Here are some of my favorites from the Quotes of the Day:
“Be kind. Work hard. Follow your instincts and listen to your inner voice.”
-Eric Carle
“It’s a choice you can make: to have joy, to find joy and to spread joy.”
-Natalie Portman
“BlackBerries and e-mail aren’t inherently bad. It’s just like medicine: it’s the dose that makes the poison.”
- Timothy Ferriss
“Nothing has a stronger influence psychologically on their environment and especially on their children than the unlived life of the parent.”
-C.G. Jung
“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique.”
-Martha Graham
“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast–you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.”
-Eddie Cantor
“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.”
-Joseph Chilton Pearce
“We turn outward, attracted by the beauty we see in created things without realizing that they are only a reflection of the real beauty. And the real beauty is within us.”
-Ernesto Cardenal
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.”
-Henry David Thoreau
“Nobody sees a flower–really–it is so small it takes time–we haven’t time–and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.”
Updated 1.27.08 (see below for new info about Super Smash Bros. Brawl)!!
As summer winds down and we conclude that our kids have played many more video games than we allow during the school year, our family decided to put together a list of games that we love to play.
We’re hoping this will help readers who are a bit overwhelmed by the myriad choices. If you want to buy a gift for someone and have no idea what to get, our list will help narrow down your options.
So…
Here it is!
The first annualTop Video Games for Tweens(on 4 platforms).
(I know, it’s not the PS3. Sorry, I can’t advise you about the PS3 because our family opted to buy the Wii, not the PS3. And a lot of people agreed with us, y’know…)
Note: Both of the Kingdom Hearts titles may be hard to find. They’re a bit obscure but well worth it. I had never heard of them until a game store employee recommended them. I was initially skeptical because they were out of the mainstream, but my kids absolutely loved them both! These would be good for kids who have most of the well known titles, and you need something unusual. When they see that it involves Disney characters, some older tweens may be skeptical. If so, just get them started. After they see what the game is really all about, they’ll likely be hooked.
It’s great!! It’s a far cry from Pong!! I love playing it and even love just watching my kids play it! In fact, I think any parent who doesn’t usually play video games should try this one. What’s not to like? C’mon…find that inner child and have some fun! If there’s only one video game you try, make it this one!
Ahh, vacation. A time to relax, unwind and bond as a family.
Right?
Not always.
In the past, I used to make charts and timetables of what we would see and when we would see it. I used to spend weeks researching details about our travel destinations and make as many reservations as possible for dinners, shows, etc. Now I look back on that time, smile and think, "Wow, did I ever overdo it!" Control freak? Um, yeah. I’d say so.
So, over the years, I’ve really tried to lighten up. While I acknowledge the usefulness of the charts and schedules, I don’t think you can effectively vacation that way as the kids get older. When kids are little, they follow you anywhere and do so without question. As they get older, however, they start to wonder why they’re going where they’re going and often lobby for different destinations (especially when they’re on vacation).
When the kids want more of a say in the itinerary, we parents have a few options.
Or, perhaps more to the point, what’s up with the kids’ parents?
When I was growing up, as long as you were a kid, other kids would play with you. We’d quickly form a group and play simple games like four square, kick the can, basketball and tag or we would create games with imaginary lands, forts and castles. The typical range of ages would be about six years or so (where the youngest child was around seven or eight and the eldest was about 14. Everyone had fun. Age just wasn’t an issue.
And now?
Ten year old boys play with ten year old boys, eight year old girls play with eight year old girls. Thirteen year olds play with thirteen year olds. Parents lift their noses as if it’s a matter of pride for THEM and assert, “My son just doesn’t enjoy the company of younger boys. It’s just not something he’ll do.” Oh come on now. That’s ridiculous. What if he’s part of a family of five kids? He just won’t interact with any of the younger kids? I can just picture it, 11 year old Bobby says to his 9 year old brother, “Sorry, Charlie, you’re beneath me. I couldn’t possibly engage in activities more suited to children of your age and grade level.” Absurd.
Or, if it is true, how sad!
What about the concept of mentors? Leaders frequently mentor younger, less experienced professionals and take them under their wing, right? Some Montessori schools have combined classrooms which include kids from Kindergarten through sixth grade just for that very purpose. I’ve seen it in action and it was beautiful. The result? The sixth graders were confident, self assured, polite, considerate and helpful.
The boys I know whose parents pride themselves on this “I can’t be bothered with younger kids” stance are bossy, self centered, and inconsiderate. They’re otherwise kind hearted souls that, IMHO, are being led astray by adults who are trying to feed their own egos in some backhanded way. Somehow they think that makes their children more, I don’t know, what? More intellectual? Please. More mature? Also doesn’t compute for me.
I think these lousy attitudes are leading us down a path where we’ll end up with narcissistic, rude, egomaniacal adults who treat their coworkers, employees, supervisors, clients and/or customers badly.
I think we parents need to take responsibility for the enormous influence we have on our kids. We need to realize that what we say and do sinks into their minds and often gets spit right back out. Let kids be kids. Let them play (without judgmental comments from the parents!) and see what happens.
Today, at parents’ day at my kids’ summer camp, I observed my son playing tennis with about a dozen other kids of all ages. His team consisted of a few middle school aged kids (about four years older than DS), a couple of kids three years older and one boy who was a grade higher. They worked as a team, supported each other and interacted in a jovial, collegial manner. It was touching and encouraging.
That interaction gave me hope. Society hasn’t changed. I don’t think that that negative attitude is pervasive. I think it depends on the parents. I tell my kids to be gentle and kind to younger kids and to teach them whatever they can. I want them to guide them and support them, encourage them and value them. Then, when they’re older, I expect them to give the same kind of respect, compassion and kindness to people of all ages.
