I'm guilty. I was one of those parents who probably pushed my kids into organized sports. I enjoyed watching them as they raced down the soccer field, ran across the tennis court, or swam the length of the pool. Somehow, after working all day, Chuck and I managed to rally ourselves and get them to whatever practice they were required to attend. We watched games and matches, cheered from the sidelines and ordered pizza with the other team parents. Of course, this pales in comparison to other sporting leagues. Once the children become involved in high school sports it's a new level of commitment. If an individual ever makes it big and moves on to the college level and beyond, he/she has invested a large part of themselves into this sport. The player may receive scholarships, a salary, equipment, uniforms, and additional coaching to become better.
What if we treated learning this way? Take just a moment with me and think about what that might look like. Parents would take their children to "practice" beyond the school day, we may even pack coolers of drinks and snacks for them. Find lessons and camps to hone skills during the off season. Would we fill a stadium to spectate as the team or individual demonstrated what they have mastered?
What could the cheerleaders be chanting? Something like,"Go, go, solve that equation...."
The referees and coaches would be avaliable to ensure no one performed outside the guidelines.
A coach may have a learner on the bench and say something like, "Okay, next up is the isosceles triangle, now..when you get in there...."
All while proud parents, loved ones, or fans observed.
"We knew she would be a great reader, she used to walk around the house with books."
This example is extreme, of course. Please understand, I love school sports. Participating in sports boosts self esteem, forms bonds, provides physical exercise, and the like. As I stated earlier, I wanted my girls involved in sports, even though we didn't always feel motivated to get them to practice, we took them. We spend our time, energy and resources for sporting events. We create social events surrounding certain games or matches. What would it look like if we nurtured learning the way we nurtured athletic talent in this country? What if we treated learning like sports?
As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome. JKH
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Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Fiction Friday
As soon as she entered the waiting room, he threw his arms upward, paying no mind to the strangers in the space.
"Where were you?" Mark said, with his arms gesturing.
"I thought I said I'd meet you here at 4," said Kelly.
"Whatever, the vet is ready," said Mark walking toward the exam room door.
"Oh, so, we're doing this?" Kelly said, not moving.
"Kelly, she's not going to get better, she's fourteen and her kidneys are shutting down."
"But, Mark, I'm not, I mean, I didn't think..."
"I know, but let's get in here, the vet is waiting."
Once in the exam room Kelly could see Casey, her daughter, stroking the sheltie she'd nurtured most of her life. The beautiful dog, lying on the table, motionless.
"Mom, we were waiting for you." Casey said, looking up at Kelly with tears streaming.
"I know sweetie, I came as fast as I could."
"Mom," said Casey, "Dr. Davis says it's time to let her go."
Kelly felt something deep inside her intestines lurching. Must be the Caesar salad she thought. She couldn't bring her eyes to focus on Maggie, yet she couldn't look away either.
"Dr.Davis, she's only been sick a day or so," Kelly said.
"Yes, Mrs. Anderson, that's what Mark was saying. But she is so weak, I'm afraid she won't make it through the the tests, or even the trip to the animal facility. You know you can try, and she may get some better if she survives the testing."
Kelly felt numbness take over her body. She stood, unable to move. How could now be the time to say goodbye? she wondered. Still, the thoughts of Maggie dying alone with strangers didn't feel like much of an alternative.
"Okay, then, are we ready?" said Kelly.
"I think we are," Mark said, looking at Casey and Maggie.
"Let's do this," said Casey, sitting tall, but keeping a hand on Maggie.
"Well, folks this doesn't take long, just pet her and tell her you love her and in just a minute or so after the medicine is in, she will be gone." Dr. Davis busied himself shaving Maggie's rear leg, Maggie really didn't notice.
Kelly stroked Maggie's beautiful, sable body, still so soft to touch. Won't take long, she thought, no, it doesn't take long. Not long at all for a small puppy to become a part of everyone in the house. Not long at all for a lifetime of barking, chasing, chewing and loving to happen.
Dr. Davis held the stethoscope against her, "Okay folks, she's gone now, take all the time you need."
Kelly stroked as she sobbed, with Mark and Casey.
"Dr., we could never have all the time we needed with her."
"Where were you?" Mark said, with his arms gesturing.
"I thought I said I'd meet you here at 4," said Kelly.
"Whatever, the vet is ready," said Mark walking toward the exam room door.
"Oh, so, we're doing this?" Kelly said, not moving.
"Kelly, she's not going to get better, she's fourteen and her kidneys are shutting down."
"But, Mark, I'm not, I mean, I didn't think..."
"I know, but let's get in here, the vet is waiting."
Once in the exam room Kelly could see Casey, her daughter, stroking the sheltie she'd nurtured most of her life. The beautiful dog, lying on the table, motionless.
"Mom, we were waiting for you." Casey said, looking up at Kelly with tears streaming.
"I know sweetie, I came as fast as I could."
"Mom," said Casey, "Dr. Davis says it's time to let her go."
Kelly felt something deep inside her intestines lurching. Must be the Caesar salad she thought. She couldn't bring her eyes to focus on Maggie, yet she couldn't look away either.
"Dr.Davis, she's only been sick a day or so," Kelly said.
"Yes, Mrs. Anderson, that's what Mark was saying. But she is so weak, I'm afraid she won't make it through the the tests, or even the trip to the animal facility. You know you can try, and she may get some better if she survives the testing."
Kelly felt numbness take over her body. She stood, unable to move. How could now be the time to say goodbye? she wondered. Still, the thoughts of Maggie dying alone with strangers didn't feel like much of an alternative.
"Okay, then, are we ready?" said Kelly.
"I think we are," Mark said, looking at Casey and Maggie.
"Let's do this," said Casey, sitting tall, but keeping a hand on Maggie.
"Well, folks this doesn't take long, just pet her and tell her you love her and in just a minute or so after the medicine is in, she will be gone." Dr. Davis busied himself shaving Maggie's rear leg, Maggie really didn't notice.
Kelly stroked Maggie's beautiful, sable body, still so soft to touch. Won't take long, she thought, no, it doesn't take long. Not long at all for a small puppy to become a part of everyone in the house. Not long at all for a lifetime of barking, chasing, chewing and loving to happen.
Dr. Davis held the stethoscope against her, "Okay folks, she's gone now, take all the time you need."
Kelly stroked as she sobbed, with Mark and Casey.
"Dr., we could never have all the time we needed with her."
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Our Gift
"I just don't think I'm ready to take on another dog," I said. "I mean it hasn't been a full 2 months since we lost our Molly. I need more time."
Chuck gave me a squeeze. "Okay, no pressure, let's just go look at the puppies," Chuck said with pleading eyes.
This is a paraphrased version of the conversation I had with my husband one chilly, November evening. I'm sure you can complete this one on your own. Yes, we brought the dog home and I can't imagine life without her. With our girls growing up and becoming more independent, we fill that void by showering attention on this beautiful, brown, wrinkled dog. She was only 6 weeks old when we she became a member of our family. Just like caring for a baby, she was awake at night and fussed to have her needs met. She chewed nearly every piece of furniture we have, making me glad that most of the furnishings came from second hand stores. Not long after her arrival, she fell asleep on our bed while Chuck and I enjoyed a movie. Yep, you guessed it, it's now her bed too. At times, it does get a wee bit crowded, now that she has grown. Her presence fills an emptiness I didn't know I had. She rises early with Chuck and keeps him company while he sips coffee in the family room and checks his email. She trots outside with him when he waters his garden in the evenings. Marley doesn't mind if his hand tremors or his legs cramp. In fact, she often moves closer to him as if to show him she's available if needed.
When the snows of winter blew about the yard, she slept by the fire as I wrote, and raised her head when I read my manuscripts aloud. Her head would turn just slightly from side to side as I read my latest story. Marley listened intently to the stories rejected by magazines and contests. Her eyes fixed on my performance, regardless of my lack of publication. When I began to work on my website, her warm, snoring body kept me company stretched out on the bed we share.
Friends are blessings from God, I have no doubt. However, even in the best of friendships, we may feel a need to hide our imperfections, embarrassments, or physical limitations. Dogs are friends who don't need a master with a steady hand, an even gait or a published story. All a dog needs is a family who is willing to be loved. In return, Marley is indeed a gift to this family. JKH
Chuck gave me a squeeze. "Okay, no pressure, let's just go look at the puppies," Chuck said with pleading eyes.
This is a paraphrased version of the conversation I had with my husband one chilly, November evening. I'm sure you can complete this one on your own. Yes, we brought the dog home and I can't imagine life without her. With our girls growing up and becoming more independent, we fill that void by showering attention on this beautiful, brown, wrinkled dog. She was only 6 weeks old when we she became a member of our family. Just like caring for a baby, she was awake at night and fussed to have her needs met. She chewed nearly every piece of furniture we have, making me glad that most of the furnishings came from second hand stores. Not long after her arrival, she fell asleep on our bed while Chuck and I enjoyed a movie. Yep, you guessed it, it's now her bed too. At times, it does get a wee bit crowded, now that she has grown. Her presence fills an emptiness I didn't know I had. She rises early with Chuck and keeps him company while he sips coffee in the family room and checks his email. She trots outside with him when he waters his garden in the evenings. Marley doesn't mind if his hand tremors or his legs cramp. In fact, she often moves closer to him as if to show him she's available if needed.
When the snows of winter blew about the yard, she slept by the fire as I wrote, and raised her head when I read my manuscripts aloud. Her head would turn just slightly from side to side as I read my latest story. Marley listened intently to the stories rejected by magazines and contests. Her eyes fixed on my performance, regardless of my lack of publication. When I began to work on my website, her warm, snoring body kept me company stretched out on the bed we share.
Friends are blessings from God, I have no doubt. However, even in the best of friendships, we may feel a need to hide our imperfections, embarrassments, or physical limitations. Dogs are friends who don't need a master with a steady hand, an even gait or a published story. All a dog needs is a family who is willing to be loved. In return, Marley is indeed a gift to this family. JKH
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Firsts
So here is the first blog! Firsts seem to be something worth celebrating. I recall our daughters' first steps, words, teeth, etc. Fondly, I reminisce about the first date I shared with my husband. Life is full of firsts. I guess this will be just another first to be stored for later reflection, that is, if it were just another blog. For me, it isn't. This is the piece I never imagined I would be the author of. Parkinson's is the condition I didn't expect to be touched by. In fact, I never really gave it a thought, even though my husband had "essential tremors", I didn't consider him ever having Parkinson's. However, this all changed in December '08 when his diagnosis was official. He was 45. From that point on, Parkinson's has been his constant companion. On that day, our family became "parked in the sun". We would never again live a day when Parkinson's was not part of our daily exsistance. That was two years ago. While we are no longer in shock, we are still adjusting to the changing symptoms that plague my husband. Seems we become accustomed to one symptom just in time for it to move on and leave a slot for another. Parkinson's like life is full of "firsts". Some are highly anticipated as milestones, and some are unwelcome in our lives. Still, we learn to accept the things we cannot change, and move on with life as best we can. My wonderful husband has been a blessing in my life and we have enjoyed every joyous "first" possible as a family. Now, it is time to continue to discover joy while experiencing the many "firsts" of Parkinson's disease.
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