High School Seniors and College Choices

Posted on October 25, 2007 by moonbridgebooks

Here’s another scary topic for Halloween—choosing a college. If there is a high school senior in your life (or in your neighborhood) may it’s a good idea to refrain from even saying the word “college” this year. From watching my own senior and her friends and our nieces, I see how stressed they are. This is a big choice—exciting, yes, but BIG! And how do you make such a big decision when you don’t really know what your choices of colleges are like (despite the visits), or whether or not college life is for you in the first place, or what in the world your major is going to be. Aaaggghhh! It’s a lot of pressure. And then there are those ACT and SAT tests… the retakes… the waiting for results.

The one good thing about this period of your child’s life is that you get to have some serious talks and some nice times together visiting colleges. In our case, my husband has been taking time off work to accompany his daughter on these visits while I stay home with the younger child. He’s usually a busy guy running his small company and when he’s at home (and awake) this daughter is usually out, so what a great experience for him to get to know his oldest child better. It has also been a good experience for the both of us to know our “baby” can now drive her car for hours at a time on a major highway, no problem. She’s a good driver!

If you are wanting to give your senior high school child a good Christmas or birthday present this year, take a look at Andy Master’s website, http://www.life-after-college.com/. He does have that great book “Life After College” for the graduating university student, but he also has a couple other books (see under “Products”) that are great for your off-to-university student called “37 Keys to College Success,” which is about balancing school and life, and “37 Keys to Greek Success” for those contemplating frat or sorority life. Andy travels around the country presenting to university freshman groups his own insights into college life and encouraging successful and responsible behaviors in a way that attracts young students instead of turning them off… could help that he’s a tall, blond and handsome young man full of energy, but his books are a parent’s best friend!

Actually, the REALLY scary part of having a high school senior is the cost of the senior photos!!!

Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
Posted in living with teens | 1 Comment

The Problem of Bullying

Posted on October 20, 2007 by moonbridgebooks

My daughter’s elementary school works particularly hard at emphasizing treating others with respect and encouraging a positive attitude towards diversity and differences, hoping to instill the traits of respect, responsibility, honesty and kindness at a young age. I love it. Not all kids feel safe at their schools, not all kids feel valued. Halloween is coming and this brings me to the scary topic of bullying.

Despite a more “modern” attitude towards bullying than the old “boys will be boys” or “that’s just how kids are,” bullying still happens and many adults as well as kids have no clue how to discourage or stop it. And these days hidden bullying occurs through the internet. A couple books have come to my attention lately that deal with bullying. The first is called “Bullycide in America,” a powerful book compiled by Brenda High – an adult book that would be good for teachers, school administrators and counselors to read and, of course, parents of any child involved in a bullying situation. “Bullycide” contains researched information about bullying experiences, and it is eye-opening to see how some of these victimized kids not only don’t know what to do, but are afraid to talk about it or when they do talk they are not taken seriously by well-meaning adults who feel it will just go away or that next year things will be better. The title of the book indicates that these kids are susceptible to suicide in order to end the torment. Bullying is not something that can be taken lightly.

The second book, “Four-eyed Phillip” by Cynthia Dwyer of Thumbprint Press, is a colorfully illustrated children’s book that would be excellent for reading, especially in a classroom setting, to encourage discussion of the subject of bullying. At the end of the book is a series of questions that a parent or teacher can ask to draw out thoughts, experiences and solutions. “Four-eyed Phillip” can be the start of an important conversation.

It is important for all parents and teachers to talk about how people are different physically or developmentally or in personality, and that all deserve to be treated with respect. It is important to teach our kids not just to be accepting, but to understand the importance of being welcoming and supportive of a child who is new in town or feeling left out or being victimized. Kids (and maybe adults, too) need to learn techniques that can be used to help stop bullying. It is not as difficult to stand up against a bully if there are a lot of people standing along with you. Learning about bullying is not just for victims, but for all of us who may someday be called to stand up and help.

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=53xKVl-paI8

Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
Posted in raising kids | Comments Off on The Problem of Bullying

Memories of Grandmothers

Posted on October 12, 2007 by moonbridgebooks

Recently we traveled north to attend the memorial service of our Great MaMa. Just shy of her 96th birthday, Great MaMa left a world she could no longer see or enjoy. Her family celebrated the long and blessing-filled life of a strong-willed woman, a rather typical trait, I think, of her generation of women who lived and raised families through simple times of little money and hard work. Great MaMa was very close to her youngest daughter, my step-mom, and our family is fortunate that this daughter took the time to work with a legacy journal to capture many stories of her mother’s life. I’ve heard some of them, shaking my head at how she and her new husband spent their honeymoon traveling south through terribly hot weather to see a sister who could not come to the wedding, but just begged they visit her so she could somehow feel a connection to the celebration. They spent a few days sweltering in her tiny house, sleeping on the floor. All this instead of the (cooler!) Wisconsin Dells vacation they had planned. Now THAT is family love (and sacrifice!). I remember how my own sister and I enjoyed a quiet visit several years ago with blind and wheel-chaired Great MaMa, asking her to tell us about Great PaPa … oh, she enjoyed reminiscing about the love of her life, whom she missed dearly, and we sure learned a lot! At a time when there wasn’t much that this once proudly independent woman could do anymore, she felt valued as she contributed so much to the conversation.

Last summer, at the very end of an infrequent family gathering, my stepmom took a photo of a very frail Great MaMa, sitting in her wheelchair on the deck, surrounded by her beloved grandson and his family of four children, flowers everywhere in the background. It turned out so beautiful… such a forever treasure that almost wasn’t, had my stepmom not been thinking ahead.

Ask the questions sooner than later. Tell your own stories sooner than later. Take a lot of pictures. Give a lot of hugs. We don’t know who will live to be 96.

Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
Posted in grandparents, memories | Comments Off on Memories of Grandmothers