J Patrick Lewis once said, “Great poetry is a circus for the brain. It’s ten pounds of excitement in a nine-pound bag.”
When my mother came for a visit this past August she put my older daughter to bed by reading her poetry. I climbed into bed with them, closed my eyes and listened to my mother’s voice as she read some of her favorite poetry to my daughter. The cadence of her voice was so soothing, it brought my daughter and me such pleasure. I will cherish the memory of the three of us all snuggled up on my bed reading classic poetry.
Since that night in August part of my older daughter’s bedtime routine is for her to read a few poems to my husband or me before we read her a chapter from whatever chapter book we are reading at the time. Hearing her read quality literature is one of my proudest moments of being a parent.
Poetry is for everyone, for every mood — for parents to read to children, for children to read aloud. Reading to your children may be the single, most important contribution that we, as parents, can make toward our children’s success in school.
Poetry is a means of self-expression. Poetry appeals and matters to children because they can find or write a poem about any subject that appeals and matters to them. Read more…
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Make your own human rights tapestry!
Human Rights Day is December 10! The date was chosen to honor the United Nations General Assembly‘s adoption on 10 December 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the first global statement of international human rights principles. Here are some ideas for simple yet meaningful ways for your family to celebrate the rights and responsibilities that we all share as human beings.
1. Learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Check out the UDHR plain language version or the Amnesty International UK book We Are All Born Free (15 of the illustrated pages of the book can be found on The Guardian’s website if you want to look at them online or print them out). You can also watch a short video together and talk about it with your kids. My kids loved this animated video version of the UDHR even back when they couldn’t understand what the words meant. For a more historical view, check out The Story of Human Rights.
2. Exercise your right to freedom of expression! Draw pictures together of the rights and freedoms that are important to you. Read more…
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Where in the world do you live? And, are you from there?
Currently, I live in the last place on Earth I ever wanted to live: El Paso, Texas. My husband is in the Army and we were stationed here. But – after three months here – I’m starting to think it’s growing on me. I love how very earthy it all is, how family oriented. Still, moving from Denver to here was a shock.
What language(s) do you speak?
I speak English, ASL, and a little Spanish but I’m working on learning more. Here Spanish is essential, we live about 15 miles from the border of Mexico so many people in this area only speak Spanish.
When did you first become a mother?
Bella was born November, 2009. She is our first child after 6 1/2 years of marriage. We weren’t sure we ever wanted kids, now we can’t remember life without her. Read more…
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Where in the world do you live? And, are you from there?
I live in North Carolina in a suburb of Raleigh. I grew up in the Midwest, and I moved to the south in 1996. I have lived in both Tennessee and North Carolina.
What language(s) do you speak?
English
When did you first become a mother?
My first daughter was born on December 16, 1999
Are you a stay-at-home mom or do you work?
I am a stay at home mom to three daughters and one son during the day. I have a part-time job on evenings and weekends, and I have a virtual assistant business I tend to work only when I can get away to a coffee shop or when everyone is asleep.
Why do you blog/write?
I write primarily as a form of therapy but also as an expression of creativity and emotion. I publish my writing on a blog to Read more…
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Where in the world do you live? And, are you from there?
I live on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. I am from Oxford, Pennsylvania (USA).
What language(s) do you speak?
I speak English and am currently learning Spanish as a second language. In college I minored in Japanese but I can barely speak a lick of it anymore.
When did you first become a mother?
I had my first child in June of 2005. I had my second child in September of 2008.
Are you a stay-at-home mom or do you work? Read more…
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In America we follow the Gregorian calendar. The last day in the month of December we celebrate the beginning of a new year at the stroke of midnight. Many Americans participate in the popular New Years custom of making a commitment to a personal goal or reforming a habit. We refer it as a “New Year’s Resolution.”
I made a few resolutions last year and ended up for the most part sticking with them. Nothing too outrageous, mind you. One of my resolutions was to expose my two young daughters to yoga.
I followed through with my commitment by reading up on books on yoga for children. We bought the girls each their own purple yoga mats. My style of teaching them was based on a yoga book and my prior experience with yoga. Read more…
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