20 - North Shore News — Onn wee a loeteahenteatae tan teetaatastenteteata | Birthday Parties from only’ per person Including 3 games of Lasertag and ihen 1 hour in our Party Room with a pan size Pizza each & pap. Cat! now for more info! IZ Tor i Lasertag Game Ticket 1 Bring in this coupon and receive your second game free Valid Mon-Fri, Not valid with other promctions. One coupon per custome: Expires 3100 : © “tnagine” a all the choices... Wonderful Christmas Gift Ideas for girls, _ boys & “big kids’, too Ue Harry Potter Books #8 Fantasy and Fun for all ages Great Dress Up Arts & Crafts % Unicorns * Whimeical figurines and décor items *¥ Toys & Games ‘Call about our Christmas Craft Workshops — —’ /, Supervised fun for children, while you go and do your “Ch ieumas 2 Shopping: What a arent idea for ene Xe. An Be grades won't get better CY themselves.. “Sylvan offers:: A comprehen ive. > skills assessment 1 to. ‘A personalized program delivered by certified teachers. © Se Guaranteed success. ‘Your’ child will improve one full grade: level within 36 hours of i instruc- Wednesday, December 6, 2000 SRR VEN PASTA LIME taf DANES aT e man with many voices Parental Guidance ENGLISH teachers often refer to an author’s voice. It’s a reference to both the style and the message a partic- ular author tries to convey in various pieces of writing. In theory, each author has com- mon elements that students can identify, and subsequently, as students develop their own writing, they develop their own voice, perhaps something unique to them, or perhaps an amalgam of other intlu- ences. Having written weekly columns for various publica- tions on educaticn and par- enting for almost 20 years now, | have learned a little about my own voice. More ©2000 Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc. accurately, P have learned a lit- de about alot of voices that I seen to have. Perhaps | should have written Srbi/, the well-known book about a young girl with sixteen per- sonalitics My first writing voice was as a teacher: a little pedantic in the beginaing, but much more pauent and understand- ing with experience. Rather than thinking there is one answer for any problem, I have learned that it is more important to really try and understand the problem than it is (© come up with a quick answer, Task more questions now, and listen carefully for hidden factors that may affect the answers. My next voive was as an administrator — my ‘change the world” voice. It was a litte curt perhaps, preferring action to politics, and still has that tone occasionally, but I have learned patience and spend much more time now con- vineing than telling. Build a good case and others will come up with che solutions as their own, and will thus be much more inclined to make them work, : I then began to express my father-of-young-children voice. Excited, amazed, ener- BSE se sees ememerernin WEDNESDAYS Drop-in Toddlers Storytime: For ages 2-3 at the North, Van City Library. Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 am. or 11 a.m. For more information, please ‘call 998- 3480. ‘Drop-in Storytime Fun: For _ . children aged 3-5 years at the West Van Memonai Library. Wednesdays, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and Fridays, at 10: 30 -a.m. Stories, songs, _ Correction Notice - In our 11-1 The Perfect Gift flyer, on page 28, Mattel Hot Wheels raceway set photo is incorrect. Game Boy on page 29 is not avaitable. In our 11-2 The Perfect Gift flyer, Nautica bath |” towels on page 47 are not available in jacquard. On page 41, Hasbro My Real Baby is requiar 109.99, sale 89.99; Matte! Dancing Diva Debbie is reguiar 54.99, sale 44.99. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Need to shop?. : “—, . Use our drop-off feature .- for only $4 extra — New Party Themes! © -Barbie -. -Blues Clues getic, but occasionally sleep- deprived, this voice foretold the miracles of effective par- enting. It was a confident voice, at Teast until the first child uttered the first “NO” and a sudden revelation that theory and practice were two separate elements came crash- ing home. It is now much more humble, but no less determined. It was at this point that a former voice took over. | began to use the voice of a son, Only after | had my own children did F begin to under- stand what my pareats had come through in trying to raise me and for the first time, my voice was truly grateful. Through cach stage of my own children’s lives, that voice has reminded me of the sacrifices that were made for “me. Thirty years ago, that voice would have been downright belligerent, but new it is quite respectful. Almost simultaneous in development, the voice of a husband and partner began to emerge. Bonded more tightly than ever by a shared love of our children, my wife and ! became so much more than just husband and wife. We were father and mother, action rhymes and more. Info: 925-7408. Junior Stamp Club: For 7- 12 year olds. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 3:30 p.m., North Van City Library. 980- 4424.0 THURSDAYS : Drop-in. Babes’ Storytime: For newborns ¢ to; 24 months : Pre-register:- strength and sympathy, guide and confidante. appreciated and respected, so much more, the sacrifices that women make in bearing children. The heavy load of responsibility for parenting seemed over- whelming at times and I was telieved to be with someone who joyfully lightened the load. Each time'[ sit to write, I hear chose voices racing, around in my head - teacher, administrator, father, son and , husband. Although encased in a single body (getting slightly more tattered around the edges, I might add), they maintain separate identities at various tim:s and individually. push forward xo deal with cir- cumstances that best warrant |” their artention, sometimes just" the night voice, and some- times perhaps j just a lirtle off- base: Ls rm looking x forward, someday, to the blending of ; those voices into one all- knowing commentary on a life of child-raising experi- ences. I doubt it will be the” voice of Erma Bombeck, but ° Pl be happy with the label “Grandpa.” ; Graham Hookey is the. anthor of Parcyting Is A Team Sport. ame Acne Ren Mena OF SRT eA "at the North Van City Library. : Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Info: 980-4424. Babytime: For children aged 6-24 months at the West Van : Memorial” Library. “Tuesdays or Thursdays, at 10:30 a.m. Song, action’ rhymes; finger-" plays. and. picture .. books. "Children : must. be ‘accomp: :nied by.a parent or. caregiver: Register: 925-740 Friday y Dec. ‘8: ‘Apm - 6pm. | | Seurday Dec. 9: Tam: 4pm