Wishes

It's predictable...it's Friday and that means it's share day. We get the usual Barbies, books and latest Cars 2 characters. Every Friday I bring a "share toy" too. One time it was a picture of my son and his partner, another time artwork that I have made or favorite books that I will read to them later in the day, etc.

This past Friday I brought a roll of tickets, all 100 of them with the word "WISH" on them. I explained what a wish is: something you really hope will come true. It could be anything from wishing to be an astronaut going to the moon to wanting to go swimming soon. The children shocked me with their answers! Not one of them asked for anything material. It started off with "I wish my Dad and Mom did not have to work so much."

"My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

Next came children saying, "I wish my Mom and Dad wouldn't be on the phone so much", then "I wish my Mom and Dad wouldn't text so much" or "I wish Mom and Dad would spend more time with me" or "not be on the computer so much". I explained that Moms and Dads have to work to pay for clothes, food, housing etc. Even Miss Sue, Terry, Bette, Simin and Janelle work, much to the childrens' surprise.

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Childhood is but a fleeting moment in time compared to all the years we spend as grown-ups worried about careers, money, time and lastly on the list-family. What do you want your legacy to be?

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

Will it be one of too busy for your child because you must text? Or on the phone and too busy to enjoy hearing them sing their latest song they've just learned?

Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"

I watched this scenario play out a week or two ago at school.
Mom comes in texting on her phone. Her child comes up excitedly with an art project she is anxious to show her mom. "Mommy! Look what I made, look what I made, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom..." Mom finally acknowledges her child with a short, curt, "What do you want?" Child replies disheartedly, "I want to show you my art project!" Mom replies, "OK, fine, we are in a hurry, we have to go." The child runs off to show some other children in the big room her art project and begins talking to them. Mom, with great impatience says, "Come on, Susie* we have to go, Susie, Susie, Susie, Susie." Mom turns to me and says, "Honestly, I just don't get why Susie won't listen to me, she just ignors me until I call her name 5-6 times." Hmmmmm....I wonder why Susie won't listen, is it perhaps because Mom is too busy to listen to Susie? (*Susie is a pseudonym)

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

Remember, what you do is far more impressionable to your children than what you say. If they see you on the computer, phone, video game or other electronic devices far too often, what you are saying is that they are less important than the electronic gadgets. Put the phone, computer, electronic device down and enjoy a family time together. It's later than you think!

"Cats In the Cradle" music and works by Harry Chapin, 1974.

Fun Farm Animal Friday!

Hello Followers!

Today is Fun Friday and we have had lots of new experiences here at Cherub today. This morning we had a "dairy tasting" day where we learned about all kind of things that are made from milk. We tried cottage cheese and learned that this is really what Miss Muffett was eating when the nursery rhyme stated that she was eating her "curds and whey", some cream cheese, some sour cream, some cheese, milk and yogurt. The children's faces were sublime! They ranged from disgust to excitement!

Also we played an animal match game and made pig noses for our afternoon activity. Check them out! Lots of things coming home today...enjoy your child's art work, they worked hard on it! Have a great weekend!

Hugs,
Miss Sue

Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot

According to "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by T.S. Eliot, there are all sorts of cats...all waiting for the Jellicle Ball, the night when a very old cat names the cat to go to the "Heaviside Layer". Well, we did not need to wait too long for the Jellicle Ball, as we had it here this morning. We got to have cat faces, learn about cats and play outside as cats we even had "cat's eyes" for snack...see pix below!

Additionally, we baked bread for snack...learned about what yeast is and how it is good bacteria to make our bread rise. We watched Miss Sue knead it (someone asked if I was "meating" it) and let it rise twice. Now for the best part, fresh, baked bread for snack! Yummmm-o!

See you all soon,
Miss Sue

Bow Wow Mania!

Today we learned all about dogs...what they eat, how to take care of them, how they help people, how they help on the farm/ranch. Bette showed us all kinds of pictures of dogs; big, little, lots of fur, no fur, all different colors. We even had Miss Sue's border collie, Maynard G. Krebs, join us today. We saw how he liked to herd the children in the yard! This afternoon we made dog puppets...with ample glue, of course and decorated our own "dog bone" cookies.

Check out our bulletin boards in the art room! They look fan-tab-u-lous! Have a great evening!

Smiles,

Miss Sue

We're Living out our Inner "Animal" selves

Hello and Happy Tuesday to Everyone,

Today we learned all about our farm animal friends and some new songs too. This morning we channeled our inner animal selves and got to chose whether we wanted to be a horse, pig, dog, cat, chicken or goat. We had a big run on horse people, but had some pigs, dogs, chickens too. It was sooooo fun.

We also made our own sheep this afternoon for our barnyard. It was a fun to play with the cotton balls. I think Cherub should buy some stock in Elmer's Glue, since our our preschoolers LOVE glue...and they are still drying. They should be up tomorrow on the bulletin board.

Also, ask your child about the "Dirty Socks" song...it was a huge hit and funny too!

Have a great day!

Smiles,
Miss Sue

We've Gone Hog Wild..and Baby Chick Wild, Too!

It's our Animal Extravaganza! This week we are studying domesticated animals..today we learned about baby chicks and pigs and why they roll in the mud. As a matter of fact, we made our own faux mud through fingerpainting and made baby chicks and pigs. What a busy day!

Hugs to all,

Miss Sue

Friday Pix

Have You Heard?

Hello Followers,
Did you know that Cinderella did not loose a glass slipper at the ball...today, a full basket of shoes was left on our doorstep! However, there were matches for every pair except one. We had to match up all the shoes to find their match to find out which shoe Cinderella lost at the ball. What a crazy mix-up! It was soooooo much fun figuring out which shoe she left behind!

Also, check out our bulletin board for our fairies that are now up. They look great!

Move over Harry Winston, Tiffany and Cartier, we made our very own bejeweled necklaces with Red Vine laces and fruit loops. When was the last time you could both wear and eat your jewelry? This is  living in a big way!

Have a great weekend!

Our Home is our Castle

Wowee! We were busy today. First we made out cupcake castles and helped mix and pour them into the ice cream cones. Then we listened to more fairytales...today it was Cinderella. In the afternoon we decorated our cupcake cone/castles with frosting, sprinkles and candy....and then...the best part! We got to eat them! Yumm-o!

Also, we made our very own fairies this afternoon. They are still drying on the rack, due to prolific glue usage but will soon be up on our Jack and the Beanstalk bulletin board.

We have so much fun here, come join us for a few days a week or full time. We have a blast EVERYDAY!

Enjoy the photos,
Miss Sue

Frog Kisses Anyone?

Hello All,
Ever wonder what it would be like to kiss a frog? Well today, we found out! We all took a turn at kissing our pretend prince frog...and wait until you see where the kisses wound up! It was so fun, a game we will soon do over again.

Additionally, check out our crowns, every person needs a crown or wizard hat to make your day complete. This afternoon, we'll write our own, "Once Upon a Time" Story...more details tomorrow.

Have a great day!
XXOO

Miss Sue

Fairyland

Oh what a perfectly magical day! We had a great time at Children's Fairyland today...we toured the grounds, had a picnic lunch, rode a Merry-Go-Round, saw "Willie the Whale with the Curly Tale", saw a great puppet show, saw where Peter Rabbit lives, rode the Jolly Trolley and on some characters from Alice in Wonderland. It was great and a good time was had by Cherub's of all ages....

Smiles,
Miss Sue

Once Upon a Time in Cherub-land

Welcome to the Magic Kingdom of Cherub...where we have kings, queens, princesses, wizards and more here with magic wands, special hats and more. Today we made our own crowns and wizard/princess hats. You know, you need to switch off sometimes to keep up the variety!

Terry brought books from the library about Fairytales and Fantasy and we learned about Wizards this morning. This afternoon, we are building Jack's Beanstock right here in our front room. Be sure to see it! Check out the pictures below, including a "Queen of the Fairy Princesses" painting a beanstock, a sample of our crowns and wizard or princess hats. We'll play all week with them before they go home on Friday...  Enjoy your day and come see us soon!

Miss Sue

Ladybug and Spiders

Hello All,
I forgot to add our bulletin board of ladybugs and spiders! Enjoy!

XXOO

Miss Sue

Cup of Dirt, Anyone?

My, my, my...it's Cherub's "Dirty" day....today we made "Dirt Cups" for afternoon snack, complete with worms crawling through the pretend "dirt". Everyone loved making, tasting and assembling this snack, which we will eat this afternoon.

Also, we are having the "design your own" bug project this afternoon. Check out our bulletin boards covered in spiders and lady bugs...eeew! We're crawling with bugs! Hope no one calls the Orkin Man! Enjoy!

Hugs and Smiles to all,
Miss Sue

Oh My Goodness...Bugs Gone Wild!

Ask you child about bugs of almost any kind and they will be able to tell you about ladybugs, spiders, fireflies, dragonflies, caterpillars, butterflies, worms and even flies! We have learned sooooo much this week about the bug world....tour our bulletin boards for examples of our artwork related to this.

Today we had a special visit from E's Aunt Casey today who is a musician and lead us in songs about bugs, worms and more....it was a great time to sing and dance to the music. This afternoon, we are making spiders, complete with fuzzy legs (pipe cleaners do well in a pinch).

Happy Day to You,