A Father's Gift
By: John Shaughnessy

Click here for the full story.

Lakewood Moms: Please ask your husband to click on this link above, and read this inspiring article from All Pro Dads. If Dad is interested in doing something like this for our kids, please have them contact my husband Stephen, by email at sjmaduzia@verizon.net

Bill Bissmeyer shares the simple idea of a monthly breakfast that strengthens the bonds between fathers and their children, which has mushroomed into a concept that has been embraced by hundreds of groups in at least 40 states and six countries. He also describes “the miracle” that happens during one part of the special breakfasts—when each father stands up, introduces his son or daughter and then publicly shares at least one reason he is proud of his child.

“The look on the child’s face is like one of those time-delayed pictures of a flower blooming,” Bissmeyer says. “When the father introduces the daughter and says something sincerely about her, she literally grows in her father’s praise.”

“It’s nice to be just dad and the kids,” say Ben Stallings, a Roncalli parent and a father of five. “We did that when they were younger. It’s harder as they get older, and they have so many other things going on. It would be nice to do this once a week.”

His 15-year-old son, Ray, enjoys the time, too. “Me and my dad are real busy,” says Ray, a sophomore at Roncalli. “It’s nice to get up early and do this once a month. It gives us a chance to talk. I like that.”

The approach to the breakfasts is simple, Bissmeyer says. “The ingredients are: breakfast, kids, an introduction and praise from the father of the child, and a 10-minute speaker,” he says. “It’s kind of like saying you invented the cake when a cake has been around forever. You’re just showing people the ingredients to use.” He pauses and adds, “I never had an inkling that this would grow into what it has. It’s not to be credited to anyone except the individual father who takes the time to come.”

The breakfasts can get emotional for parents and children who don’t see each other on a regular basis because of a divorce. The emotion flows through everyone in the room when the speaker for the morning is a father who shares the story of a child who died.

“Every one of those fathers says the same thing, ‘Hug your kid,’ ” Bissmeyer says. “That’s their main message. Nothing else but
‘Hug your kid.’ ”

Kids are Bored?

Here is a fun list of activities that I got mostly from the All Pro Dads website. Some fun ideas for your next Family Game night, or whenever your kids say "Mom, I'm bored!"

IDEA BOX
Start with a tissue or shoe box and let your kids decorate it. When you come across an idea that strikes your fancy, write it on a slip of paper and place it in the box. Send them running to the idea box when they say they are bored. You can start by using some of the ideas listed below:

*Make a sponge garden. Soak a sponge in water and place it in a shallow dish. Sprinkle with alfalfa or rye grass seeds. Keep it moist and watch it grow
*Let your child finger paint with shortening on cookie sheets
*Create a mosaic by cutting construction paper into zillions of small pieces and gluing them to a sheet of paper to create patterns or scenes
*Make frozen fruit juice cubes in an ice tray
*Make a batch of homemade Play-dough. Recipes can be found online at http://www.theholidayzone.com/recipes/dough.html
*Spray paint two-liter bottles and use them for bowling pins. (Put a little water in the bottom of each one to weigh it down.)
*Make a bird feeder by rolling a pinecone in peanut butter, then in bird seed. Hang from a tree with string
*Have your children create books about themselves. They might want to include their birth date, handprints and footprints, drawings of themselves and their families and a story about themselves. These are wonderful keepsakes.
*Read and act out one of your child's favorite stories.
*Make a mystery bag by placing familiar objects in a pillow case. Ask your child to close his or her eyes, feel the objects in the bag and pick out the item you name
*Hide a small toy in a room. While the children look for it, give them clues such as, "You are hot" when they are close, and "You are cold" when they move away
*Put a sheet or blanket over a table and make a tent, doll house or secret hiding place. This is also a great place to take a nap or have a picnic lunch!
*Play hopscotch with your kids – all it takes is a little sidewalk chalk!
*Soak a stalk of cut celery in a glass of food coloring and a little water. Watch what happens the next day. (You can also use Daisies or Carnations for this experiment)
*Make a volcano. Mound dirt six to ten inches high and then clear a hole down the middle of it. Put 2 teaspoons of baking soda in the hole. Pour in some vinegar and watch your "eruption"
*Save pennies in a jar. When the jar is full, use the money for a family outing to the ice cream parlor.
*Picnic at a different park each week.
*Lie on a blanket in the backyard at night and look at the stars.
*Dress up and serve dinner by candlelight once a month.
*Have a sock fight. Roll socks into balls and throw at each other.
*Look at Me! Have your children observe you for a minute. Leave the room. Return to the room, having changed a small detail in your appearance. Can they guess? Take turns being “it”.
*Plan a scavenger hunt for items around the house.
*De-Clutter the closets and toybox, and have a garage sale of toys. Let the kids earn their own money to purchase something they’ve been wanting.
*Have a family car wash. Wear bathing suits and be ready for sponge fights and water squirt wars.
*Go on a long bike ride. Map your route before you leave, choosing new and interesting destinations each week
*Plan a special baking day and discuss what you will bake together. Distribute baked goods to neighbors and friends to be a blessing.
*Play the "message game" at bedtime: Draw letters on your child's back and have him or her try to decipher them
*Take your children on a "mystery date". Don't tell them where you are going or when the mystery ride will occur. Go to the beach for a picnic. Visit a children's museum. Go to the mall or a toy store and give each child $5 to spend any way they choose. Visit a grandparent or cousin. Bring them to a movie they've been wanting to see. Head to a lake or park. Just make when and where a big surprise!
*Put up a tent in the backyard and have a family pow-wow to talk about what happened that day. Who has a funny story to tell or something new to share? Can't build a fire? Microwave the S'mores!

Are you a Mean Mom?

Was your Mom mean?

I know mine was.
We had the meanest mother in the whole world!
While other kids ate candy and poptarts for breakfast,
we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast.

When others brought a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch,
we had to eat sandwiches.

Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times.
You'd think we were convicts in a prison!
She had to know who our friends were
and what we were doing with them.
She insisted that if we said we
would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.

We were ashamed to admit it,
but she had the nerve to break
the Child Labor Laws by making us work.
We had to wash the dishes, make the beds,
learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry,
empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs.

I think she would lie awake at night
thinking of more things for us to do.

She always insisted on us telling the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
By the time we were teenagers,
she could read our minds
and had eyes in the back of her head.
Then, life got really tough!

Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk
the horn when they drove up.
They had to come up to the door
so she could meet them.

While everyone else could date
when they were 12 or 13,
we had to wait until we were 16.

Because of our mean mom, we missed out
on lots of things other kids experienced.
None of us have ever been caught shoplifting,
vandalizing other's property or ever arrested
for any crime.

Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults.
We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was.

I think that is what's wrong with the world today.
It just doesn't have enough mean moms!

FREE Family Movies, Tues and Weds mornings

Yes, I said FREE!
Looking for something to do with the kids? Let's meet up at Keystone Theater on 75, and take them to a free movie!

* Two theaters, one plays a "G" movie and the other plays "PG" for the older kids

* 10:30 on Tuesday morning, OR 10:30 on Weds. morning

* Call me and let's get a group together!


Keystone Park Stadium 16
13933 N. Central Expressway
Dallas ,TX 75243
972-671-1020

Tues and Weds only:

Doogal (G)
and
Are We There Yet? (PG)
06/17/2008 - 06/18/2008


Rugrats The Movie (G)
and
Nancy Drew (PG)
06/24/2008-06/25/2008


Rugrats In Paris: The Movie (G)
and
Shrek The Third (PG)
07/01/2008-07/02/2008


Charlotte's Web (G)
and
Flushed Away (PG)
07/08/2008-07/09/2008


Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (G)
and
Daddy Day Care (PG)
07/15/2008-07/16/2008


Wallace And Gromit (G)
and
Water Horse: Legend Of The Deep (PG)
07/22/2008-07/23/2008


Stuart Little 2 (PG)
and
Mr. Bean's Holiday (G)
07/29/2008-07/30/2008


Everyone's Hero (G)
and
Bratz (PG)
08/05/2008-08/06/2008


Jonah: A Veggie Tale Movie (G)
and
Alvin And The Chipmunks (PG)
08/12/2008-08/13/2008


Call me and let's meet there with the kids!
Love, Vickie

Tips to Surviving Summertime with the Kids....

If there’s one phrase that strikes fear in the heart of a lot of parents, it’s this: summer break.

As a kid, there was nothing better than the three months of freedom between May and September. But fast-forward to life as a parent, and June, July, and August can often mean three long months filled with hot days, bored kids, and—if you’re the parent of college students—missed curfew!
Maybe you can relate?

If so, I’ve got some great news for you. Summer break can actually be a great time of learning and growth… even spiritual growth… for your kids. But it won’t just happen. It’s going to take some work on your part.
Now, what’s great is that it’s still spring. That means you’ve got a couple of months to plan ahead!

And while I can’t share everything you might want to consider to make summer the most it can be for your family, Michelle and I do have some helpful steps that might save you and your spouse some stress this coming summer.
The first step is to come up with a plan in advance.

One of the best things you’ll do this spring is to be proactive about what you want the summer months to look like in your home. In other words, define your expectations!

Talk to your spouse and decide what your expectations for your kids are regarding such things as neatness, chores, jobs, curfew, checking in with you, the amount of TV they’ll watch, computer use and video game policy, and summer reading.

That leads us to step number two: schedule a meeting with your kids.

Once you and your spouse have an idea of your expectations, plan a meeting with your kids.

Ask for your children’s input, listen to them, and mirror their feelings. Let them have leeway on the things you don’t care too much about. The more your kids feel like they’re a part of the plan, the more likely they will try to make it successful!

And finally, the third step to surviving summer is to set some general guidelines and be clear about your expectations.

Here are some other suggestions:
*Help your kids plan ahead by asking, “What are some new skills or activities you’d like to try this summer?”

*Allow your kids to contribute to the household by requiring them to do chores. But instead of just arbitrarily assigning chores, give them some options. Although it is often easier to just do it ourselves, chores teach our kids they are part of a family unit where everyone’s contribution is needed and important.

*Plan ahead and have potential consequences in mind. When your kids disobey, instead of lectures and nagging, give consequences consistently and with empathy!

*When they’re bored, instead of making it your responsibility to keep them entertained, ask questions and offer choices that encourage them to entertain themselves. Examples: “What are some things you could do to entertain yourself?” or “You might think about working a puzzle or reading a book. What sounds good to you?”

*Make eating dinner as a family a priority. Resist the urge to quiz them about their responsibilities and focus on making it a relaxed time of sharing. (No cell phones at the dinner table.)

* Encourage sports and outdoor activities. Find out what your kids like to do. Don’t just suggest what interests you!

*Encourage volunteer work, and make it a fun, family project. This helps your kids focus on others.

*By doing your homework before June rolls around, I hope summer will be a time of rest, rejuvenation, and growth for your kids, as well as for you and your spouse!

Summer Movies at Studio Movie Grill

Attention Moms!! Here is the listing of Summer movies from Studio Movie Grill on 75. Only $1 for kids, and $2 for the grownups!

Email me at vmaduzia@verizon.net if you want to meet there at 11:00 am some weekday morning.

Three cheers for Lori Vogel, for emailing this list!

DO YOU know of something fun happening around town? Email me and I'll put it on the blog.

Love,
Vickie

Teacher Appreciation Luau, Weds. May 21 at Noon

If you love our fabulous Lakewood Teachers, here's your chance to bless them! We are organizing a special Luncheon to honor our awesome teachers, coaches and administrators. We are going with a Luau theme to celebrate their long-awaited summer break!

Teacher Appreciation Luau
Wednesday, May 21st
12:00 Noon

The Luau will be held in the school foyer (in back of the sanctuary) where we'll have tables set up for the teachers to sit down and enjoy their lunch. In addition to the Luau, we would like to be able to give each teacher a small gift. If you would like to contribute toward that, there is an envelope in the office -- look in the wooden tuition box for a colorful envelope with Hawaiian flowers!

Moms can bring salads and other luncheon foods (see below for list) and we will start setting up the buffet/tables/chairs at 10:45 am. We will need lots of help setting up and cleaning up, so please let us know if you are available, thanks!

There are many ways to help..... and many hands make light work!! It would be great if each mom could volunteer in one (or more) of the following ways:

1) Food and Drinks! This is of course the biggest need. See below for food list.
We will need enough food to set a buffet table to feed approximately 20 teachers, coaches and administrators, so we'll need lots of food. Since we can't get into the kitchen while class is in progress (science class), we will be serving mostly COLD foods and salads. Please call Vickie to help with food and drinks, vmaduzia@verizon.net

2) Decorations, Flowers for tables, and Paper items (plates, cups etc.) Do you have any party decorations or Tableware that looks like somewhat like a Hawaiian Luau? Please call Marilu, number is below.

3) Set up and Clean up helpers (set up at 10:45am, break down a little after 1:00pm) Please call Marilu, number is below.

4) Small Gift contributions. We are providing each teacher/coach/helper with a small gift to take home. If you would like to help contribute money toward the teacher gifts, there is an Envelope in the school office -- look in the wooden tuition box for a big envelope stamped with hawaiian flowers.

Please call one of these moms ASAP to volunteer:

Food/Drinks:
Vickie Maduzia, 972-495-6503 (h) or 214-724-2351 (cell)

Decorations; Setup & Cleanup help; Money for Teacher Gifts:
Marilu Dillahunty, 214-327-3954

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SIGNUP LIST: we will be updating this list as we go:


* Sparkling Punch and fruity little Umbrellas for the drinks!
Mischika Mentzer


* Cut up Fruits
Jennifer Stocker, Cut up Watermelon
Susan Bryant, Cut up Tropical Fruits



* Fruit Salads:
Fruit Salad, Vickie Maduzia
Fruit Salad, Cherrilane Blackburn



* Green Salads:
Caesar Salad, Janet Small
Green Tossed Salad, Jody Parra
Greens & Veggies salad, Amy Northrop
Brenda Nale, Spinach Salad



* Chicken Salads:
Lori Vogel, Salad with chicken
Marilu Dillahunty, Chicken Salad with croissants
Blackened Chicken Salad, Marnie Parmenter



*Seafood Salads:
Shrimp Cocktail or Krab Salad, Carol Oakes
Seafood Salad, Jen Haessig



*Other Salads:
Pasta Salad, Jody Parra
Marinated Vegetable Salad, Vickie Maduzia
Rice and Orzo Salad, Susan Hepp



* Veggie Tray with Dips
Artichoke Dip with veggies and crackers, Susan Hepp
Christina Burton, Veggie Platter
Tortilla Rollups, Rene Mette



* Cold Cut Platter with Bread for sandwiches:
Theresa Schmidt, salami and cheese tray with crackers



* Yummy Desserts, of any kind!
Cheesecake slices, Kari Kloepper
Banana Bread, Kim Winkelmann
Chocolate Chip Pecan Pies, Marti Dunton
Cookie Tray, Diane Cozart
Brownie Bites, Jennifer Stocker
Fruit Tartlets, Jolly Hormillosa
Susan Vega, dessert


* Decorations! -- think Luau/Hawaii style!
Lori Vogel
Vickie Maduzia
Theresa Sutton, Flower Lei's



* Flowers for tables, Decorating helpers:
Terri Lovette
Cherrilane Blackburn



* Paper items (Cute plates, napkins, cups, forks etc.)
Shawna Dobson



*Setup and Cleanup Helpers
Vickie Maduzia, setup & cleanup
Marilu D, setup & cleanup
Terri Lovette, setup
Janet Small, setup
Carol Oakes, cleanup
Terri Lovette
Cherrilane Blackburn
Theresa Sutton
Brenda Nale


FRIDGE NOTE: If necessary you may leave food in the fridge when you drop off your kids in the morning -- simply mark the top with a sticky note that says "Luau" and we will retrieve it when we start setting up at 10:45am.


***************************************


THANK YOU for your help in honoring our awesome Lakewood teachers, coaches and helpers!!

"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).