What is Good?

In grade twelve my English teacher asked us a seemingly simple question; what is good? Though the question seems simple, there is no right answer. I may think that tea is the greatest thing ever, and someone else may think coffee is. Neither is wrong, but we do not have to like the same things.

Though this concept is simple there are many people who laugh at others for not liking "good" television or "good" music. But because good is a very subjective word, I cannot say that something you like is not "good", I can only say that I do not share your opinion. There is a big difference. Some people feel like they are wrong for liking things that not everyone else does. I know I did.

So what is good? Good is whatever you want to be good. Your good is different than someone else's good and that is okay. There will be people who have the same idea as what good is as you in regards to some things and those are the people that you do those things with.

We should not mock people for what they like unless it is objectively racist, sexist, homophobic etc. Let's unite in hating those things and let everyone else decide what is good.

A Major Disconnect

I was perusing twitter when a story from the Winnipeg Free Press popped up about how Manitoba has plenty of research on all day kindergarten but refuses to fund it. I agree with them due to some conversations I have had with people in the education area and the thought is that kindergarten may be too late to help kids.

Imagine you are five. You have never been in daycare before, you only know your own home. How would you feel if all of a sudden you are forced to go to school for a full day. That would be hard on kids and there are some kids who at that age still need a break. There was also an article in MacLeans magazine about how the results don't stick for ever, by the times the kids in full day kindergarten reach grade 2 or 3 there is no advantage.

What should be done instead? More money into early childhood education and helping families before they reach kindergarten age. Some kids go to school having never been read to, never been taught how to hold a pencil, and never have been socialized. This is a major problem. If there are families with illiterate parents (and there are) more needs to be done to help kids before they reach school age, not once they do. Schools can run programs to engage in families before their children start school in effort to engage the family in learning before the child goes to school. It is not what they learn when they get to school but what they learn at home before and after they start school that will lift kids up and help them learn better.

How to Coach Kids

I was watching Canada lose to Finland in the World Juniors and I kept on thinking to myself "call a timeout Sutter." Why? The team was coming unwound and Sutter let them. Sometimes you need a timeout to set up a play at the end, but sometimes it is better to use up your time out to calm your team down and remind them it is alright. They are kids that you are asking to be men. They are not ready for that and Sutter needs to realize that sometimes a timeout should not be saved for a hypothetical scenario that may not even occur.

There is more wrong with Canadian sports system though and it will take a lot to change the mentality. We have a pay to play system which can freeze out kids. Why don't NHL teams sponsor teams to make hockey more accessible, same with companies. I'm not talking about TimBits and AtoMC hockey, I'm talking making hockey cost $100 a year, equipment included. This will make the game more accessible for all.

Goalies have been the downfall of Canada in the past but Fucale looked really good this year. The problem with goaltending is it is so expensive. Someone (Sean Burke) needs to travel around Canada and train dedicated people on how to coach goalies. My dad was able to teach me how to coach water polo goalies and the first one I worked with made a national team. If Burke is in charge of Canadian goaltending he should be working in Canada 100% of the time with goalies of all ages. His NHL coaching should stop.

Finally we should look at how we train kids. Coaching water polo we encouraged many kids to play other sports. Volleyball, basketball, soccer, and track and field were all favourites. This allowed them to have more fun and improve other aspects of themselves. Most of our top players were good athletes not just water polo players. The expectation was that you email if you will be missing or be late for practice and you try not to miss games. This worked out really well for us. At younger ages (until about 15) kids should play other sports, make friends, and develop in more sports than just one.

We should also move kids to "small-sided" games. You split the the rink into two halves and let kids play in a format that makes them touch the puck more. Create balanced teams where stronger kids can help their weaker teammates. Kids love this stuff. If a game is getting out of hand, let the game be a mutual forfeit and balance the teams out. Play in tournaments where fair play is encouraged and scores are not as important. Emphasize skill above all else. Some of the best player I ever coached were smaller, skinny kids who could think the game. Emphasize tactics and kids of all sizes will flourish.

As they get older make nutritionists available through provincial sport organizations who emphasize healthy eating, not supplements. Did you know chocolate milk is an excellent recovery drink? Kids love it and it is cheaper than any sports you can buy. Kids and teenagers don't need fancy supplements, they need healthy food and positive, strong coaching. Once they get older, you can teach them about proper training, how not to overtrain and how to be fit for life. Some kids will be excelled down this path because they are excellent athletes. McDavid would most likely be a year or two ahead of his peer group and that is okay because he belongs there.

Kids are dropping out of sport because it becomes too much. All we should expect from them is for them to have fun. After that is accomplished, focus on all the positives and let kids make mistakes. We need to get back to playing and away from winning until kids are old enough to handle the pressure that comes with winning, probably around 12. Even then, the process should be the bigger picture.

More

When I look back on my life I realize how lucky I am, but I wish there was more I could do. I grew up in a middle class family where I always had more than enough. I still live at home. My parents are paying for my schooling. I have never not had enough. But I wish I could do more.

I am in education and I took a course called the History of Inner City Education. It was a course that you learned through discussion. I took almost no notes and left it wondering if I was doing the right thing. How could I help all the people that needed it? Was teaching them really going to help? I came out of that class with my eyes wide open but also with a growing sense of frustration because the resources you had access to was dictated by your geography. There is different levels of support for kids in the Inner City than there is for kids that live in poorer areas outside of the Inner City. I want to help, but I don't know how.

I take the bus everywhere. I have access to a car (sometimes) and I am a busy student. So I do what I can. I donate food to Winnipeg Harvest and the Christmas Cheer Board. I try to retweet anything that will help organizations that help people in need but I feel like I should do more. But I don't know what more is. So I do a little and hopes it helps a lot.

Baking for Newbies

Last night on Twitter there was a discussion over a bad experience someone had making cookies in their oven. The week before someone was bemoaning the fact that Christmas shopping sucks without a list (I have one with stored mapped out on it already). I suggested baking for everyone for Christmas (cheap and everybody like it), and if you are a non-baker to stick to easy stove-top stuff. Being a nice person, here are two easy and delicious stove-top recipes.

1. Chocolate Frogs (makes about 36)

Ingrediants

1/2 cup cocoa powder

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup flaked coconut

3 cups quick rising oats

Steps

1. Line 2 cookie sheets with wax paper

2. In a large pot stir together cocoa, sugar, milk, and butter

3. Boil for 5 minutes, then remove from heat

4. Stir in vanilla extract, coconut, and oats. Combine well.

5. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets. Refrigerate for one hour or until set. Keep in the fridge until needed.

These also freeze well.

Rice Krispie Cake (http://www.ricekrispies.com/recipes/the-original-treats)

INGREDIENTS

• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows
• — OR —
• 4 cups miniature marshmallows
• 6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal

DIRECTIONS

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

2. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch squares. Best if served the same day.

If you want to make them fancy, put some sprinkles on top :)

My Definitive Ranking of Christmas Movies

I love Christmas movies and because of this I have decided to rank my favourite movies. Warning: this is cartoon heavy.

1. Miracle on 34th Street (original)
I love this movie because it is about rediscovering youth and imagination. It is not just about Santa being real, but about how Christmas is as magical as we want it to be. And the original is just awesome in black and white.

2. Love Actually
One of my favourite movies, the idea that we fall in love so easily is sweet. I have watched the movie over 20 times since it was released and it gets me every time. The intertwining story lines are beautiful and the airport scenes are the best.

3. It's a Wonderful Life
This is where it gets hard for me but this timeless movie does it for me. The realization that you do matter no matter how useless you think you are is something that should be mentioned more than it is.

4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated)
The movie is short, sweet, and simple. The message is "even the coldest heart can warm when taught love". And the original is better than the remake of course.

5. Charlie Brown
My favourite screw up is one of my favourite movies. He can't do anything right and for that he finds the spirit of Christmas.

6. A Christmas Carol (original)
Timeless and great, this movie features ghosts and regrets. And the realization that it is never too late to change your outlook.

7. Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too
Winnie the Pooh is still my favourite Disney character and I have watched this movie every year on CBC, even as a teenager. Pooh screws up and tries to bring Christmas to his friends anyways. Silly old bear.

The More Things Change...

For the first time since my mom was six Christmas morning will not be at the house she grew up in. It will not be at the house where my Baba died, where we spent time as a big family. The house hasn't left our family as my older cousin and her husband bought it. But the most important part of our Christmas, waffles, ice cream and berries will still be around but in a different place. And it is not the same.

My Grandpa's old house is huge. An addition was built on to it so that eight people could comfortably live there. My mom has stories of her holding up heavy boards on a ladder as a teenager. But it is in capable hands now with my cousin. Christmas Eve dinner is too, though our Grandpa is going over to help. But breakfast has changed and that feels weird.

Christmas morning is when we exchange gifts but much more importantly we are all together. WE rarely ever are all together anymore with one aunt in Singapore, an aunt and uncle in Australia, and and aunt, uncle, and cousins in Vermont. But every once in a while we would all come together in the big family room at my Grandpa's on Christmas morning and laugh. Sure, we would open presents but we would also laugh.

There is a joke in our family that when all the Chaboyer women get together and laugh, it is a wall of laughter that you cannot escape even if you try. When my sister and I were young we would be kept awake by this laughter. It will never go away, but things change and it will not be in the same place again.

The kitchen was perfect for big meals. It was a kitchen that people would want to put an island in now. My Grandpa had this big table, way too big for one person but excellent for family gatherings. Christmas morning we would all sit around and eat waffles as my mom cooked. My parents even got my Grandpa a new waffle iron to speed up the cooking process. Everyone fit around the table and would have a good time together. We won't all fit anymore, the kitchen is too small for the table to be as big as it once was. The living room at his apartment will mean that we will have to squish to all fit. But we will be together and we will have a good time. 

It will not be the same. As much as I wish it would have never changed, everything changes. But the people who make it Christmas will be there. The food that makes it special will still be there. The quiet moments where my Grandpa struggles with the time of year when he lost his wife will still be there. But the setting won't be and that means that times are changing and that is hard to accept when the changes mean you are getting older and soon nothing will be the same.