Jill's Journal: Lights are on and kids are curious: part II

By: 
Jill Meier, Journal editor
Kids are curious - in a cute, curious sort of way. And last week, I was well reminded of their cute - and curious - ways during my annual visit to a local afterschool program.
For a second year, I was invited to be part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire’s annual “Lights On Afterschool” awareness event that has folks from the community, such as myself, reading a book or two to the youngsters and answering a few questions. The annual Lights On Afterschool event celebrates the importance of programs such as this one in Brandon and in other communities, highlighting the resources it takes to keep the lights on and the doors open.
After reading a couple of books aloud to the kids last week, I then had to answer eight questions – HONESTLY – posed by the kids themselves.
The first questions were simple.
“What’s your favorite color?”
Just like last year, purple was my response.
“What’s your favorite food?” came next.
“Pizza,” I offered, “same as last year.”
“What’s your favorite dog?”
That was an easy one, too: Despite their obvious difference in size, Labradors and shih tzus, I shared.
“What’s your favorite cat?” came next.
“I’m more of a dog person,” I answered, which resulted in a chorus of disappointing “ahhs.”
“OK, I like nice cats,” I quickly tossed out.
That addition to my answer seemed to satisfy all the cute - and curious - cat lovers in the young crowd.
Up to this point, I had been as honest as I could be with my answers. The last question, however, had me teetering on telling the truth or “modifying” it by a few years.
“How old are you?” came the question from a boy in the back.
After taking in a deep breath, I blurted it out, “Fifty-four.”
Another round of “aahs” filled the uncomfortable silence, this time, though, their “aahs” had more of a more sympathetic tone. But the “wow-you’re-ancient” look on their innocent faces seemed to say more than the chorus of sympathetic “aahs.”
“My mom is older than you,” one boy in the front row was eager to share.
“My grandpa is older than you – he’s in his 70s,” shared a girl sitting on the outer rim of the group.
I get it. When I was their age, I thought anything and anyone over 50 was indeed old. It was then, or so I thought. It’s not now.
As I gathered up my belongings and was heading for the door, this “old” community weekly newspaper editor was stopped in her tracks by Riya, eager to ask just one more question.
“What is your favorite book or your favorite author?” she quizzed. 
“Erma Bombeck,” I informed.
From the look of puzzlement on her face, it dawned on me that Riya had never heard of Erma Bombeck, who I explained was a columnist and author that wrote funny stories about life and how she was one of my inspirations that led me to a career in community journalism.
I’m not sure why Riya wanted to know the title of my favorite book or the name of my favorite author. But maybe - just maybe – she’s a budding journalist and I’m her Erma Bombeck.
 
The purpose behind the Lights On rally is to bring awareness to the benefits of afterschool programs such as the Boys & Girls Clubs’ afterschool program in Brandon. Events like this one are held to bring awareness that every child who needs a program like this one, has access to the program that inspire children to learn, provides educationally enriching activities to bridge the gap between school and home, keeps them safe in the and relieves working families of worries about their children’s activities in the afternoon.
To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire, which serves youth from 4 weeks to 18 years, visit www.bgcsiouxempire.org or call (605) 338-8061.

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The Brandon Valley Journal

 

The Brandon Valley Journal
1404 E. Cedar St.
Brandon, SD 57005
(605) 582-9999

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