Recently I was talking to different people in the different parts of the world. I talked to my high school friend who is in Paris, my mother’s friends from Siberia, and my long-term friend from Moscow. They all were complaining about the recent weather conditions. I am completely agreed with them. The weather is getting worse and this is scary!

It is getting more cloudy and windy in Paris over the summer. It is getting warmer in Siberia during the winter and very rainy during the summer. In Moscow people basically do not see the sun anymore.

The climate is changing. The air pollutants from fossil fuel use make clouds reflect more of the sun’s rays back into space. Recent years show increasing temperatures in various regions and increasing extremities in weather patterns.

We can help work on solving this problem by doing our part. There are few tips:

•    Walk or ride a bike instead of driving a car.
•    Teleconference instead of flying.
•    Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
•    Recycle.
•    Plant native trees.
•    Turn down the heat.
•    Buy renewable energy.

Yesterday was a last day of summer break. I and my daughter decided to celebrate. I invited my daughter’s friend over to our house so they would have a last chance to catch up before the schools starts. We went to the park, had a JamboJuce and organic hamburgers. It was fun!

Today is a first day of school. Yea! New teacher, a few new classmates and the happiness of seeing her old friends. While my daughter was setting up in the new classroom I was having some coffee and bagels in the lobby and talking to the parents. After that we all went to the assembly.

I love the assemblies in Kristina’s school. They are always sweet, entertaining, and very interactive. Everybody has a chance to talk and share: the staff, the teachers and of course the students. Today’s topic of sharing was “goals for the next year”. These are few of them; maybe your child can use them too. I love them all!

•    Read more
•    Write more
•    Make more friends
•    Be a better friend
•    Recycle
•    Train the attention muscle
•    Have more fun
•    Exercise more
•    Listen better
•    Pay more attention to the teacher

Have a great school year!

I am very lucky that my children go to such a good school. The teachers both my son and daughter have had in the past years have been great! I have to hold up my end, too, though. When my daughter started slipping a little in her grades and behavior marks I went to the teacher to ask why.

“She is lucky she is so smart,” her teacher said. “She is just completely goofing off in class. If she would pay attention she would be in the advanced class already.”

I was shocked! My little girl had always perfect marks for behavior each six weeks. The teacher said that she was talking to her friends and not paying any attention - in fact, she had even back-talked the teacher a few times.

At the same time, my little boy was acting up in his class, poking the kid next to him at circle time or when they were in line in the hall. “He’s such a sweet boy - this isn’t like him!” the teacher said.

I had just had my baby, and I figured they were just feeling a little left out! I sat down with each teacher and child, and we talked about the problems.

I asked if they would mind sending home a daily report for a few weeks, so I could deal with any issues immediately instead of finding out a whole week later.

Every day they had a note telling me about a problem, we would sit down right after school and talk it over. If they didn’t have a perfect mark for the day, no TV or video games. If they had a bad mark three or more times in a week, then nothing on the weekend, either!

It only took three weeks before all the behavior problems were gone, and their grades came back up. I was glad I had talked to the teachers, and we had found a solution!

Which sounds better, “Time to learn, kids,” or “Let’s read a story!” Your children can learn so much just from sharing a book with you, whether you are reading it to them or vice versa.

Reading for some kids is so easy, while others take longer to learn. I taught my daughter to read when she was not quite five with one of the ‘Little Critter’ books by Mercer Mayer, called ‘Just Go To Bed!’.

We read over and over about how the ‘Little Critter’ (who looks quite suspiciously like a bunny) is trying to get ready for bed. Every step of the process is hindered by his imagination, which turns him into a variety of things including an astronaut, a cowboy and a race car driver.

After a few weeks she had pretty much memorized it, and would watch as I traced enough, she could read them even without the pictures, and out of order! I used some of the same words to make new sentences, and she could read those too! Daddy was pretty surprised when he got home and she climbed up on under the words as we went along. I would fall silent every now and then and let her fill in a word. Then I had a bright idea. She was reading words, even with the prompts from the pictures - could she do it without the pictures? I wrote the sentences out in plain strips of poster board, and mixed them up.

Sure enough, she could read them even without the pictures, and out of order! I used some of the same words to make new sentences, and she could read those too! Daddy was pretty surprised when he got home and she climbed up on his knee and really read him the book!

Read to your kids, please, do! They can learn to read so much earlier then you think!

Sarah P.

You hated it when your Mom said it. You swore to yourself that when it came to raising a child of your own you would NEVER say those eight awful words.

You would be the perfect mother, and your children would be perfect angels. You would rule with a gentle but firm hand and never raise your voice. In your world, the children would be fed, bathed and lovingly tucked in bed by six, and your husband would be greeted by sweet serenity every night when he crossed the threshold.

You didn’t take in to account what the cost of raising a child would have to your psyche! When talking to children you find yourself spiraling down into this dark place, as nothing you try seems to get through. One by one, you break every vow you ever made about the way you were going to raise YOUR kids. Your voice rises to a screech, and your mood plummets.

You’ve tried the time out, which you always despised when you were a child. Doesn’t work. You send them to their rooms. They color on the walls. You threaten them with grounding - from what? They’re two and four! You toy with the idea of sending them to bed with no supper - but you know you’re wayyy too much of a softy to follow through.

And so you fall back on the one method you swore you would never resort to, the ultimate threat of everywhere fear…

“You just WAIT until your FATHER gets home!!!”

It’s OK. When they grow up, they’ll say it to their kids, too.

Learning to be social is a part of growth development that takes time to show! My daughter is an extremely friendly child - the kind that starts up a conversation with anyone, invites them to her birthday party, and reminds them they will need to bring a present!

You know what that is like if you have social children too! You love the fact that they aren’t shy, and secretly worry that they will try to befriend the wrong person. You have to let them grow, however, and being able to interact socially will help them a lot when they start school.

Then there are the other children of the family, that are almost painfully self conscious. My littlest boy has decided he doesn’t like people. Little old ladies who try to chuck him under the chin are met with squinched up eyes and a mournful puckered mouth. If they persist, he pretends he is a baby coyote and goes  “Oawoooooohh!” (Then everyone laughs, which just makes him madder!)

That’s OK! He will outgrow it, if I insist on taking him with me to the store and on errands, and not giving in to his shyness. My middle son was shy too, but he got over it. I took him to several mothers day out and bible school programs at churches the summer before he started kindergarten, and he quickly learned how to make friends.

As long as you expose your child to sociable situations, they can learn how to be more sociable. They all just do it in their own time! So don’t worry if one is outgoing and another shy. They will each grow at their own pace.

Sarah P.

Long gone are the days of formally teaching our children etiquette. No longer must they learn to bow or curtsey prettily, or to arch their pinky over the handle of their teacup. They aren’t expected to sit ramrod straight with hands folded, or to be seen and not heard.

Thank goodness! I have enough trouble teaching them how to floss! However, when dealing with children and manners, there are still some basics that should be addressed.

If your child shows just a rudimentary knowledge of etiquette, dinner can be a much nicer affair. Sometimes I wonder if people simply don’t realize when they have failed to teach their children any form of table manners at all.

It’s not just elbows on the table ( I am guilty of that one from time to time!) but chewing with your mouth open or wiping your mouth on your sleeve.

Sure they are just kids, but they will be young adults one day, and do you really want them to embarrass themselves? It’s not like they grow up and magically know these things. That is what we, the parents, are for!

Otherwise your teen may come home sobbing one day for being made fun of by her peers for burping loudly or using her napkin as a Kleenex. All of which can be avoided with just a word or two from you.

Moral of story? If you have kids, teach them basic table manners. Hey, if you don’t have kids, teach the neighbor’s! They will thank you someday. Not today, of course, today they will roll their eyes and go “Moo-ommm!”

But someday…

Sarah P

If you are looking for a day camp for kids, there are so many different choices! You will need to consider how far away they are, how affordable, and what type of camp would be best for each of your children.

Summer art camps are great for a budding painter or sculptor to attend. They will let your child’s imagination soar, and if your child would rather sit and draw than run around outside, this might be the perfect fit!

Science camps are loads of fun for the inquisitive child. They can really learn a lot, and surprise you with their knowledge when the camp is over. This is a good way to get them interested in science for the upcoming school year!

Swimming summer camp can help teach your children water safety, or give them almost unlimited access if they are already accomplished swimmers. You will probably have to sign special waivers for these as well as other camps where there is an element of risk, but these activities are normally very well run and supervised.

Martial arts camps teach self discipline to children who might be a little out of control during the summer. Riding camps teach responsibility, and are perfect for drawing out shy children and giving them confidence. Both are excellent choices for either girls or boys.

Check your local churches for affordable summer camps. Some schools also offer summer programs, and you can check with your local boy and girl scout troops for additional activities. One way or the other, a summer camp could be the experience your child will always remember!

It’s never to early to start looking at preschool centers! Some of the best educational schools have a waiting list of a year or more, so you need to get a head-start if you are looking into center care for your child.

You will need to decide if you want your child enrolled in a formal educational center, where preparation for grade school is the focus, or a more relaxed play oriented preschool. Montessori schools are gaining popularity as they combine creative teaching methods with a fun atmosphere.

There are some free preschools; most of these are church run or state preschools and have limited resources. Others are run on a sliding scale fee basis, or offer heavy discounts if you enroll more than one child. You usually have to meet certain income guidelines to qualify for such preschools.

Co-op preschools are another inexpensive venue, and have the added advantage of parent involvement! This is a very nice option if you can find or found a co-op preschool in your area. Often the focus of these preschools is a relaxed learning environment, and all parents will take turns volunteering and teaching the children.

Catholic preschools are often very highly rated and offer a controlled, formal classroom experience. This might be your best option if you intend for your child to go to Catholic school as the method of teaching and the discipline will be familiar to them.

Good preschools will often have an application process; and require a hefty up front deposit to hold your child’s spot. The top preschools are almost as hard to get into as some colleges! Don’t stress, though; your child is unlikely to be disadvantaged if they don’t get into the swankiest care center in town.

Tour the preschools on your top picks list, and see if you can arrange for your child to stay for a day, just to see how compatible it is to your needs. Finding the right preschool may take time, but knowing your child is in the best environment possible will make it worth it!

If you have more than one child, you know how different they can be from each other! What works with one child may not work with another. This is because of the fact that no two children are the same!

My two older children are just two years apart. My daughter is nine and my son is six, and they look very alike - their hair, eyes and voices are so similar. But their personalities are completely opposite!

For example, my little girl is very disorganized. Her teachers say it is lucky she is so smart, for she is forever misplacing work and having to do it over from memory. Her room is always a mess and she runs from one thing to the next without finishing her projects. If we have company coming in an hour, I have to tell her:

“Go to your room and clean it just right. I want everything done exactly right, so take your time! Pick up every thing you can see and organize  your desk with your art supplies. Put on clean clothes, and brush your hair and teeth. Now, here is a list of all the things I just told you, and they should take at least an hour to get done. If you finish before an hour is up, you need to go back and see what still needs more work!”

My son is so serious compared to her; he will take his time on everything, including getting dressed, and can sit and work on coloring a picture for hours. I had to learn that he often only needs to be told to do something once, where I have to remind my daughter ten times! His instructions were very different:

“I want you to go do a very quick pick up on your room, and don’t worry about the closet if it isn’t perfect. Brush your teeth and get dressed really fast. We only have an hour, so you will have to hurry! Do you remember the three things I just told you to do?”

An hour later, my daughter’s room and appearance passed muster, and my son was ready for company. I just had to tell them almost the exact opposite type of directions to get the same result out of each one!

Remember that your children can be different in the way they think and react, and use the correct approach with each one. Every personality needs the right touch!