reading aloud

When you read aloud to a child, 3 major things happen:

1. You bond with that child and will create happy memories associated with reading.

This happens especially with young children. My 3 year old loves to snuggle up next to me with a book. When she is older and reflects on her childhood, one memory I want her to treasure is our moments reading together.

2. You are filling that child's brain with words, syntax, meaning and phrases they wouldn't get anywhere else.

Everyday language doesn't use the same words, syntax, or phrases you find in books. Reading aloud introduces a new unique vocabulary to children. Children will soak up that vocabulary and draw upon it later in life as they expand their education.

3. You are setting an example.

Children, no matter their age, look to adults for examples. They will justify actions based on an adults' actions. Reading is no different. When children see us read, we are giving them permission to also read. When we read for pleasure we are telling our children that reading is not just associated with drudging homework.

So go grab a book and read with your child! Explore the world of Hogwarts, woodworking, Greek myths, Alice's wonderland and the happily ever afters of fairy tales.

**Information obtained from "The Read Aloud Handbook" by Jim Trelease.

clingy

My 3 year old little girl loves to be around me. While it is wonderful to be loved so much, sometimes it can be a challenge when there are things that I need to accomplish by myself. If we are going anywhere, mom has to be the one who puts her in the car seat. Mom is the one who walks her down the stairs. If I go to get the mail, or take the garbage out, she wants to go with me. If I have to leave at night, I try to wait until after she is in bed. My husband says that once she realizes I am gone, she cries and cries. 
The only exception to this attachment is if she is playing with her friend. She has a friend who she often plays with, and could care less if I was around. It was perplexing to us that she would cry and throw a fit when I would leave her with my husband.

In looking for solutions, we were given some advice which has greatly helped. If you are in a similar situation, hopefully it will help you as well!

Special activities for Dad and Child around the house: We started small by him taking her outside to ride her bicycle in our driveway. In the beginning, I would look out from the window so she knew I was nearby.

Activities within short distances to home: After she became more comfortable with the bicycle riding, he took her for a walk around our block. He pointed out the different flowers and plants, which she loved.

Trips to places the child enjoys: After about a month of doing the previous 2 activities, they took a trip to McDonald's to get a happy meal. The trip lasted about 30 minutes, and she didn't cry for me once.

Start taking quick trips, leaving the child at home: I then started running 10-15 minute errands by myself. While I was gone they would read stories or he'd give her piggy-back rides.

All these little thing are building a stronger relationship between my daughter and husband. I am happy to say that it is getting easier to be separated from her. My husband enjoys the special times he has with her, she is getting closer to her dad and I am enjoying a little more freedom. I have a girl's night out coming up, and I am hopeful I will be able to leave before bedtime!

home

When Nick and I decided to get married, we each wrote a list of places we would consider living. There were no matches between our lists. Since we've been married, through jobs and road trips, we've lived and visited many, many areas in the States. After seven years, we still hadn't found the perfect place. Our home.

Now that we have two children and a thriving business, it's important for us to put down roots. After yet another "community shopping" road trip (this time around the Midwest), we decided to do a home search in the Twin Cities area. We found a beautiful home in Menomonie, WI and were so close to sealing the deal. When it fell through, we scheduled another trip to MN/WI and soon decided to drive straight over to eastern Wisconsin.

As we drove our rental car into Sheboygan, we felt like we were home. For the first time. A wonderful feeling we've waited so long to find.

Sheboygan is beautiful and friendly with great restaurants and travel time to nearby cities. Our house shopping trip quickly turned into meetings with the bank, chamber of commerce, city planning, lawyer, post office, other local business owners and quick new friends. Next week we will move our family to beautiful Sheboygan and become a part of this amazing city.

8th Street business district

8th Street business district

Bus station/depot

Community pride

 

8th Street business district

Parks, trails and sandy beaches along Lake Michigan.

Fog rolling into town from Lake Michigan.