The Left Side of Me-Parenting and Politics 11.18 – 11.25

THE LEFT SIDE OF ME-PARENTING AND POLITICS 11.18 – 11.24

Hey Kids! is a weekly feature looking at what’s coming up for families and kids of all ages.

“Your right side is completely out of balance” said the handsome chiropractor who has been trying to reorganize my aching body.

I could have told him that. I don’t like the right, in any respect.

My right foot blisters with new shoes, my right hand can’t write, my right eye is dry in the morning and I was in tears on election night.

The left has always been the center of my world. It is graceful in a high heel, it can write in cursive and, as I type, it is leading the joy for Pelosi’s victory.

And though right-handed Republicans simply might have it easier, I confess that I have navigated life well enough. Even so, every single extra dollar I have had to pay for left handed scissors was paid back in spades last week, when my little Ernesto and I were talking about elections. He inquired after what informed voting decisions and whether they pertained to an individual or a family.

I tried to explain, as best as this left-handed Democrat can. I started with voters’ rights and on to allegiances in a bi-partisan system. And when I delved into what I believe are the main philosophical differences between elephants and donkeys this was his conclusion:

“So if I am a Republican, I might decide to cut that tree because I don’t like it and I don’t care what that means to others and to the air, but a Democrat who doesn’t like that tree will wonder what the tree means to the community and to oxygen before cutting it?” “Yes, more or less”, I answered. There was silence.

The following morning my darling child crawled into the big bed and declared that he was worried about that tree, thus wanted to be a Democrat, all his life.

The seed is planted, and just for this once, I promise…but can I gloat about my mothering skills?

Here’s what my tree-saving democrat in fieri and I are considering this weekend.

Music
The Bella Vente Wind Quintet is presenting their latest CD from their San Francisco Symphony Adventures in Music program at Miraloma Elementary School 3pm on Sunday. The performance is free.

Crafts
The delightful press shop Autumn Express is offering a gingerbread house building workshop with freshly baked goods. The price is $30 per house and the fun is scheduled on Friday 11/19 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Green Crafts
Crafty fun can be continued on Saturday afternoon from 1:15 p. m. to 3 p.m. at the Bernal Heights Library’s Trash Mash Up, where children of all ages can construct cool objects from recycled materials. There is no charge for this activity.

Timeless Fun
Not sure what it is about children and ventriloquism, but the delight they get from it seems endless. The Buddy Club at the Randall Museum presents ventriloquist Steve Chaney this Sunday. The show is from 11 a.m. to noon and tickets are $8 per person. Children under two are free.

Story Telling
On Saturday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Yaqui Indian storyteller and hoop dancer Eddie Madrill will entertain children with stories, songs and dances from the Native American tradition at the newly renovated Potrero Hill Library. It is a free event.

Passion for Dancing
In preparation for the Velveteen Rabbit, opening on the Friday after Thanksgiving at Yerba Buena, ODC is offering a studio to stage afternoon on Friday at 4 p.m. During 90 minutes, the great instructors of ODC will teach families moves from the delightful show. The price of $20 per person is a bargain, considering it includes admission to selected Velveteen Rabbit performances.

Sundays at the Museum
It’s Family Sunday at SFMoma. During Mirror, Mirror moderators will provide supplies and support for families to create their own work of arts. The event goes from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and it will include a family tour at 1pm and a special presentation at 2pm. The events, which are best suited to kids between 4 and 11, are included in the price of admission to the museum, which is free for children 12 and under.

Getting Involved
The Saturday before Thanksgiving is Family Volunteer Day, a way to show your children the difference we can all make in the community in which we live. You can sign up at Hands On Bay Area, an organization that coordinates volunteers interventions across the country.

San Francisco Traditions
And finally, though Thanksgiving’s still a week away, get ready for the great Turkey Trot, a San Francisco tradition now entering its 8th year. The run/walk/chase is held in Crissy Fields early on Thanksgiving morning. Participants are limited at 1000, so sign up early to ensure your spot. There is a $30 registration fee.