"Mom It Is Only Fiction"

I am traditionally tough on what my daughter watches on tv.  No Hannah Montana or any shows that highlight the lives of teens.  She is almost 8 and I believe that she doesn't really need to know about the issues and worries of teens until she is closer to that age.  Occasionally, she pushes back because "all her friends get to watch such and such show" but she usually accepts it.  Today she was watching a G-rated Christmas movie on-demand and at one point one of the characters called another a "pea  brain".  I indicated that I was not to happy with the tone in the movie and my daughter says to me..."come on Mom it is just fiction"!  Maybe she is old enough to watch it after all....

Annual Christmas Tree Search

I love to get our Christmas tree each year because it is very clear that it is one of the events my daughter loves more than anything.  Am I particularly interested in a tractor drawn hay ride, walking through hundreds of rows of trees in the freezing cold and mud, strapping the tree on top of the car and watching it the whole way home to make sure it doesn't fall off, and finally moving all the furniture in my house to fit the tree into the right corner so the needles can fall off throughout the Christmas season?  Not really but I realize incredible joy every year because my 7 year old thinks it is the best thing ever....and I get to take pictures like the one in this post.  Yes indeed... I love the annual Christmas tree search with all my heart!

Get Those Little Ones Moving...

Physical activity at a very early age is important in helping your kids develop the movement skills needed for body awareness and confidence.  Click on the title to read a great article on what to expect with your 1 - 2 year olds.  Click on link below to consider some educational toys for your toddlers.

http://www.mykidsactive.com/home_page.html

Some Great Adoption Tips

Being open with your child about adoption from a very early age is the key to a healthy, confident child.  Click on the title to read some helpful tips on the conversation.

7 Year Old Quote of the Day

My daughter's class had a lesson on helping others in the community.  One of the discussions centered around a story about a group of elementary school kids that started a lemonade stand to raise money for a friend that was sick.  I asked my daughter what she might do to raise money for a good cause....her response, " Mom, I'd start a breast cancer walk for the money".

I knew that some day there would be a valuable lesson for my daughter if I took all those hours of training (away from my time with her) to walk in the Susan Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk.

What are you talking about....?

On occasion (and I am sure I am not alone in this) I can not understand what my daughter is saying let alone what she means.  If you are like me I keep asking questions and ultimately she gets a little irritated that I can't figure out what the heck she is trying to tell me.  Today we were playing this game that we often do on the way home from school....she tells me three things that happened in her day but one of them is not true.  I have to figure out which one she made up.  Then I do the same and I have found it is a really great way to find out about her day.  If I just ask her what she did today I would hear "nothing" about 80% of the time.  On a good day she will forget she doesn't want to tell me anything and starts talking about her day - but God knows if I ask her a question the discussion is over.  At that point I just let it go knowing that if we do not get food and drink soon, the mood will escalate to a level in which I am assured that homework will not get done.  Anyway.....today's game really stumped me.  My daughter goes first with her day..1) I got a yellow card today because I was talking too much,  2) we went to the library today, and 3) we had richman.  I would have guessed the first one - getting in trouble for talking too much but I had no idea what richman was.  I asked and she just kept saying richman.  Needless to say the game ended badly cuz I couldn't understand the "richman" thing.  When I went to bed that night I laid there trying to think what "richman" might be.....as I dozed off to sleep it hit me.  My daughter had ENRICHMENT class today!

"Mom I Want to Run Away but I Just Can't Because.....

Not all kids run or try to run away...my daughter is one of the "triers".  She has threatened me twice - on one occasion she has walked out of the house and started up the sidewalk to parts unknown and another time she just made it to the porch.  Both times had something to do with the fact that I would not let her watch T.V. because it was bedtime and we needed to start our nightly ritual - jammies, teeth, face, book, prayers, good night.  I am sure (but I can't remember now) that I had somehow altered the ritual slightly or pushed the envelope a little too far with a very tired seven year old...but either way there was no turning back...the "run away" had begun.   The first time it happened I was a little nervous and had no idea what to say or do.  In the middle of the "running" (which is actually no more than a very slow walk), I called my Mom and both my sisters for assistance (as she stood outside the house in the rain with no shoes on, pjs on, threatening me).  Each had a little different twist on the same methodology but the short of it is that you need to act un-phased and help her come to the conclusion that she really doesn't want to leave..in the dark...in the rain...without shoes on....and nowhere to go.  She eventually relingushed her power and came inside to resume the bedtime ritual.  I was traumatized for an evening and spent the better part of the evening on the internet, reading about strategies to manage a runaway.   I give myself a C on the first event and hoped that I passed and would not be tested again.  NOT SO FAST Mom!  Last night was round 2 - it was at least 6 months since the last one and may have even been a year - either way I paused when the "I'm running away" phrase was uttered because I had gotten a little rusty on the "methodology.  Anyway - I quickly gained composure and from that moment on I did not miss a beat. "Mom, I am running away" as my daughter walked out the door.  I picked up a bag of trash that I had planned to take out and walked out with her.  Again it happened to be dusk and raining.  As I walked off the porch to the trash cans I said, "Honey if  you are gonna go please put on a raincoat...it is very wet out there and I do not want you to get sick".....pause....pause some more.....she trotted back into the house even before I was back from the trash cans.  Phew.....thank you God for making my daughter realize the inevitable.....she would not get too far!  By the way - have a backup plan.  I am lucky - my brother lives close by and we have agreed if she gets the itch again to leave I will send her in his direction and he will meet her at the top of the street (and of course I will be trailing behind!).  One last tip - browse the internet to get some good ideas on what to do if your child threatens to run away...before he or she actually walks out the door.!!  Make sure to follow-up later with your child to discuss alternative ways to handle his/her anger other than running away.  In our discussion we talked about it being alright to be angry with Mom but maybe having some "quiet, alone time" upstairs would be a better plan than running away.  As we finished our conversation my daughter said, "Mom I really did want to run away but I just can't".  I asked her why and she said, "Mom I just love you too much".  Boy..I am a really lucky Mom. p.s.  I give myself a solid A grade on the second attempt!

7 Year Old Quote of the Day

"Mom, I am so hungry that my heart is growling"! Wow that is is really hungry.  Growth spurt maybe!?

Find an Indoor Rock Climbing Venue for Your Kids - builds strength, endurance, and perseverance!

But TV is Such A Great Babysitter!

Every day I hope and pray that I am not the only Mother in the world who sometimes lets my child watch more TV than is recommended because I can get so many more things done. You know how playdates can be a somewhat "sitter" for your kid because they are occupied with another child so you can finish tons of tasks around the house.....well at least playtime with another child allows you to hope and maybe assume that some learning takes place. But with TV my daughter immediately becomes a zombie when a show comes on and she literally goes into "TV coma". I ask you - is that such a bad thing when I am working at my desk trying to maintain my website, pay the bills, make appointments, write an article, surf the net? I think not especially at the end of the summer when my daughter says "I am bored" ten too many times and school can not start quick enough. I vow to limit my child's TV watching on most days...but every once in a while a Mom has got to get things done. Right? Click on the title to get a reminder from the Mayo Clinic on the do's and don'ts of television for your kids.

"I Can't Keep This Game Out of MY Mouth"

My daughter loves to play games and especially likes card games. She plays solitaire, war, go fish with Grammy all the time. I believe her batting average is about 500 (Grammy is pretty good but when she plays with me her average is 1000!). Today she was playing a new card game with her Aunt Mo. As a 7 year old she seems to have a difficult time not revealing what cards she has...whenever she had a good hand she cannot keep her silence. Aunt Mo kept telling her to keep her hand a secret so she could have a better chance of winning. On this particular day after numerous reminders to keep her cards to herself she blurted out, "I can't keep this game out of my mouth"! No understatement there....

This is How Young Kids Learn to Ride a Bike!! Check it out on MYKIDSACTIVE.COM today...

Boy I Forgot How Fun Swinging Was....!

 I remember when I was about the age of my 7 year old that we would swing for hours and hours.  I had a neighbor that had this really cool swing set and we would see who could get the highest.  More than one time I remember thinking that I could absolutely swing so high that you would go all the way over and do a 360.  When you got really close the swing would jolt you back to reality and the belief that you could go all the way over disappeared.....til the next day.  My daughter reminded me of that fond memory the other day as she enjoyed a friend's backyard swing.  Watch as she leans her head all the way back.....now that is the way to do it baby!

Back to School Already.....

Once my daughter knows who her teacher is going to be for the new school year she seems to relax about going back to school.  Our biggest issue is the getting up early.  We TRY to start going to bed earlier a couple weeks before school starts but changing from staying up late and sleeping in is really tough!  Sometimes kids get nervous about new teachers...new friends.....maybe new school.  Click on the title to get some parenting tips on making the transition easier for your children and easier for you.

Mom You Are a Really Good Driver!!!

Sports and Kids = the Need for Healthy Food and Drink

 Healthy food and drink are essential for growing kids....add sports and a parent really needs to plan meals and snacks to ensure athletes get the energy they need to compete.  Click on title for ideas!

Keeping Kids Active is Simple....Not

Keeping your kids active always seems so simple when you read a article with tips on an active lifestyle...why then is it harder than you think?  For me it is specifically based upon my level of activity - if I am motivated to be active and consistent with it....my daughter is too!  Simple concept...not so simple to follow through on!  Develop a plan for yourself and before you know it......your children will be following in your footsteps.

I Love It Hereeeeeee!

I have been taking an annual vacation to Sebago Lake, Maine for over 40 years.....since I was a very young child. So as parents do I am trying to pass on the tradition to my daughter. She was three years old the first time she saw Sebago Lake. She loved to swim in the lake which of course meant that I would go in the lake over and over each day (when I was young we would literally play in the lake for 6 hours at a time so I understand the draw but am just old enough to not really need that much time in the water anymore!). Boat rides, jetskiing, canoeing, lots of fishing, picking blueberries on the little island across from our camp, and finally being able to swim out to the float....all things that my daughter at 7 years old has experienced. My best memory of those 40 years has always been when we get into Maine and we get close to Segabo Lake we drive over White's Bridge and see the lake for the first time - absolutely the best! But this year when we drove over the bridge my daughter proclaimed..."Mom I love it hereeeeee"....I knew I had a new favorite memory.

No Smoking Please

An active lifestyle at an early age can help kids stay away from the "unhealthy lifestyle" of smoking as they get older! Click on the title for some ideas of how to keep your child from starting a very addictive and life-threatening habit.

Five Ways to Help your Child Avoid Sports Injuries

Playing sports is a great way to teach kids about discipline, competition, sportsmanship, winning, losing, and staying healthy. As a parent take the precautions necessary to limit the risk of injury during competition. Click on the title to read simple tips for injury prevention.

Curbing Mom's Competitive Edge?!

My daughter has spent the summer swimming for our community pool swim team. She is a pretty good swimmer and is improving her strokes along the way. She has just started to realize that she likes to win but is not overly driven to do so. I, on the other hand, am fairly competitive. I have worked very hard to make sure I teach her that "trying your hardest and doing your best" is what is important..."all Mom expects is that you try" but in my gut, my competitive gut, I want her to excel like crazy. She is young so I don't know if she will be interested in sports and competition as she gets older and it is too early for her to know. So...how does a competitive mother balance the instinct to want your child to be great and allowing your child to be the person she is to be? My plan is to make sure she knows how proud I am of her at every step, talk her through the "agony of defeat" so she learns about winning, losing, and sportmanship, and ultimately keeping my competitive desires to myself!! So far I am doing an good job of focusing on what is really important. That being said...the fact that she won a gold medal in her end of summer season 8 and under freestyle competition sits very well with this Mom!

God I Love That Girl.......

Tonight when I put my precious little girl to bed I gave her a big, long hug and told her she made me so happy and I am so lucky she is my daughter. She hugged me really tight for a few more minutes and when we separated I noticed her eyes were watering. I asked her what was wrong and she said, "Mom you just gave me tears in my eyes". God I love that girl.

The Best Hula Hooper in the World Lives in My House!

Keep a Close Eye on Your Children in this Crazy Weather

We always hear the advice, "Keep an eye on your elder relatives when we are in the middle of an extreme heatwave"! That is so true but make sure to protect your children as well. They may tell you they are fine and still want to play outside but...............their little bodies have a hard time handling record temperatures and humidity as well. Click on the title and get some common sense information on taking care of your kids when experiencing extreme heat indexes.

"Mom Can I Get My Decaf Ice Coffee Today?"

Do you think that my daughter loving Dunkin Donuts decaf ice coffee has anything to do with the fact that I have it almost every day and fear I may be obsessed with it??

Mom My Ear Hurts

My daughter started saying "my ear hurts" a couple of days ago. So it starts....swimmer's ear. I had alot of ear infections when I was growing up and on the swim team. As I got older and didn't want to go to swim team practice I would embellish my symptoms to maybe get out of practice. My Mom was on to me pretty quickly.....I wonder if my daughter is trying the same thing??! Click on title to read about Otitis Externa (swimmer's ear).

Rollerblading for Kids

I recently got my daughter rollerblades after she talked non-stop about them for a couple months. I took her to a local parking lot to teach her how to skate on them. We had all the safety apparatus for her....helmet, elbow pads, wrist guards. I learned to rollerblade as an adult and I recall it took me a whole lot longer to learn than it took my 7 year old. What I also remember is that it can be a very risky activity so if you are planning to get rollerblades for your child, click on the title of this post and read the article on how to make sure you reduce the risks for your child. p.s. I watch my daughter rollerblade now - I have put my "blades" away for good - don't think I would be very helpful to her with a broken hip! p.s.s. it really is a great way for your child to learn balance and get good exercise.

Pomp and Circumstance

We have attended quite a number of graduations and accompanying parties this month. My daughter's biggest question has been if there would be any "kids her age" at the parties so she has someone to play with. She survived all of them with only a slight blip - how come she did not have a graduation party from First Grade? I clarified that indeed I am very proud of her for graduating from 1st grade - 8th grade, highschool and college graduation are significant milestones and the celebrations need to be a little bigger. I assured her that she would have a great party when she graduates from highschool and college. But the most memorable result of my daughter's graduation experience was when we bought one of those Hallmark cards that when opened sings a song. We got her cousin that graduated from college a card that when opened played the Pomp and Circumstance music. My daughter kept opening the card over and over again. She said three things about the song...all of which made me smile: 1) "It goes to me as my heart", 2) "It is so pretty I can faint", 3) "It makes my heart fill with joy". Needless to say...her cousin never got the card and I hear "Pomp and Circumstance" all over the house, all day long. Luckily I like the song too.

Gerbera Daisies Are My Favorite Flower

I gave my daughter a pink gerbera daisy when I picked her up on her last day of 1st grade and put two on her nightstand as a little surprise. That was two days ago. This morning she came into my room, woke me up, and gave me one of the daisies in a little paper cup. She told me that she knows I got her the pink daisies because I love her so she wanted to give me one because she loves me. Gerbera daisies (especially pink ones) are now my favorite flowers.

But Mom How Did She Know to Get the Test.....?!

The post that I never wanted to write...or at least not until my daughter was older than 1st grade!. One of my daughter's friends recently announced that her mother was going to have a baby. That particular revelation has resulted in not one, not two, but three conversations about "how did the baby get in her mommy's tummy". As I have diligently learned from my Mom and two sisters....don't tell your child anymore than she asks...My daughter simply asked me "how does she know that a baby is in her tummy"? I answered (very cleverly I thought) that her mommy went to the doctor and she got a test to find out if she was pregnant. That answer seemed to work for a couple hours. The next question was.."but how did she know to go to the doctor for the test"? I explained that sometimes a mommy can tell because she feels differently etc. and I reviewed the doctor story again and added the part where you tell your child that you have babies after you are married. Fast forward to bedtime...."Mom tell me again how she knew to get the test"? I reiterated our earlier conversation hoping that would be enough but my daughter kept asking how she knew to check with the doctor, why don't I (meaning me) go take the test, and should all ladies take the "test". At this point I figure it is fair to say that in my quest to answer only what she asks...I am definitely NOT answering her question. Soooooo...we had the TALK (in a 7 year old kind of way)the next bedtime (after I frantically read anything I could on the internet about telling your 7 year old about sex). It went fine...she giggled...she had no questions.....she went to sleep. The next day she asked me to tell her the whole thing over again and I have not heard a peep from her since. My advice...make sure you know what your child is asking and research the answer first.

Are Trampolines a Safe Backyard Activity?

My daughter has asked me many times if we can get a trampoline for the backyard. You know the "such and such has one..why can't I"?! My gut tells me that trampolines have too many inherent risks and are just not safe for my daughter (or all the neighbor's kids that would enjoy it also!). I did a little research and found this Mayo Clinic article gave me the answers I needed. Click on the title of this post to read the article.

And You Are Not the Principal!

My daughter got up on the wrong side of the bed today. She came into my room at 6:15am (on a Saturday) woke me out of a dead sleep and started barking orders at me. I, of course was not happy but was still groggy and was not quite in the parenting mood/mode yet. She continued to "push me around" and demanded that I turn the tv on for her, get her some breakfast, and give her the pillow that was still under my head! Not sure why the pillow but clearly something to do with not enough sleep, too early, and just plain miserable. I indicated that tv was not in order based upon manners used and behavior displayed. She also was able to go downstairs and get something to eat (if she was getting up at 6:15 am on Saturday she better figure out how to get her own food!). She was then left with - "I want your pillow". I offered her other pillows, suggested she get her own pillow off her bed.....nope....she continued to badger me about how great my pillow was and she wanted it. I am now awake enough to be perturbed so I tell her that I don't like her behavior and on principle I would not be giving her my pillow at this time. Her response...."Mom you are not nice and you are not the principal either"!

The 7 Minute School Play

Today my daughter was in a play that her first grade class presented to the parents. It was a project in which they made the costumes, made the set, and memorized their lines (sort of). My daughter was adamant that her grandparents, cousin, and Uncle attend the event....she also invited one of the parents of her friend to attend as well (that parent had already sat through her daughter's play and was ecstatic to see it again). I made her call each of them because when you have a family that has attended a bazillion school functions over the years, it almost ends up with me bribing them to come. If my daughter calls it is "sure we would love to come" and then "give the phone to your Mom" and they "use choice words to explain their shear excitement about attending". By the way - if she could have gotten every aunt, uncle, and cousin to the event she would have! I believe the piece of information that clinched their attendance was when my daughter told them it would only be "around 7 or 14 minutes". I had practiced my daughter's lines with her a couple times but she told me she knew them and didn't need any help. Fine with me. So here is the scene so far - I have 5 family members and a friend attending a 7 minute play of which my daughter says about 12 words.....The play was in the classroom and literally 30% of the attendees were from my group - the teacher thinks I am crazy and this sealed the deal. All that being said...the play was very cute, each of the kids pretty much read their lines, and after the whole thing was completed (I timed it at 15 minutes) my daughter tells me the name of the play was How the CHICKMUNK Got Its Stripes. I have not seen that particular animal...have you?!

Summer Reading

Even though kids are SO ready to be out of school and away from organized learning, keeping up with reading skills is something the "resident teachers" in my family (two sisters, Mom, and Grandmother are/were all teachers)promote heavily!. I have already told my daughter that reading every morning before we go to the pool will be an important part of our summer schedule. Her response..."ugh"...I know she is really starting to like reading but is just keeping up the charade. No worries though - I will break her down slowly but surely...and if I can't I have some teachers I know that will do the job! Click the link below - it does give some simple ideas for keeping kids actively reading this summer.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/all_reading/summer_reading.html

I Told You We Weren't Wild!

My daughter saw a few friends at church today. There were not too many people at church because of the holiday weekend so I let them sit together. They did a nice job, for the most part, of staying quiet and appropriate during the service. As the hour progressed the chatter progressed as well....as I left the pew to go to the altar for communion I told my daughter to stay quiet and not get wild while I was gone. My daughter, along with her two friends, looked at me oddly and said that animals are wild not people. I decided that the list of people I had met in my life that could possibly be considered on the "animalish" side was not a discussion for church (or a 7 year old). There would be plenty of time to discuss such things as she grows up. Anyway....I did not hear any voices that I knew while at the altar so I was happy that the animals stayed low key while I was gone. As I returned to the pew I was greeted with my daughter saying to me in her best loud whisper..."I told you we weren't wild Mom"!.

Michele Borba Blog: Studies find play helps kids focus…& 11 other surprising benefits of letting kids get messy

Michele Borba Blog: Studies find play helps kids focus…& 11 other surprising benefits of letting kids get messy

Mom Did You Hear My Footsteps?

Just a few short months ago I could not get my daughter out of bed in the morning to get ready for school. We were the classic family running out of the house late. The drive to school included breakfast in the car, complaints about said breakfast in the car, remembering that it was show-n-tell day and having nothing to show or tell, and the blame game. The blame game started with my daughter asking me, "Mom did I make us late today"? I always responded honestly and 4 out of 5 days a week the culbret was my 7 year old. Then the game really started....the 7 year old always responded with a litany of reasons why it was really my fault that we are late. I did not lay her clothes out, I gave her the wrong socks, I would not do her hair, I made her brush her teeth and make her bed, I wouldn't let her watch a show, and on and on. If that did not work she would turn the reasoning to the sympathetic....she went to bed too late and is tired (which any mother knows is Mom's fault), she was very hungry, I let her have too many playdates, she had too much homework last night (keep in mind we're talking 1st grade homework here), and on and on. At first I would try to defend my cause but realized I needed to show more self respect than that! In summary, every day we were rushing out of the house was really my fault (why would I think that getting to school on time would be any different than the other things that are a mom's fault I don't know!) and this lasted three quarters of the school year. Fast forward to today - my 7 year old gets up way before my alarm goes off, gets dressed, makes bed, brushes teeth and hair and comes into my room with way too much energy and wakes me with the question, "Mom wake up - didn't you hear my footsteps"!? I say, "no honey I didn't. The alarm hasn't even gone off yet". My daughter says as she skips out of my room to go make her own breakfast, "hurry up Mom or you are going to make us late". And now everyday when we are rushing out of the house late...it is my fault.

Help Your Kids Make New Friends - FamilyEducation.com

Help Your Kids Make New Friends - FamilyEducation.com

What Movies are Okay for my Child!?

If you are unsure of a movie your child wants to go to..check out this website called Kids-in-Mind. http://www.kids-in-mind.com/a/index.htm

How Much is Too Much for Your Child?

This article gives some simple tips on how to manage your child's time. A happy child is a child that is not overscheduled! Click on the title to read the article.

Ouch

This morning after a fairly sleepness night (for me that is) my daughter asks me what I dreamed last night. I told her I had a dream that a little 7 year old girl came into my room last night and said, "Momma I can't sleep". What did you dream about I ask....."I dreamed someone snored all night long". Ouch

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

I am always looking for fun things for my daughter and I to do on the weekend. Sometimes that is really difficult because there are so many "social events" for a 7 year old to participate in......birthday parties (sometimes two a weekend), sports games or practices, play dates with a friend that you are not in school with...and the list goes on and on. It is my job as parent to manage her social calender and more importantly make sure she is not so over-scheduled that she can't just be a kid. The security of home, playing with your toys, building a fort, playing make-believe are all activities that I think are crucial to developing a sense of self for a child. The balance of deciding to skip a social function can sometimes be hard because all the classmates are talking with excitement about the upcoming event. Sometimes my daughter is not happy with my decision but she always ends up having a good time with her "unscheduled" time at home. There is one thing that I believe is important to add to her schedule and that is taking advantage of local events and activities that are educational for my daughter but she clearly sees them as just plain fun. I have attached a video of my daughter enjoying a rowing machine at our community children's museum. She learned so much about the power her body has to be active and got to row a boat down the Christina River at the same time. Way cool for both of us!

Fit the Bike to the Kid!

Selecting the right bike for your child is so important when teaching your child how to ride. If the bike fits it is a lot easier for a child to pick up the balance and steering skills needed for riding. If you are looking for a bike for a 1 - 5 year old consider a "no-pedal running bike". It teaches balance and coordination first making the transition to a "big kid" bike simple. http://www.mykidsactive.com/strider_running_bike.html

Grampy Park

My Dad is 79 years old so for him to have a 7 year old granddaughter (he has four other granddaughters ranging from 14 - 22 years old) has been really fun. My daughter called him Grammy Daddy when she was younger so she could differentiate him from Grammy Mommy. She has recently started to call him Grampy because she is grown up as she tells me. Anyway, he and I try to come up with activities that he can do with my daughter so she can have a special relationship with him. She has hammered a lot of nails and "sawed" a lot of wood at his workbench (as my nieces and my siblings and I did before her) but we really wanted to find some activities that we could do outside with him. Hiking with Grampy has been a lot of fun. The most important component of a good hike as Grampy tells us is the walking stick that each person selects before the hike actually begins. Can I tell you how many "walking sticks" I have had in my house, in the car, in the basement, in my daughter's room, and on the porch?....no I can't because it must be somewhere in the hundreds! And I would like to add that I always find really cool ones but have to give them to my daughter - another Mom thing no one warned me about. Since Dad is getting older we decided to try some other less strenuous activities. Turns out that flying a kite fits nicely into the less strenuous category. We found this big open grass field near Grampy's house to try out our beautiful (I use that term very very loosely)Dora kite. It was indeed windy enough for a kite to fly but for some reason I completely forgot how to make a kite get up and stay up. Not Grampy though - he counseled us through every step - when the wind was right, how long the tail needed to be, the fact that you really don't need to run to get the kite in the air you just need "to read the wind correctly". You can imagine how a 7 year old and her Mom took that little tidbit while running aimlessly all over that field trying to get Dora in the air. With Grampy's direction we did get Dora to fly but not to the moon just maybe to the couple of trees that she fell into....The best part of the experience happened a few days later. As my daughter and I drove past the field on the way to visit my parents she said, "look Mom there's Grampy Park"! The memories I was trying to create for my daughter with my Dad were right there as simple as Grampy Park.

How Come Carnivals are so Expensive?

We have a local carnival every year at Mother's Day called the Flower Market. You can buy great flowers for your Mom and also enjoy rides, games, and craft shopping. I used to always buy flowers for my front porch steps and a little something for my Mom. Lately though (like maybe the last three years or so) I don't seem to come home with any flowers or cool things for my home but I spend a lot of money anyway......wonder why? Could this picture give a clue to the reason? I think so......pay special attention to product in hands - not flowers!

My Kid's Active!: We love play tents and tunnels at My Kids Active!

My Kid's Active!: We love play tents and tunnels at My Kids Active!

We love play tents and tunnels at My Kids Active!

Hula Hooping 101

Don't expect to see me hula hooping anytime soon. I was one of those kids that tried and tried to get that hoop spinning around my waist...and although I can honestly say "I can/could hula hoop", I never perfected my form. I have nightmares of the hoop slowly leaving my waist, my hips, down my legs, and to the ground. My daughter on the other hand is a PRO. I have spent at least a couple of hours of my precious time counting how many rotations my daughter and niece could do at one time. I admit that I might have had some involvement in them losing their rhythm because I just couldn't stand to count and watch anymore....it brought back painful memories but more importantly I had many other things to do! Anyway, I am attaching a video that shows the "how to" of hula hooping with a little interview added in...enjoy.

Cuz I Like the Word Fat

Doing homework with a first grader entails quite a bit of patience. You may think "how much homework can a first grader have"? My thoughts exactly...the fact is that there is not really alot...it is just that a 7 year old can not sit calmly and complete an assignment in the way we as parents would expect or should I say hope for. Anyway, today we only had two math worksheets, and a simple reading assignment. The first thing I learned when "helping" with homework is that my daughter's best skill is getting me to give her the answer "because she doesn't understand" what she is supposed to do. I need to clarify that she is not really fooling me with this strategy I just want her to get it done so badly that I help a little too much (I know the teacher would think so). She seems to breeze through the math worksheets with the exception of a couple "Mom I need your help" and I would go to her desk and see what was needed. I finally learned to tell her to come to me with her questions instead of me going to her and surprise, surprise she didn't seem to need my help anymore. Once the math is done it is on to the reading assignment. My daughter can read but she would prefer not to - she loves the stories that are told and is proud when she is done a chapter, book, or story....but getting her there is painful to say the least. Tonight, for instance, we had to read a story in her school reader and then answer some comprehension questions. This is how it went: I'm too tired to read, I don't like to read about bears, you are not helping me, this word is too hard, I am too hot, don't hold the book for me - whoever is reading is supposed to hold the book, I don't like this story, I don't have enough room on this chair, you are squishing me, don't help me I am sounding out the word, off the chair, on the couch, and some whining in between (mind you the story was only 20 pages long!!!). The story was about the brown bears in Alaska and how they ate all spring and summer to get fat to survive winter hibernation. We finally finished and then came the comprehension questions. She did fine on them - better than I would have - I was so distracted by her antics that I had no idea what was going on. The last question of the night - "What did you like best about this story and why"? My daughter's response - "I liked the cubs and I liked that the bears got fat". Why, I asked did you like that....pause....."cuz I like the word fat". Good answer - homework done!

One of the Best Reasons Kids Play Team Sports!

Kids Look So Cool in Jean Jackets!

So today my daughter had a tag day which means the kids can wear what she calls "regular clothes" (for the low low price of $1.00 to go to a charity) instead of her uniform. That constitutes a really good day of school when you are in first grade. You add the fact that it is Friday and the sun is out and life could not get any better. It is also the day that Mom gets to sit back and let her wear whatever she wants as long as it's clean and no inappropriate body parts are revealed - and yes you even have to watch that in first grade these days!. I was esctatic when she decided to wear something I would love her to wear (without telling her of course). The icing on the cake for me was when she decided to wear the jean jacket that she recently got for her birthday. I know for a fact that when you are 7 you do not have any idea the significance that a jean jacket is or will be in your life. Beside myself with joy cuz she looked so cute but since I am not allowed to call her cute I pronounced, "you look so cool in that outfit"! Feeling pride and success at weathering this "wear what you want" storm I was hit with this response...."Mom I do not want to be cool I want to be pretty"! Isn't cool just another word for pretty? Who knows... but that is what I told my cute, cool looking little girl as she got out of the car and ran into school.

Mom Are You in Love With Him?

After weeks and weeks of trying different recommendations from a large variety of people (techies and non-techies) I finally decided I needed to have a computer person come to my house to fix my computer...I could no longer live without it (the computer that is). So I got a recommendation from a friend of the guy she used and he comes to your house because he has a "day job". My daughter did not seem that interested in the "computer guy" as she called him - (she named him because he came to our house multiple times due to the severity of the problem/s!). She ate dinner, watched a TV show, (yes of course it was a PBS show) and got her pjs on. I sat with the computer guy to answer any questions he had. As I went to take my daughter to bed I told him that if he needed me to call upstairs and I would be right down. Thus commenced the bedtime routine of teeth brushing, book reading, prayer saying, and goodnighting (you know the thing that goes on forever). All snuggled in I told her I needed to get back downstairs in case the computer guy needed me. Her response, "Mom are you in love with him"? "I don't really know him honey, we just met". "Well then Mom do you think he is in love with someone else"? Another great parenting opportunity staring me right between the eyes.....but I decided the discussion about "in love" was for a different time...tonight I just really wanted my computer fixed....

HealthyChildren.org - Physical Activity: Make the Right Choice for Your Child

HealthyChildren.org - Physical Activity: Make the Right Choice for Your Child

Do You Need Oxygen to Sew?

While driving to school today I was enjoying the uncharacteristic silence from my daughter. It is a rainy Monday so that quiet just seemed to fit. Then comes the question that breaks the silence. My daughter has a tendency to ask me things that can not be answered easily - you know that question that you don't want to say too much because it will take you to a place you are not ready to go (like "Mom how does a baby get in your tummy - not a rainy Monday morning question!). But I was psyched because she asked me "do you breath in the same air that you just breathed out"? I was thrilled to answer this question because I actually went to school to learn of such things. So I went into what I felt was a concise answer to oxygen in, carbon dioxide out...adding a little lesson on oxygen is the thing muscles need to help you run fast and climb the monkey bars. Explained that when she breathes harder while running it is so her body can get more oxygen to help her muscles work hard. Proud of myself I asked "so what do you think"? Her response - "I forgot to sew today" - "sew what" I say - "buttons Mom - I like to sew buttons on when I find them". I clearly understand that she had no interest in my lesson and was not listening but could some learned person help me understand oxygen-carbon dioxide thingee to sewing buttons?!

Why Rollerblading!?

My daughter decided she wanted to learn how to rollerblade. Okay that sounds good. So we go out and buy "the equipment" that is appropriate for a beginner - wrist, knee, elbow pads for sure. I used to rollerblade for exercise and it was a lot of fun but even then I knew that it could be classified as a dangerous sport. Dangerous how you ask? Let me give you an example - don't tell my sister that I am putting this in print but -when we first started rollerblading (in our 20's I think) she fell and bruised her tailbone and it was incredibly painful....after that she would not rollerblade unless she wore ice hockey pants with the extra padding - fashion statement indeed. So.....I took my daughter with all her apparatus to a local parking lot to teach her how to skate. I felt very much in control of the lesson because I chose wisely not to wear my rollerblades. My reasoning was that I could better guide her and catch her when she fell. Truly I realized that somehow when you cross that 40 year old mark you acquire this instinctive knowledge that activities such as rollerblading are for the young not the young at heart. Luckily she seemed to learn fairly quickly but I on the other hand was traumatized the entire time. Teaching her how to ride a bike seemed alot more sensible. I don't remember rollerblading being so scary when I was doing it but watching my 7 year old pick up speed on those darn skates and then try to stop before hitting the curb nearly did me in! We have gone out a couple times to practice since then. She continues to improve and I continue to be traumatized. My advice is - let someone else you trust teach your child rollerblading. That way you don't have to see it but can feel good that your child has learned another great activity that improves balance, strength, endurance with a bunch of fun included.

Exercise and Kids

7 Year Old's Quote of the Day

One of my favorite things about being a Mom is the every day discussions with my daughter. I love how kids seem to take phrases they hear from adults and make them their own in a kid-kind-a-way. So begins the "Seven Year Old's Quote of the Day".

"Mom I slept so good last night....as a log"!

Check out this site for great play ideas for your kids: http://www.fungameskidsplay.com

The Smiles of Success

Today was opening day for my daughter's softball league and what a great day it was! Sunny, breezy (well really 20 mph gusts that made parents just freezing on the sidelines). The girls are in the the 5 - 8 year old division and believe me there is quite a bit of playing in the dirt, picking at the grass and I even saw one girl that completed a full cartwell while in the outfield - and no it was not my daughter...this time anyway! When any player gets a hit the grin on her face as she runs to first base is priceless. It is so funny to see a player hold the glove out as a fly ball comes her way - it seems common practice to open your mouth as wide as possible when trying to catch the pop up - don't have enough data yet to see if it really works but the girls sure seem to think so - maybe it is a reflex..I don't know but it is definitely a trend. But for me the absolute best thing that happens at every game I see is the girls cheering for their teammates, the coach's huddle at the beginning and end of the game, and most importantly, the line-up at the end so both teams can shake hands with each other. Team play has a wonderful way of teaching kids how to win, lose, and work together with others. The skills of the particular sport are valuable physical lessons but it is indeed the feeling that a child gets when being a part of something special.....I love it everytime I see it.

Active Play - What Parents Can Do

View my article for tips on creating an active environment for your kids at:

http://ezinearticles.com/?ActivePlay---What-Parents-Can-Do&id=4096704