But to Mom and me, it’s so much more.

I went to the same overnight camp that my mom attended about 25 years before. We sang the same songs, sat at the same campfires, played the same games… While we were there at different times, we lived the same experience. We were raised on this experience and it helped to form both of us.

At our camp, it was a tradition to sign the walls. The director hated it, the campers loved it. Loved it–we made our mark on history. And we knew that in 20 years when we’d come back to visit, our mark would still be there. I recall one year I wrote a letter to my future daughter on the wall by my bed. Sadly, most of those notes and marks have been sanded down and painted over. But one bunk, the Senior bunk that belongs to the 15-year-olds, still has all of the autographs and signatures. It still has the history.

In 2008, 19 summers after my “Senior summer,” a friend went back to camp to visit. She spent a good deal of time in the Senior bunk, taking pictures of all of the walls, making sure she had pictures of the names that meant the most to her. That night, this picture appeared on my Facebook wall.

A picture of an amazing history that mom and I share.

This weekend, we’ll celebrate Mother’s Day, miles and miles from each other. But because we share our history and traditions, it’s memories like these that highlight Mother’s Day. And, to celebrate, I’m always looking for unique Mother’s Day gifts, like a gift card to YesVideo, which Mom and can use to transfer old pictures of our shared history.

Thanks to YesVideo for sponsoring this post and reminding me of some fabulous memories with Mom. Follow @YesVideo on twitter and Facebook. I love interacting with them as they pull at your heartstrings with stories of memories through images.

© 2012, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.

Yes. We tried, very hard, to get the lady in front to sit down. There’s always someone, right?

© 2012, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.

Read together

Pick out one of your (or one of your parents’) favorite books from childhood and introduce it to your child at bedtime.

Go to the library

Spend some time at your local library.  Even a few minutes here and there in our busy schedule will help instill a lifelong love of books.

Get writing

Write a book! Sit down with your family and write a story together, taking time to illustrate it. Surely, this will become a family favorite.

Donate books

Pick out 5 books, either from your own collection or from a book store, to donate to literacy campaigns throughout the world–your bookstore can likely lead you to a place in need of books. And your school library and classroom will welcome your books.

Clean out your library

Take some time this week to sort your children’s book library in your home. Delight in some old favorites with your kids. Then select a few books to share with friends, your child’s classroom or a local doctor’s office or hospital.

Host a book swap

Ask each child to bring a few books that she is finished reading to trade with friends. Everyone goes home with exciting new stories to read.

Have a book party.

Invite your children’s friends over for a party of reading together. Everyone can bring a favorite book (or excerpt) to read to the group. Ask the children why they selected that story, what it means to them and lead the children in book conversations.

Children’s Book Week

While I truly believe every week should be Children’s Book Week, I do recognize the good that many organizations are putting efforts towards this week in that they are spreading the love of chlidren’s books and helping children to love reading. In honor of this special week:

• Better World Books is donating a book to someone who needs it (the vast majority of donations goes to Books for Africa and Feed the Children) for every book purchased at their site. They’re also reducing the price on a huge selection of used children’s books.  Shop their Children’s Book Week sale selection and get 3 used books for $9, and any additional used books for $3 each.
• Rusty & Rosy (disclosure: I write for their parenting & education blog) is sending everyone who “likes” their facebook page through this link a free copy of Henny Penny.
• Book Week Online, the official webpage of Children’s Book Week, hosts ideas and activities to celebrate reading.

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

© 2012, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.

Today, it’s the story of a student at Lafayette College in Easton, PA. On Saturday, amid parties and celebration, Freshman student Everett Glenn died of cardiac arrest in his dorm room on his birthday. 6abc news reports that his mother shared that he had been drinking “and then he went to his room and he laid down.” My heart is with his family who, stories are reporting, have remained so strong and supportive of the population at Lafayette.

Joanne Glenn said her son had earned the nickname “Mr. Mayor” for all of the people he got to know on the Easton campus.

“God has given us this gift, but he wants him back,” she told the crowd. “We have to let him go.”Leonard Glenn — he and his son shared a birthday Saturday — said Everett liked to hug, and he asked the mourners to turn to one another. Soon, a room that at times was eerily silent was filled by the sounds of patted backs as the students embraced. -Lehigh Valley Live

I lost a hallmate when I was a freshman in college. That loss is something I’ve written about, but never published. It’s something that truly affected my life, and the turns my life has taken, as well as everyone else on my floor, in our dorm and, likely, in my Freshman class.

At the age of 19, life is untouchable. Our sole purpose is a party. We live for the next event, the next laugh, the next story. We take risks. We drink. We have fun.

As I remember my friend, my heart is with the Glenn family and friends and Lafayette College today as I learn of this tragedy. If I could pass one bit of advice to the students it would be to live your life as best you can. Keep your friend’s memory in mind, remember all the good that he was and that he brought to your life. But also remember that he would want you to live and love and keep living. It’s going to be a rough few weeks. Surround each other with love, laugh in his memory and keep living. Go ahead. Play Pink Floyd as loud as you’d like. But keep living. Live every day for your friend until you can live it for yourself again.

Image: Vlado / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

© 2012, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.

Who’s ordering the pizza? It’s going to be a crazy few days…

© 2012, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.

Everything served must be pre-approved by the schools. There is only one cake recipe that can be made–it includes black beans–in the cake. The district says the kids love it.

What?!

I am adamantly opposed to fundraisers held at fast food restaurants such as McDonalds. I would much rather write a check at the beginning of the year and opt out of these ridiculous fund raisers that encourage (and in some cases require) unhealthy eating.

But no sweets in schools? Ever? No holiday celebrations? No cultural eat-ins? No birthday cupcakes?

Greeley, Colorado (a town that was–until today–on my top list of places to consider relocating my family, someday) you are taking this too far.

If we allow our school systems to dictate our children’s menus, when will they have an opportunity to try new things? To celebrate a special time? To create something different?

I asked Jennifer from Savor the Thyme about a healthy black bean cake. She shared that she’ll work on it. In the meantime, her kids love Zucchini and Banana Muffins. So do I mine. They’re somewhat healthy. They have sugars, but they have fruit and vegetables, too. Muffins like these help our kids to learn that even vegetables taste good, right? But in Greeley, Colorado, you aren’t going to be permitted to make those for school, so your children won’t learn it at school.

As a teacher, I frowned when my students asked to bring Root Beer to a class party. I rolled my eyes when, instead of sending in homemade cupcakes or cookies for a birthday celebration, a mom sent grab bags of candies, worthy of the end of Halloween night. But banning these celebrations in lieu of pencils and erasers? Has the school board forgotten what it’s like to be a kid?

An overwhelming response in the comments notes that the biggest issue for parents is that the schools are now dictating their shopping lists and what they choose to pack for their children for lunch. I applaud schools who change their cafeteria menu to make it healthier. Goodness, I wish our’s would actually do it, rather than just talking about it and pretending they did. But to tell parents what they can and can’t feed their own children? That’s too far.

“They’re dictating what I can send with my child for lunch – what I can give them for a treat at a school party,” she said. “I don’t believe that’s right. It’s my child. I should be able to feed them whatever I want. They’re not raising my child. They’re not paying for their orthodontic bills. They’re not tucking them in at night telling them they love them. But yet they’re telling me what I can and can’t feed my child?” –parent comment from the FoxNews article

Once again, schools are taking the opportunity to teach about making healthy choices and stuffing the concept into the overfilling closet of forgotten lessons. The closet that sits behind the caution tape of “shhh! Don’t talk about it. Just don’t allow it and we can forget it’s important.”

Greeley, Colorado, why not offer a lesson on sugar? On fats? On making healthy choices. Have your 2nd graders do a poll of favorite foods. Teach third graders about eating in moderation. Lead them to sample tastes from the world and learn the cultures of foods. Instruct Home Economics classes to create a healthy muffin that still tastes good.

Foods are a learning experience. So is fun. So is celebration.

© 2012, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.

© 2012, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.

Earth Day celebrates the Earth and all things natural. Depending on the ages of the children, party planners and goers can go deep with messages or stick to simple activities. Because Earth Day is about your surroundings, plan your party at a local park, an outdoor facility, or a backyard: one with an area for picnicking, whether it’s on picnic tables or by spreading out blankets.

Remind the parents to dress their kids to play in the dirt and mud and invite them to bring along a kid-friendly shovel (available at dollar stores) – though it’s not necessary, shovels make it all the more exciting.

Bring along small cups, a bag of soil, a thermos of water and a pouch of seeds – Zinnias and sunflowers work best because they’re nearly guaranteed to grow. Each child (even the toddlers) can dig her cup into the bag of soil, add three to five seeds and top with a little more soil. (Make sure the seeds are buried not more than a half inch below the surface.) Then add a little water from a thermos and set out the soon-to-be flowers on a flat surface while the kids play. Usually, within about a week, the flowers will start to bud — the kids will be so excited to watch them grow.

Complete the play date with Garden-friendly snacks like carrots and celery and, for the younger kids, Earth Day songs. When the kids leave, you can give them each a packet of tomato seeds to grow in their own gardens. (Tomato seeds are another nearly-guaranteed grower.)

Older play daters will love planting seeds using the activity above and children older than preschoolers can continue with even more activities. Host the activity at your house, work ahead and find a senior center that needs a little help in the garden or locate a local a park that will welcome a garden (just clear it with the parks department first and realize that you’re taking responsibility for upkeep.) This is a prime time to get children involved helping others and actively creating a garden of their own. Task the kids with cleaning up a garden that needs to be lifted from the winter by weeding, raking and re-seeding. (Make sure they’re wearing gloves, which can be purchased at the Dollar Store and make another great party favor).

Another Earth Day party option: take the kids on a scavenger hunt through a park or neighborhood. Give each child (or pair of children) a bucket to fill with all the nature items they find. If you’d rather not disturb nature, bring along a few cameras and task each group to take pictures of the items on the list. When the group returns home, print out the pictures and create an Earth Day Nature Memory Book.

Whatever you do for your Earth Day play date this month, remember that if it’s too frustrating, kids will shut down. So keep it light, sneaking in the lessons and every play date partier will be smiling.

What will you do for Earth Day this year?

This post has been edited and reprinted.
Image credit: photo  ©2009  AnneCN, Flickr http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ 

Hey bloggers! Have a recent Earth Day post? Link up with us and share your natural brilliance. (If you’re able, please add to your post that you linked up at the Julieverse at Just Precious so that everyone else can link up, too!)

© 2012, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.

Rotate your babysitters

Keep several sitters and try to rotate through them–it keeps the faces and personalities fresh in the kids’ minds, offers the children different personalities to learn to charm manipulate work with, and gives you lots of familiar options when you have plans on a busy day.

Plan 15 minutes of “getting ready” time

Always plan for your sitters to arrive at least 15 (sometimes 30) minutes ahead of time. This will give you time to acclimate your children to the transition as well as time to freshen up before you leave. Schedule a new sitter at least 30 minutes ahead of your “go time” so that you can give a tour of the home and let the children meet her. (Another option is to have her come over the day before for a mini-sit.)

Create a babysitter info sheet

Purchase a babysitter pad (there are plenty on the market) or create your own. Babysitters comment again and again how prepared and organized I am compared to other families where they sit. I laugh because I always assumed every parent left all of the information neatly on notepaper.

Be specific in your instructions

Most babysitters aren’t moms. In fact, most of the sitters are college or high school students. They don’t know the expectations of a mom, and, really, even another mom doesn’t know the expectations in your home. When you hire a sitter, you need to be specific about what you expect. Can the kids watch TV? Can they play wii? Do you expect the playroom to be clean? What are the snacking rules? Don’t be shy to share your rules and expecations, be confident that your kids won’t share them, and that your sitter won’t know unless you explain what you expect.

Ask your favorite sitters for their schedule of availability

Find out in advance when your sitters are typically available. If she has a class every Thursday and you’ve made a note of it, you won’t waste both your time and hers calling her. I try to keep a spreadsheet of available daytimes for my sitters so that I don’t ask them to interrupt their college courses so that I can get a haircut or go to an appt.

Ask for her friends’ names and numbers

One of the most frustrating babysitter issues is finding new ones. With the change of a school year or semester, you’ll find that sitters that you relied on may not be available any longer during your opportune times. If you love your sitter, you’ll likely love her best friend or roommate. So ask her if she can recommend any friends. She’ll be happy to help her friends out, and you’ll be happy to have a new list of names.

Image: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

© 2012, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.

It is often difficult to broach the subject of discussing safety and stranger danger with young children.  Finding the right balance of information can be a tricky discussion, one many parents dread.  Fortunately, there are books available to help you discuss this important issue.

Never Talk to Strangers by Irma Joyce

If you are hanging from a trapeze
And up sneaks a camel with bony knees,
Remember this rule, if you please—
Never talk to strangers.

I have mixed feelings about this book.  I love the rhymes since kids of all ages respond easily to rhymes and easily helps them remember important messages.  The illustrations are delightfully friendly, also.  Depending on the age of the child, I think this book is fine to read and gives them a message without being too informative and scary.  I would guess that above the age of 3, however, I wouldn’t recommend this book.  As a child gets older, they will realize that the characters in the book are animals and they are not likely to run into animals at the grocery store.  This idea may confuse them.

Learn about Strangers by Stan & Jan Berenstain

From Amazon.com: When Papa Bear tells the cubs why they should never talk to strangers, Sister begins to view all strangers as evil until Mama brings some common sense to the problem. “The Bears’ rules for safe conduct among strangers are listed on the last pages, including a rule about the privacy of a bear’s body. A good book to start awareness in young children.”–School Library Journal.

I have not read this book personally but it seems to hold true to the Berenstain Bears philosophy of turning a difficult situation into a teachable moment for a child.  Or a cub.  I recommend it for all ages.

I Can Play it Safe by Alison Feigh

I have not read this book but have discovered that the author is an expert in the child safety arena.  I highly recommend the book due to its multicultural illustrations and the easy to understand themes of this and other similar books.  For further help discussing strangers and touch and body awareness, the author includes tips in the back of the book.

I Said No! by Kimberly King

I’m not sure if this book is appropriate for children younger than 5.  I have not read the book but the reviews make it seem helpful.

Your Body Belongs to You by Cornelia Spellman

Another book I’ve not read but seems like a good fit for teaching the little ones about body awareness.  Based on the reviews, the book encourages children to own their bodies and to decide who can touch them and how.  As a parent, I like giving children power over their own bodies.

For more information check out the complete amazon list I compiled.

Let us know what you think!

PammyPam, An Unconventional Librarian

© 2012, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.