Flu Season Upon Us

With the approaching Flu season there is a lot to think about regarding staying healthy. I think that good old fashioned hand washing, plenty of sleep, and a healthy diet go a long way in preventing illnesses. Having said that, it can be a long tough winter up here and we contend with a lot of imported viruses. In my house we do a large quantity of Vitamin C, Garlic, 5 day rotations of Echinacea, and relentless hand washing. Still, we do have our bouts with the usual "crud" every now and then during the winter. I like to be informed on any decision I make, especially ones that involve my family. Please join us on Friday, October 9, at 9:30 a.m. in the Children's Area for a discussion on immunization facilitated by Kendall Chieciuch, for further information please call 728-4519 ext.23. Here are some sites regarding Flu season and Flu shots to help keep you informed. Have a healthy season and see you the library.

http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/

http://www.mealsmatter.org/EatingForHealth/Topics/Healthy-Living-Articles/healthy-eating-during-cold-and-flu-season.aspx

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/current-season.htm

The Reluctant Reader

Being a librarian people always assume that I have always been a voracious reader. The truth is that I was born what some people would now term a “reluctant reader”. My mother was a devotee of reader’s theater and was committed to reading aloud to her children on a daily basis. Naturally she assumed that our enjoyment of listening to her read would somehow guide us toward a life-long love of reading. Unfortunately, learning to read became a battle that spanned the first two years of formal schooling, my mother being the General of the opposing army carrying out covert tactics wielding impenetrable force. The reality was that I loved identifying words and knowing what they meant, I liked nothing more than a good story well told, and I was even passionate about trying to write, but I loathed the process of learning phonics and the painful act of sounding out every word in a Dick and Jane book. Now I imagine how my mother must of felt with me dragging on sounding out and Boo-Hooing at the same time. By the summer after first grade my turmoil subsided and I was excited about my ironically advanced reading skills and my new subscription to the Golden Book Club. Each month I would eagerly await the new books that would arrive on my doorstep, while my mother knew that she was reducing potential summer learning loss. Statistics tell us that all children will show learning losses when not engaged over the period of a summer. On average teachers will spend 4 to 6 weeks of the school year to help children to attain the levels achieved in the prior semester. Children who read six or more books in a summer on average have more success in school than their non-reading counterparts. Concurrently, reading at least 1,000,000 words a year will increase a child’s vocabulary by 1,000 words. This year we have created a summer reading program that accommodates busy summer schedules and travel by allowing kids to track their reading online. With the flexibility of the program and special reading rewards we hope to keep your kids reading all summer long. Whether your child is an avid or a reluctant reader, the library is a healthy learning environment that provides enriching and fun activities to keep kids busy through out the summer. Summer reading sign-up starts on June 8^th for children infant to 12 years old. Teen summer reading for grades 5 and up starts on June 15^th. This year participants may register as individuals, groups, or families. For our philanthropic component we will be donating books to Parents as Teachers in honor of the books our participants have read. Incentives will be given out throughout the summer, as well as end of the season top reader prizes. For more details please visit the library’s Web site at www.telluridelibrary.org. And, for all of our Telluride parents, I wish for you happy and enthusiastic readers now and in the future.  

Summer Daze

Summer is so close I can taste it! Leaving the elementary school this morning, I realized that the air smells different, the fragrances have thawed. I can't believe that another school year is coming to a close.

As a working mom, I anticipate the summer months with both excitement and trepidation. I long to recreate the summers of my own childhood - hanging out at the public pool, playing neighborhood kickball games and generally luxuriating in uninterrupted stretches of free time. Now that I am the working mother of two active children, summer doesn't seem quite so simple.

How can I piece together (and afford) programs that will keep my kids entertained as I work? How can I encourage them to explore and play independently while keeping tabs on what they are doing? How many playdates can I organize with kids living in a 30 mile radius? What is the most effective response to that plaintive cry, "I'm bored?"

My solution this year is Wilkinson Public Library's Summer Reading (and not just because I am a librarian:). We've been talking about it at dinnertime for the past week or so. We'll register as a family and set some goals for our summer reading. Both of my kids can participate in age-specific programs -- it's actually nice because my 4 year-old will not compete against his 7 year-old sis. The library awards prizes at specific page increments and there are grand prizes for the top three readers in each age group (my daughter has her mark set on the iPod shuffle for 2nd place). We've decided to set a specific time each week to log our pages read onto the website, so that I won't drop the ball and keep putting off our posting until later.

That's right, summer reading is online! This makes it possible for our family to keep it going through vacation time. It's an easy system to navigate and allows us to set a routine that works for our family. Of course, the friendly library staff are happy to accommodate those who prefer to log their reading in person at the library.

I'm also really excited about the phenomenal kids programming that the Library offers through summer reading. You don't have to be registered to participate in the full line-up of Farmer's Market performances, ghost story night or the end-of-summer art show and reception. It's going to be a great remedy for the I'm Bored-syndrome.

And for teens, those entering grades 5-12, there are a bunch of interesting programs, from scrapbooking to knitting to music and theater. The theme for the program is "Express Yourself" and the events will provide low-pressure opportunities to experiment with a variety of outlets. It's going to be a fun-filled summer!

So, if you're looking for ways to entertain your kids and keep your sanity while holding on to the best of summer's freedom, check out Wilkinson Public Library's Summer Reading. Registration starts June 8th online at http://www.telluridelibrary.org/.

Summer Reading, Be Creative

School is almost out and summer is nearly upon us, it’s hard to tell with all the cool weather and rain. Over here at the library, Summer Reading is about to kick off. This summer will be be better than ever; easy to participate, online registration, great activities, fun programming, and of course, lots of books. We hope that you and your family will join us this summer to celebrate the joy of reading and explore the creativity that learning can provide. We have programs for every age group and every stage of literacy. Registration begins June 8 and runs through August 1. Go to our website for more information, or call us at 970-728-4519 ext 23.

Balancing Act

The kids are back in school and the weather has been beautiful. I am seeing that summer is going to happen, for awhile there it was so distant. This time of year my spirits lift a little with the return of longer and warmer days. There are lots of activities for the little ones in the coming months; I get overwhelmed thinking about it. I want to make sure that I am not over scheduling my daughter, but somehow many activities just sneak into our lives and before I know it we are missing out on good old fashioned unstructured play time. Life is busy. I am realizing that there may not be a reprieve from the pace I currently operate at. I am trying not to drag my daughter into the race I run every day, I try to respect her concept of time. Having said that, I do have to make it to places at certain predetermined times and that can be in conflict with a five year old's pace. How do I balance the nurturing and the schedule? I am constantly trying to figure this out. Some days I feel successful, others not so much. Let us know how you feel about scheduling commitments and raising a child. How do you balance the needs of your children and the demands outside of parenting?

Off Season Cometh

I can tell it is officially spring because it is cold again. This time of year I start thinking about warmer climates, and how to get there. I like road trips, for me they hold alot of nostalgia. My father would pack up the whole family, all seven of us, and drive until he could go no further; no rest stops, no sight seeing, no detours. Driving with the family was serious business to him, it was not about fun or entertainment. My mother on the other hand had more of Kerouac approach to road trips. We may start out driving to San Diego but inexplicably end up in Pocatello, Idaho. She would stop on a whimsy and go no further. I remember a spring day in the Mojave desert where I traded a boy my age a space bar (remember those NASA inspired snacks?) for a horned toad. I think I released it before we got in the car again, but I remember sitting in the shade behind the service station with the toad in my hand, examining it's odd toadiness. I still crave these trips on the road, now with a daughter of my own. I fall somewhere between my mom and dad, as is often the case when we become parents ourselves. I drive for hours on end, but I always have an eye out for the bizarre, the unusual, the less traveled.

To all of you about to embark on spring travel we encourage you to share travel trips. My tip is wet wipes; hours of good clean fun can be had with a package of those. We hope you have a wonderful time on your trips and look forward to your return. Share your stories with us and travel well.

Check out this site for ideas and advice on family travel.

Learning Begins At Birth

Brightening Your Future - Bright Futures volunteers and coordinators attended a four-hour training session at the Wilkinson Public Library on March 5. (Left to Right) Rebecca Pugh, Paula Ciberay, Jill Birchmore, Heidi Casper, and Elizabeth Tracy. 

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Motherly Words of Advice

I was reading the New York Times yesterday, well, I was skimming through, and spotted a nice little birthday letter from a writer/blogger. In reading it I thought of many pieces of "wisdom" I have gained over the five years I have been a Mom.Among them; Sleep and rest are treasures to be savoured, every moment is an exercise in surrender, I better be able to think fast, lightning fast, on my feet. The list goes on, some are subtle, some are sledgehammers. I hope that reading this will urge you to reflect on your own wisdom and lessons. We hope you will share some with us. Check out the letter.

Working Mom, Waking Mom.

Working Mom, Waking Mom.
I have come up with a way to rediscover “free time”, that ever elusive treasure to Moms, getting up very early in the morning. How early? Well, there are mornings I rise at 4:30 a.m. I hope that doesn’t make anyone wince. Every day I try to sneak in a couple extra minutes in the morning that are dedicated to me. I am not claiming that these are particularly high functioning events. I spend this time in a variety of ways; exercising, catching up on e-mails, preparing a meal for the evening, or simply just having quiet time. This is precious to me as it refuels my tanks and allows me summon the energy to move on through the day. I started carving out these little moments because I didn’t like rushing around in the morning, and let’s face it, there is a lot to do in the morning. Packing lunches, making breakfast, picking out clothes, cajoling my husband and daughter out of bed, taking the dog out, getting myself dressed and ready, bargaining with my daughter about what she is going to wear…you get the idea. I began to reclaim activities for myself during these early morning hours before anyone else was up. I set my alarm a little earlier. I look forward to getting things done. I remember my own mother doing this, and in my teen years thinking she was utterly ridiculous. Why would you get up earlier than you have to? But like so many “mom” habits, now I understand her need for those few minutes of sanctuary from her family. I am a lark by nature, as opposed to an owl, so rising before the sun has been a good fit. On occasion I even throw back the covers before the alarm goes off. It’s a routine now, crazy as it sounds it works for me. We would love to hear what you do to replenish your energy, what sort of routine keeps you tethered to your sense of well being. Feel welcome to share your story, or ask for ideas.