Because of Winn-Dixie

Over winter break, I hit the library with my kids.

As I strolled through the children's section looking for my ten year old, who I found nestled in a chair reading, I noticed a huge movie rack.

Knowing we had the week off together and plenty of time on our hands, I spun through the rack to see if there was anything we might be interested in watching as a family.

That's when I came across a movie called 'Because of Winn-Dixie'. I knew the name, it was a book which my daughter just finished reading.

I showed it to her and suggested we take it home. She was excited to watch it and I have to say, I was too. The dog on the cover was adorable and I hadn't read the book, so I was curious.

Simple and heartwarming.

Charming, and tearful at times, it was safe for any age and delivered a message to adults as well as children.

I have to say though, it's strange how some movies speak to the grown-ups as much as the kids.

As I saw the little girl riding her bike into a trailer park, I recalled being seven and living with my parents.
As I continued to watch, I was a little uncomfortable in my seat, to see that the little girl's mother left her and her father. I didn't want to continue watching, but knew I could not allow my past to control me.

With some serious topics like abandonment, alcoholism and faith, this movie depicted all of those things on a very age appropriate level and taught the lesson it was striving for...

Where you come from, doesn't mean it's where you're going...

and don't judge others or they will judge you.

Check it out with your kids if you haven't yet seen the movie, or better yet, read the book.

Green Punch Buggy....!!!!

Green Punch Buggy...No Punch Back! As I was writing this blog post, my son came to me showing off his Lego creation. And don't you know I got hit at least five times since on my computer screen was displaying at least five different punch buggies, of five different colors thanks to Google Images. (Bad timing I'm thinking...) How can we possibly have world peace with these silly cars in the world!? ;) Don't the owners of these cute-but-obnoxious-cars understand that driving these things around town promotes violence!? ;) Anyhow.... The original purpose of this blog was to ask parents everywhere this question: Do you find yourself saying 'PUNCH BUGGY *BLANK-COLOR*! ' to yourself, even when the kids are not in the car??? I do! Isn't it funny how those games we used to play as a child are still around? I bet our parents say the same thing.... HAPPY FRIIIIIIDAAAAYYYY! P.S. I got hit at least ten more times, since as my son stood beside

Back to School Anxiety: Bullying

Download “School Boy Being Stressed” by David Castillo Dominici via freedigitalphotos.net I recently wrote about how to help your child if they’re struggling with going back to school because they were bullied. My biggest most important tip was to listen, because I honestly could not write a ‘How-to-make-them-not-afraid’ column. Frankly I thought that was absurd. Fear is sometimes real. Anxiety is sometimes truly there, and for a good reason. Our job as parents isn’t to try to make it go away, it’s to try to find out the true source of those worrisome feelings. If you’d like to read more, click here. And if you’re child is struggling to find excitement about the new school year, don’t deny it, just accept it and move forward gently. Here’s some more on bullying: Family Matters Links: A Touching Story/Song Bullying: A thing of the past A Peace Poem By My Teenage Daughter A Deeper Insight into My Thoughts on People Who Bring Harm to Others Other Links: Stop Bul

Good Customer Service At Home

Over the years, my careers have mainly been customer service based. I started in a family business and then moved on up through the rungs from waitress, to hostess, to sales associate, manager and eventually the GM of a hotel. In all my years, my training taught me that you should always do your best to take your customer all the way to what they need, make them happy, and never leave them until they are done with you. I pride myself on my customer service abilities. Though the other day, I think I failed at customer service in my own home! I was getting ready to cut my daughter's hair and because of how long it had gotten (she's been growing it out for a year!) I felt this time it would be best if instead of me spritzing it with water, she could wash and condition it real quick. She was fully clothed so I just suggested she run into the bathroom and wash her hair in the tub. She’s fourteen. I suppose I just assumed that she knew how to kneel over the tub and do it.

Search This Blog