by krstl kitten
When I was asked to author the Kid's Korner,
I really wondered, "What  should I talk
about?" My first thought was to simply supply a list
of URLs for sites aimed at kids. Then I began to wonder,
what age is meant when you say "kids"? So,
there I was, back to square one.
I have a feeling the majority of our readership here on
HOT Off The Press is adult and older teens, but I'm
hoping there are some out there who find what we offer
worth sharing with the younger crowd. With that in mind,
I've decided to make this column a bit eclectic. I hope
you all enjoy!
For
this first column, I took a survey of some of my family,
friends, and co-workers that asked the following
question: "As a mother/father, aunt/uncle,
grandmother/grandfather, or what have you, what one thing
do you hope to instill in the children you come in
contact with?"
The overwhelming response was "A firm spiritual
foundation."
The second most-answered response was
"A feeling of self-worth. The ability to never have
regrets."
Third in rank of answers was "A pride
in their heritage."
Although I hadn't asked, many of the respondents
elaborated with how they would achieve these goals. They
included not only regular family gatherings, but reaching
out on a regular basis to those outside of their
immediate family, such as shut-ins and hospital patients.
Religion is an important part of many of the respondents'
lives, including regular worship, participation in a
spiritual community, and the involvement of the children.
Some of the respondents were single people whose lives
are touched by neighbor's children, or by visits to
pediatric wards and shelters.
Regardless of the hows, the overall message I got was to
BE THERE! Not just physically, but emotionally,
spiritually...totally. Sounds like a good thing to me.
If you'd like to share your answer to the survey
question, please feel free to Email me at cjsiu@tampabay.rr.com . Unless you state
otherwise, I would like to share the remarks in next
month's column as a follow-up. Don't worry, no names will
be used!
And now, I'd like to share a craft that any
age can participate in, albeit with a little adult
supervision for the younger ones! With the holidays
coming up, this is a fun one to do as a family for gifts.
HOW
TO MAKE BATH SALTS
Supplies
needed:
Epsom salts
baking soda
borax (not detergent!) or table salt
essential oils
food coloring
toothpicks
plastic bowl with tight fitting lid (at least 30-ounce
capacity)
jars with stoppers, or pretty envelopes (store-bought or
home decorated)
ribbon, etc. for decorating
1. Mix 1 1/2 cups of Epsom salts with 1 cup baking soda
and 1/2 cup borax or table salt in the plastic bowl.
2. Combine a few drops of food coloring and 3 to 6 drops
of your favorite essential oils in a tablespoon and stir
well with a toothpick.
3. Add the color/oil mixture to the salt.
4. Put the lid on the bowl and shake it for a couple of
minutes to make sure the color and scent are evenly
distributed.
5. Package the salts in a paper envelope or glass
container. Be sure to include a measuring scoop and
instructions. Use about 1/4 cup per tub of water for a
relaxing bath.
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