EDUCATION
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Fun Thanksgiving Statistics The Joys and Financial Challenges of Parenting Shan Wagner’s Multi Language Talents Mompreneurs Kultural Korner Bullying Events
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We are ready for YOU at Northchase Learning Center!
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From the Editor
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Fun Thanksgiving Statistics
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Bullying
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In the Streets
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Mompreneurs
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The Joys and Financial Challenges of Parenting
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Kultural Korner
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Shan Wagner’s Multi Language Talents
PARENT to PARENT Am I a social Misfit?
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>>> Our cover model is my youngest nephew Casey Eugene Hawthorne. This 7 year old (soon to be 8 this month) is in the 2nd grade at Bear Branch Elementary, in Kingwood. He is enrolled in a dual language program where he is becoming fluent in Spanish. When he’s not heavily involved in his studies, he enjoys reading, karate and his all time favorite... Sonic Hedgehog video games.
From the EDITOR give It’s time toThanks! We all know the story of how Thanksgiving originated in the US as the Plymouth colonists shared an autumn harvest with the Indians. It wasn’t until 1863, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a National Thanksgiving Day to be held in November. There is still much debate over who was actually there, what they ate, wore and why the event actually happened. Fast forward to 2012 and all you care about is...Who made the dressing? (which is the second most popular question besides, Who made the potato salad?) and the next question...What is for dessert? This is the start of a very hectic and many times overwhelming time as preparations are made for guests, too much food to choose from, overindulgence and the morning after Black Friday shopping trips. Publisher Tracey Hawthorne Wash Assistant to the Publisher Tonya Cooksey
The reality is, we should all take a moment and be thankful multiple times during the day. However, if you feel overwhelmed or under appreciated, or those ungrateful children are driving you nuts, use that day to make others feel special by having your family volunteer at one of the many locations around the city during the holiday week to prepare or serve a meal for the less fortunate. Log on to www.volunteerhouston. org or www.volunteermatch.org to start your journey. Just remember, moderation in everything will make this season a lot better to digest. Not too much food and not too much shopping and your 2013 will be a happier place.
Tracey Hawthorne Wash PUBLISHER
Project/Editorial Coordinator Vicki S. Wilson
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Mosaic Family Magazine is published by FD&L Group Inc. Mosaic Family Magazine is a free publication. Mosaic Family Magazine is © 2012 by FD&L Group Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written express permission is prohibited.
21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS 21,000 FELONS ARRESTED 890 MURDERS SOLVED · 72 GUNS FROM SCHOOLS
· 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED · 29,000 CRIMES SOLVED · $65 MILLION IN PROPERTY RECOVERED · $8 MILLION IN CASH REWARDS 2,100 BURGLARIES SOLVED · 3,800 ROBBERIES SOLVED · $129 MILLION IN NARCOTICS RECOVERED · 1,500 SCHOOL CRIMES SOLVED · 230 WEAPONS FROM SCHOOLS · 1,000 SCHOOL DRUG CASES SOLVED
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FUNTHANKSGIVING STATISTICS The total weight of all of the turkeys produced in 2010 came in at over 7 billion pounds. Despite the over $4 billion in turkeys produced domestically, during the first half of 2011 the nation imported nearly $8 million more turkeys. Most of these were from Canada. On average, each American consumed a yearly amount of 13.3 pounds of turkey in 2009. A sizable amount is eaten over Thanksgiving. 750 million pounds of cranberries are expected to be produced. No word on how many of those will form the cranberry sauce shaped like a can. In 2010 the retail price of a frozen turkey was $1.38 per pound. There are a total of four incorporated areas of the country named after the turkey: • Turkey Creek, Louisiana had a population of 441 people in 2010. • Turkey, Texas had a population of 421 people in 2010. • Turkey Creek, Arizona had a population of 294 people in 2010. • Turkey, North Carolina had a population of 292 people in 2010
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Around 2.4 billion pounds of sweet potatoes were produced last year. How heavy is that? Over a quarter of a million elephants would weigh less than that many sweet potatoes. The state responsible for the most sweet potatoes was North Carolina, weighing in with 972 million pounds. That makes North Carolina responsible for over 40% of the sweet potatoes grown domestically. In the first half of this year, $5.3 million in sweet potatoes were imported into the U.S. Over half of these sweet potatoes came from the Dominican Republic. There is a single township in the U.S. named Pilgrim. Only 132 people lived there in 2010. Other Pilgrimrelated place names are more populous. There are 37 places and townships in the country named Plymouth. The Plymouth with the largest population is located in Minnesota and had over 70 thousand residents in 2010.
BULLYINGSTATISTICS
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ecent bullying statistics reveal that bullying is a crime that is not going away anytime soon. There are about 160,000 children that miss school every day out of fear of being bullied. Bullying statistics also report an increase in cyberbullying activities. Facts and figures also show cyberbullying becoming more and more rampant in school and after school among teens and children. Social networking has provided an entirely new environment for bullying to take place with an estimated 2.7 million students being bullied each year. New statistics revealed about one in seven students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade is either a bully or has been a victim of bullying. Sometimes a teen or child who has been bullied eventually becomes the bully as a way to retaliate. In fact, revenge for bullying is one of the strongest motivations for school shootings, according to recent bullying statistics. A reported 61 percent of students said they believe students shoot others at school because they have been victims of physical violence at home or at school. According to various bullying studies, many teens and children act out violently on their peers through acts of bullying because they are abused at home.
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MOSAIC NEWSWIRE
Bullycide statistics: Suicide continues to be one of the leading causes of death among children under the age of 14. Bullycide is a term used to describe suicide as the result of bullying. New bullying statistics 2010 are reporting that there is a strong connection between bullying, being bullied and suicide, according to a new study from the Yale School of Medicine. Suicide rates are continuing to grow among adolescents, and have grown more than 50 percent in the past 30 years. Bullying can incl ude various types of behavior from physical attacks, to destroying one’s personal property or clothing, verbal abuse, starting rumors, name calling, verbal attacks online as well as other forms of cyberbullying. For teens and children who feel they are being bullied, it is important to address the matter with a parent or teacher right away. National Bullying Statistics • Over half, about 56 percent, of all students have witnesses a bullying crime take place while at school. • A reported 15 percent of all students who don’t show up for school report it to being out of fear of being bullied while at school.
• There are about 71 percent of students that report bullying as an ongoing problem. • Along that same vein, about one out of every 10 students drops out or changes schools because of repeated bullying. • One out of every 20 students has seen a student with a gun at school. • Some of the top years for bullying include 4th through 8th graders in which 90 percent were reported as victims of some kind of bullying. • Other recent bullying statistics reveal that 54 percent of students reported that
witnessing physical abuse at home can lead to violence in school. • Among students of all ages, homicide perpetrators were found to be twice as likely as homicide victims to have been bullied previously by their peers. There are about 282,000 students that are reportedly attacked in high schools throughout the nation each month.
IN THE STREETSNOVEMBER
November 3, 2012 Educator Day Featuring a special Elephant Training Demonstration!! 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. $20 per person Houston Zoo November 3 & 10, 2012 Young Writers Workshop 10:30am Discovery Green November 3, 2012 Special Event ELECTION DAY BASH 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Children’s Museum of Houston November 4, 2012 Daily Special Target FREE First Sunday noon - 6 p.m. Children’s Museum of Houston November 5, 2012 Special Event Sensory Friendly Event
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November 6, 2012 Toddler Tuesdays presented by Amerigroup RealSolutions®: Diego’s Baby Polar Bear Rescue 10:30am Discovery Green November 6, 2012 Special Event ELECTION DAY BASH 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Children’s Museum of Houston November 6, 2012 Free Admission 2PM to Closing 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM Houston Zoo November 7, 2012 Special Event Mommy Mingle 10 a.m. – noon Children’s Museum of Houston November 8, 2012 Special Event Gullah Heritage Celebration 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Children’s Museum of Houston November 10, 2012 Members Saturday/Member Morning - John P. McGovern’s Children’s Zoo 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM CST Houston Zoo November 11, 2012 Siege of the Skeletons 2012 McGovern Museum November 11, 2012 Breakfast with the Animals –
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Giraffes (Members Only) 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM CST Houston Zoo November 13, 2012 Special Event 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Children’s Museum of Houston Gullah Heritage Celebration November 15, 2012 Safari Studies All Ages 10:00 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. $12 Zoo Members $15 Non-members Houston Zoo November 20, 2012 Saving Snow Leopards in Central Asia 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Time: Doors open at 6:00pm Speaker event begins at 7:00pm Location: Asia Society Texas Center Museum 1370 Southmore Blvd -Museum District November 21, 2012 Special Event Celebrate Thanksgiving with Santa 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Children’s Museum of Houston November 23, 2012 Special Event Celebrate Thanksgiving with Santa 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Children’s Museum of Houston November 23, 2012 - January 5th, 2013 Zoo Lights 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM CST Houston Zoo
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PARENTTOPARENT
Am I A Social Misfit? By Earlicia Monroe
MOMPRENEURS Turning Talents Into Profits By Sam Eugene
A
“mompreneur” is defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur. But in our community, the word may be new but it has been the base of most of our families.
BEING
socially challenged when it comes to socializing with the parents of your children’s friends is a very common occurrence. Not all of your kids’ friends will have parents that you will want to be friends with. So.... What happens when your child makes friends with someone and you really don’t like the parents? Are you obligated to socialize with them or even to let your child continue the friendship? It’s hard to know where to draw the line when it comes to making friends with other parents.
We ask ourselves: • What is it about those parents that rub us the wrong way? • Could the issue be that those parents have different rules at their house than you have at yours? • Are their views on certain social issues different from yours? (i.e - religion, politics, gay rights) • Is your social calendar full with the friends you already have and you feel you just don’t have room for any more activities?
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• Do you have trust issues? You don’t trust others outside of your current social circle. Whatever the reason it seems that our kids are often the ones to lose out when their parents don’t get along. Is there a good solution to the problem of dealing with parents you don’t get along with. Ask yourself, can you put up with someone for the sake of your kids, or is it really too much to ask.
There is a mompreneur in most families. From the bootleg hair salon and braid studio, Mary Kay or Avon Rep, cleaning business or cake baker there is a mompreneur on every corner. However mompreneurs is not such a new phenomenon. It is though, widely recognized now with the launch of websites and magazines to address the growing needs of moms trying to grow a business.
Minority Supplier Diversity Council, etc.) 3) See an accountant or tax professional to discuss your business entity -Should you be a sole proprietor, corporation, LLC - there are consequences for not paying attention to this part. So start out how you want to end up! 4) Get your assumed name certificate (DBA) ASAP!!! You will need that to start you business bank account. 5) Open a small business banking account - Talk with a business banker, a deposit of $100 and your DBA are usually all you need for most banks.
In this economy it is necessary to consider as many options necessary to earn more income. Coming up with a business idea is the easy part. Strategizing, planning and executing the business idea is the hard part. Here are few tips for starting your journey as a mompreneur. 1) Research your business idea to see if you have the qualifications and finances for your venture. 2) Reach out to business development organizations to assist you with free training and resources for growing you business (UH Small Business Development Department, Houston
6) Start networking - Check the Houston Chronicle’s Business section, some of the larger churches in the area, look for industry “meet ups” that are posted on the internet and any other ways to get out and promote your business. 7) Also, don’t take social media for granted - it is as a very inexpensive way to announce to the world that you are in business. Being a mompreneur may be the best boost for you and your family. Remember to work hard but make time to play hard with your family!
THEJOYSANDFINANCIAL CHALLENGESOFPARENTING
C
hildren are special. There’s nothing like them. They can be our sweetest blessing, as well as our biggest frustration. Most of all, however, they are our greatest responsibility, as well as our most important--and expensive--commitment. Whether you are a first-time parent or a veteran of refereeing sibling squabbles and who-put-the-empty-milk-carton-backin-the-fridge inquisitions, parenthood can be both wonderfully rewarding and frighteningly challenging. Our children give us gifts only a parent can understand-from sticky-finger hugs to “Can I come?” pleas to tag along on Saturday morning errands. We raise them with a clear goal that we secretly dread will actually take
place--that someday they will be grown, independent, ready to move out into the world on their own, and our work will be over. As our children travel this long and never-dull road from infancy to adulthood, we nurture them, worry about them, scold them, love them. Most of all, we try to protect them. We want them to grow up in a stable world, one in which they are physically safe, emotionally nurtured, and financially secure. Still, meeting expenses can be a challenge. How expensive is raising a child? The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that the average nationwide cost of raising one child from cradle to college entrance at age 18 ranges
Your Financial Advisor for Today, Tomorrow and Beyond • Cash Management • Insurance • Retirement Planning • College Funding Colleen Banks 713-561-8132 colleen_banks@wealthdevelopmentstrategies.com Registered Representative of securities and Investment Advisory services offered through Horner, Townsend & Kent, (HTK), a Registered Investment Advisor Member FINRA/SPIC. Wealth Development Strategies, LP is independent of HTK. Wealth Development Strategies and its affiliates are independent of HTK.
from $163,440 to $377,040 depending on income. (Source: Expenditures on Children by Families, 2010) Then, when they turn 18, add in college expenses, and your financial outlay can get even worse. How much worse? According to the College Board, for the 2011/2012 school year, the average cost of one year at a four-year public college is $21,447 (for in-state students), while the average cost for one year at a four-year private college is $42,224. Even if those numbers don’t go up (and they have increased each year for decades), that would come to $85,788 for a four-year degree at a public college, and $168,896 at a private university. Oh, and don’t forget graduate school. The bottom line: Children are expensive! Between raising them and educating them and making sure they get a good, strong start in life, one thing is obvious when it comes to children--they are a major responsibility. Fortunately, as long as we remain alive and healthy, we manage to somehow meet these expenses. It’s part of what parenthood is all about. Have you taken steps to protect them? But here’s a question you need to consider: What would happen to them if something happened to you? No, it’s not the kind of question we like to dwell on. But these matters are important. This is why many financial professionals recommend that, above and beyond the day-today efforts to provide for their children, parents should take specific steps to help protect their financial well-being. Review your life insurance coverage Life insurance is one of the most effective ways to protect your family from the uncertainty of premature death. Life insurance can help assure that a preselected amount of money will be on hand to replace your income and help your family
members--your children and your spouse-maintain their standard of living. With life insurance, you can select an amount that will help your family meet living expenses, pay the mortgage, and even provide a college fund for your children. Best of all, life insurance proceeds are generally not taxable as income.
Purchase disability income insurance If you become disabled and unable to work, disability income insurance can pay benefits--a specific percentage of your income--so you can continue meeting your financial obligations until you are back on your feet. What about Social Security? If you do become permanently and totally disabled and are unable to do work of any kind, you may be eligible for benefits, but qualifying isn’t easy. For more flexible and comprehensive protection, consider buying disability income insurance. Start building a college fund now College costs may seem daunting (and they are expected to continue increasing), but you have about 18 years before your newborn will be a college freshman. By starting today, you can help your children become debt-free college grads. The secret is to save a little each month, take advantage of compound interest, and have a sum waiting for you when your child is ready for college. MosaicFamilyMagazine.com
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KULTURALKORNER The Mosaic Family Quarterly Book Club
Theodore Boone: The Abduction
O
ur book club read this quarter is the second book in the John Grisham series Theodore Boone: The Abduction. The Theodore Boone series is a very kid friendly read, and it also has an appealing story line for adults. When we last saw Theo Boone, he ensured that justice was served by uncovering evidence that kept a guilty man off of the streets. Hot off this high-profile murder trial, thirteen-year-old Theo is still despensing legal advise to friends and teachers. But just when it seems as if his life has calmed down and gone back to the status quo, a new legal mystery comes to town, and this time it’s personal. So now you know, let’s get busy and read. Stay tuned for weekly updates online and information on the first meeting of the MOSAIC Family book club.
READINGWRITING &A-RYTHM-ATIC
Shan Wagner’s Multi Language Talents Shenedria Wagner is an educator, motivational speaker and the owner of Comuniquemos,Inc. She consults educational institutions in language, training and provides classes to make learning foreign language fun and increase comprehension. Look for her summer camps and workshops “Reading, Writing, A-Rythm-Atic.” Mosaic Family Magazine, talked with Mrs. Wagner to learn more about tips families could use to introduce foreign language into their home. 1. When did you first develop your interest in foreign language? In seventh grade, I had no idea that my life would change forever when I entered my first foreign language class. It was the elegance, fluency, and passion of Mrs. Van Hooser - my first French teacher- that actually ignited my interest in foreign language.
Start a family book club!
2. Is there a learning difference between children and adults? Yes and no. Although exposure to a foreign language is beneficial for children, the age of a learner is secondary to factors such as motivation, dedication, and determination. Most importantly, the quality of instruction and frequency of interaction with native speakers matter most. To the astonishment of many, I did not learn Spanish until I was twenty-one years old. By the age of twenty-three, I was teaching both French and Spanish, languages learned nine years apart. 3. When do you feel is the best time to introduce foreign language to your child? Ideally, exposure to music and literature (regardless of the language) is beneficial when the child develops in the womb. But once it is born, the rate at which a child understands a foreign language will depend on how often he is exposed to it, even if he does not speak it.
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4. Is your family fluent in other languages? Yes. I have siblings who are fluent in Arabic and Urdu. Relatives by marriage speak Japanese and Tagalog. My nine-year-old daughter is developing both oral and reading proficiency in Spanish, and my pre-literate two-year-old son is spoken to in both Spanish and English. It is my wish that they both become trilingual, at least. 5. In what additional languages are you interested in becoming fluent? I want to learn both Vietnamese and Arabic with fluency. But I am somewhat of dilettante who enjoys employing expressions in Tagalog, Russian, Arabic, Yoruba, Yiddish, Igbo, Urdu, and Vietnamese. It is amazing how greeting or thanking people in their native tongues can brighten their days. It is a sign of cultural sensitivity and love for all mankind. 6. What is ahead for you in your business venture? Presenting seminars, delivering speeches, and developing material are my passions. I am also poised to devote my energy to developing my subscription-based learning website- www.shanwag.info-which will be both affordable and interactive. I also dream of having my own learning-based show for youth and teaching at the university level. MosaicFamilyMagazine.com
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