New Years

Do your kids stay up until midnight? When my kids were young, we always spent new years eve at a friends house and left by 9:00 p.m. to come home.

If you go out, who babysits your kids? I was always thankful to go to a child friendly party when the kids were young. I never needed to find a babysitter on new years eve.

What are your plans?

Wishing you a all a safe and happy new years!!

Audrey :)

Daddy's Girl

When I look at old photos of me, I'm often with my dad. These photos were all taken before I was about 7 or 8 years old. After that, I was not a daddy's girl anymore. When I talk to some of my friends, even as adults they are still very much daddy's girls.

I have two daughters of my own. While both of my girls love their dad, neither of them are what I would call "daddy's girls"

What about you? Were you or are you a "daddy's girl?" What about your own children? Are the girls "daddy's girls?"

Audrey :)

Thank You's

Now that the holidays are over, are your kids asked to write thank-you notes to those that gave them gifts?

I have always allowed my kids to make a phone call to say thank you. I know other parents that require their kids to write thank-you notes before their kids can use their new gifts.

What are the rules in your house?

Audrey :)

Kids at Disneyland

I spent two days this past week at Disneyland. It really is interesting how very different children behave. Some kids were able to self entertain while waiting in line and other kids were terrors while waiting in line.

I was really impressed with the amount of kids who had Nintendo DS's and books to keep them occupied while they waited. Other kids were yelling, screaming, hitting each other and yes bumping into me at each turn.

When my kids were younger we tried to give them the tools to self entertain. Bumping into strangers and climbing where climbing isn't allowed just were not options. One woman got yelled at 3 times for allowing her child to climb on rocks in line at a ride.

If you've ever taken your kids to a place like Disneyland how do you help them pass the time while they wait in line?

Audrey :)

Children and Chores

This is a cute article I downloaded. There is no author to credit...it was on a free article site. I've had different philosophies on chores throughout the years. I'm not sure I ever looked at "learning about teamwork" as a benefit of assigning chores.

Chores Can Help your Child Learn about Teamwork and a Strong Work Ethic

Chores can help develop a sense of responsibility and self worth in your child. It should be understood by all family members that chores are expected and necessary for a household to run successfully and efficiently. Chores can help create a sense of unity and family and are a great way for your child to learn about teamwork.

It's imperative that you set parameters early on for the successful completion of a chore. Children may not perform up to snuff when they first start performing a chore, but if you show them where improvement is needed and praise them for a strong effort, the completion of chores usually becomes smoother.

Ensure the child understands the need for the chore's effective and efficient completion. Set consequences for substandard completion as a team. Make sure they see that if they don't perform their chores, it affects the other members of the team. Spouses must work together and be a strong example for their children by completing their own chores each day. And don't allow a child to undermine your authority by battling with you over a designated chore. Stand your ground and don't give in, and emphasize the consequence and negative effect an uncompleted chore has on the family.

And keep an open mind when a child wants to discuss their thoughts or express their opinions about chores. Make sure the conversation stays positive and on target.

Audrey :)

Enjoy Your Childrens Uniqueness

Each and every child is unique in their own way. Even twins are unique. I know a few sets of identical twins, yet each of the twins is unique enough that we're able to tell them apart.

As parents it's so important that we support our children's uniqueness and personal interests. I have two girls. One loved band in high school, the other loved theater. One is very clothes conscious, the other is not. One loves to watch football on t.v., the other not so much. The differences go on and on.

I remember the day my daughter said to me "Mom remind me why we don't like Company ABC" I had to chuckle as it's so true that as parents we often unconsciously pass along our own beliefs and thoughts to our children.

We need to support our children in having their own personal preferences and feelings, which may be different from our own.

I love my relationships with both of my daughters. It does take constant work from all of us to respect and honor the uniqueness in each of us.

Audrey :)

Parenting and Instruction Manuals

I recently read an article about new parents and how you're not handed an instruction manual when children are born.

It caused me to think about the one thing I wish I had known or I wish there was a manual for when my own kids were born.

I think the hardest thing for me has been when they're sick. I never knew should I or shouldn't I take them to the doctor. We had a scary situation with my younger daughter. She complained of her ear being "clogged" We went to the G.P. who said "oh it's allergies", gave us a bill and sent us home. A week later my daughter was still complaining. I called an ears nose and throat specialist who said two things:

1. he wasn't free to see her for 3 weeks and
2. he couldn't see her without a report from an audiologist

I called an audiologist I knew and was told he was booked up for 3 weeks also. I am so thankful I knew him. I said to the girl "I can call him at home tonight and see if he'll see her" She put me on hold and told me we could come in the next day. My daughter at this point had lost 60% of her hearing due to an inner ear infection. This is not your typical antibiotic ear infection, this was inner ear, much more serious.

The audiologist called the ENT who was busy for 3 weeks and got us in that afternoon. We began treatment and are very thankful that her hearing returned and the infection was killed.

A medical instruction manual as a parent would've come in handy many times over the years.

If you could've had a manual for one thing regarding parenting what would it have been? If you don't have kids, what do you wish your own parents would've known?

Audrey :)

Sleep

I read an interesting article in Family Circle. Kids who are more active fall asleep more quickly at night. Kids who were not as active took up to 45 minutes longer to fall asleep. This means that child is "losing" 45 minutes of sleep time, causing them to be more tired the next day.

I have two kids. One seems to always be tired, the other is often more rested. And wouldn't you know it, my less active daughter is the one who seems to always be tired.

Audrey :)

Wrapping Presents

I try very hard to reuse, repurpose and just all around keep my home as green as possible. This year consider having your kids wrap some of the presents in magazine pages. They can tear out the pages they like, tape them together and wrap the presents. Not only will you save money on wrapping paper and save the paper involved in creating the wrapping paper, you'll also be reusing that magazine you were going to throw away.

Audrey :)

Strangers Patting Your Pregnant Belly

Although I've been seeing it done for years now, I'm still constantly amazed when strangers go up to a pregnant woman and touch her belly. I personally have never done this. However both times when I was pregnant it was done to me. It's a very awkward situation to have a total stranger rush up to me to touch me.

For those of you that have had children, did you mind being touched? If you did, what did you say to those who were bold enough to start touching you?

Audrey :)

Smiley Face Pancakes

I was flipping through a magazine this morning and found a page of "gifts under $30" On the page was this adorable pancake pan. It's available at JCPenney.com

My kids are older now, but I can remember them ordering the happy face pancakes at IHOP many times when we would eat there.

What do you think? Would you buy this for your kids?

Audrey :)

Eating At the Table

Do you and your family have meals at the table? "Experts" list many reasons why this is the healthier choice. One reason is that people, both children and adults tend to eat less and eat healthier while at the table. Snacks or meals on the go tend to be higher calorie and we eat more as we're feeling rushed.

I've always tried to have dinner at the table, but we don't usually have other meals or snacks at the table. What about you?

Audrey :)