Latest news with #TheGivingTree
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Legacy of Cochrane's fallen Grandfather Tree will live on through new bench
The Town of Cochrane has found a way to pay tribute to its most treasured tree. The Grandfather Tree, an estimated 300-year-old white spruce in Cochrane Ranche, was toppled by high winds during a storm in January. Now through a proposal reminiscent of Shel Silverstein's book The Giving Tree, it will live on in the form of a commemorative bench made with its salvaged wood. WATCH | Grandfather Tree mourned by Cochranites: The bench was chosen over two other options presented to Cochrane town council on Monday: a children's book authored by a local author and the production of wooden key chains made from the tree. "In the weeks that followed [the tree's collapse], we saw an incredible outpouring of community sentiment," said Michelle Delorme, the town's director of parks and active living. "Residents left reflections, drawings and stories in a temporary mailbox and journal placed at the site, showing us how much this landmark meant to so many people." The tree is currently commemorated through two public art installations at The Station in downtown Cochrane. The bench will include infographic interpretive signage and a mailbox where visitors can share their Grandfather Tree stories and reflections. Calling the bench project "a meaningful, long-lasting tribute that can be delivered within our parks and active living budget," Delorme said it would cost from $7,000 to $10,000. Some council members balked at that estimate. Coun. Patrick Wilson said he was "amazed" and "kind of disgusted" by the proposed cost. When asked by Wilson, Delorme said the price is in line with that of other municipal benches in Cochrane's parks, with those costing anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000. "I can't believe that number. I'm absolutely aghast that we pay that," he said. Stacey Loe, community services executive director with the Town of Cochrane, said that while the cost would continue to be evaluated, this particular bench will likely be more expensive than others due to the labour involved with creating it from the Grandfather Tree. Delorme added that the entire bench won't be made from the Grandfather Tree's wood, but that the goal is for "at least half" of it to be. "We will have to piece everything back together," she said. Coun. Marni Fedeyko said that "unless it's made out of, like, African rainforest wood, it seems kind of on the high side." She supported the motion but emphasized that hiring local artists and contractors for the bench's construction should be prioritized. Coun. Morgan Nagel acknowledged that the project sounds "a little too expensive," but said it was a reasonable proposal, likening it to "an artisan project off of the woods." Councillors floated the idea of combining the bench proposal with the children's book idea, but ultimately approved the construction of the bench at the proposed price. Six of seven council members voted in favour of the motion, leaving Wilson as the sole dissenter.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This author 'fixed' 'The Giving Tree' with a new ending. Some say it's long overdue.
What if the Giving Tree said "no" to the boy? Thousands of adults online are resonating with alternate endings to classic children's books that may not have aged well in light of modern-day gentle parenting. In his series 'Topher Fixed It,' Atlanta-based playwright and screenwriter Topher Payne reimagines "The Pout-Pout Fish," "Love You Forever," "The Rainbow Fish" and "The Giving Tree." In the original 'Giving Tree,' the tree gives away her apples, branches and trunk for the boy who keeps returning and asking for more. It's been the subject of some criticism for portraying an unhealthy, one-sided relationship. But in Payne's reimagined 'The Tree Who Set Healthy Boundaries,' the Giving Tree stops at the apples. Instead, the tree shares how she feels about their friendship changing and explains why she doesn't want to give everything away. The boy practices empathy and the tree remains strong and tall for generations to come. The internet is divided: A Facebook user roasted the popular kids book 'Love You Forever' 'Setting healthy boundaries is a very important part of giving. It assures you'll always have something left to give,' the book ends. 'And so the tree was happy. Everyone was.' Many Instagram users applauded the alternate ending, which was shared recently by both Payne and podcaster Adam Grant. Grant's post about the ending on May 4 has racked up 129K likes on Instagram. 'Reading your ending to 'The Giving Tree' healed a little piece of me tonight!' commented one Instagram user. "Thank you for this − I always loathed the message in this book," another wrote. "The original is one of my favorite books," another person replied. "I've read it a hundred times and cry each and every time... I think reading both versions to our kids is key so they can see how the two options play out. Thank (you) for this." Payne says he's also received backlash since he began the series during lockdown in 2020. But he emphasizes the alternate endings are meant to inspire thought, not criticize the originals. He first started the 'Topher Fixed It' series in hopes of prompting nuanced conversations that he remembers having with his aunt when he first read the books as a child. 'What I found in a lot of people's relationship with the book is that maybe that conversation doesn't always happen and so the messaging in 'The Giving Tree' can go off in some pretty wild directions,' Payne said. He wrote the alternate endings to stand alongside the original text to compel conversation, whether that happens when reading to a child or returning to the text as an adult. Other classics: 'Love You Forever' is being called 'unsettling'. These books are just as questionable. 'The stories we're told as children are often one of the few things we all have in common,' Payne said. 'The originals are a classic for a reason. I celebrate them and the (reimagined) stories are meant to stand alongside them, not in place of them.' The 'Topher Fixed It' stories are available for free download from Payne's website. He does not receive monetary compensation for his alternate endings and is not seeking to publish them. Readers have suggested other titles for him to reimagine, but Payne doesn't have any immediate plans to recreate another story. Instead, he encourages others to give it a try. 'If there is a story that you've been told that you would love to consider another option, put that to paper and see what it looks like,' he said. 'It can be really cathartic for you to resolve that story for yourself in that way.' Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Author 'fixed' 'The Giving Tree.' Some say it's long overdue.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Do you have a 'living room kid' or a 'bedroom kid'? What it says about your family dynamic
Yvette Henry was in her kitchen fixing up dinner. So were all four of her kids. 'Ya'll, we have almost 4,000 square feet here and you're all right here. Right here,' she said on the "How Married Are You?!" podcast that she hosts with her husband, Glen Henry. But then she remembered a TikTok video about 'living room kids' and 'bedroom kids,' and realized she and her husband had built a home dynamic where their children felt emotionally safe in shared spaces. 'I don't think that I always appreciate what I have in this situation,' Henry said in the podcast clip that hit nearly 1 million views on TikTok and was posted elsewhere on social media. 'Like the gift of all this togetherness that we are going to look back on one day and say, 'oh my gosh, I miss that.'' 'Living room kids' and 'bedroom kids' are not terms established by behavioral science but have gained popularity online as parenting influencers talk about their household dynamics and their own past upbringings. A living room kid refers to a child who spends much of their home time in shared spaces such as the living room, kitchen or dining room. A bedroom kid refers to a child who spends most of their free time in the privacy of their bedroom. No matter what kind of person you are, if you're a parent, pay attention to your children's needs and what rooms they gravitate to. There's nothing inherently wrong with either. Although it might result in more messes, parents should feel proud knowing that living room kids feel comfortable and safe when congregating with family, said Whitney Raglin Bignall, associate clinical director of the Kid's Mental Health Foundation, a nonprofit promoting children's mental health. 'Safety could play a role,' she said. If there's a lot of family conflict, a child might spend more time in their room to avoid that stressor. 'The Giving Tree': This author 'fixed' it with a new ending. Some say it's long overdue. It's not just about safety, Raglin Bignall said. There are other factors at play, such as culture, age and personality. Some children are naturally more introverted than others, she said. Other children prefer quiet and solitary activities, like reading. Families may designate specific playrooms for children and adult spaces for parents to unwind. Children also tend to spend more time in their rooms as they enter their pre-teen and teenage years, said Dr. Thomas Priolo, a child psychiatrist at Hackensack Meridian Health. "A teenager will want to be more independent and feel responsible for themselves, and having a space for themselves in their room allows them to take control," he said. "As children get older, it becomes more important and more of a conscious decision." The time children spend in their room may also depend on the time of year, Priolo said. During the school year, kids are more socially stimulated by school and extracurricular activities, so they may want more time to unwind in their room alone. It's not necessarily a bad thing for children to spend more time in their bedroom, but he said parents should be wary if an ordinarily "living room" kid suddenly starts isolating in their room. This could be a sign that there's something wrong. "Rather than viewing it as 'living room' versus 'bedroom kids,' the best way to view it is as a house and making sure that kids feel safe no matter where they are," Priolo said. Riglin Bignall also reminds parents that having 'living room kids' can sometimes be overwhelming. It's OK to be a 'bedroom parent' every once in a while to recharge. 'Everyone needs breaks. You can't have people around you all the time,' Riglin Bignall said. 'It's great to have communal and family time and build family belonging but it's also important to think about when are you making sure you have time to fill your cup.' Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Living room, bedroom kids: TikTok parents reflect on family dynamics
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- USA Today
Do you have a 'living room kid' or a 'bedroom kid'? What it says about your family dynamic
Do you have a 'living room kid' or a 'bedroom kid'? What it says about your family dynamic Show Caption Hide Caption Tips for flying with kids: Advice to make your family flight easier Learn how to have stress-free air travel with tips for flying with kids. Yvette Henry was in her kitchen fixing up dinner. So were all four of her kids. 'Ya'll, we have almost 4,000 square feet here and you're all right here. Right here,' she said on the "How Married Are You?!" podcast that she hosts with her husband, Glen Henry. But then she remembered a TikTok video about 'living room kids' and 'bedroom kids,' and realized she and her husband had built a home dynamic where their children felt emotionally safe in shared spaces. 'I don't think that I always appreciate what I have in this situation,' Henry said in the podcast clip that hit nearly 1 million views on TikTok and was posted elsewhere on social media. 'Like the gift of all this togetherness that we are going to look back on one day and say, 'oh my gosh, I miss that.'' 'Living room kids' and 'bedroom kids' are not terms established by behavioral science but have gained popularity online as parenting influencers talk about their household dynamics and their own past upbringings. A living room kid refers to a child who spends much of their home time in shared spaces such as the living room, kitchen or dining room. A bedroom kid refers to a child who spends most of their free time in the privacy of their bedroom. No matter what kind of person you are, if you're a parent, pay attention to your children's needs and what rooms they gravitate to. There's nothing inherently wrong with either. Although it might result in more messes, parents should feel proud knowing that living room kids feel comfortable and safe when congregating with family, said Whitney Raglin Bignall, associate clinical director of the Kid's Mental Health Foundation, a nonprofit promoting children's mental health. 'Safety could play a role,' she said. If there's a lot of family conflict, a child might spend more time in their room to avoid that stressor. 'The Giving Tree': This author 'fixed' it with a new ending. Some say it's long overdue. Why some kids prefer living rooms over bedrooms It's not just about safety, Raglin Bignall said. There are other factors at play, such as culture, age and personality. Some children are naturally more introverted than others, she said. Other children prefer quiet and solitary activities, like reading. Families may designate specific playrooms for children and adult spaces for parents to unwind. Children also tend to spend more time in their rooms as they enter their pre-teen and teenage years, said Dr. Thomas Priolo, a child psychiatrist at Hackensack Meridian Health. "A teenager will want to be more independent and feel responsible for themselves, and having a space for themselves in their room allows them to take control," he said. "As children get older, it becomes more important and more of a conscious decision." The time children spend in their room may also depend on the time of year, Priolo said. During the school year, kids are more socially stimulated by school and extracurricular activities, so they may want more time to unwind in their room alone. Why it's OK to be a 'bedroom parent' It's not necessarily a bad thing for children to spend more time in their bedroom, but he said parents should be wary if an ordinarily "living room" kid suddenly starts isolating in their room. This could be a sign that there's something wrong. "Rather than viewing it as 'living room' versus 'bedroom kids,' the best way to view it is as a house and making sure that kids feel safe no matter where they are," Priolo said. Riglin Bignall also reminds parents that having 'living room kids' can sometimes be overwhelming. It's OK to be a 'bedroom parent' every once in a while to recharge. 'Everyone needs breaks. You can't have people around you all the time,' Riglin Bignall said. 'It's great to have communal and family time and build family belonging but it's also important to think about when are you making sure you have time to fill your cup.' Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@
USA Today
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
This author 'fixed' 'The Giving Tree' with a new ending. Some say it's long overdue.
This author 'fixed' 'The Giving Tree' with a new ending. Some say it's long overdue. Show Caption Hide Caption How to find a good book Book recommendations make finding the perfect page turner for any mood a breeze. What if the Giving Tree said "no" to the boy? Thousands of adults online are resonating with alternate endings to classic children's books that may not have aged well in light of modern-day gentle parenting. In his series 'Topher Fixed It,' Atlanta-based playwright and screenwriter Topher Payne reimagines "The Pout-Pout Fish," "Love You Forever," "The Rainbow Fish" and "The Giving Tree." In the original 'Giving Tree,' the tree gives away her apples, branches and trunk for the boy who keeps returning and asking for more. It's been the subject of some criticism for portraying an unhealthy, one-sided relationship. But in Payne's reimagined 'The Tree Who Set Healthy Boundaries,' the Giving Tree stops at the apples. Instead, the tree shares how she feels about their friendship changing and explains why she doesn't want to give everything away. The boy practices empathy and the tree remains strong and tall for generations to come. The internet is divided: A Facebook user roasted the popular kids book 'Love You Forever' 'Setting healthy boundaries is a very important part of giving. It assures you'll always have something left to give,' the book ends. 'And so the tree was happy. Everyone was.' Many Instagram users applauded the alternate ending, which was shared recently by both Payne and podcaster Adam Grant. Grant's post about the ending on May 4 has racked up 129K likes on Instagram. 'Reading your ending to 'The Giving Tree' healed a little piece of me tonight!' commented one Instagram user. "Thank you for this − I always loathed the message in this book," another wrote. "The original is one of my favorite books," another person replied. "I've read it a hundred times and cry each and every time... I think reading both versions to our kids is key so they can see how the two options play out. Thank (you) for this." Payne says he's also received backlash since he began the series during lockdown in 2020. But he emphasizes the alternate endings are meant to inspire thought, not criticize the originals. He first started the 'Topher Fixed It' series in hopes of prompting nuanced conversations that he remembers having with his aunt when he first read the books as a child. 'What I found in a lot of people's relationship with the book is that maybe that conversation doesn't always happen and so the messaging in 'The Giving Tree' can go off in some pretty wild directions,' Payne said. He wrote the alternate endings to stand alongside the original text to compel conversation, whether that happens when reading to a child or returning to the text as an adult. Other classics: 'Love You Forever' is being called 'unsettling'. These books are just as questionable. 'The stories we're told as children are often one of the few things we all have in common,' Payne said. 'The originals are a classic for a reason. I celebrate them and the (reimagined) stories are meant to stand alongside them, not in place of them.' The 'Topher Fixed It' stories are available for free download from Payne's website. He does not receive monetary compensation for his alternate endings and is not seeking to publish them. Readers have suggested other titles for him to reimagine, but Payne doesn't have any immediate plans to recreate another story. Instead, he encourages others to give it a try. 'If there is a story that you've been told that you would love to consider another option, put that to paper and see what it looks like,' he said. 'It can be really cathartic for you to resolve that story for yourself in that way.' Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@
