Someone donated a big box of pumpkins to the entire first grade and second grade classes at our grandson’s school. They are admitedly small pumpkins, but they are very likely the only way a lot of the kids would even have the chance to put out a pumpkin at home. The schools don’t encourage pumpkin carving anymore. The preferred decorating involves using markers and paints to create the face or pumpkin designs. I wouldn’t want a 6 or 7 year old to get cut accidently while carving their pumkins, so that is probably a good idea.

The teacher has been sending home notes complaining that our grandson does not pay attention on class. I think he needs to be tested for ADHD but his mother refuses to permit that. She says that she doesn’t want him labeled as handicapped. She also says that she refuses to give her son any drugs to treat ADHD, so there’s no reason to test him.

So every time he brings home a note from the teacher she beats him with a belt and tells him he is a bad boy. I wonder if the teacher would continue to send those notes if she knew that he gets beat for bringing them home?

We have a huge collection of Thomas the Train tracks and trains. We have a lot of train engines and all kinds of rail cars.Our grandson used to love to play with the trains. He would spend HOURS putting the track together and then running different trains on the track. There is a LOT to be said for something like Thomas the Train keeping a kid with ADHD completely absorbed and entertained on his own for hours.

I bought two shallow plastic boxes with lids to store the trains and the track. I thought we should take the batteries out of the engines and coal cars before we put them away. That was no easy task. There are a half dozen different ways to get into the battery compartments of the different engines. Most just snap apart if you know the secret sweet spot to press and make them open. A few need a tiny phillips head screwdriver. That took about half an hour just taking batteries out!

A little late for spring cleaning, but I was cleaning out the extra room and getting a lot of odd household chores out of the way today. Every time I turned around I found toys and little boy clothes. I can’t tell you how many trips I made to the toy box to deposit odds and ends – Spiderman figures, little dinosaurs, Hot Wheels cars, wiffle balls. I have two boxes of little boys clothes now – most of them barely worn before they were outgrown. Amazing how much of his stuff has invaded our house.

There’s no substitute for the companionship and loyalty of a dog for little boys. The right pet can provide hours of active play and many nights of comfort.

It’s helpful for bonding if the dog is still young when introduced to the household, but not a good idea of the parents don’t have the time and patience to train a puppy.

Children should be taught to be respectful of animals and be cautious when approaching an unfamiliar dog on the street.

Having a pet in the house teaches responsibility and respect for animals. I wish every boy could have a dog – or a cat, if dogs aren’t practical for the living conditions.