Monday, February 28, 2011

Students Celebrating History

Today, I witnessed my son's elementary school class deliver biographies and life stories on amazing people that have crafted and captivated history. Presentations on Frederick Douglass, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, Princess Diana, Pablo Picasso, Walt Disney, Jesus, Helen Keller, and many others were well researched and delivered.

What I liked most about these presentations were how each student embraced the authenticity of "their" individual by dressing up in character. They were absolutely beautiful. Secondly, I learned new facts about each person which means these boys and girls demonstrated to me that there is always something new to learn about a person. Finally, I was pleased in their earnest accounts of brilliance and their ability to teach me and others without hesitation or fear.

It's good to see kids when they are comfortable to speak and share knowledge. For this experience, I am personally grateful. Bravo!

Friday, February 11, 2011

When Kids Grow Up

It’s hard for me to believe that my children are growing up. Where did the time go? It seems like yesterday when I was holding them in my arms. Now, they are out growing me by leaps and bounds.

However with growth comes more responsibility. As parents, we can’t cripple our children out of doing hard work or chores. It clearly won’t benefit them in the long run. So let’s make a pact and require our children to do their chores and commitments with honor and excellence and without negative feedback. Let them know that a positive response to work and a strong work ethic pays off. Invest in this concept on their behalf.

So the next time you ask your children to strive for an A, focus on teamwork, practice harder, load or unload the dishwasher, take out the trash, or wash and fold clothes, with our diligence in guiding their response and work ethic, it is our hope that we will one day hear, “I’ll be happy to” or something close to it.