Responding to Homelessness: Influences and Experiences

November 25, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Contentment, Parenting Books

I attended college in Santa Barbara, California, where the mild Mediterranean climate attracts movie stars, tourists, and the homeless alike. Mental illness was so common among the homeless there that my psychology professor assigned a project that involved observing a street person displaying signs of mental illness, identifying a probable diagnosis, and writing a suggested treatment plan. Several years prior to my arrival on campus, a fellow college student was so troubled by the ever-present homeless population that he dropped his classes, donated the contents of his bank account to a local shelter, and moved onto the street to join them. Clearly, this was neither wise nor a significant solution, but I admire the depth of his concern.

C'est le Weekend: Links You'll Like

November 23, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Weekend Links, Cultural Reflections, Education

Aren't you thrilled to celebrate Thanksgiving next week? I'm grateful that my husband has a week off work this year, even if some of the days are unpaid furlough days. I hope you have plenty of time to relax too! From hackschooling to newborn twins in France, enjoy the links I've compiled for you this weekend.

Thanksgiving: An Act of Grace Tied to Five Kernels

November 22, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Cultural Reflections

We Americans will soon celebrate l'Action de grâce. I love the French translation of Thanksgiving, because in addition to gathering with family for food, this season is indeed founded on grace and gratitude. My favorite definition of grace is "unmerited favor." Sometimes it takes disasters like the recent super typhoon in the Philippines to remind us that we have far more than we deserve, and it's more than appropriate to pause in wonder at God's protection and provision.

Here in America, our lives have continued to be characterized by increasing abundance. My "five kernels" of gratitude reveal the generosity that God has shown me:

Motherhood: The Beauty of Becoming

November 21, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting

I'm only four years into the experience of motherhood, but it's enough to see how quickly children grow from feather-light swaddled packages into youths who beg you to watch as they perform new feats. Yet only now do I realize that the growth and achievements visible in our children often parallel the changes taking place in our adult hearts and minds. Parenting is transformative, perhaps most of all for mothers. As mothers, each moment brings scenarios requiring our response: the baby wakes early; the toddler tugs at our pant leg while we're washing dishes; the child bursts into tears when plans are thwarted--but with these everyday challenges we take a breath and find ways to respond with patience and creativity that we lacked a day or two before.

Do you see how you are growing, mama? Have you realized how you are beginning to shine? Don't fear that you are losing yourself.

DIY Dry Erase Family Calendar (Great for Classrooms Too)

November 19, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Learning Resources, Home Management

Tile board is great dry erase material! It can be used at home to create large family wall calendars or to display the week's menu. As a foreign language teacher, I used shower board to make a classroom set of mini whiteboards. (We used them for translation games.) If you're interested in making a large dry erase family calendar, read on. Frankly, this DIY project is incredibly easy, since the home improvement store employees can cut the tile board for you.

International Lullabies: French, English, & Spanish Bedtime Songs for Children

November 15, 2013 by Michele Cherie in French Resources, French Language Learning, Reflections on Parenting, Education

Of all the cultural treasures in the world, lullabies must be among the sweetest snippets of language and melody. In the short film collection Paris, Je T'Aime, one of the more moving five-minute stories featured a nanny singing a Spanish lullaby. The lullaby she sang is called "Qué Linda Manita" and it refers to the sweet little hands, eyes, and other body parts that God gave the baby.

I don't remember any lullabies from my childhood, but there is a song that I associate with bedtime. On a nightstand beside my bed was a lamp with wooden figurines on a seesaw. The lamp played a simple wind-up melody called Say, Say Oh Playmate. My mama taught me the words and wrote them in my baby book. (This American song goes back to the 1930s or earlier).

Tips for Choosing Toys That Will Be Loved

November 13, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting, Home Management

As we express our appreciation this month for what we've been given, we also start thinking about what we want to give. Of course, experiential gifts, such as a trip to the aquarium or a live performance of The Nutcracker, are a fantastic alternative to material things. But when we do purchase things for children, we want those things to bring joy and contentment for as long as possible. I haven't purchased any Christmas gifts yet, but I'll be acting on my ideas soon.

November 11: How and Why We Remember Armistice

November 11, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Learning Resources

Although Veteran's Day has been officially marked on the American calendar since 1926, it wasn't until I lived in France that I realized why November 11th was the day chosen to honor our veterans. I was riding a bus in Lyon when I spotted a street named "11 november 1918." I knew World War II had ended in 1918, but until that moment, I hadn't realized that the 11th day of the 11th month marked the end of the fighting. I'm grateful that the French name their streets after historic dates and persons. There's beauty in preserving knowledge in such a publicly visible way.

This Veteran's Day, I can't think of this day without also recalling images from a project called The Fallen 9000.