Brain Poem

Thursday Favorites

My friend Deborah over at Brain Insights just recently posted a poem about play and the brain.  I encourage you to take a look.  Here is a little hint of what is to come. 

Out came the tea set and a teddy bear

Bottomless pretend tea and cookies to share

On goes music and we go grooving

Wow yes it’s true our brains, improving

Please check out the rest of the poem HERE

I want the other guy

Wordless Wednesday


Last night as we watched and waited for the election results to come in I asked Nadia my 3 year old daughter who she thought should be the president for the next 4 years.  "The other guy" she said.  I asked her what she meant by that and she informed me that she did not want Barack Obama to be the president because I did not take her to meet him.  A few weeks earlier I had been given a ticket to see President Obama speak and did not bring her because I knew the lines would be long and the weather would not be good.  She is apparently very upset with me.  I guess this is her first of many political disappointments in life. 

Grandma's Smile

Teaser Tuesday

Grandma’s Smile
Written by Randy Siegel
Illustrated by Dianne DiSalvo

Long-distance Grandmothers will love this book about a 6-year-old boy who gets a call from his grandmother on a snowy day. She has lost her smile.

“Did you look around for it?” I asked.
 
“I searched everywhere,” she said. “In every room, every cabinet, every drawer. My smile is nowhere to be found. Is there anyway you can come down here and help me find it?
Pleeeeeeezzze.”

So, of course, our young hero goes to his grandma’s rescue. And it doesn’t take him long to find her smile. There are nice, pastel illustrations with just the right amount of detail. It’s a story that will make you smile. This picture book is great for toddlers through 2nd grade.
 
Find it on amazon below.

Don't baby

Motivation Monday

If you want a baby, have a new one. Don't baby the old one.
Jessamyn West

Recently I attended a workshop taught by Doctor Deborah Gilboa from askdoctorg.com.  She taught on Raising Resilient children.  This quote reminded me of what she taught.  Our goal as parents is to work ourselves out of a job.  We are not meant to have children that stay young and in need of our help.  Very often we treat our children as if they are younger because we are worried about them.  Unfortunately what ends up happening is that they get to a point in their lives when we are not able to be there for them and if we have not gradually given them the opportunity to develop coping skills and life lessons they may be in some pretty big trouble.  Give your children a chance to test out their "wings" before they absolutely have to use them.  

Family Saftey Rules

Thursday Favorites

Thursdays I highlight a blogger or writer I think is amazing.  Today I am sharing a post from Dr Laura Markham and her 12 Safety Rules for every Family.  AMAZING, simple and insightful. It is a scary world out there and we parents are far too often at a lose for how to help our children be safe it it.  The steps that Dr Laura provide help to simply it for us.  I know I am putting them into practice in my home. 

"Every parent's nightmare is that phone call with the news that something has happened to her child. Rest assured that despite the prominent publicity that accompanies tragedies, they are very rare.  And even more encouraging, experts say that most abuse cases, abductions, and even accidents involving children can be prevented if parents and children know what to do to avoid them."

Check out the rest of the amazing article by clicking HERE.

Chicken Big

Teaser Tuesday

Chicken Big
Written and illustrated by Keith Graves

You’ve heard the story of Chicken Little who runs through the woods shouting the sky is falling. This is a “spin-off.”

The story begins with a huge chick hatching from an enormous egg. The barnyard chickens are baffled. “What is it?” they cry. At first they declare it’s an elephant. Then it eats the acorn, and they are convinced it is a squirrel. Then in a rainstorm the big chick spreads its wings to keep them all dry. This is a comical retelling of the familiar story with a satisfying ending.  Wonderful picture book for toddlers and up. 

 

“I’ve never seen a squirrel do that,”
crowed the little rooster.

“Not very squirrel-ish at all,” clucked
the small chicken

“Squirrels don’t keep you dry in the
rain,” clucked the smaller chicken.

“I see what you are saying,” peeped
the smallest chicken. “Apparently he is an UMBRELLA!”

Find it on Amazon below.

 

Forget what I said

Motivation Monday

 

As your kids grow they may forget what you said, but won't forget how you made them feel – Kevin Heath

"It goes in one ear and out the other".  That is what I always heard growing up.  And it is so often true that our children do not remember the words that come out of our mouth.  They have usually forgotten the words within seconds.  However, the feelings they have as we say them will last a long time.  

When I tell my 3 year old she cannot do something she has started to telling me "you hurt my feelings."  At first this comment frustrated me because I thought she was misunderstanding what it meant to have her feelings hurt.  But the reality is that when I tell her "no" or "you cannot" or even, "do this instead" there are hurt feelings.  She had an expectation of one thing and I have said that cannot happen.  Her "feelings" are hurt.  This may not lead to a change in circumstance but I need to allow her to share those feelings we me.  In the end she will not remember what it was she was hurt by, but she will remember if I let her share her feelings about it.