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Top of the mornin’ to ya! There’s nothing like a green St. Patty’s Day to get everyone in the spirit of the day of the leprechaun! This St. Patrick’s Day, make the day extra-special and fun for your kids with these fun crafts and great activities!
Looking for the gold!
The night or day a few days before, be sure that ya make some of those Leprechaun Foot Prints and giant shamrocks for ye children!
To make leprechaun feet, take a pair of your child’s old shoes and trace them on to pieces of plain white paper or to really make them “authentic”, use green construction paper!! Make a lot of them because they will take your children on a hunt for the rainbow and the pot of gold when they wake up! READ More on Erin Go Bragh! St. Patrick's Day Celebration Ideas
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by Jennifer Shakeel
Recently I was speaking with a family friend, whose daughter is one of the cheerleaders for my son’s football team. Her daughter is having a rough time with another little girl on the team who seems determined to make my friend’s daughters life miserable. There has yet to be one game all season long that she has not left the game crying. The little girl picks on her at school as well. I have been trying to offer ideas to my friend to help her daughter. I have even talked to her daughter.
It isn’t that her daughter is weak, or a push over… she is just a nice person. Her parents have done an excellent job on raising her and teaching her that it is better to take the high road. That just because someone is being nasty to you does not mean that you need to be nasty back to them. I completely agree with this, we have done the same with our children. Though we have also tried to instill upon them that taking the high road does not mean that you become someone’s doormat. Today I am offering several parenting tips on how you can help your child stand up for themselves.
Parenting Tip One: Return an Insult with a Compliment
Granted this is going to depend on the situation. In the case of my friend’s daughter it is just a taunting little girl and they are 11 years old. It is important to realize that the bully in this case gets satisfaction over making the “victim” feel terrible. They want to see the person they are tormenting upset, for them it is a matter of putting that person in their place which is beneath the bully. To which I advised that she look at this other little girl when she is being mean and say, “You’re the best xxxx,” with a smile and turn and walk away. Don’t give the tormentor the satisfaction of making you feel like crap, let them know that what they are saying doesn’t bother you.
Parenting Tip Two: Call the Bully Out
Sometimes taking the high road is not about not succumbing to being nasty, it is about calling the bully out for what they are doing. For the daughter of our friend, I advised that she look at her “team mate” and say, “I thought we were a team. Teammates support each other. We don’t have to like each other, but we do need to support one another.” Many times, especially with younger kids, the fact that the bully has never been called on the carpet for their behavior encourages the behavior. So when one person stands up to them and points out what they are doing is wrong it will stop the bullying.READ More on Bullying: Encouraging Children to Stand Up For Themselves
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Recently NBC came out with a brand new drama series. The show's name is "Parenthood" and the show was inspired by Parenthood, the movie, which came out some time ago. The show is an hour long, and as a parent myself, I found the idea of a movie all about parenthood to be quite intriguing. The premiere of the show just aired on Tuesday, March 2nd 2010, and what an interesting show it turned out to be.
Based upon the movie, the show is all about the ups and downs that a family goes through as they struggle through different phases of parenthood. The Braverman family is featured in this drama, which is a large family that is very imperfect and quite colorful.
The parents of the family, Zeek and Camille, have four grown children. Adam, their son is married to Kristina and they are the parents of two children, Haddie and Max. Then there is Julia who is married to Joel, and they have one daughter, Sydney. Sarah is a single mom, parent to Amber and Drew. Then there is Crosby, who is with Jasmine, although not married, and they are the parents of Jabbar.READ More on Parenthood TV Series – A Review for Parents
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We all want the best for our families, and many feel that living green is the way to achieve that goal. We want to save the environment for ourselves and our families and neighbors and friends. The marketplace has introduced lots of green products to extract the green from our wallets. The real goal of going green is to buy less and use less. That is a recession friendly goal, because when you achieve it, you will be spending less.
What are some “green” things that we can do as Parents? Conserve energy in your home and in the rest of your life. Use healthier cleaners, and reusable tools.
Do not just turn your car ignition off when you pick up the kids at school, walk to meet them and walk home with them. This is compatible with the fact that we need to use less gasoline and also that we need to get more exercise. This is setting the tone for a healthy green lifestyle for your kids as well. You get to share the wonders of the walk home, and talk with your kids and hear about their day and marvel at the world around you.
Shopping Green
Shop your local thrift shops or yard sales for children’s clothing, especially. Buy things that are gently used, with a lot of life left in them. Most thrift shops benefit a charity, so you are setting an example of giving back and not wasting things that still have life in them. Buy sweaters, jackets and clothes that are easy to layer, because at home, you are turning down the heat.READ More on Green Parenting: Make It A Family Affair
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by Stephanie Partridge
"Does Your Teen feel they are Good Enough?"
I have been talking to some teens, or actually, I have been listening to some teens. I wanted to know what was on their minds, what was bothering them, what was impeding their relationships with their parents.
I tried asking my own kids, but they were no help. They both said, “Mom, I can’t complain. You listen to us; you respect us, when we tell you something you really hear us. You trust us, you show us you love us, you are our best friend. We have no complaints at all!”
Well, that was a big help.
So, I began talking to friends of my kids. Many of them have said that they wish they could live at my house, wish I could adopt them. I laughed at the time, but I am not laughing now. The raw pain I have witnessed as these teenagers have poured their hearts out to me is no laughing matter. These kids come from all walks of life, all economic stations. Both boys and girls, these kids have complaints that are universal – can potentially tragic.
One of the big issues that they talk about is never being good enough. No matter what they do it is never quite good enough.
One 16 year old girl I know well told me how she will spend half of the day cleaning the house while her mother is at work. She will wash dishes, sweep, mop, clean counters, and scrub everything till it shines (I know, I have seen her work), only to have her mom come home and say, “Where’s dinner?”
All the hard work this girl has done is ignored.READ More on Parenting and Your Teens Self-Esteem
We all want to be happy, and we want our kids to be happy as well. That is only natural and there are some concrete steps to take to raise happy children.
Raising Happy Children:
1) In order to raise a happy child we need to model what we want our children to be. Present a model of a positive respectful adult, treating your partner, teachers, and community leaders in a positive way. Do not make fun of your partner, he or she is a huge part of how a child sees themselves. Even if you do not always agree with what a teacher or school employee does, disagree in a healthy manner. These adults are the anchors in your children’s’ lives. If you treat them well, your child will as well. He will feel good about himself and these people in his life will reflect his attitude back to him.
2) Your children need to feel confident about the future. Be positive about your job, and do not walk in the front door complaining about the economy and your co workers and boss. Let your kids know that you will have a way to support yourself and them. If you are economizing, remind them that it is a choice to live responsibly, paying the bills before having entertainment. When you need a new job, go ahead and look, but do not make it your child’s problem. Work if you have the opportunity, and value your job, so that you will raise a worker.
3) Praise your children, but not excessively or extremely. Use specific words of praise. Instead of looking at their picture and saying “What an excellent picture. I love it. You are the best” a better comment would be: “I like your picture, tell me about it. I can see it means a lot to you and that you have talent. I like the red bow you put on the dog.” The phrase “Tell me about it” lets them know that you want to hear what is important to them.READ More on Parenting: 7 Secrets to Raising a Happy Child
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by Aubree Bowen
Flashback: I’m riding in the car with my family. Through the windows we see an old airplane sweeping across the sky, not a cloud or bird in sight. I hear a chuckle from my step dad in the driver’s seat. “Now there goes a happy guy,” he says.
A deep love and respect for aviation and airplanes has been pumping through my veins since I can remember. Almost my entire family has been involved in that world in some respect, whether you look at my dad, an aviation photographer, or my grandfather, who was an engineer for McDonnell Douglas. Even my sister and I, who swore we would branch out and do something different, have gotten drawn into professional jobs surrounding airplanes. Aviation has been one of the strongest, neatest bonds to experience in my family…it’s truly an interest that can span across generations and bring families together. My step dad recently passed away from leukemia, and I will always cherish that tie we shared.
My relationships with my family members have been enriched by this common interest. And the more involved I get with aviation, the more I realize just how many people are affected by it. Everyone dreams of flying when they’re a kid…airplanes make it possible. Their freedom and power strike a chord in all of us, no matter what age.
I feel like too few parents realize and expose their kids to the beauty and history behind airplanes, particularly old warbirds. To date, there are over 400 air shows in the US each year. Chances are there’s an air show near you, and a chance to introduce your kids to an important and enthralling part of history. It’s also a chance to give them something to share with other generations of their family.READ More on Mike DA Mustang First Full Episode
by Stephanie Partridge
No one ever said that being a parent was easy. Sometimes we get so busy that our children fall to the wayside. Other times, we get so frustrated that we just want to strangle them! My point is, sometimes we just forget to let our kids know just how much they mean to us. So on this February 14, I am challenging all parents to take one or more of these inexpensive (or free) ways of showing your teen that you love them and apply it to your own family.
Then leave a comment here telling us all about it! We would love to hear about it.
If you haven’t been very expressive to your teen, or you are experiencing a distance, these activities may help bring your teen closer to you. Keep in mind, though, if your teen isn’t accustomed to this type of treatment, they may be apprehensive at first. Don’t give up.
This Valentine’s Day (and every day) commit to giving your teen:
1. An Unexpected Card
I do this for my kids when they least expect it. I will leave a card on their pillow or on their computer or even on the fridge. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just a simple “I love you,” “I’m proud of you” or “YOU ROCK!” Notes are also good. I just learned that my kids have kept all of the cards and letters that I have given them over the years.
2. A Hug
Hugs are the greatest. Psychologists say that a 30 second hug is actually healing. It elevates the mood and strengthens the bond between people. Reach out and give your teen a hug. There doesn’t have to be a particular reason or a special occasion, just do it to let them know that you are there for them and that you love them.
3. Praise
Too many times we forget to praise our kids – but we are often quick to criticize them. I praise my daughter and son for doing their chores without my asking them. I thank them for the things that they do (even if I have had to get on to them to get it done). Kids are people too and acknowledgment of the things they do right is very important. If all they ever hear is what they do wrong, they will be less inclined to do anything at all.READ More on You’re MY Valentine! Ways to Show your Teen that you Love Them
It's very easy to make Valentine's Day all about couples, but this really is a holiday to celebrate all kinds of love, including the love that you have for your children. This year you may want to take some time to make this day a very special one for your kids. You don't have to spend a huge amount of money doing it either. Of course, sometimes it can be hard to come up with ideas that will share your love and appreciation for your kids. Here is a look at some special and simple ways that you can show your kids you love them this Valentine's Day.
Picture This
If you want to show your kids how much you love them, one special thing you can do is to create a special picture of each of your children. Find a favorite picture and get it printed out. Use the picture in a photo card or use some heavy paper, fold it into a card, and then glue the picture to the front. On the inside of the card, take time to write something special to your child. Let them know why they are so special to you and how much you love them. This is easy to do, it doesn't cost much, and it is sure to communicate your love to your children on Valentine's Day.
The Treasure Box
Another great idea for Valentine's Day and your children is to create a special treasure box for them. This doesn't have to include candy either. While many people equate this holiday with candy, don't go overboard with the candy. Fill up the treasure box with little things that your kids like. Include things like notepads, pens, pencils, erasers, special stickers, and perhaps a couple pieces of a favorite type of candy they may enjoy. Just avoid making the focus on sweets to keep things healthy.READ More on Show Your Kids You Love Them This Valentine's Day
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