The Dewey Decimal System

I never realized it before, but in the dewey decimal system, 649–Child Rearing, is sandwiched right between 648-Housekeeping (ie stain removal, etc.) and 650–Management.  Coincidence?

The Dewey Decimal Classification System was developed by Melvil Dewey in 1876.  Mr. Dewey was a married man, and I have to wonder if he consulted his wife, Annie on this one.  Following is my mental transcript of how that conversation would have gone (based in no part on fact):

Annie:  Melvil, would you please take your shoes off at the door?  You are tracking mud all over my new carpet!

Melvil:  Oh, sorry honey.

Annie:  Here’s some stain remover – I have to go change Godfrey’s diaper; leaving him in a soggy diaper can cause negative effects on his psyche and he may develop a fear of water.

Melvil:  Yes honey.

Annie:  No Melvil, don’t rub; dab the stain.  Like this.  Man, what would you do without me here to manage this household? 

Melvil:  Yes honey.  I’m going to go back to work now.  I have some classifications to do and I was stuck at 648, but I’ve just had an inspiration! 

Annie:  Make sure you are home for dinner – I didn’t slave over a hot stove for myself, you know!

Other interesting notes about Mr. Dewey:

• He is responsible for changing “catalogue” to the American version “catalog” (way to confuse me)

• Late in his life Dewey resided in the community of Lake Placid, New York, where he helped found a health resort. His theories of spelling reform found some local success at Lake Placid: there is an "Adirondac Loj" in the area, and dinner menus of the club featured his spelling reform. A September 1927 menu is headed "Simpler spelin" and features dishes like Hadok, Poted beef with noodls, Parsli or Masht potato, Butr, Steamd rys, Letis, and Ys cream. It also advises guests that "All shud see the butiful after-glo on mountains to the east just befor sunset. Fyn vu from Golfhous porch."

• He considered changing his own name from Melville Louis Kossuth Dewey to simply Melvil Dui.

I’m sure Annie had something to say about that last one.

Harold & the Purple Crayon (1955), may I introduce Xander and the Red Sharpie (2007)

Harold and the Purple Crayon was written by Crockett Johnson in 1955.  It is the much beloved story of a little boy with a penchant for, you guessed it, purple crayon.  Harold creates an entire world using only his imagination and a brightly coloured crayon.  Now, at first glance, this book is a cute, innocent children’s story that has delighted children for over 50 years.

Having said that, let us look at this book from the mother’s perspective, shall we?  This child, cute as a button though he may be, has taken his crayon and drawn trees, a boat, buildings, nay, an ENTIRE CITY on his wall!  How the heck am I going to get rid of this???

According to The Super Stain Remover Book by Jack Cassimatis, if you have a painted wall, “rub with toothpaste and leave for 15 minutes.  Wash off.”  If you have wallpaper, “spread a sheet of blotting paper over the area and rub with a hot iron.  May require repetition.”

How to Clean and Care for Practically Anything by the Editors of Consumer Reports, advises that you “scrape excess crayon off with dull-edged knife or metal spoon.  Spray with WD-40 and let stand for a few minutes.  With a small, stiff bristle brush, work into the stain and wipe with white paper towels.  Respray with WD-40 and apply detergent solution to the sprayed area; work in with the brush, and blot.  Then rinse.  For more tips, visit Crayola’s website (www.crayola.com)”.

If you can’t get enough of Harold and his rotten purple crayon, Mr. Johnson wrote Harold and the North Pole in 1957.  It is interesting to note that it was first published in “Good Housekeeping” magazine.

I have a new one for Mr. Johnson – it’s called “Xander and the Red Sharpie”. That is the reality in my house.  The solution for that one is neither blotting paper, WD-40 nor toothpaste.  In my experience, the ONLY WAY to get red permanent marker (and they do mean permanent) out of a white carpet is to call the insurance company and get out the cheque book. 

(Check out any of the above books in our library!  Just remember to tell your child that Harold and the Purple Crayon is a STORY, not a suggestion).

Mom’s the Word…

Welcome to my blog!  As a mom of 3 young children, I am constantly looking for more information on parenting, crafts and activities for my children, along with interesting books that I can read to them.  This is a place where I can share my findings with you; I hope you enjoy them! 

                             MAGAZINES

I don’t have a lot of time to read; I really wish I could sit down and enjoy a book more often, but I have to tell you, my concentration seems to have met the level of my 2 year old…what?…oh yeah, sorry, I got distracted.  See what I mean?  Anyway, I have really become a fan of magazines, and not just because they are easier to read than a hardcover in the bathtub. (Tip:  Please don’t read library books in the bathtub, because it can become an expensive hobby as they don’t really like water very much! )

 

My favourite parenting magazine is Today’s Parent, a Canadian publication; it is super cheap (so it makes a great gift), full of interesting topics and ideas, and best of all, it is CANADIAN, therefore everything in it is relevant to me.  I really hate picking up a magazine, seeing a product or program that is not only going to solve all of my parenting dilemas but will give me the time and money to travel all while losing weight and raising perfect children…well, yes I am exaggerating, but if such a product did exist (and believe me I am looking for it) it is so disheartening to find that such things could only be had in the United States.  (It’s bad enough that I can’t apply to be a contestant on the Amazing Race without changing my citizenship; I would really kick butt on that show!!)

Another great thing about Today’s Parent magazine is that they have a terrific website full of awesome tips, crafts, recipes and other excellent information.  You can drop in and visit at www.todaysparent.com, or better yet, come by the library and have a gander at the magazine.  It will surely become one of your favourite parenting resources!

 

Coming soon

Please visit soon!