Parents always think that teaching their child to read is a big deal. They buy expensive “How to” phonics kits, or Baby Einstein CDs and approach the Kindergarten teacher wringing their hands anxiously, and asking, “What should I do to help Lucy with reading”?
The most important thing to do is to relax and have fun with it all. However, you do need to start at the beginning and the beginning is the fetus.
Even before your baby is born, and certainly immediately afterwards, you must read to her. It does not really matter what you read, although the phone book could be boring for everyone, but do not steer away from adult material. The incipient human being in your uterus will respond to the sound of your voice as soon as she can hear. She will absorb the rhythm and musicality of the human voice so poetry, Shakespeare or good children’s literature will provide you with suitable resources to instill the growing brain with a love of the English language. Your baby will associate beautiful language with her caring parent and grow to love both.
As soon as baby is born, take her on your lap and read with her any of the amazing picture books now available for children. Again, do not worry if she is too young to understand. Show her the pictures, point to them as you read and read in an animated and loving way. Create a special time in the day for this sharing activity and you will be surprised at how soon your little person will come to expect and enjoy it. It is a good idea to make it a pre-bedtime routine that will help the child unwind from the days’ activities.
Soon your child will start to take notice of pictures and point to them with you, imitating your articulation of the words. She will pick out favorite books for you to read and demand that you read them over and over again. This repetition is often tedious for parents but it is a very important pre-reading activity as the words and story eventually become so familiar that the child can “read” them from memory. This is a scaffolding for real reading and should not be dismissed as mere “memorizing”.
As soon as your child begins to show interest in what you are reading you should point to each word and eventually encourage your child to track the words with her own finger.
Most importantly, make this time a loving and enjoyable experience and your child will look forward to it and ask for it every day. Never put pressure on the child to do more reading than she willing to do, as even a school-age child should enjoy reading activities. A young person will not thrive on force-fed words but will feed willingly on a smorgasbord offered with love.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The Swine Flu
This year’s Swine Flu pandemic has panicked the world into a serious assessment of health care efficiency. Vaccines are not yet universally available and as it becomes more likely that most of us will not be eligible for vaccination before this wave of the Swine Flu is well on its way out, it is important that we take responsibility for our own health and learn how to avoid getting sick.
Although the Swine Flu is a very infectious virus that is causing great concern at the moment, the Flu, of one kind or another, is around every year and we need to know how best to deal with it whenever it occurs. The following are the most important things we can do to protect ourselves.
• Wash hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds. This should be done especially after using the bathroom and before eating and if soap and water are not available use an antibacterial alcohol-based hand spray. These can be bought in handy sizes to carry in the pocket or purse.
• Wipe clean door handles and keyboards or any surfaces touched frequently by others. This applies to gym equipment, desks and photocopiers etc. etc. If it is not possible to clean frequently then wash your hands again!
• Catch coughs and sneezes in the crook of your elbow. Of course, it is best not to sneeze or cough in public, but if you must, keep it to yourself. If you cover your mouth or nose with your hand by mistake – wash your hands again!
• Get plenty of sleep. Burning the candle at both ends, merely depletes the candle.
• Keep as healthy as you can. Do whatever you do usually to keep healthy only in spades. Have a daily walk in the fresh air to keep your lungs clear and oxygenate the body. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables. Take vitamins- especially vitamin C and D. And if you do all this and still get sick –
• Stay home until you are completely well. Do not be a hero and come to the office before you are fully recovered. Your colleagues will not thank you for it.
And in case you come down with the Flu in spite of all this good advice, stock up on some good books, juices, and chicken broth, turn off the computer and the Blackberry and stay in bed for a week.
Although the Swine Flu is a very infectious virus that is causing great concern at the moment, the Flu, of one kind or another, is around every year and we need to know how best to deal with it whenever it occurs. The following are the most important things we can do to protect ourselves.
• Wash hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds. This should be done especially after using the bathroom and before eating and if soap and water are not available use an antibacterial alcohol-based hand spray. These can be bought in handy sizes to carry in the pocket or purse.
• Wipe clean door handles and keyboards or any surfaces touched frequently by others. This applies to gym equipment, desks and photocopiers etc. etc. If it is not possible to clean frequently then wash your hands again!
• Catch coughs and sneezes in the crook of your elbow. Of course, it is best not to sneeze or cough in public, but if you must, keep it to yourself. If you cover your mouth or nose with your hand by mistake – wash your hands again!
• Get plenty of sleep. Burning the candle at both ends, merely depletes the candle.
• Keep as healthy as you can. Do whatever you do usually to keep healthy only in spades. Have a daily walk in the fresh air to keep your lungs clear and oxygenate the body. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables. Take vitamins- especially vitamin C and D. And if you do all this and still get sick –
• Stay home until you are completely well. Do not be a hero and come to the office before you are fully recovered. Your colleagues will not thank you for it.
And in case you come down with the Flu in spite of all this good advice, stock up on some good books, juices, and chicken broth, turn off the computer and the Blackberry and stay in bed for a week.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Flu
Swine, chicken, bird flu
This baby virus favors humble creature comfort for its inception.
It snuggles into feather beds,
Luxuriates in piggy pens,
Developing unhindered into a version
Soon viable for transplant into unwilling human hosts.
They cursed the pigs,
“Filthy creatures – kill them all- butcher the lot!”
and called for the burning of the birds
“Destroy the fowl where that bug breeds!” they cried.
“Close the farms and KILL, KILL, KILL”
White coated slaughter
walking the world in masks.
Swine and Fowl martyred in the name of Fear
Frantic Fear of the little Virus that Could
and the animals died
but the virus lived on.
It surfaced in Mexico.
How could it so inconvenience holiday-makers?
Many were forced to cancel Winter vacations.
H1N1 a new title now
Renamed to transcend the swine.
A valiant virus.
A tiny titan with a reputation even greater than its reality
Of pandemic proportion.
Pandemic panic!
Frantic families.
Dying children.
Pregnant women at risk!
Vaccinate!
Don’t wait
Or the Swine Flu will get you too!
This baby virus favors humble creature comfort for its inception.
It snuggles into feather beds,
Luxuriates in piggy pens,
Developing unhindered into a version
Soon viable for transplant into unwilling human hosts.
They cursed the pigs,
“Filthy creatures – kill them all- butcher the lot!”
and called for the burning of the birds
“Destroy the fowl where that bug breeds!” they cried.
“Close the farms and KILL, KILL, KILL”
White coated slaughter
walking the world in masks.
Swine and Fowl martyred in the name of Fear
Frantic Fear of the little Virus that Could
and the animals died
but the virus lived on.
It surfaced in Mexico.
How could it so inconvenience holiday-makers?
Many were forced to cancel Winter vacations.
H1N1 a new title now
Renamed to transcend the swine.
A valiant virus.
A tiny titan with a reputation even greater than its reality
Of pandemic proportion.
Pandemic panic!
Frantic families.
Dying children.
Pregnant women at risk!
Vaccinate!
Don’t wait
Or the Swine Flu will get you too!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Easter stirrings
Easter has been and is many things in my life. It has often, like this year, coincided with my birthday, and that sweetened the occasion with chocolate and a holiday, which most people never get on their birthday. Maybe that is why I always look forward to this time, even in old age.
As far back as I can remember Easter was family gatherings and large meals - hot cross buns-Spring walks with my mother in the woods full of bluebells-sweet scented wallflower-bright yellow and golden daffodil and crocus days. And the soft showers of rain which sent us scurrying for shelter, playing a trick- as the sun returned brilliant again as soon as we reached cover.
Teenage years brought haughty conversion. On Good Friday I now had better things to do than the usual family walk. I spent three hours at the church soaking up solemnity and superiority. Surely God did not fully approve of this casting off of custom - as I refashioned my cloak of many colours in grey?
University opened up my life and my conversion became unhinged by the flapping wings of freedom. Easter now, was going home, seeing parents, eating too much. Now church gave way again to good cheer. Sunday would occasionally see me in the pew again. I wanted a joyous service now. Not grief for sacrifice but celebration of life - life so full of love and promise.
Easter was and is that to me too. It brings the hope of better days, new life, sunny days - the end of death and Winter - hope springing eternal. A wonderful time of year.
As far back as I can remember Easter was family gatherings and large meals - hot cross buns-Spring walks with my mother in the woods full of bluebells-sweet scented wallflower-bright yellow and golden daffodil and crocus days. And the soft showers of rain which sent us scurrying for shelter, playing a trick- as the sun returned brilliant again as soon as we reached cover.
Teenage years brought haughty conversion. On Good Friday I now had better things to do than the usual family walk. I spent three hours at the church soaking up solemnity and superiority. Surely God did not fully approve of this casting off of custom - as I refashioned my cloak of many colours in grey?
University opened up my life and my conversion became unhinged by the flapping wings of freedom. Easter now, was going home, seeing parents, eating too much. Now church gave way again to good cheer. Sunday would occasionally see me in the pew again. I wanted a joyous service now. Not grief for sacrifice but celebration of life - life so full of love and promise.
Easter was and is that to me too. It brings the hope of better days, new life, sunny days - the end of death and Winter - hope springing eternal. A wonderful time of year.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Do you know?
Inspired by watching Oprah and hearing so many young mothers say "noone told me that----" I write a poem dedicated to all young mothers.
Do you know?
How lucky you are today
this child sees only you.
You are its first love.
Little lover demands attention.
And how easy it is to give to one who loves you more
Than any human being ever will.
but
Do you know?
This does not last forever.
You become settled in the centre of the universe
when
suddenly the centre shifts.
and you are thrown
off kilter.
Finding yourself unsteady on your feet
unsure of your position
but
No longer the focus of pure love.
Required to fade into the background
While the child-lover
Finds new interests and new passions.
And you thought this was forever.
Do you know?
Nothing lasts forever
and that is the hardest thing about motherhood.
Do you know?
How lucky you are today
this child sees only you.
You are its first love.
Little lover demands attention.
And how easy it is to give to one who loves you more
Than any human being ever will.
but
Do you know?
This does not last forever.
You become settled in the centre of the universe
when
suddenly the centre shifts.
and you are thrown
off kilter.
Finding yourself unsteady on your feet
unsure of your position
but
No longer the focus of pure love.
Required to fade into the background
While the child-lover
Finds new interests and new passions.
And you thought this was forever.
Do you know?
Nothing lasts forever
and that is the hardest thing about motherhood.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Letting go
They say that love means, you don't have to say "sorry" and I suppose, anything goes.
They say that love means, you let go. Let the hand slip out of yours and wave into the distance
without regret.
I don't believe these lies.
"Sorry" is an expression of love. Vulnerable love without ego.
Letting go is surrender. When the ship slips its moorings and sails
without you
It may have a splendid journey - but you are not there.
Love means you need another chance to say "sorry".
They say that love means, you let go. Let the hand slip out of yours and wave into the distance
without regret.
I don't believe these lies.
"Sorry" is an expression of love. Vulnerable love without ego.
Letting go is surrender. When the ship slips its moorings and sails
without you
It may have a splendid journey - but you are not there.
Love means you need another chance to say "sorry".
Thursday, February 26, 2009
American Idol
How to understand this phenomenon? I have to admit I am addicted and I need to understand why. It's not the singing, after all. Most of the talent is minor at best. I try to analyse what I enjoy so much. If I am honest I suppose I am feeling a sense of superiority - seeing most of the contestants working so hard but succeeding only a little, is reassuring. It tells me that if this is the way people function, I am not doing so badly. Even when I fail, I am human like the rest of them.
But surely my enjoyment is not just sour grapes. That would be so mean-spirited. I have to hope not.
I do feel the excitement of the contestants and experience their ups and downs with them - a kind of vicarious thrill. I am happy when the best and the brightest (and even the most attractive) are voted in and get into cheering them on each week - rather like cheering on your favorite hockey team. I like some of the music - although many of the songs are butchered beyond belief, and that is not fun to hear.
Simon is important. Without him I wonder if I would bother turning it on. The Canadian Idol show soon lost its appeal for me as the hostess (I have tried to forget her) was very irritating and the panel members insincere and artificial. Yes, it is Simon that really does it for me.
He is so honest and accurate in his withering comments. He is the ultimate cruel-to-be- kind paternal figure. He is Idol for me.
But surely my enjoyment is not just sour grapes. That would be so mean-spirited. I have to hope not.
I do feel the excitement of the contestants and experience their ups and downs with them - a kind of vicarious thrill. I am happy when the best and the brightest (and even the most attractive) are voted in and get into cheering them on each week - rather like cheering on your favorite hockey team. I like some of the music - although many of the songs are butchered beyond belief, and that is not fun to hear.
Simon is important. Without him I wonder if I would bother turning it on. The Canadian Idol show soon lost its appeal for me as the hostess (I have tried to forget her) was very irritating and the panel members insincere and artificial. Yes, it is Simon that really does it for me.
He is so honest and accurate in his withering comments. He is the ultimate cruel-to-be- kind paternal figure. He is Idol for me.
Good days and bad
Why does waking sometimes freeze the heart with reluctance? Toe out of bed draws back in icy terror at the day ahead.
Yet the hot shower beats consciousness into each cell
and by the time the body is scoured dry
the mind has purpose and forgets to cry.
Yet other days waking opens with potential
covers thrown back and swinging into the day
bright with intention.
How can days be so different?
Or is it simply the brain's perception.
Kant hinted at it.
Deluded brain
a chemical stew
unable to tell false from true.
Yet the hot shower beats consciousness into each cell
and by the time the body is scoured dry
the mind has purpose and forgets to cry.
Yet other days waking opens with potential
covers thrown back and swinging into the day
bright with intention.
How can days be so different?
Or is it simply the brain's perception.
Kant hinted at it.
Deluded brain
a chemical stew
unable to tell false from true.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Blogging
What is the point of a blog?
Words dripped in the ether like a syrup feed go unnoticed by even the thirstiest pancake. Congealing into a sticky pool they blob untasted sweetness. Wordwaste.
Words dripped in the ether like a syrup feed go unnoticed by even the thirstiest pancake. Congealing into a sticky pool they blob untasted sweetness. Wordwaste.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
CHILDHOOD
I look down the tunnel occasionally
try to see the beginning where I crawled in
dragged out from one tight passage
into a longer darkness.
glimpses of candy apples and warm crusty
bread. Slaps of the leg when I pick too
many holes in the loaf as I carry it home.
running with icecream cone falling slap into the grass
the icecream upsided in the dirt, spaniel dog licking it greedily.
laughter and stories, singing of Ireland - a home
I never knew- would never know.
alone in an adult world and sure they
were all wrong.
when would it be my turn to show them?
Injustice. Boredom. Waiting for life to begin.
try to see the beginning where I crawled in
dragged out from one tight passage
into a longer darkness.
glimpses of candy apples and warm crusty
bread. Slaps of the leg when I pick too
many holes in the loaf as I carry it home.
running with icecream cone falling slap into the grass
the icecream upsided in the dirt, spaniel dog licking it greedily.
laughter and stories, singing of Ireland - a home
I never knew- would never know.
alone in an adult world and sure they
were all wrong.
when would it be my turn to show them?
Injustice. Boredom. Waiting for life to begin.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Should have been Friday the 13th
End of day and brain is a swirl of confusion and hurt. Some days nothing works.
I'm feeling burnt out - no spark to re -ignite. In the ash pile my whole life lies.
Maybe I got it wrong. This day could be symptomatic of my tone deafness and I have been out of tune all the time.
But tomorrow I must try to find the melody again.
Out of the ashes rises the phoenix and his cry is harsh but true.
I'm feeling burnt out - no spark to re -ignite. In the ash pile my whole life lies.
Maybe I got it wrong. This day could be symptomatic of my tone deafness and I have been out of tune all the time.
But tomorrow I must try to find the melody again.
Out of the ashes rises the phoenix and his cry is harsh but true.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Mary Wolstoncroft
You who seemed to triumph over your biology
Were bitten in the end
By God's curse.
Even you could not escape the scourge of womanhood.
Were bitten in the end
By God's curse.
Even you could not escape the scourge of womanhood.
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