Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
7 Signs that You Need to Toughen Up
I killed that spider and marched out to the garage for the ladder. It felt wonderful. Then I took some probiotics to ward off the stomach flu decided I just wasn't going to get it. I just couldn't. And I didn't. And from that day forward, I felt like a new woman.
Now, 5 years later, my daughter comes to me when she finds a scary bug. Or she takes care of it herself, since she's also a mini-scientist and loves to catch and collect all kinds of bugs. When she grows up and is a young Mom, I have no intention of her living in a dark house, filled with spiders the way I did, because there is just no reason to. Of course, I love my husband, and we are a good team, but being tough and independent is one of the most rewarding changes I have ever made in my life.
Here are 7 signs you need to toughen up:
1. You don't change your own bulbs, especially the high-up ones. That's right ladies, don't be afraid to go get a ladder. There's no reason to leave it for your husband. Take charge right when you realize it's burned out.
2. You go to your husband when you find a bug that needs to be killed (or caught and released, depending on your point of view). They're not that scary. In fact, you could help your kids collect disgusting spiders, cicada shells, and preying mantis (see below, every summer we collect these and I find them all over the house in plastic bags). AND you can put the worms on the hook yourself.
3. You are afraid to take on house-hold projects, even small ones such as adding extra hooks to the swingset or hanging pictures. There is no reason to leave pictures sitting by a wall for weeks on end just because your husband hasn't had time to hang it. We live in the world of HGTV. And, some women are ready good with their hands. I'm not, but some are and if you're a lucky one, you could tackle some paint jobs and help with the bigger jobs like tile or building decks.
4. You hate going places by yourself. You often pull the, "I don't want to drive there by myself," routine, especially if that means a road-trip or an airplane ride with the kids by yourself. Get yourself a DVD player for the kids, and hit the open road. You will survive. If I can do it, you can.
5. You don't take out your own trash. Sometimes husbands have early meetings or just forget. You have strong arms, so putting them to use should be no problem for you.
6. You never take care of yard work. But what happens if your husband forgets to water those baby trees? You can pull weeds, you mow the yard. (Okay, I admit my husband doesn't let me mow the yard because he says it doesn't look terrible when I do it. But I do everything else.)
7. You won't shovel your own snow. Give the kids a shovel and get 'er done!
Of course, I'm not 100% independent. I still make my husband throw away dead mice and squirrels, but I do my best and I'm proud to show my kids that being fearless is possible.
Please also consider checking out my book! I think you will find it really helps you with ideas for your little ones!
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Our favorite Halloween tradition - Dry Ice?
It's pretty simple really. We get some dry ice from our grocery store, then fill our cauldron with Kool-Aid (just follow the directions on the package) and then add the dry ice, one small rectangle at a time. It bubbles and hisses and smokes and they love blowing the smoke around and watching all the craziness! We put it right in the middle of our newspapers while we are carving pumpkins and it adds a lot of fun. Plus, they love the super cold Kool-Aid! Whenever it starts to get too tame, we add another rectangle of dry ice to the cauldron. We re-use the same cauldron every year, it's just a little cheap one we got from Target.
** Note, dry ice can be dangerous, so watch the kids closely and never let them put their hands inside the bowl.
And tell me, what is your favorite Halloween tradition?
Thursday, October 22, 2015
I’m not a Work-Out Mom, I’m not a Career Mom, so what kind of Mom am I?
We moved across the country this summer, and this meant my kids would be the new kids at school, so I began to have a one track mind on getting them assimilated quickly. I made playdates with neighbors, I signed them up for soccer and Girl Scouts, but at Back to School night something funny happened. When we walked into the school, I realized this was also about us as parents, and more specifically, about me. I needed to meet the Moms too. Now I felt like the new kid myself and something struck me. There were Moms dressed in their fancy career clothes, there were Moms dressed in work-out clothes (at 7pm), and there were the PTA Moms. The problem was, I didn't fit into any of those categories.
I work out a little, but I don't love it. I used to be a big career Mom, but I quit when we moved to Colorado, since we were only going to be there for a year, so while I still remember vividly what it was like to be a working Mom, as far as everyone else is concerned, I am a stay at home Mom. I'm not a trendy Mom either, or a shopping Mom. Suddenly I felt panicked. Where would I fit? What kind of Mom was I going to be? Would I go back to work? Would I get super involved in school? Would I join a gym?
I shared my insecurities with my Mom and my husband. They pretty much thought I was a crazy person. Why did I care where I fit in?
I tried to get over it by telling myself I was being silly. I just needed to be myself and all would be well. But I did care. I went out and bought a fancy tennis skirt. Then toyed with the idea of going back to work. I joined the PTA. I was sure something would feel normal soon.
Then one day my kids came home from school and for about the fifth day in a row, they were all upset about something that happened on the bus. The bus company kept changing drivers, and changing pick-up times, and seating arrangements, and I realized this bus situation was causing them a tremendous amount of stress. They said they loved the bus and truly there were a lot of advantages. Everyone in the neighborhood takes the bus so they get to socialize a lot. They got to trade Pokemon cards, which they loved. Even I loved the bus because they looked so cute getting on and off and plus then I didn't have to fight the car line every day, but I knew it wasn't working. I made an impulsive decision and decided to pull them off the bus. They were sad about it at first, and I could tell everyone thought I was a bit crazy about the whole thing, but I decided to give it two weeks.
Two weeks later, I was amazed. They never complained about school anymore. They were happier. There were no more tears at night. The bus truly had been causing all the angst, they just didn't know it. That's when it hit me: I'm not Gym Mom, I'm not Soccer Mom, I'm not Career Mom. I'm Flexible Mom.
Since I'm not working I can change our schedule if we need to. I can babysit my nephew if my sister in law needs a break. I can get my husbands tire fixed for him on a whim. I can go with my Mom on a crazy two hour drive to look at a horse she wants to buy, because I am flexible.
It's good to have an identity. I think that's why Stay at Home Moms struggle so much, because sometimes just being a stay at home Mom isn't enough of an identity for us. But for now, I'm content to be Flexible Mom. Because someday, I might find something I'm really passionate about, and I can be flexible enough to jump on it. And in the meantime, I'll just keep trying my best to be a good Mom, and I'll keep trying to live in the moment and savor every moment of my flexible life.
Please consider trying out my book, The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble, and Motivated to Learn!
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Terrible Twos? It Could be Gut Bacteria!
People never used to believe me when I told them that my son cried all the time, but he really did. And I mean, All. The. Time. One time he wanted to play with one of my shoes. I politely took it away and he began throwing a fit. And he proceeded to throw a fit for 65 minutes. I know because I counted the minutes. He followed me around the house, crying for an entire 65 minutes.
Several months later we went on a trip and we didn't have access to a refrigerator and in an attempt to save money, I ordered water instead of milk for the kids for several meals. All of a sudden, I noticed a different kid. He didn't cry all the time. He suddenly had normal, non-runny poops, and it began to occur to me that he might be lactose intolerant. My husband thought I was crazy, but when I brought it up with my doctor, he immediately recommended we get him tested and voila! We suddenly had to worry about Lactaid pills, butter-filled desserts, and pizza nights, but the great news was that life was so much better for our entire family! My heart broke for him when I realized how uncomfortable he must have been those first two years of his life. Along with taking away milk products, we started a daily Probiotic treatment and the combination made all the difference.
While lactose intolerance is pretty rare in kids, general stomach discomfort isn't. Some new research just came out from Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science, that the microbiome of a toddler's gut may affect his temperament and behavior, particularly in boys. The study carefully points out that there is a communication between bacteria in the gut and the brain, but also urges parents not to change diets just yet since they are continuing their research on the subject. However, based on my experience, if your toddler is going through anything like the "Terrible Two's", I suggest that you strongly consider starting Probiotics. It might make all the difference.
Here is our favorite Probiotic Brand:
I hope you will consider checking out my book, The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide on Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble and Motivated to Learn
. I give lots of ideas on keeping your toddlers and preschoolers entertained and engaged, so that you can have a stronger bond and even get some work done around the house!
. I give lots of ideas on keeping your toddlers and preschoolers entertained and engaged, so that you can have a stronger bond and even get some work done around the house!Tuesday, June 9, 2015
How to Deal with (And Prevent) Nightmares
My daughter used to have this
recurring dream where she was lost in the woods, being chased by someone she couldn't see and couldn't find her family. The poor little thing used to come in to our room, panting, crying, and wild-eyed. It was heartbreaking for her, but it was also heartbreaking for me
to lose sleep night after night.
On top of that, research shows that in kids, poor sleep at night leads to reduced ability to function, difficulty modulating impulses, and difficulties focusing (Seminars in Pediatric Neurology, Mar 1996). For my sake and for hers, I was desperate to find a solution. Then one night, our babysitter came over and put my daughter to bed. Apparently as they were going to bed, my daughter shared with the babysitter that she was scared to go to sleep because she was afraid of having her dream. It just so happened that my babysitter had struggled for years with sleep problems and had a special trick for my daughter. She changed the dream. She listened patiently while my daughter explained every detail, then the babysitter changed it. Instead of being chased by someone she couldn't see, my babysitter explained that she was really being based by a bunch of adorable fairies who were trying to invite her to their party. They led her through the forest to an amazing party with cupcakes, bounce houses, flying fairies, and of course, her loving family waiting for her at the party. The transformation was astounding. She NEVER had that dream again. I did a little research and there are actually psychologists out there who maintain that changing dreams is a credible and recommended form of sleep therapy.
Since then, my daugther is mostly cured of bad dreams, but she still struggle occasionally and now my son has begun to have them as well. Through my own research and trial and error, I have come up with a list of ways we prevent and deal with bad dreams:
1. Cuddle at night right before bedtime. I try to minimize stimulation at this time (i.e. no books or TV). We just sit together calmly, and my daughter fully believes this will prevent bad dreams so she is content to just sit and cuddle. We have noticed that when we don't do this, bad dreams often occur, so it has become a reliable strategy for us.
2. Changing the dream. As I stated above, this works amazingly well for us, even in the middle of the night. I try to listen carefully and then help the kids "change the dream" so it doesn't become a recurring one.
3. Flush the dream down the toilet. Sometimes we playfully think of the dream, stand above the toilet and use our pretend magic wand to transfer to the toilet and flush it down so it won't ever come back.
4. Get more sleep. We have noticed that when we go to bed late and get up early (such as on a vacation), bad dreams occur more often, so we try to get the kids in bed by 7:30 at the latest (they are 5 and 6 years old).
5. When all else fails, let them sleep on your floor. It isn't ideal, but if nothing is working, I keep some sheets and a blanked by my bed just in case and allow my kids to sleep there if they are really struggling. For me, it's much better than letting them sleep in my bed, because I want to minimize the time out of their bed and allowing them to sleep in my bed will likely make them want to try it again. Since we have perfected the above strategies, we only have to do this a few times per year, which is a big improvement from doing it nightly, which was our reality at one point.
Some kids never struggle with bad dreams and that is lucky for them. For others, like us, it can take over the family dynamic so it's important to get it under control, both for the sake of the kids and the parents.
Please share with my any tips that you have for your families sleeping issues!
Also, Please consider checking out my book! We give lots of information for parents on keeping their young children busy with projects that stimulate the mind and keep the children out of trouble!
Monday, September 24, 2012
6 Ways to Teach Your Kids to be an Optimist
I used to be an eternal optimist, nothing could get me down. Then I became an adult. I started to experience real adult problems, like pregnancy hormones, sleep deprivation, financial worries, and worst of all, watching episodes of Mickey Mouse day after day. Over the course of the last four years, my sunny nature has slightly decreased. Don't get me wrong. I'm still an optimist and I have a great life, but once I get in a bad mood, it's harder to shake than it used to be.
So, after a recent vacation, I came home in a funk. I got used to not having to cook, clean, or be anywhere at a certain time so when I got home and started preparing my grocery list for the week and thinking about everything I needed to do, I burst into tears. I truly felt like I couldn't face my life and drastic measures needed to be taken. How could I turn my life more into vacation? My poor husband stood by, ringing his hands. This was very unusual behavior for me and he was at a loss. The poor guy finally said, "I didn't realize your life was so bad. What can I do to help you?"
I realized what I really needed was a trip to my parents' house. My Mom always knows how to cheer me up. She hugged me, laughed at my tears, and reminded me of what a great life I truly have. Three hours later, I started to drive home feeling much better. My daughter, however, was still in a funk. As always, the kids came home feeling a little tired and also out of sorts from our vacation, and I found my good mood starting to vanish as she whined for me to get her something to drink. Then she dropped her book and couldn't reach it. Then she realized she left something at my parents' house. I started to get impatient with her and I thought about lecturing her on how she needed to learn to do some these things by herself, but then it hit me: I needed to teach my daughter how to look on the bright side. This is a learned skill. My Mom had to teach me to be an optimist so why would I expect my daughter to just know it already?
I began brainstorming about how my Mom taught me to be an optimist. It took me several weeks to think of everything and make sure my list was complete (I did ask my Mom but she couldn't remember. Then she said, "I may be losing my long-term memory but on the bright side I'm still funny." Case in point, don't you think?.)
So, here is how my Mom taught me to be an optimist:
So, here is how my Mom taught me to be an optimist:
- She Helped me Develop a Sense of humor: We always found something to laugh about, and as quickly as possible. This helped me realize not to take myself too seriously, which came in very handy during my early parenting years with severe sleep deprivation.
- She Taught Me to Play the Happy Game: Sometimes people just find themselves in a crummy mood. That's why they say someone "woke up on the wrong side of the bed." You have to consciously think about things that make you feel happy so you can stop feeling so down. Make a list of everything you appreciate in life, or simply things that make you happy. The good will quickly outweigh the bad. Keep it simple with things like, "Finding a good book to read, Waking up to see sunshine, getting to sleep in 30 minutes later than usual, when a stranger smiles at you, etc."
- She Taught Me the Importance of Getting Plenty of sleep. Help your kids understand that they really should go to bed because they will happier and healthier for it. It may take 15 years for this to sink in, but I was one of the few college students in bed by 10:00 every night and that was the peak of my optimistic years. It's hard to be upbeat if you don't get enough sleep.
- What's the worst-case scenario? I remember when I would get a B when I thought I deserved an A. For some reason, I thought it was literally the end of the world and I remember being so angry. But then my Mom made me realize that it wasn't going to prevent me from getting into a good college or getting a good job one day. The worst-case scenario is a slightly lower overall GPA so when you look at it like that, it's easier to stomach disappointment and move on.
- This too shall pass. This was my grandpa's favorite saying and it's very true. No matter how many friends are mad at you or how upset you are that you missed the last shot to win the game, within a few weeks, all will be forgotten and there will be a new drama. This too shall pass. I said it constantly to myself when my kids were waking up every 15 minutes. At age 9 months. And it did pass, Thank God!
- Appreciate good moments when you find them. When you do find yourself sitting outside on a beautiful day, take a moment to breathe deeply and appreciate the moment. If someone does something nice for you, take the time to realize how lucky you are to have someone in your life who cares about you. These are the moments that will carry you through when you're sad.
Me: "Let's play the happy game! I'll go first. It makes me happy when I wake up and see the sun shining. Your turn!"
Munchkin Girl: "Nothing makes me happy. I just want Lily!" (This is the doll she left at her grandparents)
Me: "I'm sure you'll think of something. I'll go again. It makes me happy when I get to see my kiddos laughing about something. Your turn!"
Munchkin Girl: "I still want Lily!"
Me: "Okay, I'll go again. It makes me happy when I get to hang out with my brothers. Your turn!"
It went on like this for awhile until she finally caved and started playing. By the end of the drive we were laughing and she had forgotten to whine. Of course, this one game didn't cure her for life, and I fully realize that this will be a life-long process, but she already she has started asking to play the Happy Game when we get in the car or when she's sad. And that alone makes me a very happy Mommy.
I hope you enjoyed this post! Thanks for visiting! I hope you will consider buying my newly-released book. The reviews have been very positive and you can even download the first chapter on your Kindle for free! Please visit Amazon to read all the reviews and find out more. Thanks so much to everyone who has already bought the book. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!!
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Monday, August 6, 2012
Using Sand to Learn Letters for Sensory Fun
We've always had lots of fun with sand, but this time I decided to try something new. I hid a bunch of magnetic letters in the sand while Munchkin Girl had her eyes closed. She had to dig around and find them, one by one and once she pulled them out, she arranged them on a cake pan. Since they were magnetic, they stuck nicely to it.
Once we got enough letters, we started making words with them. We made CAT and then pulled off the C and replaced it with a B and so on.
Now you might be wondering if this sand in the house made a mess. Not really. Every once in awhile a little bit of sand gets flicked out, but she has worked with sand enough to know that if she makes a mess, we stop playing. I even have a small dust pan handy so that she can clean up her own messes!
Honestly, she didn't stick with the letters for long though...she ended up filling up that butterfly with sand and pretending she was making cookies. I have learned never to interfere with her imagination! In fact, I got out a few more cookie cutters so she could make even more cookies. If she's playing happily, I make it a point never to interrupt! Even if I was secretly trying to get her to work on letters!
If you liked this post, you will LOVE my new book (which is currently ranked#4 on Amazon in the category of Motherhood!). If you have ever asked yourself questions like, these, then this is the book for you!
- Why do my kids drive me so crazy sometimes?
- Why do they just want to watch TV all day long?
- How am I ever supposed to get anything done when my kids won't stop pestering me?
"This book seriously saved my sanity. I've read a bunch of parenting books but this is literally the only one that actually gave me real and specific advice and ideas for things to do with my daughter. I'm a stay-at-home mom to a 2-year old and I was at my wits end trying to come up with ideas of fun, easy, creative things to do with her that will keep her busy and occupied and help her learn. I wasn't very good at following through on ideas that I heard about from friends or read in other books or online because they seemed too complicated (aka: messy!) but this book broke it down and made it so simple. I highly recommend it!"
Friday, August 3, 2012
Toddler Games: The Importance of Watching for Frustration
Poor Little Buddy. He often gets stuck doing what Munchkin Girl is doing, especially as far as arts and crafts are concerned. I guess that's the nature of being the little brother. However, last week Grandma was spending the afternoon with Munchkin Girl so I had the afternoon to myself with him. I pulled out all of our craft and project supplies because I really wanted to give him the chance to do whatever HE wanted to do.
He picked colored Poms and at first I just picked what Munchkin Girl would have used: a clothespin. The idea was to dump out all the colored Poms and let him put them into the tin. My daughter loves this game and counts as she goes and it's great for her muscles strength. At first, he was thrilled.
As you can see, he kept getting confused about which way was up, and which way was down. He would pinch it, and then when the other side opened, he would turn it upside down.
It wasn't long before he was whining and I was feeling sad that this wasn't turning into the fun bonding afternoon it was supposed to be! But then I realized that I was seeing first-hand something that my co-author and former Kindergarten teacher, Susan Case covered in our book. On the chapter about fine motor skills, she said:
It wasn't long before he was whining and I was feeling sad that this wasn't turning into the fun bonding afternoon it was supposed to be! But then I realized that I was seeing first-hand something that my co-author and former Kindergarten teacher, Susan Case covered in our book. On the chapter about fine motor skills, she said:
Developing fine motor skills can be frustrating and challenging for some children. Watch your child’s level of frustration. Gradually
increase the time of activities. This play/work time needs to be pleasurable, attainable and rewarding so that your child will continue to
engage and make progress.
Then it clicked. Using clothespins just wasn't attainable for him. It's not something he is capable of so I simply made a switch. I put the clothespins away and pulled some tongs out of our kitchen drawer. They aren't something I've used before, but I realized that if Munchkin Girl had been then, Little Buddy probably would have just wandered away to find something else to do so I wouldn't have realized that he wanted to participate but simply couldn't. Since he was alone, I was more in tune to him. The difference was amazing. He was able to use the tongs very well and was SOOO proud of himself. See how in the first picture none of the Poms were in the tin? Check out this picture! He had them in there in no time and did it about three times before he got tired of it!
Not only did we have a great time, but I now fully understand the meaning of "developmentally appropriate activities".
If you want to read more about activities that are good for toddlers and preschoolers, you love my new book (which is currently ranked #6 on Amazon in the category of Motherhood!). Here is one of the reviews on Amazon so please consider buying your own copy!
This book seriously saved my sanity. I've read a bunch of parenting books but this is literally the only one that actually gave me real and specific advice and ideas for things to do with my daughter. I'm a stay-at-home mom to a 2-year old and I was at my wits end trying to come up with ideas of fun, easy, creative things to do with her that will keep her busy and occupied and help her learn. I wasn't very good at following through on ideas that I heard about from friends or read in other books or online because they seemed too complicated (aka: messy!) but this book broke it down and made it so simple. I highly recommend it!
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Mommy Needs a Break! From Guilt, from Diapers, From Everything!
After my daughter's birthday party last week, I was completely exhausted and then we had to go to a wedding and two more birthday parties that weekend. By Sunday night, I looked like death warmed over and I was seriously on edge. Every time I heard crying of any kind, I had to resist pulling out my hair and screaming, "STOP IT!!!"
Monday morning came too quickly and it was time to go back to work and I looked at my schedule and realized that I had an overnight trip planned for Tuesday. I don't have to travel for work often, but every time I do, I am racked with guilt. I worry that the kids won't sleep well, that they'll fight for the baby-sitter or my parents, or that Hubby will be awake all night before he has to go operate on humans the next day. The irony is that they always do fine, but the list of why I worry goes on and on and it's all I can think about. But then something funny happens...I get to my hotel and it hits me that I'm alone and can do whatever the heck I want and I am suddenly thrilled beyond belief. Then I feel guilty again for being so happy to be alone so I punish myself by working all evening on my computer and going to bed early.
Monday morning came too quickly and it was time to go back to work and I looked at my schedule and realized that I had an overnight trip planned for Tuesday. I don't have to travel for work often, but every time I do, I am racked with guilt. I worry that the kids won't sleep well, that they'll fight for the baby-sitter or my parents, or that Hubby will be awake all night before he has to go operate on humans the next day. The irony is that they always do fine, but the list of why I worry goes on and on and it's all I can think about. But then something funny happens...I get to my hotel and it hits me that I'm alone and can do whatever the heck I want and I am suddenly thrilled beyond belief. Then I feel guilty again for being so happy to be alone so I punish myself by working all evening on my computer and going to bed early.
Intellectually I know that feeling guilty is a stupid waste of time. I can't change the fact that I have to go out of town. My worry doesn't help anyone and I know deep down that sometimes I lash out when I'm feeling guilty and it's no wonder. There is well-documented evidence that guilt and depression are a bad idea:
- A Study in the Journal of American Obstetrics and Gynecology finds that maternal depression can result in premature babies
- A Study finds that Mothers Who are More Patient Have Children with Larger Brains
- The book Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman documents how French Women resist the feeling of maternal guilt because they feel that is it a damaging emotion for the entire family
The next day when it was time to go home, I noticed something very interesting. I was absolutely thrilled to see my kids. My irritation and exhaustion were gone. We had a wonderful evening together and I realized that I had just learned a very important lesson in how to be a better Mom: take a break. Not just from kids but from guilt. Of course, my situation of being out of town is unique and rare, but we can all find a way to get a pedicure, read a book, get a massage, whatever makes us happy, because we work hard and our kids deserve a happy mommy.
I want to say thank you so much to all of you readers!!! Because of you, my book keeps climbing in the ranks on Amazon and it feels so wonderful to know that we are helping some Moms out there!! If you haven't checked into it yet, I would love it if you would. It has a unique perspective because I co-wrote it with former Kindergarten teacher, Susan Case, and we bring you hundreds of ways to keep your kids busy and we even tackle this subject of Mommy Guilt! I would love it if you would check it out!
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Sunday, July 22, 2012
A Low-Maintenance Princess Party? Yeah right!
When I woke up yesterday morning, I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. Or maybe been out all night partying until 4am. Yet I'd gone to bed by 9pm. Why was I so exhausted? Two words: Princess Party.
Yes, I elected to have a princess party for my four year old, but I was determined to make it a low-maintenance birthday party. There were going to be no bounce houses or rented ladies dressed up as princesses at our party (Not that there is anything wrong with that. In fact, I felt certain my party wouldn't measure up to others who truly went all out, so I didn't even want to try.) The only problem is that it turns out there is no such thing as a low-maintenance birthday party because you can't get around the fact that at a bare minimum, you still have to provide cake, food, gift bags, entertainment, and presents.
First, the kids "helped" me get ready for the party. I blew up the balloons and they stole them and batted them around the house. Then they insisted on putting the crowns on and decorating pieces of paper, but that did keep them very busy while I got everything ready. And I will admit that I enjoyed watching them play with the balloons so I even put on music for them and helped them bat the balloons around.
Everything was finally ready. We had 7 little crowns and 7 little wands all ready to be decorated with jewels, glittery letters, and stickers
Seven little girls arrived at 4:00, all decked out in their favorite princess dress and I have to say that my little Munchkin Girl was in her element. She was the quintessential hostess to her friends, making sure they each had a crown and a wand to decorate. Keep in mind this was a "drop-off party" so all parents were gone and the seven little girls were left in our care. My daughter grinned from ear to ear while her little friends used the glue, glittery letters, jewels and stickers that she helped me organize.
Since I wanted this party to be low-maintenance, I planned on all this part taking quite awhile and I didn't plan much else, other than the cake and stuff. I had set out a bunch of bowls with plenty of supplies so when they were all done by 4:20 with this project, we were a bit baffled. Now what? The party was scheduled to last until 5:30. I started to feel a bit panicky, but luckily my Mom is an elementary PE teacher, so she stepped in. Between 4:20 and 5:00, we played:
- Hide and Go Seek
- Favorite Animal Game: Each kid got to take a turn saying what their favorite animal was. Then they demonstrated what that animal did, such as hopping (bunny), crawling on all fours (horses), etc. and then all the little girls had to follow. They loved having turns with this!
- Freeze Dancing (Play music until it stops and then everyone FREEZES!)
- Fall down dancing (Similar to freeze dance, but when the music stops, they all fall down)
Then we decided it was time for pizza and cookie cake, and luckily we killed time by also having them decorate the cookies.
Then we did the presents and voila! It was 5:30! Each little girl went home with a personalized crown on their head, a decorated wand, and a bag full of princess stickers. Hubby and I were exhausted, and Munchkin Girl had never felt so special in all her life. The problem was that I couldn't believe that I had to face this year after year. Not only that, the following morning we had two birthday parties to attend, and they were both also princess parties and I didn't know how I would have the energy.
We arrived at the first one and I couldn't believe my eyes. This woman had made a Barbie cake, something I've only ever seen in magazines...it had a real Barbie inside, and an intricate web of icing for Barbie's dress. Not only that, a tent was outside, filled with balloons and decorated with streamers and what appeared to be wedding veils and they had stations set up for the girls to have their nails done, faces painted, and even make-up done. The Mom seemed cool as a cucumber and I suddenly felt ashamed and embarrassed. I was still completely exhausted from my own party the day before and I hadn't done any of this fancy stuff! I commented to the grandmother how impressed I was with everything and she replied, "Well, she about kills herself doing it and everyone around her too!" The Grandma rolled her eyes.
"Really?" I replied. "She looks so calm!"
"Don't let her fool you honey. It's all an act!" She winked at me and I felt much better because I felt certain that she would be just as tired as I was and I realized that there are no Super-Moms. We're all just trying to do our best to make our little girls feel special but it isn't easy no matter how talented you are.
We arrived at the first one and I couldn't believe my eyes. This woman had made a Barbie cake, something I've only ever seen in magazines...it had a real Barbie inside, and an intricate web of icing for Barbie's dress. Not only that, a tent was outside, filled with balloons and decorated with streamers and what appeared to be wedding veils and they had stations set up for the girls to have their nails done, faces painted, and even make-up done. The Mom seemed cool as a cucumber and I suddenly felt ashamed and embarrassed. I was still completely exhausted from my own party the day before and I hadn't done any of this fancy stuff! I commented to the grandmother how impressed I was with everything and she replied, "Well, she about kills herself doing it and everyone around her too!" The Grandma rolled her eyes.
"Really?" I replied. "She looks so calm!"
"Don't let her fool you honey. It's all an act!" She winked at me and I felt much better because I felt certain that she would be just as tired as I was and I realized that there are no Super-Moms. We're all just trying to do our best to make our little girls feel special but it isn't easy no matter how talented you are.
If you liked this post, you will LOVE my new book (which is currently ranked#4 on Amazon in the category of Motherhood!). If you have ever asked yourself questions like, these, then this is the book for you!
- Why do my kids drive me so crazy sometimes?
- Why do they just want to watch TV all day long?
- How am I ever supposed to get anything done when my kids won't stop pestering me?
"This book seriously saved my sanity. I've read a bunch of parenting books but this is literally the only one that actually gave me real and specific advice and ideas for things to do with my daughter. I'm a stay-at-home mom to a 2-year old and I was at my wits end trying to come up with ideas of fun, easy, creative things to do with her that will keep her busy and occupied and help her learn. I wasn't very good at following through on ideas that I heard about from friends or read in other books or online because they seemed too complicated (aka: messy!) but this book broke it down and made it so simple. I highly recommend it!"
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
20+ Ways to Make Caterpillars With Your Little Ones
I've been a Mom now for four years and sometimes the things I don't know amazes me. For example, I only found out about squeezable applesauce about six months ago. Little portable applesauce packages that don't need to be refrigerated!?!? I don't know where I was living for the first 3.5 years of Munchkin Girls' life, but clearly I missed out.
A similar thing happened not too long ago when someone mentioned the author Eric Carle. Now clearly, as a Mom and a blogger, I should know this person. Everyone is always talking about him. Yet I didn't and as usual I felt worried that I was depriving my kids of an important and education opportunity that would likely stunt them for life. Harvard was clearly out of the question if I didn't do something fast (Don't worry. If you're new to my site, you will realize that I'm mostly being sarcastic). Still, I rushed out to Barnes and Noble that day and bought The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
I proudly presented it to my kids and started reading in my most animated voice. Now I'm going to admit something that will make most Mom bloggers cringe....My kids really weren't interested. Their eyes glazed over and they wandered off for something more fun to do. I'm not sure what that means. I was pretty surprised because most days we read at least 10 books. They usually adore book. They just don't seem to like Eric Carle books. They seem really smart in other ways, but they will never be appraising fine art, because from what I have heard, Eric Carle is truly the fine art of kids books.
To be honest, ever since we introduced the magnifying glass, my kids are much more interested in this book. Why? Because it came with 10 little fake bugs that they carry around the house to scare people. And they also like to look for bugs and caterpillars outside.
Still they do really love to make caterpillar crafts so the other day we got out some beads and pipe cleaners. First, I strung one bead around the end and secured it for Munchkin Girl:
Then she spent thirty happy minutes stringing the pipe cleaner with the beads
In the end, she really loved her little caterpillars almost as much as her outdoor caterpillar friends. I felt like it was time well-spent because she worked on her hand strength as she laced the beads, which will help her later when it is time to learn to write. Not only that, after we spent this quality time together, she wandered off for an hour and played happily with her dolls. I have found that after we do a project, she feels fulfilled and it really allows her to open up her imagination and feel secure enough to play alone, giving me some much-needed time to pay bills, do laundry or whatever I need to do. To find more simple ways to keep your kids buys in productive ways, check out my new book, The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide on Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble and Motivated to Learn.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
What you Need to Know About Speech Disorders
My daughter started talking very early. Everyone was amazed at how clearly she could speak considering she wasn't even two years old yet. The only problem was, she stuttered. Once she finally got the ball rolling, she spoke great, but it always started out with, "M-m-m-m-m-ommmy, can I have some milk?"
Since she's our first child, we didn't know if this was normal or whether we need to intervene. Luckily we spoke to our pediatrician about it right away and he advised us not to say anything to her. He said that if she was just given time and we didn't damage her self-esteem by correcting her, that it would likely resolve on its own.
And I'm happy to say that it did. She is almost four now and speaks without even a hint of a stutter. Most people probably won't even remember that she ever went through that phase. We were lucky, but many people are not so lucky and do need a bit of guidance on helping their child.
Jacky Gilchrist specializes in writing about health and medical topics. She writes a blog for Speech Buddies, a company that offers speech therapy products to parents and speech therapists. Gilchrist contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if she could guest-post here, giving my readers some insight into what is normal and what isn't. Gilchrist covers topics such as coping with specific speech disorders, encouraging vocalization, and navigating the legal procedures involved with special education.
Does My Child Have a Speech Disorder?
Figure 1 Image source: thebabycorner.com
It’s perfectly natural to worry about your child and wonder if he is developing at a rate that is on target for his age level. The world of pediatrics is overflowing with milestone charts that measure everything from gross motor skills to cognitive abilities to language and speech development. Just remember that every child develops at his own pace. Avoid panicking if, for example, your one-year-old is a little slow to point to his a picture in a book upon request. While this is considered to be the target age for that particular skill, some toddlers simply need a bit more time.
That said, you know your child best. If you feel that he might show signs of a speech disorder or delay, it’s always best to take him to a speech-languagepathologist (SLP), or speech therapist, sooner rather than later. If your child does require speech therapy, starting a treatment program before he enters elementary school is preferable. This way, a speech problem is less likely to hold him back academically.
However, the SLP might also recommend waiting in certain cases, depending on the age of your child and his specific issues. Under some circumstances, your child’s speech and language might “catch up” with the target level for his age group.
Common Signs of Speech Disorders
The term “speech disorder” covers everything from stuttering to dysarthria (a neurological condition that compromises oral-motor muscles). While it’s impossible to cover every speech and language issue in one article, here are a few of the common signs to watch out for.
Articulation Disorders
Children with articulation disorders have trouble producing sounds. Some sounds may be omitted entirely, while others may be pronounced incorrectly. For example, you may notice that your toddler says “gog” instead of “dog.” Your child may also add extra sounds onto words, or he might simply be very difficult to understand.
Figure 2 Image source: healthkicker.com
Phonological Disorders
A child with a phonological disorder makes certain patterns of speech errors. He is able to correctly pronounce sounds, but fails to apply the proper rules of language. If your child has a phonological disorder, you will likely notice that he makes the same speech errors consistently. He probably also simplifies words by leaving off sounds. You might notice that your child can correctly pronounce the “b” in “blue,” for example, but he avoids saying the “b” in “tub.”
Expressive/Receptive Language Disorders
An expressive language disorder means that your child has problems selecting and using words to express himself. A receptive language disorder means that your child has difficulty understanding spoken or written language. A child could also have a mixed expressive/receptive language disorder. Some of the common signs of the former include slow acquisition of words, delays in babbling, and problems with the rules of language. Children with a receptive language disorder may appear to be ignoring a person who speaks to them, may have trouble following directions, and may frequently repeat words and phrases. This repetition of spoken language is called echolalia; it can also be a sign of other speech and language problems.
These are just a few of the speech and language issues that speech therapists commonly treat. Check out the American Speech-Language-HearingAssociation’s website for a more comprehensive resource on speech and language in children.
Speech and Language Milestones
I’d like to stress again that every child develops differently. Use these speech and language milestones as a general guide to the development of your child.
Figure 3 Image source: mothersspace.in
Birth to 1-Year
By the time a child is three months old, he typically begins to react to noises and make cooing noises.
By the time a child is six months old, he typically begins to babble with various sounds, including “m,” “b,” and “p.” He also giggles, attentively listens to music, and looks in the direction of sounds.
By the time a child is one year old, he typically recognizes common words (like “juice”) and can respond to them. He also babbles with groups of sounds, like “bibibibi.” He may articulate one or two simple words, like “mama.”
One to Two Years
By the time a child is about one year old, he typically will point to pictures in a book or to a specific body part upon request.
He will often begin to follow simple directions.
By the time he is two years old, he will typically speak about 50 words. He can typically link two words together, like “What’s that?”
His articulation may still be unclear much of the time, but parents will typically understand some of the words.
Three to Four Years
By the time a child is three years old, he may speak 250 to 500 words. He will also typically link three to four words together in a simple sentence.
By age four, a child will typically speak in complete sentences, speak clearly enough for non-family members to understand, and answer simple questions.
If you’re concerned at all about your child’s speech and language development, it’s always best to consult a speech therapist. She can assess your child’s development to determine if there is indeed an issue. She can also advise you as to whether waiting or initiating speech therapy would be effective for your child’s individual needs.
If you enjoyed this post, you will love my book! It was released in July, 2012 and was co-written by me and Susan Case, a Kindergarten Teacher. In this unique book, we will help you save your sanity! If you have ever tried to cook dinner while your kid clings to your leg and cries, this is the book for you! We worked together to give a Mom's point of view and a teacher's point of view, so that we could give you activities that not only keep the kids busy, but also keep them motivated to learn and develop their natural curiosity. Kids behave better when they are given challenging projects to work on, which will in turn give you more free time to do the things you really need to do, like washing dishes, paying bills, and relaxing so that you can be a better Mom!
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