'Tall' Desks. Recess. The Human Learning Dilemma!

Education is re-examining itself in light of new research that shows that 'tall' desks, not regulation,  school desks, are of significant benefit for children's overall health and learning success. ... Who knew? ... It would seem that the commerce machine has done such an incredible job of marketing their 'arsenal of personal and business tools' that we have forgotten that man was made for walking and moving, throughout the day.

Movement = childhood health. It is that simple. Many educational jurisdictions have cancelled recess (15 minutes x 2 per day) to provide more time for 'academic' teaching, the real deal in education, it would seem. ... Is 'book learning' that sacred? ... We must know, by now, the value being discarded when recess is cancelled. How many studies on recess must be done before it is placed in its proper exalted position? Outside free time is the greatest teacher of all, for young children. Having been a special education high school teacher, elementary school parent volunteer and mom to 3 'former' premature infant boys, I have seen the magic unfold during free time with these adults-in-training.

Recess is nothing to joke about, anymore. It is a critical part of a child's day, everyday. Movement is not just about burning calories, it is also about mental and physical health, good habits, longevity and socialization among peer groups. Recess is also a barometer of 'real life' outside of the classroom, a teaching and assessment tool for our children. ... Are we short changing their futures by creating this learning curve imbalance? Who decided that recess was next on the chopping block for educational cuts? Are 'tall' desks, a knee-jerk reaction to the cancellation of recess, the overuse of indoor gadgets and being at the computer, seated, for long periods of time? ...

Education is about many things. The words change but the methodologies remain the same. The goal here is always about successful learning outcomes. Teachers know the value of movement in educating children. Movement is the prelude to learning. Is the tall desk a symptom of something more sinister, not happening in our lives? If our children are seated at the computer much of the day, this new phenomenon - the tall desk - will undoubtedly change all that and help them burn calories, more efficiently, throughout the day. Standing is good. Sitting is not. For two years now,  the Momsey has been using a 'revolution' chair, a rubber 'round' chair that  helps with both balance and posture, utilizing muscles in the lower back while my legs position me. I now must be ever so careful when I sit. It is a mini-workout, in disguise.

Our inactivity is at a point, now, where we are killing ourselves, incrementally. We should be simplifying our lives, not complicating them more by restricting movement and play for our youngest members. How does scheduling 20-30 minutes more for 'academics' into the elementary school curriculum help any child succeed? We are adding more pressure to their already over-scheduled lives. Adults have coffee breaks. (Try and take that away and watch the backlash begin!) Children have recess. We all need a break. Children need it even more. ... An experiment, at three Texas elementary schools, using tall desks for one group of students, in classrooms, found the 'tall' group expended 15% more calories, simply by standing, than the group who used conventional desks, for most of the school day. Understandably, younger children were more inclined to stand than older ones, anyway. (Developmental milestones for young children are only possible through movement.) Fewer hours sitting also benefited chromosomes with reduced risks of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and overall mortality. The list goes on! Healthy bodies = healthy minds = learning success. ... (Stanford University and the American Academy of Pediatrics seem to agree.)

A child is built for exploration and steady momentum. He is energy, personified! Seated behind a desk, in front of a screen, for long periods of time, is not for the faint of heart, we are now slowly beginning to realize. ... A child's brain, that formative tangible, malleable piece of human machinery - command central - is made for thinking in all ways, with problem-solving, at its core. To create, the body must be in motion. Children learn much about life, outdoors, and reap the health rewards of simply breathing fresh air, there. Yes, breathing is important, too! Imagine that! ... Recess should be an integral part of a child's day - for health, socialization, creativity and simple logic. The forming and assessment of peer relationships demand this special 'outside' time, also. ... For every action we might orchestrate, the gesture becomes more significant in the hands of a child. As I put food into the freezer, one afternoon, decades ago, our kindergartener, wondered into the kitchen and remarked, “Who are we food to?” The question led us to discuss the food chain, dinosaurs, bears and other related content. Out of the mouths of children, we see and hear the future. It is a 'never-ending story.' Free time and freedom of movement - all compile to create a beneficial learning environment for our youngest members.

The internet has changed all the rules of education, making movement and free time for children paramount directives, now. Movement is not an abstract, unwelcome concept that happened, long, long ago, in the good old days. It was a right of passage, then, for all. It should and must be now. Inactivity is slowly becoming the ruination of our species. The 'cost' is incalculable! The obesity epidemic is not looming. It is here! 'Containment' policies do not work with our youngest members. Exploration drives learning, this insatiable quest for knowledge that all children possess. The baby, a younger version of the child, is an out-of-control, squirming, miracle machine attempting to fulfill his own mandate to explore, chew, inhabit, grab, pull, taste, smell, and experience everything he can - before nap time! Our job is simple: to keep him safe, within the boundaries we have chosen for him. His developmental expectations are met through play, this critical assessment of overall health. 

Let tall desks and recess assume their rightful place in our children's lives. Their human need to pounce, jump, fall, explore, laugh, examine and fine-tune the world around them is their mandate. Everything must be considered. ... One size does not fit all!   (Dance, anyone?)

Momsey's Third Anniversary

It is now the third anniversary of the Momsey Blog. Many stories have been written, these past three years, about my love of animals, music, dance and passion for special education. I have learned, and continue to learn, about the world around me. It is a fascinating and absurd world, too, at times.

Writing so many stories has left fewer topics and ideas from which to choose. I must work smarter. How do real writers/authors do it? What they do is an extraordinary feat of endurance. My editor encourages me along the way. She is 23 years old and knows a thing or two about life. ... I am getting older. I knew that was coming but in my haste in making every moment count, I forgot that old age was on my doorstep. Society reminds me that I am an old lady, with freebies or discounts on senior's day. I am not sure I like the reminders. ... I work harder and smarter. 

I tell my body to forget my age. I need to do what needs doing. Time waits for no one! My brain and my body say I am much younger. I fell over a baby gate the other day, a protective barrier, for Mall Cop and the gang, to help contain them. It contained me, momentarily. ... Down I went. Up I got. Nothing hurt. Nothing broken. I guess I'm o.k.   Let's move on. No time for pity. "I don't care". Not bad for an old lady with osteoporosis. 

Courage counts, too, in everyday life. I rarely dine out. I am never quite sure what is in the morsels of food being offered. Being clever in where I dine helps in giving me a taste sensation, once in a while. Recently, eating Chinese food became my renewed dining experience. But after finding metal and hair, in some of the dishes, on a few different occasions, and telling the owner, who did not seem too upset, I thought, “Life is too short" for this ridiculous health and safety gamble. When does it end? 

People complain about foreign objects in their food on a regular basis, in the news. It seems to be a time-honoured tradition. I am not amused. ...Two weeks ago, I spent the better part of my day making 8 dishes with Chinese influence. Leftovers were slim. The food was delicious. We all enjoyed the rice, the noodle and egg dishes. Bean sprouts and vegetables with chicken and beef dominated the table. Chopsticks did, too.

Our precious 2 year old Mr. Wiggles underwent surgery, recently, to remove a grapefruit-sized abscess beneath his 'chin'. This vile thing, attached to his majestic innocent little face, had changed its form and texture many times before it made its final debut, larger and uglier than ever, last Wednesday evening. It suddenly grew that evening. We were shocked and horrified. It hadn't been there a few hours ago. 

At 2;00 a.m. off to the Toronto Emergency Veterinary Hospital we went. Our precious pup had a fever, increased heart rate among other things. They knew us and what to expect from our 'son's' injury. This thing had been on our radar for weeks, waiting for its debut in some form or another. Mr. Wiggles is recovering nicely and his cousins Mall Cop, Miss E and his sister, Miss S are coping well, too, thinking why does he have a large plastic collar around his neck? "Looks like a radar screen". "Are we under surveillance or what?" 

Once upon a time, these 'protective' collars were longer, to prevent large dogs from licking, scratching or pulling the area needing to heal. Now, they are shorter, still effective at the prescribed job but now making them viable choices for daytime attire, maybe. (Furniture and people are not victimized, nearly as much, by this newest design, I am happy to say.)

I read a new wellness magazine for dogs and cats. It had been placed into my bag of products on my last trip to the pet store. I never throw out free inserts, 'cause you never know what you are missing. It was a treasure trove of information and shook me to my core when I came upon the page extolling the health virtues of rooibos - caffeine free - tea for dogs. Momsey has used this African tea for many years. I was so excited- as I tend to get- from time to time. I was already privy to rooibos tea's antioxidant properties - years ago - for a dog who seemed to have only weeks to live - (a deadly side effect of her painkiller, her doctor realized, immediately). I figured I had nothing to lose, so this incredible antioxidant tea was given to her and her companion for the reminder of their lives to kill off any invading cancer cells and keep them 'healthy'. So glad I did. Now I shall begin anew.

The health benefits of Rooibos tea are now becoming mainstream for dogs. Imagine that! Then there are 7 top seeds for dog health, this magazine states. Amazing! Amazing! There is camelina- (high in Vitamin E), chia, pumpkin, quinoa, sesame, hemp and sunflower. It would seem we should all be eating like dogs and reading animal wellness magazines, too, for the latest in human health! The nutritional content of these seeds are incredible and recipes are provided in this 'free to a good home' magazine. Keeping an open mind helps to keep the mind open to health advances, too.

I am surrounded by incredible smart, hardy and beautiful women -(men, too) - and am fortunate to be a part of their lives or how else could I be the Momsey!  Last year, I realized a YouTube video would have to be made, dispelling stereotypes where special children are concerned. I had an epiphany and the truth came out. No time for fear. No time for why me? 

It is showtime for children! In concrete terms, vulnerable children learn through sight, touch, smell, taste and hearing. The plan is in place; the three songs, chosen. Stand-up and move. It is that simple and yet profound. (Yeast dough is not the only way.) The YouTube video will showcase the 'behaviours of learning' for at-risk children. Momsey will lead. Who else? Not for the faint of heart. Oh, what a day that will be! I hope I know what I am doing. But I do. I really do.

Music and dance can transform lives and learning, in an instant. Apples and fruit are important features of a healthy life. An apple a day is really true. Vegetables are incredible allies, too. Sugar is sugar, even if it is organic! Avoid sugar substitutes. The body does not know what to do with them. Use the real thing. Reduce and enjoy the real flavour of your food. And add turmeric when making chicken soup. I do. It is so amazing! Our body will always tell us the truth of what we are eating. Listen to it. It never lies. ...

Crossing The Boundaries of Good Taste

The commercial showed a cute golden retriever puppy - falling off a moving truck, then desperately trying to find its way home. Across fields, railway tracks and dangerous roads, the puppy made its way home. Upon its arrival, a surprise was waiting. While it had been away 'on vacation', its owner had sold the precious little dog to someone else, a quick response to a sale, a solution to a problem. The search engine had done its job. But at what cost to the viewing audience?

The public outcry was palpable. The commercial was lifted from the docket and all was well with the world. But the Momsey found it, easily, on the web, nonetheless, the forever home for all manner of anything. Be careful what you wish for. It took no effort, just simple steps, to see what the fuss was all about. I now understood. I was not amused, either. I took exception to the marketing intent and the innocent player in this latest mini docu-drama. 

 

'Innocent' players are always fair game in today's marketplace, it would seem, in the selling of any and all products. The new twist today, however, is the public's quick access to the top players in this power game called advertising. Texting had made its presence felt, in a heartbeat. The commercial was pulled.  Another commercial, advertising a cleanser, has the owner's little children immersing a small 'scared' dog into the 'colourful' bathtub in a cute little exercise of water play, a simple wanton disregard of the poor little dog's 'rights'. Where was the supervision? The 'Camera' or a moron. Who leaves little children in a bathroom to 'wash' a precious little dog, with or without out adult supervision? Who does that? Who thought the commercial funny? Not me! The animal's ears tell the story. 

 

As a forty plus years dog owner and 12 years, as a cat owner, TheMomsey knows scared, petrified and frightened when she sees it. Disgusting. What were they thinking? Money is the currency. It is as simple as that. The 'commercial' parents are understandably shocked, in a comical sort of way. How did the producers of this gig and the makers of the product find an animal willing to undergo such humiliation? Where was informed consent? Was there a paw print for the signature? What was the audition standard? 

 

Was it a rescue dog, with no rights, at all? Or a pet with actual owners who cared? It shocked me to see such fear in the 'ears' of yet another marginalized powerless little creature.  (Let us hope the little dog received an upgrade in its food status). ...Forget me as a customer. there. ... Then there was the Great Dane and the 'beautification' ritual being orchestrated upon its cute animal face by a little girl, lipstick all around. The dog food company's motives were clear. Yet one message rang through for me: I will not be buying this well-known pet food. The hypocrisy was crystal clear.

The husband had sent this message of respect and admiration, for his wife, to the producers of the talk show that day. She was seated in the audience, not aware of the accolades coming her way, very soon. ... She would be honoured. Oh my, who wouldn't be? Her resume was quite impressive. She was raising other people's children and her own. She was a mother to 7 - 3 biological and 4 foster children. Getting out was a rare occasion and a feat of great organizational skill, considering the schedules of her army of little children. She was a general. ... (The words of pride and admiration from her husband were a welcome relief from the usual 'news' from daytime talk shows.)  I listened as the host of the 4 panel members - all female - read his text-message on air. He wanted the world to know about his selfless super-star wife. In their 13 year marriage, this wonder woman had cared for 45 children whose parents could not. I listened for the story's unveiling, hoping to hear from mom herself. The gifts the show would ultimately bestow upon her, this incredible 'societal gift', would come soon, I thought. I could not have undertaken this incredible mothering feat: caring for so many children over such a short period of time. I was a mere mortal, having mothered only three boys. She was an angel, a role model of strength and courage, to all, to say the least!

Who was this incredible  woman? How did she do it? Then the unthinkable happened. The story stopped, its message of love coming to an end. The audience clapped and the moment was gone, forever lost to the archival files of this talk show. Then the real news began, the news we all wanted and were desperate to see and hear: the misadventures of two adversarial singing sensations and the nearly nude photographs of a 'reality' star found splayed in a magazine, unfamiliar to me. (Wasn't this the wrong place for these pictures?) Tasteless, boring and totally disappointing. I wanted more on the super-star mother-wife but that would not be happening. The lives of the rich and famous always came first, making our lives far  more interesting, meaningful, fulfilling and purposeful!!

As a society, we are crossing so many boundaries, in the myriad of on-air formats, time after time, to garner the much coveted viewing audience? Where are we going with this? Are we de-sensitizing ourselves and our children to the values that make us human? We have commercials where tasteless acts of comedy are presented to sell a product or service, using innocent little creatures beside innocent little children. 

 

When does adult behaviour assume its rightful place, in our lives? There are no limits we cross. Then we have news/talk shows with a poor sense of balance in what they showcase for the viewing audiences to see and hear. ... Gossip is petty, time-wasting and boring. Is there no intelligent life up here?

"Thirty Million More Words by Age Three"

The Early Catastrophe says so! ... Thirty million more words by age 3!... And so it goes. According to this new ground-breaking study, a child raised in a high income household will know 30 million more words than his 'cousin', raised in a household with low income. ... Seven years later, to the astonishment of its authors, the initial results of this research still had a resounding effect on academic performance. ... Let us look further.

As we scramble to buy the latest toys, gadgets and enrichment programs for our children, dare we stop to ask why? Authors of this 2 1/2 year study have brought us back to our senses. A stimulating language rich environment is the key to the learning kingdom! We have the power to produce an Einstein, Edison, or Mike Holmes and change the game of learning for our children. 

The greatest computer in the world is the brain - not the latest techno wonder with its ever-changing dynamics and high costs. Those are simply tools, its supporting staff. ... With the brain, everyday is a new program originating from the trillions of neurons, cells that impact memory, learning, processing, attention and thinking. We have jurisdictional power to alter our child's learning journey using language, creatively and playfully. “Go to your room and play” is not good enough, anymore. 

Did Albert Einstein's or Thomas Alva Edison own a computer or smartphone? The last century produced some of the greatest thinking minds in history. Today's modern world is the most technically advanced society ever. I am privileged to be a part of that. The internet gives life to the Momsey blog. It is the icing on Momsey's cake. Before the icing came the ingredients for the cake: an education, the love of music and a love of words. Momsey's favourite book is an old, well-worn dictionary, a paper book originally targeted for play by a retriever puppy, nearly forty years ago. ... I was born into a family of 'unrich' hard working people, with limited education. My parents came to Canada, from the Ukraine, for a better life in the early 1900's. The education of their children of this 'uneducated' couple was always a top priority. They had missed out. Their children would not. In The Early Catastrophe,  investigators profiled 42 Kansas families of various socio-economic backgrounds - one barometer used in the study - tabulating all words used in all circumstances with parents, one hour per month for 2 1/2 years. The dramatic results: 30 million more words in higher income households. 

Children in richer homes experienced richer language outcomes by being able to draw from higher level language exposure. By the age of three, up to 98% of the words used by the child were direct reflections of daily interactions with a parent or other primary caregiver. This observation gave new meaning to the 'imitation game'! Teaching new words, in school, were ineffective long term, compared with the daily use of these words, in dialogue, with a primary caregiver, in the home. Boosting vocabulary resources -outside the home- produced short-term gain. Effective home study programs also lay the foundation for the child's ability to process future information, increase rates of vocabulary growth and understanding of advanced high school textbooks. ... (All families, the authors wrote, showed equal love, care and attention to their children.)

When our sons were babies, simple strategies, infused with language, became my toys of choice. We were not rich. Momsey was a stay-at-home, sometimes. During diaper changing, I would play the telephone game with each boy. Mimicking the telephone of its day, the cumbersome black land-line device of the 70's and early 80's, I would 'listen' with one baby's foot while 'talking' into the other. Down time was now playtime, another magical period of engagement with baby, as I changed his diaper. It was comical relief, also, while using his feet as a forum for language, in animated fashion. Laughter drew us together as I spoke in imaginative play, in this special moment of connection. ...Then there was the mirror game, a regular feature of Momsey's 'early' parenting style. The wonders of facial expression and conversational language, came alive as both mom and baby gazed, simultaneously, into a large wall mirror, an 'ever-changing glass pictorial'. Words were  now turned into moving pictures. ... We would laugh again. Our oldest son's severely early birth was already one strike against him and his future. Creating exciting moments for him and his brothers, with language at the core of these moments, ignited the wonders of words and the power they had to connect our sons to all their learning and life goals.

By the age of 3 1/2, our oldest had demonstrated poor language skills, with a low rate of vocabulary development but a deep love of animals, people, life and a passion for Lego. Many years later, he received, what his doctors and teachers thought would never happen, a university degree. In 1994, a ground-breaking program called Yeast Dough created by momsey helped to address all aspects of academic learning of at-risk primary children. It was never about baking but higher order thinking. I was a parent volunteer at the time.

Dough was about language, cognition and the art of asking questions in this novel approach to the special education primary curriculum. I had been asked by the primary intensive language lead teacher of the school to join her class.  This 'volunteer' field study - 8 hours per month - lasted 5 years!..[ (Jan. 2013)- "Puzzle & Poem", ."Gluten Word", "My Crueller" and (Dec. 2012) - "Two Second Rule", "Carbon Dioxide"] Her students were exceptional examples of the mind at play. 

The Early Catastrophe seems to foreshadow doom and gloom for children born into low-income households, born prematurely, perhaps, already developmentally delayed and probably headed towards special education. We as, parents, have the power - like Dorothy had in, The Wizard of Oz - to alter the developmental trajectory of our children. We need only to stop, look and listen, using the tools of interactive and conversational play as the foundation for the lifelong learning of our children. Money is one strong barometer of success. ... Language is the other, a more critical element, I believe.

In Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Providence, Rhode Island, doctors, pathologists and other professionals are taking notice of The Early Catastrophe 's ground-breaking research and its implications, hoping to build upon its basic tenets, realizing that language is about life and health. Let us all remember that and pay homage to its message!

Momsey's Favourite Sayings and Quotes!

“Visionary people are visionary partly because of the very great many things they don't see". Berkeley Rice.

 "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." Ralph Waldo Emerson (American poet)

" A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting its shoes on." Mark Twain.
“Experience is a dim lamp which only lights the one who bears it”.....Louis-Ferdinand Celine.

“Whatever the mind can conceive, it can achieve.” ...Clement Stone..
“Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.” Helen Keller.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” ...Albert Einstein.

“Aim at the sun. You may not reach it, but you will fly higher than if you never aimed at all.”...
“Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” ...

“Out of challenges grow miracles.”

“Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen of them.” John Steinbeck

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
“Great people are ordinary people with extraordinary amounts of determination.”

“Those who say it cannot be done shouldn't interrupt the people doing it.”
“If you cannot do something well, at least, do something.”

“What lies before us and what lies behind us are tiny compared to what lies within us.”...Emerson

"Before everything else, getting ready is the secret to success.” ...Henry Ford (1863-1947) U.S. Industrialist.

“However beautiful the strategy, we should occasionally look at the results.” Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965) British statesman and Prime Minister.

“Great achievements are accomplished in a blessed, warm fog.” Joseph Conrad.
“You fail to learn anything when you claim to be the expert.” Aaron Hotchner, chief of the BAU, 'Criminal Minds'
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” Aristotle.
“What we think, or what we know or what we believe in is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do.” John Ruskin (1819-1900)

And finally: "I understand the concept of cooking and cleaning. Just not as it applies to me."

What Momsey Knows

What Momsey Knows:

Change your opinion. It might be the best thing that ever happened

Music keeps me happy, sane, smart and pain-free.

It takes two to build a strong, caring, loving relationship but only one to destroy it.

If I wanted my husband to be more like I am then there would be two people who would easily get lost in the woods, at the mall, in the restaurant, and not drive on the highways.

Making a mistake is one way to find out that being perfect can be boring. Those neurons won't misfire again.

Hating takes a lot of time, energy and planning. It is an exhausting exercise that depletes human vitality and ruins the human experience!

Raising children to the age of 18 requires $300,000 or more I have heard. I wonder how much it costs to support us during that same period of time. ...

Dogs and cats are not part of a child's to do list. It is our responsibility, divided among family members. They are not a practice exercise, to be returned, on a whim, and a new replacement brought in. Dogs and cats are not cute movable toys.

Try new foods and eat better foods. It is much easier and less costly for fixing health problems than resorting to medication, each and every time.

Listening to music is also a shared sensory experience. Let us look to the past for inspiration-Big Band, folk music, classical, too, for balance in our lives. Rock music is not the only game in town.

Dancing is an incredible way to build confidence and intellect, especially, in very young children.

Mother nature rules!

Traditional medicine and holistic medicine can and should co-exist. ... The world would be a better place and confidence in our service providers would soar. No one group can do it all.

If the shoes you want don't fit, don't buy them. Your future health is at risk.

Simplify your diet, your body and mind will thank you for it. Fermented foods are helpful aids.

Pets teach us about love, tolerance, and the need for good footwear in all kinds of weather. Their needs always supersede ours. They help define our human experience, moment by moment!

Collect your leftovers and make soup. It requires effort not talent.

Use a recipe as a guidepost. It is not rule of law.

Keep the home a place of simplicity, tranquility, humour, and love. ...  Life has a habit of turning it upside down without warning.

Music excites, calms, helps with memory, thought, keeps us moving and our bodies young.

Choking's Grip on Life

It was a normal start to the school day when the  unimaginable and the unthinkable came calling. The end of my world was about to pay us a visit.

The boys were 10, 9, 7, then, readying themselves for school, that morning. I would be driving them as I usually did. Our oldest attended an area Arts Focus program, one that the other two would be attending, the following year. Making them breakfast was always an important beginning of their week day routine. Today's specialty was French toast with bacon, a treat and mid-week departure from the usual hot cereal menu. He had requested that I not fry the bacon too long. He did not want it too crispy. He liked it that way. 

The boys sat down, eager to eat, then depart for school early with me to be with their friends in the schoolyard. Breakfast was served. With all meals, supervision was paramount. With children, you just never know. That morning, however, 'knowing' made its ugly, death-defying presence known, an unwelcome visitor to our meal time routine. It happened so quickly. I watched as our youngest attempted to cough up the offending food, the bacon he so enjoyed, trapped inside. ... Nothing seemed to work. I asked him to do whatever he needed to expel it. 'Throw up!" Anything. "Do not concern yourself with any mess." "Cough it up!" "Everything will be fine".

We all waited, our attention now on the full-blown life and death event unfolding before us. Nothing! His brothers stood up from the table, that until a few minutes ago, had been the sight of 3 little boys enjoying their breakfast. My youngest stood up, trying ever so mightily, to cough up the bacon bit that remained intact - where it was not meant to be. Still nothing! Everything his brothers were telling him to do was simply not happening. He was now beginning to turn a deep red colour, a sign that this event was not going well. The food had to be expelled soon. God had given me 3 minutes.

We lived in the country, then, not far from the small town where they attended the quaint public school, for grades up to 6, with no gymnasium. The 911 emergency service had not yet been implemented. “Oh my God,” I thought, as I looked at the clock and realized, in quiet desperation, that time was passing, very quickly. Superman was not coming. ... A disaster of untold  proportions was looming. I steadied myself for the job I knew I had to do. ... Being calm was imperative. The waiting game was officially over! Even if 911 was in play, would the paramedics even get here, in time? The crying, the panic and hysteria of re-enactments, I have seen on television, never seemed to serve any useful purpose. Those theatrical performances wasted precious time and offered no real solution to the emergencies unfolding.  

Life and death thinking was now up close and very personal. I had never envisioned, when my husband and I took that lifesaving course, 8 years ago, that we would be its beneficiaries. ... Our youngest was still standing, hoping this small gesture would help, somehow, in moving the offending food and expedite matters. ... Nothing again! A minute or so had lapsed, coupled with yet another intense colour change. The ' 3 minute window' of opportunity was dwindling fast. The brain would now begin its closing arguments. His palor was still deep red, albeit with a bluish tinge, now, an indicator that death was close at hand. ...It was time to act. ...  Tears and panic had no place here. ... Enough time had been spent hoping for a satisfactory resolution. ...  It was now my turn to 'step up to the plate' and do what needed to be done. ...

I grabbed him, as I walked to the entrance of the kitchen, lifting him ever so gingerly, from behind, while positioning my back against the doorway. ... Being a grade 3 student, he was almost as tall as I was. I did not want to fall and add a new tragic dimension to this medical crisis. Every second counted. With one hand wrapped around my clenched fist, I applied, very carefully, the 'specialized' pressure required to push out the offending 'food plug' residing deep inside our son's throat. Out it popped, like a spinning top, onto the floor into the next room. An overwhelming sigh of relief gave rise to uncontrollable, momentary, shaking and a few tears. Trembling so quietly, we embraced, realizing how close we had come to saying goodbye, forever! This terrifying moment was finished; the assault on our senses, done.  It was soon time to go.

I called the school to inform them of what had happened. They needed to know he might be different today. His promise not to eat again was understandable. Food was the last thing on his mind. As mothers we second-guess ourselves, continually, about the 'staying' home or work debate. I was there for the most important 3 minutes of our family's life. Money earned, early, in the life of our children can, at some point, be spent later for 'corrective' measures. We do what feels right at the time. The wellbeing of our young children is what matters most, however.

When I think of the elementary school lunch period, I wonder who is supervising those silly busy little minds, preoccupied with everything except chewing their food well. The incessant talking and giggling bring chills as I worry about crunchy apple slices, carrot sticks and other chewy unmentionables, parts of a so-called healthy lunch.. The unimaginable with children can happen anytime, anywhere- even when you think you are doing everything right. And I was that morning, or so I thought!