I've mentioned this before- "fight evil; read books," and some people have mentioned that they don't quite see the connection. Mostly I think it's an intangible connection, but some times it's as clear as a bell, or the frustrated scream of a child in the car actually.
Books on tape will help you fight evil. My children have been listening to books on tape since they were preschoolers. I started with it when JD was two, actually, he might have been three, anyway, his nap was getting too short for me to get caught up on all the sleep that I missed while being up with Rachel in the night. I needed some way to stretch out that quiet afternoon time. JD loved books and could sit and listen to me read for ages. However, reading to him was not going to let me sleep. I thought, "What I need is someone else to read to him while I sleep," and that's when I made a life changing discovery: Books on Tape! JD would listen to one tape, complete with little sound cue to tell him to turn the page, and then go off to sleep. I, in the meantime, slept right through the story and his nap. It was just what I needed.
As time went by I discovered that books on tape were just what we needed in the car as well. Books on tape were there for long road trips, short road trips and after awhile, any time I wanted there to be peace. There were other benefits for me as well. I discovered the joy of listening to Lana Quintal reading Junie B. Jones. I discovered a lovely little book called Half Magic that we actually wore out.
I love that books on tape keep my kids out of trouble with out the guilt that letting them watch too many videos brings.
So, fight off evil boredom, quarreling, and demands for entertainment; "read" books on tape.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Heros
Two years ago, or so, was the 50th anniversary of Brown vs The Board of Education. Throughout that year I heard and read many stories from the time of integration. The stories came from many different cities and were mostly about people I hadn't heard of- people who's stories hadn't been turned into books or movies. Obviously those stories are still with me today.
As I took in these stories, I felt them from the parent's point of view for the first time. I had always thought that Ruby Bridges and the four (I think it was four) kids who were the first to integrate Birmingham's high schools were awfully tough kids. They had to have police escorts to school and once they were there they found empty classrooms or angry people. They were yelled at, spit on and humiliated over and over. But at least as a group, they never gave in. I've always been amazed that even so young those kids cared so much about getting a good education. But, as I listened to story after story, I realized also how brave their parents were.
The parents of those kids believed so passionately that integration was right, that they were willing to let their kids take real risks, especially the high school kids. (High school kids can be as young as 14 years old! Don't get the wrong mental picture when I say "high school" kids.) I wish that I could remember some names so that I could stop calling them, "the kids," but I can't. At any rate, the kids were harassed by other kids, by teachers, by other kid's parents and by the community at large. They bore a huge responsibility on their shoulders, and their parents let them. Those moms and dads must have been tough as nails, and/or had the faith of saints. I'm sure the parents did everything that they could to keep their kids as safe as possible, but they did not back out. They did not choose a safer path. They, and their children, absolutely did not value their own comfort over the attainment of real, positive change for all people.
I understand that on some level these parents were "just" doing whatever had to be done to obtain the best education for their children, the same way most parents do today. However, I just don't see marching your baby through hateful, screaming crowds, in the same light as the "choices" people use today in order to get the best "option" for their family.
So here's my salute to the brave parents of the Civil Rights Movement: I am humbled by your courage and inspired by your faith. Thank you for making it possible for my children to grow up in a multi-racial world and to be saved from the chains that hold the oppressor as well as the oppressed. May your sacrifices not be for nothing.
As I took in these stories, I felt them from the parent's point of view for the first time. I had always thought that Ruby Bridges and the four (I think it was four) kids who were the first to integrate Birmingham's high schools were awfully tough kids. They had to have police escorts to school and once they were there they found empty classrooms or angry people. They were yelled at, spit on and humiliated over and over. But at least as a group, they never gave in. I've always been amazed that even so young those kids cared so much about getting a good education. But, as I listened to story after story, I realized also how brave their parents were.
The parents of those kids believed so passionately that integration was right, that they were willing to let their kids take real risks, especially the high school kids. (High school kids can be as young as 14 years old! Don't get the wrong mental picture when I say "high school" kids.) I wish that I could remember some names so that I could stop calling them, "the kids," but I can't. At any rate, the kids were harassed by other kids, by teachers, by other kid's parents and by the community at large. They bore a huge responsibility on their shoulders, and their parents let them. Those moms and dads must have been tough as nails, and/or had the faith of saints. I'm sure the parents did everything that they could to keep their kids as safe as possible, but they did not back out. They did not choose a safer path. They, and their children, absolutely did not value their own comfort over the attainment of real, positive change for all people.
I understand that on some level these parents were "just" doing whatever had to be done to obtain the best education for their children, the same way most parents do today. However, I just don't see marching your baby through hateful, screaming crowds, in the same light as the "choices" people use today in order to get the best "option" for their family.
So here's my salute to the brave parents of the Civil Rights Movement: I am humbled by your courage and inspired by your faith. Thank you for making it possible for my children to grow up in a multi-racial world and to be saved from the chains that hold the oppressor as well as the oppressed. May your sacrifices not be for nothing.
Friday, February 15, 2008
More Quick and Green
Tonia's quick and green tip for today is....
... Be more organized! Or less forgetful. Or less ditzy.
For example, when you go to Meijer to buy the groceries, make sure that you have some way to pay for them before you go to all the trouble to select the groceries, scan the groceries and bag the groceries. If you don't, you will have to waste precious fossil fuels driving back home to get some form of payment and then turn around and go back to Meijer and pay for them. If you insist on being airheaded, live close to Meijer.
Another example might be, when you go to the Y to workout and you bring along your husband's lunch that he forgot at home, take the lunch IN to the Y and give it to him! Do not leave it in the car, unnoticed until you return back home. You will either have to burn up more fossil fuels taking it to him, or let him waste money and Jimmy John's fossil fuels by having him order lunch. Also, if he has to order lunch, he will just create more solid waste. Granted, he should have remembered to take his lunch in the first place, but who are you to judge at this point?
If you cannot become less clueless, then get a good sense of humor and a blog so at least the whole debacle (love any chance to use a good word like that!) will have some redeeming quality.
... Be more organized! Or less forgetful. Or less ditzy.
For example, when you go to Meijer to buy the groceries, make sure that you have some way to pay for them before you go to all the trouble to select the groceries, scan the groceries and bag the groceries. If you don't, you will have to waste precious fossil fuels driving back home to get some form of payment and then turn around and go back to Meijer and pay for them. If you insist on being airheaded, live close to Meijer.
Another example might be, when you go to the Y to workout and you bring along your husband's lunch that he forgot at home, take the lunch IN to the Y and give it to him! Do not leave it in the car, unnoticed until you return back home. You will either have to burn up more fossil fuels taking it to him, or let him waste money and Jimmy John's fossil fuels by having him order lunch. Also, if he has to order lunch, he will just create more solid waste. Granted, he should have remembered to take his lunch in the first place, but who are you to judge at this point?
If you cannot become less clueless, then get a good sense of humor and a blog so at least the whole debacle (love any chance to use a good word like that!) will have some redeeming quality.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Peer Pressure
In my heart I really long to be the kind of person who doesn't care about what other people think. In some ways I'm totally successful with that. In other ways I keep wondering if I'm doing something right or if I'm good enough. Sometimes I think, "What will people say?!" Those attitudes can be paralyzing and really keep you from feeling confident and comfortable with yourself.
On the other hand I've been thinking that it's not all bad. Sometimes wondering, "What would people think?" makes me do the right thing. Knowing that my neighbors might just be shaking their heads makes me get the leaves up off the lawn before it kills the grass. I know it needs to be done, but I feel lazy about it. They give me that little push.
Sometimes I don't really think through the possible dangers of what my kids are doing when we're out in public and I'm inclined to be a little too laid back. But then a little voice in my head says, "What will people think?" and then I look at what the kids are doing from an outsiders point of view and I can better evaluate the safety what they're doing.
I'm not saying that I want to be controlled by other people, far from it, but a little peer pressure apparently has it's place.
On the other hand I've been thinking that it's not all bad. Sometimes wondering, "What would people think?" makes me do the right thing. Knowing that my neighbors might just be shaking their heads makes me get the leaves up off the lawn before it kills the grass. I know it needs to be done, but I feel lazy about it. They give me that little push.
Sometimes I don't really think through the possible dangers of what my kids are doing when we're out in public and I'm inclined to be a little too laid back. But then a little voice in my head says, "What will people think?" and then I look at what the kids are doing from an outsiders point of view and I can better evaluate the safety what they're doing.
I'm not saying that I want to be controlled by other people, far from it, but a little peer pressure apparently has it's place.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Quick and Green!
Just a couple of things I've tried lately that were pretty easy and pretty green. Maybe you'd like to give 'em a try. Maybe you'd like to tell me your quick and green ideas.
1. Popped popcorn on the stove- no microwave bag to throw away.
2. Skipped the Happy Meal bag at McDonald's. Would like to skip the Happy Meal altogether but those cute little FurReal pets sucked me in.
3. Put my plastic produce bags into my reusable grocery bags so I can use them again too.
4. Used my glass jars for drinking glasses. I like glass and the kids always break my glass glasses. Now I'll have an endless supply.
5. Unplugged the fans and coffee pot when not in use. The coffee pot has a clock that I can't even read that's using power all day long, and the fans have a little digital thermostat that is using power all day.
That's all I have for now, but I notice that if you start looking for ways to reduce waste, you start to spot them.
1. Popped popcorn on the stove- no microwave bag to throw away.
2. Skipped the Happy Meal bag at McDonald's. Would like to skip the Happy Meal altogether but those cute little FurReal pets sucked me in.
3. Put my plastic produce bags into my reusable grocery bags so I can use them again too.
4. Used my glass jars for drinking glasses. I like glass and the kids always break my glass glasses. Now I'll have an endless supply.
5. Unplugged the fans and coffee pot when not in use. The coffee pot has a clock that I can't even read that's using power all day long, and the fans have a little digital thermostat that is using power all day.
That's all I have for now, but I notice that if you start looking for ways to reduce waste, you start to spot them.
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