ARTICLE: Growing up - Decisions

As babies we make all decisions for our children. What to wear, where to go, who to play with. But as they grow older, we need to start letting them decide some things for themselves. This will serve as a lesson in important decision making later in life. How can we start? Toys. As older babies we can place several toys in front of them and let them decide what to play with and for how long before switching to the next toy. Clothes. Of course we won´t let them wear what they want to Sunday church if we don´t want to see a bathing suit, baseball cap and boot ensamble with a very startled preacher! But if we´re planning to spend the day at home we can start letting them pick out their outfit and gradually teach them what attire is proper for what. Don´t worry, it takes time, but as long as you´re not going to school, a birthday party or a visit with grandparents, why can´t they wear clothes that don´t match? Food. We can´t let them decide what to eat every day, and even when we do, this category can´t be all open or we would be serving pizza and ice-cream daily! But what about this? When going to the supermarket, would they prefer spinach or steamed carrots this week? Would they prefer apple or orange juice in their lunches? These may seem like little things but they really can make a difference in our children. First, they start making decisions and learning the consecuences of what they choose; but also, they are being heard and their opinions and choices are being considered by their family.

ACTIVITY: Father´s Day Bookmark

You will need:
Posterboard
Contact Paper
Photos, pictures and old magazines
Glue or glue stick
Markers
Yarn

Talk with your child(children) about Dad. What makes him special? What kinds of things do you do together? What does he like? Then, find photos, images or pictures that show answers to those questions and cut them out. Cut a strip of posterboard about 8 x 3 in (20 x 8 cm). Have your child paste the cut pictures of photos on the strip. Older children can decorate with markers too and write DAD or their names on it. If you have a very young child have him/her scribble with a marker as you hold his/her hand. Dad will love to see the baby´s first doodles! Once it´s dry, cover it with contact paper. Punch out a hole on top and hang some yarn on it. A great homemade present for Dad that he can use when reading!

TIP OF THE DAY

Read a story to your child every night. No matter how old, no matter how young it´s wonderful to hear a story before going to sleep. With babies, any picture book will do, your paced voice will soothe and calm them before drifting away to sleep. Toddlers will enjoy all classics such as Little Red Riding Hood, Three Little Pigs and Goldilocks. Young children can learn a lot from books. Try reading them ones that show different values like courage and telling the truth. Older children enjoy chapter books. Read a chapter each night and before turning the light off ask them what they think will happen next. In all cases, enjoy your reading time together, because before you know it they´ll be reading their high school texts.

STORYTIME: The Rabbit Circle -- Part 4

... The water bell around the baby rabbit´s neck made the most beautiful sound. The sound Annie had heard before. She sat next to the hole and admired the rabbit, it almost seemed to smile at her. The black rabbit approached Annie and in a deep, calm voice: spoke. "Water rabbits are special. Every time one is born they send rain to a part of the world. Then they send the messengers to a very special person: the one who will give it its name." "I don´t understand", said Annie. The rabbit spoke once more: "We are the messengers, the Rabbit Circle, and this new baby chose you. You must give it its name. Write it with your finger, right here, on the dirt under this tree." The rabbit handed Annie a long twig. Annie did not hesitate at all, took the twig and just as if she had been waiting for this moment all her life quickly scribbled on the ground. The black rabbit nodded. When she put the twig down, the four white rabbits made a circle around her, the black rabbit joined her in the middle and held her hand with his paw again. The rabbits started hopping and the ground started to shake just like before. Annie felt she was falling fast, she closed her eyes... When she opened them she was lying in her bed. It was night time. She went to the window and looked down at her yard, no sign of the rabbits. But just when she was about to step back and crawl into bed she saw something on her window... raindrops. They were moving and forming a pattern. Annie could not take her eyes away from it, the moving raindrops were beautiful. When they stopped Annie gasped. The raindrops had formed a word: COTTON... the name she had scribbled for the baby rabbit. Annie never saw the Rabbit Circle again, but deep in her heart she always saved a special place for them and for Cotton.

So next time it rains remember a water rabbit was born and it will need a name. Who knows? Maybe the Rabbit Circle will come to your yard too.

THE END

(We hope you enjoyed The Rabbit Circle/ Read parts 1,2 and 3 if you just joined us today)

DAILY RECIPE: Mango Marshmallow Pie

4 large mangoes

1/4 cup milk

25 regular size marshmallows

1 cup heavy cream (not sour)

1 graham cracker crust

Peel and cut mangoes into thin slices. Set aside. In a medium sized pot place marshmallows and milk under very low heat. Stir constantly until well melted (this mixture will look creamy). Remove from heat and add the sliced mangoes and the heavy cream. Stir well. Pour into graham cracker crust and refrigerate overnight.

STORYTIME: The Rabbit Circle-- Part 3

...The black rabbit stood on his hind legs and stepped into the circle. Wind started to blow, each time faster and harder. It encircled Annie and the rabbits. Annie´s hair flew in her face and she could barely see anything. The ground started to shake under her. It seemed to be opening up. The rabbits seemed bigger now or maybe she was getting smaller. Then she felt something graze her hand, it was the black rabbit´s paw, it wanted to hold her hand! Annie slowly stretched her hand toward the rabbit who immediately grabbed her, and looking straight at her, pulled her down through the hole in the ground. They landed with a big THUMP. Where were they? The wind was gone, and they were not in her yard anymore. First of all it was daytime. She was standing in a beautiful garden filled with flowers and trees. The sky was so blue it almost hurt her eyes. The five rabbits were still there, though much bigger now, almost her size. She was still holding on to the black rabbit´s paw. He looked up to her and and still holding her hand pulled her toward a big tree. At the bottom of it there was a small hole, and inside lay the most beautiful white baby rabbit she could ever imagine. It seemed weak, maybe hungry or thirsty. Annie saw something hanging from its neck. It was a bell. She stretched out to touch it, but when she did all she could feel was water. The bell was made out of water...
(Visit us tomorrow for the ending of The Rabbit Circle/Read parts 1 and 2 in previous posts)

DAILY RECIPE: Easy slow cooker chicken

2 chicken drumsticks, thighs and breast
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can onion soup
salt and pepper

Season chicken to taste. Place it in the slow cooker and pour the complete cans of soup on top. Turn the slow cooker on low all night or on high about 6 hours. Check for tenderness. Easy and delicious!

TIP OF THE DAY

Have you ever gotten home from the doctor´s office with your child and suddenly remember that you forgot to ask him something? To avoid this, assign a special notebook to each of your children. In it, write all your questions, comments, observations, anything you want your pediatrician to be aware of regarding your child. Use it throughout the month and take it with you to your next appointment. This way you´ll remember everything you want to discuss and I´m sure your doctor will appreciate it too.

STORYTIME: The Rabbit Circle -- Part 2

... Annie stepped back from the window. Although she was not scared, the five rabbits looking up at her made her a bit nervous. She breathed deeply and tiptoed to the window again. She looked down... the rabbits were still there, in a perfect circle and looking up at her. Why were they standing there? Were they trying to tell her something? Suddenly she heard the bell again. At the sound of it, the rabbits quickly stood on their hind legs, wiggled their noses and hopped to the end of the yard disappearing so quickly, Annie could not even tell where they had gone. She heard her mother calling her for dinner, and still thinking about the rabbits hurried downstairs.

That night Annie could not go to sleep. She kept picturing the rabbits in her head. A thunderstorm could be heard in the distance, but it seemed to be getting nearer. Soon enough the pitter patter of raindrops hitting the roof came. By the time it stopped, Annie was fast asleep. The sound of the water bell woke her, again softly but very clear. At first she thought she was dreaming, but as she remembered the rabbits Annie sat up on her bed, ran to the window and looked down. The white rabbits were there and in the distance she could vaguely see a black figure, under the moonlight, hopping toward her. It was the black rabbit. It joined the others, and repeating the ritual, they hopped in all directions and stopped, forming a perfect circle and looking up at Annie. Just like before, she thought, only this time, she rushed down the stairs and out the door towards the rabbits. What she saw next she couldn´t believe....

(Visit us tomorrow for more of The Rabbit Circle / If you just joined us today look for The Rabbit Circle -- Part 1 in yesterday´s posts)

DAILY RECIPE: Lettuce, Grapefruit and Avocado Salad

1 lettuce (washed and trimmed)
1 avocado
grapefruit slices
bacon bits
dressing (recipe follows)

Slice avocado in half moons. In a large salad bowl spread out lettuce. Add avocado slices. Top with grapefruit. Pour dressing and sprinkle bacon bits. Serve immediately. Great for a hot day!

Dressing: Blend 3/4 cup mayonaisse, 1/4 cup tomato ketchup, 1/4 cup pickles, 1 teaspoon lime juice and a pinch of sugar.