The Frog in the Car

Time does fly when you're having fun. That's what the proverbial cliche says -- and I think its a true statement. It seems like the summer just got started and here we are sending our children off to school for another year.

I hope you all took some time to enjoy the time with your children. It's far too easy to get busy with hobbies and business and yard-work and house repairs and, well...life. However important some of that stuff may seem (and it all has a certain priority in our lives), it needs to take second stage to the relationships in each of our lives. I read a great quote from an interview with Micheal J. Fox. The writer asked him to share some advice on parenting that begins "Always ..." "Always", said Fox, "be available to your kids ... I've never gotten up to see something one of my kids wanted to show me and not been rewarded." True enough.

Children require a lot of time -- both quality and quantity. So of course go to those football and basketball games to cheer on your kids, but don't neglect getting involved in their interests. Growing up, my Dad loved to go fishing. He'd wake my brother and I up at 4 AM so we could load up the boat and get to the lake or river by dawn. Frankly, I never loved getting up at 4 in the morning, and I never developed a deep and abiding love of fishing (at least not cleaning them). I did love frogs and turtles and that sort of thing though. I will never forget my Dad forgoing the fishing and asking me to go catch bull frogs and turtles with him. Not to eat, just for the fun of it. That was a fun day. Getting up at 4 AM wasn't hard that day, and paddling our canoe up the river wasn't a hardship. We slipped in behind bullfrog after bullfrog and caught a whole bunch that day. Even a couple turtles came home with us.

Somewhere along the way home in the car, the frogs got loose. The picture of my Dad driving and a bullfrog sitting next to him on the seat is one I will never forget. After we released them into our pond at home, we'd hear them mooing in low tones that whole summer. And it made a very fond memory and bonding experience. Why? Because my Dad took time to get into my world and enjoy the day.

We never know what memories will stick in our child's mind. It could be the hours spent cheering them on at a ball game or it could just be ...the frog in the car.

School's Out Assembly Program

That's actually 2 different topics. School is out for the summer -- Unless you happen to be a school administrator. Then you'll be working pretty much right on through the month. But still, the daily pressure is eased quite a bit. So, go ahead, breathe that sigh of relief. . . That felt good, didn't it?

Now, it's time to get to work. As you wrap up this year, you can't help but think about the next. What areas would you like to improve upon? What do you want to put on the top of the 'pile' for next year's budget dollars? Are there any particular classes or areas of study that need tweaking? Only you can answer that.

I'd love to help in any way I can. And the best way I know how is to put together programs that really meet the needs of schools and the students. So, I'm going to straight out ask. If you are a teacher or an administrator, are there areas that could use a creative kick in the proverbial pants? What type of assembly program would you just love to see next year in your school?

I'm a problem solver, an information provider, and an educator -- and I do it with an eye toward creatively presenting a solution. So contact me this year. Let me know what issues are top of mind for you and your school.

Visit my website. You can contact me from there. See you in the Fall!

Geography School Assemblies

I've been presenting a geography based program for elementary school students for the past 3 years now. It is a popular program, and I do notice that schools are taking notice of the need for things like this. In the US, the average student can't locate Florida on a map. Many can't point to France, or tell the difference between Europe and Asia. And merely locating places on a map is only a part of learning about geography. There is the history of the people, the industry, the agriculture -- basically everything that defines an area.

Schools are doing a better job teaching these things in recent years. That's why I put my "Clue Into Your World" program together. I wanted a fun way to emphasize the vastness of the world we live on. Kids need to understand that there is a rich history beneath every square inch of earth that's been trod upon.

New Season Ahead

Yes! Winter has been beaten back for another year--finally. Don't get me wrong, I like some snow and a little brisk weather. Fresh fallen snow blanketing the countryside is a beautiful site. This year though, I'm really looking forward to spring and summer.

I've been busy putting together a new show which I'll be revealing in libraries throughout Wisconsin and Illinois this summer. It's a fun show that, as always, emphasizes reading. It's called "Goin' Fiction -- Get Hooked on Books" . Think of it as an educational variety show. Magic, music, a game, ventriloquism and plenty of fun. I'm looking forward to the new season. Can you tell?

Get ready, 'cause here I come.

WOW, What a year!!

I'm back after a very long hiatus. It seems that more than a year has passed since my last blog entry. But I've not been sitting around doing nothing. No. I've been building...all sorts of things.

In August of 2008 our home was struck by lighting and subsequently burned beyond repair. While that doesn't seem to be the best way to start the day, it ultimately turned out to be a blessing. In fact, as I watched the flames begin to break through the roof of our home, I turned to my wife and said, "Well, we needed a new roof anyway." And while that story usually gets a laugh, it's true.

So now, after a whirlwind of excitement, moving, false starts, hurried planning, waiting, waiting, and more waiting, building, waiting, moving again and more sweat equity than your average home builder--we are home again. And loving it. Who wouldn't love a new house and all new furniture and accessories. In fact, as I glance around the room I realize the only thing older than one year is my cell phone. That's because the morning of the fire, after I made sure everyone was out of the house, I grabbed my phone to call 911. And while I was at it I grabbed a few cases of props that I use in my shows and hauled them out to my car. That's about all that escaped unscathed that day. All our other worldly belongings either burned, were terribly smoke damaged or had 10,000 gallons of water dumped on them. Not much can make it though that kind of gauntlet.

However, it was only stuff. And stuff can be replaced with other stuff. So we did. Now we have newer stuff, but it's still just 'stuff'. The real treasures in my life were standing next to me that drizzly morning-- my wife and son. Plus an army of caring neighbors and friends and family descended on us in our time of need and literally clothed and fed and sheltered us. We are blessed.

Goin' Green

It's been another great summer -- so far. I've had the pleasure of presenting my Bee Your Best character show in tons of libraries. The real payoff for me is seeing the enjoyment on children's faces during the program. They enjoy it, and learn some good lessons at the same time!

This summer I've also fit in some outdoor activities with my family. One of the fun things we do is camping. No, not in an RV or even a pop-up. We load the tent and the sleeping bags, the cook stove, a cooler filled to the brim with food, and anything else we can think of into the car and head off "into the wild" -- well maybe not the wild exactly. But a nice state park with hiking and fishing and swimming. That makes a great get away. There's something about getting up early in the morning and cooking breakfast in the outdoors--coffee in hand, birds chirping and whistling all around, and the inevitable chipmunk visiting to scrounge up an easy meal of whatever might be on the ground or thrown its way. It just clears the mind and helps set some priorities straight.
It also, helps me realize the wonders all around us. We live in such a mechanized, industrialized, and electronic laden world that the natural things often get pushed out of our everyday thought patterns. Mind you I don't think I want to go back to horse and buggy days, but I'm glad that we can still find places to push a lot of the modern-day clutter out...at least for a time.

That got me thinking. There is a lot of talk about going green these days. In fact the term "green" has suddenly gotten economic clout. You see it in advertising of all sorts. "Green" or "good for the environment" or some variation of these words help sell just about everything these days. Frankly, I've never been much of a green fanatic. Maybe because, as an ideology, it tends to be pushed a bit too far, and the people-part of the equation seems to get left out. However, there is a place for this. Personally, I prefer the term "stewardship". A steward is someone who's job is to take care of another's property. It brings with it the idea of responsibility. That, I believe, is something to take seriously. We need to be stewards of this wide and wonderful world we live in--not just for us, but for our neighbors (both near and far) and for those who will inherit this world after we are a distant memory.

I've been thinking about this. Stewardship is something worth teaching to our children. Doing the "green" thing is nice. But we need to be responsible -- not to the earth -- but to each other. I suppose it all goes back to the golden rule.

Looking Ahead

One of the challenges to what I do is coming up with new and interesting topics to present each year in libraries and schools. There really is no limit, but my goal is to make a difference in children's lives, not just fill in an hour of it. So, I sat back this year and pondered. What is a hot-button for me that would translate well into the lives of kids. Then it hit me. Character!

School after school that I go to is presenting character training. Every school has a different take on the subject. However, the general consensus is that it is best presented from a "whole school" top down approach. That makes sense. Everyone learning the same basic concepts during the same time periods. This allows teachers and students to be on the look out for examples of the character-trait-of-the week if you will.

Our culture needs these lessons to be taught. The men and women who demonstrate strong character and make ethical decisions in the future, need to develop those qualities now.

So, "BEE" on the lookout for a character and reading based show coming to a school or library in your town this year. 'Bee' Your Best Person will be a fun and educational look at developing character in the lives of kids.

I can't wait.