My older son's middle school is having an inauguration ball for Barack Obama's inauguration. Students are asked to dress up and given a formal invitation.
This is great! This is a historic moment and they should be paying attention to this huge moment in our nation's history. Schools around the country are marking the event as well they should. http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/01/16/18inaugevents.h28.html
Then there's my 9-year-old's elementary school where the principal says she will not have any schoolwide events because while some parents have asked for a schoolwide event, others have complained that the same fuss wouldn't be paid over a McCain inauguration.
I'm kicking myself for not speaking up about this at the time but I don't want to be labeled as one of those moms. Or maybe I do. I'm reconsidering that. Meanwhile, one of the moms at the parent teacher organization where we discussed that muttered that they wouldn't make a fuss about McCaine's inauguration.
Duh! McCain's organization wouldn't have been historic, except as a victory for senior citizens. Seriously! Wake up and smell the coffee people! This is no longer about politics. This is about marking a huge moment in our history and now I'm incensed that there's a possibility my kid might not get to see it.
OK, the principal did mention that parent could write a note requesting their parent see the inauguration and said she is leaving it up to teachers to decide what to do. I can appreciate her not wanting chaos if she brought all the kids to the cafeteria. But seriously, people, this is huge. As someone old enough to remember Martin Luther King and as someone old enough to doubt I would ever see this day, I repeat, this is huge.
Now I'm going to have to be one of those moms and email the principal. But this is an occasion that I guarantee our kids will be telling their grandchildren about. It's not just that I don't want my son to miss it. I don't want anyone to miss it.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
kids and comedy
You don't usually think of kids either doing stand-up comedy or going to shows at comedy clubs. You think it's all about having a few drinks, listening to a usually raunchy comedian and hoping you don't get picked on by some guy whose stand-up routine is both mean and funny.
But now there's a new twist to the comedy club with Comedy N'Kids where kids go to the Gotham Comedy Club in New York and hear stand-up comedian kids do their routines about trying to talk to girls, their maniacal Spanish teacher and their embarrassing mom.
I didn't get to go to the show but my mom took my two boys who seemed to love the experience. Had they known in advance, they could have come with their own jokes and hopped on stage to try them out. I'm pretty sure my younger son would have done this and my older son, who is more shy, would rather stick a needle in his eye.
Kids N' Comedy http://www.kidsncomedy.com/pages/classes.html at 208 West 23rd St. offers weekly workshops for kids and that's where the kids perfect their material and they even have their own comedy camp. Call 212-877-6115 for more information.
I like the idea of giving the class clown (which has sometimes been my younger kid) a place where he gets applause instead of being sent down to the principal. The routines are apparently very kid friendly with no sexual references or cursing allowed although plenty of smart ass humor encouraged.
The show costs $15 plus you have to buy drinks. A round of cokes for everyone! It's a clever way for the comedy club to make money and build interest. My mom made the rookie mistake of ordering lunch there and the bill was pretty hefty.
My mom also said that kids have to get used to the idea of responding to standup comics by making eye contact and at least smiling at their jokes. This is pretty difficult when you're trying to dig into your chicken fingers and another good reason to skip the lunch.
The shows are once a month and got two thumbs up from my young audience members.
But now there's a new twist to the comedy club with Comedy N'Kids where kids go to the Gotham Comedy Club in New York and hear stand-up comedian kids do their routines about trying to talk to girls, their maniacal Spanish teacher and their embarrassing mom.
I didn't get to go to the show but my mom took my two boys who seemed to love the experience. Had they known in advance, they could have come with their own jokes and hopped on stage to try them out. I'm pretty sure my younger son would have done this and my older son, who is more shy, would rather stick a needle in his eye.
Kids N' Comedy http://www.kidsncomedy.com/pages/classes.html at 208 West 23rd St. offers weekly workshops for kids and that's where the kids perfect their material and they even have their own comedy camp. Call 212-877-6115 for more information.
I like the idea of giving the class clown (which has sometimes been my younger kid) a place where he gets applause instead of being sent down to the principal. The routines are apparently very kid friendly with no sexual references or cursing allowed although plenty of smart ass humor encouraged.
The show costs $15 plus you have to buy drinks. A round of cokes for everyone! It's a clever way for the comedy club to make money and build interest. My mom made the rookie mistake of ordering lunch there and the bill was pretty hefty.
My mom also said that kids have to get used to the idea of responding to standup comics by making eye contact and at least smiling at their jokes. This is pretty difficult when you're trying to dig into your chicken fingers and another good reason to skip the lunch.
The shows are once a month and got two thumbs up from my young audience members.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Healthier Cafeterias
About 19 percent of children in the U.S. are obese and the fare usually served in cafeterias: macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches and pizza isn't helping. One school in West New York, N.J. has a pilot program to help the 600 kids at the school eat healthier.
Each week, Chef Fred Rothschild, comes into classrooms to teach students about new foods and have them taste them and even prepare them. The students have learned about baked ziti, sweet potatoes and healthy ways to make pizza.
Sal Valenza, food director of Nu-Way Concessionaires in Kearney, N.J., says that changing student's eating habits is "not about cookies, it's about community." The mostly Hispanic population at the school has a higher obesity rate than in wealthier communities, there are fewer grocery stores with fresh foods and there tends to be less fresh food in their diets.
But teaching students about fresh food has worked in Public School 4 where students are eating twice as many fresh fruits and vegetables. See http://www.campbellfoodservice.com/LatestTrendsDetail.aspx?Page=2555§ion=23 and http://www.healthiergeneration.org/search.aspx?search=West%20New%20York,%20N.J. for more information.
The school was named the healthiest school in New Jersey last year by livinghealth.com. http://living.health.com/2008/08/20/americas-healthiest-schools-state-by-state/
Other schools, like the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, N.J., are focusing on bringing New Jersey farm food to cafeterias. By recycling all food waste from the cafeteria and getting rid of trays to make sure students only take as much food as they can eat, Gary Giberson, the food services director and president of Sustainable Fare, is able to serve fresh, locally grown food without huge budget increases. While Lawrenceville is a private school, Giberson hopes it can serve as a model for public schools. http://www.whitedogcafefoundation.org/FTI/cost_cutting.php
Both were guests at a panel discussion at the Princeton Environmental Film Festival at the Princeton Public Library which sadly is closing on Sunday. http://www.princeton.lib.nj.us/peff/
Each week, Chef Fred Rothschild, comes into classrooms to teach students about new foods and have them taste them and even prepare them. The students have learned about baked ziti, sweet potatoes and healthy ways to make pizza.
Sal Valenza, food director of Nu-Way Concessionaires in Kearney, N.J., says that changing student's eating habits is "not about cookies, it's about community." The mostly Hispanic population at the school has a higher obesity rate than in wealthier communities, there are fewer grocery stores with fresh foods and there tends to be less fresh food in their diets.
But teaching students about fresh food has worked in Public School 4 where students are eating twice as many fresh fruits and vegetables. See http://www.campbellfoodservice.com/LatestTrendsDetail.aspx?Page=2555§ion=23 and http://www.healthiergeneration.org/search.aspx?search=West%20New%20York,%20N.J. for more information.
The school was named the healthiest school in New Jersey last year by livinghealth.com. http://living.health.com/2008/08/20/americas-healthiest-schools-state-by-state/
Other schools, like the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, N.J., are focusing on bringing New Jersey farm food to cafeterias. By recycling all food waste from the cafeteria and getting rid of trays to make sure students only take as much food as they can eat, Gary Giberson, the food services director and president of Sustainable Fare, is able to serve fresh, locally grown food without huge budget increases. While Lawrenceville is a private school, Giberson hopes it can serve as a model for public schools. http://www.whitedogcafefoundation.org/FTI/cost_cutting.php
Both were guests at a panel discussion at the Princeton Environmental Film Festival at the Princeton Public Library which sadly is closing on Sunday. http://www.princeton.lib.nj.us/peff/
Monday, December 29, 2008
Home Sweet Cave
We have spent the last few days in a cavelike existence. After Christmas and all the stress Christmas entailed, we felt the need to stay home, play with all the toys, watch movies and eat popcorn. I have actually gotten to spend some time reading a book and the newspaper every day. I have also slept very late in my cave. I think I was recuperating from all the husting and bustling and it is amazing not having an agenda. (OK, I should be doing bills and looking for a job).
Finally I emerged yesterday and bought some groceries and today we went for a bike ride and I went out and did some work in the garden. (There are some benefit to global warming after all). Now I am ready to emerge from the cave and do something fun but everyone seems to have disappeared. By everyone, I mean the one or two friends who we see all the time. Tomorrow, we are leaving the cave for New York. That's fine. The cave is lovely but it also feels good to stop hibernating.
Finally I emerged yesterday and bought some groceries and today we went for a bike ride and I went out and did some work in the garden. (There are some benefit to global warming after all). Now I am ready to emerge from the cave and do something fun but everyone seems to have disappeared. By everyone, I mean the one or two friends who we see all the time. Tomorrow, we are leaving the cave for New York. That's fine. The cave is lovely but it also feels good to stop hibernating.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
huge holiday stress
I have succumbed to holiday stress. Between ferrying the kids to piano, volunteering for my choir's silent auction, trying to buy gifts online, picking up my husband from the train stationa nd then driving my other son at ballet, I could feel my heart pounding and my stomach churning and I could swear I sensed my blood pressure skyrocketing.
It probably started with my online shopping trip to Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com where hours of price comparisons finally revealed - surprise: the prices are about the same. But at the root of it all, is money stress. What else is new? A survey the American Psychological Association found that 61 percent of Americans are stressed for the same reason so at least I'm in good company. www.apa.org/releases/holidaystress.html and the blog On Women by Deborah Kotz, has more details about the study which shows that more women are experiencing holiday stress over gift giving than men (41 percent to 35 percent). www.usnews.com/blogs/on-women/2008/12/12/why-women-are-prone-to-holiday-stress.html. But those of us who have been agonizing over the whole gifts from Santa thing are way ahead of the APA. We know in our gut (literally) that it's all about the money. They have several practical suggestions about how to cope with stress: make connections, set realistic goals, take decisive actionn to deal with the root causes of the stress and take care of yourself. And I agree with all of the suggestions, especially the part about making connections. I'm just having trouble making connections becauase of my tremendous Christmas deadline pressure. I'm meditating and doing yoga and walking, I'm eating right. But I'm having trouble finding the Christmas spirit. I'm sure lots of people feel the same way.
I'm sure it's nothing a few Christmas carols and some cookies can't cure. But in the meanwhile, I have late Christmas cards to send and more gifts to buy and food to prepare and the list goes on and on and on.........
It probably started with my online shopping trip to Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com where hours of price comparisons finally revealed - surprise: the prices are about the same. But at the root of it all, is money stress. What else is new? A survey the American Psychological Association found that 61 percent of Americans are stressed for the same reason so at least I'm in good company. www.apa.org/releases/holidaystress.html and the blog On Women by Deborah Kotz, has more details about the study which shows that more women are experiencing holiday stress over gift giving than men (41 percent to 35 percent). www.usnews.com/blogs/on-women/2008/12/12/why-women-are-prone-to-holiday-stress.html. But those of us who have been agonizing over the whole gifts from Santa thing are way ahead of the APA. We know in our gut (literally) that it's all about the money. They have several practical suggestions about how to cope with stress: make connections, set realistic goals, take decisive actionn to deal with the root causes of the stress and take care of yourself. And I agree with all of the suggestions, especially the part about making connections. I'm just having trouble making connections becauase of my tremendous Christmas deadline pressure. I'm meditating and doing yoga and walking, I'm eating right. But I'm having trouble finding the Christmas spirit. I'm sure lots of people feel the same way.
I'm sure it's nothing a few Christmas carols and some cookies can't cure. But in the meanwhile, I have late Christmas cards to send and more gifts to buy and food to prepare and the list goes on and on and on.........
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Christmas shopping
I do everything at the last minute so it's no surprise that I generally leave Christmas shopping until a couple of weeks before Christmas. I am trying to be zen about this because it seems I will never be one of those women, like one good friend, who has all of her shopping done by now and all the presents wrapped, labeled and under the tree.
I'm OK with the last minute shopping but this year is a bit tough because we are trying to economize or at least be more careful about what we do buy. So, like many people, we will not have a huge gift extravaganza but we will plenty of gifts, especially for our kids.
My boys have held on to Santa for all these years but now I don't hear much about Santa. Earlier in the year, my younger son, W., said it was OK if we didn't have as much money this year because Santa could get him anything. But I think someone has tipped him off because I don't hear that much this year.
In fact, I think my boys are protecting us by not telling us that they have stopped believing. So nobody is even mentioning the big guy in the red suit. This is a little sad but I don't see any way around it until someone comes right out and says what they believe. I tried a tentative, "How are you feeling about Santa these days?" But I didn't word the question very well and all I got was a noncomittal, "Good." Hey, I feel good about Santa too. Who wouldn't?
I have a feeling we'll still have gifts from Santa anyway until they're 30 years old or so. We're big traditionalists around here.
While I fret about Christmas, my house has gotten to that level of messy where you can't even think about cleaning it unless you own a back hoe. But our tree is up and I've gotten most of my presents for my kids and my nephews.
I am resolved to try to preserve the Christmas spirit despite the last minute anxiety, the bleak economic news and my messy house. But right now I need a little ho ho ho in my mojo.
I'm OK with the last minute shopping but this year is a bit tough because we are trying to economize or at least be more careful about what we do buy. So, like many people, we will not have a huge gift extravaganza but we will plenty of gifts, especially for our kids.
My boys have held on to Santa for all these years but now I don't hear much about Santa. Earlier in the year, my younger son, W., said it was OK if we didn't have as much money this year because Santa could get him anything. But I think someone has tipped him off because I don't hear that much this year.
In fact, I think my boys are protecting us by not telling us that they have stopped believing. So nobody is even mentioning the big guy in the red suit. This is a little sad but I don't see any way around it until someone comes right out and says what they believe. I tried a tentative, "How are you feeling about Santa these days?" But I didn't word the question very well and all I got was a noncomittal, "Good." Hey, I feel good about Santa too. Who wouldn't?
I have a feeling we'll still have gifts from Santa anyway until they're 30 years old or so. We're big traditionalists around here.
While I fret about Christmas, my house has gotten to that level of messy where you can't even think about cleaning it unless you own a back hoe. But our tree is up and I've gotten most of my presents for my kids and my nephews.
I am resolved to try to preserve the Christmas spirit despite the last minute anxiety, the bleak economic news and my messy house. But right now I need a little ho ho ho in my mojo.
Endings and Beginnings
I'm in mourning over the loss of my parenting column, Family Matters, for the Times of Trenton. But I am trying to move forward with my blog which has been sorely neglected for the past several months.
I wrote my column for more than eight years and started it when my son W. was just 10 months old. One of my first columns was about my trip to Washington with a friend for the Million Mom March in 2000 and Will wasn't yet 1 yet, so I was still in what one friend once called "the baby haze." Happily. I had Will when I was 40 years old and I was thrilled to have children. But I did put my career on hold somewhat, although I kept freelancing and then began my column. For a copy of my final column, go to http://www.nj.com/living/times/index.ssf.
The column was a kind of touchstone for me - a place where I recorded many of my family's milestones, like the death of our family dog and my children going off to kindergarten and then middle school last year. I sometimes met people I had fallen out of touch with who said they felt they knew what was going on with me through my column. So I'm hoping the blog can serve a similar function. I haven't quite figured out how to do this blogging this but I'm willing to give it a try.
I wrote my column for more than eight years and started it when my son W. was just 10 months old. One of my first columns was about my trip to Washington with a friend for the Million Mom March in 2000 and Will wasn't yet 1 yet, so I was still in what one friend once called "the baby haze." Happily. I had Will when I was 40 years old and I was thrilled to have children. But I did put my career on hold somewhat, although I kept freelancing and then began my column. For a copy of my final column, go to http://www.nj.com/living/times/index.ssf.
The column was a kind of touchstone for me - a place where I recorded many of my family's milestones, like the death of our family dog and my children going off to kindergarten and then middle school last year. I sometimes met people I had fallen out of touch with who said they felt they knew what was going on with me through my column. So I'm hoping the blog can serve a similar function. I haven't quite figured out how to do this blogging this but I'm willing to give it a try.
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