May17

So What, #686

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My son came home yesterday from his after school program with a “bump” on his thumb.  Of course, my job as a Mommy is not only for nurturing, food preparation and shopping, but in his eyes, I am a fixer of all things.  ”Let me see the bump,” I said.  It was a blister…on the side of his thumb.  I knew exactly what it was from.

Earlier in the afternoon, one of the staff from the after school program had posted a video of a rock star in the making on my Facebook page.  Yes, the rock star was my son, and you all have to check this out.

Click the link to watch the video:   Rock Star

Yep, I knew exactly what his blister was from, because I’ve had so many of them in my life from doing exactly the same thing.  He had a guitar blister….a red badge of courage that shows the commitment and dedication and passion that he put into his instrument.  They hurt, but I have always taken those guitar-playing blisters with pride, and I know he did , too.

No, my son was not playing any real chords when he played his rock star performance, but he had the attitude down.  For sure, I am  raising a future celebrity!

My song of the day today is from Pink.  I love her song, “So What,” which was really written during a rocky spot in her marriage to Carey Hart.  It’s the chorus I kept hearing through my head as I was thinking of this blog though.

So what
I am a rock star
I got my rock moves

The description and candor fit my little Kindergarten (almost 1st grade) rock star.  Click HERE to hear the song, as I go get him a band-aid for his much earned blister.  Rock on, y’all!!!

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May16

Hollywood Nights, #685

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As a parent, I’ve realized lately how lenient I’ve become with adhering to the recommended Motion Picture Association’s movie ratings.  Yesterday, my kids and I went to go see the new “Iron Man” movie.  The movie was fantastic and captivating, yet rated PG-13.  My kids are only 6 & 8-years-old, so why have I disregarded the recommendations?

I know the answer to my own question, and I think it’s an interesting enough of a  thought to share with all of you.  All of these superhero movies are Pg-13 today:  ”Iron Man,” “The Avengers,” “Spiderman,” etc.  If only 13 & older kids are supposed to be attending these shows, then why have the movie makers been marketing with action figures and McDonald’s Happy Meal toys and Lego sets?  Movies that are recommended for an older audience are doing their best to entice a younger audience.  It’s an unusual contradiction and a little messed up in my opinion, too!

“Iron Man 3″ was a great movie.  It is rated Pg-13 mostly for its violence and gore.  Looking at the movie, it would have been so easy to tone it down for a PG rating.  The charm of “Iron Man” is Robert Downey Jr.’s excellent and funny I-can-relate-to-that-guy performance and his chemistry with Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts character.  Yes, the special effects are great, but why is it so necessary to have so much violence that brings it away from a PG rating?  To me, it’s a sad commentary on how desensitized we have all become to things that are violent in nature.  Why must we expose our kids to it?

Superheroes and kids go hand in hand.  They always have, and they always will.  I know that my own kids will always want to see superhero flicks, and I know I am not alone in sharing these movies with them.  All of their peers talk about these movies and have seen them, too.  Parents are attending Pg-13 movies with their kids, because they are meant to do it.  It’s an interesting conflict.

My song of the day is Bob Seeger’s “Hollywood Nights.”  In the song, Bob Seeger meets a beautiful California girl who leads him into a life that he is not entirely comfortable with even though he is so attracted to her.  He writes:

“He spent all night staring down at the lights of LA
Wondering if he could ever go home”

It is easy to get lost in the facade of Hollywood, and I beg the movie makers to recognize their real audience and cater to them and be sensitive to their needs.  Click HERE to hear the song, as I go search to see if “Superman” is on Netflix.  Look at the success of that franchise!  It was rated PG!

May15

Asshole, #684

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Yesterday, I was doing my regular twice-a-month errand to Petsmart, and I left the store feeling traumatized. So much so that I must share this story with all of you.

I was walking through the store and came across a family with the most adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She had just been groomed and looked like the type of dog you’d see in a magazine as she sniffed my clothes surely smelling all of my household pets on me. As another dog was being walked by, her attention shifted to it, and she began to cough at this other dog invading her space.

I say she coughed at the dog, because it was an unfamiliar noise in the place of where a bark should be. I asked the family, “Is that her bark? Goodness! I have a Beagle, and his bark is 10 times louder!” I was naive. They family responded by saying, “Well, our breeder had her de-barked for us.”

Say what? Did I just hear them right? I did the only thing I could think of doing. I said nothing to that awful family and focused my attention on the dog giving her as much love and attention as I possibly could in that small moment. Obviously, she was not used to unconditional love, because no caring or good pet owner would EVER maim a dog like that. I was disgusted!

I left the store and couldn’t stop thinking of that sweet innocent pup with owners that do not deserve her. I was shaken as I had never encountered a de-barked dog ever before that moment. It was depressing and pathetic, and I truly hate those people with every ounce of my being.

Please, please, PLEASE people…please be kind and responsible pet owners. Don’t bring a pet in your home if you can’t handle barking. How would you like having your voice box ripped out of your throat??? Ugggghhhh….seriously, I am deeply disturbed. That is why my song of the day is a Gene Simmons’ solo song called “Asshole.” I rarely call people assholes, but in this case, the description fits. Click HERE

    to hear the song as I try to shake the memory of these assholes out of my head!
May14

Reveille, #683

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CubScouttAwards

Last night, my son attended his very last Cub Scout meeting of the year.  Yes, the boys will get together a couple of times over the summer, but the regular meetings are set aside for the moment.  He has only been signed up with this troop for a little over a month now, and boy, has my son loved it.  Because he’s only been  apart of it for such a short time, I wasn’t expecting him to come home with any awards or honors last night.  I didn’t even go to the last troop meeting having no idea that there was a big ceremony.

Not only did he come home with awards, but I am particularly amazed by the categories.  He was given two belt clips….for “communications” and for “good manners.”  If you knew my son, you would certainly all understand how  much I feel like sharing these awards with all the doubters!  I have earned these Mommy bragging rights to the highest degree, and I am more proud about these awards than almost any of his other accomplishments this year.

My son had a pretty rotten pre-k year, and we were so worried about Kindergarten.  Fortunately, he had the very best Kindergarten teacher he could have possibly had, and I am so sad to see his time ending in her class.  She is the most loving and supportive teacher, and you can just see all of his growth from the classroom environment that she has created.  Well, here’s the proof of the pudding.  Yes, we, the Mommy and Daddy, have put our blood, sweat and tears into this child, but she most definitely has been one of the most positive team members in his growth.

Way to go to my little communicator with the good manners.  I can’t wait to see all of the other recognition he receives in the future, because I can honestly say that this boy is on a very good path.

My song of the day is “Reveille,” the famous bugle call that means “wake up!”  It is used to wake soldiers in the military and also as a call to order for the Boy Scouts.  Click HERE to go to Youtube to here this infamous song associated with a call to action.  My little guy has begun his journey, and I couldn’t be more proud!  Be prepared, little guy!

May14

Don’t Forget the Recorder!

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Happy Top 10 Tuesday everyone!

In Arizona, our school year is ending next week.  Though our summer will be jam-packed with activity, and I personally want my own children to take a break from school during this time, I also worry about how much information they will lose over the summer.  Will they forget everything they learned this year?

For older grade school students, it is essential that they continue to practice their recorders over the summer so they won’t forget everything by the Fall.  Again, summer should be for relaxing and camp, and so it is important to find a happy balance and stress-free informal learning opportunities.

In regards to the recorder, I thought I should make you all aware of an excellent application to upload with fun-filled recorder games and engaging tools to get your kids practicing.  ”Joytunes” is not only useful to keep already learned recorder skills fresh, but it also is a great tool to help children get a head start on the upcoming school year’s curriculum.

Before you begin, you will need the following:

(1)  A recorder.  I like Yamaha recorders, because they are always well made.  Here’s a picture of one:

Recorder

I’ve found them at my local drug store and at music stores or you can check one out on Amazon.com for convenience sake.  Click HERE to go to Amazon.

(2)  You will also need to upload the Joytunes application.  It costs $2.  Here is a link to the application link on iTunes.  Click HERE to check it out.

(3)  You will need either an iPad or a computer with a microphone and speakers hooked up.

Image from the Joytunes website

Image from the Joytunes website

Joytunes  

Joytunes is a way to learn music using your own instrument.  The really awesome thing about this application is that the application is written to interact with your child’s playing.  Your child plays into the microphone, and the application “hears” what your child is doing and monitors their success.  There are games as basic to teaching notes on the recorder leading up to games to playing along to songs and reading notation.  I am really impressed with this program and think that any child would embrace it, too.  So, here is some information about it:

The web address:  http://www.joytunes.com/

A Youtube video with information on “how it works:” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEUXKp_xoFc

An “About Us” page: http://www.joytunes.com/about.php

I hope you have enjoyed this week’s Top 10 Tuesday music activity.  Check back every week for some more musical fun…even during the summer.  For a complete list of the Top 10 tuesday musical instruments under $40 that will help promote music education in the home, click HERE.  For an archive of previous Top 10 Tuesday music activities, click HERE.  Until next Tuesday, play on!

May13

The End, #682

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This is a week that represents endings for me.  It is the last full week of school for my kids, the last week of school-year teaching (saying goodbye to 3 of my schools for the summer this week) and the last week of my school-year schedule (summer is crazy hectic).  There are teachers we will never have again, students I may never see again and teachers that I won’t see until the Fall.  Plain and simply, I hate this week.

Fortunately, next week is about new beginnings.  I will be the proud Mama of 1st and 3rd graders and staff training for camp starts.  Camp is an entirely different beast, but I love every minute of it.  Like any new thing though, I will be juggling to see what works and what doesn’t and what fits into my tight new schedule.

So please be sensitive to me this week as I tie up my loose ends for the school year.  Saying goodbye is not something I’ve ever been very good at.  I care and love each and every one of my students and the teachers, too.  Understand where my head is at as I lead you to Youtube to hear the Beatles sing “The End” as my song of the day.  Click HERE to hear it, and please remind me if you see me around that with every ending comes a new beginning.  I will need the positive reinforcement.

May12

My Generation, #681

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In Judaism, we have an expression in Hebrew:  ”L’dor V’dor” or “From Generation to Generation.”  When I think of my mother and my grandmother and all of the women in my family who stood before me, I think about all of the traditions that we have each passed down for so many years.  It is always what runs through my mind on Mother’s Day as I try to appreciate the non-Hallmark greeting card aspects of this holiday.  There is nothing like a Mother, and I consider it an honor and a blessing to carry on all of the lessons learned from these ladies.

So, without further ado, I would like to introduce you to the female “L’dor V’dor” of my family.  Here we are:

 

My grandma, Marie:

GRANDMAS B-DAY

 

My beautiful Mommy:

MomBioPic

Me with my amazing children:

SF_FishermansWharfJulieandKids2

One of the two joys of my life, my daughter:

Haley2_small

 

These are the ladies that make up Mother’s Day for me, and I love sharing all of us with all with you.  My song of the day is The Who singing “My Generation,” because this day is all about sharing generations.  Click HERE to go to Youtube to hear the song and please do give the ladies in your lives extra love on this very special day.  Happy Mother’s Day y’all! xo