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| BETTER BEGINNINGS PENNY PATTER |
September 3, 2004
| I love this community; just witness the
outpouring of compassion and concern for those for whom buying groceries
and paying the rent is a struggle. Many of these families, determined to
provide for themselves and their families, work two or more minimum-wage
jobs. The children are very excited about their new backpacks and school
supplies. They are eager to begin or continue "big school.". The
families are just plain grateful. I enjoy telling the children, see, there
are many people who love you and care about you.
Members of the First Presbyterian Church of Hightstown, our "home", collected and surprised us with many backpacks, lunch boxes, and materials. Gail L. Lord is the Mission Chair. I just have to say, "Well done!" Others who donated or contributed include Jean Ray, Mary J. Byrne, Beth Kupper, and Mary Anna Reeves. Some are new friends, others have been supporters for a long, long time. Other long time friends that lent support this week included Minnie Bell and Frances |
Rios, making their regular monthly contribution
in remembrance of brother, uncle and our friend, Jimmy Jackson; Rita
Ropars whom we haven't seen for a while, remembering us with classroom and
food service supplies; and Dolores Murphy who brought another truckload of
food, toys, clothing, bubbles, books and magazine materials. A new friend
is Regina Dripps who donated a Macintosh Computer System, which means that
a young student will bridge the digital divide.
Congratulations to the providers and students of Methodist Madness and to Reverend Neill Tolbloon for sharing crackers, raisins and juice boxes with us. Thank you every one; and again special thanks to Susan Lloyd and other members of the EWRSD Board of Education and to Superintendent Dr. Ronald E. Bolandi for making it possible by providing a "standard" list that we could handle, and to editor Mark Moffa and writer Melissa Kadish of the Windsor Hights Herald for featuring the project. |
| When I poked my head in the door of
"Classroom Heart Friends", my attention was drawn to one child
who was sitting alone at a table, working industriously in a workbook,
head bent over his work, hand gripping one of those big pencils.
He had chosen the workbook as a free choice activity. Our friend, Ondina Jeffers, (a retired Kindergarten teacher, who is kind of like a walking talking guardian angel for "our kids") had donated it, along with many other educational materials. When he saw me, he called out,, "Miss Bettie, you gotta see this!". He jumped up and brought his workbook to me. His eyes shone and he was beaming with the pride of accomplishment. He had completed the first page, printing the first letter of the alphabet. By the end of the page, his printing was just perfect. Then he turned the page, and lo and behold, a beautiful page of "B's". He had advanced onward to the "C's" and had all the signs of working his way right through the book. |
What was so special was that he had found the
right material for the right moment, for his particular learning style and
stage of development and was growing and learning right in front of our
eyes. What made it particularly special to me was that he KNEW that I
would enjoy and share his joy in his accomplishment. That means a lot to
me. Many joyful such moments reveal why I keep coming back to this place,
day after day, week after week, year after year, decade after decade.
Ondina deserves to share this moment too. I hope she reads this. All of
our supporters, volunteers, donors and advocates also have a part of this
precious moment. Without you, the day would not have happened. The doors
would have closed on Better Beginnings' last day a long time ago. The
funding crisis is real: another three of our sister centers closed this
summer, lacking adequate funds to stay open.
The Joy bubble-ball kept growing and bouncing: |
| Children walking in back of cars endanger themselves. A driver backing up may not be able to see them. Maybe they are not tall enough to appear in the rear view mirror. | Please teach children to use great caution, especially in parking lots, or when crossing driveways on the way to school. |
| I bought a box of zip lock sandwich bags for a dollar. Then I bought a big bag of pretzels. You guessed it! I made up my own snack size packages. Saved many a penny, I did, | for the twins’ lunches. You’ve met the twins? Penny Saved and Penny Earned. Almost identical, they are. |
| My family member advises me that I might be able to write a decent short story if I could just master the ironic twist thing. So I have been collecting ironies. Here is one: Why is it that laborers are the workingest people on the very day that was set aside to honor and | celebrate them, i.e., Labor Day. Well, the least we can do is support them by going out to a restaurant, a fast food drive-through, to the movies, or to the Mall, or other favored spending place. A gratuity would be appreciated, I’m sure. |
| This term was invented by one who values
the use of natural consequences as a disciplinary tactic, but
expresses the consequences in more positive terms.
Here are some common disciplinary techniques: Punitive: Do your homework now or you will not be allowed to go out to play for a week. Choice-making (places responsibility on the child) You have a choice: you can do your homework now and go outside to play when you’re through; or you can neglect your homework and stay inside for the rest of the day. Which do you choose? Natural Consequence: If you don't do your |
homework, your grades will suffer.
Positive Natural: If you do your homework, you will get better grades. We asked readers to send in examples. This response is from Carol Jones, Vice President of First Washington National State Bank, and a very active member of Better Beginnings’ Board of Directors: "If you put your toys away, they will be easy to find when you look for them next time." Right on the money, Carol! Thanks. By the way, Carol is the featured volunteer in our Fall newsletter. If you would like to receive a copy, let us know. |
| (more youthful definitions from the
National Night Out)
"A hug" (Lupita) "Peace is good." (Justin) |
"Be happy and smile." (Amanda)
"People getting along." (P. J.) "Peace is love." (Aileen) |
| "Why is it that in this land of the free and home of the brave we are constantly having to choose between the least of two evils and are faced with lose-lose situations?" Timefora Change adds: What ever happened to the USA I learned to love and cherish where we had the best of the best to choose from, and | we sought win-win solutions?" Reality
Check responds, "You’re dreaming, Time, that only existed in
your mind." Time: "Well I can dream, can’t I?"
Note: If you can remember the song he is referring to, you are as old as Time. |
| "Every human being is creative (or at least potentially so). Creativity is not something with which some are born and others are lacking. Because we are self-reflective | creatures, creativity is a given in our lives. To be human is to be creative." David Lazear's new book, OutSmart Yourself! |
|
Bettie Witherspoon is a former executive director of Better Beginnings, which has provided affordable child care to the East Windsor/Hightstown area since 1967. |
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