The Importance of MothersWritten by Rexanne Mancini
Moms, did you ever question your value as a role model, caretaker, administer of hugs and Band-Aids? I think we all have in today's climate of "do more, get more, have more." Many of us work to bring home a paycheck and others work for our sanity. Have you ever wondered if your children were better off with babysitter than you? Scientific studies are beginning to point to overwhelming value of a mother's love, hugs and support. Nannies, babysitters and relatives are terrific. They just aren't as terrific as Mom. I have had best of both worlds, I suspect. I worked a high-powered executive job until my older daughter was two and a half. At a crossroads in my career, I opted to "get pregnant and stay home for a year." Little did I realize I was about to take a ten-year hiatus from my much-loved life. I didn't get pregnant right away, but, after having spent a year basking in glow of being Mom, I couldn't bear giving up care and nurturing of my daughter to another nanny, no matter how wonderful. I think it was best career move of my life. Ten years later, I am back in work force and thriving. Yes, I felt bored much of time. Yes, our family sacrificed bigger house, fancier cars and vacations some of our peers were enjoying. But it was a conscious decision to sacrifice for benefit of our children. We wanted our morals, our ethics and our life lessons to influence them.
| | Learning DisabilitiesWritten by Rexanne Mancini
There are so many learning labels floating around these days ... A.D.D., A.D.H.D., Dyslexia, etc. Basically, these are labels pinned on children who are in some way learning disabled. I think most of these kids are learning advanced, but I'll try to stick to facts ... somewhat ... ;-) Children who cannot sit still or are disruptive in a classroom environment are sometimes suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.) When they are also extremely hyper, they earn tag of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (A.D.H.D.) When children are prone to twisting their letters and numbers around, they are often called Dyslexic. There are definitely some children who need medication to control their out-of-control emotions or actions. There are some who have a serious chemical imbalance, preventing them from blending with others in a socially acceptable manner. And there are kids who really have a hard time keeping numbers straight or learning to read in a typical classroom setting with standard teaching methods. These children are learning disabled in that they do need resources and other methods to help them learn basic lessons and needed skills such as reading, writing, adding and subtracting. These wonderfully different kids are also usually very bright, artistic and unusual in amazing ways. They can be willful, temperamental and sad or they can be sweet, loving and joyful. I believe they are what we, their parents and caretakers, teach them they should be. I also believe they are a big part of our future, among children of this world who will be our brightest stars. They are kids who do not see everything in terms of black and white or up and down. They see blue, purple and fuchsia where everyone else sees norm. They hear melodies not yet created. They envision buildings not yet designed. They are learning disabled only because they do not learn as majority of us do. They see life through a set of eyes and ears not limited by structure or regimentation. They feel and capture life with fingers that expound essence of velvet and toes that glorify silkiness of sand. They feel sadness and joy through hearts that swell with beauty of sunsets and melt with compassion for underdog. These children are different ones among us. They should be honored for their uniqueness. Unfortunately, they are more likely to be labeled and boxed into a problem corner, snuffing out their bright lights and destroying their self-esteem at a tender age. We have known and still know quite a few of these different kids. I don't know one child who is not amazingly bright in one or more areas of life that most of us are stymied by. They are exceptional artists, musically genius, enormously big-hearted or mature beyond their years. One is on Ritalin and thanks his mother daily for giving him chance to get straight 'A's as he always knew he could. One is an outstanding athlete who will most likely make Olympic team in not-too-distant future. Another is an accomplished pianist and songwriter at 12 years of age. All of these children have some pretty wicked learning disabilities and they are all just best kids one could hope to know and love. They are awesome!
|