children – Journey to Imagination

Tag: children

My Kids Grew Up in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood– Part 2

Posted on March 25, 2019March 31, 2019 by Laura

You know someone has arrived when you find his image on a postage stamp. Mister Rogers earned that distinction in 2018. But he was an American icon long before that. Mister Rogers stamps, 50 cents, 2018, licensed under Creative Commons Last time I shared how my son’s kindergarten teacher advised...Read More

My Kids Grew Up In Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

Posted on March 19, 2019March 31, 2019 by Laura

My kids were immersed in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. They loved it. And not because it was the only TV show I (usually) allowed during their pre-school years. They were riveted. And so was I. Here I was all grown up, and I felt like Mister Rogers was talking to me. ...Read More

We’re off to See the Wizard, Part 4: The Man Behind the Curtain, continued

Posted on October 22, 2018February 20, 2019 by Laura

Do you recall the resume in my last post? We left off with L. Frank Baum leaving Aberdeen--broke, disappointed, and disillusioned---with a wife and four kids to feed. Chicago---The Lean Years and New Beginnings (1890s) The Baums arrived in Chicago in time for the 1893 Columbian Exposition, a time of...Read More

We’re off to See the Wizard, Part 1: The Wizard of Chittenango & the Magic of Oz

Posted on October 1, 2018October 1, 2018 by Laura

Recognize any of these phrases? • “Some people without brains do any awful lot of talking.” • “I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” • “I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!” • “Follow the Yellow Brick Road.” • “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” •...Read More

Lisa Doyle–Beauty in the world, Part 1: Leaving people better than you find them

Posted on July 30, 2018June 21, 2018 by Laura

Lisa Doyle embraces a mantra she’s had since age twelve. She found this quote on a decoupaged piece of cardboard in 1983: ******* “One day I would like to teach a few people many and beautiful things that will help them teach a few people.” --unknown, A Teacher’s Prayer ******...Read More

Should kids get trophies for participation?

Posted on June 21, 2018June 12, 2018 by Laura

When my kids were in elementary school, they received little trophies each year just for running in the jog-a-thon fund-raiser. Speed or agility didn’t matter. The number of sponsors and the amount you raised didn’t matter. You could get a trophy just for the fact that you showed up and...Read More

Risk-taking & Art, Part 2: Birds in the Woods

Posted on May 31, 2018April 23, 2018 by Laura

When my husband Tim coached middle school girls basketball, one of his players ran the wrong way down the court and made a basket for the other team. Sure, this kind of mishap happens regularly with inexperienced players, but Tim can recite foibles from teams of various calibers. His coaching...Read More

My Pitiful Venture into Interior Design

Posted on May 17, 2018April 23, 2018 by Laura

I call my decorating style eclectic. That’s mainly because I can never decide which route to take. My daughters, who have very good taste, probably laugh at me behind my back. Not in a mean way. Just something like, “Mom and her crazy decorating ideas. It just never goes well...Read More

Ode to Broken Crayons: Some do’s and don’ts

Posted on April 30, 2018April 25, 2018 by Laura

We’ve all been there with a huge sigh, staring at a pile of old crayons. Ready to throw them out. Or staring in disbelief as our child peels the paper right off brand new crayons! How dare he! And if he snaps a crayon in half, oh my! Call in...Read More

Let it Go to Let it Grow

Posted on April 26, 2018April 28, 2018 by Laura

“What a great job you’re doing on that tower!” I said to my three-year-old son, my enthusiasm rivaling a rock concert crowd. CRASH! In an instant, he sent blocks flying across the room. Not for fun, but in a rage. What was his message to me? Hmm. He wasn’t able...Read More

Backyard Art Fairs & Tie Dye Parties

Posted on April 23, 2018February 27, 2019 by Laura

Tie dye, anyone? When my kids were little, we had the neighbors over for tie dye parties. In the backyard, we dunked T-shirts, pillow cases, and socks into big buckets of dye. My husband Tim monitored the garden hose as we rinsed the colors out. The alley flowed with turquoise,...Read More

Alison Sherwood, Part 2: Memory Maker, Memory Finder, & Memory Keeper

Posted on April 19, 2018April 23, 2018 by Laura

As a mom of small children, Alison Sherwood says YES to Mess and Mayhem. Not only does she enjoy creating and capturing memories for friends, she makes art for, about, and with her kids. She doesn’t dictate the outcome but engages them in the process, even working alongside them. Their...Read More

In the schoolyard: R.I.P. Here lies imagination

Posted on March 19, 2018April 23, 2018 by Laura

“My legs have hiccups.” That’s how my daughter described muscle twitches at age three. “There a melted rainbow on that truck.” That’s her four-year-old description of a colorful array of fuzzy, blended images. “It’s the same sky over Milwaukee as in Michigan. God just spreads it over us all like...Read More