Posted on March 20th, 2011
By DERON SNYDER
The average NFL fan can’t identify too closely with NFL players — and certainly not NFL owners. But most fans know what it means to work and receive a paycheck, regardless of how little they get in comparison. That’s what makes Adrian Peterson’s comments so disturbing and disgusting, reinforcing the stereotypes of dumb jocks and pampered athletes.
Peterson, the Minnesota Vikings’ All-Pro running back, told Yahoo! that playing in the league is like “modern-day slavery. People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too,” he said.
If Peterson was trying to make a case based on New York Times columnist William Rhoden’s provocative book, Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete, it was an epic failure. Rhoden used about 300 pages to lay out a nuanced case for invoking the word “slave,” which is still a stretch.
Continue reading…
Posted on March 16th, 2011
By VANESSA W. SNYDER
Clean your room. Study. Go to bed. Cut the drama. Hurry up. Why’d you get a C on that test?
Clean your room. Study. Go to bed. Cut the drama. Hurry up. Why’d you get a C on that test? (I tend to repeat the same phrases when talking to my kids).
However, I’ve discovered that I often don’t repeat the phrases that should be repeated.
Recently, someone told me that my older daughter doesn’t seem confident. I tried to figure out why. Then I thought about my words and the role they play in her level of confidence. I remembered telling her I was proud of her for effectively using a planner for school work. Her eyes lit up, almost in surprise.
Am I affirming her enough? Am I reminding her how special she is and how smart she is? Am I telling her daily that I believe in her?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. I’m saying plenty, but it’s not always the affirmative language that children need.
Maybe we assume that because they’re teenagers, they don’t need to be affirmed and encouraged. Maybe sometimes we just get too busy and don’t realize they’re lacking in confidence. Whatever the reason, we all should find a way to affirm our children. Between the reminders to study and clean up, there ought to be time to say, “I’m proud of you” or “I like the way you did ______.”
Most of us know that words are powerful. Even if our children don’t admit it, they listen and internalize the things we say, directly or indirectly. Our words to them and about them really do have an impact. We can all remember something spoken to us as children, that we still replay in our minds.
How do we talk about our children when we think they’re not listening? How do we talk to them when we’re angry or disappointed? Are we saying more by the words we DON’T utter?
Words can affirm, raise doubts or tear down. Think about the power of the words, “I love you.” We certainly can’t say that enough.
Try affirming your child today and every day. Then watch them light up and grow in confidence.
Posted on March 14th, 2011
By VANESSA W. SNYDER
Someone called me a hustler once and I didn’t quite know what he meant. Now that I’m publishing and promoting my book every way possible — on a limited budget — I understand.
It’s just a matter of time before I have to spend some real money on marketing “The Second First Lady.” But in the meantime, I’m hustling. I’m not naive enough to think I can work my family and friends forever. However, there’s no harm in hustling until you can’t anymore. Especially if you have a big family, like me, and a good number of friends, colleagues and associates who generally like you. Hey, a sale is a sale.
So let me encourage my fellow independents: Don’t be ashamed to tell anyone who’ll listen about your book. Exhaust any and all resources, because you never know who knows whom. I try not to be overbearing, but I’ve gotten pretty good at bringing up the book in conversation. (Sometimes I feel like those people who always work their children or spouse into the discussion; actually, that might be me, too).
In fact, I was at a funeral and… just joking. I do have limits. I hope I don’t annoy people by mentioning my book in conversation, but if so, oh well. I’m trying to sell books and let the world in on the story of Clairmont Jenkins.
So here are some tips for working your book into a casual conversation:
Co-worker you barely know: Good morning.
Me: Good morning. How are you?
Co-worker (startled at extended conversation): Great. How ’bout you?
Me: Wonderful. I just wrote a book.
Co-worker (feigning interest): Really?
Me: Yes. It’s called The Second First Lady and it’s available online.
Co-worker (backing away slowly and turning away): Great! Congratulations!
I’m really not that bad, although sometimes it feels that way. But maybe that’s just part of the journey.
Other obnoxious tips: 1) Keep book on your dashboard while driving; 2) Tape the cover to one of your windows; 3) Make your relatives keep a copy on their desks; 4) Display copy conveniently on your desk; 4) Have your friends post reviews on the Internet.
The point is, don’t be afraid to tell people you’ve written a book and let them know you’d love it if they purchased one (or more). You might be surprised and come away with a sale.
Posted on March 2nd, 2011
By Vanessa W. Snyder
It’s starting already. A few warm days is all it takes before the realization hits us: Spring is near! That’s when kids begin the Spring Break Slowdown.
It’s hard to believe I’ve been teaching long enough to sense the change in atmosphere. I see it in my students and my own children. Something about the approaching warm weather causes kids to ease up at school.
Suddenly, the work doesn’t seem as important. They struggle to turn in their assignments and act like it’s time for a break. They beg to watch movies and walk around in a bit of a fog. Teachers experience it also, that lazy, summer-afternoon feeling that takes over just before spring arrives.
But this is the worst time for students to slack off, especially high schoolers. There’s simply no time to slip into that malaise. Colleges won’t understand the dip in grades come second semester (that goes for seniors, too). How can students explain that they just didn’t feel like working?
As for middle schoolers, they really don’t want to start bad habits that will be difficult to break at the next level. High school is tough enough without sub-par grades and a poor work ethic at the start. And elementary kids are too early in the game to even think about a slowdown. Don’t let them do it.
As teachers, we need to break out our most-creative lesson plans to keep students engaged. That means even more hands-on, more music, more movement and more out-the-box approaches. As parents, we might have to whip up new incentives to keep our children motivated and focused. And we have to figure out creative ways to do so — extra TV hours, extended bed time, more computer time, a special meal — without breaking the bank.
Several weeks remain before Spring Break arrives and squandering that time would be a poor decision.
Yes, spring is on the way. But so are the next report cards.
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