Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Lack of school relationships might bring transitional challenges as children enter into the summer months.
Most kids can’t wait for summer break. Visions of swimming, catching fireflies, picking raspberries and eating juicy watermelon come to mind. The countdown begins somewhere around April. (And I know it does for all you teachers, too!) “Less than 100 days ‘til summer!” can be seen on countless Facebook statuses across the land. But something’s been a little different in our household. For the second year in a row, we’ve noticed a distinct difference in our older son’s behavior as soon as school comes to an end. At first we didn’t realize what was causing the behavior change. Now facing it for a second “season,” it’s become apparent that this transition into summer is having an impact on him, and it's not a good one. This month, Addison, 9…
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Can't kids just be kids?
After this past week’s record-breaking temperatures, I became “heated” in more ways than one. What value is there to having a group of 7- and 8-year-olds play baseball in 98-degree weather when warnings have been issued for poor air quality? I was disturbed to think the coaches were so set on these kids playing, that their health and safety weren’t a consideration. “If they drink lots of water, they’ll be fine,” someone said. Well, my son (who has asthma) just might not be “fine” if he’s pushed to play catcher for two hours in 100 percent humidity at those record-breaking temperatures. Fortunately after some debate with the other coach, our coach had enough sense to postpone the game -- just to “play it safe.” Bless him for standing up for…
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
As much as we hope tragedy won't have an impact on our families, it is always possible. However, we have the opportunity to educate our children to be smart about their decisions.
My "mom emotions" were stirred up this week. It’s funny how differently we see the world once we become parents. It all started when I covered an assignment last week for Upper Saucon Patch at Southern Lehigh High School. As many of the local high schools have done over the years, the high school conducted a S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions) demonstration in the parking lot of the high school. It’s often done during prom season as a reminder to students to avoid drinking and driving. An accident scene was staged involving two vehicles. Students volunteered to act as the injured and deceased. Parents even volunteered to demonstrate their role had the accident been real. Typically it’s a basic demonstration where the high …
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
“Enjoy those precious moments with your kids, because they grow up WAY too fast.”
As of Memorial Day 2011 I have a 9-year-old. Holy cow. This is the last year that my oldest son, Addison, will turn a single digit. Next year he’ll hit the big 1-0. The scary thing for me right now is that I clearly remember being "10." I remember the camaraderie I felt with my softball teammates, the fun I had at summer camp, the invigorating feeling of the cold crick water as I searched for crayfish, and the arguments I had with my parents about getting my ears pierced. I could never have imagined being a parent at that age, but here I am with a 9-year-old who’s doing much of the same things. He plays baseball, builds tree forts, loves cub scouts, enjoys playing kickball and going to the community pool, just as I used to at his age. …
Bill Villa
7:48 am on Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Here's what it's really like ... http://bloggingdottie.blogspot.com/2011/01/facts-morning-call-newspaper-refused-to_08.html Here's some more reality ... http://bloggingdottie.blogspot.com/2011/05/heres-how-da-jim-martin-fixes-dui.html more ›