Category Archives: Sunday Post

Sunday Post: Light…Do You See It?

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The dictionary has many definitions of the word “light”…usually we think of a lamp that illuminates a room…or the moon and sun that shine outdoors.

 But when we say someone sees the light, we imply a mental understanding or spiritual insight. 

As a student, I had many instances where I “saw the light” after a particularly helpful professor explained a difficult concept to me. 

As a teacher, I observed many pupils “see the light” when something I had been teaching them finally made sense. 

And, as a parent and now as a grandparent, I’ve been privileged to watch hundreds of “see the light” moments.

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is LIGHT.

 

Last summer we went fly-fishing with our twin grandchildren.  Are you looking for a great intergenerational activity?  Try fishing!  Children love it…our grandchildren listened attentively while we showed them what to do…their faces were alight with joy as they cast their flies into the water.

And, have you ever watched the faces of children as they listen to a picture book story?  Intent…attentive…joyful…alight with curiosity!

 

Or, put some arts and crafts supplies into the hands of young children and watch their faces light up with joy as the spark of creativity ignites!

 

 

There are so many things we can do with young children that will help them to “see the light”…reading, crafting, fishing, doing puzzles, taking a nature hike, going for a walk…just engaging them in a conversation.  What are some things you enjoy doing with your children?

We only have one more week for the March Positive Parental Participation Reading Challenge!  Please leave your comments and share with us the books you are reading with your children.  Also, please spread the word about the Reading Challenge…a promise to read every day to a child…someone will be winning a new picture book at the end of every month!

Just a reminder…are you looking for picture book recommendations and other activities that will build self-esteem and reading readiness skills?  Please check out my book, Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking…endorsed by parents, teachers and national organizations like the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  There is also only one more week for the March special: free shipping on my website Continental US only (an additional $5 off the price of the book for participants in the PPP Reading Challenge) or you can purchase the book on Amazon.

 

 If you’d like more information about Jake’s Sunday Post:

 http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/ 

1.     Christine: http://imagesoftheheart.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/sunday-post-light/

2.     Judy: http://northernnarratives.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/sunday-post-light/

3.     Isadora: http://insidethemindofisadora.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/sunday-photo-challenge-by-jake-light/

4.     Marcy: http://orples.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/sunday-photo-challenge-light/

5.     Rois: http://jullianeford.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/sunday-post-light/

6.  Marilou: http://imexcited.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/sunday-post-light/

7.  Natalie:  http://reflectionsinapuddle.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/sunday-post-light/

8. http://truthaboveallreligions.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/sunday-post-light/ 

9. http://blueberriejournal.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/light/

10. http://diggingher.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/sunday-post-weekly-challenge/

11. http://africatoalgarve.blogspot.pt/2012/03/light.html.

12. http://athoughtfor2012.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/sunday-post-light/

13. Kate: http://believeanyway.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/light/

14. Jo: http://jobryantnz.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/sunday-post-light/ 

I’ll add more links when more are posted.

Sunday Post: Recipe for Self-Esteem

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A recipe, according to the dictionary, is a list of ingredients and instructions for making something, especially a food dish.

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is RECIPE.

I love soup!  Do you?  Soup can be hearty or light, warming or cooling…soups are so easy to make and, when you make them yourself, you can use healthy nutritious ingredients and leave out the preservatives, high sodium levels and artificial colors that are rampant in most canned or packaged soups you buy at the store.

Here is a recipe for Cock-a-Leekie Soup…absolutely delicious…and very easy to make, even your kids can help!

COCK-A-LEEKIE SOUP

You will need: 1 large pot, 1 lb boneless chicken breasts cubed, 2 slices bacon, 1 large leek sliced (about 2 cups), 1 cup sliced fresh carrots, 2 cups cubed potatoes, 1 container low sodium vegetable broth (32 oz), 1 cup basmati rice, 2 Tbs single malt scotch (optional), ½ cup diced prunes, 1 Tb dried basil, 8 cups water.

1.      Saute bacon in pot…add chicken pieces and sauté a few minutes.

2.      Add sliced leeks, carrots and potatoes and stir well.

3.      Add vegetable broth, prunes, water and basil and stir well.

4.      Bring to a boil, add rice and scotch…lower heat, cover and simmer for 1½ hours.

5.      Serve with crusty bread and a simple tossed salad.

6.      Store in covered container in fridge.

7.      Makes about 12 cups of soup…you can easily make less by cutting the ingredients in half.

 

So what is the recipe for helping a child develop a high self-esteem?

1.      Help your child master tasks and skills.

2.      Encourage your child to value his own strengths and qualities.

3.      Help your child to feel appreciated and loved.

4.      Encourage your child to express his feelings.

5.      Help your child to acknowledge and cope with his fears.

6.      Encourage your child to accept himself and his body.

Kids love to help in the kitchen…not only does that time with you build self-esteem, but it also helps children develop reading readiness skills (or better literacy skills if they are older).  They also learn about good nutrition, and many picky eaters will try new foods that they have helped make.

If you would like more information about helping children develop a positive self-image or need some quick and easy ideas and self-esteem building activities, please pick up a copy of my book.  During the month of March, we are offering free shipping on my website (an additional $5 off the price of the book for participants in the PPP Reading Challenge) or you can purchase the book on Amazon.

 

 If you’d like more information about Jake’s Sunday Post:

 http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/ 

Connie: http://connieemeraldeyes.wordpress.com/2012/03/17/weekly-sunday-post-recipe/

Colline: http://collinesblog.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/sunday-post-recipe/

Susan: http://tostir.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/sunday-post-recipe/

Franny: http://oregonsmiles.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/recipe-for-success/

Mara: http://africatoalgarve.blogspot.pt/2012/03/recipe.html

Cassie: http://worldofcassie.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/sunday-post-recipe/

I’ll add more folks who are participating in Jake’s Sunday Post as soon as their posts are up.

Soup image thanks to www.cookstr.com

Related articles

Parenting by Design: Sunday Post

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Design, according to the dictionary, is to plan and make something in a skillful or artistic way.

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is DESIGN.

The above photo was taken by my son and daughter-in-law on a recent trip to Europe.  As they strolled down a street in Milan, they passed a building where the contractor had skillfully hidden the scaffolding and on-going construction with a façade that mirrored the neighboring architecture.   How lovely that someone took the time and expended money and effort to create a pleasing view for passers-by!

Another dictionary definition for design is to make a detailed plan of the form or structure of something.

Do you have a design for your day?

Setting up daily routines can make the difficult job of parenting quite a bit easier. 

  •         Allow time for morning routines. 
  •         If you have children in school, help them lay out their clothes the night before. 
  •         Have lunches in the refrigerator, ready to go. 
  •         If you will be home with a preschooler or it is a day off from school, plan some activities that you and the children will enjoy.  Choose a picture book story, craft project and cooking activity and build self-esteem and reading readiness while everyone has a great time.  Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking provides quick and easy activities and great storybook suggestions.  During the month of March, we are offering free shipping on my website (an additional $5 off the price of the book for participants in the PPP Reading Challenge) or you can purchase the book on Amazon.

 

I also wanted to share a link with you to Mile High Mamas, a Denver-based blog.  I will be contributing to Mile High Mamas every second Saturday with Building Literacy and Self-Esteem One Picture Book at a Time.

 

 If you’d like more information about Jake’s Sunday Post:

 http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/ 

Here are some other entries in Jake’s Sunday Post on Design:

1.     http://orples.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/sunday-photo-challenge-design/

2.     http://postadaychallenge2011.com/2012/03/10/sunday-post-design-theme/

3.     http://northernnarratives.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/sunday-post-design/

4.     http://wp.me/p296YA-41

5.     http://jayjaysfavorites.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/water-dragon-weekly-sunday-post-design/

6.    http://truthaboveallreligions.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/sunday-post-design/