Swimming Pool Safety

So far this year, 24 children have drowned in the Houston area. The majority of these children were minorities. Statistics show that six out of ten black children cannot swim and 56% of Hispanics cannot swim.

If you own a pool, live near a pool or your children come in contact with a pool it is extremely important that you teach them pool safety and never leave them unattended. It is also a common misconception that just because a child can swim they are not in danger of drowning. In addition to having skill in the water they need to also follow safety tips such as no horseplay around the pool where they are likely to slip and hit their heads, no horseplay in the water especially as it involves actions that could cause them to take in a lot of water into their nose and no diving into the pool from the shallow end.

As a parent if your child spends a lot of time in or around a pool you should consider becoming certified in CPR and make sure to always keep rescue equipment (such as lifesavers) nearby. Also, remove any toys from around the pool or in the water that might lure young children. The best pools to frequent are those that have a certified lifeguard on duty.

USA Swimming has started a program called Make a Splash to help children, specifically minority children learn to swim. One of the programs biggest supporters is a young black man named Cullen Jones. The 24 year old professional swimmer will be competing in the Beijing Olympics this year. At the 2008 Olympic swimming trials, Jones broke the American record in the 50 meter freestyle with a time of 21.59.

Learning to swim is definitely a plus when it comes to pool safety however it does not guarantee that a child will not drown if they are not careful in the water. Make sure your children are smart and safe while they enjoy cooling off this summer!

School Days

My son will be entering kindergarten in THIRTEEN short months. My husband and I are contemplating sending him to a charter school versus a public primary school. Currently he enjoys learning and he is very interested in reading, writing and exploring his artistic side. We want him to be in an educative environment that will nurture these interests and not have the same expectations for every child by teaching to a standardized test that will measure (often inaccurately) their level of knowledge and intelligence.

The charter school we’re considering is a constructivist environment. The term constructivist refers to the idea that learners construct knowledge for themselves---each learner individually (and socially) constructs meaning---as he or she learns. I know it sounds a little hippie-ish but if a child is in an environment where they have the opportunity to learn things in their own way then I feel they will stand a better chance of thriving and being successful in their studies.

My son is very bright and is already mastering many of the things that educators will focus on in kindergarten and I have absolutely, positively no doubt that if he attended public school he would do very well. . .that is until he no longer finds it challenging, which is what happens to a lot of children in public school. The lesson plans become monotonous and on many levels I think it stifles children’s intellectual growth. That is why so many public schools have “honors” or “gifted and talented” programs. I don’t think that it’s necessarily because the children in those classes are geniuses but mainly because those children have outgrown the lesson plan in the traditional classroom setting.

The biggest investment you can make in your child is their education. I want my son to know from DAY ONE in kindergarten how important it is for him to go to school and get an education not to mention I want him to be engaged and concerned about his academic future. So, we’ll sign up for the “lottery” in March to see if he will get into the school we have selected. The lottery is allegedly “random” but I think it’s all about how impressive you come across on your application. So, mama is planning on working her MAGIC to make it happen!

More Words of Wisdom

Everyday my son, says things that entertain (and sometimes infuriate) me but here are some of this weeks gems:

1. I don't want to talk about dying because you don't get to live anymore.

2. I'm really smart, I can figure a lot of stuff out.

3. Power naps give you rest.

4. I'm a kid so I don't have to do any work.

5. Being good is easy, all you have to do is listen and pay attention.

He is just getting too big and too smart too soon! I have to admit I am enjoying him a lot these days and all the "intellectual" conversations we have, ha ha! I'm sure the day is coming when I will be wishing he would just HUSH but right now I'm loving it!

100th Post/First Baseball Game

Woohoo, this is my 100th post! I've had two other blogs and this is the first one I've posted to consistently! I'm enjoying myself if even no one else is. . .this blog has become an outlet as well as a means of creative expression and I'm going to try and hang in there for the remainder of 2008! It's really helping me to focus and move forward with other goals that I've set for myself. Yay for me!!

Moving right along. . .my husband and I took my son to his first baseball game. The thing that sucked more than the Astros was my son getting sick and totally not being that into the game. He had an earache and the chills. We hung in there (watching the home team get slaughtered by the Pirates) until the start of the 7th inning then we headed home.

Once he got a dose of Motrin and some Similasan drops he was a brand new kid! It was bed time but he got his second wind and was having a full blown conversation with himself in bed at 10:00! I guess that power nap he took in the car got him all refreshed.

I myself am NOT a fan of baseball so, the "make up game" will have to be just him and his father. I would much rather soak in a hot tub, give myself a facial or curl up with a good book! I know, I am such a girl!

(I took that picture from my phone, we had decent seats in the area over the Astros dugout.)

Pizza Hut Pasta

Looking for another quick, delicious meal you don't have to cook? Why not try the new Tuscani Pasta from Pizza Hut! Don't sleep! This pasta is actually VERY good! Hot and made to order with just the right amount of Italian spices. We tried both the Chicken Alfredo and regular meat sauce. Both were scrumptious, just don't expect a heaping amount of chicken. You also get hot delicious breadsticks with each order. Just toss a salad and pour up a glass of cold lemonade (or your favorite vino) and dinner's ready!

Enjoy!

The Red Table

The Red Table is where children who don't pay attention in my son's preschool class have to sit and think about their transgressions. My son has been a frequent resident of The Red Table lately. We want him to know it's not acceptable but at the same time it's almost inevitable when you have a preschool class full of 4 year old boys who are constantly playing Power Rangers, karate and Incredible Hulk vs. Spiderman; they will get side tracked from time to time. Especially now that it is summer time and they aren't following a strict school curriculum and everyday is a themed fun day like bubble day, swim day, pajama day, etc.

But regardless to the lack of structure over the summer he still needs listen to his teacher so, my husband and I have resorted to threatening him with no toys or television if he goes to The Red Table. But I get the feeling he's past the point of dreading his fate because he already knows staying away from The Red Table will be a struggle. In the mornings if you ask him if he's going to The Red Table he says, "I'm going to try not to," The other day while he was in the bathtub we had the following conversation:

ME: If you hurry up and wash up you can catch the last Oswald show before bed.

HIM: Is it a new show I never saw before?

ME: I don't know.

HIM: (seriously thinking) Hmm. . .well, Daddy told me if I go to The Red Table I can't watch my shows on t.v. so, maybe next time.

My mouth was hanging open (as it usually does when I'm dealing with Mr. Four going on Forty) because I didn't know he had gone to The Red Table but I think mainly because he was being so "compliant".

Another "punishment" for going to The Red Table was to write I will not go to the red table (actually the word "the" was left off by dad) on a full sheet of paper. When I got home from work he was all excited because he was writing "I will not got to red table" and he was making such perfect letters.

So, bottom line he tries his best (according to him) not to go to The Red Table but the wicked forces at work in his preschool class are often against him so he just accepts his fate and takes his sentence like a four year old.

Home is Where the Motivation Is

I’ve been a busy bee lately. Work is kicking my butt! I even “worked from home” yesterday to try and get caught up.

I really wish I could work from home 4 days a week and only go into the office 1 day a week. I was so productive yesterday. Not only did I get a lot of work done I was also able to get a lot done around the house. All the clothes are washed and folded (did this while on a conference call), dishwasher loaded (while waiting for stuff to print) and during my “lunch” I went to the grocery store.

I think working from home would really provide me with a better work life balance. Usually my hectic day at home is followed by a hectic commute and by the time I make it home at 6:00 I’ve got to cram in cooking, spending quality time with my family, cleaning the kitchen (cannot got to bed with it dirty- OCD, remember?), bathe my son, put him to bed, talk politics and debrief (ignore the innuendo) with my husband before I yawn 100 times and drift off into a fitful sleep.

Not to mention when I’m at work I don’t get nearly the same amount of work done due to the constant interruptions, Internet surfing and long lunches.

(Of course the key to successfully working from home means my son has to go to his daycare school otherwise I’d have to find thirty minutes to play or color with him.)

Anyway, I think I might propose working from home a couple of days a week to our department Director. . .might even put a spin on it about me trying to do my part to save the environment by having one less car on the road. Seriously, I think that might win me some points with her.

I’m in the office today. .. tried to keep up the momentum from working at home yesterday but so far, I am failing miserably.

Just the Two of Us

My son spent the weekend with my aunt and for the first time in four years my husband and I were the only occupants in our house for more than 24 hours. Usually if he stays with my aunt or my sister is because we’re out of town or he will be gone just over night.
But this time we dropped him off Saturday and he won’t be home until tonight.

It was the weirdest feeling. My husband and I both remarked that it felt like something was missing. He is such a huge part of our lives and when he’s home there is constant noise, hustle and bustle. But for an entire day it was just the two of us. I think so often when you get married and have children your marriage becomes more about parenting than anything else. The kids are at the forefront of your conversations and a big part of your social outings. They become your “life” on a lot of different levels.

That’s why I think it is very important that parents allow themselves some alone time (whether you are single or married) to reconnect with the person you were before your children came into your life. Granted, I know for some people their children saved their lives and they wouldn’t want to go back to the person they were but I guess what I’m trying to say is get in touch with who YOU are and the things you like and what you want to do. Because our children are only ours for a brief time; when it’s all said and done we will have to let them go so they can live their own lives.

My husband and I enjoyed the peace and tranquility of our house and we spent the entire day together shopping for furniture and groceries. Although we missed our son, it was great to spend some quality time together. He will return tonight and our family routine will happily resume and we will probably wonder how we got along with out him.

A Song For You

My son came home yesterday crawled in my lap and sang to me:

"I love you forever, I like you for always, as long as I'm living my Mommy you will be."

I got a lump in my throat and tears filled my eyes as I showered him with hugs & kisses because I thought he was such a brilliant, sensitive child who had composed a special song just for his mother. He explained (as he gasped for air) that his teacher read a book in class and the song was from the story. But he said it could still be my special song and he would sing it to me whenever I wanted him to. God broke the mold with that one. . . ;-)

In case you're interested (or maybe I'm the only clueless one here) the song is from a book by Robert Munsch called "Love You Forever". The crazy thing is that I've seen the book cover before and I thought it was about POTTY TRAINING! Ha ha! A literal example of not judging a book by it's cover!

Get Fit or Die Tryin'. . .

Okay, so in my attempt to adopt a healthier lifestyle I'm starting off with a detox "diet" to get my system back on track. I bought some Dannon yogurt, which is actually pretty good, and to kick it up a little I add a teaspoon of Special K Cinnamon Pecan cereal (I could eat this DRY all day!).

I just noticed today as I ate the last cup of yogurt that the package says "Light Fat Free". Huh? How can something be "light" AND "fat free"? No wonder I've been STARVING at the end of every day!

Actually, yesterday was my breakthrough day- I went the entire day without even thinking about chocolate. I even feel a little lighter. . .although that evil tool of the devil (the scale) only shows that only one pound of fat has melted from my body. I'm not letting this detour me in any way because it's not actually about really seeing weight loss so much as it is about getting healthy and re-energized.

But I swear it's a conspiracy because the stuff that's supposed to be the healthiest for you is EXPENSIVE as heck! While on the other hand the bad stuff is cheap and ALWAYS on sale! It's the devil I tell ya!

Choo Choo!

Looking for a fun summer craft project? How about homemade magnets?

You can purchase magnetic paper for your laser/ink/deskjet printers from the local office supply. Find a picture of your child's favorite animal, cartoon or superhero and paste it in a word processing document and hit print. Cut along the edges of the picture for a customized look. If you want to be a little more creative try a free hand sketch of a flower or other design on the paper with permanent markers.

My son and I made a train magnet. I found a simple train engine coloring page online and printed it on regular paper. I then cut out the train and used it as a stencil to trace the image on the magnet paper. My son completed the magnet by adding his own artistic touch coloring it a variety of colors. Another masterpiece!

For the time being it has a place of honor on the front of the refrigerator but it will probably end up on the washer and dryer (remember my OCD, I can't have a cluttered refrigerator door!).

You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry

My son has developed a fascination with the Incredible Hulk. He has never seen the television show (the reruns actually come on some random cable channel), nor the movies or even a cartoon.

He did however see a commercial one time and a coloring book so, he understands when the guy is mad (usually because he’s picked on) he turns into the Hulk. Whenever I pull out the camera he wants to do an Incredible Hulk pose. Whenever we play a “game” it involves him being the Incredible Hulk. And the other day he wanted me to find him an Incredible Hulk game on the computer.

As you can imagine I’ve had my fill of the Incredible Hulk!!! That is until I witnessed him turn into the Hulk. My husband left a Gatorade bottle on the living room floor (don’t ask) so, when I walked into the living I pretended to trip over the bottle and fall on the floor (seriously, I was just playing, ain’t no shame in my game if I would have fallen I’d admit it, like that time I was in the Jamaica, or when I was walking to catch my bus. . .) anyway, I do a pratfall and call out for help.

My son was in our bedroom with my husband and is the first to arrive on the scene. “Mama, what happened are you okay?” he asks. “Your daddy left this bottle on the floor and I tripped over it and fell,” I say with dramatic flair. “Daddy!” my son yells- because my concerned husband has not moved from the bed (he’s used to me falling). My son heads back to the room and meets my husband halfway with a GUT PUNCH!!!

He hit his daddy right above the belt as hard as he could and said, “You made my mama fall! You should have put that bottle in the trash!”

I was stunned- so was his father. I laughed- his father did not. I think it’s awesome that he defends me and so does my husband but he doesn’t like to be on the receiving end of the beat downs. My son was given a stern talking to by his father and I suggested that he just not hit so hard. . . . . of course I missed the whole point. . .or did I?

What He Said

Much respect to all the phenomenal mother's and father's out there! I love this piece from Def Poetry Jam by Jon Goode entitled, "Barbara" and ode to his old school, no nonsense mother. Priceless!

Warning: May contain offensive language

Stars & Stripes

Well, 4th of July in H-Town is off to a great start. . .it's raining and the wind is blowing pretty hard. But unless it's a hurricane I doubt that will stop our neighbors from engaging in their annual fireworks competition. They buy crazy amounts of fireworks and set up in the cul-del-sac and try to out do each other. My family and I pull out our lawn chairs and watch from the driveway. Good thing about this rain is the dampness will hopefully prevent the grass from catching on fire (again) or the roof.

Speaking of 4th of July, I've been thinking about how everyone (namely the media) has been questioning Senator and Mrs. Obama's patriotism. I personally don't know too many black people who are "patriotic" but that doesn't mean we don't love this country just the same. Despite the fact that American soil is stained with the blood of our ancestors and they toiled (and died) in slavery to build most of this country. We may be bitter. A tad angry that racism STILL exists and that we always have to be twice as good as our white counterparts. Nonetheless we are still proud Americans. Just because we don't have an American flag in our yard or we don't put our hands over our heart during the national anthem doesn't mean we are anti-American.

Think about your extended family- you know how everybody has that drunk uncle who you can't control and he embarrasses the hell out of you? But at the end of the day he's still fam and you love him anyway and if anybody tried to hurt him you might let his drunk ass take a few blows but in the end you'd step in if he's totally getting his ass kicked. That's how I like to think of the relationship black people have with America.

Afterall, when the United States won it's independence slavery still existed for almost a hundred years following the country being "set free". Yep, black folks aren't necessarily the most "patriotic" but we are here, this is our country and we ain't going NO WHERE. Now if Senator Obama wins the White House in November maybe you'll see a lot more flags in our yards.

Now if you'll please rise. . .

Back in the Day

Back in the days when I was young I'm not a kid anymore

But some days I sit and wish I was a kid again. . . .

Yesterday, my son told me he can’t wait to grow up and be a grown man like his daddy. He’s four!! I told him he should stay a child as long as he possibly can. When he asked why I told him being an adult is not as easy as it looks. . .

It got me to thinking about my own childhood and some things I can remember so vividly and others I've probably forgotten about long ago. But one thing is for certain I never knew how good and easy life was back then. . . .playing outside until the street lights came on, getting a note from the boy you have a crush on asking you to check “yes” or “no” if you wanted to be his girlfriend, spending the summers at Astroworld (I still get teary eyed about it’s demise), playing “school” with my cousins, impromptu foot races in the parking lot, making the bomb desserts with my Easy Bake Oven, hours of fun with black Barbie a.k.a Super Star Christie as we cruised around the house in her pink Corvette, watching kung fu movies after Soul Train, scrounging up 25 cents to get a kool cup from the kool cup lady, jumping rope (ice cream, soda water, cream on top. . .), parades on Homestead, watching original episodes of Good Times, getting all giddy with anticipation every time a new Michael Jackson video premiered, hula hoops, riding the BIG yellow school bus, Chico Sticks, Halloween parties at our house every year, Easter egg hunts at my grandmother’s house every year, Po-Ke-No games at my grandmother’s house (all the kids would be in the back room and come out eyes wide when someone yelled “Five a Funky Spades!”), trips to the country (Delhi, Louisiana) during the summer (getting eaten alive by mosquito’s!) and just being surrounded by family friends and so much love!

I’ve found adulthood is mostly filled with obligations and commitments with very little time to spend doing the things you really want to do. If you work full time you either have to cram everything into a single weekend or the few hours that remain at the end of the work day and before you know it, it’s time to start the vicious cycle all over again. Being an adult is VERY overrated!

I don’t want my son to worry about growing up, God willing- he will be an adult much too soon because it seems the years are passing by at warp speed. Besides I’m enjoying reliving my childhood with him!

(BTW- That’s a picture of me at 4 years old- cheeks for days!!)