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October 24, 2008

Easy Parenting World

Pontipinnes. Makapakka. PinkyPonk. Ninkynonk. Tombliboo. Do you get where I'm going here? Sound at all familiar?

In the Night Garden is a messed up, freaky, all-is-good world. For anyone who isn't familiar with this t.v. show - it's Generation Y Teletubbies. The characters are smart, resourcesful, wierd and reliable. It's annoying yet addictive.

This is a show which is WAYYYY past Thing 1 and Thing 2 - yet they happily watch it if I allow them watch t.v. after dinner (rarely happens).

Have a look at the intro. and tell me that it isn't relaxing, annoying, addictive, and comforting. Forget the economy crisis, forget the fact there's nothing for lunch tomorrow...In The Night Garden - everything is good. Everything is simple. Everything is easy.

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October 23, 2008

Halloween Snacks & Activities

This looks like an easy Halloween activity and also a special snack treat. Love that it is narrated by a kid!



(My Thing 1 is getting increasing fearful of ghosts this year -- she is coming home from school about "Mary Black" being in the washroom -- I remember being scared to death of the ghost of Mary Black when I was in school (so many years ago!). My stategy is to do fun, silly ghost activities to show that ghosts are not scary...mental note - rent Casper the Friendly Ghost from the library!)

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October 22, 2008

Make lunch smart

After being on a field trip with six kindergarten classes recently - I had a good look at what "lunch" looks like. One kid had a jam sandwich. Another ate cut-up, cold, hot dog (no bun) with ketchup.

Parents, we are all busy -- but remember that lunch is the fuel for our kids gas tanks. It's getting colder, coming into flu/cold season and we need to be smart about what kind of fuel we are supplying. I'm not a superMom - Far - Far - from it. But I do try to pack a lunch with good intentions.

This was today's menu;
Snack 1: orange slices + Bottle of water

Lunch: bread and butter sandwich (Thing 1), mini bagel with butter (Thing 2), salami on the side (heaven forbid meat touches bread!). Orange juice. Dry cereal (Cinnamon Toast Crunch - new for us - we'll see when they get home if it gets a thumbs up or down).

Snack 3: Granola bars (Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip for Thing 2, Nature Valley Apple Crisp for Thing 1).

Here's a smart lunch tip...offer one of each; something crunchy (dry cereal, crackers), something chewy (raisins, orange slices), something soft (apple sauce, juice) and something in between (sandwich, bagel). Texture, colour and choice is a smart lunch factor.

Teachers have to deal with kids all day - don't give them more work by sending junky lunches.

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October 21, 2008

When "friends" visit

    Thing 2:"I wish all the friends in our house would leave."
    Me: "They aren't your friends. They are your grandparents. Nope, they aren't leaving."


Having guests visit for dinner is fun. Having houseguests visit for a weekend is an exciting break in the routine. Having family visit - for weeks and weeks - gets overwhelming for kids --I'm talking kids here -- daughters-in-law are perfectly fine -- really -- PERFECTLY FINE -- let's just move on....

When families live great distances apart - long visits are the only option. Time-outs are important part of surviving enjoying a long houseguest visit. Time outs are an important part of being a good host; knowing when to allow the kids to watch a favourite t.v. show, I won't feel guilty about saying I was going to bed early but really watching Grey's Anatomy , reading a book or spending special time with a parent "...sshh, yes, that's the one who is called mcdreamy, I'll explain it during the commercial". It's not rude to escape excuse yourself from a roomful of visitors to check e-mail have alone time.

Coping strategies like; listening to music, gin straight-up, reading a book and baking are all very useful activities to enjoy time alone when hosting long term visitors.

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