The last day May 24, 2007

Today is Ben’s last day of elementary school. It’s become a tradition for me to take the first and last day of school off and spend the morning at Starbucks, journaling my perspectives of the moment, looking back on the school year, forward to the summer ahead, always with a grateful heart. These snapshots in time form a powerful portrait when I view them all at once.

But since today started off with a 5th grade awards ceremony at 8:30 am, and I’ll soon be heading off for Ben’s last day of school party, I’m enjoying an iced coffee in the peace of our study instead.

We watched eagerly as Ben’s school was first built; an easy task since it’s at the end of our street. When I check the mailbox on days I work at home, I can hear the laughter of children from the playground. Ben has that sense of 5th grade ownership when he walks the hallways of his school, the confidence of someone who is known and loved on familiar territory.  I’m incredibly thankful to be able to send him off to someplace safe each day where he can freely learn and explore.

The last moment of the last day will feature the 5th grade parade, where everyone in the school lines the hallways and cheers the students who will be moving on to middle school next year. I’ve watched this procession for 5 years in a row, and I know that when time comes today I’ll be be found with tears in my eyes, a proud smile on my face, and profound gratitude in my heart because I get to enjoy moments like this in the life of one outstanding boy.

Food Talk: Paninis at Home May 23, 2007

This may be an old trick for some of you, but it had never occurred to me before that I could actually make my own panini sandwiches on our George Foreman grill. We ate at one of my favorite shi-shi lunch places the other day and I saw a brie, spinach, proscuitto and pear panini on the menu. I ended up opting for something else (which I enjoyed), but felt a pang of regret the next day for not trying something that sounded so delicious. And then I saw the brie in my fridge and the gears started turning. So eventually, I finally got to try my hand at homemade paninis and they were fantastic! I used some leftover thinly sliced grilled chicken, brie, and light smears of apricot jelly and dijon mustard on soft wheat french bread. I buttered the outsides, put them on the grill, closed the lid and cooked them for about 5-7 minutes, turning once. I served them alongside a leafy salad with apple, dried cranberries and sugared pecans. It was a great weeknight dinner with a definite bonus – easy to make a grilled cheese for Ben at the same time!

Easy Target May 23, 2007

I’m a sucker for clever marketing, and if you can make me laugh, all the better. Ben and Jerry seem to have zeroed in on some demographic target that definitely includes me. As if Vermonty Python wasn’t enough, they took it to the next level with the most recent flavor I saw: Marsha! Marsha! Marshmallow! Cracked me up.

When Praise Backfires May 2, 2007

What if you could change the chemistry of your child’s brain based on the way you praise him or her? And what if it could actually do harm? It happens, and if you’re anything like we were, it’s happening in your home. Brian read a short piece in the Wall Street Journal a month or two ago that made us re-think the way we give Ben praise. And then his teacher sent home a more in-depth article on the subject that really opened my eyes. It’s long, but well worth the time. Not only is it a fascinating look at our human brain, but it could shape your child’s future.