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Tuesday, October 22, 2002 08:27 PM Last Updated
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Issue 5, vol. 6.5 ARCHIVE
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PRIME TIME PARENTING
–The Winner’s Circle
The Alexander Technique
and Early Childhood
Education
By: Robert Rickover In the course of my work as a teacher of the Alexander Technique (1), I’m often asked just how it is that so many of us have developed harmful patterns of posture and movement. I tell them about the horrible furniture children are forced to use in most schools, problems with carrying heavy backpacks and the unconscious imitation of parents who themselves may have poor posture. But underlying all these is the fact that most parents and teachers really have no idea just how easy it is for children to pick up bad habits of posture and movement, and how quickly these habits can become lasting distortions. Take for example the process of teaching children how to write. “Penmanship”, it was called when I was in school and it was a most unpleasant experience. My handwriting was judged not acceptable and for awhile, I was forced to stay after school for additional practice. But no matter how hard I tried to copy the perfect examples posted on the wall of my third-grade classroom, my writing just didn’t measure up. In hindsight, it is clear that my attempts to “get it right” probably made my writing worse and certainly contributed to a pattern of holding a lot of excess tension in my hands, arms and shoulders. It was only after I began taking Alexander Technique lessons some thirty years later that I learned how to release this harmful habit. Think about what’s involved in teaching a class of thirty 8-year olds how to write: Some of the children will learn this skill quite easily. But others - like me - will not, often because they simply have not yet developed the fine motor control necessary to move a pen or pencil in a precise way across a page. All too often, the pressure to “get it right” causes them to produce a lot of extra tension as they write, including scrunching themselves down over their desks. From the classroom teacher’s point of view, these scrunching children are “making an effort” and they may even be rewarded for their obvious desire to do well. After all, they’re not disrupting the classroom as some of the other children may be doing, perhaps in frustration with being forced to learn something they’re not ready for. Inadvertently, these tension patterns may be reinforced by their teacher’s approval of their effort. The problem is that these habits of tension often persist into adulthood. Take a look at what people around you do to themselves when they write - you’ll often see shoulders hunched up, stiff hands and fingers and other forms of tension totally inappropriate to the task. If you have children, take a look at what they do when they take up pen and paper (or, for matter, when they use a computer keyboard). Take a look at yourself doing this in a mirror. You may be shocked at what you see! The experience of Elizabeth Langford, a respected British teacher of the Alexander Technique illustrates just how easy it is to transfer harmful habits to our children: “As a child, ‘helping’ in the kitchen, it was by watching my mother that I learned how to beat eggs with a fork. Along with he rapid forearm movement, I copied what she did with her shoulders - and soon began to feel cramped and tired. How could I know, young as I was, than the tension I had copied was merely an expression of my mother’s anxiety to hurry on to the next task, that it contributed nothing to the speed or effectiveness of the egg-beating. Whipping the whites was done with a knife on a large plate, but since this skill, even more fascinating, was demonstrated by my grandmother, a dignified old lady who operated at how own speed, it never involved me in muscular problems, then or later. As an adult, I have been able to analyze the difference, and have become passionately interested in disentangling skills from the snares surrounding them.” - Mind and Muscle - An Owner’s Manual, page 220, F. Matthias Alexander, the originator of the Alexander Technique, recognized this kind of problem and maintained that the Technique should be taught to young children so they could avoid taking on harmful physical habits from the start. As is the case in so many other areas, prevention is far more efficient and far less time-consuming than changing deeply ingrained habits in adult students. One of Alexander’s students was Professor John Dewey, the American philosopher and founder of the school of philosophy known as Pragmatism. Dewey was also very influential in the development of American education during the first half of the 20th Century. Indeed, he is sometimes called “The Father of American Education”. From his own experience with the Alexander Technique, it was clear to Dewey that Alexander was right, that the Technique ought to be taught to children. Here’s what he had to say about this: "(Alexander's) discovery would not have been made and the method or procedure perfected except by dealing with adults who were badly coordinated. But the method is one of remedy; it is one of constructive education. Its proper field of application is with the young, with the growing generation..." (emphasis added) In my experience, small children are quite capable of learning the basic ideas of the Alexander Technique - and usually much quicker than their parents. The problem is that neither their teachers nor their parents are aware of what’s at stake. Hopefully this will change as more parents and teachers recognize the powerful influence they have on their children’s posture and coordination, and take steps to ensure that influence is a positive one.
By: Noreen Wyper
Children learn through the process of playful interaction with people and materials. In order to be successful learners, the environment needs to provide the child with independent and cooperative use of stimulating activities. Let's take a look at the social interaction you may observe in a sandbox in your own backyard, on a playground or in a daycare/kindergarten environment. Here are the developmental stages of play: Parallel Play: Two or more children are sitting in the sandbox completely absorbed in their own thoughts and actions. Each child has his share of the sand. There isn't any interaction or communication taking place. One child might be building a sand structure while the other child is hauling and dumping sand from his dump truck. They are just physically sharing the sandbox. Associative Play: The above parallel situation may still occur but communication between the two is happening. Each is still engrossed in his/her own activity in a specific spot in the sandbox. They chat readily to one another about their tasks. They may question one another or even offer suggestions. The sharing of some material such as a small shovel may take place. Co-operative Play: At this stage you will observe the children working and communicating together. They discuss the activity they are working on. There is ongoing interaction and sharing of the whole sandbox and materials. They make plans to build roads, develop a subdivision with a church, school, corner store, gas station, etc. They run the dump trucks from a gravel pit to the site. Haul, dump. spread, build! They may even designate roles for one another and exchange them as time passes. When observing your child at play, reflect upon how your child selects, approaches, creates, interacts and completes the activity.
Organizing Your Pre-School Search By: Jenifer McCrea Last week I discussed when to begin your search for the right pre-school. When to start is a lot easier than how to start. I’m the kind of person who does a ton of research, especially when it comes to my child. At any rate, a successful search is an organized one. Friends and family are the first place to begin. Start your list with the pre-schools friends and family have utilized in the past or present. Two good reasons for starting here. First, you can get an honest evaluation of the pros and cons of the school. No school is all good or all bad, but when you are talking with the admissions director or whomever is the ‘face’ person for the pre-school, it is their job to sell you on their school. The second good reason is if you do face a waiting list, a good recommendation from a past or current attendee is always a plus. Once you have a list from people you know it’s time to hit the phone book. In my phone book pre-schools are lumped together with daycare under the heading “Schools-Academic-Pre-School & Kindergartens.” You might also want to check “Schools-Private.” Cull from the ads and listings schools that are geographically desirable. It’s time to make some calls. Starting with your friends recommendations, call the school, ask for the admissions director or the school director, and start asking a few questions. You can take a look at my previous column “Choosing from the Pre-School Options” for a list of questions to begin with. To get an idea of where you stand one of your questions may well be, “What is the annual tuition?” However, don’t let the tuition be your only factor. It can be worth a higher tuition if the school location is 30 minutes closer to your home, or if they provide a special curriculum that you know will be of great interest to your child. At this point, don’t make any appointments, but be sure to thank whomever has taken the time to answer your questions. It is the school’s first chance to make an impression on you, but it’s also your chance to make a first impression on them. It may take you a couple of weeks to work through your list, after all you have a busy toddler running around! Once the calls are completed, then take a look at what you have. You may have been able to eliminate many schools just through the phone calls. Go through what you have left and narrow it down to 3-5 schools you think will be a fit for your child. These are the schools you call back and set up a tour. Most schools are ready and willing to give tours to prospective parents, however some private schools will have an admissions procedure that will specify when and who can tour the school. Ask who will show you around the school and if they will be able to answer questions for you during that time. Plan an hour for each tour, and plan on interviewing whomever is your tour guide. While on the tour look for cleanliness of the floors and carpets and how attentive the teachers are. Look at the students. Do they seem engaged in what they are doing? Or are they bored. You want to know what you are paying for. Are you paying for your child to be in a learning environment, or to be babysat for nine hours a week? You know what your goals are, and can judge the school accordingly. By the way, I would be suspect of any school that does not offer an option to see the classroom in action. Any school worth the money you are about to pay should have a way for you to evaluate the classroom. Whether that’s actually sitting in class and talking with the teacher and students or through a one way mirror, it’s necessary for you to understand the environment the school cultivates. Through these steps you should be able to gather enough information to make a decision. If there are waiting lists at any of the schools, then you can place your child on them. Don’t hesitate to put your child on more than one waiting list. If more than one acceptance comes through - then count yourself very, very lucky. You can always decline a waiting list acceptance. Of course you can take your research farther. You can go through public records at your local courthouse to see if there are any civil or criminal actions pending against your chosen school. You can ask the school if they maintain any memberships in any local organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and check if they are members in good standing. Once you start getting into your search new questions will occur to you. Don’t hesitate to ask. As your child’s advocate, it’s up to you to find out.
"a.k.a....THE NANNY CAM" By: Elizabeth Pennington
All you want for your children is for them to be happy, healthy and safe. Especially safe. Your house is baby-proofed, you are child/infant CPR certified, the car seats are properly installed and the Poison Control number is like a song that keeps running through your head...you just can’t shake it. But, what happens when you are not around? When you are at work or on a date with your spouse or at a PTA meeting, how can you guarantee your children’s safety? You can’t. What you can do is to be proactive in your quest for your child’s well-being and trust that the environment you’ve created and manipulated will be your watchdog. That once bulky and unsightly camcorder is now your sleek and compact watchdog, easily hidden behind a potted plant, on a bookshelf crammed in along with the magazines and assorted knickknacks, or perched on top of your refrigerator concealed by numerous phone books and all the other odds and ends that no longer fit into the house junk drawer. Perfect for checking in on your nanny and your children while you’re away. Some critics of the “nanny cam” say this is spying and an invasion of your nanny’s privacy. It is spying but it is not an invasion of privacy. She is in your home, the privacy of your home. You’ve done all you can to hire the most qualified, loving, and nurturing of nannies for your children, but you’ve watched 48 Hours and Dateline and 60 Minutes and you’ve seen the shocking footage caught on video of nannies and other childcare givers abusing the children who have been entrusted to their nanny’s care. This is your home and these are your children and you have every right to do what is necessary to protect them. This is a day and age when political correctness is stretched and pummeled until it is unrecognizable and ceases to mean a thing and the argument against nanny cams is one of those times. The best way to get around the whole “invasion of privacy” hoo-ha, is to ask the nanny during the initial interview if she would have a problem with hidden cameras in the house. If she objects, I suggest you end the interview then and there and move on to the next candidate. Any mature nanny or care giver would understand and support the parents’ efforts to ensure a safe environment for their children. Trust is what you’re looking for and a nanny balking a the idea of hidden cameras should throw red flags up all over the place. As a long-time nanny, I am a total supporter of the nanny cam. I’ve worked in a few homes where I think there may have been hidden cameras set up to check on my care of the children. It’s an odd feeling, sure, sort of like sensing Big Brother watching your every move, eyes boring into your back. But, I became used to it and eventually forgot about it. If a nanny was to object to hidden cameras, I certainly would have to question why. An infant or toddler will be too young to tell you if they are being abused, and why wait for bruises, broken bones or a damaged psyche to inform you of what is going on? Be proactive. This technology is here for you to use and why not use every method and means available in the 21st century to protect and defend your most cherished treasures? In next week’s column, I’ll discuss having a house-bound nanny or a nanny who has permission to take the children on excursions. The pros and cons of each.
By: Christine L. Pollock It’s here! This week we celebrate the Fourth of July! As an American, I thought I would focus on a musical tribute this week to our independence. I think the non-Americans will enjoy the lively sound of the band music, also. On the Fourth, we will have the excitement of the crowds, the smells of the barbecues and the memories of gatherings over the years celebrating the independence of our country. While many child care providers are taking the day off, many still have children coming. However, this day will definitely be special no matter where we are. What do you think of when you reflect on this day? I immediately think of fireworks, hot weather, pool parties, hot dogs and most importantly, the parade. The fire trucks in the parade are very exciting and seeing the veterans is always a moving experience, but what really makes me feel the excitement of the day is the band playing The Stars and Stripes Forever (www.dws.org/sousa). I remember when I was young and would hear the band marching down the street. My body would feel the vibrations of the drums as my feet tapped out the rhythm of the music. I also enjoyed singing to the tars and Stripes melody: Be kind to your web footed friend, Because a duck could be somebody’s mother Who lives all alone in a swamp Where the weather is cold and damp You may think that this is the end Well, it is, ‘cuz there is no other story Be kind to your web footed friend Because a duck, You know it could Be someone’s mother. Now that I am older, I know that the message of this melody is much more serious. I wanted to learn more about the piece’s composer, John Philip Sousa. Quite appropriately, John was born in Washington, D.C. in 1854. He was one of 10 children and his father’s main job was playing the trombone. When John was little, he was interested in music so John started learning to play the violin and the trombone. At the age of eleven, he joined a dance band as a violinist. When he was 13, John tried to run away to join the circus as a musician. As a result of this, his father enlisted him in the Marines. In 1868, Sousa became an apprentice musician in the Marine Corps where he stayed for five years. He did various other jobs after this. From 1882-1892, he went back to the Marines, this time as the director of the Marine Band. John Philip Sousa was a man of many talents. He was also very wise and diplomatic. His main belief was to write band music that would not only serve a purpose, but would also please the people. One of the wisest ideas he had was to gather together patriotic and national anthems from foreign lands. When he was leader of the Marine Corp., his band would play the music in honor of the land to which they were traveling. Often this would make the Americans more welcome in the foreign lands. In addition to the musical pieces he wrote, Sousa also wrote three novels, an autobiography and a couple of comic operas. The songs he wrote were often humorous (one is about a man in a kissing contest entitled Smick, Smack, Smuck). John Philip Sousa was a man who knew music and the joy and emotion it could bring out in a crowd. His composition, The Stars and Stripes Forever, became the official march of the United States in 1988 (Title 36, Section 10, Paragraph 188 of the United States Code). In March of 1932, John died in Reading, Pa. Links to more information about John Philip Sousa can be found on Child Care Magazine’s link page. Holidays and bands and patriotism are fun in general, but are especially fun in the child care environment. There are so many activities to choose from. Here are a few suggestions for the children this week:
If you have any favorite crafts or activities related to music or art, please let me know so I can add the ideas to other articles. Just write me at Music.CCMag@Eudoramail.com. Next week I will be following the American theme with my all-time favorite artist, Norman Rockwell. The way he captures life is a visual and mental treat that takes us back to the joys of childhood days.
By: Traci Gardner For all work-at-home moms the word summer brings anxiety. Having worked for nine months in a quiet home office without any distractions, the mere thought of having your children home all day for three months can cause stress. Finding the time to plan activities for those summers days can be challenging for any mother. Can you count how many times you’ve heard the words, “I’m bored!” today? Staying focused on your business while doing a French braid and attaching wheels to remote control cars can test your patience. Is it really possible to get any work done between May and August? The answer is a resounding yes! Planning activities to occupy your little darlings takes some serious thought. I have spoke to my work-at-home colleagues and here are some great ideas.
Ingredients: § 4 large red apples. § 1 bag of caramels. § 1 tbs. milk. § Sprinkles, candy, chocolate chips, nuts or other toppings. § Craft sticks or lollipop sticks. § Spoon. § Microwave safe bowl. § Non-Stick cookie sheet or cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Directions:
The main thing we need to remember is why we choose to be work-at-home parents. We choose to work at home in order to be there for our families. With this in mind, take a break once in awhile and enjoy your children. They aren’t little forever. The work will still be their when you get back.
By: Heather
Haapoja
You're sitting in heavy traffic, late for
your daughter's soccer game and your two preschoolers are having a
shouting match in the backseat. Your daughter is complaining, "Why
are we always late?" Your heart rate is rising and your muscles are
tense. The car ahead of you has failed to see the light turn green
and you are helplessly waiting for them to notice as the minutes tick
by.
Now if you have already been carrying a load
of stress around, as most of us do, how is this situation going to
affect you? Will it put you over the edge? Chances are, you will
either get burning mad at the driver ahead and start laying on the
horn, or you will blow up at the kids and say something you would
never say intentionally. Or you may fight to internalize all of it,
letting it build, only to blow your fuse later when the kids fight
going to bed. Trust me, I know this scenario well.
By working to maintain the lowest stress
level possible, you will be better equipped to handle a typical
situation like this.
On the surface, taking time out to manage
your stress may seem almost selfish. With all of the racing around
that we already do, who has the time for relaxation? But the truth is
that spending some time to deal with stress will be beneficial not
only to you, but also to everyone in your path.
Stress, labeled the "Epidemic of the 80's",
has moved right on through the 90's and into the next millennium. It
effects people of all ages and from all walks of life and, in large
doses, can be devastating to emotional, mental and physical health.
In reality, stress is a necessary ingredient
in our lives that the human body is well equipped to use and control.
But the fast paced society that we live in, and the unhealthy choices
that we make can cause a stress overload that is often too much of a
challenge to our systems.
We throw the word "stress" around so
casually these days, but do we really understand what it is?
Actually, stress is the result of any change in your life. It can be
good or bad change, physical, financial, emotional, the list goes on.
Going through divorce is an obvious stress, but getting married is a
stress as well, they both involve a change.
When you think about the constantly changing
world we live in, it's no wonder there is so much talk of stress.
Sadly, many people carry so much stress that
is causes them to feel fatigue, sleeplessness, anxiety or depression.
Their joy for living may be lost. Often they turn to binge eating,
alcohol, caffeine or some other such self-destructive behavior to
"pick themselves up". This provides only a temporary relief that, in
turn, adds more stress to the mix.
If you see yourself in this description, I
highly recommend reading *"How to Survive Unbearable Stress" by Steven
L. Burns, MD. In easy to understand language, Dr. Burns describes
how the human brain is affected by stress, sleep deprivation and the
use of "pick me ups". He also includes a quiz to determine your
stress level and advice on what to do if you find yourself
"overstressed". I was profoundly affected by the message and
discovered some definite changes to make in my own life where stress
is concerned.
So what steps can we take to ease the stress
in our lives?
First of all, if you feel you are on the
verge of becoming over-stressed, avoid adding any more and try to go
easy on yourself. Say "no" when you are asked to volunteer for
another community project. Make yourself go to bed at a reasonable
hour each night. Cut your daily "to do" list down to the barest
necessities. Any improvement in the daily demands on your mind and
body will relieve some of your stress.
Examine your lifestyle and list the ways
that you may be adding to your stress load. Do you get enough rest?
Is your diet lacking in nutrition?
Has your usage of caffeine, sugar, nicotine
become excessive? Are you a workaholic? Pinpoint one area to work
on, keeping it uppermost in your mind this week and try to improve in
that area. These things take time and patience to get under control
and it can be overwhelming to make too many changes at once. Take
small steps. Don't let yourself become stressed about relieving your
stress!
Over the past two decades, concern about the
ill effects of stress has increased awareness of numerous stress
management techniques. Breathing techniques, yoga, aromatherapy,
massage, just to name a few. All have gained in popularity due to the
stress epidemic. Society is constantly seeking out ways to deal with
everyday, unavoidable stress.
Over the next several weeks, I will be
covering the many stress management techniques that are available. I
look forward to seeing an improvement in my own stress level and
perhaps it will make a difference in other lives as well. I hope
you'll join me!
* "How to Survive Unbearable Stress - The
Medical Basis of Stress, Depression, Anxiety, Sleep Problems and Drug
Use Explained in Fun, Easy to Read Format" by Dr. Steven L. Burns with
illustrations by Kimberley Burns. http://www.teachhealth.com/.
The government has
gathered audit information on the child care industry. The information they have is passed on to their auditors. There are four
child care areas they have gathered information on. There are other
forms of day care that will not be covered specifically in this
article, such as after-school programs and church programs. However,
there will still be good advice they could follow. I will define the
four basic categories.
Babysitters are not under
any regulatory control. They could be grandparents or other
relatives, neighbors, teenagers, etc. They are often paid in cash.
These providers believe that this income is not taxable and is often
not reported.
Family Day Care in this case, one or more children are
watched in the providers home. The provider might have to be
approved, certified, registered, or licensed under applicable state
or local laws.
Child Care Centers are usually separate facilities (not in
someone’s home). Many times the centers are corporations or
partnerships. There may be more than one facility within a
corporation or partnership. The centers are usually heavily
regulated by the state. They also are required to report attendance
records and other similar information. They may have large
commercial kitchens, playground equipment, swimming pools and a
large quantity of toys. Home
Care Givers are generally paid as a household employee.
Children are cared for in their own home by a paid housekeeper,
maid, governess or nanny, etc. This situation of child care is not
a business. It is however, an employer, employee situation. Through close
examinations and audits of the above types of child care providers,
the government has found negligence in the following areas. Income and expenses
are often paid in cash and not reported. Record keeping is often
inadequate, if kept at all. A net loss is unusual except at the
corporate level. So if you do have a loss, why? If there is a loss,
the government has found the following items are often adjusted. Gross receipts. Food reimbursement. Food expense. Business use of
home. Unusually large
expenses. Supplies and
miscellaneous expenses. Personal expenses
may be included. The government has
estimates on how much it costs to operate a facility. If you
genuinely have a loss, make sure you have kept the receipts and
recorded all income and expenses. If you are ever audited, you will
be organized and be able to substantiate your loss. Remember an audit
is nothing to be scared of if you are prepared.
Kitchenlab
Kindermath, Tutorial #5
By: Noreen Wyper One
straight line, To make
a one. From top
to bottom, Then
you’re done. Tutorial
#5: Number Sense; recognize and write numerals 1-12. The
recognition of numerals may take several weeks and will need constant
reinforcement. Start at number one and work through the numerals in
order to twelve. The following are tried and true activities to ensure
success. Draw a
large numeral 1 on the flap of a cardboard box with a magic marker.
Trace the numeral with glue. Sprinkle with salt or rice. Have the
child trace the numeral from top to bottom with the first two fingers
held together. Always say it out loud. Now, have the child trace that
same numeral with his finger on the palm of the opposite hand, on the
arm or on the knee. Feeling out the numeral is called "tactile
learning." Place at
least three bowls on the table. Have the child find items in the
kitchen to make a set of 1 in each bowl. Place
one piece of pasta in a plastic container. How many are in the
container? Shake the container. Open it up and let the pasta drop out.
How many are there now? Yes, there is still 1 pasta. It did not
change. This is called, "conservation of number." Repeat
these activities for all the numerals. As the
child masters the numerals to 3, take the tactile cards and place them
on the table at random. Have the child arrange them in order. Read
them out loud from left to right.
(pre-reading.) Do this activity from numerals three to twelve. When the
child has mastered the recognition of all the numerals to twelve, play
the "counting on" game.
Examples: 2,3,4,-,-; 5,6,-,-. Now play
the games, "What comes before, what comes after and what comes
in-between." Place out the cards 6 and 8. Have the child place the
missing numeral in-between. Place out card number four. Have the child
place the numeral that comes before the four and the numeral that
comes after it. Note: If
the child is having some difficulty, make a number strip from 1 - 12.
Place it at the top of the child’s work space for referral. With a
fine tipped marker, print the numerals 1-6 and 7-12 inside the cups of
an egg carton. Drop a bean into the egg carton. Close the lid. Shake
the carton. When the child opens the lid he names the numeral where
the bean is resting. It is okay if the child doesn’t recognize it
immediately. Not to worry! Recognition takes time. Simply point to cup
number 1 and orally count out the cups together until you reach the
bean.
Extension: Draw the numerals on pieces of sandpaper for the child to
trace and feel.
Next week: Poems to teach the writing of each numeral in tutorial #5.
Home-based Workers Meet the Appliance Guy
By: Deb Di Sandro In a two
income family, there's no question that one parent must make the
supreme sacrifice to stay home and commit to being there in mind, body
and spirit for the precious, irreplaceable service repair people. Since
I'm one of the millions of Americans who make their living by working
at home (I pay for my own socks), the logical choice in our household,
seemed to be me.
Unfortunately, my commitment isn't what it should be. I'm there in
body, but I'm having trouble with the mind and spirit part.
My
husband's role is to work outside the home and leave the repairs to
me. His body may be at work, but his mind and spirit are continually
on the phone talking to me about the repairs! My work
day begins with a call from my husband. . . "Did you
call the appliance guy yet?" "About
what?" "The
dishwasher." "What's
wrong with the dishwasher?" "It
doesn't work! Remember?" "Okay,
sure. But I was in the middle of writing this column and . . ."
"Now
here's what you tell him. The mechanism on the switch is
malfunctioning and there's standing water in the bottom, but I checked
the box in the basement for the circuit breaker and the . . . "
I
should've taped the conversation. Because here's what I heard, "Blah,
blah blah, blah blah blah blah," which made it difficult to converse
with the appliance guy: "Hello,
we have a problem with our dishwasher," I barked into the phone
receiver. "What's
the problem, lady?" "It
doesn't work." "Can you
be more specific?" "No." "Well,
what kind is it?" he asked. (Big
sigh) "Great, now I have to get up and look. I'm working, you know!
Here it is. Right here on the front. It's uh. . .a black one."
"Can you
be more specific?" "No." "Okay,
well, I'll be out between 6 a.m. Tuesday and 5 p.m. Friday."
"Can you
be more specific!?" "No."
Herein
lies the problem. Just because home-based workers work at home,
doesn't mean we stay there! We make crucial business trips to
the copy shop, office supply store and most importantly, because our
offices couldn't run without it, a daily stop at the Krispe Krème
Donut shop. While
I'm out, the landscapers arrived to install decorative brick around
the tree. My
husband must sense it. He calls from work. "What color is the cement
brick?" "The
color of cement," I say staring at the slabs. "Is it
like a grayish cement or a sandy cement. It's supposed to be
buckskin." "What
color is buckskin?" "Haven't
you ever seen a buck?" "A
dollar?" "No! I
mean male deer!" "Mail,
what, dear? I'm busy with the brick guy right now!" When
hubby gets home, the inquiries continue, "What happened with the
repair guy?" "Uh,
what repair guy?" I shout from my home office. "The
dishwasher guy!" "Let's
see. He said the whatchamacalit was broken and he used a thingamajig
to fix it." "That's
all you know?" "I was
working! Ask the dog, he watched his every move." "How
about the computer guy?" "He put
in some cable." Suddenly
I hear a snort from the computer room. "What is this cable doing in
the vent?" hubby asks. "It was
the shortest route to the computer," I explain. "But
it's sticking out of our vent! This looks terrible." "Look,
we discussed every possible way this cable could run. They wanted my
final answer and I was out of life lines!" "How
about the water heater guy? What did he say?" "I just
talked to him on the phone. I told him we have a 70 gallon water tank
and the water is cold when we take showers. He asked the age of our
kids. When I told him we have a teen-ager and a pre-teen. He just
laughed." "That's
all he said." "Oh and
he said we could stick the garden hose in there for a half hour and .
. . clean out the sediment in the. . . uh. . . thing and . . ."
"The
garden hose?" My husband interrupted. "Stick it where?"
"You
really want me to tell you?" I asked him. He just
shook his head and walked away. In a
two-income family, someone's got to make the supreme sacrifice.
Question & Answer Column - Issue #5 Vol. 6.5
By: Heather Haapjoa
Questions anyone?? We have had quite a
sampling of childcare questions in the first few issues, but we are in
need of yours! Send your childcare/parenting questions to
QandA.CCMagazine@Eudoramail.com We want to hear from you!
Q: Other than Sea Bands do you know of any
natural remedies for Morning, Noon and Night Sickness while
pregnant?
A: I have had good results with herbal teas,
especially red raspberry leaf, chamomile, lemon balm or
chamomile/peppermint combination. Red raspberry leaf is very
beneficial throughout pregnancy. One or two cups of raspberry leaf
tea per day is said to help speed up delivery and ease labor pains.
Eating small, frequent meals is also
helpful, as is a protein snack (almonds are excellent) at bedtime, to
help ease morning sickness on awakening.
Here are several links to sites that offer
more information on natural remedies for morning sickness.
"Herbal Medicine - Discomforts of
Pregnancy", lists herbal treatments for the many discomforts of
pregnancy, including morning sickness:
http://www.healthy.net/asp/templates/article.asp?PageType=article&ID=1588.
"Nausea - Relief from Morning Sickness",
tips from a Certified Nurse Midwife:
http://www.fensende.com/Users/swnymph/refs/naus.html.
"Morning Sickness - Try Ginger", includes a
recipe for ginger tea:
http://www.uni-link.com/ginger.htm.
"Homeopathic Remedies for Morning Sickness"
http://www.mothernature.com/ency/Homeo/Morning_Sickness_hm.asp.
Preggie Pops - (Where were these when I was
pregnant?)
http://www.preggiepop.com.
That's all we have for this week, the
mailbox is empty. Email us your
questions!
Happy reading!
Heather Haapoja
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