If you can read this, you can change the world

Hello, world! Yes, I'm still alive and well. My humans have been taking a lot of my time lately, what with ailing relatives, family gatherings, professional difficulties, terrible twos and other forms of stress. It's been all Fluffmonster and I can do to keep the grown-ups sane.

Princess is doing just fine, however -- learning to put "shoes on" and actively asserting herself. VERY actively. In fact, she had her first (and last, we hope) tantrum a couple of weeks ago. I've never seen Man quite that pale and shaken. I have to admit he handled it well -- remained calm and ignored her antics, even after she got up, walked into his line of vision, then sat on the floor and resumed her tantrum. She finally tired herself out and hasn't tried it again -- I guess because it didn't work the first time. Also, they're teaching her to say, "I'm mad!" instead of throwing a fit. If you're going to take away the only communication method a kid has, it's only fair to replace it with something.

So far, we are still a nonspanking family. But we're learning not to judge parents who choose the other route. Still, woman believes that anger management is one of those skills best learned at your mama's knee, but not necessarily across it.

Princess already loves books, and we're glad because reading is another important skill that comes more easily to the very young. Sadly, a lot of folks don't learn to read well for various reasons. Maybe no one taught them to enjoy it, so they learned how to fake it. Maybe they were sickly as kids and missed so much school that they fell behind. Or maybe it was just hard for them, and no adult took the time to give them the extra attention they needed. Now, they're grown up and trying to get by without being able to read a menu, a bus schedule or a job application. And they might be too embarrassed to ask for help, even if they know whom to ask.

Woman loves to read so much that she can't imagine life without it. (She's a nerd but at least a well read one.) A while back, she ran into some folks who are trying to help. Now she's one of them, and so is Man -- he watches Princess one night a week for a couple of hours, so Woman can help her new friend become a better reader. The literacy council here taught her how to teach an adult -- it's different from teaching a kid, and the materials are different too.

Woman says it's one of the best things she's ever done, and maybe it makes up for some of the bad stuff. And it doesn't really take that much time -- she does it after work one night a week and still gets home in time for Princess' bath.

If you have a little extra time on your hands -- and if you're reading my blatherings, you probably do -- maybe you'd like to help too. Of course, there are lots of good causes to give your time or money to. But there aren't many where you can see the good you're doing with your own eyes.

Most places have some kind of organization or agency that needs volunteers to help adults learn to read. Here's a link if you want to find out more.

Just imagine how you'll feel when your "student" is able to get a better job, read to her kids or enjoy a good old trash novel.

Or even a cat blog.

Now that's contributing to society.

This is Cruxley reminding you that the more you give, the more you get. And as much fun as it is to blog, it's nice to read a book now and then. (I'll try to make some new recommendations soon -- check my sidebar.)

Keep reading and feeding the cat.