About Barrow journal. (Winder, Ga.) 2008-2016 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 2016)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 BARROW JOURNAL PAGE 5A Mommy’s learning curve I’ve been noticing lately how easy it is to sit down with my six-year-old and do his lessons. He might complain that he doesn’t like lessons, but when we sit down together, we usual ly have fun, and sometimes he wants to write extra math equa tions or letters. I’m always a bit surprised but delighted by that. It wasn’t the same with my older son, at least when it comes to the sit-down, pencil-on-paper work. Even though he could do it, I don’t remember him having fun. I blame myself. It may be part personality. It may be because my six-year-old likes to sit and draw, so writing letters and numbers aren’t far off from that. But I think mostly it’s because I didn’t make him do this kind of work until recently, and since this is my second time around, I'm not worried at all that he’ll get it. Whenever my kids struggle with some thing, my mantra is: “Don’t worry. You’ll get it.” That is, we’re just going to keep going over this in very, very short lessons, and eventually you’ll catch on. There is no pressure. We don’t have a test we’re cram ming for. I don’t care if you get it this year or next, but I know you will learn it. And in the meantime, we’ll also learn about all these other things you’re interested in learning, especially since you’re absorbing it like a sponge. With my first child, I felt pressure to prove to myself that I could actually teach him. So I started giving him formal les sons right after he turned five. He already knew his ABCs and all the sounds of the letters, so I figured he’d learn to read eas ily. When he didn’t catch on quickly, I got frustrated, and sometimes I took that out on him. Even when I tried to hide my frus trations, he could sense I wasn’t pleased. I know this affected him in a negative way. If he went to public school, he would have been expected to start reading in Kindergarten and 1st grade. He would be expected to write sentenc es. I got caught up in thinking that he should be able to do those things because his coun terparts in school were doing them, although really, I wonder how many other children struggle with it, too? It didn’t take me too long to remember why I wanted to homeschool in the first place. I think too many kids are being pushed to do academics before they are developmentally ready for it. Now that I’ve watched how my older son learned how to read so easily — like a lightning bolt struck him one day! — but not until he was ready for it, I am convinced that all kids should be able to learn without the pressure of keeping up with their peers. The nice thing about homeschooling is that when you realize you’re making a mistake, you can stop, regroup, and try again. When I realized I was pushing my son at too young of an age to read, I stopped using the reading curriculum I was using at the time, and we tried other things. Many months later, we picked up that curriculum again, and it was so much easier. After that. I knew I wouldn’t push my younger son to read at such an early age unless he proved to me that he was ready to learn. Waiting and relaxing about those aca demic milestones has made all the differ ence for both my sons and me. Learning should be fun. Winder resident Shelli Bond Pabis is a contributing columnist for the Barrow Journal. You can reach her at writeto- spabis@gmail.com or visit her blog at www. mamaofletters. com. Time travel Mankind has long been fascinated at the concept of time travel. We’ve read books and watched movies about it, yet still it eludes us. When I was in the 9th grade, or so, I had a bottle of dime-store perfume that I wore all the time. My signature fragrance, if you will. At some point, my taste in cologne became a little more dis criminating — and I moved on to the finer scent of Jovan Musk Oil. Truth. Anyone remember Jovan? There were fragrances for both men and women. I was all about some Jovan Musk Oil. Years later, when I got ready to leave home to get married, a purge of some of my belongings brought me across the dime- store bottle with its bright yellow cap. Of course, I had to take a whiff. One sniff, and I was immediately taken back to Friday nights at the Jerry Lewis Theater in Winder. In my eighth grade and very early high school days, the highlight of the week was to “go to the show.” About the middle of the week, we’d start making arrangements to be sure that someone’s mom or dad would be avail able to load up the car with giggling girls and cart us to and from the theater. The objective was less to see the movie than to be seen by all the other kids our age who hung out there every weekend. Young hearts were both made to soar and were broken in those red upholstered seats. Sweethearts came and went, and many of us had our first kiss on the back row at “the show”. Another time while at my mom’s house, I found an old bottle of Jovan Musk Oil — and though the liquid had turned dark over the years, the scent was unmistakable. Once again, I was transported back to my high school days. This trip down memory lane took me back to other Friday nights spent at the football field, proms (called The Junior-Senior back in those days), high school sweethearts, and the agony of teenage girl drama. Other favorite fragrances came and went throughout the years, and the occasional waft of them brings about my own person al time travel. A patient came through the office the other day wearing Design, and I was taken back to a Christmas in the early 90s, a new red dress, and a fancy purse for which I had longed. Calvin Klein invokes the feelings of beginning a new chapter of my life as a single mom. Several months ago, I smelled Chattanooga. Following Calvin Klein, came the Dune era. I received a bottle of Dune as a gift, and wore it daily for several years. It was during this time that Whitney and I took our first-ever vacation alone, just us girls. We went to Chattanooga, and stayed at the Howard Johnson’s in town. Orange roof and all. We saw Rock City, rode the incline rail road, and descended into the bowels of the earth to experience Ruby Falls. One day we simply stayed at the hotel playing in the pool, eating breakfast out of the vending machine, and room service for dinner. It was a fabulous few days, and remains my most favorite vacation spent with her. Since that time, we have always called that cologne “Chattanoo ga.” Seems like over the past few months, I’ve noticed several women wearing it, and the memories made me smile. Imagine my delight and surprise when I opened a beautiful box from my daughter at Christmas to find a bottle of Dune tucked inside. Our eyes met across the crowded room of family gift-opening chaos, and we simultaneously mouthed the word “Chattanooga.” It was a sweet, nostalgic moment between us, our very own Time Travel. Music has the same effect on me. Over the long MLK weekend, I indulged in a lit tle Time Travel while updating the music on my playlist. “Jeremiah was a Bullfrog:” I remember riding home from grocery shopping one Saturday morning, listening to the radio in the old Chevy. I told my mom that when we got home. I was going to call the radio station and request Joy To The World. My mamma told me I must be crazy! It was the middle of June!! “Layla:” The old jukebox in the cafeteria at WBHS. We spent tons of lunch-money change playing that old 45 record. “Sweet Home Alabama:” Hot summer days spent at the lake, and the introduction to Southern rock. “Stairway To Heaven:” 10th grade Junior-Senior, and a triple date with friends. “Brand New Key:” Riding bikes and back to school the summer of seventh grade. “One Tin Soldier: “ Watching Billy Jack (movie) over and over. “Smoke On The Water” Sleepovers at Bobbie Jean’s house. At that time, she had the best sound system of all my friends, and I loved listening to the 8 track tape on her stereo. Long Time: Boston concert at UGA coliseum, then years later in the good seats at Chastain. And the list goes on. Marty McFly and Doc Brown may have used a flux capacitor and a well-timed lightning bolt to travel through time, but all it takes for me is a few whiffs of perfume, or a set of headphones. How cool it is to be able to relive those happy memories! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go spritz myself with my new “Chattanooga” cologne, tug my earlobe, and hum a few bars of “Thanks For The Memories.” Cathy Watkins Bennett is a Barrow County native and a graduate of WBHS. Send comments about this column to ben eath® aol.com. cathy watkins bennett Things to remember about medical cannibas In 2015, Georgia approved allowing medical patients to have CBD cannabis oil for medical use. But the state didn’t approve in-state production of cannabis oil, meaning residents have to travel out-of-state to get it. In addition, some medical conditions need other com pounds beyond CBD oil. This year, the Georgia Legislature is consider ing legislation to fix those issues by regulating up to six in-state producers and allowing additional kinds of compounds to be used. But there are some in the Legislature who oppose these efforts. Here are a few thoughts to consider: 1. Georgia citizens who need medical cannabis are already acquiring it on the black market. Not approving this leg islation won’t stop the bootleg market and only continue to make criminals out of sick patients. 2. There is no public safety issue involved in this debate. Nobody ever overdosed on cannabis, but in 2014, there were 1,206 pain medication over dose deaths in Georgia. Where is the outcry from state leaders to ban pain medications? Let’s look at the science and not at the stigma. 3. Some state law enforcement groups are opposed to making in-state medical cannabis production available on the theory that it would be a “slip pery slope” toward full legalization of recreational cannabis. But legislators and citizens in Georgia clearly know the difference between the medical use of cannabis and recreational use. The “slippery slope” argument is a “straw man” debate. Illegal recreational use of cannabis is already widespread in the state. This action won’t affect that or make it worse. But it would make legitimate medical use easier and safer. 4. Allowing the production of can nabis oil in Georgia isn’t an endgame. Because of misguided Federal laws, very little medical research on canna bis has been done in this country. But that is changing and in another decade, we will know a lot more hard science about the use of cannabis for medical conditions. In the meantime, Georgians should not be denied reasonable access to cannabis products for their own medical use. Many can’t wait another decade. 5. One of the key aspects of the current proposal for in-state cannabis production would be to have a tested, regulated product in the market. Can nabis oil from other states is not always tested and regulated and consequently, product quality can vary greatly. 6. Some state leaders argue that Georgia can’t allow in-state cannabis production due to restrictive federal laws. But a number of other states now allow production. Georgia can too. This is another misleading straw man argu- Follow the progress of my medical pot plant with a live-streaming video at dadsmedicalpotplant.com. 7. Aside from the med ical issues, the overall legal cannabis sector is the fastest growing indus try in the nation. One of Gov. Nathan Deal’s top priorities is for Georgia to be “leading in biotechnol ogy research and innova tion.” But the governor’s fear of cannabis makes state officials look back ward, not innovative and progressive, in the biotech field. 8. Polls show that over 80 percent of Georgians approve having a regulated system of cannabis production in-state for med ical use. The train has left the station on this issue. The only question is, will state leaders catch up? So what can you do to help? Let your voice be heard: Gov. Nathan Deal Office of the Governor 206 Washington Street 111 State Capitol Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Phone: 404-656-1776 Fax: 404-657-7332 Also, let your thoughts be known to your State Senator (the following are from Northeast Georgia): Sen. Frank Ginn 121-1 State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334 Phone: (404) 656-4700 Fax: (404) 657-3248 Sen. John Wilkinson 421-A State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334 Phone: (404) 463-5257 Fax:(404)651-6768 Sen. Bill Cowsert 236 State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334 Phone: (404) 463-1366 Fax: (404) 657-9887 Sen. Butch Miller 113 State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334 Phone: (404) 656-7454 Fax:(404)651-5795 Sen. Renee Unterman 121-F State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334 Phone: (404) 463-1368 Mike Buffington is co-publisher of the Barrow Journal. He can be reached at mike @ mainstreetnews. com. ment. mike buffington Next food distribution day set Feb. 25 The Barrow County Food Pantry in partnership with The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia will hold a Food Distribution Day on Thursday, Feb. 25, beginning at 8 a.m. The event is held rain or shine at Holly Hill Mall on Athens Street in Wind er (across from Hill’s Ace Hardware). This is open to all Barrow County resi dents who meet USDA income eligibility requirements. Proof of Barrow County residency is required and the food is distributed on a “first-come, first-served” basis. BREATH OF SPRING Winder-Barrow Community Theatre announces the cast of the first show of the 2016 Main Stage Season. “Breath of Spring” by Peter Coke is a comedy set in England, and it will open on Friday, March 4 and run for two week ends. Directors are Jennifer Hoff and Ruth Hasty. Cast members include Carol Phillpotts, Rick Jarvis, Taylor Blake, Billie Nye-Muller, Elinor Hasty, Delores Russell, Joseph Hasty and Mike Twiggs. Tickets are on sale now for this production as well as the 2016 Season Tickets. Individual tickets purchased in advance are $10 for seniors (55 and older), students and teachers. Adult individual tickets in advance are $12.50. Season Tickets include all four of the Main Stage shows for the year and are the best price available. Adults, seniors, students and teachers are $35 and adults are $45. Tickets may be purchased by phone at the City of Winder customer care center at 770-867-3106 (prompt one for event ticket sales) or at Pam Veader’s State Farm Insurance office at 41 S. Center Street in Winder with cash or checks. For more information visit www.winderbarrowtheatre.org.
