Articles
I wrote this article for the parent newsletter, Early Stages.
Days of Our Lives
As a young mom, I knew TV wasn’t a great influence on children, but I needed a break in my day. My mundane to-do list never ceased, but I could turn on the TV and be transported. “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” Yes, I discovered a “soap,” where nothing was monotonous, but always an intriguing and exciting escape for me.
While I watched, my 2-year-old daughter, Kathryn, entertained herself, finishing lunch and playing. No kiddy music, costumes or cartoons; she was happy just being with me.
Suddenly a TV catastrophe occurred. An oven exploded, burning Julie, a favorite, beloved character on the show. Fans everywhere were aghast, including Kathryn.
“Oh, no! Poor Julie!” Kathryn cried. For days she grieved Julie’s pain. “What will happen to Julie? Will she be OK?”
Kathryn thought Julie was a real person, like Uncle Rick or Aunt Sue. I explained that Julie was a character played by an actress, but TV was a parallel universe for Kathryn. Maybe she thought little people actually lived inside the TV. I don’t know, but she couldn’t separate the real world from fantasy.
If Julie were real, we could all pray for her, loving friends could support her, her relationships could grow stronger and she could trust God because He would work for her good. I knew that wasn’t going to be the behavior modeled on TV.
While I reassured Kathryn that doctors would make Julie well, I stopped watching the show. Kathryn would eventually understand that TV was pretended, but I didn’t want shows influencing her mind and emotions. And I didn’t want her learning life lessons from TV.
I still needed a break in my day, but found better ways to recharge. While Kathryn played after lunch, I read a magazine or flipped through a newspaper. Sometimes we took walks or met friends at the park, refreshing both of us. We enjoyed our real life without daytime TV.
After my daughter went to college, I wrote an article about her experience of moving for Campus Life. You can read the article here and see it online at: http://christiancollegeguide.net/lifeatcollege/2004/2004.feb.6.34.html
Six Tips for the Big Move
Don't pack a single box until you've read these tips.
by Kathryn McManus with Sarah McManus
Moving Day. Finally. I'd been looking forward to this for a long time—the day I'd head off to college and move into the dorm. I was really ready to start college life.
It's funny, going to college always seemed like it was way off in the future. Then, the summer flew by and, suddenly, the big day was here.
Fortunately, I had planned ahead, which made the move go a lot smoother. Still, I learned some things by making mistakes, too.
If you're heading off to college this fall, I hope my experience can help you get ready. Here are some of the things I learned.
Don't over pack
By the time my family finished loading our van, we hardly had enough room to sit. When we got to the college, I realized I had too many clothes to put away. I ended up sending most of my winter clothes home with my parents. When I went home for Thanksgiving, I took a big suitcase full of summer clothes and brought my sweaters back with me. (Of course, if you're going halfway across the country to college, you might not get home till Christmas—or later. In that case, you'll have to pack more winter clothes, unless you're headed to Florida or Southern California!)
Expect chaos
When we arrived at the college, it was hot, humid and hectic. Hundreds of people were moving in at the same time. The stairs and halls were jammed with people—especially dads and brothers carrying boxes, bags and furniture. There was one elevator; it was faster to use the stairs, and I was moving to the third floor!
While my dad and my brother carried stuff in, Mom and I started put-ting it away. When our van was finally unloaded, it was almost impossible to walk through my dorm room. Fortunately, my roommate wasn't arriving until the next day. And believe me, it took that long to restore order to the chaos!
Get creative
Your dorm room probably won't have much furniture in it; mine had a bed with two drawers underneath and a small desk—nowhere near enough space to store all the stuff I brought. So check with the residence hall director to find out if it's a good idea to bring some of your own furniture. Ask what's provided, and what furniture you're allowed to bring. Still, it's likely your room will be too small to add much furniture.
One way to increase storage space is with stackable plastic crates. They're great for packing, and then for storing stuff in your room. You can stack 'em up and make a little night stand to hold a lamp and alarm clock by the bed. You can also stack them in the closet to hold folded clothes.
Don't forget the little things
It's a good idea to make a list of all the miscellaneous things you'll want at college, and to shop for them before you leave home. On moving day, the Kmarts and Wal-Marts in your college town will be swamped with students trying to pick up last-minute items. Be sure you have all the necessities to beat those long lines.
When you're making a list of stuff to take, write down everything you think of. Nothing is too obvious because it's possible to forget anything. I would've forgotten my tennis racket if I hadn't listed it. (And I really needed it, since I was taking a tennis class!)
Know the rules
When you're making your list of stuff to bring, it'll help to know what you can't bring. Ask the college for a list of what's allowed, and what's not allowed, in the dorms—and under what conditions. (Some colleges, for example, don't allow any appliances that have to stay plugged in—like a mini-refrigerator or microwave—because of potential fire hazards.)
Check with your roommate
As you make your packing list, think about those items that you and your roommate can share, like a refrigerator, coffee maker, stereo system or television. You probably don't need two of these "space takers" in one small room. It's a good idea to find out in advance what your roommate is planning to bring, so you don't have too many repeat items.
There are plenty of details to consider when you're getting ready to go off to college. Start planning early, make lots of lists, and be sure to check and recheck those lists. The time between high school graduation and the first day of college will fly by, so don't wait until the last minute.
Once you're all packed and ready, relax. Have a great year!
