Summer Homework...

Being a mom and being a teacher is often an interesting combination.  Sometimes it's very hard to be on the other side of the "teacher desk" and other times I enjoy being able to reinforce an amazing teacher's requests.  I am not sure my children appreciate having a Teacher Mom in the summer...there is summer homework.  My primary purpose for summer homework is to maintain skills and habits, so that they boys start school in September where they left off in June.  {There is interesting research regarding how children lose skills over a long vacation...particularly the number of words a child has in his reading vocabulary!}

In our house summer homework is found in four distinct categories...
#1 ~ Skills Practice
Each summer, since Connar was in kindergarten, I have purchased Summer Bridge Workbooks for the kids.

These are great workbooks, based on national standards for reading, math and writing skills.  Each day there are 4 activities that teach or reinforce basic skills.  The daily assignment doesn't take long, but the kids practice skills they need to remember and stay in the habit of thinking. 

This summer, Aiden is completing a Summer Bridge book but Connar is doing something different.  He's working out of a daily math skills workbook and then working through a Web Quest that he chose.   Web Quests are inquiry-based lessons that utilize web resources.  Connar chose one on rockets...he's doing research now and will soon be prompted to design an investigation around thrust and Newton's 3rd Law!

#2 ~ Reading
Reading is the single most important thing kids can do in the summer to maintain current skills.  Aiden is participating in the summer reading program at the library and Connar is working his way through "a really long book!"

#3 ~ Fitness
My kids are typically very active in the summer and I often use movies and video games to slow them down and take time to rehydrate.  This summer Aiden was invited to participate in soccer conditioning with Connar's team.  One aspect is daily conditioning homework.  The coach created a calendar with jogging, sprints, crunches, pushups and footwork skills.  Awesome!

#4 ~ Teachable Moments & Field Trips
This is my favorite!  I'm a nerdy mom and I like to take advantage of cool opportunities to explore our world.  Whether we're visiting a local museum or investigating life in a pond, I try to find a Teachable Moment every day.  The boys also love helping create posts for my Science blog, The Science Mommy.  Yesterday, they spent the whole morning working on a bottle rocket that launches off a tire pump.  Their teamwork and persistence was fun to watch.  Connar even documented their project with my little camera, so their rocket experiment will show up on The Science Mommy next week.

How do you keep your kids thinking and wondering during the summer?

Reflection Journal...

When I first started working as an instructional coach, there wasn't a blueprint for how to do the job.  It was fairly new in education, to work with instructional coaches, so I really didn't know what I was getting into.  My first couple of years was the definition of on-the-job training.  One of the best things I did was start a reflection journal...

It's a simple spiral notebook.  Inside I have collected articles, quotes, notes from workshops & conferences and my thinking.  It's sort of become my text book for Instructional Coaching and I read through it frequently.  I have gotten into the habit of putting new entries on the left side and writing the reasons I included on the right.  When I reread the journal, I often add thoughts and ideas that are newly relevant.  In this way I have also reflected on and learned from my coaching experiences.  One of the best things I have included are articles that I don't agree with.  It's been valuable to record my thoughts about why I don't agree with something and then read that thinking later.  My professional reflection journal has had a tremendous impact on my work as an Instructional Coach so...

... I recently decided to start a personal reflection journal.  I decided that it would work better to use a 3-ring binder, so I found one that was pretty and added a quote to the front in vinyl.

I also put labeled dividers into the notebook.  My categories are: Inspiration, Ideas, Family, Triathlon, and Journal.  I had lots of things that fit into these categories already strewn through my desk.  Now they are all in one place, and I can reflect on what's there, set new goals and continue to add things that are important.   Just like my professional journal, I am anticipating watching my thinking change and evolve over time.

I think it's so important to remember where we've come from and enjoy the journey to where we find ourselves.

Working Mommy Wednesday...

Oh, it's the middle of a busy week at work!  I hope you're week is going well...it's always fun for me to link up with Julia and the other moms at Working Mommy Wednesday.  The prompt this week...Your best advice to a new mom returning to work.

Heading back to work is hard...there are so many details to consider and so many new things to worry about.  These are the top 5 things I would consider and plan for:
1. Child Care... Before the first day back at work, make sure you know who will be taking care of the kids.  This decision will be different depending on if this is your first, and if you have school age children or not.  I would suggest employing your child care options at least a day or two prior to that first day back at work.  You're going to want to know who long it takes to exchange children, what needs to be packed and prepared ahead of time and how you'll feel when you leave. We have a sort of complicated balance between an aunt, grandmas and Daddy...who's usually home.  Since our boys are school-aged, we also share car pooling, play dates and pick-ups.  Our Cozi Calendar helps us keep track of where the boys are.  And...when my first was a baby, my Gram often took care of him.  She wrote a note to me each day, in his voice, recounting the adventures during the day.  It made me feel more connected to what was going on and less guilty that I was missing something.  It's ok to ask for as much information as you need to feel comfortable.

2. Routine...This is my saving grace, having a routine and making sure that everyone involved {including the kids} knows the routine.  When will you get up in the morning?  Will you have to get multiple people ready at the same time?  What can you prepare the night before?  What time do you have to leave?  How long will it take to say good-bye?  What time do you really have to leave?  A well-organized morning routine can keep everyone happy and get you to work feeling ready-to-go rather than exhausted. Since my husband works 24 hour shifts and has 3 days off in between, we have a couple different morning routines.  Regardless of which day it is however, the boys know what they need to do and so do the adults...to make sure everyone makes it out of the house happy, fed and on-time!

3. Support...Do you have a go-to friend at work?  Someone who has kids and understands what you're going through?  I strongly suggest finding someone either at work or available through text/email.  You're going to need someone to chat with and share the joys and frustrations.  I am so lucky to work in a school with a young, family friendly staff.  In the 10 years I have worked there, at least two babies have been born to teachers each year.  No matter what is going on with my kids, there is someone who has insight to share and is willing to listen.

4. Organized...Babies and children at home increase the need to be well-organized at work (and probably in other aspects of your life too!)  I was willing to work longer hours before I had babies waiting for me at home.  By creating to-do lists and being effiecient in how I spent my time, I was able to leave work when I was supposed to.  I sometimes bring work home, and finish up after the kids are in bed, but I try very hard to make my job fit into the hours in which I am paid.

5. Fun...Working mommy-hood is hard.  You have to be organized, detailed and work hard to keep all the balls in the air.  The first part of fun is to cut yourself some slack...all those balls won't stay up in the air.  Know this, as you go back to work and don't expect yourself to be perfect.  Another part of fun is to make sure you have some new things for yourself...a couple of new outfits that are just for work can go a long way to making you feel better about going back to work.  Finally, take time to relax and play.  Whether it's on your own, on a date with your significant other or with the whole family...have fun! This isn't always easy for me...I want everything to run smoothly but that's not reality.  My husband and I love movies! And when I am taking kids to practice...I always take my book along with me :)

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss...

National "Read Across America" Day was yesterday but I felt the celebration could be extended one more day.  I love reading...all of you know that...and I don't just love reading personally, I love reading out loud.

When I was in third grade, I had a life changing teacher.  You know the type...she loved teaching, she was infectious in her enthusiasm about learning, and she taught me something about myself.  I will never forget her!
One day I came home from school extolling the virtues of Ms. Luden, and I remember telling my mom that I wished I could read just like her.  My mom gave me the best piece of advice...practice.  That afternoon, I lined up my dolls and started reading out loud to them.

Reading out loud is so much fun...it's the giggle in your voice that hooks kids on reading, it's the voices for different characters that bring a new element to the story, it's the way a book can come to life in your hands.  In honor of "Read Across America", I wanted to share with you some of my all-time favorite read aloud books.  {FYI...there is no kid too old to be read to...my husband often sits inside the kids bedroom door to listen, my oldest will climb out of bed to come and hear one of his favorites in his brother's room and the most apathetic, disrespectful middle-schooler can be hooked by a good read-aloud!}

• The Cassowary's Egg by Gary Fleming...the rhythm in this story is perfect for reading out loud, and there is a delightful use of vocabulary...my kids love the line  "I'm arachnophobic, where?"  and my favorite is, "...it was quite a good impression from a desperate, flightless bird!"
• Skippy John Jones by Judith Shachner...these books are hysterical, and tell the tales of Skippy John Jones, a siamese cat who really wishes he was a chihuahua.  The stories beg to be read in a terrible Spanish accent and the capers of this kitty will keep your kiddos laughing.
• The Lorax by Dr Seuss...as a gift to a friend, I once memorized this story!  While I can't recite the whole thing any longer, there are large chunks that still flow quite easily.  Story-wise, this is one of Dr Seuss's best and in terms of a read-aloud the Lorax provides a wonderful voice.
• Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling...even if kids are too young to truly appreciate the richness of the story line, these books make for amazing read-alouds.  There are so many characters that your voices will get a work out and the language she uses has a wonderful cadence.  It's also fun to have a story going on for a while.

I also love to pick up whatever book my kids are reading and just read a chapter to them.  It's relaxing for them and hearing fluent reading is important for children at all levels of reading development.  For kids who are more reluctant readers, I like to read three chapters to them...really get them hooked and then hand the book back to them.  

What are your favorite read-alouds?

Working Mommy Wednesday...

I am excited about the prompt for this week...Social Media, the good, the bad and the ugly...my opinions!


The Good:  I like Facebook....it's been a great way to stay in touch with family who live out of town and I have reconnected with friends from high school and other times from my past.  It's fun to see what people are doing and hear what their kids are up to...in short, it's like a game...good fun.  There are a variety of fan pages that I have "liked" and provide information that interests me.   I don't Twitter and there are many more other ways to socially network that don't appeal to me.  

The Bad: For me, there really isn't a bad in terms of social networking.  I'm an intelligent, reasonable adult and I engage in social media in a responsible manner.  The bad really occurs when those things aren't taken into consideration.  It's so easy to be reckless and irresponsible...and so difficult to take back things that are said or pictures that are posted.  I'm a teacher and I have long believed that I am responsible to a slightly higher social moral.  It wouldn't be appropriate for me to be publicly drunk, especially in the neighborhood in which I work...likewise it isn't appropriate for me to be "Friends" with students.  I even carefully consider "Friending" parents of students.  While there isn't anything within my social network that I think people would consider irresponsible, it is also important to remember all the roles we play...and who should have what kinds of access!

The Ugly:  Far too often social media is abused...people act irresponsibly and are later surprised that there are consequences for the irresponsibility.  Angry words can't be erased easily...ridiculous pictures and videos are long-lasting...children (and those that should know better) use social networking to bully and intimidate, to lie.  I was recently a part of an eye-opening simulation using Facebook.  The class of middle school students I was working with was given a student's name and access to her Facebook page.  Through her page, links to friends and families pages and links to Twitter and other networks, we amassed a large amount of information in a very short time.  Information like: her school schedule, her car and license plate, her address, the dates of cheer camp, the location of Friday's party...  Even when we are careful about the information we post, there is more information about us through the postings of our "Friends".  Are we as information savvy as we think we are?  Are our kids?

The Rest of the Story: I have said this before...I believe we need to teach our children to manage the world that is, not the world we wish it was!  That includes teaching them how to use social networking responsibly.  My kids don't currently have Facebook accounts (or MySpace or Twitter...) but they do access online games and other sites like Club Penguin.  We have rules about how they engage in chats (they don't!) and what types of information they share.  We are also pretty open with our kids that their text history and online history are an open book...I look through backpacks and cell phones.  I want to know what information my kids are putting online and into the world, who they're talking to and what's being said.  I am not naive enough to think that my kids will always tell the truth and will always be open to me looking through their cell phones.  However, I am hopeful that starting that habit young means it will be easier when they are teens.  Social media, like anything else, needs to be taught to our kids.  We need to be their first teachers, we need to teach them how to apply the family's morals and values to this resource and we need to monitor their attempts to do so.

More Mom Tips for Video Games...

My kids love their video games…they have a Wii, an X-Box, Nintendo DS’s, and they each have an iPod touch.  If left alone, they would certainly play video games until their brains were sucked out of their heads.

I think that’s a concern of many parents.  Are video games ok for my kids?  Why won’t they stop playing?  Ever?

In my opinion, video games are a great opportunity to teach kids about moderation.  I want them to be able to indulge in something they enjoy but also to know where the line is between fun and addiction, between indulging and over-indulging.  Here are some strategies we’ve used in our family…

• When my oldest first started playing games, I created “tickets” for him using 3x5 note cards.  Prior to allowance, this was a currency he understood.  Each ticket represented 30 minutes of screen time…TV, computer or video games and he was able to earn and redeem tickets.  We put a timer by the gaming systems and he set the timer before he started to play.  This helped reinforce the idea of playing for shorter periods of time.

• Eventually the tickets themselves, wore out and I never replaced them.  The phrase, “Can I play a ticket?” has persisted however and 30 minutes seems like a reasonable amount of time.  The boys understand that “forgetting” to set their timer results in losing the opportunity to continue playing for that day.

• My husband and I have also grounded the gaming systems.  When the boys argue over which games are going to be played, whose turn it is to choose, whose cheating…then we know it’s time for the games to be grounded.

• Our boys understand the video game rating system.  They know that they are welcome to play any E (Everybody) rated game.  T (Teen) games require a parent’s permission to play.  I like to check on why it’s rated T, my boys aren’t allowed to play games that use guns and I don’t like blood violence.  Finally, M (Mature) games aren’t allowed.  This is another teachable opportunity.  Their friends all have different rules for games that can be played.   The boys are learning that different families have different rules.  They are expected to follow our “House Rules” even when they are playing somewhere else.  They also ask friends who are visiting if the friends are allowed to play our games.  It’s not an easy lesson to learn but I believe it’s important. 

• Finally, they have had a chance to learn budgeting skills with their iPod touch.  Our whole family shares an iTunes account.  The boys have purchased iTunes gift cards and added the $10 to the account.  In their “Notes” section, they keep a running total of apps/games they have downloaded, subtracting from the initial $10.  This is challenging for my first grader, but each time he downloads an app I help him with the balance.  This has worked out very well for both kids.  They have the freedom to add to their app collection, but the accountability to the family not to overspend on the account.

These are some strategies that have worked well for us…how do you help your kids manage video games?

Family Rules Revisited...

Last summer I shared our Family Rules  This list was created when I was spending too much time being the referee to my boys.  Our Family Rules are: * Be Kind * Share * Mind Your Manners * Sing * Laugh * Play * Clean up your Mess * Always tell the Truth * Pitch in & Help * Believe in Yourself * Keep your Promises * Leave a Trail of Love*

 

Recently the boys  have needed to revisit the Family Rules.  We moved the list to a more prominent place in our kitchen and, when needed ask them which rule would help solve their current argument.  There are a couple of rules in the list, that they were thinking were kind of...fluffly...unimportant, or at least less important.  So, with Valentine's Day approaching, I decided we needed to spend some time with Leave a Trail of Love.

 

I want my boys to understand the premise of kindness, the idea of doing something for someone else in which you don't stand to immediately benefit.  To help with this idea, I embellished a gift bucket I found at Target...

Everyone in the family is encouraged to drop a note in the bucket illustrating something they have done to Leave a Trail of Love, or thanking a family member for an act of kindness.  

 

I decided to start and left notes for both boys.  I've been sick for four days...four days of being on the couch, four days of no laundry, little help with homework, no cooking, four days of no mom.  I haven't been this sick in a long time.  My boys astonished me...they pitched in to help, they were thoughtful and helpful, they anticipated things I would need and thought of ways to help that were truly helpful.  I wanted them to know that this was what Leave a Trail of Love was all about...and left them Thank You notes in the bucket.

How do you help your kids understand what's important?

Talking to the Boys...

I'm a science teacher.  With a degree in Health Education.  In my house that qualifies me to be that parent...you know the one who talks to the kids.  About sex. And other things.

The other night, Kyle was at work, Aiden was at a birthday party and Connar and I were working on a project.  It was the kind of project that required attention, but not a lot of thought.  As a teacher, I have noticed that when kids are engaged in something that requires their attention but not a lot of thought, they tend to open up more.  Something about not making eye contact, but being able to listen and talk is a freeing opportunity.

So, I took advantage of the opportunity and asked if he had any questions.  If he had heard anything he didn't understand.  If he was wondering anything.  And after a couple of minutes he said that he had heard something on TV and wondered what it was.  Without looking at me, he asked me if I knew what masturbation was.

And I was glad that I was looking at my project and not at him.  Glad that I could take a couple of seconds to catch my breath and think.  I was glad that he had asked.  Glad that we had time to ourselves when we could have a conversation.  I took a moment to remember that I wanted him to ask me.  That I had an answer.  I took a moment to be thankful that I was, in that moment, his confident.  I also had to remember that I believe kids need information, and facts, that are appropriate to the question asked.  And I talked to him. 

After about three minutes he said, "That's all I want to hear about that Mommy.  I'll ask you again later when I want to hear more."

Ok, punkin'  Let's take this growing up thing one step at a time.

Love & Luck...

I have been having so much fun with Valentine's Day crafting...and other fun things!  You'll see lots of them over the next couple of weeks.  This is one of my new favorites...

I started with four blocks, 4" tall.  I started with an 8 foot post and cut them to size with my chop saw.  The great thing about that is then you have blocks to make a Count Down or what ever other project you can dream up.

I lightly sanded my blocks and then went to the stash of scrap book paper.  I cut 4 Valentine-themed papers and 4 St. Patrick's-themed papers.  I cut them about 1/4" inch smaller than the face of the block.

I also used my rounded corner punch on all the paper corners, for a more finished feeling.

Time for the trusty mod-podge.  If you're struggling with making your mod-podge turn out great, check out this video from the girls at How Does She!

Once the pink hearts were dry, I turn the blocks over and applied the green shamrocks in exactly the same way.

Then I went to my lovely Silhouette to cut some vinyl.  I only took one picture, but I cut out "LOVE" in one font and "LUCK" in another...

I love them...and I love a decoration that can stay out for two months!

What's for dinner?

I don't usually post recipes because, to be honest, I don't usually cook.  My husband is a great cook...he's inventive and takes time to put together delicious meals.  This week I felt a little Betty Crocker-ish...I felt like giving him a little break and so I cooked for several nights.

This Crock-Pot recipe is delicious and so easy to put together...even I can do it!

Cheesy Chicken and Noodles
Into the Crock-Pot:
* 4 chicken breasts
* 2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
* 1 can Cheddar Cheese soup
* 1 can of milk
Turn the Crock-Pot on low and walk away for 7 hours

When it's time for dinner:
* Prepare a bag of egg noodles according to the package directions
* Add some veggies...either to the chicken and sauce or as a side dish
* Serve the chicken and sauce over the noodles

Put together a vegetable, salad or bread and you have a complete dinner that everyone will love!

Busy Kids...

Last week our x-box (and all related gaming systems) was grounded.  This happens occasionally when I have been called in too frequently to referee arguments, when the timer has been forgotten or when it seems that video games are the only toy in our house.  Every so often, the boys need to remember that there is more to do than play video games.  Last week was that week.

In the midst of a grounded gaming system, Connar went shopping with allowance money.  He spent quite a while in the "science kit" section of the store and ended up choosing a Build Your Own Radio kit. 

I was surprised by how long it took to build the radio, and how complex the directions were.  He stuck it out though, rebuilding it more than once. 

Once the radio was complete he had a hard time tuning into a station.  This led to some online research and some trial & error attempts to improve the signal.  All in all he spent several hours with the radio and it was fun to see him so engaged!

Aiden got a rock tumbler for his birthday and the long-weekend gave us time to get it going.  He was a little disappointed that it would be 16 days of tumbling before he had polished rocks, but it was fun to set up. 

All this, along with some great Tech Deck and Bey-Blade tournaments reminded the boys that there is more to life than video games!

Working Mom Routines...

I missed the official prompts for Working Mommy Wednesday but...

I was recently watching an episode of "Super Nanny" and was struck by the realization that the first piece of advice Jo offers to families is a Family Schedule.  Routines help kids know what to expect and I know they help me keep track of my busy family.

In my house, you wouldn't be able to point to the one routine that makes all things possible...depending on who's home and the situation, we have several.  The important thing is that we have the routines.

"Meeting Daddy at my School"  This is Aiden's least favorite routine.  Since my husband works 24 hour shifts, this routine involves Aiden waking up early to go to school with me.  Kyle works just down the street from where I work, so he picks Aiden up and takes him to school on the way home.  For the first time this year, Connar stays home until he leaves for the bus.

"Regular Mornings" Connar sets an alarm and is just getting up when I get home from the gym.  He makes his own breakfast and watches cartoons before he gets ready for school.  Kyle is getting up just as I am leaving and Aiden is usally getting up then too.  Aiden has to turn the TV off at 8:00 so that he can have breakfast and get ready for school.  It's kind of like a dance...and it works well for us.

"After School" This routine really depends on who's home and what's on the agenda for the afternoon.  The boys usually get 1 ticket of video games before homework.  Often a friend or friends are over to play.  In the spring and fall there's soccer practice.  When it's nice outside there's skateboarding and playing and when it's gloomy we often head to the indoor pool at the gym.

"Everyday Jobs and Baths" As dinner is winding down, Kyle or I make this pronouncement.  The boys take care of their jobs {in a timely manner} and hop in the shower or bath.  Kyle and I finish up laundry & dishes before the kids are done and then it's time for...

"Couch Time" This is my favorite time of the day.  Everyone's in their jammies and we all snuggle up on the couch to watch a show...usually something we've saved on the DVR.  It's cozy and calming for all of us.  From couch time we head upstairs for stories {Aiden} and reading until we fall asleep.

What routines make your family tick?

Fantastic Family Calendar...

I try to be vigilant about keeping a Family Calendar.  Especially during sports seasons when it feels like we moving in a hundred different directions, it helps to have things written down.  We have a calendar hanging on the wall in the kitchen that holds all the family appointments, sports schedules and routine maintenance checks.  Every Sunday evening, I sit down with my iPhone and make sure my personal calendar and the family calendar match.  This is important because I also have a calendar at work and I need to make sure that overlapping appointments are on all three.

Recently, I found a calendar that helps reduce all these steps.  The Cozi Family Calendar is fantastic!  You register online and build your family calendar...each family member is color-coordinated.  From the free online view, you can print a day, week or month.  I also downloaded the app for my iPhone and for my husband's.  Appointments and events can be added online or on either phone and will appear in all three locations.  Reminders can be scheduled to be sent via text or email also. 

This is the best family calendar I have seen in a long time.  I love that it was developed to be managed by both adults in the home and can be customized for all family members.  It's so easy to schedule a reminder as well...we've sent reminders to make dental appointments, to pick up ice for a party and even to make sure we remembered to pick up cash for the baby sitter.

My other favorite feature is in the iPhone app.  The app includes a shopping list and a to-do list.  I have previously downloaded apps for both that were cumbersome and required moving back and forth between the calendar app and the to-do list.  With Cozi everything is in one place and it's all easy to use.  You can also build your list on-line and access it on your phone.  For the busy families everywhere...this is perfect.

Disclaimer:  I have received nothing from Cozi...I read a post similar to mine in early December and started using Cozi on my own.  The online calendar is free and the iPhone app has a small charge.

How do you keep your busy family organized and on time?

Jobs for the Kids...

My boys have two sets of jobs...jobs that are done daily and jobs that are done on the weekend.  Check here for more details.  Recently, I updated their jobs and made new reminders...

 For each boy, I printed out his jobs in a check list format.

 Then, I slipped the job list into a magnetic acrylic frame.

The job lists go right on the refrigerator and the boxes can be marked with a dry erase pen.  This is an easy way to keep us all organized and working together.

Count Down to Christmas...

This is my all-time favorite tradition of all! I thoroughly immerse myself in the holiday season...everything about Christmas is fun for me...as you'll see if you keep reading this month.  But this tradition?  This tradition trumps everything else and is by far, my favorite.

There are few personal pleasures more important, or satisfying, to me than reading a good book.  I do love to curl up and read.  When my oldest, Connar, was approaching his first Christmas I wanted to start something special that would become a time-honored tradition.  (That's a lot of pressure for a new, young family...but I succeeded!)  I read about this idea somewhere, and I wish I could give credit to the original source. 

I built a Christmas Book Count-Down...

What a fantastic box full of presents.  When Connar was a baby, and I was dreaming of this amazing family tradition, I was thinking about having a gift to  open every day.  Here's our book box...there are 23 wrapped Christmas books and two wrapped copies of "Twas the Night Before Christmas". 

The first few years of the Christmas Book Count-Down  I didn't have a book for every day of the month... we started opening books later depending on how many there were.  Since I have added books, liberally, to the collection I now have more than enough.  I store the books all year, so they are not on the kids book shelves...the only time we read the books is  during December.  Every night before bed they take turns choosing a book to open.  There are several favorites in the collection and they spend hours flipping through the wrapped books trying to predict which is which. 

With a little wrapping paper, a couple of hours and a much-loved collection of books...I put together my favorite Christmas tradition of all time.  And if the boys excitement at seeing the box of wrapped books is any indication...it's one of their favorite traditions as well!

Ode to my Mom Bag...

You all know how much I love my Mom Bags!  I wrote about them here and here... I just love having a cute way to be organized, carry what I need while I have fun with my family.

This is the bag I found for our most recent family adventure to Disney World.  I love this bag!  I popped in to my local Eddie Bauer outlet literally the afternoon before we left, hoping I could find something new that would be comfortable to carry, look cute and accommodate my camera bag.  This is it!

Of course it's a mom bag so, not only was it comfortable, looked cute and held the camera bag it also...
* held both boys wallets...and they needed easy access
* held Aiden's retainer case...in and out every time he ate something
* stored sunglasses and sunscreen
* held a packet of wipes and a first aid kit
* quick access to our "Keys to the World" for fast passes, dining and opening the hotel room
*  held my own wallet
* and...managed to carry the various souveniers and trinkets we accumulated throughout the day

It just wouldn't be a Family Adventure without the perfect Mom Bag!

Talking to my Kids...

"Do you want to wear your coat or carry it?"

"Would you like water or milk?"

"I play with boys who don't cheat."

"Feel free to join us when you're done cleaning your room."

Each day my goals are simple; I want to talk to my children without anger or frustration, I want to provide guidance through enforceable statements and choices, I want to encourage them to make decisions and to be responsible for the decisions they make, I want my boys to feel safe and secure, and I want to have fun being their mom.


In the last three months of sports schedules and back-to-school, I could feel my habits with Love & Logic starting to slide.  I have practiced Love & Logic as a teacher and as a parent for  as long as I have been both.  It's the way I want to talk to my kids and the way I want to discipline.  But lately, I've been tired and run down...and the habits have started to slip.


My favorite Love & Logic strategies are Enforceable Statements and Choices and I use them  in daily conversation with my kids as often as possible.  Enforceable Statements work because I am telling the kids what I am going to do if their behavior continues.  The benefit is subtle corrections of behavior in a way that doesn’t make my kids feel like they are in trouble, just a reminder of the expectation.

“Do you want to wear your coat or carry it?”  My kids typically don’t argue about coats, I want to establish the fact that coats are going with them and they will be responsible for the coats.

"Do you want to do your homework now or in 30 minutes?"  I love giving my kids this choice, because they almost always choose to procrastinate.  In 30 minutes, when it's time to start, it's the time they chose...not the time that I chose :)  They may not be thrilled with starting homework, but they have less to argue with when the time was their choice.

 “I play with boys that don’t cheat.”  In my experience, playing with children also means teaching them how to play.  This enforceable statement is meant to be a reminder of how to play.  Most often the boys catch themselves, and we continue playing with no problem.  On the other hand, there is a clear expectation that I can enforce without engaging in a power struggle with the boys.  I can simply walk away from the game if they continue to cheat. (Or continue whatever it is that I don't want to contend with.)

This conversation helps to prevent power struggles.  It helps kids to know what the expectations are and decreases the chances of a temper tantrum.  This conversation allows us all to have more fun together... and I am resolved to bring this habit back into practice.


My current favorite..."I am not wearing black and white stripes today, so I can't referee this argument.  Would you like to play together respectfully or find something else to do alone?"

Family Dinner Games...

My family enjoys playing games at dinner.  We don't do this every night, but sometimes, when we have time to linger over dinner, it's fun to play a game.  Yesterday my son, Aiden brought a dice game home from school...Roll-A-Turkey!

The object is to be the first person to have a completed turkey!  You draw your turkey by rolling a dice...
Roll 1 = Draw the head
Roll 2 = Draw the body
Roll 3 = Draw 1 wing
Roll 4 = Draw 1 foot
Roll 5 = Draw face and wattle
Roll 6 = Draw 1 feather

Here's Aiden's turkey...he really had a rough time rolling 6's :)  Try this at dinner...it will leave you all laughing!

My Boy's in Middle School...

Last week my husband and I attended our middle school son's fall conference.  I was pleased to discover that his middle school hosts "Student-Led Conferences".  Instead of sitting down with just the teacher, to talk about our kid, we sat down with everyone.  Connar shared his portfolio, samples of his work and his most recent academic goals.  He was articulate and thoughtful.

Middle School has been surprising for me.  Connar was not the most organized student in elementary.  He wasn't the most responsible student.  He wasn't the most driven or academic student.  Honestly, I was worried that middle school would eat him alive.  But it didn't!  It's been just the opposite!  Connar hasn't forgotten a single assignment, he hasn't lost anything, he hasn't melted down under the pressure.  My kiddo is thriving in middle school and I am so proud of him.

Here are a few things that I think contributed to Connar's success:
Expect him to be Organized...even when he isn't and even when it's not in his nature to be organized, I have always expected it.  Periodically through elementary school I have helped him sort his binder or folders...keeping what's important and getting rid of what's not.  Now he's doing that on his own and he even asked for plastic notebook dividers because they won't rip out of the binder.

Provide Spaces & Materials to Study...I know you hear that all the time but it's so important to build the habit of homework.  My kids don't like being up in their rooms alone (at least not yet) so they do their homework at the kitchen counter.  I have a small cupboard stocked with markers, crayons, scissors, rulers, calculators, graph paper, index cards and all the other materials they may need.

Love Him through the Sticky Spots...It can be so hard when you see your kiddo struggling.  I often just took a deep breath before diving in and supporting him.  There is often a very gray line between love & support and doing it for them, and I searched for that line.  I frequently sent him away during a homework meltdown to catch his breath (and I caught mine) and I often just poured a cup of coffee, grabbed my book and joined him at the table.

Connar has always been a good and smart kid, but I expected middle school to be a struggle. 

He's thriving and I am so proud!

Vacation Memories...

We love to take family vacations...and I love to take pictures!  Last year I started making posters for my boys with a collage of family photos.  After our summer vacation to Maui, I did the same.

Shutterfly makes collage posters really easy!  I already had all my vacation photos uploaded because I was working on a scrapbook.  With each of my boys, I had them choose the layout and background of the poster.  Then we looked through all of the vacation pictures so they could choose their favorites and decide where to place each picture on the poster.  It was so much fun to see which pictures they choose and hear the stories they remembered from the trip.

With an inexpensive frame, the posters look great in their rooms.

Connar chose a my favorite picture of the boys together as the center of his poster.

Aiden wanted as many pictures as possible and he loved the "old fashioned" corners.