IMG: Elizabeth Ferree

Well it seems not everyone thought that was kosher, it has been announced that administrators over at the school district did not approve of this fundraiser method and have since nixed it in the bud. So moms and dads there would be nothing to worry about since children can no longer buy their grades. The school board is stating any money that was collected will be returned and grades will be changed back.

Here’s a statement that was sent out:

Administrators have rejected a North Carolina school’s fund-raiser that promised test points for donations. The News & Observer of Raleigh reported that Wayne County school administrators have halted the plan at Rosewood Middle School in Goldsboro, which was offering 20 points to students in exchange for a $20 donation.

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Update on Buying Grades

Image: sxc.hu

Do they realize that without the veterans’ service for our country, from the Revolutionary War forward, we might not be enjoying the freedoms we have today?

Have you researched the veterans in your family heritage and shared this with your children?  Some of us have ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War and other wars to the present.

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Kids & the Significance of Veteran’s Day

IMG: Sxc.hu

The principal decided after years of trying the “traditional selling chocolate bar method” to try something new. She actually argued that getting two test grades higher would not change a grade for a child. In other words if a child had a c average it would stay that way. But as we all know, it just takes a high test score to improve a GPA.

If your child goes to Rosewood Middle School and finds they’d like to improve their grade here is how it works:

The school will sell 20 test points to students in exchange for a $20-dollar donation.

Students can add 10 extra points to each of two tests of their choosing. The extra points could take a student from a “B” to an “A” on a test or from a failing grade to a passing grade.

So, would you allow your child to improve their grades in order to help the school out? How will you later teach your child it is not a good thing to do this? I mean the reality is they are cheating, paying for a higher grade and giving money to the school to help out a cause. Tough one isn’t it?

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Buying Better Grades: Yes or No

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We love family hikes. We live near mountains right now, so heavy duty hiking is only a short drive, but even the neighborhood does well for everyday walking.

We need to get into the habit of more family game nights. The kids are getting old enough to really enjoy them.

This got me thinking about the heritage of fun and closeness and memories Stephanie and her family are creating.  We have fond memories of activities, during tough times, with our daughter and grandchildren.  They were filled with laughter, too.

To preserve these you can:

• Put photos on CDs
• Create scrapbooks
• Keep journals
• Make collages
• Record stories and memories

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Developing a Family Heritage of Closeness

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1.  Grades. Yes, there are some of us parents that want to see our children succeed and know when we’ve seen high marks there are no reason for low ones. If there are low marks, that means something is up in their life that needs to be changed.

2.  Time.  Too much time on their hands. I know this is like one of those counter statements because while they don’t have any of their own time at school or once they get home they still have TIME. Time for a child can definitely be stressful though especially when you pile that with 7-9 classes in a day and then homework. Time may seem small because of technology too, they could be online the whole time they are home or texting the moment they get on the school bus.

3.  Economic pressures. Sure mom and dad keep quiet about the bills but even kids pick up on things. Remember when you would jump at the mention of them needing a new jacket and now you ask how long can the one they currently have last? Well, they know what that means.

Now the American Psychological Association wrote a survey called, Stress in America, which had kids 7-18 years of age.  Many of the things kids are stressed about the parents had no clue.

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Are Our Children Too Stressed?

Alabama is my husband’s team. He grew up during the glory days of Bear Bryant, and he still remembers seeing the mighty coach standing on the sidelines or watching him eat Golden Flake potato chips on TV. If you think Alabama fans have put the Bear years behind them, you haven’t met my husband.

My son is an LSU fan. We’re not sure how it happened. Truman pledged his allegiance to the purple-and-gold a few weeks before the 2007 football season. That was the year they took home the national championship. This was when my son was his most clairvoyant. He almost always picked the winning baseball team or Nascar driver. When he predicted Obama would be president long before the Democratic primary, well, it was just freaky.

Here’s how much my husband loves our son – he bought Truman an LSU jersey. Truman wears it from time to time, especially when he and Daddy play football in the yard. Rick is willing to be most any team Truman makes him be, except Tennessee and Auburn. Last week Rick was Iowa. (Truman pronounces it eye-OH-uh.)

Sure, we bought Truman Alabama caps and jerseys even before he was born. We assumed we would raise an Alabama fan simply through osmosis. But for some reason, our son preferred choosing his own favorites. As much as it pains Rick, he is willing to let Truman be his own man when it comes to choosing sports teams. Rick is an avid New York Yankees fan; Truman prefers the Red Sox. Rick loves the Lakers; Truman likes the Celtics.

When we told Truman last week that we were going to see Alabama play LSU, Rick told our darling son that he could wear any jersey he wanted, including his LSU jersey. Truman said, “That’s OK, Daddy. I’m going to wear my Alabama jersey just for you.” My husband gushed with pride.

Those words alone from my psychic son led me to believe that Alabama would continue its winning streak. But at times it was hard to keep the faith. Thankfully, Alabama pulled off the win. Roll Tide!

We drove home that evening with our son strapped in the backseat. He was wearing his Alabama jersey and ROLL TIDE eye blacks, holding a crimson-and-white shaker and a paper hounds tooth hat fan, and shouting “Roll Tide” to passing cars. My husband turned to me, a proud papa, and said, “I think we’ve finally made him a Bama fan.”

Truman suddenly paused from his Bama chants. “You know, Daddy,” he chimed in. “I like Alabama, but I still like LSU more.”

Photo, JWJourney

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Can You Influence Your Son’s Choice in Team

Simple family pleasures image: sxc.hu

 Are there activities they can do that don’t cost a great deal of money?

My husband and I grew up in homes where struggling and working together on farms was a normal part of our childhood.  However, many happy memories have resulted.

We went through periods of difficulties when our daughter was growing up, but learned to enjoy many simple pleasures with love and laughter.  Now in our multigenerational household, we find solace in working together.

What can families do?

• Pitch in with chores if both mom and dad must work.
• Take hikes and walks together.
• Have family movie nights at home.
• Play board games.
• Put on family skits.
• Invite friends and neighbors for a potluck and board game night.
• Have a storytelling evening.

What do you do for family fun, work and entertainment that pulls you closer together during tough times?

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Do Families Become Closer in Tough Times?

IMG: Amazon.com

Maybe it is being noticed more now that Sesame Street just turned 40 Years Old or the fact that Michelle Obama was just on the show that dealt with a lot of veggetables and gardening. Maybe it is being focused on more because we have so many kids that would rather grab for the coookies instead of the carrot sticks and Cookie Monster would prefer his bunches of grapes. I say it is a good thing and they state Cookie isn’t saying NO to cookies, he’s just making a few healthier choices.

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Cookie Monster becomes Healthy Food Monster

To date, Maclaren has received 15 reports of children placing their fingers in the stroller’s hinge mechanism, resulting in 12 reports of fingertip amputation in the United States.

The recall includes about one million single and double Maclaren Strollers distributed nationally at Babies “R” Us, Target and other juvenile product and mass merchandise retailers between 1999 and November 2009. The recalled modens include Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, Techno XLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno, and Easy Traveller. The strollers, which were manufactured in China, sold for between $100 and $360.

Consumers are urged to stop using these recalled strollers immediately and contact Maclaren USA to receive a free repair kit. Maclaren USA can be reached toll-free at (877) 688-2326 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or through its Web site at www.maclaren.us/recall.

Source, Beasley Allen Law Firm
Photo, CSPC

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Strollers Recalled Due to Amputation Hazard

Just as they learn (good and bad) from parents, they also learn from grandparents.   So it’s difficult to say, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

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We also continue to influence youngsters long after ours are grown, especially when we have frequent contact with our grandchildren.  So how do you want you want your grandchildren to resemble you?

This doesn’t mean “spoil” them or compete with other grandparents, Be yourself, but be consistent with what you say and do and teach regarding:

• Honesty
• Loyalty
• Clean language
• Good health habits
• Self-sufficiency
• Finances
• Relationships with others
• Morality

Our actions and words have a ripple effect that affect our children, grandchildren and future generations.

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Your Grandchildren Are Watching You