Set Up Kids for Success WHETHER THEY LIKE SCHOOL OR NOT
Some children view the return of school with bright-eyed optimism, looking forward to the chance to learn new things. Others see it as a burden full of drudgery and decreased freedom. In most cases, it’s a little bit of both. As a parent, you always want to see your kids succeed. But how can you do that if one of your students isn’t the least bit excited about academics? As with many aspects of our lives, it comes down to mindset. Loving the actual material — novels, math problems, history books, etc. — isn’t as important as approaching school with a determined and growth-focused attitude. In essence, school is a kid’s job until they get their first job. And just like work, they have to do it — and do it well — whether they want to or not. When a child resists the obligation of completing a task, it’s probably not the task itself that’s troubling them. Instead, it’s the simple fact they must do something because they were told to. Turning that mindset on its head will result in happier, more productive, and more successful students. Once they begin to see that pushing through a difficult assignment yields a feeling of satisfaction, they’ll be willing to tough it out through the difficult moments. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The reward of a thing done well is having done it.” How, then, do you go about instilling this mindset? In my experience, there’s no foolproof recipe that works for every youngster. That said, I do think two coaching points from parents prove helpful in the vast majority of instances. With that in mind, I want to share with you my program for setting up kids for success, whether they’re predisposed to being a bookworm or not. EXPECT THEIR BEST Too many parents look at academic performance based on results. They ask their child to produce a certain number of
A’s or a specific GPA. While these results can be a marker of success, it’s important to remember that every child’s best is a little different. Rather than harping on results, encourage your child to give their best effort. When a child devotes their energy to school, the results will come. Giving it their all won’t just make the process more rewarding; it will also cut down on unnecessary mistakes. DON’T MAKE FAILURE SOMETHING TO BE AFRAID OF As I mentioned above, school doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Furthermore, every student struggles at some point or another. One of our children, for example, fell behind his friends in reading level during the second grade. No parent wants to hear that, of course, but it didn’t make us angry or panicked. We worked with our son and his teacher to help him set goals to catch up. Once everything clicked and he was on the level of his classmates, it was a sight to behold. When he achieved his goals, I’d never seen him so proud of himself. Honestly, it’s been one of my proudest moments as a parent. I hope that everyone has a wonderful back-to-school season. Maybe your kids will be eager to hop back on the bus, or maybe not. Whatever the case, you can help them achieve great things in the classroom this year. –Rob Usry 864.582.0416
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In essence, school is a kid’s job until they get their first job. And just like work, they have to do it — and do it well — whether they want to or not.
NEED A PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO MANAGE YOUR KIDS’ CRAZY SCHEDULES? TRY THESE 3 TIPS INSTEAD
TAG TEAM There’s no reason to try to do everything on your own. The phrase “It takes a village to raise a child” exists because managing the stressors of life requires help. A great place to start is by establishing car pools with a parent group you trust. You can alternate drivers weekly, which provides the opportunity for you to focus your attention on other priorities — or if you’re lucky, have some freedom. THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB Technology makes organization easier and more accessible than ever. By using a tool like a shared calendar, you can coordinate the entire family’s schedule so you never miss a beat. And apps like Mealime and MealBoard give you the ability to whip up food that is cost-effective and delicious. TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK While you’re busy trying to rally the troops at soccer practice, the scene at home resembles a horror movie. Laundry is piling up, food is spoiling in the fridge, and the dust bunnies around the house now have names. Housecleaning is a part- time job in its own right. The only way to stay on top of duties around the house is to work together. A chore chart with clear responsibilities is a great place to start. Whether you have one child or eight, everyone is capable of pitching in. You can have all the organizational abilities in the world, but the best way to manage life’s madness isn’t by directing day-to-day tasks; it’s by managing stress. Instead of using these tools to control life, look at them as a way to free up time so you can decompress and enjoy the things you love.
School has started. Youth sports are in full swing. Work is crazy. Food has become more about necessity than enjoyment. All of this can only mean one thing: Fall has begun. The crazy schedules this time of year can make it tough for parents to keep their heads on straight; making it through the insanity sometimes feels more like survival than life. But there are tactics you can employ to turn the tide and find more time for yourself. Testimonials SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT US
“Dear John and Rob, I want to thank you for the professional and effective service that you and your firm provided me during the past few months. Your care and professionalism made it easy for me to let you handle everything while you kept me informed and walked me through everything as it progressed. I thought I was in an impossible situation and didn’t know how to handle the insurance agency representing the other party involved in my car accident. You both gave me peace of mind knowing that you were representing me. You were forthright and sensitive about my situation and used your knowledge and skill to get me the best deal possible. I trusted you completely.”
thought about trying to handle the insurance companies myself, but was advised to seek legal assistance. I asked my nephew, a lawyer in Spartanburg, for suggestions, and he told me Holland & Usry was my best choice. From our first meeting, I felt very comfortable that you were working in my best interest and actually cared. I appreciate all the diligent work on your part. After being overwhelmed with evidence and your knowledge of case law and precedence, the insurance companies had no choice but to settle my claim for the full amount possible. I was impressed with your fast work on getting the matter settled, as it involved a misconception on the part of the insurance companies of a possible pre-existing condition. Thank you very much, and I will recommend your firm to anyone who needs a great legal team. It was indeed providence that led me to your door.”
–Myrtle Beach car crash client
“Dear Rob and John, after getting rear-ended last May and suffering pain and mounting medical bills, I did not know where to turn. I
–John H., Travelers Rest car accident client
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Share the Road With Students
DRIVE SAFELY IN SCHOOL ZONES
For kids, heading back to school involves adapting to an entirely new schedule. Adults have to adapt as well, whether or not they have little ones. One of the biggest changes all commuters notice is that the roads work a little differently when school’s in session. Traffic patterns change and young pedestrians cross the road en masse. Sharing the road with students requires diligence and precaution from drivers.
Stop completely at all stop signs and scan for children. Similarly, keep your ears open to listen for children outside of your field of vision. Turn off the radio and roll down a window to give yourself increased situational awareness. SLOW DOWN IN SCHOOL ZONES, AND EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. No matter the time of day, you should never exceed the posted school zone limit. In fact, you should drive slower than the posted limit. Children can pop out at a moment’s notice. Don’t assume you know how a child will behave. MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH CHILDREN AT INTERSECTIONS. Kids don’t perceive the danger of traffic the same way adults do. Unless you are entirely certain a child has registered your presence, you should consider yourself invisible. TAKE CARE WITH SCHOOL BUSES. Keep extra distance between yourself and school buses. Yellow warning lights signal that a bus is about to stop, and red lights mean they have stopped. You must stop as well and allow all children to cross before moving. Wait a few seconds after the bus gets going to accelerate.
According to AAA, more school-aged pedestrians are killed in crashes right after school (from 3–4 p.m.) than any other time. And it’s not just elementary schoolers. Tweens and teens are equally vulnerable, especially since so many of them are now plugged into smartphones or texting as they walk. Additionally, the National Highway Transportation Administration reports that the greatest danger facing the 23 million children who ride the bus is approaching or leaving the bus — not riding it.
So, how can you stay safe while driving in and around school zones? Here are a few tips.
STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, AND PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE. Any time you are near a school zone, you need to remain hyper alert. No call or text message is worth the life of a child. Good News Psalms 31:24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Hebrews 13:8 When everything seems to be changing, we can rely on God’s constancy.
LATE-SUMMER PANZANELLA
Ingredients
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1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
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1 small loaf French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups) 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
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1 cucumber, sliced into rounds
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20 basil leaves, chopped
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Salt, to taste
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2 large tomatoes, cubed
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Vinaigrette
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2 red bell peppers, seeded and cubed
Directions
1. Place a large sauté pan over medium-low heat and add olive oil. Add bread and 1 teaspoon salt, and toss often for 10 minutes or until toasted. 2. In a large bowl, mix vegetables and herbs. Toss in bread and your favorite vinaigrette and mix again. 3. Serve immediately or let sit 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Inspired by Food Network
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* This newsletter is intended to educate the public about personal injury, workers’ compensation, criminal defense, and family law issues. You can copy and distribute it as long as you copy the entire newsletter. But the newsletter is not intended to be legal advice; you should ask a lawyer about your specific case. Every case is different, and all case outcomes depend on unique facts and laws.
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INSIDE this issue
1
Back-to-School Blues
2
3 Tips to Help Organize Your Crazy Life Testimonials
3
School Zone Driving Tips Late-Summer Panzanella
4
Why Labor Day Is Indebted to the Pullman Strike
If you no longer want to receive this newsletter, call Pam at 864.582.0416 or email rob@bhollandlawfirm.com .
THE PULLMAN STRIKE AND THE ORIGIN OF LABOR DAY How a Railroad Protest Laid the Foundation for a National Holiday
Today, Labor Day mostly means a day off. But when it was first created, it was a president’s desperate attempt to curb the tension after one of the most violent strike breakups in American history. In the late 19th century, the workers of the Pullman Company, which manufactured luxury train cars, all lived in a company-owned town. George Pullman, the owner, lived in a mansion overlooking houses, apartments, and crammed-together barracks, all of which were rented by the thousands of workers needed for the operation. For some time, the town operated without a hitch, providing decent wages for the workers while netting the higher-ups millions of dollars. But after the economic depression of the 1890s brought the country to its knees, everything changed. George Pullman slashed his workers’ wages by nearly 30 percent, but he neglected to adjust the rent on the company- owned buildings in turn. As a result, life became untenable in the town, with workers struggling to maintain the barest standards of living for themselves and their families. In response, the workers began a strike on May 11, 1894. As the event ramped up, it gained the support of the powerful American Railway Union (ARU). But Pullman, stubborn as he was, barely acknowledged the strike was happening, and he refused to meet with the organizers.
The tension increased when Eugene Debs, the president of the American Railway Union, organized a boycott of all trains that included Pullman cars. The strike continued to escalate until workers and Pullman community members managed to stop the trains from running. Eventually, President Grover Cleveland sent in soldiers to break up the strike. Violence ensued, with soldiers making a great effort to quell the strike at its core. By the time the violence ended, 30 people had lost their lives and an estimated $80 million in damages had been caused throughout the town. A few months later, President Grover Cleveland declared Labor Day a federal holiday. Many experts believe that this act was an effort to build rapport among his pro-labor constituents after handling the incident so poorly.
This month, as you fire up the barbecue and enjoy your day off, take a moment to remember the workers who fought for labor rights in our country.
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