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Children are unique in many ways. From crib to college, they are personalities that are as different as the wild flowers in any field. Just like these blooms, they are the golden beauty of the hand that created them, and the graceful delicate notes of a sonnet. They are just beginning and so the freshness of all they see, do, and say are gems that may need a lot of polishing, but underneath there is always the brilliance of precious jewels and stones that only can come from years of absorbing love, care, and nurturing.
It is a very sad fact that over three billion people go to bed hungryin the world every single night. A fact that is much sadder is that over four billion children go to bed hungry for love, attention, and encouragement. While their physical bodies are growing, their need for more than sustenance seems to expand and encompass their entire existence.
Many parents lament the fact that children just don't listen to them. These parents are positive that their knowledge from facing every day life, getting through hurdles in handling situations such as jobs, careers, and money are far beyond the reach of their offspring, but still children just don't hear what a parent is trying to teach them. The truth of the matter is that children do not really care how much you know or just how smart you are until they know and are sure just how much you care about them and love them. They can sense a parent who feels only the need to be a parent, but not someone who a child can turn to, talk to, or even dream with. I am not saying that parents should be "pals" with their children. They are and always will be the parents, the adults in the home, but children want a confidant, a listener, and someone who loves with no strings and no boundaries. They realize that if you don't love them with open arms no matter what they do, you have to love them with bear hugs for who they are and who they are yet to become. Parents may hate and detest an action, but the child should always be the recipient of unconditional love and always to be allowed to start over and move on.
It may only take the parents' time to eat meals together at least a few times a week, or for one parent to walk to the library with a child and just "listen." It can be taking out some books yourself, as the example of your wanting to nurture reading in your child will then be more of a concrete belief than just "words." If you want your child to follow, words may introduce a concept, but actions will culminate the lesson. While driving, if you don't wear a seatbelt, then the message is not "Put on your seat belt", it will be "Choose the law you wish to obey or the one you would like to ignore." Which lesson then is the one that you are trying to convey?
If you as a parent regard your job as a paycheck from week to week, then the directive that is being given to the child is that work is a chore, it is only an economic means of getting what you really want in life, and you must take a job as only "making time." If this is the message, then the sad fact is that a child sees it as a person's outlook on life determining their output into life. If you only do the minimum to get by, then what you put out will reflect this as your goal. However, if your passion for work or hobby is exuberant and worth pursuing, then the child will follow suit and find challenges and problems only bridges to be crossed and setbacks as small hills to be conquered. Makes quite a difference doesn't it?
However you decide to make your child feel loved and special, know that it is not the amount of money you spend on them, or the elaborate ways you try to communicate, because in the long-run, the bottom line is that children will always spell love as T-I-M-E. This time is spent with you, it is time spent in growing and learning, and together with you, they can grow in both body and character, and they can learn ways to reach the stars, but they will need that map and those directions that only come with TIME, because TIME will always translate into LOVE.
Something to think about
©Arleen M. Kaptur March, 2009
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Today Is Just the Beginning
It's not a perfect time in history, but it is a "turning" point in life. The situation is world-wide and basically, no matter the country, color, age, or lifestyle, we are all facing a very major change - in some ways for the better.
Here in the United States, we did find out that we don't have to "drive" to the corner for the paper, and that our children can walk to events and school. While saving at the pump, we found a healthy excuse to use our feet and find out just how exhilarating walking with our kids can be. They even enjoyed it which was no surprise. Kids are resilient and they appreciate the "time" not the "method" of getting from here to there.
We now find that the metal box holding the morning newspaper just might become a part of past history as newspapers find readership slowing and advertising money fading away. However, meeting the neighbors and "getting the news" from your area is more pleasant, more personal, and gives you a "heads up" to what is going to affect your area. In the process, you begin to bring together friendships and acquaintances that were "missed" as you sped by with your to-do list in hand every morning.
Now we come to stores closing and major chains locking their doors for the last time. This is sad for the workers but this also eliminates the excuse for that "quick" gift or card that you grabbed, probably never reading it, but knowing it was important only in the fact that you sent it. Not so in today's mindset. Everyone has boxes of "supplies" whether they are sewing, scrapbooking, or just plain a little of this or that. It is a perfect setting for meeting with family, friends, or neighbors and "creating" your own invitations, birthday cards, anniversary remembrances, or even "sunshine" tokens, such as Get Well, and "We are here for you" type of cards. When someone has suffered a major mishap or just let the economy and world situation hit them like a brick wall, going to the mail box and finding a "strange" envelope there is a bright beginning to healing. It is, of course, hand made but so creatively done and signed by the neighborhood, your church, or a group of friends that only knew each other by name but never by heart. Now things are different - meeting for coffee is not "gossip" time but a chance to share and find out how a bit of "give and take" will make children's parties a combined effort and really more fun for the kids. It is welcoming the holidays as "home and family" time and making sure that fun, and togetherness are the active ingredients in your festive undertakings.
It is looking around your home, taking note, and realizing that your pillows on the sofa need a bit of refurbishing and curtain tie-backs that are "seasonal" would give your windows a lift. Don't grab your purse with the charge cards in it, that's a big no-no today. Grab your library card and head out to that impressive building with the walls filled with books. Ideas are between two covers, and pages are just waiting to be turned as innovation and creativity practically grab you by the hand and lead you down a path of "I can do this."
Whether your new found excitement is in gardening (to save on food bills), on sewing (even an apron for when you begin baking again) or scrapbooking (making memories that won't be put on a shelf but in a picture frame or card that will not only highlight an event but give it a lasting, pleasant impression), it is time to use your "natural" resources and make-do, make-new, and make-it-better abilities.
No time is better than now to dust off the cobwebs that may have gathered because "convenience" was easier. It never was quite right and you know it. Hand made or better known as heart-made is the mantra for today and it has so many strings attached to it. There are strings of accomplishment, completion, enjoyment, and togetherness. Not bad for getting up in the morning and realizing that life does go forward and so can you. It is seeing the sunshine and ignoring the storm clouds for a bit. It is looking at your hands and realizing that yes, they are the finest tools this old world ever had - and that yes, you can do it, but you need to get started. Something to think about
©Arleen M. Kaptur March, 2009
Here in the United States, we did find out that we don't have to "drive" to the corner for the paper, and that our children can walk to events and school. While saving at the pump, we found a healthy excuse to use our feet and find out just how exhilarating walking with our kids can be. They even enjoyed it which was no surprise. Kids are resilient and they appreciate the "time" not the "method" of getting from here to there.
We now find that the metal box holding the morning newspaper just might become a part of past history as newspapers find readership slowing and advertising money fading away. However, meeting the neighbors and "getting the news" from your area is more pleasant, more personal, and gives you a "heads up" to what is going to affect your area. In the process, you begin to bring together friendships and acquaintances that were "missed" as you sped by with your to-do list in hand every morning.
Now we come to stores closing and major chains locking their doors for the last time. This is sad for the workers but this also eliminates the excuse for that "quick" gift or card that you grabbed, probably never reading it, but knowing it was important only in the fact that you sent it. Not so in today's mindset. Everyone has boxes of "supplies" whether they are sewing, scrapbooking, or just plain a little of this or that. It is a perfect setting for meeting with family, friends, or neighbors and "creating" your own invitations, birthday cards, anniversary remembrances, or even "sunshine" tokens, such as Get Well, and "We are here for you" type of cards. When someone has suffered a major mishap or just let the economy and world situation hit them like a brick wall, going to the mail box and finding a "strange" envelope there is a bright beginning to healing. It is, of course, hand made but so creatively done and signed by the neighborhood, your church, or a group of friends that only knew each other by name but never by heart. Now things are different - meeting for coffee is not "gossip" time but a chance to share and find out how a bit of "give and take" will make children's parties a combined effort and really more fun for the kids. It is welcoming the holidays as "home and family" time and making sure that fun, and togetherness are the active ingredients in your festive undertakings.
It is looking around your home, taking note, and realizing that your pillows on the sofa need a bit of refurbishing and curtain tie-backs that are "seasonal" would give your windows a lift. Don't grab your purse with the charge cards in it, that's a big no-no today. Grab your library card and head out to that impressive building with the walls filled with books. Ideas are between two covers, and pages are just waiting to be turned as innovation and creativity practically grab you by the hand and lead you down a path of "I can do this."
Whether your new found excitement is in gardening (to save on food bills), on sewing (even an apron for when you begin baking again) or scrapbooking (making memories that won't be put on a shelf but in a picture frame or card that will not only highlight an event but give it a lasting, pleasant impression), it is time to use your "natural" resources and make-do, make-new, and make-it-better abilities.
No time is better than now to dust off the cobwebs that may have gathered because "convenience" was easier. It never was quite right and you know it. Hand made or better known as heart-made is the mantra for today and it has so many strings attached to it. There are strings of accomplishment, completion, enjoyment, and togetherness. Not bad for getting up in the morning and realizing that life does go forward and so can you. It is seeing the sunshine and ignoring the storm clouds for a bit. It is looking at your hands and realizing that yes, they are the finest tools this old world ever had - and that yes, you can do it, but you need to get started. Something to think about
©Arleen M. Kaptur March, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Springtime Hints and Household Helps
Spring Cleaning is a ritual that most families fear but it always seems to get done. Well, maybe not in Spring but by Labor Day at least.
Here are a few tips that just might help your quest for that squeaky clean house so that you can enjoy the Summer time weather at the beach right along with the rest of the family. These were learned "in the trenches" and worked so they are "tried and true".
Most households keep the cabinet under the sink for cleaning supplies, unless you have little children. Then keeping this cabinet locked is a must, but with older children or no children - glue some wooden clothespins onto the inner door. These can hold sponges, rubber gloves, and window cloths. They don't get moldy because they are not bunched on the bottom floor of the cabinet, and they stay just as fresh as you need them. Talking about soap, most people get dirty digging, clipping, and working outdoors. It you use a soap on a rope technique (it doesn't have to be expensive soap, just use any hand strong soap and attach to a nylon rope), you can make sure that everyone washes their hands right there by your outside faucet. Kids love it because it is washing in a whole different realm and dads love it because their hands are clean before picking up little ones or leaving smudge marks on back doors or screen doors.
Attach a Key Board (home made or bought at a craft store to the "inside" cabinet door right by the door. This keeps the keys out of sight, they are organized, and they are not just thrown on the counter never to be seen when you need them. Most key boards are thin enough not to interfere with shelving inside the cabinet, or you can simply attach it where you have a wider space between shelves.
Mops, brooms, and dustpans are the mainstay of spring cleaning. Little ones can feel like they help, and a bit older chidren can use "children" size cleaning gear much easier than the adult size. In your broom closet or wherever you store cleaning musts, attach a bar about the height of your child on the inside of the door, then attach hooks for a child-size mop, broom, and dustpan or any other "cleaning" wonder that your child might enjoy. They even have little-size vacuums, and for the outside, this works well for shovels, pails, and rakes.
Remember enjoying blowing bubbles when you were small? That iridescent liquid produced those billowing bubbles that kept your attention until they disappeared into another world. If you have very small children, let them join in the fun with the older ones, with your supervision of course. Use a paper clip and form it into a bubble maker just like the regular slze ones that come with the bottles. Pour a bit of bubble liquid into the cap of the bottle and help your little one enjoy petite size bubbles that may soar just as high as the bigger versions of his/her brothers/sisters. It is fun and it is a chance for quality time with your children. Also, bubbles work best on a day after it just rained. It seems the humidity and moistures helps create bigger and better bubbles. Next time you are in a dollar store, buy a spare fly swatter with the hundred little holes. Give this to your older child and let them enjoy a cloud burst of hundreds of bubbles. Pour the liquid into a baking pan and let them place the swatter into the liquid. Different and a real "attention" keeper.
When it comes to craft time, your child finds waiting for the old-standby white craft glue to slowly come to the tip. If you use a plastic two liter bottle and cut it off about 3 inches from the top, you can fit the plastic glue bottle into the top of the cut off bottle and the glue will always be "ready." No more waiting and it doesn't tip over while the "crafting" is taking place.
Hope a few of these tips give you ideas for enjoying more time when you clean, and more fun time with your children.
Something to think about
©Arleen M. Kaptur February, 2009
Here are a few tips that just might help your quest for that squeaky clean house so that you can enjoy the Summer time weather at the beach right along with the rest of the family. These were learned "in the trenches" and worked so they are "tried and true".
Most households keep the cabinet under the sink for cleaning supplies, unless you have little children. Then keeping this cabinet locked is a must, but with older children or no children - glue some wooden clothespins onto the inner door. These can hold sponges, rubber gloves, and window cloths. They don't get moldy because they are not bunched on the bottom floor of the cabinet, and they stay just as fresh as you need them. Talking about soap, most people get dirty digging, clipping, and working outdoors. It you use a soap on a rope technique (it doesn't have to be expensive soap, just use any hand strong soap and attach to a nylon rope), you can make sure that everyone washes their hands right there by your outside faucet. Kids love it because it is washing in a whole different realm and dads love it because their hands are clean before picking up little ones or leaving smudge marks on back doors or screen doors.
Attach a Key Board (home made or bought at a craft store to the "inside" cabinet door right by the door. This keeps the keys out of sight, they are organized, and they are not just thrown on the counter never to be seen when you need them. Most key boards are thin enough not to interfere with shelving inside the cabinet, or you can simply attach it where you have a wider space between shelves.
Mops, brooms, and dustpans are the mainstay of spring cleaning. Little ones can feel like they help, and a bit older chidren can use "children" size cleaning gear much easier than the adult size. In your broom closet or wherever you store cleaning musts, attach a bar about the height of your child on the inside of the door, then attach hooks for a child-size mop, broom, and dustpan or any other "cleaning" wonder that your child might enjoy. They even have little-size vacuums, and for the outside, this works well for shovels, pails, and rakes.
Remember enjoying blowing bubbles when you were small? That iridescent liquid produced those billowing bubbles that kept your attention until they disappeared into another world. If you have very small children, let them join in the fun with the older ones, with your supervision of course. Use a paper clip and form it into a bubble maker just like the regular slze ones that come with the bottles. Pour a bit of bubble liquid into the cap of the bottle and help your little one enjoy petite size bubbles that may soar just as high as the bigger versions of his/her brothers/sisters. It is fun and it is a chance for quality time with your children. Also, bubbles work best on a day after it just rained. It seems the humidity and moistures helps create bigger and better bubbles. Next time you are in a dollar store, buy a spare fly swatter with the hundred little holes. Give this to your older child and let them enjoy a cloud burst of hundreds of bubbles. Pour the liquid into a baking pan and let them place the swatter into the liquid. Different and a real "attention" keeper.
When it comes to craft time, your child finds waiting for the old-standby white craft glue to slowly come to the tip. If you use a plastic two liter bottle and cut it off about 3 inches from the top, you can fit the plastic glue bottle into the top of the cut off bottle and the glue will always be "ready." No more waiting and it doesn't tip over while the "crafting" is taking place.
Hope a few of these tips give you ideas for enjoying more time when you clean, and more fun time with your children.
Something to think about
©Arleen M. Kaptur February, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Gardening - A History of Love and Life
When warm breezes blow and the sun shines on more days than not, it is time to begin the task of preparing and getting a garden together. It might just be a small plot, a container garden on a patio or porch, or several acres if you are so blessed. Whatever the space available, it is one of the most enjoyable, and healthiest pasttimes around. There is actually something "spiritual" about a handful of soil and a seed - each attending to a task of producting fantastic blooms of color and aroma, crisp and tasty vegetables and fruits, and herbs to tantalize and set any dish to higher standards.
Many who garden also enjoy scrapbooking or crafting. These ventures can be joined together and you can have the best of all worlds right there at your fingertips. If you garden with children, then the sense of unity, ancestry, and shared quality time is priceless. Many years ago, I visited a garden that gave me an incentive to try my hand at "naming" the wondrous flowers and succulent vegetables that I grew. While the packages of seeds already come with names, they really had no meaning to me or to anyone I gave the "Grand Tour" of my garden plot to. It just seemed like the perfect melting together of personal history and gardening success. Scrapbooking supplies provide the material for some fantastic yard signs at the end of a row of peas, or green peppers. They also can decorate a rose garden or a planter filled with fragrant flowers and set on a porch just outside the entry way of a house. These "markers" can give a hint of fun and laughter or a sentimental reminder of those we love and cherish. If roses were Grandpa's favorite gardening pursuit, then a small sign highlighting his love of tea roses can give him the honor of having his name on a banner proclaiming to all that he did have a hand in keeping the tradition of sachet scents greeting visitors to his home a while back. So "Grandpa Mike's American Beauty Roses" is a tribute, and one that will bring back fond memories as you work in the garden or just admire the unbelievable floral treasures that are yours in the height of summer. In the vegetable garden, cherry tomatoes are a quick snack and a very tasty treat as you well remember when you visited Aunt Betty's house for a Fourth of July picnic. So a garden sign giving her the "honor" of Aunt Betty's Red Ruby Tomato Gems will make you smile every time you pop one in your mouth delighting in the warmth from the sun and the "splash" of juice and tomato goodness with just one bite. There could be signposts for your best friend who lives miles away (Sherry's Green Goddess Green Peppers) or for a friend who always makes the best pies (Lydia's Azure Blue Blueberries).
This is not only a whole lot of fun, it makes your daily gardening chores a trip into friendship and family. It allows small children to relate to being part of the success and accomplishment of family and friends, who they may never have met, but whose lives they can now touch through something as simple as a garden signpost. A venture like this combines gardening with crafting and scrapbooking and those photographs of your child standing in a patch of Uncle Harvey's Candy Sweet Strawberries is another contribution from the garden.
So using your imagination and creativity just got a bit more "personal" but a whole lot more fun - now that's a harvest of some very good things all put together.
Something to think about
©Arleen M. Kaptur February, 2008
Many who garden also enjoy scrapbooking or crafting. These ventures can be joined together and you can have the best of all worlds right there at your fingertips. If you garden with children, then the sense of unity, ancestry, and shared quality time is priceless. Many years ago, I visited a garden that gave me an incentive to try my hand at "naming" the wondrous flowers and succulent vegetables that I grew. While the packages of seeds already come with names, they really had no meaning to me or to anyone I gave the "Grand Tour" of my garden plot to. It just seemed like the perfect melting together of personal history and gardening success. Scrapbooking supplies provide the material for some fantastic yard signs at the end of a row of peas, or green peppers. They also can decorate a rose garden or a planter filled with fragrant flowers and set on a porch just outside the entry way of a house. These "markers" can give a hint of fun and laughter or a sentimental reminder of those we love and cherish. If roses were Grandpa's favorite gardening pursuit, then a small sign highlighting his love of tea roses can give him the honor of having his name on a banner proclaiming to all that he did have a hand in keeping the tradition of sachet scents greeting visitors to his home a while back. So "Grandpa Mike's American Beauty Roses" is a tribute, and one that will bring back fond memories as you work in the garden or just admire the unbelievable floral treasures that are yours in the height of summer. In the vegetable garden, cherry tomatoes are a quick snack and a very tasty treat as you well remember when you visited Aunt Betty's house for a Fourth of July picnic. So a garden sign giving her the "honor" of Aunt Betty's Red Ruby Tomato Gems will make you smile every time you pop one in your mouth delighting in the warmth from the sun and the "splash" of juice and tomato goodness with just one bite. There could be signposts for your best friend who lives miles away (Sherry's Green Goddess Green Peppers) or for a friend who always makes the best pies (Lydia's Azure Blue Blueberries).
This is not only a whole lot of fun, it makes your daily gardening chores a trip into friendship and family. It allows small children to relate to being part of the success and accomplishment of family and friends, who they may never have met, but whose lives they can now touch through something as simple as a garden signpost. A venture like this combines gardening with crafting and scrapbooking and those photographs of your child standing in a patch of Uncle Harvey's Candy Sweet Strawberries is another contribution from the garden.
So using your imagination and creativity just got a bit more "personal" but a whole lot more fun - now that's a harvest of some very good things all put together.
Something to think about
©Arleen M. Kaptur February, 2008
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