birthday cake. Ta-da! What a hoot!<br />
<br />
Honestly? Do we not remember the clown doll in Poltergeist that kept us from sleeping at night? I have an idea of what kind of parent would go for this kind of thing, but that is a whole other blog. <br />
<br />
Maybe the target audience here is for teens? I'll have to ask my 16 year old if he thinks this would be funny. The idea is not to tell them they are being set up. How many days do you think a kid will be stressing out looking over his shoulder before he brings it up to his parents?<br />
<br />
In full disclosure, Mr. Deville states in the article that he absolutely backs off if kids get too scared or if parents ask. By then isn't the damage already done? If the mission is completed, I have a hard time believing that the cake in the face at the end of the week will erase the terror that took place prior.
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm always surprised when I see someone capitalizing on tormenting kids, but the fact that there is a market for these people, and parents who pay the tab...well, it just leaves me dumbfounded. Maybe I'm not getting the joke. Maybe I'm too overprotective. What do you think?<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-299512112358989122012-02-02T09:24:00.000-05:002012-02-02T09:24:22.677-05:00Ten minutes of pure sunshine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5gUL8cz4yO8kSGrNDcGJNdhlUmNWHsgVjjJSNCDqF8EEmUeaV2TD0ZVySplqCHl3VMcSkZSOrwKFhrF5ktqLG9ZZkygD4nv_M_qYrmZRDf32jBXTUVTB4t_8pb3Pnx-6t9RhFPiH6C0/s1600/happy_sun_with_a_smiling_face_0515-1011-1911-4832_SMU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5gUL8cz4yO8kSGrNDcGJNdhlUmNWHsgVjjJSNCDqF8EEmUeaV2TD0ZVySplqCHl3VMcSkZSOrwKFhrF5ktqLG9ZZkygD4nv_M_qYrmZRDf32jBXTUVTB4t_8pb3Pnx-6t9RhFPiH6C0/s200/happy_sun_with_a_smiling_face_0515-1011-1911-4832_SMU.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I was picking my fourth grader up from school the other day, and couldn't help but make an observation. As I sat there in "the loop", one of many cars lined up between two schools, I felt like I was viewing a happy ending to an ABC After School Special from the 1980's.<br />
<br />
One school houses kids for the day in grades K-3, the other holds almost 800 fourth and fifth graders. When the bell rang, kids bounded from every entrance and it was hard not to see their absolute delight to greet their parents or grandparents, or older siblings and babysitters who were picking them up. Their enthusiasm equally reciprocated upon their arrival.<br />
<br />
So what is so strange about that? I, for one, can't wait to see my son standing their with his buddies, backpack over his shoulder, watching our car creep through the loop until I pull up beside him. But every family I saw...and I do mean EVERY family, was either skipping or jumping up and down to see each other, or had hands held and swinging happily, or were engaged in immediate enthusiastic conversation. Even the more shy burst into smiles and were welcomed into a hugs and warm receipt. <br />
<br />
I found myself wondering if this day was just a fluke, a sudden ray of sunshine in our busy, suburban parking lot? Or if I was really so fortunate to live in a community that really celebrates their children and parenthood? For the days that followed I found myself actually looking for trouble, some kind of grumpy encounter or tears or anything that would indicate dysfunction. I've yet to find it. How cool is that?<br />
<br />
Now I am realistic enough to know that there are certainly many kids I don't see who get on the bus and aren't as happy or as fortunate to go home to a Mary Poppins existence. All communities have families with problems and ours is no different. Even the giddy ones greeted at the school door may have meltdowns the minute they get into their car, or at the start of the homework struggle, or when sibling rivalry sets in. But for at least ten minutes everyday at 3:35pm, it is nice to see such pure delight, boundless energy, and sincere joy and affection between kids and their families and friends.<br />
<br />
So today I am thankful to live in a place where I get to see this kind of interaction everyday....well, at least until middle school. Even then, who knows?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-13186831579050224422011-06-13T07:39:00.001-04:002011-06-13T07:44:05.433-04:00Summer Break: We'll Take a Breather Before Summer Gets Busy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdFaPaWjcB5XnuEGWwo_-QdG_JGzjub_p9ZtZyKFDR8dwWsfktKaYhP3BQce5hGiCPhq8Z0YAh8vOR95jW5hzxWID-PqQnAmK7kvfFO-R2ZvC23UAiS_WLu334S2XZlEydpPkEibQrQE/s1600/summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdFaPaWjcB5XnuEGWwo_-QdG_JGzjub_p9ZtZyKFDR8dwWsfktKaYhP3BQce5hGiCPhq8Z0YAh8vOR95jW5hzxWID-PqQnAmK7kvfFO-R2ZvC23UAiS_WLu334S2XZlEydpPkEibQrQE/s200/summer.jpg" t8="true" width="200px" /></a></div>Five days to go. The last two weeks of school are filled with activity, whether you have an older child buckling down for exams, or an elementary school child packing in field trips and field days and end of the year parties and picnics. <br />
<br />
For my youngest, it is a non-stop scheduling frenzy in school and out. I am one of those parents who is lucky enough to be able to arrange my work schedule around all of the hustle and bustle, and it is my choice to be involved, so I'm not complaining. I'm just absolutely admitting that I am READY for a break. And my kids are too.<br />
<br />
For some kids though, there is no break at all. They are excitedly packing for their first camp, or getting ready for their first class to begin as soon as the last school bell rings. For some, this works well, and I totally get parents who don't have a choice but to thrust their children into activity due to work schedules. I've been there and done that too! My kids both have activites galore this summer, but this time around, they won't be jumping right in.<br />
<br />
At our house, it is almost tradition to have one week of decompression. That's right, I let my kids just chill. They can sleep in as late as they want, play video games, watch movies, and just relax. Before we know it they will have full schedules of friends and camps and sports and practices and rehearsals, which we will all enjoy as a family. But for the first week, I allow them to be couch potatoes if they so choose, to catch up on much needed rest, contemplate their summer plans, and just hang out at home.<br />
<br />
<strong>This mom can't wait!</strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-90191740625115620712011-05-10T13:31:00.001-04:002011-05-10T13:33:18.162-04:00When Other People's Kids Behave Badly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-A14JWJlI1dqzdzhGrx8fhQVarpAyv9fLFlNctnVsUJNhV0yIf0djkU4igdxT60JETCCZjwcORLt5xsYICR2bS34DV1bpAgWdvMbku7-qGEWhqlId3_x17d8fr8IjSMjKOzgDm-MUQdU/s1600/calvin+temper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-A14JWJlI1dqzdzhGrx8fhQVarpAyv9fLFlNctnVsUJNhV0yIf0djkU4igdxT60JETCCZjwcORLt5xsYICR2bS34DV1bpAgWdvMbku7-qGEWhqlId3_x17d8fr8IjSMjKOzgDm-MUQdU/s1600/calvin+temper.jpg" /></a></div>For Mother’s Day, my family decided to take my mother out for an early dinner. As you can imagine, we were not the only ones with this idea so the restaurant was packed with people. At a table nearby were two women with two children. The kids appeared to be around age two and were running and squealing--really screaming-- as they played around the other tables in our vicinity. Their squeals of delight were so loud and ear piercing, conversations could not be held at our table, or at any table for that matter. Not only did this interfere with our celebration, but twice I saw two servers nearly trip over the tots, while carrying large trays of food. Did I mention the two women at the table, presumably the parent(s) did absolutely nothing? This went on for a good twenty minutes, before the party finally left.<br />
<br />
We’ve all been through child meltdowns in public places, crying babies or two year old fits. As parents, we sympathize when we see this happen and most of the time the parent in question will resolve the matter or step out from the theater, restaurant, church, etc.<br />
<br />
What to do though, when other people’s kids are majorly disrupting those around them in a public place? Especially if the kids are just playing and not in distress. Do we have the right to complain? In my Mother’s Day situation, should the staff have asked the women to corral their kids? Or is it none of our business?<br />
<br />
So today we are talking about other people’s kids, a pretty taboo subject. What is good etiquette in situations like the one mentioned above? What if we see a child endangering themselves? For instance, what if we see an older child we know smoking cigarettes at the mall? Do we tell the parents? From testy tots to troubled teens, what is the right thing to do?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-85489096334610175812011-04-27T00:20:00.000-04:002011-04-27T00:20:33.335-04:00The new math, lattice multiplicationIs anybody else surprised by the way our kids are learning math? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61weKOAqyKr1mrFWSsc4deXiMQf5x8GqrjgShnnr1O4anUaMA8T1sK6_fQv8XKrPUaIoh0WNB6s8VMq3YDsZm7dlKlF46rzp2fulxLn3upPZgiPAtTa8RA23YyWZ8HK3QRX5sFy-KKyE/s1600/lattice2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61weKOAqyKr1mrFWSsc4deXiMQf5x8GqrjgShnnr1O4anUaMA8T1sK6_fQv8XKrPUaIoh0WNB6s8VMq3YDsZm7dlKlF46rzp2fulxLn3upPZgiPAtTa8RA23YyWZ8HK3QRX5sFy-KKyE/s320/lattice2.png" width="278px" /></a></div>It isn't that it doesn't work...it may indeed be easier than the way we learned multiplication, and even addition. It's just that when I think of math, I think of it in a way that is absolute, which I thought included the method with which it was resolved.<br />
<br />
Today my third grader brought home a new way of solving multiplication problems. It is called the lattice method, and it works like a dream. Although, it is so easy, that I worry my son isn't learning to calculate, he's just learning how to solve large multiplication problems with smaller addition problems. Easy, but is he learning enough about the process?<br />
<br />
I'm not an education major, so I'm sure the developers of the curriculum know exactly what they are doing, it just takes some getting used to. I learned my multiplication tables on a grid I made out of tongue depressers and masking tape. I loved that grid! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-51729002049972945852011-01-28T11:29:00.001-05:002011-01-28T11:31:02.710-05:00Walmart will sell anti-aging cosmetics for 8-12 year old girls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGxJhLC1ZvlT1Qs8tFTuMBC3KEgQ0p2Qo_FYY4HZ5zszH3KGentDFTilSgCo2ptmGVUVmSUWLkhEEQdsWNAlVNqjzC8S7L0nWZhGF7oEAZ6kh__4HHK5aop5cNiM01w2q0ubAXOihJo4/s1600/lipstick+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGxJhLC1ZvlT1Qs8tFTuMBC3KEgQ0p2Qo_FYY4HZ5zszH3KGentDFTilSgCo2ptmGVUVmSUWLkhEEQdsWNAlVNqjzC8S7L0nWZhGF7oEAZ6kh__4HHK5aop5cNiM01w2q0ubAXOihJo4/s200/lipstick+girl.jpg" width="137" /></a></div>At first, I thought a new eco-friendly cosmetic line, free of chemicals like paraben, phthalates and sulfates was quite progressive for Walmart. The make-up is highlighted for its anti-aging properties, how well the products exfoliate and calm the skin. Hmmm? Not bad so far. Until....<br />
<br />
It is a cosmetic line called "Geo-Girl" for 8 TO 12 YEAR OLD GIRLS! It is for parents who want their third graders to have make-up with natural ingredients, and to help girls who have sensitive skin. They are eight year olds, of course their skin is sensitive! <br />
<br />
Anti-aging? Calming properties? Is youthful skin not at its most youthful, most flawless, most calm as it is on the faces of our children? These are children! They have a youthful glow already!<br />
<br />
Do girls not have enough pressure on them to be beautiful? Aren't there enough expectations out in the world for girls to be sexier, thinner, more popular because of these things? Are we going to let our 8 year olds, even 12 year olds, think they need make up to be beautiful?<br />
<br />
The Geo-Girl product line has 69 products, ranging from blusher to mascara to lipstick and will be sold at Walmart stores beginning in March 2011.<br />
<br />
I know, I know, those who love Walmart will say that it is the parents' responsibility to buy or not buy the product, that Walmart isn't "making" any children wear the make-up. That we live in a capitalist society and Walmart has the right to make a profit, blah blah blah. Walmart also has the right to set a better example to benefit our youth. The bottom line is Walmart wants to make money. Look at the packaging of the Geo-Girl line. Its not trying to appeal to parents. It is even sized smaller for little hands! Look here from the Household and Personal Products Industry:<br />
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According to the company, the colors, while bright and exciting in the package, go on super-sheer and see-through to give her skin a healthy, natural glow.The formulas are mistake proof and easy to apply successfully.The product packages themselves were created to fit in smaller hands and apply to smaller features.<br />
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Walmart does not have to choose to supply products that contribute to the absolute encouragement and expectations that young girls, little girls, need make-up to gain acceptance and feel good about themselves.<br />
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I know Walmart gives a ton of money to charities, amidst their many, many sins, once in awhile they do something good. So why can't they take a stand in protecting the self-esteem and empowerment of young girls? C'mon Walmart. Here is a chance to make a difference. Do not put Geo-Girl on your shelves.<br />
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I also know there are people who will blame parents for setting the example by wearing cosmetics ourselves, doing everything we can to stay youthful. There is a time for everything. There is a time for a first date, high heels, outward self-expression. The age for shimmering, sparkling cheeks, thick blackened eyelashes and anti-aging properties is not age 8.<br />
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I am irate over this. Really irate. I know Walmart isn't the only one at fault here, Walmart is just the pusher. The producer is a company in California called Pacific World Corp. Click here for their contact information to lodge a complaint. They make the product, but they would stop making it if Walmart wouldn't sell it. As for Walmart, click here to voice your opposition. I am so fired up, I might get a petition going. Stay tuned.<br />
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As parents, it is our job to protect our children, their health and wellness, their self-esteem and confidence. If Geo-Girl indeed ends up on the shelves, at the very least let this be a teaching moment to our young girls on what not to buy and why. At least we'll be able to try and teach them to be better consumers, and it will give us another opportunity to tell them how beautiful they are without Geo-Girl.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-85357283329901154272010-12-07T22:47:00.002-05:002010-12-07T22:50:10.808-05:00Ready For The Stage! Can you believe it?!Hi Everyone,<br />
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Oh my dear blog....I've missed you so. As a matter of fact, I've missed ALL of my blogs!!! Ladies and gents, the book manuscript is in final editing...and just when I thought I was going to take a breather (yeah, like I take breathers)...<br />
<br />
GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?????<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8SikhApkL1OP2OGzfiD9Hm-uWAO0fR8g52Qxk1uLgNXjnhDqt4iSy1JTEkheNvUar0iYGyvcvmWTUonxt47AkxkCTWtETt2XQPyeWnDOZDe_oOmMtvJX0pRIxOKuTY5T-PGlB-PIb9M/s1600/rfts+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8SikhApkL1OP2OGzfiD9Hm-uWAO0fR8g52Qxk1uLgNXjnhDqt4iSy1JTEkheNvUar0iYGyvcvmWTUonxt47AkxkCTWtETt2XQPyeWnDOZDe_oOmMtvJX0pRIxOKuTY5T-PGlB-PIb9M/s1600/rfts+logo.jpg" /></a></div>Okay, I totally auditioned for a national public speaking contest called "Ready For the Stage". It's taking place in Washington D.C. this week at an event called SEVEN. I am so lucky to be here learning from the best in entrepreneurial everything, and how to use speaking and events to launch more of what I love to do best: help women, write about women, make women superstars! Just think of how I will be able to promote my book "Off the Couch, Back to Business"-- A Woman's Guide to Success After Setback, as well as all of the awesome and important topics I love to write about, like cool mom stuff, women's rights, bringing positive energy and optimism into your life, orgaizations doing right by women and children and exposing the ones who aren't, and totally hot sports for chicks! <br />
<br />
GUESS WHAT ELSE??????<br />
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I am one of the semi-finalists! If I make it to the top four, I'll be competing on stage Thursday night from 7:30-9:30 PM Eastern. And...you can watch if you like! Here is <a href="http://www.readyforthestage.com/">the link to opt in</a>, or just "like" Ready For The Stage on Facebook.<br />
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And finally, if you are so inclined...you can place a pre-order for my book. Just click <a href="http://offthecouch.eventbrite.com/">http://offthecouch.eventbrite.com/</a> and as soon as it becomes available you"ll get it right off the press! Planned release is for first quarter 2011.<br />
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I've missed blogging so much! I'll be back in Michigan before I know it and will be sure to get my bloggin' on! Until then, I hope you'll tune in Thursday night and vote!<br />
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Thanks readers! You are all awesome!<br />
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april S.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-80629556497580640642010-10-22T01:22:00.003-04:002010-10-22T01:25:49.960-04:00What a night! A meeting with Congressman Mark SchauerI realize I am supposed to be on hiatus to meet my book deadline, and I am so thankful for your patience in doing so, but some things are too good to skip out on writing about. What a night I've had! I'd like to tell you about it...<br />
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I attended the 2010 Saline Area Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Awards. This is always a great event, but tonight was fantastic. Of course, I was thrilled to be there to support award honoree Jill Hartman, of Hartman Insurance, who is a smart and savvy business woman and super involved member of our community. I was also pleased to see Leibherr Aerospace and Gear Technology win the award for a larger business. Saline really is fortunate to have both of these businesses in our city. Kudos also to A2YP.TV for filming the event.<br />
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I was so happy to be there tonight, you'd think I was the one receiving the award. I may not have brought home a plaque or trophy, but I brought home a memory of an evening I won't soon forget. The company at my table couldn't be beat. Let me introduce you to my table-mates.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTIn1ofEuViLerQ8RryfgXkia_flz7yZoNxcZSDhkorbbmD4wkEfj08ICxNlXcTlgj4AJiHjrUUHDhfJU-W1PNxp7_J6Gs0o7sH_yjIHm33gqGn-hzDZZjueud2bcVKLPqWvlT24iye4/s1600/dems+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTIn1ofEuViLerQ8RryfgXkia_flz7yZoNxcZSDhkorbbmD4wkEfj08ICxNlXcTlgj4AJiHjrUUHDhfJU-W1PNxp7_J6Gs0o7sH_yjIHm33gqGn-hzDZZjueud2bcVKLPqWvlT24iye4/s200/dems+040.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
I was so pleased to dine with Congressman Mark Schauer, Saline City Councilman Brian Marl, Senior District Representative Fran Brennan, Mayor of Saline Gretchen Driskell, City Manager Todd Campbell and savvy business owner of DesignHub in Saline, Karen Ragland. I couldn't have dreamed this up any better!<br />
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An evening like tonight is a perfect way for me to remind all of my readers to vote this November. Now it's obvious from this post who I am voting for, and I've got some great reasons for doing so. (The only other candidate I wish had been there was David Rhoads, Saline City Council).I hope you'll consider doing the same. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwImXn_nfFPzhJsan3JBmSCcH36UJaa7Cg8ftRIzaErHU6NsctjclNlN_6A2dQ1_mMkeAU1hJWSRIEBkfDzy7QGgQyoen2R8yY8EUAaFZHYQCryVqpbgFbTR2Er2Pgr5kSRqFBpgXjNU/s1600/dems+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwImXn_nfFPzhJsan3JBmSCcH36UJaa7Cg8ftRIzaErHU6NsctjclNlN_6A2dQ1_mMkeAU1hJWSRIEBkfDzy7QGgQyoen2R8yY8EUAaFZHYQCryVqpbgFbTR2Er2Pgr5kSRqFBpgXjNU/s200/dems+044.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>It is so important to exercise your right to vote, especially YOU, ladies. The reason I say that is we must remember how many women in so many other countries will never have the freedom to fill out a ballot and have a voice. We are so fortunate here in the U. S. We may not have a woman in the Oval Office yet, but she's coming...ahem...Hillary. <br />
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Thanks to all for such a wonderful evening, to Mayor Driskell, Todd Campbell and Brian Marl (and David Rhoads who we missed) for taking such good care of our Saline citizens. Thank you Congressman Mark Schauer and your camp for looking out for so many people. I wish you all nothing but success this November!<br />
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<i>(photos top right, me and Congressman Schauer, bottom left me and City Councilman Brian Marl)<br />
</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-47263911340021027962010-10-03T01:08:00.002-04:002010-10-03T01:22:21.548-04:00Happy Hiatus, Be back Soon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35jxdZo9uhoi2oZJd4sN1nHHpusM_bYk8m58BTvWwxWf2kxzGE1ymH3YxxASb12J3dwMkg8QNjYSWq2YcwpLN9YWGPAt9OyK14PrUruoKWc6qc7TT2hkWhS41q6s8360LfEHLS5vEQY4/s1600/AprilScarlett-thumb-290x394-48278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35jxdZo9uhoi2oZJd4sN1nHHpusM_bYk8m58BTvWwxWf2kxzGE1ymH3YxxASb12J3dwMkg8QNjYSWq2YcwpLN9YWGPAt9OyK14PrUruoKWc6qc7TT2hkWhS41q6s8360LfEHLS5vEQY4/s320/AprilScarlett-thumb-290x394-48278.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>Hey readers! Just a quick note...I am so happy to announce I have a publisher for my first book...A Women's Guide To Business Success After Setback. With it, however, comes a looming deadline. This means I'm going to be out of the blogosphere for awhile because all of my time and attention will be on getting this book published and promoted. I will be back as soon as I possibly can!<br />
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I appreciate your understanding and support, and look forward to writing and hearing back from you again soon. I will keep you posted as to my progress! It is because of the encouragement and feedback from readers like each of you, that I have felt confident enough to pursue my dream of becoming an author. Thank you so much and I'll be in touch!<br />
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April ScarlettUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-70462353159834426192010-09-12T00:05:00.000-04:002010-09-12T00:05:21.034-04:00Back to school means PTA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwHgjSzjc6tPsxQ380cSCtO1q-LFy1UokJpvy_eI7zAHET373cqxwgxxp17kktzwF0HzFw7zwoJy4oIpDRUMvSZPUy8asw6MAfqvFwGsE7KmZunMRSBFUjN_8tV2K4boGwPs79dmtoBY/s1600/pta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwHgjSzjc6tPsxQ380cSCtO1q-LFy1UokJpvy_eI7zAHET373cqxwgxxp17kktzwF0HzFw7zwoJy4oIpDRUMvSZPUy8asw6MAfqvFwGsE7KmZunMRSBFUjN_8tV2K4boGwPs79dmtoBY/s320/pta.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Friday morning was this year's PTA coffee kick off at my youngest son's elementary school. Lots of parents, familiar and brand new, showed up to drink coffee, munch doughnuts and bagels and talk all things school policy, student fundraisers and volunteers who are needed everywhere. It was fun and informative, and really got the juices flowing toward making this school year better than ever before. <br />
Being a member of the PTA/PTO doesn't mean you have to "live" at your child's school. All the stereotypes of PTA mom's and dad's have them running non-stop from classroom to lunchroom, sewing costumes, blowing recess whistles and staying up all night baking cupcakes for spirit day. Don't be deterred. Just like any other volunteer organization, the more who join, the less there is to do for each one.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiny2v-erTjvs_v1iARC53FBjq-4TVCUZ3LOe7W4kCoNUJe-0gN8LdXTA3nL4WPdiYpOiy93ivCfaCFsT6r0vq5CASVqbMoiSEiNREoAVTfmuRXCumOWGKTq41hyqPr5XO8ESlJjMP74AA/s1600/kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiny2v-erTjvs_v1iARC53FBjq-4TVCUZ3LOe7W4kCoNUJe-0gN8LdXTA3nL4WPdiYpOiy93ivCfaCFsT6r0vq5CASVqbMoiSEiNREoAVTfmuRXCumOWGKTq41hyqPr5XO8ESlJjMP74AA/s320/kids.jpg" /></a></div>If you WANT to all but pitch a tent by the car loop outside the main entrance, well, more power to you! But you can be involved for as few as 30 minutes a month, if that is all you have time for. At our school, thirty minutes in the lunch room helping to open milk cartons and yogurt tubes is extremely appreciated. Are you a runner/walker? I bet you could take an hour to join the kids in their walk-a-thon. How about 15 minutes every so often to read aloud in the classroom? Are you one that needs a break from the kids during the day? Treasurers are always looking for help with money collection/counting and keeping the books. My point is...there really is something for everyone when it comes to doing something easy and in your comfort zone to help your child's school.<br />
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What I really love about being a PTA member (this year on the Board!), is what my child thinks about it. He loves knowing I am in the building, even if I'm not in his classroom. Plus, he gets a "backstage pass" to just about any event I am helping to set up. Finally, he knows I care about his school and what goes on there, which makes him more likely to care about it too. I'm setting a good example of volunteerism and team work.<br />
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I encourage parents to join their child's school's PTA. It'll only cost you 4 or 5 bucks for the year, and if you don't have that, they'll probably take you anyway. Don't be intimidated. The people are friendly and supportive and always appreciate the extra helpUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-82658536495736062422010-09-06T14:09:00.000-04:002010-09-06T14:09:18.362-04:00Sports Concussion Conference to be heldPerhaps, like me, you've received a phone call in the middle of your son's football practice from his trainer. "...he took a pretty hard hit to the head". Not the call you want to get.<br />
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Sure enough, after picking up my teenager and taking him to the emergency room for evaluation, he was diagnosed with a <a href="http://www.webmd.com/brain/concussion-traumatic-brain-injury-symptoms-causes-treatments">concussion</a>. <br />
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It is frightening to see your A student struggle to count backwards, really have to concentrate to come up with the backward sequence of the months in a year, or look like he just woke up and is still a little foggy, and see him stay that way for the rest of the day.<br />
My son is fine now, but I was rattled a bit. Thus the reason I think it is important to pass along this information about a Sports Concussion Conference coming up on Sept. 12.<br />
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<a href="http://neurosport.med.umich.edu/concussion.php">The Michigan NeuroSport Concussion Program and Michigan Athletics</a> is holding a conference called, "Keeping your head in the Game." It is for parents, trainers, coaches, athletes or whoever else wants to learn the ins and outs of all things related to concussions, including how to manage concussions and when it is safe for your child to return to play.<br />
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The keynote speaker will be Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, director of Michigan NeuroSport and Team Neurologist of Michigan Athletics and NCAA and Big Ten Conference Concussion consultant and advisor. Sounds like he knows his stuff!<br />
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You'll need to register to attend. Here is all of the information:<br />
<strong>Registration:</strong><br />
734-998-7432 or email<br />
<a href="mailto:concussion.registration@umich.edu">concussion.registration@umich.edu</a><br />
<strong>Date & Time: </strong><br />
Sunday, Sept. 12, from 3-5 p.m.<br />
<strong>Location:</strong><br />
Detroit Country Day School<br />
Performing Arts Center<br />
22305 W. 13 Mile Road<br />
Beverly Hills, MI 48025Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-10493361095798216252010-08-09T12:59:00.000-04:002010-08-09T12:59:42.013-04:00Sports Season Anxiety for momsLast week my youngest son (age 8) suffered his first ever sports injury while doing a forward roll off of a trampoline in gymnastics class. He landed on his head the wrong way, got the wind knocked out of him and had a pretty sore neck and chest. Yikes! This was the first time I think he's ever <i>really</i> felt pain. It was scary for him and really scary for me.<br />
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Today, my teenager heads off to "two a days" at football practice. It's going to be 90 degrees today with high humidity. Ugh! I packed his lunch and loaded him up with Gatorade but will that be enough? It's hot as Haites out there!<br />
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How do we draw the line between letting them go and trying not to worry ourselves to death as parents? Truly we can't wrap them up in bubble wrap like we've seen on TV. We don't want to share our anxiety with them, which would certainly erode their own confidence. We want to encourage them, toughen them up, teach them good sportsmanship and social skills. Athletics are a way of keeping our kids healthy and fit.<br />
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This is all good stuff, right? <br />
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All I can do is shuttle them to practice, prepare them the best I can with sleep, nutrition and encouragement, trust the coaches to know what the heck they are doing with our kids and cheer them on from the sidelines....<br />
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Oh, and maybe try and get them to take up professional golf...still all of the skill and athleticism, but no linebacker pounding them into the turf or high flying landings off a high bar. A mom can dream...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-33443056636940967042010-07-24T06:28:00.000-04:002010-07-24T06:28:22.803-04:00Literacy Library Book Drive: Stop, pop and drive! Very convenient!<div class="posted"><br />
</div><div class="image_left" style="width: 200px;"><img alt="kids books.jpg" class="mt-image-left" height="143" src="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2010/07/kids%20books-thumb-200x143-48302.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 20px 20px 0pt;" width="200" /></div>If your family is like mine, you understand how quickly the accumulation of children's books can overwhelm your bookshelves, long after your children have outgrown the colorful titles. It is true I have some sentimental favorites I'll probably never get rid of, but when it comes to cleaning out the archives, it is nice to know there are ways of passing kid's books on, ensuring the longtime enjoyment of budding readers. Next weekend, there is a real opportunity to do just that in Saline.<br />
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We've all read about strained school budgets. This morning, I received an email from the <a href="http://www.salineschools.com/">SAS</a> Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Steve Laatsch with an announcement regarding a great way to give back to young Saline students.<br />
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Two local Girl Scout Troops are sponsoring a Literacy Library Book Drive next weekend, July 31st and August 1st, at Historic Union School (200 N. Ann Arbor St. in Saline) as their community service project. It is quick and easy, literally stop, pop and drive.<br />
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Here's how it will work: Drive into Union School's Parking lot (entrance off McKay St.) with a trunk full of books, stop and pop your trunk, the Girl Scouts will unload the books for you and close your trunk, and off you go. Simple and convenient.<br />
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The books they are looking for are gently used early reader picture and chapter books, with nothing tougher to grasp than Junie B. Jones or Hardy Boys Mysteries type books. No amount is too small, one book is one more than they have now.<br />
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All donations will benefit students in grades Kindergarten - 3rd Grade and will be greatly appreciated by Saline students.<br />
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It goes without saying this is a perfect teaching moment for our own kids on how to give back, how to help others in need. Big kudos to the Girl Scouts for creating such a thoughtful community project which will benefit so many.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-76360212264171615402010-07-16T22:09:00.000-04:002010-07-16T22:09:47.074-04:00Lawsuit filed for 6 year old handcuffed in school, it is about time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>In May of this year, a six year old student at Sarah T. Reed elementary school in Louisiana was handcuffed and shackled because he had gotten into an argument with another student over a chair. Parents didn't find out until a couple of days later when he complained of his wrists being sore from the handcuffs. To their astonishment, this hadn't been the first time their child was handcuffed at school, nor would it be the last for any of the students, without public outcry.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPtQ8J-ADnXS-4-Md-BSKXVl8PXjWYoQd1GCne4VMWMyMYrV5m9ZQRccrAwsGVtaSUl8QfY6KyXkak36MuBWyHNYKgNIcrdNbVyoqP10VjX45bX-SxaKkPcfGwk5tbzMGcY5YYWUSUnA/s1600/handcuffs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPtQ8J-ADnXS-4-Md-BSKXVl8PXjWYoQd1GCne4VMWMyMYrV5m9ZQRccrAwsGVtaSUl8QfY6KyXkak36MuBWyHNYKgNIcrdNbVyoqP10VjX45bX-SxaKkPcfGwk5tbzMGcY5YYWUSUnA/s320/handcuffs.jpg" /></a></div>The child's name is Ja'Briel Weston. On behalf of all of the students at Sarah T. Reed, parents Robin and Sebastian Weston are <a href="http://www.neworleans.com/news/local-news/431130.html">filing suit</a> against the Superintendant, the Director of School Security, the Board of Education, the school Principal and two safety officers. The lawsuit pushes for a complete overhaul of school policy and procedures regarding disciplinary action.<br />
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I have written about corporal punishment in public schools before, in regards to using a paddle. Louisiana is one of the states remaining where it is still legal to use corporal punishment. Again, I think this kind of discipline is unhealthy for children on many levels, and keeps them from feeling safe at school. I will note that schools in New Orleans have become models for excellence in academia as they rebuild after the devastation of hurricane Katrina. Lets hope their policies and procedures can rise to the same level. I'll be interested to hear the outcome of this case, and will let you know as information becomes available.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-68824043754425088802010-07-14T12:22:00.000-04:002010-07-14T12:22:01.127-04:00Is it cool to "friend" your teen on Facebook?<div class="image_right" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 200px;"><img alt="Sams 1st Comm 016.JPG" class="mt-image-right" height="200" src="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2010/07/Sams%201st%20Comm%20016-thumb-200x266-47076.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 20px 20px;" width="150" /><div class="photo_credit"><br />
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A recent study by online fashion gamer <a href="http://www.roiworld.com/">Roiworld</a> released a study this month showing a decline in Facebook usage by teenagers. Out of 600 teens, ages 13-17, one in five have stopped using the social networking giant. The main reason being boredom. That said, I know in my house I have a teen who is one of the other four out of five, who <em>does</em> use Facebook, and MySpace too. I also have a Facebook account with both personal "friends" and professional "fans" or "likers". The question becomes whether or not it is acceptable to merge both my online social <br />
networking world with that of my teen?<br />
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To "friend or not to friend?" That is the question<br />
. <br />
I'm sure the answer hugely depends on the relationship a parent has with their teenager. Some parents want their kids to have a bit of privacy and freedom to be with their peers, others only allow social networking if they are allowed into their child's circle, with total access to their profile. Personally, I decided to do both. I am "friends" with my son on Facebook, where he has also friended many other relatives, but I keep my distance from his MySpace account. I am not naive, I know the language and topics of conversation certainly polar each other between the two sites, but I still see a pretty good sample of how he interacts with the people within his network.<br />
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It is possible to be a friend your child, and still not mortify them. Just because you see what they are up to doesn't mean you have to comment on their posts, for all <em>their</em> friends to see. If you need to send a message, try a private one instead of posting something on their wall. And note, teens are savvy users and can easily hide things from your view with a click of the privacy settings. Again, the relationship you have with your teen will dictate the outcome of communication as much online, as offline.<br />
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Some kids really don't care if their parents are in their network. One mom I know was surprised to receive a friend request from her sophomore son. She said to him, "You don't have to do that. I trust you." And he replied, "I don't care mom, I'm friends with everyone else in the family." Turned out <em>she</em> was the one who felt uncomfortable about it, invading his privacy.<br />
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One article in the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/08/AR2008030801034.html">Washington Pos</a>t which was written back when Facebook first went public, quoted a teen who turned on her computer and found a request from her parent. She said, "I feel like they just walked into my room."<br />
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Being included within your child's social networking circle in no way replaces the need to monitor what else they are doing online. My kids still have to use the family computer in the dining room, they aren't allowed computers in their rooms. I still know what sites my kids visit, what games they play, etc.<br />
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No matter what you decide for your distinctly unique relationship with your child, my advice is this. Sit down and have a real discussion about how your teen feels about a new, online relationship between the two of you. Will it mortify them? Or will it be away to open up about things they find hard to deal with face to face (just make sure you learn how to post privately vs. publicly)? Chances are, you might not see much more within your child's online network, as you already see in their real one.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-31181738428469983942010-07-07T15:31:00.000-04:002010-07-07T15:31:58.736-04:00Teaching kids the attitude of gratitude<div class="posted"><br />
</div><div class="image_left" style="width: 200px;"><img alt="Thank you.jpg" class="mt-image-left" height="184" src="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2010/07/Thank%20you-thumb-200x184-46246.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 20px 20px 0pt;" width="200" /></div>I am still amazed at how often I notice adults not exercising the practice of appreciation and gratitude. It is the little things, like when someone lets you turn into traffic ahead of them and you wave "thanks" as you pull out in front of them, or when someone holds the door open at the gas station, or stops the elevator doors from closing so you can get on. In any of these situations I would be mortified if I didn't take a second to say "thank you". But I do see this behavior all the time, where people could care less about thanking anybody. It makes me wonder "weren't these people raised to say thanks" and "I wonder how their kids will learn to be thankful?" Showing gratitude and appreciation is an important value to put upon our children, and it is an easy lesson to teach.<br />
<br />
First and foremost is teaching by example. When your kids see you act in a thankful manner, they will see it as a normal way to behave. Not only is it nice for children to see you being appreciative of others, but of themselves too. Next time your child gives you a spontaneous hug, be sure and let them know how much you appreciate it.<br />
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We've all seen children receive gifts they do not like, or which is a duplicate of what they already have. Be sure to give a reminder to younger tots about how their reaction may effect the gift giver. No child wants to deliberately hurt someone's feelings. Let them know if their is a problem with the gift, you will help them to work out a solution after the fact.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmHIyaoobW1NRcEKv3x84U4HXovxeOQnM6yOhU4IfqrUgFuCM5OQ2PaRo1Ik1qIjFwa_u1b7huib8TSqhry0aQ3sYYUKIAs3Q5sTm7-5mNMNi9Cslik_2NHZRHn6Liz32Woqs3ZVRQ1Q/s1600/thank_you_comment_graphic_02.gif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmHIyaoobW1NRcEKv3x84U4HXovxeOQnM6yOhU4IfqrUgFuCM5OQ2PaRo1Ik1qIjFwa_u1b7huib8TSqhry0aQ3sYYUKIAs3Q5sTm7-5mNMNi9Cslik_2NHZRHn6Liz32Woqs3ZVRQ1Q/s200/thank_you_comment_graphic_02.gif.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I also think the act of sending Thank You Cards is a lost art. Even the youngest of kids, with guidance, can finger paint their appreciation on a quick note, letting the gift giver know their thoughts and efforts were appreciated. I've told my children, "the gifts aren't really yours until the thank you card is in the mail."<br />
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Third, and perhaps the best lesson of all, is perspective. Some children have no concept of the fact there are other children who can only dream of what they have. Take the opportunity to have your child participate in a toy drive, food pantry or children's hospital cheer group. Not only will they see what other kids go through, but they'll be on the receiving end of the appreciation...and that is a gift all its own. Part of knowing how to be thankful comes from knowing what it is like to give.<br />
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Finally, there doesn't need to be a special occasion to recognize the many things to be thankful for. Thanks can be given any day of the year. Teach your kids to appreciate what it means to be healthy and to have people in their lives who love them. That is what they want most anyway, remind them how lucky they are to have it.<br />
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For more <a href="http://www.nymetroparents.com/newarticle.cfm?colid=7294">tips</a> on getting the attitude of gratitude across to your kids, check out <a href="http://www.parentdish.com/2008/11/19/raising-thankful-kids/">Parentdish.com.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-50501656574053259062010-07-01T14:40:00.000-04:002010-07-01T14:40:16.985-04:00Top twelve fruits and veggies with pesticides: Yikes!There has been yet another conversation brought into the mix about the benefits of buying <br />
<div class="image_right" style="width: 250px;"><img alt="apples.jpg" class="mt-image-right" height="250" src="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2010/07/apples-thumb-250x250-45738.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 20px 20px;" width="250" /></div>organic fruits and vegetables. I'll admit, as much as I would like to say that I buy strictly organic foods, the truth is, they are often more costly than I can afford.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37156010/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/">Studies</a> show children with ADD and ADHD have much higher levels of pesticides than children who do not. And though my children do not have this condition, the information I've learned has got me wanting to find ways to pay the extra charge to keep my family as pesticide free as I can.<br />
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I was under the impression that as long as I washed fruits and vegetables well, the pesticides would be gone. Not so.<br />
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There are a couple of <a href="http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/nutrition/a/pesticides.htm">lists</a> on the web and elsewhere that itemize the most contaminated fruits and vegetables when it comes to pesticides. <strong>The pesticide levels were taken after washing and peeling.</strong> The recommendation is to stay away from the top twelve, and you'll limit your pesticide intake by 80%. Well, the <a href="http://gourmetfood.about.com/od/slowfoodorganiclocal/a/organicproduce_2.htm">top twelve</a> are all of the typical, kid friendly fruits and veggies that my kids love. My youngest will sometimes eat two apples a day, at the very least he eats one per day.<br />
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I'm sure there are many parents who already have this information. I am hoping, however, that if there are more out there like myself, who really believe they are doing the best for their children by washing and/or peeling their fruits and veggies, that this will be informative and useful information.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-71137827009917020802010-06-28T11:05:00.000-04:002010-06-28T11:05:37.453-04:00Tons of family fun at "Bid For a Cure" event July 1st in Saline<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSb0Uv107kIqYyNazm9ztWxttTGIJ7recSy7fFecElnyNDv2AmDar4UEHCCZw0L_pvSAdVNaUFKLuagDlSvoOBxz3bY3mRu3QZUchJsdu6xW5QRtYyoyUx_B0hJcEAaDaqxvOHG4V6Qo/s1600/Bid+for+a+cure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSb0Uv107kIqYyNazm9ztWxttTGIJ7recSy7fFecElnyNDv2AmDar4UEHCCZw0L_pvSAdVNaUFKLuagDlSvoOBxz3bY3mRu3QZUchJsdu6xW5QRtYyoyUx_B0hJcEAaDaqxvOHG4V6Qo/s320/Bid+for+a+cure.jpg" /></a></div>If you are looking for some excitement for you and your kids, while giving to a good cause, have I got an event for you! This Thursday's <a href="http://www.besaline.org/events/bid_for_the_cure/">Bid For a Cure</a> event in Saline is sure to not disappoint.<br />
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The event is July 1st from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM on S. Ann Arbor St. in Downtown Saline. There will be celebrity athletes galore on hand for autographs, including <a href="http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=det">Detroit Tigers</a> Brandon Inge, Rick Porcello, Joel Zumaya, Ryan Perry, and Austin Jackson. PAWS will be around to hang with the kids from 3PM - 5PM. There will be food, refreshments, cotton candy, face painting and live music.<br />
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A tin can raffle will be accepting tickets all day, winners to be drawn at 7PM. The items for bid are fantastic: Family pass to <a href="http://www.hfmgv.org/">Henry Ford Museum</a>, one year membership to <a href="http://www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg/">Mattheai Botanical Gardens</a>, a Men's Trek Bike, a signed script from the Young and the Restless, a Vera Bradley bag and much, much more.<br />
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The live auction begins at 8 PM and the items are nothing short of amazing: a $17,000 Smile Make Over with veneers or crowns (I got my veneers from this <a href="http://www.jamesolsendds.com/">dentist</a> and am super-happy!), 18 tickets in Brandon Inge's Luxury Suite at Comerica Park, a <a href="http://www.detroitlions.com/">Detroit Lions</a> Experience package, unlimited car washes at Zippy's in Ann Arbor, and too much more to list here.<br />
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The point is, this is going to be a terrific outing for the entire family. Food, drink and autograph tickets as well as auction bids all go to the <a href="http://ww5.komen.org/">Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure</a>. The event is sponsored by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saline-MI/Brecon-Grille/302639431665">Brecon Grille</a> (best pulled pork sandwich you'll find!). See you there!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-60854485469138593572010-06-23T16:34:00.000-04:002010-06-23T16:34:12.407-04:00Work-at-home moms and summer, how do we get anything done?Ahhh summer! I am actually one of those parents who gets as excited about having the <br />
<div class="image_right" style="width: 300px;"><img alt="work-at-home-mom-cartoon.jpg" class="mt-image-right" height="288" src="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2010/06/work-at-home-mom-cartoon-thumb-300x288-44776.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 20px 20px;" width="300" /></div>kids home as they are to be out of school. I love hangin' with my boys everyday, not having to get them up at the crack of dawn, the leisure, the play, the whatever.<br />
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The only thing about summer that is really different for me, is that suddenly I've got to put my time management skills into overdrive. You see, I work from home.<br />
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During the school year, I know I can count on a pretty steady routine where my time is my own from 8:45 AM to 3:00 PM. I can write all day, go to meetings, meet deadlines, do research (uninterrupted) and whatever else I need to do to keep my work life rolling. How then, do I keep up the same schedule when the kids are home from school?<br />
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I'm not one of those parents who want my kids in day care, camp (unless they really WANT to go), or with a sitter when I am home. My kids are 8 and almost 15, so there is something to say about a bit of self-sufficiency here, but they still require a lot of attention and I want to give it to them.<br />
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There are some <a href="http://www.powerhomebiz.com/112005/time.htm">experts</a> who say outsourcing and virtual assistants are the way to go. Well, they aren't in the budget just yet. Other experts say close the door and don't open it. That means I'm "at work". I don't like that one either.<br />
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This is what I do. <a href="http://www.pinecanyonmedia.com/time-management.htm">Plan. Plan. Plan.</a> I get up earlier than the kids to get the routine office- type stuff out of the way and get as much done as I can while they are sleeping. This is also true for late at night after I've put them to bed.<br />
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If I know I have a heavy workload coming up, I let them know the day before so they are prepared to see me at my desk most of the day, then I compensate on days that aren't so demanding. Even on busy days, I take Star Wars battle breaks, or play a round of Mumbo's Tumble, or drive my teenager to wherever he's going. You'd be amazed how many battle ships you can blow up in fifteen minutes! I "plan" a trip to the movies into my schedule. A matinee just means I'll be fitting in two hours work somewhere else.<br />
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During the school year, day time is work time and after school is family time (with all the other stuff like dinner, laundry, kids sports, birthday party planning, groceries, etc.) and in the evening it's nice to hang out with my husband. But summer is less rigorous. It means fun and freedom and family. I don't mind moving my schedule around a bit to accommodate all the extra noisy questions and lunch requests, laughing and legos and teen taxi service. Summer will fly by and before we know it we'll be back to school, back to schedules, and I'll wonder how I ever worked when it was so quiet.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-66557910346897923422010-06-05T12:31:00.000-04:002010-06-05T12:31:06.996-04:00Teens want summer jobs, summer money The phone rings yet again,<br />
<br />
<div class="image_right" style="width: 200px;"><img alt="help wanted.jpg" class="mt-image-right" height="180" src="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2010/06/help%20wanted-thumb-200x180-42470.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 20px 20px;" width="200" /></div>"Is your son available to do some more yard work? My neighbor likes how my yard looks and is wondering if he could do hers?"<br />
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This makes customer number three in a time span of about a week and a half, and he's not even advertising. It is a true snowball effect in the middle of eighty degree weather.<br />
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My teen is just about to turn fifteen this summer. He's always been a hard worker doing everything from bailing hay and helping out with community events, to keeping an eye on his younger brother. Lately though, he's discovered how nice it is to earn his own money, pay his own way through night's out with friends, movies, munchies, and lucky for me, even Mother's Day.<br />
<br />
With summer upon us, chances are your teen may be saying, "I want a job". There are a few things to consider before unleashing your guy or gal into the world of outside employment.<br />
First of all, the legalities. According to <a href="http://life.familyeducation.com/teen/careers/34427.html">FamilyEducation.com</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>Under federal law: </i><i> * Children younger than 14 are restricted to delivering newspapers, working in a non-hazardous business owned by a parent, baby-sitting or doing other minor domestic chores in a private home, or performing on stage, screen or radio. They may work only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the school year and until 9 p.m. in the summer.<br />
* At 14 and 15, teens may work at non-hazardous jobs for three hours on school days, eight hours on non-school days, 18 hours during a school week and 40 hours during a non-school week.<br />
* At 16 and 17, teens may perform any non-hazardous job for any number of hours.</i><br />
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A year ago, at what some expert's consider to be the bottom of the recession, it was nearly impossible for teens to find summer work because there were so many adults looking in the same market. But this summer, jobs seem to be more available for teens.<br />
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When looking for summer work, consider your teen's interests. Are they a mega swimmer? Check out lifeguard posts at community pools and beaches. Do they love animals? How about an internship at a veterinarian or kennel helper at the <a href="http://www.hshv.org/">Humane Society</a>. Are they more social? How about the movie theater, a restaurant or camp counselor?<br />
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Or, like my son, they can explore their <a href="http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/">entrepreneurial spirit</a> by starting their own service business like lawn care, washing cars, dog walking, you name it! For safety's sake, however, it is a good idea to know who your kid is doing the work for, so family, friends and referrals are a good and safe way to find customers. If you, as parents, work during the day, a summer job can also be a great way to know your teen is still supervised, in a professional environment.<br />
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I am all for my teen working this summer, as long as he does so responsibly and the job doesn't take over his "being a kid". He still will have football conditioning, 4H and hanging out with friends and family. But he'll have a sense of accomplishment, a few more business skills and a fatter savings account before the craziness of the next school year begins.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-61409685333953014542010-06-02T11:52:00.000-04:002010-06-02T11:52:21.701-04:00Literary characters trump video game heroes<div class="posted"><br />
</div><div class="image_left" style="width: 200px;"><img alt="Thumbnail image for video gaming clipart.jpg" class="mt-image-left" height="223" src="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2010/06/video%20gaming%20clipart-thumb-590x659-42036-thumb-200x223-42037.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 20px 20px 0pt;" width="200" /></div>Imagine my delight when my eight year old son, who was playing a Star Wars game on Wii, blasting and lasering and dodging and exploding, paused his game, looked back at me and quoted a silly three-liner from a Judy Blume book. Hooray. Books still play a role in his imagination, even among battles with ships bursting into flames.<br />
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I'll credit that incident to the moderation we have placed, as parents, on his gaming activities, and the roots of reading we placed on our kids, incessantly, in their very young years. I am not a hater of video gaming. I do not believe they will be at fault for the downturn of future minds or upswing in children obesity numbers. As the Palo Alto Medical Foundation reports on their <a href="http://www.pamf.org/preteen/parents/videogames.html">website</a>, just like anything else, video games are okay in moderation as long as they are the right games, for the right amount of time.<br />
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Parents are advised to pay attention to the ratings. Our kids didn't start playing video games until they were at least six years old, after throngs of books had been read to them over and over again since before they were even born. For them, almost anything rated E for Everyone was okay. Even Star Wars was okay for us, as it was the LEGO version, and nothing more than they would have seen in the original movie.<br />
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Also, it is important to limit the time kids play, to make sure other activities take priority, or to even use gaming as a treat or reward. Monitor games, don't put them in the kids' bedrooms and talk about the games with your kids to find out what it is they like about them. Then, share your findings with other parents to keep everyone current on the video market.<br />
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According to <a href="http://www.pamf.org/preteen/parents/videogames.html">PAMF</a>, too much game time with violent video games can lead to more aggressive behavior. This is due to the repetition of the violence and a desire for kids to want to role play their gaming heroes. Again, a huge incentive for time limits.<br />
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I for one, am thrilled my son gets as much fun out of his literary characters, as he does his gaming ones. His room may be full of Darth Vader and R2D2, with light sabers and laser blasters, but at bedtime or on "library day", his heroes are still <a href="http://www.kidsreads.com/series/series-fudge-author.asp">Fudge</a>, <a href="http://www.scholastic.com/titles/geronimostilton/">Geronimo Stilton</a>, <a href="http://www.camjansen.com/">Cam Janson </a>and the barnyard animals of <a href="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/w/holly-webb/lost-in-storm.htm">Holly Webb books</a>...with a little bit ofUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-28936258542892492672010-05-29T15:14:00.000-04:002010-05-29T15:14:56.020-04:0010 yr. old runner inspires other girls, our daughters<div class="image_right" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 200px;"><img alt="Lauren 002.jpg" class="mt-image-right" height="200" src="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2010/05/Lauren%20002-thumb-200x266-41691.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 20px 20px;" width="150" /><div class="photo_credit">Photo by Julie Charney</div></div><br />
Sometimes it takes awhile for our kids to find their niche, the one or two interests that will fuel them through childhood and adolescence. For Lauren Charney, a 10 year old fourth- grader from Saline, it wasn't until third grade that she truly found her passion. Running.<br />
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Not only has the sport inspired Lauren, but it has given her the platform to inspire other girls to run too. A national platform.<br />
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<a href="http://www.frostedflakes.com/"></a> Although Lauren participates in other sports, it is running that "makes me feel like I can do anything." When I asked Lauren what advice she would give other girls who might be a little shy about putting their first step forward, she didn't hesitate in giving credit to <a href="http://www.girlsontherun.org/default.html">Girls On the Run</a>. Girls On the Run has given Lauren a vehicle to great achievement and put her in a place to inspire all of us.<a href="http://www.girlsontherun.org/default.html">Girls On the Run</a> is a non-profit, non-competitive organization. According to their website,<br />
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<em>"Girls on the Run® is a life-changing, experiential learning programs for girls age eight to thirteen years old. The programs combine training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development."</em><br />
<em> </em> <br />
Lauren Charney has taken her running a step further. Turns out her love of the sport and inspirational attitude has launched her to a place where she is one of six national finalists in the <a href="http://www.frostedflakes.com/#/home/">Kelloggs 2010 Junior Achievement Awards</a>. She has already been flown to Chicago for a photo/video shoot, and is now being featured on the Kelloggs <a href="http://www.frostedflakes.com/#/home/">webisite</a> competing for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESPY_Awards">2010 ESPY</a> award. She will fly to Los Angeles later this summer to attend the ESPY breakfast, where the winner will be announced. The winner will then attend the <a href="http://www.chiff.com/recreation/sports/espy-awards.htm">ESPY Award Ceremony</a> that evening. <strong>To learn more about Lauren and vote her to to the top</strong>, go to <a href="http://www.frostedflakes.com/">www.frostedflakes.com</a>.<br />
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Lauren has learned more than how to prepare for a race (like loading up on healthy peanut butter waffles and warming up her muscles with jumping jacks). She has learned what it is like to be supported by a community, to have self-esteem, to feel empowered to do anything.<br />
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Sometimes it takes a little time for our kids to really find what it is they are looking for. When they do, it is important for us as parents to support them, find outlets for them to go after what they dream of that gives them a sense of purpose and accomplishment. We all could learn a lot from girls like Lauren. It is never too late to take the first step.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435531572136428484.post-20792539719569769982010-05-25T11:55:00.001-04:002010-05-25T12:10:57.218-04:00Saline District Library cool for teens this summer<div class="image_left" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 200px;"><img alt="library inside.jpg" class="mt-image-left" height="150" src="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2010/05/library%20inside-thumb-200x150-41206.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 20px 20px 0pt;" width="200" /><br />
<div class="photo_credit">Photo by Vance Shutes--Real Estate One</div></div><br />
I don't know about you, but when I was a teenager (ahem...back in the day), the only thing<br />
we went to the library for was to study and do homework with friends. We had to whisper every bit of the time we were there, and we were afraid to get up and wander around looking for books in fear of being reprimanded.<br />
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Now I live in <a href="http://www.besaline.com/">Saline</a> with my family. Compared to the library of my youth, the <a href="http://saline.lib.mi.us/">Saline District Library</a> is a rock star. Not only do teens have their own space there, complete with internet access, music and teen books galore, but the programs being offered to teens this summer are second to none.<br />
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We all know that most really good movies start out as even better books. The SDL has teen movie days showing rated PG-13 films from terrific books. This Friday kicks things off with <i>17 again</i>, then later this summer the fun and suspenseful <i>Jaws</i>, and the breathtaking cinematography and drama of <i>Titanic</i>. It wouldn't be a true movie experience without popcorn, so the library is providing that too!<br />
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Any parent who has a teenager is well aware of the Twilight, New Moon and upcoming Eclipse frenzy. If your kids aren't into Edward, Jacob and Bella, there is a good chance you are! Eclipse comes out in theatres June 30, so it makes perfect sense to attend the Eclipse Pre-release Teen Party on June 29th. Teens get to test their Twilight knowledge with games, make some cool gothic stuff and graze cuisine of all things vampire. How cool is that?<br />
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Another of my favorite programs for teens this summer is later on August 12th. For all <br />
<div class="image_right" style="width: 200px;"><img alt="Saline library logo.jpg" class="mt-image-right" height="200" src="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2010/05/Saline%20library%20logo-thumb-200x200-41208.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 20px 20px;" width="200" /></div>the budding clothing designers out there it is the Project Runway: Back To School Edition where teens will Up-cycle a fabulous new creation for their fall wardrobe. Plus, they’ll discuss the fashion industry and careers for young designers and check out what’s hot for back to school.<br />
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There are a ton of other programs for teens and all ages this summer at the Saline District Library, a lot of which do require reading! As a matter of fact, the teen summer reading program is giving prizes away for the first, sixth and twelfth books read. Some programs do require registration, so be sure and check the website.<br />
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I for one, need no flashing lights, sparkly baubles or trends du jour to get me into the library. I love the smell of the books, the hushed sounds of patrons walking among the shelves, the giggles of delight from a puppet show in the children's section. If, however, you are looking for a way to get your teenager in the library doors more often, be sure and let them know about all the "cool" things happening at their neighborhood library this summerUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0