A tadpole (also called a pollywog) is the larva stage in the cycle of amphibians,
particularly that of a frog or toad.
Although with gills, they do not have arms or legs until the transition
to adulthood...and have a large flattened tail with which they swim. Tadpoles have a tough life. Fast swimming, they escape many creatures
that haunt their pond for food (fish and water beetles). Lungs begin to
develop, preparing it as a frog (or toad) that can live on land or in the water
and can swim around to find food.
Isn't it strange? That a small child born from the mother's
womb is akin to the life of the tadpole...who is nurtured by the parent(s) to
become strong and healthy in a small environment. The child is likened to a
tadpole, until thrust into a bigger pond. Here he learns to exist and cohabit with
others. Many lessons to be experienced
as he approaches nursery school, then grade school. Sometimes, he feels crushed in this big
pond and discovers that surviving happily, is not always a cinch.
Relating to this
experience...many years ago I'd learned to play Bridge and did exceedingly well
among our monthly social evening with enthusiastic 8 ladies. When taking professional lessons, I quickly
discovered how little I knew! Once the knowing
tadpole in a quiet pond, I was now into a flowing river...and it was 'sink
or swim'. So much to experience...so
much to learn!
Don't go around
saying...the world owes you a living.
The world owes you
nothing. It was here first!
(Mark Twain)
Your Child Didn't
Make the Team: Now What?
It happens to every child or teen
at some point in life. A boy or girl doesn't make a school sports team or isn't
selected for a club or group. For many kids who just returned to school,
something like this might have happened recently. It did to my 11-year old child. He came home upset because he wasn't picked
for something he wanted to be part of at school. I will say it was hard for me
to see him upset and confused. I wanted
to comfort him. I wanted to go to the
school and ask, “Why didn't you pick my son?”
I wanted to do something to make his pain go away.
But that isn't how life works,
and Mommy butting into his life isn't going to
help make him a man. He would never hear the end of the teasing. Rejection is part of life...and when it first
happens to your child, you, as a parent, can make it a teaching moment. If you do, the next time it happens, the
blow might not feel so bad. So that's
what I did.
I suggested he gather more
information about why he wasn't picked.
Ask what he could have done
better.
Ask if there would be a chance
for him to be selected at another time.
I told him not to assume someone
didn't like him (which he thought) and get more details.
To my surprise, the following
morning I received an e-mail from one of his teachers saying he had already
talked with her about it...and he had told her he was going to try really hard
so that he might be picked in the future.
And it turns out there will be another chance, this year, his teacher
said.
His always-encouraging teacher
was proud of him. In front of a group of students in his class she
pointed out how good it was that he had set a goal for himself.
I praised him when he got home
for taking such a big step. He felt a
lot better asking questions and getting some feedback. Not only was he a good sport, but he also
learned what he could to to improve his chances. We will see what happens.
Written by Kris
Hey...and published in the Orlando Sentinel.
A Parenting Class
Advisor said,
Prepare your
children for the road ~
not the road for
your child.
Advice from Dr.
Seuss
“Kid, you'll move
mountains.
No need to get
intimidated by the size of the task ~
it's just a matter of
taking small steps toward your bigger goal.”
“You have brains in
your head;
You have feet in your shoes;
You can steer
yourself any direction you choose.
You'll miss the best
things...if you keep your eyes shut.”
A “Yes We Canoe
Attitude”
Bennetto Elementary teacher, Scott Millar challenged the
school's students to raise at least $250.00 and said he would carry a canoe
during the Terry Fox Run if they did.
He issued the challenge to support his stepsister and her husband, who
have recently recovered from separate battles with cancer.
The kids managed to
raise $600.00 so he carried the canoe for 1.1 kilometres.
A full colour photo
in the Spec's September 25th
issue
shows Scott (with his
green canoe hoisted over head)
standing amid a mass
of joyful and very eager students.
He presented a
challenge to each student to work and play together
to achieve a
worthwhile endeavour.
How wonderful it
is ~ that no one need wait a single moment
before starting to
improve the world.
(Anne Frank)
I alone cannot
change the world,
but I can cast a
stone across the waters to create many ripples.
(Mother Teresa)
Compiled by Merle
Baird-Kerr...October 9, 2014
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