The Sugar Chair Stories
Volume One
by
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Being a puppy is hard work. At least that’s what Buddy thought. He only joined the family a month ago, so he was still learning who everyone is, where everything is, and how the whole food thing works. From what Buddy could tell, Mom and Dad were in charge. James and Taylor were much smaller—and more fun. James really liked music. He played the piano all the time. But sometimes he didn’t seem very happy about it. He also liked trains. He spent hours playing with train cars, setting up tracks on his train table, and talking about different kinds of trains with Dad. Just yesterday, Buddy learned that chewing train cars was not a good thing. Of everyone in the family, Taylor spent the most time with Buddy. She liked to run and play with him a lot—outside and inside. Also, she was the best hugger and tummy rubber. And even though she was the smallest person in the family, she seemed to have the biggest smile. Most of all, Buddy really liked Taylor because he thought she was still figuring things out, just like he was. One of the hardest things about being a puppy for Buddy was staying out of trouble. He didn’t always know what’s OK to chew, who’s OK to rough house with, and where it’s OK to go to the bathroom. That last one seemed pretty important to Mom and Dad. They usually told him not to worry when he was in trouble though. He was still learning. Being the little one seemed hard for Taylor too. She got in trouble almost as much as Buddy. She didn’t always know what’s OK to throw, when it’s OK to be loud—especially if Mom or Dad were on the phone—and what’s OK to take apart. That last one seemed pretty important to Mom and Dad. They usually told her not to worry when she made a mistake though, because she was still learning. But once in a while, when the trouble seemed big, they would take Taylor to the Sugar Chair. The Sugar Chair was a gift from Grandma. Buddy liked Grandma. She and Grandpa lived nearby and came over to visit a lot. She was especially good at sneaking him treats. He heard that she had been a schoolteacher for 40 years. That seemed like a long time. Grandma said she used the Sugar Chair in her classes to help her kids figure things out. Grandpa smiled when he talked about the Sugar Chair. He said, “That chair got a lot of use. Your Grandma wanted her kids to learn how to ‘train their brain’, not just sit and stew.” Grandpa said when her students got older, they would come back and talk about how they built their own big-person sugar chair, or how they were using one with their own kids. All Buddy knew was that Grandma was sweet to him and always told him to give her “some sugar” when she came over. So, he thought it made sense that the Sugar Chair came from her. The Sugar Chair was a white rocking chair that had a little plaque on the back that read: Slow Down, Look Around, Figure Out How to Sweeten Things Up Buddy liked that. And it seemed to work for Taylor too.
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About the Book
The three stories that follow mean to speak to the head and heart. They are the first in a series of stories Mark and Alexandra will produce in the coming years. As you read, keep in mind that the “sugar chair” is not a thing; it is a way. It’s a way of helping ourselves and our children slow this crazy world down, see clearer through our own eyes and the eyes of others, and own and act on our strategies for “sweetening things up.” Each story focuses on a certain audience: Littles (3-8 years old), Middles (8-12 years old), and Olders (12 years old and up). Our thinking is that Olders should read all three, Middles the first two, and Littles the first one. But in the end, you decide what’s right for you and your crew. We hope you enjoy!
About the Author
Dr. Mark David Milliron is an award-winning leader, author, speaker, and consultant who works with universities, community colleges, K-12 schools, foundations, corporations, associations, and government agencies across the country and around the world. He serves as Senior Vice President and Executive Dean of the Teachers College at Western Governors University (WGU). In addition to his work with WGU, Mark helps catalyze positive change in education through his Catalytic Conversations blog and podcast series, and also through service on the boards and advisory councils of leading-edge education organizations, including the Trellis Foundation; Bennett College; the Global Online Academy; Civitas Learning; the Mastery Transcript Consortium; the Hope Center for College, Community, & Justice; and ISKME/Open Education Resource Commons. He also holds an appointment as a Professor of Practice in the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin.. Regardless of all his activities and accomplishments, he will quickly tell you that the most important job and the greatest blessing in his life is serving as Julia’s husband, and as father to Alexandra, Richard, Marcus, and Max. You can learn more about Mark’s work at www.markmilliron.com Alexandra “Alex” Joy Milliron is a rising senior in the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin. During her time at Dripping Springs High School (TX), she was an honor student, a three-year varsity basketball player and high jumper, and regular community volunteer. In addition, she helped coach youth basketball, working with grades 2nd through 6th. During her time at UT Austin, she has served as a children’s Tae Kwan Do instructor, nanny, and as an officer of the Texas Darlins—the spirit club supporting University of Texas at Austin Basketball. Currently, she is preparing for graduate school and a career as a teacher, coach, and community leader – and power Mom to her puppy “Bento.”