I have a lawn tracter whose key I kept in a drawer in my bedroom. Andrew had found it without my knowledge and had it for more than a couple of weeks. The key ring also contained the key to the storage building where I keep the mower. I have an extra key to the building but I don't have an extra key to the mower. I was getting the mower ready for use but discovered that I didn't have the key. I took Andrew's gameboy after assessing that he was indeed the one who had taken the key. He kept bugging me for the gameboy of course and tonight, after about 10 days, I have the key to the mower. The key to the building is missing from the key ring but at least I can now start the mower.
read more »

One of the things I disliked about school when I was young was homework. Now I see that same dislike in my children. I found it hard to help them with that chore although I do try to encourage them to do it. The older they get the harder it is for the parent to actually help them so instilling good habits when they are young is essential.

Jonathan, the bright, highly intelligent, under achiever frustrated me to no end when he was in the nineth and tenth grades. He would usually do the homework was too lazy to turn it in. Can you believe it, he would get an A on the tests and a C on the report card.

Andrew, the one who struggles to understand why he even needs to go to school actually turns the homework in; when he does it. Getting Andrew to want to do the homework is a big struggle. With his learning disadvantages I have a hard time with some of the homework he is actually assigned. But Karen and I as parents still try to instill a good want to do it in him.

How about you? How do your kids do with homework? Leave me a comment about them.

The excitement, the joy, the wonder, the warmth of home, the love and cheer to me is what is wrapped up in the memories of Santa Claus. Very young children are often afraid of this stranger in a Red Suit with a white beard that looks different, strange and bewildering. Eventually our children learn to be excited about meeting Santa Claus because of the expectations of what Santa will be bringing them. Then we must break their hearts as they become older and let them know that this magical character isn't really a person living at the North Pole.

How we tell our children that what they have believed with all of the hearts and with all of their trust that Santa is just pretend can affect them either negatively or positively. The excitement and wonder of Christmas doesn't need to end with the truth about Santa Claus. Santa Claus just needs a change of address and a change of understanding that Santa Claus even though is pretend as a man in a Red Suit living at the North Pole is actually really a real person who cares and loves them very much. That person of course is us, their parents, and they already love us and we love them and that love will never end.

My memories of Santa Claus are good and I don't remember being affected by the fact that he was pretend. Every year I expected Santa to visit and leave presents for me and my siblings. Your children should expect that as well, just as mine do.

Leave a comment and tell me how you feel about Santa Claus. Does he still have a warm place in your heart?

Earnie
(C) 2006 - All rights reserved.