This month I'm using lines 8, 12 and 16 from
Things that Matter:
by Charles Krauthammer
I know this is a strange book from which to find my prompts.
I had a particular story I wanted to share. Lo and behold I found them in this book
8: should not be held liable
12: right of parents to make decisions
16:welfare of their child
Volunteer
(444 words)
I'm told I volunteered my parents for every event at school.
Once or twice my mama told me one day you will be the one being volunteered!*
She was correct.
In 1976, my daughter was in the first year of mandatory kindergarten in North Carolina.
She and I were home together 24 hours a day 365 days a year for her first 5 years.
I JUST knew she would be devastated without me. This would be the first time in
her life that either my husband or I would not be around to 'guard' her against outside
influences. After all, it is a parent's duty to see to the
welfare of their child
She was so excited about her first day of school.
The first week of school seemed to be mostly about getting the children adjusted
to being 'still' for 7 hours a day and acclimating to their new routine and activities.
There would be a need for volunteers to keep the classroom in order: both children and parents.
Lots of class business to discuss. My daughter's wonderful teacher
*should not be be held liable for what happened next. It was obvious automatic volunteering was in my DNA and I shared it with my daughter. Lo and behold when the need for a
Swish Mom
(no I did not mean to type Swiss Mom)
volunteer came up....UP went my daughter's hand. She was so excited when she came
running out to the car that day.
Her: Guess what Mommy
ME: I have know idea
Her: You are the Swish mom for my class
ME: What is a Swish Mom
Her: Here this is from my teacher
Turns out Swish moms (S.M.) came to class 2 Monday Mornings a month.
S.M. stood by a table set up at the classroom door. The table was full
of itty bitty cups of just the right amount of mouthwash with fluoride to prevent cavities.
As each child arrived at the classroom door, they were given the cup, told to Swish it around in their mouth until the S.M. told them to spit it back in the cup. Sometimes S.M. had to demonstrate how to SWISH. Once they had perfected their swish, S.M. handed them a Kleenex to wipe their mouth.
***************
Well as it turns out way back in 1976 the dental health of all children was #1 top priority at school.
It is the
right of parents to make decisions to decide what they do and don't teach they children at home. This S.M. thought swishing should have been done at home.
My daughter was so proud that I was her classes Swish Mom and her proud was infectious.
Fluoride Varnish aka Swish Program click link to read about it.
Final Friction Friday is a blog hop...click here to read more fun tales
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Hosted by my Niece Rosy, and her 2 brudders Arty and Jakey HERE
My Mind's Eye found these in my November 20th folder...
My husband took the photos of the glorious leaves in the back yard.
The top left was taken from inside at night looking through the skylight
middle glow is the moon..the other two dots are either aliens or my flash. LOL
Bottom right is the same skylight during the day.
Bonus nature brought into the house.
This photo is entitled
It lives (still)
Truly amazing that I have not yet killed it with kindness and TLC.
Normally any plant who dares to come live here is doomed.
When it comes to plants, I over do everything. I really like snake plants.
I have had Slim the Snake plant for 3 months. I was told water him once a month
give him some light and LEAVE him a lone. I have a watering schedule on my calendar.
The 23rd of every month he gets a tall drink of water. Every morning after breakfast
I sit him here on the table where he can enjoy the low winter sun puddles.
So far so good and Oh JOY he has a new leaf coming up slow in the center.
