Poem to help
parents
As school starts, it brings changes for both students and parents. My youngest nephew, Danny, started kindergarten last week and in September one of my oldest nephews, Steven, will start his first year at university. During August our boys Ray and Mike turned 16 and got their driver’s licences. In contemplating how quickly our kids grow and change I came across this story.
Kites
“I see children as kites. You spend a lifetime trying to get them off the ground. You run with them until you’re both breathless … they crash … they hit the rooftop … you patch and comfort, adjust and teach. You watch them lifted by the wind and assure them that someday they’ll fly. Finally they are airborne; they need more string and you keep letting it out. But with each twist of the ball of twine, there is a sadness that goes with joy. The kite becomes more distant, and you know it won’t be long before that beautiful creature will snap the lifeline that binds you together and will soar as it is meant to soar, free and alone. Only then do you know that your job is done.”
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– Erma Bombeck
Parents ABCs
In doing our job as parents we can all use a few guidelines. As the school year starts here is an alphabet for parents.
When I have a child at school, I will:
Always ask him what went well at school today.
Boast about the good things she tells me.
Celebrate his mistakes because everybody learns that way (but never criticize).
Do a diary together, recounting family gatherings, outings, letters and messages.
Encourage her to be herself and expect her very best.
Forget the adult worries and remember that he’s just a little boy.
Gather, go, get experiences galore! – Because out of doing comes the learning.
Hug her (and him) often – at least once every day even when they are big.
Invite him to be the greatest, smartest, happiest child in the world, tell him that and treat him that way.
Join in when she’s reading or studying, realizing that my actions speak louder than anything I can say.
Keep on learning myself and live life to the fullest.
Listen to him when he’s troubled and laugh with him when he’s joyous.
Make the difference in her days by mentioning that we really care.
Notice when his hair is combed (At least when he comes down to breakfast) … When he puts on a clean pair of Levis, doesn’t slam the door, or turns the radio down.
Offer her opportunities to decide things for herself, what to wear, when to do her chores, give her power over her life with all the risks that entails.
Pin up his artwork, tests, writings, heroes, photographs for all in the family to enjoy. And call up Grandma sometimes to remind her of his latest accomplishments.
Question her teacher and her coaches often about how they feel she is doing at school and on the team.
Relax and enjoy his childhood, Read to him often; remember how fleeting are his childhood years.
Squeeze praise into every day’s time slots, save a private moment for sharing what she chooses to share.
Turn the TV off sometimes to talk together: At the dinner table, before he goes to bed, when he comes in from little league.
Use their talents to the fullest – helping out with the garbage, the dishes, the cooking, at church, in the community, so that they realize their presence makes the difference to others.
Volunteer when needed. Be that model of helpfulness in school demonstrating that learning is his and my most important business.
Wait patiently for her. She may be a late bloomer, a deep thinker, a slow mover.
Xtra, extra, extra that’s what parents are all about.
Yes, I’m the one who counts, it is my values and my strengths he will imitate.
Zoom ahead together in life, aware and confident that they are unique gifts to us, with our help they’ll make it.
– Rosetown School Division newsletter
Garlic braid
When my sister-in-law, Diane, was on holidays, she purchased a garlic braid that had been finished as a kitchen decoration. The stems of 10 garlic cloves were neatly braided and then secured at the top using the longer stems with a twist or two and a knot. The top of the stems were evenly trimmed, about one inch (two centimetres) above the twist and a sprig of dried flowers tucked into the twist.
We studied how the braid was made. Three cloves were used to start the braid and then a clove added as each crossover was made. All of the cloves were arranged to the one side of the braid so the back side could hang flat against the wall. The garlic was juicy with a wonderful fresh flavor.
Onions can also be braided in the same way for storage. The stems braid up easily when the onions or garlic have been pulled and allowed to wilt a day or two. If the stems are too dry they will crumble and break, if too fresh and crisp they tend to split open and are difficult to work with.
Fruit plautz
In the fall when fresh fruits are plentiful, a fruit plautz makes a good after-school snack, harvest dessert or lunchbox treat.
1Ú2 cup cream 125 mL
(for lower fat use part skim milk)
1Ú2 cup sugar 125 mL
1 egg beaten 1
1 teaspoon baking 5 mL
powder
11Ú3 cups flour 325 mL
1Ú2 teaspoon vanilla 2 mL
Blend cream and sugar, add egg. Add dry ingredients and vanilla. Mix well to make a soft dough. Pat onto a cookie sheet, making a fairly thin layer. Place fruit (apples, plums or peaches) cut side down and sprinkle with:
1Ú2 cup sugar 125 mL
2 tablespoons 30 mL
minute tapioca
Mix and spread crumb mixture on top.
1Ú2 cup brown sugar 125 mL
1Ú2 cup flour 125 mL
1Ú4 cup butter 50 mL
Bake at 350 F (180 C) for 45 minutes.
Stuffed green peppers
My brother-in-law, John, grew some large green peppers this summer. They were as large as what you would normally buy in the grocery store. Stuffed green peppers are a tasty way to use a quantity of peppers and enjoy their fresh flavor.
8 medium sized 8
green peppers
1 cup chopped 250 mL
ham
1 onion, minced 1
1Ú2 cup cooked 125 mL
rice
3Ú4 cup chopped 175 mL
fresh tomatoes
1Ú2 teaspoon salt 2 mL
1Ú4 teaspoon pepper 0.5 mL
1Ú4 cup buttered 50 mL
crumbs
1Ú4 cup cheese 50 mL
Cut tops off peppers, remove seeds and parboil in salted water for five minutes. Mix ingredients, except crumbs and cheese. Stuff the peppers and top with buttered crumbs and grated cheese.
Arrange peppers in greased baking dish. Bake at 350 F (180 C) for 20 minutes, then turn to 400 F (200 C) for five minutes. Serves eight.
For variation use the following stuffing:
One pound (500 g) lean ground beef, browned, use in place of the ham or
One cup (250 mL) canned or fresh corn or
Three cups (750 mL) hot mashed potatoes mixed with one egg and 1Ú2 teaspoon (2 mL) poultry seasoning. In place of bread crumbs, use soda crackers rolled fine.
Craft catalogue
A reader, M.E., of Kelso, Sask., requested a pattern for a kitchen towel that had a knitted or crocheted top that would hang on an oven door. I just came across a mail order craft catalogue that has kits for these towels and instructions for both types of tops. The catalogue was for Herrschners, 130 Mclevin Ave., Scarborough, Ont., M1B 3R6.
