Take Me Out to the (Foot)Ball Game

Posted on November 26, 2006 by moonbridgebooks
Last night was the state high school football championship where our town’s team would be playing. Now, I am NOT a sports fan at all, and would much prefer to stay home and clean the bathroom, but since my husband really wanted to go and the event was local and indoors I decided to make it a family event. It helped that we ended up going with our neighbors so my youngest daughter and I would have others to talk to if we got bored. As it turned out, I actually enjoyed the game and understood most of what was going on. Not that I want to go to another sports event anytime soon.

Sometimes it is good to put aside dislikes and bad attitudes for the sake of a family experience. If you can do this, no matter how the experience turns out, it can be one of those bonding events. It is nice to let the kids try new things, to let our children decide for themselves what they like without our attitudes coloring their experiences. They deserve to have minds of their own. That said, please don’t ask me to go camping.

Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
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A Little Thanks-Giving

Posted on November 17, 2006 by moonbridgebooks

This year we will have a small Thanksgiving celebration. We will not be traveling. No relatives will be visiting us, other than my mother. That’s the way it can go when you’ve moved away from all immediate family. Even our high school daughter will be an unpredictable guest due to a “must attend” school football game. Being a vegetarian, the traditional dinner is more than a little appalling to her anyway.

Oh, well. We will gather, probably during a pro-football halftime, and give thanks for all the blessings in our lives. And there are many. So many that we usually take them for granted. It’s good to actually stop and give name to some of them. Yes, we in America are spoiled – rotten, I think – compared to a great many people in other countries.

This Thanksgiving we’ll go around the table and each say one thing we are thankful for, and say a prayer for the multitudes who have so much less. Although the company will be sparse, we will not really be “alone,” but all together. Family, small as it might be (or imperfect as it might be), is a blessing.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with blessings.

Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
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Politics and Children

Posted on November 10, 2006 by moonbridgebooks

With the elections over we can all relax and answer the phone again. The Democrats have come on strong and we now face an interesting prospect watching them (especially Nancy Pelosi!) work with President Bush. Just prior to the election I had interesting discussions with my kids about some of the candidates and the many amendments that would be on my ballot. I tend to be a middle-of-the-road person so I thought I did a pretty good job explaining the pros and cons. With my fourth grader and her friend I had to explain what it meant to be a Republican or Democrat. They decided there were good points about each side. With the amendments I had to play the devil’s advocate to get the kids thinking beyond what their first instincts were.

If you can explain evenhandedly the pros and cons of issues or candidates, you do a valuable service to your kids by teaching them to think things through thoroughly. I think it is also important to explain to them that they ought to take everything they read or hear with a grain of salt. This certainly holds true for political ads!

Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
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