Martin Luther King through the eyes of my 5 year old

As my almost 6 year old has entered Kindergarten, his awareness, knowledge and perspective of the world we live in has increased and changed. Since today was Martin Luther King day and he had no school, I wanted to make sure he understood that this wasn't a snow day or regular teacher's in service, but there was a reason he had the day off, to celebrate and understand the words and movement of a great man, but of course, keep in terms he could understand.

After all, my family is the special mixed blend, we have history all over the segregation spectrum. And since Martin Luther King has made such an impact in all our lives it's important that he understand his ideas and what he fought for. So last night at the dinner table, my husband and I asked him what he had learned about Martin Luther King.

For obvious reasons, I am always nervous about conversations regarding race. I took a deep breath.(his answers in italics)

"George, Did you learn about Martin Luther King in school?"

I don't know

"What do you mean? You don't know or you don't understand?"

"You didn't pay attention?" my husband asked.

Well, I don't know.

And the conversation had moved on, to what was on his plate, how many peas he'd have to eat and what was the brown stuff on his meat. While he was picking at his plate, I thoughtfully and calmly contemplated my next move or attack of information, my son put down his fork and continued.

He died, right?  "Right", we answer back.

Because people didn't agree with his orders.

"What were his beliefs?" I asked.

Well, there were some tables that were labeled, black and some that were labeled white, and that's not fair, you should get to sit at the table you want to. 

"Right", I say, impressed that he got that much from class, after all, my 5 year old is a bit comedic in his approach to learning. Although my son is very smart and intelligent and loves school, he likes to be the center of attention and sometimes,you wonder if he is paying attention at all. That is until his increased knowledge and understanding is spurted out at bath times, during car rides, or times like these. And then he continued.

And some water fountains were labeled black and white, and that's not fair, you should get to use the one you want. And some buses were labeled black and white and that's not fair either, you should be able to sit on whatever bus you want. Everyone should get to choose where they sit. Everyone should have the same choice.

And right when he was done, he picked up his fork and continued to eat. Just like that. I on the other hand, almost in tears, shocked and happy with the knowledge he retained and excited with his level of understanding,went on with my dinner too. Happy I didn't have to explain much, and at this moment, loving his teacher.

I exhaled. End of conversation.

And  then he added, taking it down to his level, his interests, Transformers.

That's like if there were two roads, one labeled Deceptions and one labeled Autobots, that wouldn't be fair, they should get to choose what road they use. 

Martin Luther King through the eyes of my 5 year old.

Thursday Thirteen: 13 things my 13 month old would blog about it he could.

After my latest Wordless Wednesday post which depicts my 13 month old and his love for the computer, called Blogger in Training, I got to thinking, what would my son blog about if he could? Binkys? Sippy cups? the furry animal that he loves to tackle?

So, here are 13 things my 13 month old could blog about if he could.

13. Jumping on Daddy is fun fun fun.

12. Elmo is cool. Oooooo, and so are the Wiggles they make me want to dance.

11. I love the computer, everyone uses it and I just want my turn to punch those buttons.

10. This white stuff that has fallen on the ground stinks, I can barley walk in it and it's cold and wet.

9. If I hear the word No again, I'll just do it again.

8. What is with this furry animal we call Kitty Cat? I pounce on him and grab his tail but he just walks away, I want to play.

7. Climbing on chairs and tables are my favorite thing to do, but they keep taking me down. I just like the view from up thee.

6. Why can't I go into the other rooms and climb upstairs? They have everything blocked off. I am sick of this play room. I. want. adventure.

5. My big brother. I want to be like him and do what he does. But for some reason he screams when I come near him?

4. My big sister. She is so happy, smiles a lot and makes me laugh, but why is she always picking me up and leaning in my face.

3. My Ba Ba. I love it, so why am I getting it less. Turning one is rough.

2. I love my Binky. All you babies out there know what I'm talking about.

1. Spending "quality time" in the middle of the night with mommy. She thinks I have cries of pain and unhappiness, but really I just like to be held.

Bonus #14...I want to learn everything my brother and sister do including but not limited to , jumping on couches, running in circles, tackling each other and talking back to mama and dada. Can't wait to get big. But for now, Where's my Binky and my Ba Ba? I need a nap.

Mom Swagger

The Traverse is like Mom Swagger.

Although my mini van treats me very well, it is like a big yellow caution sign that shouts, “Warning! Traveling circus inside!” But the Chevy Traverse is a whole different story. It’s a luxury ride. It feels cool and looks cool and with all the accessories they’ve got in that car, it’s hard not to feel “smooth” on the road.

So, when they told us our first mission was to go to the grocery store, I giggled, laughed and shrugged, no problem, you call that a mission. No problem for the car that is, another problem for me and my traveling circus, who dare not disappoint when it comes to public outings. Why would I think this grocery store trip would fail to live up to my expectations, or lack there of?  The trip to the store in the Traverse would be different right? No kids fighting, no kids yelling, everyone put at ease and extremely calm, at least for the ride there. The trip in the store was another ball game, well, the same ball game. We started off the trip in the car cart, my 3 year old and 5 year old driving away and the baby in the front. And then they started fighting, one didn’t have enough room, the other wanted to sit on the other side. And then they got out of the cart and started off running, down the aisle, grabbing snacks off the shelf and then they continued fighting and tackled each other in the aisle, oblivious to those around them, which is not uncommon for my chaotic group. By the time we got to the register, the baby was crying and had a death grip on a lock of my 3 year old’s hair, who was screaming at the top of her lungs.  And my son was following after us, crawling on the ground “racing Speed Racer”, whom like some people’s American Express, he never leaves home with out it.

The only thing saving me from the trip to the grocery store was the car ride home, in the Traverse and well, my favorite feature, the Power Lift Gate.

And lucky it was there because it literally saved me when we got out of the car and I naively asked if anyone wanted to help.

The Philly Mom’s Time Out campaign is being sponsored by the Philadelphia Area Chevy Dealers who gave the chosen bloggers a 2011 Chevy Traverse to test drive for one month and blog about our experiences using the vehicle. Philly Mom’s Time Out has given us some fun missions to go on and and will be providing us with gifts cards to allow us to do so. All opinions are my own.

Wordless Wednesday: Day at the Park

I'm a Chevy Mom Blogger!

Fun Friday will be back next week, I've got some stuff going on.

First if you haven't entered my Strasburg Railroad Day Out with Thomas giveaway, just a couple hours left! Click here to enter now. Next....

I'm a Chevy Mom Blogger!!

Yesterday I proudly kicked on my mom shoes and wore my badge of honor, as I marched into CBS studios in Philadelphia to claim my place as part of Chevy's Mom Squad.

Who me? Yep.

Why you ask? I have no idea.

But they picked me to drive around this beautiful top of the line, fully loaded Chevy Traverse LTZ for 30 days and blog about it. Rough job. I know, but somebody's gotta do it.

With my husband, my mom and 2/3's of my kids in tow, we entered the CBS studios, rode the elevator and were seated in the green room to await our segment. My 3 year old looked at me and in dramatic diva fashion, put her hands on her hips and asked, "Where's the car?" OK. I was thinking the same thing too, but something wasn't right. Where were the other moms?  We had to be in the wrong room. So, finally a producer came in and directed us to the right area. As we entered the conference room, I was greeted by the nicest, funniest, coolest group of bloggers a blogger could know. There was Kim, from Chubby Cheeks Thinks, Shannon from Philly Burb Moms, Jacqui from Single Mom's Retreat, and Debra from Lucas's Journey with Sensory Processing Disorder. We had our 3 minutes in fame, as we were interviewed by Pat Ciarrocchi on Talk Philly. 

And apparently I wasn't the first one in my family to meet Pat. My 3 year old, who treated their long spacious hallways, like a track and the newsroom her play room, literally ran Pat in the hallway and introduced herself. 

We also filmed a commercial for the program, we were treated to lunch and given a personal tour around the Chevy Traverse by Stan Esposito of Reedman Toll Auto World, in Langhore Pa. I was so excited about all the cool features and that they were going to let me drive away in this car for a month that I forgot to video Stan, or the car. But he's great and really knows his stuff.

As far as the car is concerned it's beautiful, I'm trading in my "mom-mobile" for the month and jumping in a nice ride. It is equipped with everything a mom could want and much much more. We're talking about Bluetooth, On Star, heated and air-conditioned seats, a navigation system, DVD player, two sunroofs, a rear back up camera and much more. All I have to do is blog about it, go on missions and with the help of my traveling circus test out the vehicle and let you know what I thought. 

When I jumped in my car and drove away, I wiped my brow as I looked behind me to make sure Ashton Kucther didn't jump out and yell that I was being punked and I enjoyed the quiet and the luxury the Traverse has to offer.

I might sleep in it tonight, watch a movie, talk on the phone, now that's a time out.

In the mean time, I hope you'll join me on this exciting fun  journey as I explore the Chevy Traverse.And I'm not the only one winning here, there are great prizes you can enter to win enter, you can log onto the Philly Mom's Time Out webpage and enter to win a trip to Jamacia, from now until November 30th, log onto Facebook and "like" the Philly mom's Time Out facebook page and register to win a $500 American Express gift card to purchase a designer purse of your choice and if you live in the PA, NJ and DE area, they are giving away a ton of great daily gift cards. And there's more, between November 1st and December 18th visit your local Chevy Traverse Dealership and test drive a Chevy Traverse and receive a $40 Spa Finder gift card.

Nice.

And if you're not interested in any of this, at least check back to see how the Traverse can handle my motley crew.

Case in point, here's a video from the day before we picked up the Traverse.

Last chance for the Strasburg Railroad Giveaway

Hurry and enter! I've extended this giveaway until the end of the day Friday 10/29!!

Ahhh....The Strasburg Railroad, my kids have grown up there, as we have gone almost every October since my son turned 1 1/2. And since they talk, eat, and breath Thomas the Train, it's become one of our favorite places to go. If you haven't been to their Day Out with Thomas events, its fun and memorable for the entire family. And trust me, there is nothing like the expression on yours child's face when he hears the horn blow and looks to see Thomas the Train roll into the station. I almost get giddy. It's amazing train ride through the rolling farms of Amish country doesn't go without recognition, The Strasburg Railroad was recently voted Top Ten Train rides for Fall by USA Today. 

The giveaway:

So whether you have been there or not, here is your chance! One lucky entrant will win one 4 pk of family tickets for the November 21st, 12:15pm train ride at the Strasburgh Railroad's Day Out with Thomas. Courtesy of the Strasburg Railroad.

For more information and to enter this giveaway, click here.

Fun at the Little Treehouse.

My sister has been to this place numerous times for play dates and raves about it. She loves it. It is one of her favorite places to take her daughter, and with twin boys on the way, I am sure she'll be going even more in the years to come. If you have young ones at home, this one is perfect for you, take advantage of signing up for their winter classes, as an added bonus they have FREE PLAY before and after each class. When you are done with that, you can order lunch as they have places to sit and eat. Couldn't get much better than that!

Bring your little ones in from the Chill
 this season . . .

Sign them up for our

Winter Class session

Classes begin on Monday, November 8th

FREE PLAY before & after class each day !

Little Treehouse Tumbling

My First Yoga

Signing With A Smile

Sally’s Music & Movement

Little Treehouse Dance School

Fine Arts

“Pre-school” at The Little Treehouse

Get your 1st choice - Sign-up TODAY !
Descriptions & schedules are available at 

The Little Treehouse
and on their website: www.treehouseplaycafe.com.

Receive a 20% discount for siblings,

or a 

20% discount

 for multiple registrations!

Winter sessions include 9 weeks of classes.

There will be no classes the week of Thanksgiving or

the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.