|
|
| |||
|
HOME & FAMILY Pacing and Leading
in Communications Preparing For The Future
About Bedtime Stories by Professional Writers by Devora Piha Possibly, the most important time in a child's daily life is when he goes to sleep. This is when he reviews the day's activities, experiences, lessons and his impressions about them, consciously and subconciously, and digests them emotionally during his sleeping hours.
Sixty percent of visits to a pediatrician deal with ear examinations
and infections. In a great deal of them, we could have spared ourselves
and the doctor the effort by some elementary examination into the
ear, on our own, if we only had the equipment and some basic know-how.
Know Thyself Two events occurred recently which made me believe that I'm not doing
too badly as a mother.
My son came home with his baseball bat and said some of his friends
had wanted him to leave the bat with them and said that they wouldn't
be his friends if he refused. He told me, "What do I care? My
real friends will play with me whether I leave it there with them
or not."
The Unseen World -- Part One
This next three articles that I will be'ezras Hashem,
write concern the world of the most plentiful of Hashem's
creatures. This unseen world contains viruses, bacteria and
protozoa; we will concern ourselves with the ones that affect
us.
WHAT'S COOKING? Still trying to get those Yomtov inches off your waist? Try these three.
Poet's Corner
I know, Yankel, I know,
One hundred times, at least, you've told me so.
How I talk to our kids, that's how they'll talk to their own. In their
own home.
I know, Yankel, I know, I'm wrong. Screaming is not a pleasant song.
But what can I do? I've tried so many different ideas. It doesn't
go with ease.
And somehow, I always fall through. I can't help it if I do.
I really do want to talk nicely, but under pressure, I forget, and
the shouts just come automatically when I fret.
But - one day, alone in the kitchen, I heard Rivky, I heard shouts.
But she's all by herself in the room. What's this all about?
I stalked into the room, ready to give her a piece of my mind, when
I decided to stand and listen by the door, from behind.
"Sorele!" screeched Rivky, at her poor, innocent dolly. "How
many times must I tell you? Get into pajamas RIGHT NOW - or I'll SHOW
you how... And you, Tzippy, go brush your teeth this minute. Open
your mouth and get that toothbrush in it!" Through the crack in
the door, I saw Rivky pick up her teddy, and shake him to make him
good and ready. "Yossi, I'm SO upset with you! Why haven't you
put away your Lego, too? I thought you'd done it ages ago! Now I know!"
The wetness in my eyes merged the picture, and suddenly, it was years
ahead. A young mother, Rivky has her own little brood to put to bed.
The scene goes forward-fast, and I, the savta, stand in the
doorway of the children's room, and listen aghast. My poor innocent
einiklach! I love you so much! Why must your mother choose
to put you to bed with screaming and a potch?
Please, Rivky, I beg silently, don't shout. Don't scream.
They could get to bed just the same, and end up with happy dreams.
Smile and laugh with them. Play with them. You could invent a tidying-up
game, a race, against one another, against the clock face. With Tzippy,
you could tell her you'll shut your eyes - while she quickly makes
you a surprise.
And Sorele, with a kiss on her curly head, how quickly she would
jump into bed.
Oh, Yankel, I think with a groan, how can I condone? How
I wish I'd listened when you said - How you speak to your kids, is
how they'll speak to their own!
But wait! It's not too late!
Rivky is still MY little girl. My precious treasure, my pearl. Hashem,
I silently cry, Help me. Help me to erase the wrong impressions,
to be patient, to raise them with compassion.
With a prayer in my heart and a smile on my lips, I enter the room,
and plant, on Rivky's surprised face, a mother's kiss.
"Come, my darling. You're so very PRECIOUS. Tonight I want to
have you all for myself. We'll get you ready for bed, before anyone
else. And then, I'll tell you a story. Choose any book; I'll take
it down from your shelf."
Rivky's eyes light up. She looks up at me and says, "Just one
minute. Please? Could I just kiss my darling dollies first?" With
pride, I am about to burst. "They're so very PWECIOUS to me! I
want to put them to bed-- and I want you to see."
I nod. I smile. Yes, I can happily wait.
Thank you, Hashem, for teaching me -- before it's too late!
[We've lost the name and address of this writer from Kiryat Sefer.
Could she please contact us at 02-5372303?]
All material on this site is copyrighted and its use is restricted. |
||
