Barbara's Meanderings

My Thoughts on the 50th Anniversary of the Death of President John F. Kennedy

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Where were you when Kennedy was killed? This is the question everyone who was living in 1963 is asked. Where was I? I was in a class in college and when the classes changed someone said that the President was shot. So in my next class we all listened to the radio to hear the news and we found it was true.

The moment I heard it was real was the first time I ever felt that the world might not be as good as I thought. I was a nice Jewish girl brought up in Brooklyn and Queens. I knew that people weren't always good and I didn't believe that everything was great in the world, but I did believe that the people who ran our country would always be there for us. So I was in shock for a very long time. Soon after this class the college closed and we were all sent home for the weekend. It was close to Thanksgiving recess anyway.

When I got home I couldn't stop watching TV, though my family and I went to a memorial service at our temple. Here we saw everyone crying as if it were someone in their own family. We got back and I went back to watching Walter Cronkite trying to make sense of the events for us. I saw everything that happened on TV including the arrest of Lee Harvey Oswald and his shooting by Jack Ruby. They played the footage of the president being shot over and over again and Walter Cronkite stayed up all night covering this event. I know, because I also watched all night. It was the first time I couldn't get enough of the news.

Years later after I was married and we lived in Buffalo the stories of the shooting continued to appear and in counter culture magazines, such as The Realist, conspiracy stories popped up. My husband and I didn't really think much about them, but then the research came out and the Zapruder tape was revealed and suddenly they didn't seem so crazy anymore. Though many people have come to believe it was a lone gunman at Deale

y Plaza my husband and I side with the people who think there were more than one and that shots came from the grassy knoll too.

We will never know the truth until the records on Kennedy's death are unsealed in 25 years. I hope I am around to find out what really happened. However, tomorrow, it is enough to mourn the loss of a truly great President. Was he always the best in his personal life? No. However, he was the first adult to inspire me to do better things. My husband and I enrolled in the Peace Corps and we almost went until we decided it wouldn't be right for us. I sometimes regret we didn't go, because it would have been a great experience, but at least we tried. President Kennedy gave everyone hope as President Obama gave everyone hope. Above all, I believe that is a president's job to inspire people to do great things.

So RIP President Kennedy.

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8 Great Books For Children!

Wednesday, October 02, 2013

It's unusual for me to give up my blog to a guest for posting, but this article is one I think all of you will enjoy. If you don't have children of your own, this will make a good reference for when you do need to buy a book for a child. For those with grandchildren, I think you probably know most of these. I found a few titles I didn't know and the list is mixed with fiction and non-fiction titles.

The choices this author made do not reflect my own and though I appreciate their value, it is up to you to decide if they are a good fit for you and your children. A few of them are classics and probably if you have never read them, you should read those. I have included the link to Amazon in case you decide you need to read them immediately.:)

Welcome to my guest poster, Joseph Rodriguez:

8 Great Books For Children

Studies have shown that reading to your children not only gives them a huge head start in early literacy development, it also improves their connection with you, as their parent. Reading aloud to your children can strengthen the parent/child relationship exponentially, so take a look at the following eight great children’s books and make a trip to your local library ASAP to get started!

Growing Up

Teaching toddlers can be exhausting. Luckily, a number of of children’s books cover every teachable moment; from potty training to manners, check out these three stories to read with your little ones.

No, David! by David Shannon is inspired by the author's own shenanigans as a child. Your little one will be thrilled by the color pictures and quirky tales of young David getting into all sorts of mishaps, only to be continually told, “No!” by his Mother. But, no matter what David does, in the end he is embraced by his Mother, who reassures him that she loves him no matter what. This is a great lesson to share with your children.

Everybody Poops, by Taro Gomi, sounds mildly repulsive, but can actually be a great learning tool for when your child is reaching potty-training age. This strange little picture book shows a variety of animals and humans alike, and explains how and why they poop! The purpose of the book may seem redundant, but for those particular children who are afraid of the potty, this book can do wonders to ease their fear and lend more to the curiosity of learning to use the toilet.

Counting Kisses, by Karen Katz is a wonderful book for preschool to kindergarten age children. Turn nap or bedtime into a learning experience as you count how many kisses it takes to fall asleep! It's a great book for getting in a little bit of number learning before bed and reminding your children how much you love them.

Lessons Learned

Sometimes, it can feel impossible to explain the intricacies of life to your child when “Because I said so”, seems so much easier. Try these three stories when you need a little extra help.

Fanny’s Dream, by Caralyn and Mark Buehner is somewhat of a Cinderella tale with a twist. Fanny is invited to the Mayor’s ball and she thinks that finally her time has come to meet a handsome “prince” and live happily ever after. She waits and waits in the garden with her best dress on only to realize that sometimes reality is better than your dreams, and you shouldn’t ignore what is right in front of you just to get to the next best thing. A fantastic story about values and hard work.

Don’t Squeal Unless It’s a Big Deal, A Tale of Tattletales, by Jeanie Franz Ransom explains when tattling is appropriate and when it just causes more problems. This is a wonderful story to open up dialogue with your children about trust, problem solving and conflict management.

Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids, by Carol McCloud endorses good behavior and positive attitudes as it teaches children how to share and be kind to others. It also focuses on how when you give away your happiness, more happiness will come to you!

Keeping With Tradition

These last two books not only teach valuable lessons to your children; but are probably ones you read yourself as a child.

The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss teaches children about environmental responsibility and standing up for what they believe in, even if no one else will stand with them. As many have seen from the recent film adaptation, the story follows the journey of a young boy who wants to bring life back to a desolate earth ruined by corporate greed. The book has been seen by some as “too heavy” for very young children, but don't sell your child short.

The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein follows the life of a small boy and his “tree”. As the story progresses, the boy ages and yet the tree always has something to give him to ease his life, all the way to the end of it. There are conflicting views on what the moral of the story is supposed to be, but it is a classic story and can open up discussion with your children on the value of giving selflessly.

These eight books are sure to bring you and your family closer, ease your teaching troubles and open up many a discussion on important core values. Reading is my favorite past time - I hope it is yours soon, as well!

Joseph Rodriguez writes all about parenting and education. His recent work is on his plans to join one of the Top Online Child Psychology Programs in the U.S.

Thank you to Joseph Rodriguez for his excellent article and I hope you all found at least one new book to try with your kids. Or maybe you want to reread one you have loved since childhood.:)

Until the next time, my next guest author is Jacquie White. Due to some unforseen real life situations I had to postpone her from a few weeks ago. I am looking forward to having her as my guest next Thursday.

Although I am not giving away any free books, please leave a comment and let me know how you liked this guest author's post. I am sure he will appreciate it.:)

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Barbara's Meanderings

My Thoughts on the 50th Anniversary of the Death of President John F. Kennedy

8 Great Books For Children!

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