25 Saturday Jan 2014
Tags
carefree, Children, daddy, days gone by, dorindaduclos.com, family, life, little girl, memories, playground, poems, poetry, swings
Who is she
Hair blowing in the breeze
As she soars
Carefree and peaceful
Unafraid of the day
Higher, daddy, higher
She squeals
As a gentle push
Sends her flying
And the swing sways
With the gentle rhythm
Of the wind
Who is she
©2014 Dorinda Duclos All Rights Reserved
18 Wednesday Dec 2013
Posted in My Thoughts
Tags
Children, Colorado, Georgia, hug, Hunter Yelton, kiss, Sam McNair, schools, Sexual harassment, suspensions
You must remember this….a kiss is just….a hug is…. sexual harassment. Yet another student has been suspended from school, this time because he hugged a teacher. School boards are handing down decisions such as this to children showing affection.
Last week, six year old Hunter Yelton, from Colorado, received a two day suspension because he kissed a classmate on the hand. The school labeled it sexual harassment. It has since rescinded the suspension and said “it won’t classify his kissing a girl on the hand as sexual harassment.” What happened to bringing both sets of parents into school and speaking to them about the child’s conduct? Today it’s guilty until proven innocent. Hunter is now back in school and hopefully this incident will not be a dark spot in his future. I’m not saying what Hunter did was right. He apparently had a history of trying to kiss this same girl. I believe it’s called a crush. Remember those? You got all giddy because you found out the boy or girl you liked, liked you, too.
Skip forward to Sam McNair, a 17-year-old high school senior in Duluth, Georgia. He was suspended for a full year for hugging his teacher. With only five months left of the school year, this puts Sam’s college hopes in jeopardy. Camera footage shows the hug and the teacher subsequently pushing him away. She claimed she had spoken to him before but he says he has hugged other teachers, including her, with no repercussions for it. If, according to school policy, hugging in an issue, it should be addressed as such, to the parents and the child in question. I believe that labeling a child with sexual harassment over something like this is pushing the limit. If he had groped her in the process, the situation would have been warranted.
Both boys have had disciplinary problems in the past but neither had anything like this. Due to privacy issues, which I find rather amusing since this is all over the internet, prior acts committed can not be made public.
What are we teaching our children today? In my home, we’re huggers. My kids, me, my husband. Always have been, always will be. A hug is a sign of comfort, of, wait, what’s that word? Oh, right…LOVE. Something this nation is sorely lacking. The amount of kindness in this world is fading. Look around you. What do you see? People too busy to look up from their phones or tablets to even smile or say hello. Imagine if we had to actually talk to each other, face to face, one on one. Would we even remember how to? Or would we just stare at each other in an awkward silence? Children are like little sponges. they absorb what they see around them. If you’re a family of huggers, chances are your child will offer that show of affection to another Their environment plays a huge role in making them who they are.
While I understand these rules are in place for the safety of the individual, I think the school systems are overreacting and need to reevaluate the act based on circumstance. One of the reasons, I’m sure, that they are taking extremes, is fear of litigation. Don’t like the outcome? Let’s sue!! Another thing that’s totally out of control. But that’s another story.
Parents, teach your children to respect others. Personal space is important. But also teach them to love their fellow man, not by touching but by smiling, offering a helping hand or a reassuring word. The world needs love & understanding, now, more than ever.
As time goes by…..
Copyright 2013
All Rights Reserved
12 Thursday Dec 2013
Posted in Life, Love, Memories, My Thoughts
Tags
Children, Christmas tree, decorations, dorindaduclos.com, grandparents, holidays, life, ornaments, parents, traditions
We all have them. They are the things our parents and grandparents did when we were small, that we may still carry on today. I’d like to share one of mine with you.
My mom always had the house beautifully decorated for the holidays. I used to marvel at how patient she was hanging tinsel on each branch of the Christmas tree, a tradition she carried on from her mother. Our tradition was the white Christmas tree on the hearth of the fireplace. Decorated with red satin Christmas ball ornaments, the tree sat in the corner, giving the room a homey feeling. You would think that sounds odd. How could a white, artificial tree, be homey. But it was. It represented our family. Every year, without fail, the tree was found in its spot. As mom got older, she stopped decorating as much as she used to, eliminating the white tree, along with other things.
Lives get busy and emotions change and I found myself moving away from the traditions of my childhood, and creating new ones for my own family. But something was always missing. An empty space among all the decor. And I could never put my finger on it. Until now.
As most of you know, I left the wedding and event industry after 15 plus years to pursue a greater passion. In doing so, it has also given me the time to reflect on my life. What I did, what I am doing and what I have yet to accomplish. Have you ever taken the time to do this? Most of you will say no because you’re busy running out the door to get to your jobs, or your child’s soccer or baseball game or just running, in general. We all need to do this at some point in our lives. If we don’t, we will lose ourselves.
And so, as I prepared to decorate my own home, a task that had lost some of its luster over the years, I decided it was time to make a change. I simply stated to my husband that I wanted a white Christmas tree. I explained the sentiment behind it and he said “if that’s what you want, then do it”. And we did. I wanted my mom, who is up there in her years, to experience those days of long ago, once again. She has no idea we did this and I can’t wait to see her face when she comes in the house. We do not have a hearth to place the tree on but it does sit in the corner of the room, adding a warmth that I never imagined I could feel again.
My little piece of comfort…
It’s so important to have traditions within your family but even more important to carry them forward so that your children and their children will have these memories. It doesn’t have to be a holiday tradition. It could be as simple as flying a kite on the beach. It is whatever feels right in your heart.
Copyright 2013
All Rights Reserved
08 Friday Nov 2013
Posted in Life, My Thoughts
Tags
allergies, Allergy, board of education, Children, dorindaduclos.com, education, food, life, nuts, Peanut, Peanut butter, policy, rules, school, schools, Tree nut allergy, wayne nj
No, I’m not referring to all the squirrels gathering for the Winter, or the facts that America is going nuts over this healthcare crap. However, this is a serious issue and one I can definitely relate to. Nut allergies. I, myself, am allergic to peanuts & pine nuts.
A recent meeting with the Wayne Board of Ed had parents asking for stricter rules where the consumption of nuts is at issue, mainly, lunch hour. Currently, at one of the elementary schools in town (we have 9), children with nut allergies must sit at a separate table with only one of their friends permitted to sit with them. This will create more of a stigma for the child then allowing them to sit at a table where many friends are enjoying each others company. In today’s society, any child who is considered “different” is open to harassment & bullying. Children of elementary school age, who may not realize the risks to other children, can not be expected to understand “Johnny can’t have peanut butter”. Education within the schools is crucial but not effective in younger children.
While researching other districts in the area to see if they have a policy regarding food allergies, specifically nuts, I came across the letter that was sent out to Hawthorne parents whose children attend Roosevelt Elementary. They laid out the following guidelines:
Do you have enough time in the morning to make sure your child washes their hands with soap and water after eating peanut butter for breakfast? What about brushing their teeth? If you’re like most families today, you’re rushing out the door just to get the kids to school! And why is it ok to have nuts at lunch time but not at snack time? if a child is going to share with a friend, and they will even if you tell them not to, it really makes no difference on the time of day.
It’s not really a big deal to implement a “No Nut Zone” in a school building. It could save a child’s life.
Copyright 2013
All Rights Reserved
Original Photo via www.stoneoakinfo.com
29 Tuesday Oct 2013
Posted in Life, My Thoughts
Tags
9/11, candy, Children, dorindaduclos.com, ghouls, goblins, Halloween, holidays, parents, Trick or Treat
It’s almost that time, where the goblins and ghouls come out to wreak havoc on unsuspecting trick or treaters. This brings me back to the better days. The days when your parents helped you get dressed in your costume, gave you a sack, a bucket, whatever vessel it was, to hold your candy, and off you went. You met up with friends and took the neighborhood by storm. A time when Mom & Dad didn’t have to worry where you were after sunset. You knew what time you had to be in or in my case; my Dad’s two-finger whistle alerted the whole neighborhood it was time to come home. We all flocked to Mrs. S’s house because she had caramel apples and no one ever thought about a razor blade inside. Try that today…
Times have changed so drastically. We are in post 9/11 mode on a constant daily basis. We think twice before the children go out to play. Where are they going? Are the other parents home? Have we gone over the “rules” enough that they remember? Today, play dates & house parties are the norm. Children are dropped off at a friend’s, with a specific time to be picked up. Less worry for concerned parents.
Halloween used to be one of my favorite holidays. Used to be. No longer can we trust that our children’s safety is not at risk. No longer can we allow our children to eat their candy without first checking the packaging. This takes away from the fun of going door to door and passing the word about who has the best candy. From hearing all the other adults ooh and ahh over the little three year old dressed like Cinderella. From being a kid.
Sadly, we’re lucky if we get two dozen trick or treaters at our house. Years ago, we had hundreds.
So, remember, on this Halloween, please drive safely. Watch out for little ones, whose parents took the time to take them out and give them the experience we all had and yes, even the teenagers who are roaming the streets after dark.
Have a Safe & Happy Halloween.
Copyright 2013
All Rights Reserved
Original photo via www.thedestinlog.com
Night Owl Poetry - Dorinda Duclos 