Mensch-in-the-Baking -- by Robin

We had our parent teacher meeting this week, and I almost got choked up.

They had the nicest things to say about Seth in terms of his character and personality. We talked about how he always wants to help people, and has huge empathy and an unusual level of maturity when it comes to expressing concern for people's well-being.

My husband and I have long known this. I've always been struck by his big-heartedness, coupled with his spunky personality. He'd be the first on the scene to come to someone's aid, and he's the life of the party. We've always joked that he's going to be the "mayor' of our town one day....though Seth aspires to be a fireman.

He is a "little love" in my book.

That said....we also work hard to reinforce in him the need to give back and be grateful.

In an effort to combine this lesson with something he loves, I got the idea from an article I read to take him to our local volunteer firehouse (for one of our many, many visits)...but this time...to bake brownies for the firemen and express our gratitude for all that they do for the community. Seth loved the idea! He couldn't get in the door fast enough. And, he told his class all about our plans to visit the firehouse.

It made me feel good that he valued the experience. And, I gained from it as well.

One of the outings for MotherhoodLater.com that I planned for the NY chapter was a trip to Ronald McDonald House. There, we also baked brownies (notice the brownie theme?!)....this time for the families who are staying there. Ronald McDonald House is an amazing place that houses/feeds families in need whose children are ill and are receiving nearby medical care.

It was in some ways a harder lesson for Seth to take in, but I explained that we have to value our health and not take it for granted. That even children get sick, and we're doing our part by baking for their families so they can enjoy despite all that they are dealing with.

I consider Seth a mensch (decent person)-in-the-making (or should I say baking?), and I'm proud to help mold him in that way. He's already a natural in the caring department, and if I can help provide experiencesthat offer him further opportunity to grow and share what he is so capable of, I consider it a priority.

It's a win-win situation, and touches me as well. It's so easy to get caught up with all that we have to do in our lives. We live in a day 'n age that is quite consuming....be it with technology or other pursuits we endeavor to keep up with.

But, at the end of the day, it's the simple gestures that go far. And, if that means my becoming a brownie baking queen for the purpose of giving back, Julia Child I'm not, but I'll gladly give it a go. And, Seth is always happy to lick the spoon.

Whose Homework is This Anyway? -- by Cara

I’m tired of my son’s elementary school. And he just started first grade. I’m still getting over being tired of it from last year, when my son was in Kindergarten. What am I so tired about? Homework. And not just the part of homework that my son has to complete, but the endless, detailed instructions that the PARENTS (read: Mothers) have to complete in order for their child to correctly complete their assignments.

Take, for instance the buldging workbook that came home yesterday along with three different assignments! Supposedly, from what I can gather after reading the instructions on one of the assignments a half dozen times, I am supposed to copy certain “sight words,” preferrably on colored paper, and hang them up all over my house, make “flash cards” of these “sight words,” and run around after my child, while he is home, holding up these cards or pointing to the words hung up in each room and “quiz” him on these particular words! I also have to glue a smaller set of these words in a “Word Wall Book” with the instructions,”Be CAREFUL! Don’t glue the pages together!” What? Am I now in first grade too?!

I don’t get it. I am more than happy to assist my son with writing words, helping him read simple books, and suggest illustrations to complement what he wrote. But all of this copying, taping, pasting...who realistically has time for this in today’s world? And I have just one child! What do parents do who have several children, all of who’s teachers are requesting what will probably amount to an hour’s worth of time copying, cutting, taping and pasting too?! And to top it all off, we were reprimanded! Although it was not stated anywhere in the detailed instructions that all of this had to be handed in the next day, we were sent home a note reminding us that we were supposed to return the pasted,“Word Wall Book” AND the three other lengthy assignments the next day! Tisk, tisk on us! We also didn’t get to hang up “sight words” or make flash cards either! Oh, for shame!!

Last year, at the beginning of school, the Kindergarten teacher asked us to buy a two pocket folder. The PARENTS were given 2 weeks to cover the entire folder, front and back with photos that our children would use in order to create “stories” which would be presented back to us at the end of the year. This little project took me, all totalled, two HOURS to complete! Since our home color copier was not working very well, I had to upload some 20 to 25 photos to an internet photo website where copies were printed and mailed back. I even had to upgrade the cost of shipping to Second Day Priority, so that I would have time to do the SECOND part of this exciting project! Once I received the photos, I then had to group similar photos together, then cut and paste them all over both sides of this “Creativity Folder!” I spent so much time on this thing I took photos of it! And guess what? My son did not use one photo grouping to write his “stories!” I personally spent two hours over two weeks preparing this rediculous folder only to find that my son didn’t want to write about the photos! He had his own creative agenda. Can you say, TOTAL waste of time, money and energy?!

So guess what I am NOT going to do this year? I am NOT going to make colored “site word” cards and place them all over my house. I am NOT going to be making any flash cards and chase my son around, asking him what each card says. And I am NOT playing “Memory Game” every single night to help foster “sight word” recognition, as my child’s teacher puts it, “in a snap!” No, I am not going to do any of that. Unless my son’s teacher would like to come to my home each evening and make my family’s dinner, do the dishes, get lunches ready, put in a load of laundry and also feed and walk my dogs. Well, then it is just not going to get done. Sorry, Ms. First Grade teacher. It is just NOT going to happen in this house!

Sold Out By Seth

From the mouths of babes.....they say. You've probably heard the expression. Well....Seth "sold me out" in school!

We attended a parent-teacher conference this week, and thankfully, got glowing reviews about Seth. His teacher is a delight, and she said he was as well. We talked about his behavior in class, play skills, listening, best buddy, etc....and it was all good.

The teacher made one somewhat surprising comment. She asked if there is anything different going on at home because Seth has said in school that he "misses his mom." He even went so far as to ask his teacher if she misses her mom? This caught me offguard, and I couldn't think of any particular reason he might say that. Then, the teacher clarified by saying that many of the children say that when they're away from home. So, that made me feel better.

Next we got on the subject of some of the activities that Seth and I do together after school. I said he takes a music class, watches some tv, plays with his trucks & trains, and I try to get him to do arts and crafts projects, if we're not going somewhere, like food shopping or other errands. And, the teacher added, like shopping at TJ Maxx. I was stunned and laughed. Seth apparently has made comments in the classroom that his mom loves TJ and we shop there often together.

While true, and I don't deny it, my secret was out. I'm a TJ Maxx groupie (as is Seth...under my influence). And, now his teacher knows we're TJ shopping buddies. No harm in that, but it got me thinking. What else has Seth spilled the beans about to her or others? And, what will he say in the future that might have me cringing? I can't predict, but I now fully realize that "mum" is never the word with a child....unless he means "mommy."