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Home ยป Blog ยป Safety Certified

Safety Certified

by Sarah Turner Clover Lane

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Patrick graduated from Safety Town last week and learned lots of good stuff.

Safety sure has changed since I’ve been a kid.  We had no car seats, heck no seat belts (or maybe we had seat belts but didn’t have to wear them?)…I remember bouncing around in the back seat with my sisters.  I got to laughing one day when I thought of all the unsafe things we did.  How many rabid raccoons and chipmunks and you name it, wobbling in the driveway in broad day light, did we take under our wing? Patrick had a whole session put on by the animal control officer. We would plummet down the hills on our bikes, pedaling to go faster, with our bare heads. We ice skated on creeks and ponds we tested ourselves…if we made it out to the middle it was deemed “safe”. We ate berries that I’m sure in large doses could be poisonous. When I look at the things my mom used for us as babies-little seats, swings-all of which I’m sure didn’t have five point harness systems-I wonder how we survived.  I sure do remember talks on stranger danger at school-the most terrifyingly inappropriate film was shown to us little first graders, and it scared the beejibbers out of us. I don’t think I talked to strangers till my late 20’s and I can still see scenes of that film in my head.  Don’t take candy from strangers, was really the lesson behind it all, or you might end up dead in a drainage pipe.  Eeek!

Anyways-I loved Safety Town.  I love their approach (gentle, no murder scenes involved).  Patrick received a little certificate and a great deal of pride.  What I really wish he would receive is a little stamp that would stay with him for life-sort of like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval-a lifetime guarantee that he will stay safe always-through the daring boy years, into the invincible teenage years, and then beyond.  It would let my mother’s heart rest a little easier.  Wouldn’t that be great?

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June 26, 2013 ยท 11 Comments

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  1. valerie says

    June 26, 2013 at 2:52 pm

    Oh we miss Safety Town! What a big boy.

    Reply
  2. conveyableflow says

    June 26, 2013 at 3:18 pm

    Saftey Town seems so cute! I don't think we have anything like that around here.

    Reply
  3. Tanya says

    June 26, 2013 at 3:37 pm

    I had to laugh at your story…I was just telling my husband this week about when I was in Kindergarten and Officer Friendly came to talk to us about safety. He told us that cops often have a bad day so always wave at a cop to make his day nicer. I waved to a cop driving near my apt complex and he pulled over with an angry face!! I ran inside and hid and cried…he never came for me, lol, I don't know what he was there for, but I have never waved to a cop ever, ever again!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  4. Laura Blair says

    June 26, 2013 at 8:46 pm

    Your story totally reminds me of the fire safety film they showed us. I remember vividly it showing these two boys putting a match in a gas tank and BLAM! I was traumatized for years. But it worked because I still don't play with matches. LOL

    Reply
  5. Tiffany says

    June 26, 2013 at 10:25 pm

    My husband and I always laugh at how dangerously we lived compared to our kids lives now! My husband is a police officer so safety has been drilled into our kids brains. But I wish we had a little safety school around here, what a great idea!

    PS – send you an e-mail today, I hope you get the chance to read it! Thanks! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  6. Lisa says

    June 26, 2013 at 10:26 pm

    I haven't been reading blogs lately, but happened to do so today. WHEN did Patrick grow up SO much???? Oh my goodness! He's a big boy now. That means my oldest (same age as Patrick) must be a big girl. Waaaaah!

    Reply
  7. Jessica Brown says

    June 27, 2013 at 12:41 am

    Does your town have any brown people?

    Reply
  8. Mama Sue says

    June 27, 2013 at 4:13 am

    I was thinking the same thing as Lisa. When did Patrick stop being little!

    Reply
  9. Magnolia Verandah says

    June 27, 2013 at 4:57 am

    These kids look so cute and what a good idea – although as you say I drove around with my kids slip sliding on the vinyl seats in the back of the car, no seat belts etc. no special car seats, everyone survived although I suppose there was less traffic on the road and people had mostly old cars. I do remember as a kid having the police come to school about "stranger danger" and about safely crossing the road, we had to learn a little song about Tufty the squirrel and went home with a hanky with Look right, Look left, Look right again, all clear quick march!printed on it. Innocent times.

    Reply
  10. The Regal Pup says

    June 27, 2013 at 1:38 pm

    I'm a lurker, and have been for awhile! But, there was just something about this post that made me want to comment. It was just cute! I love your style of writing, and your blog is such an inspiration to me! I figure if you can do it with 6 kids, I should be able to get by with 2 ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  11. Kel says

    June 27, 2013 at 9:12 pm

    I volunteered for Safety Town many, many years ago… thanks for the flashback. It is a very nice program – and Patrick looks like he really enjoyed himself!

    Reply

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Welcome!

Sarah Turner

When our first baby was placed in my arms I knew there was no place I wanted to be other than home with him every day. Twenty five years, and five more babies later, (six children, now ages 26-8), I still feel the same. I blog here about motherhood, how to make a house a home, easy recipes, and simple living. You can read more about me here.

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Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular. Just an o Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular.  Just an ordinary Monday morning breakfast counter after the kids leave for school.  Because ordinary gets the short hand in our culture but really it's extra special. 
It's a symbol of unselfishness, contentment, prudence and gratitude.  There is a certain peace about the ordinary.  It's the opposite of temporary-it holds the joy of contentment and gratitude and prudence all in one hand.  It's lends itself toward peace, and a settling in, not a constant search for more or less or anything.  Ordinary is authentic and good enough- in short it's a gem in disguise. ๐Ÿƒ
I love my home and I hope you do also. With all t I love my home and I hope you do also.  With all the imperfections and maintenance it requires, when I pull up and walk in I want to stay, to relax, to feel safe, for daily life to be easy, and to care for "home". I want simplicity, ease, convenience.  To me when my home is simple, without being filled to the brim of things that just take up space I love it best.  I hope if you've participated fully or even partially as time allowed in 40 Bags in 40 Days you've found that joy and pride in your home.  I plan to share more little challenges and tips as the year proceeds to trouble shoot areas and keep maintenance effortless and the house love flowing.  Daily life in our homes should bring us joy and ease while we care for our families, we should be thoughtful stewards of our money and of our time and simple living is the answer to that. 
Thank you for participating! ๐Ÿก
I think this is one of the best things about the 4 I think this is one of the best things about the 40 Bag decluttering process.  When I know what I have and have removed all that I don't, it cultivates more discretion and caution about what I bring back in.  I think there is also some realization of how much money is wasted on fads, or thoughtless purchases.  It's quite eye-opening.  I've become so much more careful, and find we all take better care of things, as do my children.
The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days! I've tackle The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days!  I've tackled all the areas of my home with exception of my oldest daughter's room (not the photo)- which she is excited to work on this week.
The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean an The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean and straighten up.  And then the more enjoyable it is to actually sit in that room.  It's not a hard equation, all it takes is ruthless purging-and not just little things but larger items also.  Functional furniture is the key and very few decorative pieces especially when children are in the home, makes life so much easier. 
๐Ÿƒ
As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge I'm hearing from so many of you what a difference it has made in your appreciation of your homes, a certain contentment, and at the same time a thrill of looking in on the organized kitchen, closet and living space.  I agree!  I love purging, cleaning and organizing a space and then going back later that day just to get that wonderful sense of accomplishment.  It makes such a difference! 
๐Ÿƒ
A lighter, fresher, calmer home is the result of de-cluttering.  I even had a participant who had been planning on listing her home, start 40 Days just to get her house ready to sell, and then was so ruthless in the process and also thrilled by the results that they decided to stay put in what seemed like a new home to them.  What a savings of time, money and energy. 
๐Ÿƒ
Next week I will be talking maintenance and answer all questions! โ˜€๏ธ
Tips For Shared Kids Rooms- This bedroom has seen Tips For Shared Kids Rooms-
This bedroom has seen every configuration possible.  With kids spread out 18 years apart, I've had to be creative over the years-which I think is the key to sharing rooms.  It is all possible-I consider it a rare luxury and privilege to not have to share a room although I know that is not the norm today. 
๐Ÿƒ
I like to create a simple look with white furniture (this ends up making room transitions easier also when moving someone out and someone else in.) I also like to match bedspreads for a cohesive look. 
๐Ÿƒ
Clip on bed lights save space. 
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A simple shared book shelf can hold a child's special books and knick knacks and if necessary can be assigned per shelf.
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When my kids were younger I had my dad build me a large wooden roll out box for under each bed.  This held each child's toys. 
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All clothes are kept in a closet instead of dressers to save space.
I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags progress and tips.  My excuse is the stomach flu ravaging us all here in the last week with me being the last to fall and the slowest to recover.  On top of that the weekend before I tried to roller blade (don't even ask how many steps I made it) and majorly bit it.  Thankfully I think I just sprained my arm. So I've been using one arm for nursing sick children back to health, and doing whatever cleaning and cooking and straightening I can do.  Alas, last week was a wash.  We have two weeks to go.  I'd like to continue and end on a high note.  How about you?  Even a little de-cluttering counts! Spring is in the air and I can't wait to throw open my windows and let fresh clean air circulate through my fresh clean orderly home. โ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒท๐ŸŒฑ
Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to th Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to think that the more things they have the happier and more occupied and loved they will feel.  Nothing can replace human interaction and I've found that too many toys has the reverse affect.  They cause overwhelm-just like us - we'd rather sit in an orderly space than one filled with too many things to do and too much stuff.
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When it comes to kids closets here are some tips-
1. Hand me downs don't all have to be received.  Or received at all.  Be choosy and keep just what they will use and need.
2. When children are presented with too many choices, tension and acrimony can exist.  Being able to open a closet with a reasonable amount of outfits can create more peace.
3. Cultivating independence in care of clothes is easier when there is less and the space is simplified and organized. 
โ˜€๏ธ
More tips coming on the blog this week.  I am moving my blog platform so I can't make any promises - it's under construction and that's exciting!
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