Staten Island Parenting News

News for families from the Staten Island Advance

• 'The Milky Way Maiden,' an Estonian folktale
Once upon a time, the daughter of Uko, guardian of the winds, took care of all the birds of this world. It was beautiful Linda's task to guide the birds on their long migration in both spring and fall. Linda was lovely and tender, gentle and kind, and the birds not only depended upon her, they loved her.

• 'Rabbit and Moon Man,' an Algonquin Indian legend
It was a cold autumn, nearing winter, and the snow had already covered the earth when Rabbit set out to hunt. Rabbit was a fine hunter. He lived with his grandmother, and he loved her very much and wished to take good care of her, so he set his traps and laid his snares to catch birds and squirrels, chipmunks and opossums.

• How to make the situation work
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- According to Susan Avery, executive director of Grandparents.com, having a grandparent around to baby-sit the grandchildren while Mom and Dad are at work "is a wonderful thing for everyone."

• THE KIDS ARE AT GRAND-CARE
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It's Monday morning, the beginning of Arlene Bonici's work week. The senior citizen has a very important job: caring for her 4-month-old granddaughter. On weekdays, her daughter, Marianne Sciarrino, who works full time in Manhattan, drops off baby Madison at 7 a.m. and doesn't return to pick her up until 5:45 p.m.

• 'The Merman's Mittens,' a folktale from Denmark
There once lived a young man named Svend who was born at the northernmost tip of Denmark, at Skagens Point. It is there that the North Sea meets the Straits of Denmark, and wild waves wash upon the shore, and people tell tales of the many spirits inhabiting the land and the sea.

• 'The Heroic Honeybird,' a tale from southern Africa
Once upon a time, two brothers, Thulani and Tithembile, walked together into the bush. The boys were from a small village. Their plan was to hunt for as long as it took to fill their bags with food for their people.

• 'The Lady and the Unjust Judge,' a Turkish folktale
Long ago, in Stamboul, there lived a wealthy pasha who loved and admired his wife. He told everyone that she was the most compassionate woman in the world.