Penny-Wrapping Game!

You know what you have a lot of?  Pennies.  They're everywhere and they bulk up your purse and wallet...and they don't amount to much spending power.  Know what you could do with those pennies? Play a game!

Here's what you need:
Tin Foil
Pennies/coins

Here's what you do:

Cut/rip tinfoil into medium-sized squares.  With your kids, wrap the coins like gifts (you'd be amazed how much they like this)

Once a good number are wrapped...UNWRAP!  Yep, start opening them like gifts.  But here's the catch, upon opening each one, have the child (or you, if it's your turn...you totally have to play too, Mom/Dad/Grandma) identify if the coin is shiny or dull, and put it in the appropriate Shiny/Dull pile.

Fun game of sorting and fine motor skills!  Enjoy and Happy Parenting! :)

Confessions of a Working Mom: Mommy Resolutions

Ring in the New Year!  One of my favorite traditions is setting New Year's Resolutions.  Something about a new year, a clean slate...I find it all invigorating.  And I mean well....I really do.  But here's the skinny: I don't keep many of them.

That's all gunna change this year---who's with me?  Mommies out there, listen up: GET REAL.  Let's set some realistic Mommy resolutions we all can feel good about, ok?  Here's my plan and I hope you'll jump on board:

Start with narrowing down 3 areas you would like to improve or achieve.  A few suggestions are:

A Skill
A Trait
A Habit
A Routine
A Hobby
A Trip

Or

Home
Personal
Family
Professional
Religious
Physical
Mental
Social
Service

Try to stick to 3.  There are worthwhile things in each category that will undoubtedly make your life better.  But if you stick to 3, you won't get overwhelmed.  After you've chosen your 3, narrow it down to a specific, measurable, attainable goal.

Factor in how much time, money and energy you will have available throughout the year to invest in the goal you are considering, and one at a time, determine which is best for you.

Example: I would like to develop a new hobby this year.  Some areas I'm interested in are:

Archery
Dance Classes
Piano
Sculpting

(There's a great website: http://discoverahobby.com/ to help you find a hobby you might be interested in)

As a working Mom, I have minimal time to invest.  That eliminates Dance Classes; it is unlikely I will be able to schedule one more thing in the evenings at this particular point in my life that would take me away from my young kids.

I don't want the hobby to cost much money, so I probably won't be able to buy a piano, expensive keyboard, or a lot of fancy Archery equipment.  However, I could be thrifty and get second-hand things. 

I want to start right away, and in my local area there are no indoor Archery centers, so as far as a "start right away" resolution, Archery is out.

So I'm down to learning the Piano and Sculpting.  I really want to learn the Piano, but the truth is, it's a lot of work.  And I prefer my hobbies to be somewhat "mindless" and enjoyable...I know this about myself.  So, sculpting it is!

Go through this process carefully with each one.  Once you've identified the goals, set a PLAN.  How will you achieve this?  What are some possible barriers?

Example: I researched sculpting materials, identified a beginners project I could try for little money, and will try it out! I don't want it to interfere with my parenting, so I am going to get some little wooden shapes my kids can paint, put stickers on, color on, etc, while I'm learning to sculpt; we'll all do crafting together.

In the end, New Year's Resolutions should be fun, invigorating and improve your quality of life.  They SHOULD NOT be guilt trips or add-ons to your already overwhelming "to-do" list.  The New Year is a chance to refine and further yourself.

Put a solid plan in place and go for it!  And welcome to a New Year of a New You!

Help us Speak Your Language with 6 Quick Questions....

Hello Blog-o-sphere!  We at Family Support Center want to get to know you better...and who wouldn't?  You're incredible.  So can you do us a tiny favor?  Take this quick 6 question survey to help us better understand your wonderful self.

Oftentimes it's doing small things like this that make a tremendous impact on organizations like us :)

Thanks!!

Love,
Family Support Center

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Confessions of a Working Mom: 3-minute Festivity

I've never been the most crafty woman in the world...or...ok, at all.  Does giving your kid a dollar store coloring book and markers count as crafty?  Cause that's about the level I'm on. .

That said...I still want my kids to have some fun festivities.  But, if you'll remember our mantra...Keep It Simple, Sweetheart!  Kids don't really care if it's elaborately designed, or thrown together in 3 1/2 minutes.  So why do you??

Parents, I give you....the jack-o-lantern patty.  Turkey burger patty, cooked in the microwave in 3 minutes.  Cheese slices cut into shapes put on top and melted in 30 seconds from the heat of the patty.  And an 89 cent ghost cup to top off this spooky dinner.

You'll be surprised at how thrilled little things like this make your kids!  And you won't feel to shabby either :)

Happy Halloween!

Bath Time Blues...Kiss 'Em Goodbye!

Bath time can be a migraine for any parent...but here's a little trick that helps!  Like anything, it gets old if you do it every single bath.  But if you save it for nights you are particularly short on patience...it's a lifesaver!

A squirt of shaving cream, a drop of food coloring, mix and serve with paintbrushes!  Your kids will have a blast painting the walls and sides of the tub.  It washes off easily and is a fun way to keep them entertained and eager to get in the tub :)

Happy Parenting!

Confessions of a Working Mom:  How a Simple Kitchen Timer Decreased my "Bad Mom" Moments.

Hello parents!  Long time, no see.  Sorry for my absence...ahhh the life of a working mom.  But I'm back, and with some good news...there is tremendous power in a kitchen timer! You might initially think "Yes, we've all heard of using timers for time out or for defining how long each siblings "turn" with a certain toy is....not exactly ground-breaking."  BUT YOU WOULD BE WRONG!  This timer, dear Mom, is for YOU.
Cut to Scenario One:

I just got home from work and am trying to get dinner on the table.  Enter 4 year-old daughter. "Mom, can you play a game with me?"  Answer: "Not now, sweetie.  Mommy has to get dinner ready."  Jump ahead two hours, getting ready for bed and doing some last-minute cleaning.  Enter 4 year-old daughter "Mom, can we do an art project?"  Answer: "Not now, honey.  I need to clean up the house and then it's bed time."  After the kids are tucked in, I think about my sweet daughter's desire for me to spend time with her, and how I was just too busy to do it.  And my heart sinks a little as I realize I will never get that moment back.

Now I have two choices: I can sit there and feel like a worthless parent, beat myself up, spend some extra time with my daughter tomorrow but by the end of the week a scenario identical to this will inevitably happen again, OR....I can build in a system to avoid it.

I found the most incredibly simple idea in Disney's Family Fun magazine article this month ( http://familyfun.go.com/magazine/) from a Mom facing a similar situation.  I tried it out last night and it was amazing!

Here's what you do:
When your child asks you to do something with or for him/her while you're in the middle of something, set the timer for 5 minutes, and tell them "When the timer beeps, we can ____(enter activity at hand)."  

This does three things: 
1. Gives you some time to wrap up your project, or at least get to a stopping point.  (You'll be amazed how much you can get done in those 5 minutes when you know the timer is going).

2. Teaches your children to respect your time, and understand that everything cannot be dropped the second they want your attention, while still validating that they are important to you, and that you will meet their needs.

3. Minimizes "bad Mom" moments where spending time with your child gets pushed to the side, and eventually forgotten. 

Cut to Scenario Two (last night):

Kids are in the tub and I'm loading the dishwasher and trying to clean up my kitchen.  Right as I'm in the thick of things, I hear "MOOOMMMMM!!! We're ready to wash up!" from down the hall.  I groan internally, but resist the urge to say "Just wait til I'm done with dishes."  Instead, I bring the timer back to the bathroom, set it for 5 minutes and say "This will beep in 5 minutes, and then I'll come wash you up."  For some unknown reason, kids are always delighted at the idea of a timer....must be the suspense of this beep that will be coming.  Anyhoo, they agreed.

I got back to the kitchen and loaded as many dishes as I could in 5 minutes.  When the timer beeped, I was ready to transition from one task to the next without feeling frustrated or interrupted.  One of the smoothest bedtimes we've had in a while! 

SO.  If you don't have  a timer...get one.  They're at the dollar store.  It's worth the dollar, I promise.  And remember, Keep It Simple, Sweetheart!

Love,
Another Mom Trying to Keep It Together....Just Like You :)

Summer Snow

Let kids decorate homemade snow with syringes (you can get these free at pretty much any in-store pharmacy...just walk up and ask for them) and colored water.  It's a hit every time!

To make the snow, just put ice and water in your blender.  It takes a surprising amount of water to get the thick white slush...almost 50/50.  Then fill short cups with water and food coloring...they'll do the rest!  Be aware...they'll probably ask you to make them more than one bowl of snow :)  The project can last longer if you crush more ice and fill a cake pan instead of just one small bowl.  That also gives them more width to spread the colors over.

Enjoy and stay cool!

Love,
Family Support Center