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TODAY'S
ISSUE
You can be helpful
when talking to children about war
By
Beth White
Child
Life Specialist
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Special to GwinnettForum.com
APRIL 1, 2003 - - Children's Healthcare of Atlanta understands
that part of our role in caring for children includes supporting
the emotional, mental and spiritual well-being of their families
during uncertain times. We know that children may have questions
and concerns about recent world events, and they will look to you
for guidance. Children often take their cues on how to react from
adults.
 As
a guide, the Child Life department at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
offers these tips to you and your family. The Child Life department
at Children's is specially trained to help children and families
facing trauma and disaster. They use age-appropriate play, activities
and discussion tools. The Child Life department is a key reason
that children need to be treated in a children's hospital like Children's
Healthcare of Atlanta.
- Ask your children what they know about world events. Find out
if they have questions or concerns, and be open to their points
of view. Tell the truth, and do not make promises you cannot keep.
- Be aware of what your children are watching on television. Small
children who see events on television may think the events are
happening right now and in their own backyard. When at home, watch
the news as a family. Talk about events of the day. With teenagers,
talk about democracy and how to ensure a safer future. Limit overall
media exposure, especially for smaller children.
- To take good care of your children, you need to take good care
of yourself. Help keep stress under control by eating a balanced
diet, resting, exercising and maintaining a routine.
- Explain information in simple terms, with age-appropriate answers.
Often, you do not need to say too much. A simple sentence may
be enough to satisfy a child.
- Children worry about being safe. Start or maintain a routine
for your children. Let them know they can still do the same activities
each day. Speak to younger children about what your family is
doing to stay safe. Tell them about those in the community who
help ensure their safety.
- Children will let you know when they have had enough information
or discussion by changing the subject or telling you they want
to go play. Be sensitive to the signals they are sending you.
- Encourage your children to talk about their feelings and share
your own. Do not discount what they are telling you by saying,
"That's silly." Let them know their feelings are normal.
If you are afraid, admit it and tell them how you calm yourself.
- Be sure to spend a lot of time with your children to ensure
that they feel safe and secure.
- Explain deployment. Children may see other children saying goodbye
to their family members, and it may cause insecurity about their
own family. If a family member is being deployed, make sure children
understand it is not their fault.
- Your family may decide to become part of the effort to support
and aid troops and their families. Children may find it helpful
to make and send cards, donate allowances, and participate in
vigils and other community activities.
For more information on helping children cope with changing world
events, visit the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Web site at www.choa.org.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Proliferation
of signs says economy in big trouble
By
Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
APRIL 1, 2003 -- One word keeps popping up, which bugs us and is
terrifying.
You see it when you drive through Technology Park, or Gwinnett
Park, or through about any area of the county.
Signs give that same message in other parts of the country, too.
A recent drive up Interstate 85 found that word cropping up again
and again. Even in suburban Virginia, long a hotbed of development
like Gwinnett, you see this word.
It's scary. For it appears so often.
"AVAILABLE," it says.
We're talking about real estate properties being available. Small
space, large space, locations in about any state you want, we suspect,
have this tag located on them saying "AVAILABLE." It's
a sign of what's happening to our economy.
What particularly strikes is that these signs are relatively new
phenomenon. Years ago, it was difficult to locate space in some
of these business parks. Just look at the expansion that the two
we named, Technology Park/Atlanta, initially off Peachtree Industrial
Boulevard; and Gwinnett Park, off I-85, have continued in the last
few years.
It got to the point that Technology Park/Atlanta years ago ran
out of space in its initial location. It now has developed an even
larger campus on Highway 141 near the Fulton-Forsyth line at Johns
Creek.
Previously "AVAILABLE" did not often appear. Instead
a sign in front of the property told you what new company was going
to occupy that building.
But today, you see "AVAILABLE" in places you did not
see it before. We noted it especially noted in the Greenville-Spartanburg
area of South Carolina; along the interstate in Charlotte, Greensboro
and Durham, N.C.; and as we drove past Richmond toward Washington,
D.C.
Sure, some real estate was always on the market. But previously
there was not the proliferation of properties "AVAILABLE"
as they are today.
What this says, of course, is that the economy is in deep trouble.
Corporations are combining production areas and offices, or even
going out of business. It is clearly seen in the glut of properties
on the real estate market.
Some say that the war in Iraq will help solve some of these problems
of the economy. Perhaps. Yet signs show the economy in deep, deep
trouble.
What's needed is for the Bush Administration to show leadership
in paying attention to the economy. We are too much caught up in
the pursuit of international strategies, including a war. A few
people in Washington have set up a hue and cry about the need for
more attention to the economy, but for the most part, this has gone
unheeded.
So today we see "AVAILABLE" in all too many places. It's
scary, and it's a problem with no short term solution. (A tax reduction
will take eons to trickle down to get an economy recovered.)
Until there are far, far fewer "AVAILABLE" signs, you
will know that the economy is still in deep trouble.
ABOUT
OUR SPONSORS
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public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is The River
Club. In the tradition of Sugarloaf Country Club, The River
Club, a premier gated community from Crescent Resources, springing
up in Suwanee, offers the convenience of life in Gwinnett County
with the beauty of the Chattahoochee River. Residents of The River
Club will enjoy shaded walks by the Chattahoochee, as well as
the full range of amenities and community activities that have
become Crescent Resouces's hallmark. When complete, The River
Club will include an 18-hole championship golf course designed
by Greg Norman. Homesite sales in The River Club began this fall.
Homes are priced from the high $700s. The average homesite in
Phase 1 is nine-tenths of an acre. To view the Internet site,
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For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm.
FEEDBACK
4/1: Remembers Louise
Cooper as sweet person
Editor, the Forum
I was sorry to read in the Forum recently that Louise Cooper
had passed away. What a sweet, bright woman she was!
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Louise
Cooper |
One fond memory I have is the time she brought in an antique
walnut clock with one of the decorative side panels broken off.
I told her I thought I could carve a replacement and she was delighted.
I obtained a piece of matching walnut from John Herndon (I think
I am right), who was a mayor of Suwanee. He maintained a huge
junkyard in his barn, basement and around his house and had a
lot of wood left from his career in the furniture manufacturing
business.
I was able to carve a design to match the other side pretty quickly,
and I should have let it go at that. Instead, I kept fooling with
it until the replacement side looked much better than the original
side.
Fortunately, Louise was pleased with it anyway.
Thanks for bringing back memories of Louise back so well.
-- Myles Godfrey, Winder
4/1: Liked item
remembering Louise Cooper
Editor, the Forum:
I want to thank you for such a nice article on Louise Cooper,
a member of the Gwinnett County Retired Educators Association
until her death.
-- Ralph Greene, Snellville, president, Gwinnett Retired Educator's
Association
4/1: Surely it is
true that moving limbs causes wind to blow
Editor, the Forum:
Listening to the arguments by anti-war protestors is sort of
like listening to a child's explanation that the moving limbs
of trees are what are causing the wind to blow.
-- Allan Hytowitz, Norcross
NEWS
4/1: County government
sets Open House on April 5
Whether you are new to Gwinnett County or count yourself as
a native Gwinnettian, you will learn how to get the most from
your county government at the Third Annual Gwinnett County Open
House on Saturday, April 5, 2003.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event takes place at the Gwinnett
Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville.
The Gwinnett County Open House offers free children's activities,
a live band, free food, and useful information about how county
government serves its citizens.
The Human Resources Department will conduct a job fair for
all employment positions as well as seasonal positions, such
as summer camp staff or lifeguards.
In case of rain, children's activities will be held on the
first floor of the covered parking deck located behind the Gwinnett
Justice and Administration Center.
THOUGHT
OF THE DAY
Watch out telling
all you know
"Never try to tell everything you know. It may take too
short a time."
-- Norman Ford
SEND YOUR FEEDBACK
Send your thoughts, 55-word short stories, pet peeves
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Forum for future publication.
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is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
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