It's Not Always About the Money

I made a personal vow to stop at every lemonade stand that I can, for I well remember the days of sitting in front of my house in the hot summer sun just waiting for customers! At one particular stand, I paid my 25 cents (inflation!) and the girl handed me back 15 cents. I told her I gave her the right amount of money, and I shouldn't get anything back. She pointed at the sign. Sure enough, it was right there: "LEMONADE 25 Cents Plus Change". I tried to help her and her friend by explaining they wouldn't make much money that way, but I got the feeling that for them, giving change was just as much fun as making money. Bless the kids!
~SS

FUN WiTH WORDS

I once babysat a boy who called cookies "giggans". I like when they do that--then we get to use those fun words, too!
~SS

It's All Write

On a chalkboard gift my son made in elementary school is written: "BEST MOM AROUND".
That is one message I will never erase.
~SS

Quote of the Day

"A child can ask questions that a wise man cannot answer."
 ~Author Unknown

I Can See Clearly Now

When I was about 3, my mom was showing me photos of her baby shower and I told her that I remembered being at it. She said that couldn't be, because I hadn't been born yet.  I was SURE I remembered being there and told her under no uncertain circumstances that yes I was--I had been looking out her belly button.
~SS

Private Concert

My 16-year-old son and his friend came home after school today and got out the acoustic guitar. His friend turned to me: "Do you want to hear a song?" I sure did! He played, I listened. I was included. Awesome.
~SS

Daily Q & A to Our Child

Every day one or both of us would say to our son:  "Why do I love you?  Because you're YOU!" :)
It was especially gratifying when he began to finish the question himself: "Because I'm ME! :)"
~SS

Really, there are 26?

When I was young, I thought there were only 23 letters in the alphabet: ELEMENO being one of them.
~SS

Quote of the Day

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."
 ~Stacia Tauscher

Preschool Express

My friend (and former boss!) Jean Warren is a well-known author and wonderful teacher. Her website Preschool Express offers FREE art and game ideas, songs, patterns, recipes, poems, party ideas, etc, all aimed toward preschoolers. Check it out!
http://www.preschoolexpress.com/

Joshua

My hand
Will always be here
If you ever need to
Grab it
So freely you love
And enjoy your world
Every bug and bird a new friend
Each grain of sand a story untold
You ride the
Carousel of your day
Smiling and carefree
Until you look around
And fear
Just for a moment
That I am gone
Forward you race
Mama!
Soon I see tiny fingers
Reaching
Out of the corner of my eye
Grab it!
It will always be here
My hand.

~Shana C. Sloan

The Approval

While being hugged by my teenage son: "Mom, you're squishy." Smiling, he added; "that's a good thing."
~SS

Quote of the Day

“When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies”
~James Matthew Barrie

What to Be for Halloween?

When our son was 2, we asked him what he wanted to be for Halloween. Without hesitation he answered:
"A Christmas Tree!" To this day, that is our very favorite costume.  PS) Dad made him the coolest Christmas tree costume EVER!!  :)
~SS

Colors

Nephew, at age 4 or so, reciting his colors:
"Red, Blue, Lalloo."
Lalloo was how he said Yellow. He also liked to eat Pongcorn at the movies.
~SS

How Many Toes?

Niece, 3 years, one leg extended:
"See my toes: these 2 are painted, these 4, they are not painted."
With the way she pointed at them, she made it work!
~SS

Make It Warmer

Welcome! You may wonder why my blog is titled Make It Warmer. Let me explain. One day when my son was young, I was getting him ready for his bath. He politely asked me if I could make the water warmer. I was surprised by this request as the water seemed plenty warm to me; if not a soothing hot temperature. It was then that I got a treasured glimpse into the amazing mind of a child: he actually wanted the water colder. After all, warm is cooler than hot. I thought that was brilliant. I still do.