Computers
Remember when computers were seen only in futuristic sci fi movies? Wow, do things change. They are now an essential part of our daily lives. We cannot live without them. It is amazing how our language has evolved through the years due to this phenomena. Not too many years ago, a window was simply something […]
What Is Paddleboarding?
Asked: I hear paddle board this and paddle board that. My grandchildren do it too. Ok, What is it? Answered: Paddleboarding is a new water sport fad that is going on around the world’s oceans and lakes. If you live on or near the lake, you have probably seen it. A person typically stands up […]
Peter Benchley’s “Jaws”
As I was looking for a new read at my local bookstore, I had a nice little internal dialogue, and decided on my next book. You know what I apparently felt like not doing this summer? Swimming. If this sounds familiar, you too have probably read (or at least seen) Peter Benchley’s Jaws. If you […]
Purple Snails
What’s up with the word purple? Come on, admit it. That is a weird word. Say it ten times in a row and tell me you don’t feel like a gelatinous blob speaking some obscure alien dialect or even that your sense of reality might be slipping ever so slowly away. I can see it […]
A Separate View
At what point in early childhood will your child begin to view himself/herself as separate from Mom and Dad, and is it natural? Yes, it is not only natural, but a desired social and emotional development, and you can help guide the new found independence. Your child’s growing independence from the family and interest in […]
Graduations Past
It is that time of year again, when my mind travels to graduations past. For me, graduation is always filled with conflicting emotions. It is the end of something tried and true and the beginning of a new chapter in the life for the graduate. I certainly have been to my share of graduations and […]
Douglas Clegg’s “Goat Dance”
Several years ago I had a friend recommend a book, saying that it was a horror story that I would love. Unfortunately, I forgot the name of the book and have been searching off and on for the name ever since. In a sudden, random rush I finally remembered the name of the book this […]
Rewards or Consequences
Should children be rewarded for good behavior? Positive reinforcement is one method employed to gain positive behavior. Rewards can have positive outcomes. Complements are always good extrinsic rewards, but rewards for good behavior cannot keep pace with your child’s changing wants. This system almost never works with middle school and high school aged children. When […]
Nicknames
I was thinking the other day about how many of my friends have nicknames. It seems that we Southerners are famous for giving nicknames to everyone. When I was a child, I was dubbed Cotton Top because of my white hair. I can remember, even as an adult, walking down the street and hearing a […]
Getting Old
Facebook posts are quick to suggest that I am getting older, with questions such as, If You Remember This, or the equally disturbing Age Test. The inference is that to remember is to be old. Based on this, I must be older than dirt, as not only do I remember them, it doesn’t seem that […]
The Master Painter
I don’t know about you, but I love this time of year. The world is so fresh and beautiful. I look out my window and see a fabulous pallet of color, as if the “Master Painter” has dipped his brush in spectacular colors and painted our earthly canvas. The Red Bud trees never fail to […]
Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?
With kindergarten registration comes the question of whether your child is ready for school. Most children are ready and should enter kindergarten with their chronologically aged peers, but sometimes a child is not quite ready and may need to wait another year. Late birthdays are always factors to consider. It is hard to see into […]
Lewis Black’s “Nothing’s Sacred”
I have a fairly high standard for comedy, especially when dealing with books, so I wasn’t too sure what I would get when I picked up Lewis Black’s Nothing’s Sacred. I have seen much of Black’s blend of comedy and socio-political commentary on television, but does his skillset translate well to book form? Yes, yes […]
Siri Divided by Zero
The funniest thing I’ve heard lately came from a computer and, for the record, wasn’t even remotely related to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Though on a side note, a terminator that looks at home in an AARP meeting is kinda funny. No, this was something Siri said. You know Siri, the computer voice who answers your questions […]
Neil Gaiman’s “Norse Mythology”
This week I’m reviewing a book I’ve been eagerly awaiting: Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology. It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Gaiman’s work. Naturally, I was interested when I heard he was working on an adaption of Norse myths. Most everybody has heard the absolute basics of Norse mythology: Thor, his trickster brother Loki, […]
Boxes for Creative Play
Boxes are wonderful ways to assist in creative play by springing your child’s imagination, which will enhance more complex play schemes. Become An Animal: This simple box horse can be modified to become any animal your child might want to become. Supplies: Large cardboard box, scissors, markers/temper paints, yarn, masking tape, wide cloth ribbon/strips of […]
