Back to School

Well my kids have been in school over two weeks now and both have great teachers, but I read this email below that I got from Love & Logic and thought it was so true! Although my kids go to a public school, the school strongly believes in the Love & Logic philosophy and even sends home hand-outs with helpful Love & Logic tips and ideas.

Tough Teachers: Why Your Kids Need at Least One

Dear Insider's Club Member,

While the vast majority of educators deserve great praise for their patience, care and competence, most of us have known at least one who scowled instead of smiled, yelled instead of whispered, and pointed out our weaknesses instead of our strengths.

As parents, it's tempting to rescue our kids from such teachers…to demand that our kids be moved to another class.

My parents felt this temptation when I was in the third grade.

I still regard Mrs.___________(name deleted to protect the guilty) as one of the most negative, demanding, and cold people I've ever met.

She did me a great favor!

After the first week of school, my mom and dad patted me on the back and said, "You are so lucky. This year you're going to learn how to do something that plenty of adults haven't learned yet! This year you're going to learn all about how to get along with really tough people. We will help you with ideas."

I wasn’t impressed! But they were right!

When your kids meet Mrs. ____________, will you give them this gift…or steal it from them?

Thanks for reading!
Dr. Charles Fay

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not;
but remember that what you now have was once among the things
you only hoped for.
Epicurus
Greek philosopher (341 BC - 270 BC)

Trip to Topeka Zoo

With the last days of summer vacation coming to a close, we decided an outing was in order. We made a trip out to the Topeka Zoo. Seemed to be the perfect time to keep the kids interested before they needed lunch. After a picnic lunch in Gage Park (just across from the Zoo), the kids played on some animal playsets and we took a ride on the train. The kids could have stayed longer but the parents were thinking it was probably time to call it a day!

Love and Logic Institute

Let Them Figure It Out - by Jim Fay

Some day your kids are going to need to figure things out for themselves. Wouldn't it be unfortunate if they found themselves in a dangerous or tempting situation when they get their first opportunity?

Universities report that this is often the case. Young adults are known to speed dial their parents, hand the cell phone to officials and say, "Talk to my mom. She will straighten this out."

Don't pass up an opportunity to give your kids practice figuring things out for themselves while they are still young. It's tempting in this fast-paced world to do things that kids could do for themselves. It's quicker, we're pressed for time, and it feels so good to help them.

But the bad news is that many parents pass up opportunity after opportunity to say, "I bet you can figure that out. Give it a try; I'll be here later if you need some help." Those parents put their kids at risk for believing unstated messages that say, "I have to do this because you are not capable."