There’s Value in Brain Games! My Daughter’s Estimation Proves It!

By

As technology and artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, it seems that people feel the need to use their brains less. Why use critical thinking when you can ask Alexa or Siri? Why compose an essay or your own original thoughts when ChatGPT can do it for you?

There’s something rewarding about using and exercising your brain, and clearly my daughter’s school knows this! Yesterday, they had a fun-filled evening of brain games for kindergartners up to fourth grade and encouraged parents and guardians to participate as well. I was so excited to see 24: one of the math games I loved playing as a child.

Quinn initially made a beeline for the estimation station where there were jars of different items, and the children were to guess how many were inside. Today, she found out that she was the winner with her guess on the amount of lollipops in a jar. When I asked how close she was with her estimation, she said, “I was exact!” I then followed up with how she came up with the number, and she told me, “I had a strategy,” which she proceeded to explain.

I told her how proud I was of her for using her brain and strategizing and how cool I think the event was, and she agreed.

Here’s to hoping the future generations will continue to embrace brain games, critical thinking and strategizing.

All the best,

Tanya

The Big Reveal! Appreciating My Daughter’s Art

By

A couple of weeks ago, I received a letter from my daughter’s art teacher that her work was among the selected few from her school to be on display at the Cheltenham Center for the Arts, our local community art school.

Today was the big reveal, and we were all so excited to see my fourth grader’s work of art. Then, we quickly found ourselves admiring and appreciating the art in many mediums of the other artists ranging from kindergarten up to eighth grade.

We were so impressed, and it was wonderful to see so many proud family and friends excited to celebrate their children’s masterpieces.

All the best,

Tanya

Life Lessons From Playing Bingo

By

This past Friday, my daughter and I attended bingo night at her school. It’s been quite some time since I played bingo, and it was all new to Quinn, but she quickly got the hang of it.

When B12 was called, Quinn shook her head and said, “Why couldn’t they call B13?!” One of her friends at our table was “lucky” enough to win. After a few more rounds, another friend at our table won shouting out “Bingo!”

Quinn just knew she would be next when we got to the last and tenth bingo card. But that didn’t happen. 🥺 Even still, she learned and I was reminded as we heard a person shouting out “Bingo” from a neighboring distance that sometimes you can be so close to “winning,” just one space away, and have someone win ahead of you. Sometimes it’s pure luck, sometimes it’s just in the cards, but either way, the excitement of playing and possibly winning was enough to eventually put a smile on Quinn’s face.

All the best,

Tanya

Learning to Jump with My Daughter’s Help

By

One of my favorite activities is strength training and boot camp style sessions.

Today, my trainer Joey had me 200 jumping jacks, 100 pushups, 100 jumping lunges, 100 squats, four timed intervals of 30lb ball slams and bicycles, then four timed intervals of box jumps & prisoner squats, jabs, uppercuts & hooks on the heavy bag & closing with alternating double toe taps. The toughest part that jumps out is the box 😅.

Joey started me at 24 inches which I managed, but I should’ve known that when my nine year old jumped at the chance to join me for the 7:30am session that she’d make jumping 30 inches look easy! 🤗 Both Joey and Quinn agreed that “I” would be doing a 30 inch box jump for the next three intervals. 😩

At first I whined and even whimpered a little as my heart raced, but Quinn insisted that I try. “You can do it! Don’t be afraid,” she said. I slipped, I fell, I pulled Joe trying to maintain my balance, but…I eventually got it! I’m so glad I had two passionate people, one of those being my daughter, who believed in me from the jump! ☺️🙌🏽💪🏽

All the best,

Tanya

Always Cheering for My Daughter!

By

Yesterday, my fourth grader’s hard work and extra practices with her school’s cheer team paid off! Thirty of them from first to fourth grade, including Quinn, paid homage to the art of cheer and the contribution from HBCU’s for Black history month.

Though it was hard to spot her since she was in the back as a fourth grader and one of the taller children, that didn’t stop me from cheering for her. It takes a lot of courage to get up on a stage with several spectators watching, so I am very proud of her. 🤗

All the best,

Tanya

Eagles Super Bowl Excitement with My Mini Me

By

This it it! The day has finally arrived! In a few hours, we’ll be cheering on our home team, the Eagles, as they play in the Super Bowl! My nine year old is so excited. She knows way more than I do about the players and their positions and is lucky enough to witness the Eagles make it twice in her lifetime. I’m just amazed at how much she’s grown in that time as well.

We’re both hoping to see the Eagles win it all again! 💚😊🦅

All the best,

Tanya

I Have a Clue That This New Year is Gonna Be Golden Girl!

By

I’m so happy I spent part of the first day of the new year playing games with my daughter. We’ve played Clue in the past, but this was our first time playing “The Golden Girls” version, and we both thought it was fun.

I was so impressed that Quinn knew who the characters were and developed a strategy to figure out who “stole the slice of cheesecake.”

Even though I did win, discovering that it was Rose with a feather slipper in the bathroom, Quinn was a good sport and quickly learned about keeping a “poker face.”

We may not have a total “clue” on what 2023 will bring, but if it’s anything like today, it will be fun-filled and memorable.

All the best,

Tanya