Valentine's Day: Puppy Love and Beyond

By Sharon Rose

     Valentine's Day is a day for love.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if the feeling and expressions of love that we demonstrate on Valentine's Day were felt every day of the year?!  Love is a strong, emotional outpouring and demonstration of affection and kindness; peaceful interaction in a relationship; caring, protecting and providing for in a family; and often an exciting, giddy, passionate and romantic feeling between a man and a woman.  All in all, LOVE is a beautiful thing!

      The first time I was in love my Dad gave me a plump little brown puppy for my 3rd birthday.  I can still remember that giddy, stomach- flipping- over feeling that I felt when I was given that puppy, who I named, Brownie.  A plain and simple name given by a very young child.  I loved nothing better than to play with Brownie all day long.  He belonged to me and I loved him!  He followed me all over the house, licked me right in the face, and showed me so much love and attention.  Although he chewed many pairs of my shoes, I forgave him and my unconditional love continued.  Loving that puppy was such a good feeling!  As a result, for the rest of my life I have had a dog or some kind of pet in my home.  I believe I always wanted to keep that good feeling that I first felt at three years old.  The next time I was in love was with a boy in my 5th grade class.  I remember him sending me the do you love me notes on which you were to check a yes or no box.  Remember those?!  I checked yes and happily returned the note to him!  By 6^th grade we had each moved on; had other friends and other interests.  I remember that the school basketball team took up most of his time.  However, one week before I married, and although it had been many years since we had seen one another, he came to visit me to declare that he still loved me from all those years ago.  He explained that he was not there to interrupt anything, but just to take his last opportunity to say, I love you.  He wished me the best in my marriage and was on his way.  
      
     When I think of those emotional, past experiences of love I feel good inside and smile.  Love should make you feel that way and never the reverse.   Since my early childhood days I have had even greater feelings of love: the unconditional love I felt leap into my heart when I gave birth to each of my three children; the enduring, grateful love I feel for my parents; the happy, giddy feeling of gift-giving when I gave my own children a puppy one Christmas, and heard their squeals and saw their beaming faces; as well as, when I said I do as a woman in love.  I have learned that giving love is the best feeling of all!  Is there anyone that you would like to take the opportunity to say, at last, I love you, much like my 5^th grade friend?  Tell that special someone, family or friends, those three special words, I Love You.  It’s Valentine’s Day and love is in the air!  Happy Valentine’s Day! 

 

Poetry on Love, By Sharon Rose

I

When I Fall in Love

By Sharon Rose

When I fall in love,

       How will I know what it feels like?

When I fall in love,

Will it hurt or will it feel right?

When I fall in love,

Will all my days be joyful?

When I fall in love,

Will romantic nights bring bliss?

When I fall in love,

Will he love me again and again?

When I fall in love,

Will it be forever ‘til the end?

When I fall in love,

Will I know it when it shows up?

When I fall in love,

Will I give and not just take love?

 

 

Motherhood

By Sharon Rose

Today something wonderful

Came into my life.

More than a passionate feeling.

More than a special event.

Evolution born in learning

Age old secrets of life.

Discovering soulful emotions

That exists at the core of my being.

Being in a moment

That will never come again.

Being outside of self,

Staying there for someone else.

Being part of a miracle;

Nature’s power given over to me.

Knowledge of the universe,

Realized with primal screams!

Today something wonderful

Came into my life.

A precious gift I was given,

A gift called, Motherhood.

Copyright, Valentine's Day: Puppy Love and Beyond, article, Parents Want to Know 101, February 13, 2013, by Sharon Rose, all rights reserved.

 Copyright, When I Fall in Love, poem, Author, Sharon Rose, March 2000, Cannot be published without permission of the author, under penalty of law.  Cannot be used in theatrical or any spoken word stage production without permission and credit to the author, under penalty of law.  Contact: srgjones@gmail.com.

Copyright, Motherhood, poem, Author, Sharon Rose, March, 2000, all rights reserved. Cannot be published without permission of the author, under penalty of law.  Cannot be used in theatrical or any spoken word stage production without permission and credit to the author, under penalty of law.  Contact: srgjones@gmail.com.

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

By Sharon Rose

      Parents Want to Know 101, gives honor to a great American, and commemorates the 27th annual federal holiday of MLK, Jr. Day to be celebrated on January 21, 2013.  Born January 15, 1929, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights, using non-violent civil disobedience and the judicial system to make a difference for minorities in America.  His words still ring true to every parent, and every boy and girl who dreams of climbing the ladder of equal opportunity to great success and freedom in their lives.  At a time when so many in our country are without jobs, I am focusing on the historical event, March on Washington, which was held to provide a platform for jobs and freedom.  The I Have a Dream speech given by Dr. King on August 28, 1963, has become a signature speech, familiar to many.  This is a great day to re-visit that speech and share its' words and meaning, as a family.  He spoke of the door of opportunity he wanted to see open for all people, for all children.  His words were always powerful and visionary. You can listen to various speeches by Dr. King at online websites that have archived many of his speeches.  Here are selected excerpts from the speech, I Have a Dream:

                      “Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time

                      to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of

                      racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial

                      injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a

                      reality for all of God's children.”

                     “We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood

                     and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only." We cannot be

                     satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York

                     believes he has nothing for which to vote.  No, no, we are not satisfied, and we

                     will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like

                      a mighty stream.”

                     “I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today

                      and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American

                      dream.

                      I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning

                      of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created

                      equal."  I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former

                      slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at

                      the table of brotherhood.

                      I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with

                      the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed

                      into an oasis of freedom and justice.

                      I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they

                      will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

                       I have a dream today.”

                       “And if America is to be a great nation this must become true.  So let freedom

                         ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.  Let freedom ring from

                         the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening

                         Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! 

                         Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

                         Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

                         But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

                         Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

                         Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every

                         mountainside, let freedom ring.

                         And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring

                         from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be

                         able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men,

                         Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing

                          in the words of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last! free at last! thank God

                          Almighty, we are free at last!’ ”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the National Mall, Washington, D.C., as he  presents his speech, "I Have A Dream." 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King being arrested during the Montgomery, AL Bus Boycott to stop the segregation on the city buses.  The boycott was launched when Rosa Parks, a seamstress refused to give up her seat to a white man.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Monument on the National Mall, Washington, D.C.  I took this picture the first time I visited the monument, February, 2012.

I listened as National Tour Guide of the National Park Service gave a biography of
 Dr. King and a history of the monument.

"The Dream," realized.  Dr. King reaches across the span of time to join hands with President Barack Obama, first African American President of the United States of America.  

                

      Let's expose our children to the many doors of opportunity that are open today.  Let's seek out the information on opportunities and keep our parent involvement in their educational endeavors high.  It is through education that we will achieve our greatest freedom. 

      MLK, Jr. Day is designated as a National Day of Service in which we all do our best to volunteer helpful hands in areas that need urgent assistance in our nation.  A fitting tribute to a man who helped so many. 

 


Adult Reading Selections:  I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches That Changed the World, Special 75th Anniversary Edition (Martin Luther King, Jr., born January 15, 1929), by Martin Luther King (January 30, 1992).

A Call to Conscience: The Landmark Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by Clayborne Carson, Kris Shepard and Andrew Young (January 1, 2002).


Children's Reading Selections:  My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up With the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by Christine King Farris and Chris Soentpiet (December 27, 2005).

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King, Jr. (Scholastic Bookshelf), by Jean Marzollo and J. Pinkney, January 1, 2006.

A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Picture Book Biographies), by David A. Adler and Robert Casilla (June, 1991).



Copyright, Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Sharon Rose, Parents Want to Know 101, January 15, 2013.  All rights reserved.

Driving in Snow and Ice

Driving in snow and ice takes special safety precautions. Winter weather is here.

                                                               

Tips by the National Safety Council ____
     

      The time has come when many areas will have snow and ice on the roads making it difficult to drive safely. The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it. More realistically, don't go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination. If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared (TIPS), and that you know how to handle road conditions. It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you're familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle.

Driving safely on icy roads:

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If your rear wheels skid:

1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
2. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
3. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
4. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
5. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is
normal.

If your front wheels skid:

1. Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
2. As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck:

1. Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
2. Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
3. Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
4. Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
5. Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
6. Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.

Source: National Safety Council, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Washington State Government Information & Services, (2012).

Christmas Prince

By Sharon Rose

I remember the day you were born.

It was early and a cold frosty morn.

Rosy cheeks, pink toes, and a little bald head;

Cooing sweetly as you first lay in your bed.

Soon you were walking and going to school;

Building and hammering with Daddy's tools.

Making friends and driving a car.

We knew all along you would go far.

Years have passed and you have grown tall.

You are no longer helpless and small.

Passing through the corridor of time,

You have become a man, sweet child of mine.

On this special day our home still comes alive,

With the season of joy, merriment, and pride.

The Christmas tree lights, the gifts as they lay,

For our Christmas Prince born on Christmas day. 

This Christmas poem is meant to create a view of a child's life and emphasize how quickly childhood passes.  There are many little princes and princesses, whether born on Christmas day or not, that have been given into our care.  The growing up time goes by so fast, we wonder, where did the time go?  Cherish each day to love and teach our children.  The time will come when we must allow them to go out into the world on their own.  Let's do our best to help them to be prepared for that day.  Your heart need not be heavy, for remember, with love, they will come back to you; often on Christmas day.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!!

Copyright, Christmas Prince, poem, October, 2011; Author, Sharon Rose. All rights reserved, December, 2011.  Cannot be published without permission of the author, under penalty of law.  Cannot be used in theatrical or any spoken word stage production without permission and credit to the author, under penalty of law.  Contact: srgjones@gmail.com.

Copyright, Christmas Prince, article, Sharon Rose, Parents Want to Know 101, December 10, 2011, all rights reserved.

  

Credit: Model, Aidan, photographer, Sharon Rose, December, 2008, all rights reserved. Cannot be used without permission of photographer, under penalty of law. Contact: srgjones@gmail.com.  

Holiday Season Shopping Safety Tips

      

Being loaded down with too many packages leaves you vulnerable to crime during the Holiday Season.

                                            

By Sharon Rose

      Holiday shopping has long been underway.  Some are already feeling the mad rush and an urgency to get in on the sales. Then, there are others, like myself, who are really looking forward to taking advantage of the sales that will come after Christmas Day. This is the season of shopping!  However, not meaning to promote fear or paranoia, it is also the season of higher petty crimes.  Unfortunately, Holiday shoppers are prime candidates to be victimized. You can avoid being a victim by planning ahead.  So, in the last few days before the Holiday is upon us, whether out shopping or just out and about, here are some tips that will help to keep you safe.

Safety Tips:

1.   Get an early start.  Traffic will tend to be quite dense.  Stores open as early as 6:00 A. M. to 10:00 A. M. Some stores will remain open 24 hours.  Leaving out early will help you get a relaxed start with more time to shop.  Drive safe; don’t rush on the road.

2.   Shop during the day, whenever possible.  If you find that you cannot avoid shopping at night, be sure to take a buddy with you. 

3.   Park in a well lit area and as close to the store as possible.  If a parking valet service is offered, this is a great time to take advantage of it.  An example of valet parking service for shoppers is at Riverchase Galleria, a mall in Hoover, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham.

4.    If your children are shopping with you, keep them in view at all times.  Don’t use toy stores, toy departments, toy aisles, or game arcades as a babysitter.  The reality is predators may be looking for unattended children to prey upon.  Don’t take the risk. 

Keep a close eye on your children.  Don't risk leaving them alone.

                                                                                                                                                                          

5.   Provide teen children, who are more independent, with a cell phone so that you can keep in contact with them while you are shopping in different areas of a store or mall.  Check in, intermittently, to make sure they are safe.  Arrange in advance to meet them back at a designated place at an agreed upon time. 

6.   Ladies, take a purse that has a long strap and can be put over your head and across your body.  This leaves your hands free to better carry packages and keeps your purse safe.  Guys, it is suggested you find another place to carry your wallet instead of your back pocket.  Discourage pick-pockets and purse snatchers.  They do exist and this kind of crime is on the rise during the holiday season.

7.   Avoid wearing expensive and excessive jewelry.  This makes you vulnerable and attractive to thieves as a target.    

8.   Be wary of strangers who approach you and ask for donations or for any other reason.  To avoid guilt feelings give at the office, church, or community charities early in the season.  It is the season of giving and caring, but choose to do it in a safe environment.  Taking out your wallet and flashing cash can make you vulnerable to crime.    

9.   Be cautious when using your cell phone.  Cell phones are being snatched from user’s ears as they walk aimlessly along.  Be observant of your surroundings while using your cell phone.  During this season when thievery is taking place in some of the most unusual ways, cell phones are best used in a safe environment.     

Be cautious while using a cell phone when out shopping. Cell phones are prize targets for thieves.
 Keep your eyes on your packages.   

10. Don’t load yourself down with packages; it makes it difficult for you to carry them.  You are more likely to drop things or put them down.  If you take a seat to rest, place your packages in your view.  When packages leave your hands they are vulnerable to thievery.  You are also more likely to leave something behind.

11. Before you leave the store or mall to return to your car check to see if you have all of your belongings.  Take your car keys out before going outside.  Have them ready to open your car door, quickly.  Put packages in your car and lock your door.  Forgo placing and arranging packages in your trunk, which makes you vulnerable, unless absolutely necessary.

12.  Cash Alerts: Avoid ATMs for cash and make transactions inside the bank during the Holiday Season.  If you must use the ATM, make sure you are in a well lit and safe area, observe those around you, and/or conduct the transaction at a drive-up machine which allows you to stay in your car.  Be cautious of counterfeit bills, usually distributed in forms of 20 dollar bills or 100 dollar bills. They are hard to detect, so examine cash carefully when receiving cash from transactions. 

13.  Do not leave packages or any other item visible in your car.  Thieves are attracted to items visible on car seats or floor of the car, regardless of the size or value of an item.  Thieves will break the windows of unattended vehicles to steal the smallest of items.  Don’t risk it!  Place items that you are not planning to take with you when you leave your car to shop, in the trunk of your car before you arrive at your shopping destination, or leave the items at home.  If you place packages in the trunk of your car while shopping and need to continue shopping, move to another parking space.  Thieves may have been watching and will break into your car when you walk away.
 
14. Shop online and take advantage of the competitive internet prices and discounts.  Use codes and the printable coupons offered to get price breaks.  Some or all of your shopping done from your computer, at home, will keep you out of the hustle and bustle. 





   

Shopping with a buddy can be fun and much more safe.

                                                         

         
Again, planning and being aware of safety is not paranoia, just plain common sense, especially during the holiday season.  Let us remember, to keep our season festive and filled with peace and goodwill, we should all practice safety. 

Copyright, Holiday Season Shopping Safety Tips, Sharon Rose, Parents Want to Know 101, November 16, 2012.  All rights reserved.

Family Tradition at Holiday Time

By Sharon Rose
     Starting a family tradition at holiday time can be fun and result in lasting memories for years to come.  An inheritance is usually thought of as something monetary, but family traditions can be handed down from one generation to another, word of mouth, through our children as an inheritance would be.  We can create an invaluable inheritance for our children through tradition.

      When my three children were quite young I started a Christmas tradition with them by creating a hand- made Christmas decoration.  Sounds simple and it was; very easy to make, even for the children.  What resulted was a beautiful hand-made decorative piece displayed in our home each Christmas for many years after.  It kept its vibrant look a long time.  I love using my hands; I am a big arts and crafts fan.  When school children are out for Christmas break, it is a great time to do a family arts and crafts project.  I started our project by gathering pine cones and cutting branches of pine in our back yard with my children.  In between throwing pine cones in our bags I answered all the, “What’s this?” nature questions from my little ones.

Ouch! Pine cones are prickly and can hurt.  Children should wear gloves to gather them.

     Once back inside I stripped them of their warm winter clothes and gloves; the gloves a must have for handling the prickly pine cones, and started some Christmas music. Then we sat at our round work table and got busy.  I had placed our other supplies in the middle of the table, to include the one that brought the most excitement and squeals of joy; colorful glitter.  All children love glitter, though it can get messy; therein the fun, for kids and kids at heart.  We proceeded to decorate our pine cones, curl and make bows from colorful Christmas-wrap ribbon, and arrange it all in my favorite straw basket.  I purchased the large, natural-colored basket from a nomadic couple selling straw goods on the side of a road in Darmstadt, a small town in Germany.  Even as it sat in the leaves and dirt among many other straw items, I could see its beauty.  Now, I again surrounded it with nature as our pine cones claimed it for their home.  Over the years, during the Christmas season, our beautiful decorative piece, consisting of pine cones; ribbon; pine branches; and the large, prized basket sat at our door or the fireplace.  It announced our family tradition to all who entered.  For our family, the tradition of taking it out to warm and decorate our home each Christmas season, brought smiles, excitement and a feeling of pride and stability in what we accomplished together, and at what had not changed.  We looked forward to seeing it each Christmas season, as you would a cherished friend.  Years later, when we moved to a new home, we took that decorative basket arrangement, our tradition, along with us.

How to Make Christmas Basket Decorative Arrangement

Use tempera paint that will be absorbed into item you are painting.  A child's water paints will not work for this project.

          Use tempera paint that will be absorbed into item you are painting.  A child's water paints will not work for this project. 

Supplies: pine cones, small pine branches, washable glue, scissors, various colored ribbon, various colored glitter, various colors of tempera paint, artist paint brushes, popsicle sticks, straw basket, newspaper to protect furniture and floor.

Procedure:  Gather pine cones and cut fresh pine branches outdoors in advance.  Cover surface of work table and under the table with newspaper. (Instruct children to handle prickly pine cones, gingerly.) Place each pine cone on a work piece of paper when working with it.  Paint pine cones various colors.  Spread washable glue on some areas of the pine cones with popsicle sticks.  Sprinkle glitter on pine cones, using various colors for each.  Catch extra glitter with work sheet of paper to make use of as much of the scattered glitter as possible. Continue to sprinkle glitter until a large area of pine cone is covered.  Place pine cones in a designated area to dry. Take different length Christmas-wrap ribbon and tie into bows. Curl ribbon by placing the sharp part of one half of scissors against ribbon, starting at point nearest your finger, and scrapping across, to the end of ribbon.  Children should use blunt end scissors and be assisted with this part of project according to what is age appropriate.  Arrange pine cones, pine branches, and prepared ribbon in basket. Display in a choice area of your home.  This is a family project and tradition that can be passed on to each generation. 

Use a sheet of paper under the pine cone to catch the excess glitter.  The excess glitter can then be re-used.

    

Easy enough, with supervision, for our 4 year old.  

Supplies: School glue and glitter.

You can make this tradition your own with a basket of your choice.  Add other decoration, like ribbon. 

Learning Skills:  Use this project to teach children colors, memory (encourage children to remember which color pine cones are the ones they decorated); handling of scissors; numbers (count pine cones); creativity; and working with a group.

Ages:  3 years and up.  Some 2 year olds can help, with assistance. (My youngest child was 3 years old when we did this project.)    

Make additions and/or variations to this project to make this tradition your own.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 



Copyright, Family Tradition at Holiday Time, Sharon Rose, Parents Want to Know 101, December 19, 2011, all rights reserved.