If one more person tells me Harry is deprived....
Okay, maybe it is mostly people from New Jersey telling me that we are depriving Harry of his happiness, chance to be a kid, whatever...If I hear it again I am going to start revoking their EZ Passes!
Let me say right now that Harry's happiness is my number 1 priority, and the child is anything but deprived. Feel free to ask him. He is smart and level headed and wise beyond his years, and he will answer whatever question you pose to him. And he is happy. His teachers at school tell me regularly "Harry is always happy!"
Know what's cool about Christmas trees? The lights! We have lights. We even have a tree this year. It's turquoise. It serves it's purpose and Harry loves it. He also loves his lights and the presents scattered throughout the house, as well as the paper chains and gingerbread house that we all made together. Kevin had to do most of the building this year, however. I had a pretty miserable attempt last year. In my defense, it was my first attempt. I NEVER MADE ONE WHEN I WAS A KID!!! I WAS DEPRIVED I GUESS!!!!
I was not deprived of toys, however. Yes, Kevin, I had a Green Machine, and every thing else under the sun. It was nice to get everything you dreamed of...until you don't, because there's a time when you won't, and then it's not so much fun. It's also not fun to hear that you are a spoiled brat all of the time, especially when you have nothing to do with the process it takes to become one.
Know what makes kids happy? Playing with other kids in a stimulating environment. Being independent and learning from teachers who are skilled at their job. Mommies and Daddies who are happy to see you and spend time with you. Not being dragged on errands you don't want to go on. A SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENT!
Know what makes kids happy? Knowing that they can do whatever it is they want to do without stigma. Boys can cook and play with dolls. Girls can get dirty and play with trucks. Everyone is happy without putting other people down.
Sleep and good food make kids happy. Staying up all night and eating junk food makes them cranky.
And so, that is my vent session for today. Doing things the way they have always been done doesn't mean that's the best way to do them! There's a quote in there somewhere, but I cannot remember it at the moment.
But, I will also leave you with some more advice below...and maybe explain a little about why it is important that we eat dinner together every night, rather than setting Harry up with a TV tray in the living room:
The Benefits of Eating Together
The Family Who Eats Together Stays Together -- By Becky Hand, Licensed & Registered Dietitian
"Come and get it!"
It may be dinnertime, but when was the last time your family sat down and enjoyed dinner together? With music lessons, ball practice, play rehearsal, and work schedules, it can be tough. Rounding up the troop for an evening meal can be almost impossible! However, research is beginning to show that eating as a family has great benefits for your children and teenagers. Here are 8 more reasons why you should try to sit down together 5-6 times a week, whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Reason #1: Communication and Well-Being
Conversations during the meal provide opportunities for the family to bond, plan, connect, and learn from one another. It’s a chance to share information and news of the day, as well as give extra attention to your children and teens. Family meals foster warmth, security and love, as well as feelings of belonging. It can be a unifying experience for all.
Reason #2: Model Manners (and more)
Family mealtime is the perfect opportunity to display appropriate table manners, meal etiquette, and social skills. Keep the mood light, relaxed, and loving. Try not to instruct or criticize—lead by example.
Reason # 3: Expand Their World…One Food at a Time
Encourage your children to try new foods, without forcing, coercing, or bribing. Introduce a new food along with some of the stand-by favorites. Remember that it can take 8-10 exposures to a new food before it is accepted, so be patient. Trying a new food is like starting a new hobby. It expands your child’s knowledge, experience, and skill.
Include foods from other cultures and countries.
Select a new vegetable from a local farmer’s market.
Have your child select a new recipe from a cookbook, web site, newspaper, magazine or check out the recipes on BabyFit.
Reason #4: Nourish
Meals prepared and eaten at home are usually more nutritious and healthy. They contain more fruits, vegetables, and dairy products along with additional nutrients such as fiber, calcium, vitamins A and C, and folate. Home cooked meals are usually not fried or highly salted, plus soda and sweetened beverage consumption is usually lower at the dinner table.
Reason #5: Become Self-Sufficient
Children today are missing out on the importance of knowing how to plan and prepare meals. Basic cooking, baking, and food preparation are necessities for being self-sufficient. Involve your family in menu planning, grocery shopping, and food preparation. Preschoolers can tear lettuce, cut bananas, and set the table. Older children can pour milk, peel vegetables, and mix batter. Teenagers can dice, chop, bake, and grill. Working as a team puts the meal on the table faster, as well as makes everyone more responsible and accepting of the outcome. Improved eating habits come with "ownership" of a meal.
Reason #6: Prevent Destructive Behaviors
Research shows that frequent family dinners (five or more a week), are associated with lower rates of smoking, drinking, and illegal drug use in pre-teens and teenagers when compared to families that eat together two or fewer times per week. Even as older children’s schedules get more complicated, it is important to make an effort to eat meals together. Scheduling is a must.
Reason #7: Improve Grades
Children do better in school when they eat more meals with their parents and family. Teenagers who eat dinner four or more times per week with their families have higher academic performance compared with teenagers who eat with their families two or fewer times per week.
Reason # 8: Save Money
Meals purchased away from home cost two to four times more than meals prepared at home. At present time the restaurant industry’s share of the total food dollar is more than 46%. Due to scheduling, commitments, and activities, families eat out several times each week. It is time to bring the "family" back to the dinner table. Sharing dinner together gives everyone a sense of identity. It can help ease day-to-day conflicts, as well as establish traditions and memories that can last a lifetime.
Let me say right now that Harry's happiness is my number 1 priority, and the child is anything but deprived. Feel free to ask him. He is smart and level headed and wise beyond his years, and he will answer whatever question you pose to him. And he is happy. His teachers at school tell me regularly "Harry is always happy!"
- Having a big house in the suburbs does not result in a happy childhood.
- Having a Christmas tree does not result in a happy childhood.
- Having a Christmas tree large enough to put toys under does not result in a happy childhood.
- Having more toys than you can play with does not result in a happy childhood.
- Staying home all day with Mommy does not result in a happy childhood.
- Having Mommy cook and Daddy work does not result in a happy childhood.
- Playing with gender stereotyped toys does not result in a happy childhood.
- Staying up all hours of the night does not result in a happy childhood.
- Eating unlimited amounts of candy and processed foods does not result in a happy childhood.
Know what's cool about Christmas trees? The lights! We have lights. We even have a tree this year. It's turquoise. It serves it's purpose and Harry loves it. He also loves his lights and the presents scattered throughout the house, as well as the paper chains and gingerbread house that we all made together. Kevin had to do most of the building this year, however. I had a pretty miserable attempt last year. In my defense, it was my first attempt. I NEVER MADE ONE WHEN I WAS A KID!!! I WAS DEPRIVED I GUESS!!!!
I was not deprived of toys, however. Yes, Kevin, I had a Green Machine, and every thing else under the sun. It was nice to get everything you dreamed of...until you don't, because there's a time when you won't, and then it's not so much fun. It's also not fun to hear that you are a spoiled brat all of the time, especially when you have nothing to do with the process it takes to become one.
Know what makes kids happy? Playing with other kids in a stimulating environment. Being independent and learning from teachers who are skilled at their job. Mommies and Daddies who are happy to see you and spend time with you. Not being dragged on errands you don't want to go on. A SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENT!
Know what makes kids happy? Knowing that they can do whatever it is they want to do without stigma. Boys can cook and play with dolls. Girls can get dirty and play with trucks. Everyone is happy without putting other people down.
Sleep and good food make kids happy. Staying up all night and eating junk food makes them cranky.
And so, that is my vent session for today. Doing things the way they have always been done doesn't mean that's the best way to do them! There's a quote in there somewhere, but I cannot remember it at the moment.
But, I will also leave you with some more advice below...and maybe explain a little about why it is important that we eat dinner together every night, rather than setting Harry up with a TV tray in the living room:
The Benefits of Eating Together
The Family Who Eats Together Stays Together -- By Becky Hand, Licensed & Registered Dietitian
"Come and get it!"
It may be dinnertime, but when was the last time your family sat down and enjoyed dinner together? With music lessons, ball practice, play rehearsal, and work schedules, it can be tough. Rounding up the troop for an evening meal can be almost impossible! However, research is beginning to show that eating as a family has great benefits for your children and teenagers. Here are 8 more reasons why you should try to sit down together 5-6 times a week, whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Reason #1: Communication and Well-Being
Conversations during the meal provide opportunities for the family to bond, plan, connect, and learn from one another. It’s a chance to share information and news of the day, as well as give extra attention to your children and teens. Family meals foster warmth, security and love, as well as feelings of belonging. It can be a unifying experience for all.
Reason #2: Model Manners (and more)
Family mealtime is the perfect opportunity to display appropriate table manners, meal etiquette, and social skills. Keep the mood light, relaxed, and loving. Try not to instruct or criticize—lead by example.
Reason # 3: Expand Their World…One Food at a Time
Encourage your children to try new foods, without forcing, coercing, or bribing. Introduce a new food along with some of the stand-by favorites. Remember that it can take 8-10 exposures to a new food before it is accepted, so be patient. Trying a new food is like starting a new hobby. It expands your child’s knowledge, experience, and skill.
Include foods from other cultures and countries.
Select a new vegetable from a local farmer’s market.
Have your child select a new recipe from a cookbook, web site, newspaper, magazine or check out the recipes on BabyFit.
Reason #4: Nourish
Meals prepared and eaten at home are usually more nutritious and healthy. They contain more fruits, vegetables, and dairy products along with additional nutrients such as fiber, calcium, vitamins A and C, and folate. Home cooked meals are usually not fried or highly salted, plus soda and sweetened beverage consumption is usually lower at the dinner table.
Reason #5: Become Self-Sufficient
Children today are missing out on the importance of knowing how to plan and prepare meals. Basic cooking, baking, and food preparation are necessities for being self-sufficient. Involve your family in menu planning, grocery shopping, and food preparation. Preschoolers can tear lettuce, cut bananas, and set the table. Older children can pour milk, peel vegetables, and mix batter. Teenagers can dice, chop, bake, and grill. Working as a team puts the meal on the table faster, as well as makes everyone more responsible and accepting of the outcome. Improved eating habits come with "ownership" of a meal.
Reason #6: Prevent Destructive Behaviors
Research shows that frequent family dinners (five or more a week), are associated with lower rates of smoking, drinking, and illegal drug use in pre-teens and teenagers when compared to families that eat together two or fewer times per week. Even as older children’s schedules get more complicated, it is important to make an effort to eat meals together. Scheduling is a must.
Reason #7: Improve Grades
Children do better in school when they eat more meals with their parents and family. Teenagers who eat dinner four or more times per week with their families have higher academic performance compared with teenagers who eat with their families two or fewer times per week.
Reason # 8: Save Money
Meals purchased away from home cost two to four times more than meals prepared at home. At present time the restaurant industry’s share of the total food dollar is more than 46%. Due to scheduling, commitments, and activities, families eat out several times each week. It is time to bring the "family" back to the dinner table. Sharing dinner together gives everyone a sense of identity. It can help ease day-to-day conflicts, as well as establish traditions and memories that can last a lifetime.
posted by Kimberly at
12/17/2007 07:41:00 PM
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