Looking for a way to bring peace and joy to your day? Seasons of Joy is my 10-week seasonal guidebook to add rhythm and fun to your daily routine. Each guidebook has ten weeks' worth of circle times, stories, arts, crafts, and handwork, painting, playtime activities and more!
While I was making banana bread today, Daniel was going crazy trying to move the stool and get to the spoons. All the while he kept saying "Pease, Mama? Poon? Need poon!" At first, I'm ashamed to say, I was annoyed by the interruption and told him he didn't need a spoon. As I watched his determination in moving the stepstool over to the silverware basket, I realized what he wanted.
"Do you want to help stir the banana bread?"
"Yes, Mama!" And his little face lit up. (And yes, he really says "Yes, Mama." It throws me for a look every time!)
Well, what is a mama to do but to get a spoon and move the bowl down where he can help? Banana Bread 5 very ripe bananas, mashed 1/2 cup raw sugar 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, no sugar added 2 eggs 2 cups whole wheat flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 cup chocolate chips
Mix all the dry ingredients except the sugar.
Mix the banana and the sugar. Beat the egg and add it to the banana /sugar mix. Then add the wet ingredients to the dry.
Grease 2 loaf pans and bake at 350 for 30 to 45 minutes (it really varied because one pan was metal and one was glass).
If you cut each loaf into 10 slices, each slice is 2 WW points. But the smile on the helping toddler's face is priceless!
I'm not sure what it is about this lesser known saint-in-waiting that touched my heart today.
Maybe it's because she was my age when she died.
Maybe it's because she's yet another Catherine on her way to sainthood, and I have a soft spots for Katherines of all sorts, and today is my Katherine's birthday.
Maybe it's Pope John Paul II's words about Blessed Catherine that stir my heart: "Among the founders of the Church of Canada in its spiritual springtime can be numbered Marie Catherine, this Augustinian whose hand, as well as her heart, was nothing other than charity."
What a beautiful way to be remembered, and what a thought to keep in mind, especially this Mother's Day Weekend-- that our hands, as well as our hearts, may be nothing other than charity.
You can read more about Blessed Catherine of St. Augustine here.
OK, I'll confess. One of our dirty little secrets is that we have Webkinz. Lots of them. And most of them belong to me.
I tried. I resisted. I thought the last thing my children needed was another excuse to stare at a screen. When my mother-in-law asked if she could get my kids Webkinz for Easter one year, I looked down from my high horse and said "no".
Then when Katie Grace turned 7, she was given one for her birthday. We registered it and were hooked.
I get the arguments: the dolls themselves are dust collectors, the site encourages rampant consumerism, online relationships with pretend animals isn't healthy, if the tiger's favorite food is a zebra dog and you adopt a zebra, aren't you putting the zebra in a potentially hazardous situation... believe me, I've thought of them all. And yet here we are, proud owners of a herd of Webkinz.
Sigh.
My kids get 30 minutes of screen time a day. That's 30 minutes of computer time OR television OR a DVD OR a game. Frankly, I'd rather they spend it playing Webkinz than zoning out with Little Bear.
All of this serves to introduce our pictures from the Webkinz Extravaganza at Gustonian Gifts downtown on First Friday. The kids played tons of games and won tons of prizes. Daniel even won a coloring contest, which I find hilarious. But most of all, they loved the children's singer who came and performed. Michael, of course, was too cool for it all and hung out with Daddy at Otto's. Here are Katie Grace and Nicholas, pretending to be fishies. Check out the awesome puppy face painting!
And Katie Grace loved playing the frog scraper.
Even Daniel enjoyed dancing (and drooling) to the music!
And since we had Mother's Day gifts, a birthday gift, and a baby gift to purchase anyway, we even got to buy one or two (OK, 4) of the special $1 Webkinz. Everyone wins!
This was a fun lesson in abstract art. We looked at the painting "People and Dog in Sun" by Joan Miro. Without knowing the title, it was hard to know what the painting was about. Once we knew the title, though, we could find the people, the dog, the sun.
To make our own abstract art, they each drew an object on the paper. We then used rulers to lay out a 3 inch grid. They chose 4 or 5 colors and got busy. The rules were: 1. Change colors every time you come to a line. 2. Try not to have the same color side by side.
After the coloring was done, they outlined the object and grid in black. Katie Grace made a sun.
I'm not sure what Nicholas made, LOL! And Michael made a football, although he had lots of trouble with the color rules.
Press Release from the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood: The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) has launched a letter-writing campaign demanding that Nickelodeon and Burger King immediately pull a new, highly sexualized, television ad for SpongeBob SquarePants Kids Meals. The ad, viewable above, features The King singing a remix of Sir Mix-A-Lot’s 1990’s hit song, "Baby Got Back” with the new lyrics, “I like square butts and I cannot lie.” The ad shows images of The King singing in front of women shaking their behinds for the camera intercut with images of SpongeBob dancing along
“It’s bad enough when companies use a beloved media character like SpongeBob to promote junk food to children, but it’s utterly reprehensible when that character simultaneously promotes objectified, sexualized images of women,” said CCFC director Dr. Susan Linn, a psychologist at the Judge Baker Children's Center.
At one point during the ad, The King even measures the behind of one of the woman who has stuffed a phonebook under her dress. After the King informs children about the free SpongeBob toy they get with the purchase of a Burger King Kids Meal, the ad ends with Sir Mix-A-Lot—lounging on a couch with two female admirers—saying, “Booty is booty.” The ad ran during the NCAA men’s basketball championship and other programming last night.
“No parent watching a major sporting event with their children should have to worry about being assaulted by sexualized imagery,” said Joe Kelly of TheDadMan.com, a CCFC Steering Committee Member. “Featuring SpongeBob in an ad like this is a new low. Parents who hope to instill values in their children like respect for women would do well to steer clear of Burger King and Bikini Bottom.”
Added Dr. Linn: “Cartoon characters play a powerful role in the lives of young audiences. That Burger King and Nickelodeon would sell Kids Meals by associating a beloved, male character like SpongeBob with lechery shows how little either company cares about the wellbeing of the children they target.”
The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood is a national coalition of health care professionals, educators, advocacy groups and concerned parents who counter the harmful effects of marketing to children through action, advocacy, education, research, and collaboration. CCFC is headquartered at the Judge Baker Children's Center in Boston. www.commercialfreechildhood.org/.
You can see the actual commercial here:
And you can take action by clicking here and sending a letter.
You can also write letters and make phone calls using this contact information: Burger King Corporation 5505 Blue Lagoon Drive Miami, Florida 33126
Corporate Headquarters - 305-378-3000 Marketing/Advertising Information Requests - 305-378-7200 Consumer Relations - 305-378-3535 HAVE IT YOUR WAY® Cards Consumer Help Desk - 1-800-522-1278
I have little hope of them taking this seriously and withdrawing the commercial, however, especially given this quote from Burger King President of Global Marketing Russell Klein in a televised debate with CCFC's Steering Committee Member Joe Kelly: "I don't know what could be more iconoclastic in puncturing the myth of how self- image of a body for a woman would look than to make her butt square with a telephone book in it."
Um... right... they're airing this commercial to help break through stereotypes.
This morning, we all woke up bright and early. Everyone was up and dressed by 7 AM, which is a rarity for us. After I put laundry away, I had some paperwork to fill out for this morning's eye doctor appointments. While I did that, the kids had breakfast and then got snacks and drinks for a long car ride.
It was Katie Grace's and Nicholas's first eye exams today. They each got flagged at a vision screen that took place at co-op. We go to a pediatric ophthalmologist about an hour-and-a-half away. We need to see someone who is somewhat of a specialist for Michael, and I figure since we're seeing her anyway, we may as well take the other kids there as well.
On the way there, we listened to the audio book of The Lightning Thief. This is hot stuff in our house right now. Michael has read it, but it was the first time Katie Grace and Nicholas heard it. They loved it! Daniel fell asleep.
Once we got there, I questioned my sanity of scheduling three appointments in a row. Katie Grace did great. She needs glasses, but only for board work and the like. Since we're homeschooling, she won't need them that often.
Michael's eyes are still fine. His focusing muscle is still immature, and she said he may eventually need a "relaxing prescription."
Nicholas's eyes are fine. He really loved "the robot eye" he got to look through at his appointment.
After a yummy lunch at a Chinese food buffet, we headed over to Barnes and Noble to pick up the latest Percy Jackson book, The Last Olympian. While we were there, we also picked up A Night to Remember, which Chip thinks Michael will like. On the way out, we walked by a display of classic books. I saw Michael checking out an edition of Homer's Odyssey. Michael asked if we could get it. What mama can resist a request like that?
Michael finished half the new book on the way home. By the time we reached home, everyone needed to chill out a little, so we all spread out and had a little quiet time. Katie Grace helped me make dinner--beef stroganoff--and the boys helped their daddy fold and sort laundry.
Health, language arts, geography, home economics-- a full day of homeschooling!
So, it's not a big secret that we're huge Harry Potter fans around here. We are, after all, the family that had Hogwarts Summer School not one, but two, summers in a row. On any given night, at least two (and usually more!) of my kids are listening to the audio books recorded by Jim Dale. We all dressed up to buy the last book.
What might be a secret is that I am a huge fan of (OK, and even have written some!) Harry Potter fan fiction.
And since children tend to imitate what they see around them, it should not have shocked me when Michael decided to dabble in a little fan fiction of his own. What did shock me, however, was the content: Harry Potters Sixth Year
Cho Chang Gets Jealous
First of all, if you are wondering why J.K Rowling didn’t put this in the book it is because she is dumb and didn’t think of it.
Harry and Ginny were sitting in the three broomsticks. Harry was sipping a Butterbeer, and Ginny was stuffing her face with pie. (She’s fatter than she seems.) They chatted for awhile when Cho Chang came in. Harry new this was not a good thing as she had her wand drawn. She strode toward Harry and Ginny and said, “ I went to Madam PuddyFoots but you were not there.”
Harry said, “You think I am going back in there, after all the confetti that went into the toilet. Why are you here anyway, I have other friends now, right Ginny.”
“ Oh Yah”. They fist bumped and drew there wands. Now I must tell you that really there were no unforgivable curses. The “ Unforgivables were just spells. So it turned out that the three were dueling to the death. Finally, Ginny said, “ All right Cho duel to the death, winner gets to be Harry’s girlfriend.”
Cho made a fist pump and said, “ Girl, You Are SO ON!” They fought and fought. Green lights flashed everywhere. Ginny was on the fat side of the bacon. At last Cho made her mistake. Ginny shot a killing curse at her and Cho shouted “Protego!”
Before the jet of light reached Cho Ginny shouted “ REDUCTO! The shield shattered and the killing curse hit her right in the chest.
So Ginny was Harry’s girlfriend for a long time. And all because Cho didn’t make the D.A meeting were Harry showed them the curse , Reducto!
And the fact that he got his sister to partner with him to make some fan art:
This article made its way through my Facebook friends today, and it really gave me pause.
A survey of 254 teachers in New York and Los Angeles the group commissioned found that kindergartners spent two to three hours a day being instructed and tested in reading and math. They spent less than 30 minutes playing. “Play at age 5 is of great importance not just to intellectual but emotional, psychological social and spiritual development,” says Edward Miller, the report’s co-author. Play — especially the let’s-pretend, dramatic sort — is how kids develop higher-level thinking, hone their language and social skills, cultivate empathy. It also reduces stress, and that’s a word that should not have to be used in the same sentence as “kindergartner” in the first place.
And to what end?
Regardless of the cause, Miller says, accelerating kindergarten is unnecessary: any early advantage fades by fourth grade. “It makes a parent proud to see a child learn to read at age 4, but in terms of what’s really best for the kid, it makes no difference.” For at-risk kids, pushing too soon may backfire. The longitudinal High/Scope Preschool Curriculum Comparison Study followed 68 such children, who were divided between instruction- and play-based classrooms. While everyone’s I.Q. scores initially rose, by age 15, the former group’s academic achievement plummeted. They were more likely to exhibit emotional problems and spent more time in special education.
And while this article has implications for homeschoolers--especially Waldorf homeschoolers I wonder how far I’m willing to go in my commitment to the cause: would I embrace the example of Finland — whose students consistently come out on top in international assessments — and delay formal reading instruction until age 7?
I believe it's a disservice to all children to simply toss out "Well see, that's why I homeschool" and leave it like that. I believe that we all have an obligation to all the children in our society, homeschoolers or not, and that every child deserves a happy and long childhood. And while homeschooling works out great for us, I realize that not every family has the means or the inclination to school their children at home.
So, where does this leave us? With a bunch of children who are being drilled for skills that may not even be there in another few years, a bunch of teachers who are being forced to abandon everything they know to be true about child development so they can teach to the test, and a bunch of legislators who, while they may be well-meaning, are mistaken none the less. It leaves us with a system of education that is flawed, and that guarantees that all children will be leaving their childhoods behind way earlier than they should have to. It leaves space for a revolutionary educational reform. For the sake of the children, I hope it comes soon.
Monday, May 4 Katie Grace has ballet dress rehearsal at 5, and a soccer game at 6:30. Michael has soccer practice at 5:30, followed by Scouts. Once again, we have to figure out how to be several places at once.
Tuesday, May 5 We have a day off school today since we need to travel up to State College for eye exams. All three of the older kids failed their vision screening. Since Michael has to see a pediatric ophthalmologist, we figure we may as well take all of them to see someone who specializes in children. We may visit the visitor center at Beaver Stadium while we're up that way.
That evening, it's swim team sign ups!
Wednesday, May 6 Today we're going on a field trip to an organic farm. Another day off of "regular school". Then in the evening Katie Grace has soccer practice.
Thursday, May 7 The hubster has the Bishop's retreat, and we're back to business as usual. Katie Grace has Brownies in the evening.
Friday, May 8 Katie Grace turns 8! Wow, two birthdays in two weeks. And tonight is "Awards Night" for our co-op. Everyone gets an award, there are presentations, and of course, yummy food. And Nicholas gets a special little presentation since he starts kindergarten next year. *sniff*
Saturday, May 9 Katie Grace has a home game in the morning. Poor Michael will be missing his game to attend Katie Grace's recital in the afternoon. Grandma and Grandpa are coming up to visit.
Sunday, May 10 Mother's Day I get to celebrate Mother's Day by taking care of the church nursery, LOL! Other than that, it should be a pretty normal day. Children's Choir rehearsal in the evening, and then our busy week ends.
