From one of your youngest (and cutest, no doubt :) ) admirers!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Interesting Idea...
Trying to embed a video:
I just watched this video on the Fox News website, and thought it was pretty amusing. I'm not sure if I'd use the same tactic with Kiddo were he to come home with a report card like that, but it would be tempting. I can't decide what's funnier: the son's reaction to his discipline, the newsman's pointing out that the child did get an A in PE, or the newswoman saying, "Congratulations!" to the family at the end of the video.
What do you think you'd do in that situation?
I just watched this video on the Fox News website, and thought it was pretty amusing. I'm not sure if I'd use the same tactic with Kiddo were he to come home with a report card like that, but it would be tempting. I can't decide what's funnier: the son's reaction to his discipline, the newsman's pointing out that the child did get an A in PE, or the newswoman saying, "Congratulations!" to the family at the end of the video.
What do you think you'd do in that situation?
Monday, February 9, 2009
Why, oh Why, oh Why?
There's nothing like a Primary kid to make you feel good about yourself. Well, sometimes, that actually is true. I've had children tell me they love me on the first day I ever taught their class, or draw me cute little pictures for no apparent reason. On the other hand, they can also make you feel really stupid sometimes.
With the new year, I've received a new crop of CTR-7s (kids turning 7 this year), and I love them to pieces. They generally know how to walk in the hall, they don't demand treats like my last class did, they usually stay in their seats, and they're just so cute and sweet. But their questions, and sometimes comments, can really throw me off guard sometimes. Here are just a few gems:
* Yesterday, one girl looked at me and asked, "Why do you wear almost the same thing every week?" So I had to explain that, as she knows, I am pregnant, and I keep getting bigger and bigger and now most of my clothes don't fit. As a result, I have one maternity skirt, and about 3 shirts nice enough to pair with it. Do the math!!! No, actually, I didn't say all that, I'm not evil. I stopped after the first sentence.
* I asked the same child, whose mother has been very ill, how her mommy was doing. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?" I pointed out that I hadn't had a chance to talk to her mother since her illness. "Well, she was sitting on the same bench as you during Church. You could have asked her then!" Touche! "Well," I said, "then, how are YOU?"
* The first week I taught them, one of the girls asked, "Is this a true story?" I replied that it was from the lesson manual, so I assumed it was a true story. "But how do you really know?" piped up another girl. Well, uh...
* We had a lesson in which we were supposed to say names that would be familiar to the children, and ask them what they thought of when they heard that name. Many of the names I suggested brought no real response, so I hastily decided to mention Abraham Lincoln-- positive response. So then I said, "Barack Obama." Note to self: BAD IDEA. While, yes, they all knew that name, one girl warned, "But he's BAD!" This upset the other children, who said things such as, "No, he's NOT!" or, "No, he's our President." I said that it wasn't really our job to decide if he's bad.
"No, he IS bad," she insisted. "He kills babies!!!!" Not surprisingly, this upset the children even more.
"He does not kill babies," I countered, trying to reassure the four other worried children. "He just has different ideas about..." Then I suddenly realized it is NOT my job to explain the abortion debate to a group of six-year-olds, and desperately tried to change the subject. But the whole situation still doesn't really sit well with me. I am absolutely pro-life myself, but I can't stand it when people make inflammatory claims that anyone who is pro-choice is a "baby killer." It's really NOT the same, if you ask me. But I was able to remind myself that I was talking to a six-year-old, who is likely just mimicking something she's heard someone else say. And even if she or her family honestly believe it, they do have the right to feel that way. It's not my job to change their minds.
Anyway, it was certainly the oddest discussion I've ever had with a Primary class. I've been terrified that my kids will go home and tell their parents, "'Sally' says Barack Obama kills babies. But 'Sister X' says he doesn't. Does he?" I can't even imagine what their parents would think of that! I'm still unsure how I should have handled it, other than to never have brought up the name of a current political figure... Any ideas?
With the new year, I've received a new crop of CTR-7s (kids turning 7 this year), and I love them to pieces. They generally know how to walk in the hall, they don't demand treats like my last class did, they usually stay in their seats, and they're just so cute and sweet. But their questions, and sometimes comments, can really throw me off guard sometimes. Here are just a few gems:
* Yesterday, one girl looked at me and asked, "Why do you wear almost the same thing every week?" So I had to explain that, as she knows, I am pregnant, and I keep getting bigger and bigger and now most of my clothes don't fit. As a result, I have one maternity skirt, and about 3 shirts nice enough to pair with it. Do the math!!! No, actually, I didn't say all that, I'm not evil. I stopped after the first sentence.
* I asked the same child, whose mother has been very ill, how her mommy was doing. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?" I pointed out that I hadn't had a chance to talk to her mother since her illness. "Well, she was sitting on the same bench as you during Church. You could have asked her then!" Touche! "Well," I said, "then, how are YOU?"
* The first week I taught them, one of the girls asked, "Is this a true story?" I replied that it was from the lesson manual, so I assumed it was a true story. "But how do you really know?" piped up another girl. Well, uh...
* We had a lesson in which we were supposed to say names that would be familiar to the children, and ask them what they thought of when they heard that name. Many of the names I suggested brought no real response, so I hastily decided to mention Abraham Lincoln-- positive response. So then I said, "Barack Obama." Note to self: BAD IDEA. While, yes, they all knew that name, one girl warned, "But he's BAD!" This upset the other children, who said things such as, "No, he's NOT!" or, "No, he's our President." I said that it wasn't really our job to decide if he's bad.
"No, he IS bad," she insisted. "He kills babies!!!!" Not surprisingly, this upset the children even more.
"He does not kill babies," I countered, trying to reassure the four other worried children. "He just has different ideas about..." Then I suddenly realized it is NOT my job to explain the abortion debate to a group of six-year-olds, and desperately tried to change the subject. But the whole situation still doesn't really sit well with me. I am absolutely pro-life myself, but I can't stand it when people make inflammatory claims that anyone who is pro-choice is a "baby killer." It's really NOT the same, if you ask me. But I was able to remind myself that I was talking to a six-year-old, who is likely just mimicking something she's heard someone else say. And even if she or her family honestly believe it, they do have the right to feel that way. It's not my job to change their minds.
Anyway, it was certainly the oddest discussion I've ever had with a Primary class. I've been terrified that my kids will go home and tell their parents, "'Sally' says Barack Obama kills babies. But 'Sister X' says he doesn't. Does he?" I can't even imagine what their parents would think of that! I'm still unsure how I should have handled it, other than to never have brought up the name of a current political figure... Any ideas?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
"They scare me, Mommy!"
One thing you can evidently all be grateful for is that you don't live near me during sandal-wearing season. I've known for a while I don't have the prettiest feet-- the soles particularly are almost always dry and cracked-- but I never really thought they were truly horrifying. Well, guess again, Mommy!
In the last few months, during which I've generally always been wearing socks and/or shoes (in the summer I go barefoot at home A LOT), Kiddo has developed some sort of fear of my feet or something. If I ever so much as enter a room barefoot, he cries out, "Mommy, I want you to wear some socks (or, sometimes he says shoes)! Put some socks on, Mama!" If I don't jump on it, he gets pretty agitated. I thought this was odd, so I asked him why. I think his reply was something like, "I don't like your feet" or "I don't like you to be barefoot."
"Why?" I questioned. "Are Mommy's feet scary?"
"YES!"
What could I do, but laugh? However, meanie that I am, sometimes I just randomly call out, "Hey, Kiddo!" and lift up a foot and growl at him. Sometimes he actually thinks it's funny. I have started trying to remember lotion more often, but I don't see a huge difference. He'd just better hope that my crazy hormones don't do what they did when I was expecting him-- for the last 3 months, I was so warm I almost never wore socks... and it stayed that way until 3 months post-partum... There could be some scary days up ahead for Kiddo!
In the last few months, during which I've generally always been wearing socks and/or shoes (in the summer I go barefoot at home A LOT), Kiddo has developed some sort of fear of my feet or something. If I ever so much as enter a room barefoot, he cries out, "Mommy, I want you to wear some socks (or, sometimes he says shoes)! Put some socks on, Mama!" If I don't jump on it, he gets pretty agitated. I thought this was odd, so I asked him why. I think his reply was something like, "I don't like your feet" or "I don't like you to be barefoot."
"Why?" I questioned. "Are Mommy's feet scary?"
"YES!"
What could I do, but laugh? However, meanie that I am, sometimes I just randomly call out, "Hey, Kiddo!" and lift up a foot and growl at him. Sometimes he actually thinks it's funny. I have started trying to remember lotion more often, but I don't see a huge difference. He'd just better hope that my crazy hormones don't do what they did when I was expecting him-- for the last 3 months, I was so warm I almost never wore socks... and it stayed that way until 3 months post-partum... There could be some scary days up ahead for Kiddo!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Support Your Local Library
Well, it's no secret our family depends on the Library for a great deal of our entertainment. I know that when I moved here, I complained that our Library had a poor selection of Storytimes, Young Children's books, CDs, and DVDs. However, I have since discovered the joys of the Inter-Library Loan, unlimited holds, and some wonderful librarians who love our Kiddo and know him by name. They've increased their number of Storytimes, and seen a large increase in attendance, as well. After remodeling, they've added a number of fun new toys and books to the Children's department. The funny/interesting thing I've discovered is that many of the items I've requested for Kiddo from other Libraries throughout our region have recently been purchased by our own Local Library. I like to joke with the Daddy-O that they're tracking what Kiddo reads and watches to see what makes him so special, ha-ha-ha.
Anyway, I saw these two headlines on USA Today which made me really sad.
Country's oldest public library could close this year
U.S. libraries on borrowed time?
Even sadder are many readers' comments implying that Libraries are obsolete because of the Internet. I love being able to access huge amounts of information from my own computer, but for me it could never replace the feeling I get when I wander around the Library. Nothing is better than holding, and even smelling, a new book. And I just don't trust a lot of the information on the Internet-- so much has not been verified for authenticity or even general readability!
Hopefully the Libraries in your area are well-funded, well-used, and well-appreciated. I know that our town also has two small branch libraries, and it is likely those will close soon. So, just in case, make sure to go to the Library this week-- and take a child with you, so they can experience the wonders that can be found therein, too!
Anyway, I saw these two headlines on USA Today which made me really sad.
Country's oldest public library could close this year
U.S. libraries on borrowed time?
Even sadder are many readers' comments implying that Libraries are obsolete because of the Internet. I love being able to access huge amounts of information from my own computer, but for me it could never replace the feeling I get when I wander around the Library. Nothing is better than holding, and even smelling, a new book. And I just don't trust a lot of the information on the Internet-- so much has not been verified for authenticity or even general readability!
Hopefully the Libraries in your area are well-funded, well-used, and well-appreciated. I know that our town also has two small branch libraries, and it is likely those will close soon. So, just in case, make sure to go to the Library this week-- and take a child with you, so they can experience the wonders that can be found therein, too!
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