What do your kids need to know about Sept. 11?
September 9, 2011 by Scott Mayes
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What do your kids know about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks? What should they know?
I guess a lot of that depends on their ages.
We have a 16 year-old, a 10 year-old and a 1 year-old.
So, my oldest son was six 10 years ago and he’s heard some throughout the years in school, and from his parents.
My 10 year-old was 1 when the attacks occurred, so he doesn’t have that “remember when” moment that a lot of us do.
And my 1 year-old, of course, has no foundation to work from. If it’s not a tippy cup filled with milk or a snack, he probably doesn’t remember it.
So, what are parents to do with the 10th anniversary?
The most important thing to remember is that you (and school teachers) should teach age appropriate information.
A 6 year-old doesn’t need intimate details about the death and destruction that took place that day.
A 16 or 17 year-old who has a basic understanding may be ready for a little more of that information now.
Don’t let Sunday get away from you and take an opportunity for a teaching with it.
At the very simplest level, I think there are two lessons that can be taught at any age.
First, life isn’t always fair. We’re not in control of everything. And, when bad things happen, we are responsible not necessarily for what happened, but how we respond to it. Teach your kids to roll up their sleeves and make good out of bad. Teach them to respond to negative in a positive way, in a way that makes our world a better place.
Secondly, there’s a lesson to be had here in stereotypes. Not all Muslims or all people with a certain skin complexion are terrorists.
Beyond that, know that kids at different ages can handle different amounts of intimate detail.
Need a refresher course before talking to your kids? Try this short quiz. You may have forgotten more than you realize.
And, lastly, when it’s all said and done, the 10th anniversary is a perfect opportunity to model compassion for your kids.
Lives were lost and changed forever. We should remember those touched in a great way. And we should use the opportunity to count our blessings.
• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He and his wife, Julie, have lived in Yakima since 2008 and lived in Bakersfield, California on Sept. 11, 2001.
Bonding time for boys, quiet time for mom
September 8, 2011 by Scott Mayes
We are busy.
I’m sure you are too.
With three active boys, we run from one thing to the next to the next.
Last Friday was one of those days when there was a little something for everyone.
I took all the boys over to the Naches Valley High School football game.
It was the season and home opener against East Valley.
Last year at this time, my now 1 year-old wasn’t old enough to take in the late night game.
So, I took the older boys and Nathan stayed at home with mom.
What a difference a year makes!
So, how did the night shake out?
Well, let’s start with mom. OK, I’m not necessarily looking for a pat on the back, but this was my idea.
I told Julie to take the night off from all things “boys.”
She went out with a friend (of course, a girl – she needs that on occasion) and had a great time. I’m told there was a trip to Borders followed by an appetizer platter.
My oldest boy, Matthew, doesn’t really like football. But, at age 16, he does like his friends, and many of them were in attendance.
I’m not sure he knew the final score, but he had a great time just “hanging out.”
Micah, who is 10, would give up just about anything for football. He loves it. Can’t stop talking about it.
So, he loves to go to the games.
He spent part of the night playing an impromptu game of football with some of his friends back behind the stadium. And the other part of the night was spent cheering on the Rangers.
As for the little guy, he spent most of the night in the stroller – but he did do a little crawling around towards the end of the first half.
He did great until late in the fourth quarter when he gave me the “dude, it’s late” look. He wanted to be held and was done with the stroller.
No problem. A little time for me and the littlest Mayes is good for both of us.
So, all in all, a great night.
Guess what we’re doing this Friday night? You guessed it, a re-run. We’ll be back at Ranger Stadium.
My tip for you husbands out there. Make sure she has time for a girls night every now and again.
A happy wife (and mama) makes things in your home and marriage run pretty darn smooth. And, she just might remember it the next time you want to go out with the fellas.
• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth football dad and changes diapers. He’s experienced many things as a parent, but is absolutely clueless about raising daughters.
Did you miss it? First words, teen driving and back to school
September 6, 2011 by Scott Mayes
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It’s been quite a journey since we started the Dadventures blog.
I had an opportunity to write 9 posts in the month of August. Hope you’re reading along.
First, I wrote an intro blog, telling a little about me and our crazy household with boys ages 16, 10 and 1.
After that, I wrote about sitting in the passenger seat while Matthew takes the wheel. I also wrote about Nathan standing for the first time and saying the word “up.”
Next up, was Micah playing youth football and the challenges little guys face in tackle football. Then I got a little more serious, writing about death after the memorial service of my mother in-law Barbara Olexsy. It’s always a sensitive topic to walk kids through.
And, then school moved to the forefront. I wrapped up the month dealing with TV and programming choices and getting ready for school to start. And, of course, getting ready for school means putting that backpack together on the eve of the first day.
It’s been a lot of fun. Can’t wait to see what September holds!
• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth football dad and changes diapers. He’s experienced many things as a parent, but is absolutely clueless about raising daughters.
Can kids teach us a thing or two?
September 2, 2011 by Scott Mayes
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Children spend lots of time teaching us things – and they usually don’t even know it.
Today, I was reading a blog post on NPR about “The Baby Project.”
The author, Sarah Crossman, writes about how much she’s learned in the 8 weeks since her son was born.
Here’s an excerpt:
“During these past 8 weeks, I feel like we’ve learned the basics of what it takes to be a parent — and then relearned them all again as things change over and over. And that what worked yesterday is not going to work tomorrow (that was Lesson Numero Uno). I’ve also learned just how little sleep I can survive on …”
If you’ve ever been a parent, or, heck, even if you’ve done your fair share of babysitting, you know that what Sarah writes is right on the money.
It doesn’t matter that we’re the grownups. It doesn’t matter than we’re much older (in the case of my youngest son, I’m 38 years older) because we can still learn.
And, they — even if they can’t talk — can still teach.
So, as we embark on September and a new school year. As we get ready for the temperature to change, clear your mind for a minute. There may be a lesson for you in the days ahead. You may need to move yourself — and your pre-conceptions — out of the way so you can learn it.
Life is a journey worth living, and learning.
Enjoy the baby steps!
• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth football dad and changes diapers. He’s experienced many things as a parent, but is absolutely clueless about raising daughters.
I watch grades like a hawk. Don’t you?
September 1, 2011 by Scott Mayes
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Have you signed all those emergency cards?
It never fails that the first day of school comes with homework – that is homework for the parents.
And, in our house we’re already talking about video games and homework.
Based on my own past experience, my best advice is to set boundaries and standards early in the school year.
I think most school districts by now have a great tool for you to use.
We utilize the online grading system called “Skyward” for our kids. What this software allows you to do is see your kids’ grades pretty much in real time.
When a teacher enters a grade, it’s there online – not like the old days where they kept everything in a binder.
I love this technology. My kids, well, it’s safe to say they love it less than I do.
One of the things that we watch very carefully are “zeroes.” We look out for anything in the gradebook that comes with no score.
Reality is that a zero typically means an assignment didn’t get turned in.
One of the carrots we have is our Xbox 360. There is high interest among our boys in playing that little black box.
So, here’s our rule: If you get a zero, say on a Tuesday, there are no video games on that day. “Try again tomorrow,” we’ll tell them.
You may have different rules in your house. You may have different “carrots” as well.
But, here’s the bottom line: It’s easier to set expectations at the beginning of the year than it is to help Johnny dig his way out once the grade starts to plummet.
And there may be some extra motivation involved if one of your kids is grounded while the other one plays.
If you’re ready to restrict privileges, be ready for all the responses. I’ve heard them all. “We had a sub and she didn’t grade the assignment” … “The teacher never told us it was due today.” … “I turned it in and the teacher must have lost it.”
Stay firm – whether they’ll admit or not, your kids need and like boundaries. That’s why they test them.
• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth football dad and changes diapers. He’s experienced many things as a parent, but is absolutely clueless about raising daughters.
Anime Saturday
August 7, 2011 by Scott Klepach
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| September 17, 2011 | ||
| 1:30 pm |
ANIME SATURDAY. 1:30-3:30 p.m. All are welcome to watch anime. Yakima Central Library, 102 North Third St., Yakima; 509-452-8541. yvl.org
Yaki-Manga Anime/Manga Club (Downtown Yakima Library)
August 7, 2011 by Scott Klepach
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| August 4, 2011 | ||
| 3:00 pm | ||
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| September 29, 2011 | ||
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YAKI-MANGA ANIME/MANGA CLUB. 3 p.m. Thursdays. Yakima Central Library, 102 North Third St., Yakima; 509-452-8541. yvl.org
Teen Tuesday (Downtown Yakima Library)
August 7, 2011 by Scott Klepach
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| August 2, 2011 | ||
| 3:00 pm | ||
| August 9, 2011 | ||
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| September 27, 2011 | ||
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TEEN TUESDAY. 3 p.m. Tuesdays. Teen crafts and hang-out time. Yakima Central Library, 102 North Third St., Yakima; 509-452-8541. yvl.org
Preschool Story Time (Downtown Yakima Library)
August 7, 2011 by Scott Klepach
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| August 4, 2011 | ||
| 10:30 am | ||
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PRESCHOOL STORY TIME. 10:30 a.m. Thursdays. Stories, songs and activities for preschoolers. Yakima Central Library, 102 North Third St., Yakima; 509-452-8541. yvl.org
Baby Lapsit (Downtown Yakima Library)
August 7, 2011 by Scott Klepach
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| August 2, 2011 | ||
| 10:30 am | ||
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BABY LAPSIT. 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Literacy building activities for babies and their caregivers. Yakima Central Library, 102 North Third St., Yakima; 509-452-8541. yvl.org
Preschool Story Time (Terrace Heights Library)
August 7, 2011 by Scott Klepach
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| September 8, 2011 | ||
| 10:30 am | ||
| September 15, 2011 | ||
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PRESCHOOL STORY TIME. 10:30 a.m. Songs, stories and activities for preschoolers. Terrace Heights Library, 4011 Commonwealth, Yakima; 509-457-5319. yvl.org
Preschool Storytime (Summitview Library)
August 7, 2011 by Scott Klepach
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| August 3, 2011 | ||
| 11:00 am | ||
| August 10, 2011 | ||
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| September 28, 2011 | ||
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PRESCHOOL STORY TIME. 11 a.m. Wednesdays. Songs, stories and activities for preschoolers. Summitview Library, 5709 Summitview, Yakima; 509-966-7070. yvl.org
Kids’ Club (Southeast Library)
August 7, 2011 by Scott Klepach
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| August 5, 2011 | ||
| 3:30 pm | ||
| August 12, 2011 | ||
| 3:30 pm | ||
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| August 26, 2011 | ||
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KIDS’ CLUB. 3:30 p.m. Enjoy crafts with your friends. Fridays. 1211 South 7th Street, Yakima; 509-576-0723. yvl.org
Teen Tuesday (Selah Library)
August 7, 2011 by Scott Klepach
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| August 2, 2011 | ||
| 3:30 pm | ||
| August 9, 2011 | ||
| 3:30 pm | ||
| August 16, 2011 | ||
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| August 23, 2011 | ||
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| August 30, 2011 | ||
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TEEN TUESDAY. 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Selah Library, 106 South Second St., Selah; 509-698-7345. yvl.org
Preschool Story Time (Selah Library)
August 7, 2011 by Scott Klepach
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| August 1, 2011 | ||
| 10:00 am | ||
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PRESCHOOL STORY TIME. 10 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays; 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Songs, stories and activities for preschoolers. Selah Library, 106 South Second St., Selah; 509-698-7345. yvl.org
Ready by Five Learning Library
July 31, 2011 by Scott Klepach
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| August 1, 2011 | ||
| 11:00 am | ||
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| September 26, 2011 | ||
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READY BY FIVE LEARNING LIBRARY. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, and the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Ready by Five, 414 N. Third St., Yakima; 509-454-2493. readybyfive.org
GymKids Saturday Playdate
July 30, 2011 by Scott Klepach
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| June 11, 2011 | ||
| 10:00 am | ||
| July 9, 2011 | ||
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| August 13, 2011 | ||
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| September 10, 2011 | ||
| 10:00 am |
GYMKIDS SATURDAY PLAYDATE. 10–11:30 a.m. Open gym and playtime for children ages 1-5 years, accompanied by a parent. Zip line, popcorn, other activities. Cost: $10. Selah GymKids, 709 North Park Centre, Selah; 509-698-5437.
Fun Friday
July 30, 2011 by Scott Klepach
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| July 8, 2011 | ||
| 6:00 pm | ||
| August 12, 2011 | ||
| 6:00 pm | ||
| September 9, 2011 | ||
| 6:00 pm |
FUN FRIDAY. 6-9 p.m. Drop off kids ages 3-10 for a supervised open gym and playtime. Cost: $18 first child, $16 siblings; includes pizza dinner. Reservations not necessary. Selah GymKids, 709 North Park Centre, Selah; 509-698-5437.
Funky Friday Nights (Lions Pool)
July 30, 2011 by Scott Klepach
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| July 1, 2011 | ||
| 7:00 pm | ||
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FUNKY FRIDAY NIGHTS (’80s theme). 7-8:30 p.m. Fridays. Cost: $0.50 for kids, $1 adults, $0.75 seniors (62 and older), or $3.25 per family. Lions Pool, 509 W. Pine St., Yakima; 509-575-6046.
Yakima Speedway
July 30, 2011 by Scott Klepach
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| July 30, 2011 | ||
| 6:00 pm | ||
| August 6, 2011 | ||
| 6:00 pm | ||
| August 13, 2011 | ||
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| September 4, 2011 | ||
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| September 17, 2011 | ||
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YAKIMA SPEEDWAY. Gates open 4 p.m.; race 6 p.m. Ticket prices vary. 1600 Pacific Ave. 509-248-0647. yakimaspeedway.us
