KIDS' MATTERS

EASTER EGGS & POISON

ANY IDEA WHAT THE EASTER BUNNY BROUGHT YOUR CHILD THIS YEAR?  Are you still eating from the stash of "crabbie patties, jellybeans and colored candies"?

WHAT IF I were to offer your child a teaspoon of crude oil to wash down the treats?

Okay, not to be an alarmist by any stretch of the imagination, I must forewarn you that much of what we feed our children and grandchildren--AND consume ourselves--is laced with by-products of crude oil and papermill waste. 

For an indepth article on these things, please visit a friend of mine's site at Free Heart Reflections.  Heather is a very consciencious mom.  She wants only to be the best mom she can be.  And she's discovered some very valuable information in her search to deal and cope with her precious but challenging 6-year-old daughter.

If you are anything like me, you'll be running to your cupboards after reading her recent post, and purging your cabinets and lazy susans of multiple items.  Fear not, though.  You can get by without them AND even replace them with safer items.  This is my public service announcement for the day.  selahV  By the Way~~I've thrown out the contents of the Easter basket pictured here.  I've got to start somewhere.  selahV

TEAPARTY CONVERSATIONS

Monday morning.  Unwashed china in the sink.

As I fingered the Moss-rose collection, I recalled conversations my granddaughters and I had during our tea party Saturday night.  "Mimi," Nine-year-old Brooklyn related, "People don't understand teaparties."

"How so?"

"Well, they think teaparties are lame.  They think they are old-fashioned and for old ladies.  They think they're stupid."  I understood where this conversation was going.

"And what do you think?"

"I think they are wonderful.  We have so much fun.  And it isn't just about tea.  We have food."  I explained English "high teas" and how they stopped and had biscuits with ham and other delights.  How "teas" were a time to share thoughts and have conversations without feeling pressured to do something of major importance.  She understood.  "That's what I try to tell them.  But they don't understand.  They think it's stupid."

"What they think doesn't matter.  What matters is what you think about tea-parties."

"I love tea parties!" Five-year-old Abby chimed in as she lifted her teacup and extended her pinky finger.

"Me too," Brooklyn affirmed.  "This is the only place I can share my real feelings."  My heart warmed.  Amazing what taking an old set of child's china, adding apple-cider to the teapot, a baked potato, cantelope, cucumbers, carrots and sweet rolls can do for a child.  Being nine today is like being thirteen when I was growing up.  Betwixt and between childhood and adolescence.  Peer pressure.

"I don't understand, Mimi.  It's not old-fashioned to have teaparties.  It's fun.  Why do my friends think it's lame?"

"Because, sweetheart.  They've never been to one."

Today I emplore you.  All women everywhere.  Go get a teaset.  Teach daughters and granddaughters to savor moments of conversation.  Joys of togetherness.  Pleasures of common interests.  The simplicity of life in all its complexity.  There is a safe space to be whomever they are while sipping their tea at a party designed just for them. [copyrighted,selahvtoday,2007]