Not only had the young boy taught himself to read, but he had also become very particular about his choice of reading materials.
Send your best kid pictures to: dalessandrochristine@gmail.com
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Picture of the Day
Not only had the young boy taught himself to read, but he had also become very particular about his choice of reading materials.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Take Your Child To Work Day
This Thursday marks the annual "occurence" (not sure what else to call it since it's really only a holiday for stay at home moms), of Take Your Child To Work Day, where children get to see what it is their parents do all day when they are away from home.
Now, if you are a fireman, policewoman, circus acrobat, or ice cream man, chances are your child is going to love, love, love the day made especially for them.
Children of accountants, lawyers, or, ahem, finance guys.....
Hmmmm....not so sure.
As a result, you should really plan for the day so that (1) your child can have fun experiencing another world, (2) you can reap the rewards of spending a weekday with your little one, and (3) you will avoid providing plenty of material for the water cooler set who have lots to say about your parenting style.
My own daughter is looking forward to her first "Take Your Child to Work" day as both my husband and the awesome people with whom he gets to spend his day have planned lots of fun for her and the other children in attendance. I am told there will be picnics, crafts, office exploration, and even a movie on the big projector in the Conference room. With hope, there will also be no temper tantrums, no sugar comas, and no exploration that ends with the Stock Market hitting record lows and the dollar sinking further below the Euro on account of some kid getting a hold of some phone in the Jersey office.
So, in advance, I'd like to give a shout out to the incomparable Linda, Melissa, Jan, and Bea for planning what will surely be a memorable day.
As Promised....
In the interest of doing better for our kids, here is a great clip from the Jimmy Kimmel Show, where he conducts product testing on some children.
Very cute.
Very cute.
Why It's Good to Go Green
I realize I am probably turning traffic away by posting two serious pieces in a row, but both are vital to the health and well-being of our children.
As we celebrate Earth Day, it is important to remember that "Going Green" may seem like the latest celebrity trend or the cause of the moment, but when we think about all that we invest in our children, a safe and protected planet should be atop the list.
Most of us would agree that raising a child in a house filled with second-hand smoke is not only undesirable, but, given all that we now know about its harmful affects, may even be considered child abuse. Many of us actually grew up in homes filled with smoke because no one knew the harm it posed to children. Had our parents or grandparents known, they probably would have felt the same way about it then as we do now.
Smoking in the home creates a harmful environment for your child and I cannot imagine anyone arguing that point. This is obvious.
Choosing to live an environmentally responsible life may not seem so obvious, however. Unlike second hand smoke, the importance of taking care of our natural resources may not feel as pressing, as necessary, as affecting.
It is. But, for decades many of us have envisioned environmentalism as a calling for the granola set. Tree hugging was never a compliment, nor was the term do-gooder, or any other moniker that denoted someone who devoted their time to protecting the environment. Stereotypes still equate environmentalists whose concern for natural resources meant maintaining natural hair growth and body odor. It was either embraced or deprecated and, still, not much was done to effectively convince people on a global level that we needed to start becoming more responsible for our actions.
Making one or two small changes will not only greatly contribute to the global initiative to preserve our natural resources, but also extend a legacy of global consciousness to our children.
Everyone benefits.
What can you do?
Easy actions:
1) Do not turn the light on unless you have to, and always remember to turn it off as soon as you are done.
2) Pay attention to water left running. Brushing your teeth, taking a shower, and even washing dishes probably requires about half the water you currently use. Try to make a conscious effort to use less.
3) Stop using plastic water bottles. Though many are recycled (at great cost and use of energy), it is much better to simply buy a Brita, filter your own water, and reuse a sports water bottle each day. Plus, you can get a water bottle that measures out your exact daily requirement, allowing you to keep better track of that as well.
4) Don't leave your computer, television, or radio on all day. "Turn it off" should be the mantra of your day.
5) Buy from your local farmer's market. You're not only supporting your local economy, you're also buying higher quality food that meets US standards (as oppose to foreign ones that are not as strict with pesticides and packaging). You are also helping to curtail the use of fuels required to transport outside produce.
6) Set your thermostat a degree lower/higher... you'll be surprised how quickly you get used to the setting, and save money and energy as well.
7) Take advantage of the library instead of the book store.
8) Curtail use of disposable plates and cutlery. More convenient, yes; more wasteful, YES.
9) Buy longer-lasting, low energy, compact fluorescent light bulbs.
10) Take advantage of Sam's, BJ's, and Costco....buying bulk reduces packaging.
More involved changes that will really make a difference:
1) Composting your food scraps. We live on a farm...we have no excuse not to use our food scraps to cut down on waste and fertilize our gi-normous garden. Just be sure your compost pile is well contained and sealed to prevent scavengers and a lovely odor for your neighbors to enjoy.
2) We are seriously looking into a windmill to produce our own energy. The state of New Jersey actually offers the most incentives for using solar and wind power energy: Offering to reimburse more than half the cost of the windmill, providing tax breaks, and allowing owners the opportunity to sell their unused energy back to the power companies. In an estimated six years, your windmill will be paid off and you'll be making your own energy.
3) Buy a hybrid vehicle.
*****What do I need to work on? Water bottles, using wipes likes they grow in my backyard, and leaving my computer on.
As we celebrate Earth Day, it is important to remember that "Going Green" may seem like the latest celebrity trend or the cause of the moment, but when we think about all that we invest in our children, a safe and protected planet should be atop the list.
Most of us would agree that raising a child in a house filled with second-hand smoke is not only undesirable, but, given all that we now know about its harmful affects, may even be considered child abuse. Many of us actually grew up in homes filled with smoke because no one knew the harm it posed to children. Had our parents or grandparents known, they probably would have felt the same way about it then as we do now.
Smoking in the home creates a harmful environment for your child and I cannot imagine anyone arguing that point. This is obvious.
Choosing to live an environmentally responsible life may not seem so obvious, however. Unlike second hand smoke, the importance of taking care of our natural resources may not feel as pressing, as necessary, as affecting.
It is. But, for decades many of us have envisioned environmentalism as a calling for the granola set. Tree hugging was never a compliment, nor was the term do-gooder, or any other moniker that denoted someone who devoted their time to protecting the environment. Stereotypes still equate environmentalists whose concern for natural resources meant maintaining natural hair growth and body odor. It was either embraced or deprecated and, still, not much was done to effectively convince people on a global level that we needed to start becoming more responsible for our actions.
Making one or two small changes will not only greatly contribute to the global initiative to preserve our natural resources, but also extend a legacy of global consciousness to our children.
Everyone benefits.
What can you do?
Easy actions:
1) Do not turn the light on unless you have to, and always remember to turn it off as soon as you are done.
2) Pay attention to water left running. Brushing your teeth, taking a shower, and even washing dishes probably requires about half the water you currently use. Try to make a conscious effort to use less.
3) Stop using plastic water bottles. Though many are recycled (at great cost and use of energy), it is much better to simply buy a Brita, filter your own water, and reuse a sports water bottle each day. Plus, you can get a water bottle that measures out your exact daily requirement, allowing you to keep better track of that as well.
4) Don't leave your computer, television, or radio on all day. "Turn it off" should be the mantra of your day.
5) Buy from your local farmer's market. You're not only supporting your local economy, you're also buying higher quality food that meets US standards (as oppose to foreign ones that are not as strict with pesticides and packaging). You are also helping to curtail the use of fuels required to transport outside produce.
6) Set your thermostat a degree lower/higher... you'll be surprised how quickly you get used to the setting, and save money and energy as well.
7) Take advantage of the library instead of the book store.
8) Curtail use of disposable plates and cutlery. More convenient, yes; more wasteful, YES.
9) Buy longer-lasting, low energy, compact fluorescent light bulbs.
10) Take advantage of Sam's, BJ's, and Costco....buying bulk reduces packaging.
More involved changes that will really make a difference:
1) Composting your food scraps. We live on a farm...we have no excuse not to use our food scraps to cut down on waste and fertilize our gi-normous garden. Just be sure your compost pile is well contained and sealed to prevent scavengers and a lovely odor for your neighbors to enjoy.
2) We are seriously looking into a windmill to produce our own energy. The state of New Jersey actually offers the most incentives for using solar and wind power energy: Offering to reimburse more than half the cost of the windmill, providing tax breaks, and allowing owners the opportunity to sell their unused energy back to the power companies. In an estimated six years, your windmill will be paid off and you'll be making your own energy.
3) Buy a hybrid vehicle.
*****What do I need to work on? Water bottles, using wipes likes they grow in my backyard, and leaving my computer on.
AND I PROMISE: the next post will be some horrible diaper joke, or funny video.
Plastics
I know I keep talking about plastics, but as more articles/research surface, it is becoming more apparent that we really need to safeguard our little ones.
In the interest of clarity, I'll skip all the jargon regarding why the plastic is bad and what it can do to your child, just know this:
--If you have a bottle, sippy cup or other reusable plastic with the recycling number 2 or 7...throw it out. Even avoid buying anything packaged with this type of plastic as we do not know how it has been treated before it got to you.
-- It is actually okay to freeze bottled waters. Freezing actually retards the release of chemicals. Ignore the Internet urban buzz.
--When microwaving, remove food from all pastic containers (even the little soup cups, chef boyardee, and like products).
--Gerber's clearview bottles are BPA-free; a three pack costs $3 at Target. Buy them or glass bottles.
--Reduce can food usage....try to buy fresh foods or stemables in the bag.
--Look for recycling codes 1, 4, and 5 as they are considered safe plastics.
--Do not heat bottles and sippy cups, do not wash them in the dishwasher with harsh detergents, or put hot liquids in them. (I'm throwing all mine out and starting over).
--Even avoid "microwave-safe" packaged lunches or kid cuisines....or just warm the food in a glass container.
Source: The Washington Post, Tuesday Health Section
In the interest of clarity, I'll skip all the jargon regarding why the plastic is bad and what it can do to your child, just know this:
--If you have a bottle, sippy cup or other reusable plastic with the recycling number 2 or 7...throw it out. Even avoid buying anything packaged with this type of plastic as we do not know how it has been treated before it got to you.
-- It is actually okay to freeze bottled waters. Freezing actually retards the release of chemicals. Ignore the Internet urban buzz.
--When microwaving, remove food from all pastic containers (even the little soup cups, chef boyardee, and like products).
--Gerber's clearview bottles are BPA-free; a three pack costs $3 at Target. Buy them or glass bottles.
--Reduce can food usage....try to buy fresh foods or stemables in the bag.
--Look for recycling codes 1, 4, and 5 as they are considered safe plastics.
--Do not heat bottles and sippy cups, do not wash them in the dishwasher with harsh detergents, or put hot liquids in them. (I'm throwing all mine out and starting over).
--Even avoid "microwave-safe" packaged lunches or kid cuisines....or just warm the food in a glass container.
Source: The Washington Post, Tuesday Health Section
Quote of the Day
"The reason grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is that they have a common enemy." -Sam Levenson
Picture of the Day
Every morning’s bowl of Fruity Pebbles gives you a new chance to recapture your childhood.
*Special thanks to Kyle Basu for leaving his cool bib behind.
And for the rest of you...send your favorite kid (or Daddy) pictures to:
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