1. Mother Lode:

A long time ago, before motherliness got a bad name, there was a song that declared that "Mother" was the most beautiful word in the language.   To me, it still is.   To all who are struggling to be the best Mom you can, working long hours and yet managing to bring magic into the quality time you have with your child(ren):  Congratulations on your special day and every day of the year!  You are the mother lode:  pure gold.   To all Moms everywhere:  young, middle and .elderly . many blessings.

Mallika Chopra, who wrote "100 Promises to My Baby", says, "As parents, we have the ability to create new global citizens who have the power to change the world. In a world that is often colored by fear and violence, this role becomes all the more important. If we all make promises to teach our children love, respect, honor and acceptance, then we are playing our parts in creating a safer, more secure, and more nurturing world for them to live in."

I am passionately committed to that premise.

2. Mothers and Fathers and Other Interested Folk:

The school budget, having been defeated, is now in the hands of the municipal governing bodies.  They are interested in hearing from their constituents.   There is an "open mike" meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Hightstown High School.   Being an educator, and aware of the importance of our investment in our children's education, you might well guess that I strongly support the efforts of our School Board and our new Superintendent of Schools to provide and improve the education offered students, as economically as possible.   I am constantly frustrated that cuts always seem to come to our children's programs first; a place I fervently feel should be the last place we skimp.  As the saying goes, "Pay me now or pay me later."  Taking the axe to the school budget makes me think of taking an axe to one's own foot or hand.  We hurt ourselves in the long run.  Unfortunately, we do not have the privilege of voting on other budgets; so many take their taxation-frustration out on the school budget.  Alas.

Hopefully, someday soon we will realize the promise of reforming our form of taxation in this state, beginning with fixing a system that somehow seems to encourage fraud and corruption.   I get really troubled with having my tax dollars go into some con's pocket rather than being used to fund children's programs and to provide help for the needy.

3. Proudest Mom!

Our own Ana Grisales, Group Teacher for  (cont.)

our Super Dooper classroom, surely is.   Why?   Her daughter, Nicole Acevedo, has been selected as Student of the Month at Walter C. Black Kindergarten.  Nicole is a graduate of our preschool, presently enrolled in our Heart Friends After-K program.   We are all very proud, especially since she is described as courteous, cheerful, a willing worker, participating eagerly in all subjects, is helpful, and has great ideas.  She read a book cover to cover, which is especially impressive since she read it in her second language.   (Sound of buttons popping)

4. No "Mum"blings about This:

Our generous donors and contributors support our program in many ways.  During the past week, we received used but useful computers, monitors, printers, scanner and CD Rom Drive, children's books, snacks, stationery, cookie basket, dolls, games toys, puzzles and cereal from our friends, Walter Combs, "Mr. Jonathan" Craig, Marsha Weinstein, Deborah Valentino, and Marta Lehrer.   Many thanks for the support and encouragement.

5. Mum's the word:

Did you ever wonder where this saying originated?  Me either.  It seems it refers to the humming sound made when a mouth is closed, used by Shakespeare in Henry VI, Part 2.  "Seal up your lips and give no words but mum".

Two Cents Wordth's word of the week, "Mum" is joined by the trio, by-bye-buy:  Here is a sentence using all three: 

Stop by Better Beginnings' "multi-family" yard sale on Saturday as part of the TownWide; you can buy a bargain, or just say "Hi and Bye!"

Oh, and by the by: 

Better Beginnings has a job opportunity:  a position for Assistant Teacher is available.  Intrinsic rewards are great!

6. No Gift for Mom?

There is still time.  Penny Pincher has an idea for you, something she likes a lot.   Make a sun catcher by cutting out a shape of choice, such as a heart or a tree, from a piece of construction paper, or from pretty junk mail.   Use a hole punch or other device to make holes all the way around.  Glue colored tissue paper to cover the holes you punched.  Print, "I love you MOM" and hang in window for a lovely stained-glass-like decoration. Naturally the Pincher hopes that you will be re-using perfectly good tissue paper saved from prior gift-giving occasions.