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BETTER BEGINNINGS
PENNY PATTER |
July 9, 2004
| What exactly did our forefathers mean when they said, "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"? (Note in passing, "Shhh don't wake up Penny Trable, or she might spend the rest of our time together, ranting that evidently | our forefathers did not consider women their equals.) To continue, what did those men mean by "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." |
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I am told that I should be happy that I was not born into a class system
as in some other countries; that this means that I can choose to use
this great opportunity to achieve many things, developing my potential
to the fullest; fly with the eagles, so to speak. I am, indeed, grateful
to have been born in the USA. This does give me many privileges, for
which I am grateful. But it does not give me, or any other USA-born, the
right to be arrogant or to consider ourselves innately superior. Let's
face it", we might be "born equal" but chances are our
chances are not equal.
This equality thing has been a struggle from |
day one. We have a long history of inequality since our forefathers set forth
those words. To give our fore-dads their due, they did sacrifice, fight, and,
in some cases, lose everything - including lives - supporting their lofty
belief.
Our long history also includes people working towards eradicating anything that infringes on the individual's right to an equal opportunity and I am proud of that. We have had to fight with each other few times, mostly with results that our forepapas would probably applaud. |
| We are alike in many ways, but are so unique
in others. We each have something to contribute to the whole. What kind
of flag would we have if the stripes told the stars that they could not
be a part of the banner because they were "different", not
stripes at all. The result would be pretty dull. I am inordinately fond
of stars. The flag just wouldn't be the same without them.
We are also unique in many ways: in our |
talents, our learning styles and intelligences, to mention a few of my favorites. I also like to say that Better Beginnings encourages families and children to reach their full potential. Given all those rights and opportunities, it is the least we can do. When we fail to nurture or develop individual potential, we all lose. What future "star" might be in a formative stage right now?" |
| Which leads me to ask my real question: What is YOUR potential? Have you explored it lately? What are your very special, unique gifts? How are you using them? Plan to develop them further? What is your learning style? Which intelligences are your strongest? Do you have any immediate, short range, and long range goals? There are loads of sites to look up learning styles and |
intelligences online. Several sites even have tests you can take. If
that is not feasible for you, write to me and I will gladly provide some
definitions. PO Box 187, Hightstown NJ 08520 or bewith@mail2peace.com
To paraphrase Karen Lamb, "A year from now (what will you) wish you had started today. |
| If you read this on Friday, July 9, the young students of Better Beginnings are on a field trip to the Liberty Center. This is due to a generous contribution of a friend who stated, "I know Better Beginnings is having trouble meeting day-to-day expenses, much less being able to offer meaningful extended experiences. Once I was chaperone on a trip the Super:BBs and the Heroes were taking to see a professional basketball game to which they had been given tickets. Two young girls, about ten or eleven, were assigned to me. As we left Hightstown and proceeded up the Turnpike, their excitement was incredible. They flung themselves back and forth |
across the aisle from one side window to the other, eyes sparkling, brimming
with wonder, shouting, "Look at this! Look at that!" It seems that
these two had never been further from Hightstown than to East Windsor or not
much beyond. Hard to imagine, but there it was.
"So this year, I decided to give a trip to Better Beginnings' children, instead of using the money I had set aside for a vacation for myself. I think the children's experience is more important than a week away for one person." |
| "Mr. Jonathan" Craig donated toys, baby clothes and stuffed animals. Wilfred and Ondina contributed their monthly pledge "for our kids." Contributing through the United Way are Shelly Pomanis, Theodore Lucas, and Mark Warfield, all of Johnson & Johnson; Robert Teffenhart and Kevin Traynor of Deloitte & Touche; and John Tampellini of J. P. Morgan Chase. Darlene Nemeth, on behalf of Walter C. Black School, donated books and stuffed animals. Darlene Indrikovic and Sharon O'Brien Gloos donated toys and many useful |
items. Roger Mauro helped with digital
inclusion" by donating a computer which will go to one of our
families.
The First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury made a generous contribution, helping us provide juice for the children's morning snack. Until they closed, Minute Maid provided juice every day and every week of the year for the children Since them, friends like the FPCC have stepped in to fill our "juice gap". |
| For Better Beginnings, these include Jackie Bodin, First Washington State Bank, Shiseido, Macaroni Grill (Brinker International), Americana Diner, Customized Benefit Solutions, Yardville National Bank, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Mercer |
Title Services, Conair/John Mayorek, Dingman and James Auction, and Comcast
Many thanks to all our gifted, giving friends. You have no equal. |
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Ideas, suggestions? Penny Pincher is on vacation
and will return next week, along with more ideas for Alternatives to TV.
Please write to me at bewith@mail2peace.com; or PO Box 187, Hightstown NJ
08520.
Be sure to visit |
www.princetonol.com/groups/bbcdc to learn more about Better Beginnings, read archived Penny Patter columns, and get ideas for interactive "funwork" for families and children. Our volunteer webmeister is Liston Abbott. You can call Better Beginnings at (609) 448-6226. |
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Bettie Witherspoon is a former executive director of Better Beginnings, which has provided affordable child care to the East Windsor/Hightstown area since 1967. |