Fall is coming, and there are so many exciting things for us to do with our little kids.
Here's a link of Fall themed activities that you can do with your children (including books, songs, and crafts):
http://amy-fun4kids.blogspot.com/search/label/Fall
There are 4 different themes involving "Fall":
Scarecrows
Apples
Fall Leaves
Pumpkins
On this site, there's another section specifically for Halloween:
http://amy-fun4kids.blogspot.com/search/label/Halloween
The Halloween specific themes are:
More Halloween
Monsters
Witches
Ghosts
Spiders
Skeletons
Hope this gives you some good ideas for activities with your little kiddos.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
6 Friends Every Mom Needs
I just came across this article:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/09/18/p.six.friends.moms.need/index.html
And I loved it.
Here's an excerpt, that pretty much says it all:
No matter how old our kids are, we moms need our confidantes. These six are lifesavers -- but before you freak out, thinking, "I don't even have six friends," don't worry: One woman might fill several roles, making you one lucky gal.
The mom in the same boat
Why you need her: She gets it.
How to keep her: Whether the two of you are stay-at-home moms, working moms, or single moms, try to get some one-on-one time without the kids -- and make it fun, says Amy Kovarick, coauthor of "Baby on Board: Becoming a Mother Without Losing Yourself" and a mom of four.
Yes, you're busy with work, the kids, errands, the house, and other craziness, but the more time away from Chuck E. Cheese, the better. Make a date: You both deserve it -- and probably for the exact same reasons!
The no-kids pal
Why you need her: For adult conversation -- and so you can act like you're still cool.
"Mother is my favorite role, but not my only one," says Mary Moore of Austin, Texas, a stay-at-home mom and an author. "It's so hard to get together with other moms because someone's kid always has to nap or go to school or has some other commitment, and we can never easily agree on a time or place to meet," she says. "With my friends who don't have kids yet, that's not an issue."
How to keep her: Put aside all the mommy stuff for an hour or two. Take time to find out what's new with her, and be honest with yourself about her reaction to your kid talk. She may eat up your cute stories -- or she may not be so fascinated by the embarrassing thing your 4-year-old said.
The been-there, done-that mom
Why you need her: She gets you through your "I don't know what I'm supposed to do next" moments.
For Jen Matlack of Bethel, Connecticut, mom of 3-year-old Mae, this friend is Janet, whose kids are 22 and 20.
"If I have any concerns -- Mae not napping, Mae constipated, Mae not having playdates, or maybe my own parenting worries -- I always check in with Janet. She has offered me a lot of reassuring guidance," says Matlack. "And even though she's my older, wiser parenting friend, she's also a kid at heart, just like me, so when I'm around her, I get the best of both worlds: wisdom but also a wild side."
How to keep her: The good news is that she probably loves giving advice as much as you love getting it.
"Motherhood can seem like a thankless job, so it's great to be recognized and be able to share what you've learned," says Kovarick.
If you've asked for help, try to remember to call and tell her how well her ideas worked out. And even though you may not know yet what it's like to be in her shoes, you can still be a sounding board for her older-kid problems.
The I'll-do-anything-for-you buddy
Why you need her: She'll help you with your garage sale, drive the kids to soccer, and bring over lasagna when you're dealing with a crisis.
How to keep her: Friendships don't come with vows, like marriages do, says Marla Paul, author of "The Friendship Crisis." It helps to remind your friends that you care.
"So many friendships fall apart because one friend feels neglected," says Paul.
So return the favor. Maybe you don't have the time to drop everything, as she always seems to, but make an effort. When she's going through a tough time (or even having a tough week), instead of cooking the family a homemade meal, as she might, drop off a pizza or a gift certificate for her favorite Chinese takeout.
The slightly glam girlfriend
Why you need her: For inspiration (it is possible to be a fashionable mom), advice (how does she get out the door looking so great?), and a wardrobe you can borrow.
How to keep her: You admire your friend's got-it-togetherness, so tell her, says Kovarick. She surely works hard at it and will appreciate the compliment. Watch out for your own jealousy or embarrassment, though.
Most of us feel that way sometimes, but if she's a real friend, she's not trying to make you feel bad about your relative lack of style or organization. She likes you for you -- though if you're still wearing mom jeans, maybe she can help you trade up.
The brutally honest pal
Why you need her: We all need to hear the truth sometimes. It can sting, true, even if you asked for your friend's opinion. But if she cares enough to tell you not just what you want to hear, then she's a keeper.
For many women, sisters play this role; for others, it's a longtime friend, or a particularly outspoken newer one. The trick is distinguishing between someone who's just bossy and someone who actually puts thought about you into her opinions. You'll know the difference (one clue: If she only ever criticizes your choices, she's not helping).
How to keep her: It may take a day or two for you to digest what she's told you, but once you have done so, call your friend and thank her for being honest -- even if you don't agree, says Kovarick.
---
They really hit all the marks with the different types of support we moms need.
I really enjoyed profiling my friends to see which supporting role(s) they fit into. Interesting how a really good friend can easily fulfill several needs.
This article also made me wonder what kind of friend I was.
Good food for thought.
Hope this helps.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/09/18/p.six.friends.moms.need/index.html
And I loved it.
Here's an excerpt, that pretty much says it all:
No matter how old our kids are, we moms need our confidantes. These six are lifesavers -- but before you freak out, thinking, "I don't even have six friends," don't worry: One woman might fill several roles, making you one lucky gal.
The mom in the same boat
Why you need her: She gets it.
How to keep her: Whether the two of you are stay-at-home moms, working moms, or single moms, try to get some one-on-one time without the kids -- and make it fun, says Amy Kovarick, coauthor of "Baby on Board: Becoming a Mother Without Losing Yourself" and a mom of four.
Yes, you're busy with work, the kids, errands, the house, and other craziness, but the more time away from Chuck E. Cheese, the better. Make a date: You both deserve it -- and probably for the exact same reasons!
The no-kids pal
Why you need her: For adult conversation -- and so you can act like you're still cool.
"Mother is my favorite role, but not my only one," says Mary Moore of Austin, Texas, a stay-at-home mom and an author. "It's so hard to get together with other moms because someone's kid always has to nap or go to school or has some other commitment, and we can never easily agree on a time or place to meet," she says. "With my friends who don't have kids yet, that's not an issue."
How to keep her: Put aside all the mommy stuff for an hour or two. Take time to find out what's new with her, and be honest with yourself about her reaction to your kid talk. She may eat up your cute stories -- or she may not be so fascinated by the embarrassing thing your 4-year-old said.
The been-there, done-that mom
Why you need her: She gets you through your "I don't know what I'm supposed to do next" moments.
For Jen Matlack of Bethel, Connecticut, mom of 3-year-old Mae, this friend is Janet, whose kids are 22 and 20.
"If I have any concerns -- Mae not napping, Mae constipated, Mae not having playdates, or maybe my own parenting worries -- I always check in with Janet. She has offered me a lot of reassuring guidance," says Matlack. "And even though she's my older, wiser parenting friend, she's also a kid at heart, just like me, so when I'm around her, I get the best of both worlds: wisdom but also a wild side."
How to keep her: The good news is that she probably loves giving advice as much as you love getting it.
"Motherhood can seem like a thankless job, so it's great to be recognized and be able to share what you've learned," says Kovarick.
If you've asked for help, try to remember to call and tell her how well her ideas worked out. And even though you may not know yet what it's like to be in her shoes, you can still be a sounding board for her older-kid problems.
The I'll-do-anything-for-you buddy
Why you need her: She'll help you with your garage sale, drive the kids to soccer, and bring over lasagna when you're dealing with a crisis.
How to keep her: Friendships don't come with vows, like marriages do, says Marla Paul, author of "The Friendship Crisis." It helps to remind your friends that you care.
"So many friendships fall apart because one friend feels neglected," says Paul.
So return the favor. Maybe you don't have the time to drop everything, as she always seems to, but make an effort. When she's going through a tough time (or even having a tough week), instead of cooking the family a homemade meal, as she might, drop off a pizza or a gift certificate for her favorite Chinese takeout.
The slightly glam girlfriend
Why you need her: For inspiration (it is possible to be a fashionable mom), advice (how does she get out the door looking so great?), and a wardrobe you can borrow.
How to keep her: You admire your friend's got-it-togetherness, so tell her, says Kovarick. She surely works hard at it and will appreciate the compliment. Watch out for your own jealousy or embarrassment, though.
Most of us feel that way sometimes, but if she's a real friend, she's not trying to make you feel bad about your relative lack of style or organization. She likes you for you -- though if you're still wearing mom jeans, maybe she can help you trade up.
The brutally honest pal
Why you need her: We all need to hear the truth sometimes. It can sting, true, even if you asked for your friend's opinion. But if she cares enough to tell you not just what you want to hear, then she's a keeper.
For many women, sisters play this role; for others, it's a longtime friend, or a particularly outspoken newer one. The trick is distinguishing between someone who's just bossy and someone who actually puts thought about you into her opinions. You'll know the difference (one clue: If she only ever criticizes your choices, she's not helping).
How to keep her: It may take a day or two for you to digest what she's told you, but once you have done so, call your friend and thank her for being honest -- even if you don't agree, says Kovarick.
---
They really hit all the marks with the different types of support we moms need.
I really enjoyed profiling my friends to see which supporting role(s) they fit into. Interesting how a really good friend can easily fulfill several needs.
This article also made me wonder what kind of friend I was.
Good food for thought.
Hope this helps.
Friday, May 15, 2009
The Power of Positive Parenting
When my husband and I were just getting started with the whole parenting thing, a good friend of ours recommended this book:
The Power of Positive Parenting
by Dr. Glenn I. Latham
There weren't any copies in our library, so she let me borrow her book for a day (she couldn't spare it any longer) so I could browse through to see if I liked it.
I loved it.
I immediately bought a copy from Amazon.
"This book is written for parents who care enough to learn the skills necessary to raise children well in these difficult times.
It is more a manual than it is a book; hence, it must be read, then reread, then read some more. Wide margins have been provided for note taking. Use it as a tool with which to build your family."
I really love the principles and easily applicable techniques provided in this book.
It truly is a "wonderful way to raise children".
The essence of this book is found in the following statement of Dr. Sidney W. Bijou:
Research has shown that the most effective way to reduce problem behavior in children is to strengthen desirable behavior through positive reinforcement rather than trying to weaken undesirable behavior using aversive or negative processes.
-The International Encyclopedia of Education, 1988
I really love this book.
It addresses pretty much everything.
There are sections on all types of behavior from toddlers up through teenagers. Sections on Fussy Babies, Hate & Anger, Lying & Stealing, Thumb Sucking, Toilet Training, Sibling Rivalry, Helping Children Achieve in School, Substance Abuse, even a section entitled "When All Else Fails".
Within the chapters, he gives realistic scenarios with actual conversations played out with examples of what to do/say and what not to do/say.
I love this book.
I need to refer to this and reread this book so much more often than I do.
But I'm glad I'm posting about it today, so I can renew my study skills so I can be a better, positive parent.
I hope you take the time to check out this amazing resource out there for parents. Trust me, it will be worth it.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Fun For Kids
A friend of mine created a "Fun 4 Kids" blog last October:
http://amy-fun4kids.blogspot.com/
She's so clever. She's a former Early Childhood Educator and now stay-at-home mom.
She started this blog to share activity ideas with other young moms.
Here's an excerpt from her blog re her purpose in creating the blog:
"Interactive Literature Activities are my favorite preschool activities because it helps children learn to love books.
What this means is to choose a book and plan an activity that relates to the book, to extend their learning. Normally I will post a specific book and an activity to go with it.
During holiday times there will be lots of book ideas and activities to choose from. Most often the activities will be art projects, but not always.
Remember that with any early childhood activity, the emphasis should be about the process of doing the activity and not about the outcomes.
As hard as it might be, try to resist fixing and doing things for them and let them create on their own. The photos are just visual examples and not meant to be "cookie cutter" copies."
I've thoroughly enjoyed using her blogsite as a resource for enhancing my kids' understanding and enjoyment about the topics we read about.
It's helped me be a better, more creative & fun mom.
She's taking a "summer vacation" of sorts and hopefully will be posting again in the Fall.
But now that I've got a good handle on how to do the whole kid-activities-to-coincide-with-theme-of-books thing, I can create my own summertime reading inspired activities.
Her book themes start around Halloween and follow through to Eastertime.
That's about right for the inclimate weather months and our need to have lots of indoor activities available for our kiddos.
If I can, when I find good summertime book themes & craft ideas to coordinate, I'll share them with you.
Here.
On this site.
Well, at least until Amy gets up and running again.
Hope this helps you have more fun with your little kiddos.
http://amy-fun4kids.blogspot.com/
She's so clever. She's a former Early Childhood Educator and now stay-at-home mom.
She started this blog to share activity ideas with other young moms.
Here's an excerpt from her blog re her purpose in creating the blog:
"Interactive Literature Activities are my favorite preschool activities because it helps children learn to love books.
What this means is to choose a book and plan an activity that relates to the book, to extend their learning. Normally I will post a specific book and an activity to go with it.
During holiday times there will be lots of book ideas and activities to choose from. Most often the activities will be art projects, but not always.
Remember that with any early childhood activity, the emphasis should be about the process of doing the activity and not about the outcomes.
As hard as it might be, try to resist fixing and doing things for them and let them create on their own. The photos are just visual examples and not meant to be "cookie cutter" copies."
I've thoroughly enjoyed using her blogsite as a resource for enhancing my kids' understanding and enjoyment about the topics we read about.
It's helped me be a better, more creative & fun mom.
She's taking a "summer vacation" of sorts and hopefully will be posting again in the Fall.
But now that I've got a good handle on how to do the whole kid-activities-to-coincide-with-theme-of-books thing, I can create my own summertime reading inspired activities.
Her book themes start around Halloween and follow through to Eastertime.
That's about right for the inclimate weather months and our need to have lots of indoor activities available for our kiddos.
If I can, when I find good summertime book themes & craft ideas to coordinate, I'll share them with you.
Here.
On this site.
Well, at least until Amy gets up and running again.
Hope this helps you have more fun with your little kiddos.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Clean House
I love living in a clean house.
But I don't love cleaning.
It's not natural for me.
What I mean is, I think I have tendencies towards messiness. And I have to be reminded to clean rather than be self-motivated to stay on top of it all.
I need external reminders.
And I'd rather the reminders not be piles of dirty laundry & dishes, seriously icky toilets, or toys scattered everywhere!
And that's the noticable stuff. What about dusting and closets that need organizing, etc?
So I've gone searching for help.
There's got to be some kind of system that will help me keep my house clean.
I've found a couple sites and articles that just might fit the bill.
First off, there's this wonderful article that discusses excerpts from the conference talk, "Mothers Who Know":
“Mothers who know are nurturers. This is their special assignment and role under the plan of happiness. To nurture means to cultivate, care for, and make grow. Therefore, mothers who know create a climate for spiritual and temporal growth in their homes. Another word for nurturing is homemaking. Homemaking includes cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and keeping an orderly home.”
So yes, we should all keep an orderly home. And there are some very good suggestions in that post:
http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2007/10/mothers-who-know-homemaking/
My favorite tip is in the comments. The 15 minute blocks of cleaning, timed with a kitchen timer. I agree, we can do almost anything for 15 minutes. Even the dishes. And it amazes me how daunting dirty dishes can be, but then they're all cleaned within 15-20 minutes.
It's especially fun if I'm listening to some seriously upbeat music.
Maybe I just need more practice to better gauge how long certain chores actually take.
And speaking of length of chores. I'm all about minimizing them, and even preventing huge messes by developing better habits.
Here are two articles that had excellent tips:
• 7 Good tips that are easy to incorporate into daily activities : http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/706951/speed_cleaning_for_the_busy_homemaker.html?cat=6
• 10 Easy Household Tips:
http://tipnut.com/10-easy-household-time-savers/
Lastly, there's this book that I've found called, "Sidetracked Home Executives from Pigpen to Paradise".
This book was written in 1977 by two sisters, Pam Young and Peggy Jones. It describes a system Pam and Peggy came up with using 3 X 5 colored index cards to gain control over their housework. Over the years, Pam and Peggy's system has evolved to include routines and a planner. FlyLady uses their system to guide you through your path of peace.
Oh right, FlyLady.
This is a site that actually emails you the daily chores so you keep on top of it all.
http://flylady.net/index.asp
Sounds good to me.
Well, let me know what you think and if any of the sites/suggestions work for you. Oh, and if you have any methods that help you keep it clean, please share with us all!
Thanks.
But I don't love cleaning.
It's not natural for me.
What I mean is, I think I have tendencies towards messiness. And I have to be reminded to clean rather than be self-motivated to stay on top of it all.
I need external reminders.
And I'd rather the reminders not be piles of dirty laundry & dishes, seriously icky toilets, or toys scattered everywhere!
And that's the noticable stuff. What about dusting and closets that need organizing, etc?
So I've gone searching for help.
There's got to be some kind of system that will help me keep my house clean.
I've found a couple sites and articles that just might fit the bill.
First off, there's this wonderful article that discusses excerpts from the conference talk, "Mothers Who Know":
“Mothers who know are nurturers. This is their special assignment and role under the plan of happiness. To nurture means to cultivate, care for, and make grow. Therefore, mothers who know create a climate for spiritual and temporal growth in their homes. Another word for nurturing is homemaking. Homemaking includes cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and keeping an orderly home.”
So yes, we should all keep an orderly home. And there are some very good suggestions in that post:
http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2007/10/mothers-who-know-homemaking/
My favorite tip is in the comments. The 15 minute blocks of cleaning, timed with a kitchen timer. I agree, we can do almost anything for 15 minutes. Even the dishes. And it amazes me how daunting dirty dishes can be, but then they're all cleaned within 15-20 minutes.
It's especially fun if I'm listening to some seriously upbeat music.
Maybe I just need more practice to better gauge how long certain chores actually take.
And speaking of length of chores. I'm all about minimizing them, and even preventing huge messes by developing better habits.
Here are two articles that had excellent tips:
• 7 Good tips that are easy to incorporate into daily activities : http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/706951/speed_cleaning_for_the_busy_homemaker.html?cat=6
• 10 Easy Household Tips:
http://tipnut.com/10-easy-household-time-savers/
Lastly, there's this book that I've found called, "Sidetracked Home Executives from Pigpen to Paradise".
This book was written in 1977 by two sisters, Pam Young and Peggy Jones. It describes a system Pam and Peggy came up with using 3 X 5 colored index cards to gain control over their housework. Over the years, Pam and Peggy's system has evolved to include routines and a planner. FlyLady uses their system to guide you through your path of peace.
Oh right, FlyLady.
This is a site that actually emails you the daily chores so you keep on top of it all.
http://flylady.net/index.asp
Sounds good to me.
Well, let me know what you think and if any of the sites/suggestions work for you. Oh, and if you have any methods that help you keep it clean, please share with us all!
Thanks.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Dinner Done EZ
A few years ago, I created a database with all my dinner recipes, including their ingredient list and recommended sides, etc.
Then every week I'd select 7 dinners for the upcoming week, transfer those 7 to a Dinner Menu sheet to go on the fridge, and transfer all the ingredients to my Grocery List that was separated into sections (produce, deli, etc).
It worked for a while.
But then as my toddlers got busier and I came down with mono, I simply did not have the energy or time to go through the whole selection process, etc.
I think we ended up eating a lot of fish sticks, chicken nuggets, and frozen pizza.
That's when my husband, Matt, came across this website:
http://www.e-mealz.com/
And I've got to say, I love it.
Essentially you subscribe to a weekly meal plan that does everything I used to do.
e-Mealz provides seven dinners (with ingredient lists and recipes) and the grocery shopping list on a weekly basis.
You can select specific stores like ALDI's, Walmart, Kroger, etc. Those store-specific plans will actually give you approximate costs of items. You can also choose the "Any Store" option if your favorite store is not listed.
They also have Specialty Meal Plans (low-fat, low-carb, points-system, or even vegetarian). The Meal Plans are also available for couples in regular, low-fat, or points system.
So a subscription costs approximately $1** per week. And I'd say my time and energy are worth a lot more than that, so I happily pay.
**Note- You get a discount if you type in the code: Dave
I believe Dave Ramsey talked about this site on his show.
At any rate, I've been a subscriber since the first week in February and making dinners has never been simpler.
Some of the recipes are truly fabulous and are being added to my permanent recipe file.
And I love how the shopping list is organized. Some of the ingredients are considered "staples" but there's a section down at the bottom that lists the staples if you're running low or out of a particular item. Makes it so easy to circle and ensure you don't forget anything.
Oh, and they also have more lines in each grocery section (frozen, canned, produce, etc) for you to add items for breakfasts, lunches, snacks, etc.
I just love this site and am so happy to lighten my load a bit.
I hope this helps lighten yours too.
Then every week I'd select 7 dinners for the upcoming week, transfer those 7 to a Dinner Menu sheet to go on the fridge, and transfer all the ingredients to my Grocery List that was separated into sections (produce, deli, etc).
It worked for a while.
But then as my toddlers got busier and I came down with mono, I simply did not have the energy or time to go through the whole selection process, etc.
I think we ended up eating a lot of fish sticks, chicken nuggets, and frozen pizza.
That's when my husband, Matt, came across this website:
http://www.e-mealz.com/
And I've got to say, I love it.
Essentially you subscribe to a weekly meal plan that does everything I used to do.
e-Mealz provides seven dinners (with ingredient lists and recipes) and the grocery shopping list on a weekly basis.
You can select specific stores like ALDI's, Walmart, Kroger, etc. Those store-specific plans will actually give you approximate costs of items. You can also choose the "Any Store" option if your favorite store is not listed.
They also have Specialty Meal Plans (low-fat, low-carb, points-system, or even vegetarian). The Meal Plans are also available for couples in regular, low-fat, or points system.
So a subscription costs approximately $1** per week. And I'd say my time and energy are worth a lot more than that, so I happily pay.
**Note- You get a discount if you type in the code: Dave
I believe Dave Ramsey talked about this site on his show.
At any rate, I've been a subscriber since the first week in February and making dinners has never been simpler.
Some of the recipes are truly fabulous and are being added to my permanent recipe file.
And I love how the shopping list is organized. Some of the ingredients are considered "staples" but there's a section down at the bottom that lists the staples if you're running low or out of a particular item. Makes it so easy to circle and ensure you don't forget anything.
Oh, and they also have more lines in each grocery section (frozen, canned, produce, etc) for you to add items for breakfasts, lunches, snacks, etc.
I just love this site and am so happy to lighten my load a bit.
I hope this helps lighten yours too.
Why Today?
Today I felt a burning desire to start this blog.
I wanted a place, separate from personal family blogging, where I could share my joy and pride of homemaking.
I'm still young enough to know that I don't know everything.
But I have young children that challenge me to try and streamline my duties. And I love finding ways and means to simplify it all.
So I've decided to share what I've learned with you.
Take from it what you will.
Though I hope we can all share advice and stories that motivate us to be the best homemakers we can be.
For I certainly do not want to labor in vain and to have "spent my strength for naught".
I wanted a place, separate from personal family blogging, where I could share my joy and pride of homemaking.
I'm still young enough to know that I don't know everything.
But I have young children that challenge me to try and streamline my duties. And I love finding ways and means to simplify it all.
So I've decided to share what I've learned with you.
Take from it what you will.
Though I hope we can all share advice and stories that motivate us to be the best homemakers we can be.
For I certainly do not want to labor in vain and to have "spent my strength for naught".
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