mommypalooza™ ~ a daily dose of mommy mayhem.

100th Day of School Fun

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My kids are celebrating their 100th day of school and have some fun stuff planned in their classrooms today.  I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to pack a little fun into their day, too!

This morning they came downstairs to this fun sign greeting them:

My kids adore signage.  In fact, this was actually a good reminder to them about what today is and got them into a super-fun mood about being up at the crack for another day of school.

Last night I decided to throw a fun snack together for them to commemorate their 100th day of school, too. 

It's 100 pieces consisting of 20 Honey Nut Cheerios, 20 raisins, 20 Alpha-Bits cereal letters, 20 mini chocolate chips, and 20 marshmallows.  They were pretty excited and wanted to have it for breakfast.  Um, no!

I also woke up a bit extra early today to get these ready for their lunches:

I told them to be on the lookout for something extra special in their lunch today and they kept guessing all these fun treats but I think they'll smile when they see their sandwich o'the day instead!  They were quite easy.  I just made the usual pb&j then used my biscuit cutter to cut out two circles and then took a paring knife and made a smaller round circle inside to make the hole of the zero.  Then I used the rest of the bread to make the number one.  They fit pretty nicely in their lunch trays.  Also since today is February 1, I busted out the fun heart-shaped silicone cupcake holders I always use this time of year.

I can hardly believe it's already 100 days for my little Kindergartener!  But, I AM SUPER excited that we are inching closer and closer to summertime!

Does your kids' school celebrate the 100th day of school?  What kinds of ideas have you come across to share in the fun?

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Support No Name-Calling Week. Here's why I am.

 

 

I don't put up with nonsense in my house.  My boys know that.  Now, whether or not they think about that 24/7, is up to them.  And, as humans, they are known to falter.  But I don't let that excuse them. 

Recently there was an issue involving my 8 year-old and some friends on the playground during recess one school day.  I received a message from one of my VERY BEST friends in the whole wide world about something my son may have said or been involved with that was hurtful and directed toward her son.  I was devastated. 

Without boring you with all the lengthy details, suffice it to say that my son had clearly made a poor choice in his words.  Playful as they may have been, they were hurtful to the person on the receiving end.  Upon asking my son about the incident he clearly told us (with his head hung in embarassment) that he had in fact said something that was unkind and without thinking.  He was asked to pick his consequence and we moved forward from that point.  I remember talking to him with tears in my eyes about how even when we are joking or playing around, we still need to be very cautious about the words we use because the person who is receiving those words may not take it jokingly.  One thing about my son -- he's not perfect but he (for the most part) never has ill intentions.  He explained to me that he didn't know why he said what he said but that his friend didn't deserve it and that he "felt bad" about the whole ordeal.  My husband and I asked him about the times that he's been treated less-than-nice by friends before and if he would ever want to make someone else feel like that.  He of course replied, "no". 

Unfortunately, we sometimes cannot take back the words that are spoken.  I want my son to know this and engrain it in his brain!  It's ok to be forgiven but sometimes being sorry is just not enough.  I want him to have empathy, compassion, and a heart when it comes to his friends, family, and other people around him.  I feel good about the conversation we had with him about this incident and we've made it clear that no matter what is allowed in other households by other parents, it will NOT be tolerated in our home.  I think the biggest consequence for him is that he knows that we have been disappointed by his choices. 

I feel very strongly about this issue, especially when it comes to happening at school.  I can't stand parents who have the attitude of "oh, well just boys being boys" or "oh, not MY kid!"  I have made it known before that I'm not that kind of parent.  I usually refrain from getting steaming mad until I've heard both sides of an issue but once I've heard it all, I believe in fair consequence.  I also know that this will be an issue that we will revisit over and over again. 

That's why I was very happy to learn about the upcoming No Name-Calling Week intitiative.  We ALL need to focus on our kids and tune into what is REALLY happening at school!  Parents, no longer can you just sit and shrug these issues off as "no big deal" and think that it is the teachers and administrators who should deal with the problems of bullying.  And teachers and administrators should feel open enough to report these incidents (no matter how small!) to parents without being made to feel like they are being nit-picky.  I, for one, want to KNOW when my kid is involved with an issue of bullying.  How can I effectively deal with them and use these opportunities to teach him if I don't even know when or what is happening??  I think there should be mandatory training and workshops for teachers and administrators on dealing with this issue, as well as periodic assemblies, workshops, and educational programs for the kids in the classrooms.  This is not something you just "teach" them once and then it's over.  It's everyday.

The peeps at Barnes & Noble have a fabulous section on their site about No Name-Calling Week and several resources for parents and teachers.  Here are just some of the downloads I am looking forward to printing off and sharing with my kids and their school:

• Bullying educational sheet
• How to talk to educators about bullying - this is great for parents who are looking to cover issues that have fallen on deaf ears.
• Staying S.A.F.E. handout - great for kids to remind them how to deal and give them an action plan.
• Elementary school lesson plan - a great tool for teachers!
• No Name-Calling pledge sheet - every student in the school should be REQUIRED to have this on hand and keep it at their desk ALL year long! 

There are also several books that are aimed at dealing with issues of bullying and name-calling.  Barnes & Noble has special pricing on books in this category for a limited time in honor of No Name-Calling Week.

So, will YOU pledge to bring about awareness of No Name-Calling Week next week?  I hope so, because we are ALL in this parenting gig together!

Photo credit:  nonamecallingweek.org

This kid.

Oh, how I love him so . . .

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My sweet Jacob will be 27 months on Thursday and I feel like his toddler-hood is just slipping away from me oh too quickly.  Our Christmas was fabulous and it was especially joyous to see the magic of the holiday through his beautiful eyes.  He is at such a great age right now and I just want to hold onto it so tightly!!

Focusing on the Joy

I'll admit -- it's hard.  Hard to focus on anything other than "getting stuff done" during this time of year.  Well, for me anyway.  I guess I shouldn't speak for the rest of you. 

But, as I was going to through my gazillion emails in my inbox recently, I received a YouTube update for one of the channels I subscribe to.  And it reminded me that no matter how many dust bunnies I might see in the corner every time I turn around or how many organizing projects I feel like I need to get started on or even how many LEGOS I manage to step on around here on a daily basis, there's got to be some joy behind it.

Just watch and you'll get it.

 

I've kept Hannah's message in my mind for the past couple of days and that little part of me that stresses out from moment to moment was just not a part of my day like it usually is.  Sure, yes, of course I still found myself feeling overwhelmed with my daily to-dos, but then my mind would go this place of gratitude.  And then joy. 

I was priveleged enough to meet and work with Hannah Keeley during a fun event last year and I've been following her ever since.  I just love, love, love how REAL of a person {and mom} she is and how she is who she is and makes zero apologies.  My kinda woman!

So, hopefully you'll take something away from her video message like I did.  I hope that this upcoming season you will be more apt to actually enJOY this special time with your family and loved ones and relish in all that we are truly blessed with.  I know I will!

Appalling

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 A friend of mine posted this the other day on Facebook and I haven't been able to stop thinking of it since.  I mean seriously, when are schools going to get a A CLUE??!!  And what in the hell is wrong with people today?  Who in their right mind would EVER talk that way to a child?  This goes way beyond bullying, in my opinion.

I mean, I've had a few convos with my close friends about bullying and I know that it exists, even in my own kids' school but I would hope that keeping a dialogue and opening up about situations is something that our school administration would do.  I have a total ZERO tolerance policy (personally) for bullying.  I don't think any act of rudeness, cruelty, or bashing - no matter how small - should go brushed under the proverbial rug.  Because that's how bullying rolls.

One snide remark, one dirty look, and whoa - lookie there, folks - we've got ourself a bully!  Too often I think that school administrators and even we, as parents, are too lax on situations that truly require more of our attention.  We simply say things like, "oh, they're just being boys" or "it's no big deal" when we should in fact be questioning our children - and others - about just what is taking place and how it is making them feel!

Yesterday as my 8 year-old climbed into the backseat of the car at school pick-up, I peered at him in my rearview mirror and asked him how his day was (like I do each day) and when he said "kinda good", my ears perked up.  I probed further.

It turns out he had a "fight" with one of his good friends.  I probed further.  Turns out that said "fight" was actually a disagreement.  An argument.  But words were exchanged and feelings were hurt.  On both sides.  My son said something to his friend that he should not have said.  Then his friend said something back, which in turn, hurt my son's feelings.  Well, I shared with my son that "that's sorta what you get!"  I told him you can't talk to people in a rude way and not expect them to react!

So, later on that evening at a pizza party we went to, I walked up to this boy's mom - who is a friend of mine - and just asked her if her son had mentioned this "fight" my son told me about.  She said her son hadn't said anything but that she would ask.  And that was that.  Our boys were playing together and all had been resolved.  But see, if I'd not even said anything to this mom, she might've never known that this little had even taken place.  And I didn't approach her in a way that I wouldn't, myself, want to be approached.  We both knew that the argument itself was no big deal but at the same time we didn't want each of our kids to think saying mean things to one another was the appropriate way to deal.

So back to this video.  I hope you'll take a moment to share it with your friends and family to help spread awareness about bullying and all the different forms it can come in.

As for me, I am just sickened at what's taken place with this student.  I pray that none of you or your kids ever have to fall victim to this kind of injustice.

Do you know what tomorrow is?

Ok, well besides there being another fa-ha-byoo-lous edition of {friday finds} tomorrow, it is 11/11/11.  And yes, my kids have been talking about it non-stop since the beginning of the month.  It's actually getting quite annoying how excited they are about it.

{Yes, that's only 2 of my 3 boys pictured, but my oldest who is not pictured, was too darn excited, that I couldn't even get him to sit still for a moment to get into the pic.  For real.}

So, because this date won't come around for another 100+ years or so, and being the wannabe cool mom that I am, I've been planning some fun stuff for them tomorrow to celebrate 11/11/11.   Here's what I've thought of so far:

• Using streamers to decorate their door with a bit "11" on the outside of it.
• Putting 11 of 'something' {probably jellybeans or M&Ms} in their lunch tomorrow.
• Giving them 11 kisses in the morning as they get out of bed.
• Cutting out their lunch notes {yes, I pack one in each of their lunches everyday, NO exceptions!} in the shape of the number 11.
• Give them 11 extra coins {dimes, nickels, whatever} to put in their piggy bank.
• Repeating myself 11 times whenever I ask them to do something.
  
  {that last one's just for me :)  bwahh, hahaha, hahah, ha!}

I'm sure I'll come up with a few more funnies for them.  Do you have any special or fun ideas for me?  I'd love to hear them!

Parenting sometimes hurts

This evening I made my 5 year-old cry.  This little guy:

And I am actually kind of glad I did.  Let me explain.   We were having dinner tonight when I asked him to do something he apparently didn't want to do.  Who knows what request I made but whatever the case, he didn't want to comply.  Whatever.  Normal kid/parent stuff right?  Well, not so much.

A few seconds after, he suddenly blurts out,

"And, I wish we didn't even HAVE parents!" 

So, I looked across the table at him and just very matter-of-factly said,

"Oh don't worry, one day you won't.  I won't always be here, William, so no worries, one day you WON'T have parents on this earth."

He just kinda looked at me strangely as if he were trying to process what the hell I'd just said, as it couldn't possibly be true!

Fast-forward to bedtime.  The kids had just had their showers and were all snuggled in our bed because yes, since they're on a long break from school, I am allowing them to sleep in my bed just this one night.  I'll enjoy their nice little bunk bed alone much more than they'll enjoy my king size, I can assure you of that!  So, they'd made themselves comfy cozy in bed and we started our usual bedtime chat about random things when all of a sudden William turns to me and says,

"Actually mom, I DO want parents."

And there it was.  The tearful expression on his face.  I looked at him and said,

"William, what I said was true.  You WON'T always have your parents around on this earth so it's important to obey and respect them while you DO have them around.  That's why this is one of God's greatest commandments."

Again, with the sobbing. 

We continued to talk and I reminded him that even I, too, would be without parents and that's why when {his} Grammy and Grandpa ask me to do something that I should respect them and make the best choices.  {Nevermind if I didn't always think this way when I was a teen!}

He assured me that he would try better to listen to us and make good choices and not talk back.  I assured him that of course I love him so much and that I know he didn't mean what he said.  We hugged and I smothered him with smooches and ended with my usual singing before leaving the room. 

At the end of all of this I was very glad that things turned out the way they did, even if it meant a few tears were shed because of it.  I think it's so important to show kids real life and introduce them to the sometimes not-so-nice things that are facts of life.

The really sad part about all of this is that it made me realize how sorry I truly am for all those times I told my mom I wish she would go away and when I said things that were hurtful to her during those teenage (and beyond) years!  My, how parenting certainly DOES come full circle!

 

 

I loved learning "How To Steal a Dog" with my kids.

During a recent visit, my mom had mentioned to Nathan how he should check out the book How to Steal a Dog (by Barbara O'Connor) from the library the next time he visited.  She went on and on about how great of a book it was and how it was set in North Carolina so he'd have to be sure and read it with a thick, southern accent.

Fast forward a few weeks after that.  I was online putting a few books on hold when I remembered the title she'd suggested.  As luck would have it, there were several copies available through our local library so I reserved one.  A couple of days later I received a notice that the book was ready to be picked up.

{image courtesy of Amazon}    

When I brought it home I remember thinking that I was going to have to read this with the kids.  I just needed to know what the book was about since my mom had talked it up so dang much!  Usually before bedtime we (actually my husband and not so much me) read a couple of stories with the kids then do a couple of chapters from a book, but that night I told the kids that I had a new book to share with them.  The one that Grammy had told us about.  I tried to muster up all that I could of my Texas roots to get a thick accent going.  I think I did pretty well.

We read a couple of chapters from the beginning and were introduced to spunky Georgina Hayes and her kid brother, Toby.  I was totally hooked.  The southern girl in me just came out when I read this book to my kids!  I loved everything about it!

As we got further and further along in the book and into the plot of just what was going on, I remember thinking I wanted to just keep reading!  Even without the kids!  One day while they were at school and I was making up their rooms and beds, I saw the book laying there on their desk.  I picked it up and began reading just part of the next chapter.  But I stopped myself about two sentences in.  I knew the kids would be upset if I read on ahead since we were all so into the story by that point.

The novel is plainly and simply about a young girl (Georgina) who has found herself in the worse possible situation a kid could be in.  She and her brother, along with their mother who struggles working two jobs, are homeless.  They live in their car.  Feeling desperate and wanting to change her circumstances, Georgina hatches a plan to steal a dog for what she believes are all the right reasons.  What she doesn't see coming is how the whole process would change her as a person and lead to an outcome she never saw coming. 

This book is SO wonderful for SO many reasons!  My kids and I were able to have several discussions about homelessness and gratitude and what a wonderfully blessed thing it is to have a warm bed to sleep in at night.  We also had wonderful discussions about character, choices, and doing the right thing.  And we laughed.  We laughed and laughed!  The characters in this book came alive (if I do say so myself) because I absolutely loved sharing their words and expressions in an animated way with my kids.  They got a kick out of it.  Every night after we'd finished our chapters and turned out the lights, I'd say out loud to them (in my best North Carolina accent)  "Now ya'll gone ta sleep, ya hear Georgina & Toby?"  We'd all have a giggle and the boys would jokingly argue over who got to be Georgina and who got to be Toby.  We found ourselves repeating words and phrases from characters in the book just for the fun of it.

If you have kids ages 5 and up, I would *HIGHLY* recommend this read for them.  In fact, read it WITH them.  You'll all get so much more out of it.  It's a wonderful story about real life problems, but presented in a way that kids can appreciate and understand.  I just can't say enough about how  much we enjoyed it.  I hope you do, too.

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Bike ride

Sometimes football practice being cancelled can be a blessing.  Yes, even for me, a great football fan.  Because of the strong thunderstorms we had earlier today, my son's afternoon football practice was cancelled because the fields were too wet up at the school.

So, after dinner we went on a bike ride instead.  Nevermind that I hadn't been on one in AGES!  I rode like an old pro!  I loved telling the story of how I even got my bike!  My son thought it was pretty cool that I WON my Trek mountain bike during a prize giveaway MANY years ago at the Limited store.  They were having this promotion where everyone that came into the store got a  little scratch-off ticket that would reveal 10%, 20%, 50% off clothes or even other cool prizes like a Trek bike and sunglasses, and such.  I, coincidentally, was the winner of the bike!  It was cool to win something like that at my age.  I think I was maybe 18 or so.

Some 18 years later I am now looking forward to keeping its tires aired up and going on frequent bike rides with the kids as long as the weather is nice.  Which probably won't be for long.  But that's a whole other blog post!

Throwback Thursday: Keep your kids safe

Although school may have started in your neck of the woods, it IS officially still summer.  With that in mind, I'm sharing this Throwback Thursday post so that none of us forget it IS still hot out and it IS still unsafe to leave kids in the car.  For any reason.

[Originally posted June9, 2009]

This is not a me-shaking-my-finger-at-other-moms post, but I will have to admit, I did do a bit of finger shaking last week at something I witnessed.

I was in the parking lot of Target getting ready to leave and as I entered my car, I looked up and saw that the car parked in front of me contained two young boys - alone. Yes, the mom had left two young boys (probably around age 4 and 7) alone in the car. They were bopping around, making their way from the back to the front seats, and then back around again. I did notice that the windows were cracked open and although it definitely was NOT a sweltering hot day, the temperature was a bit up there, even for being here Kansas.

I sat in my car thinking about all the things that were wrong with that picture. I mean, how hard is it to take boys of that age off the car with you? I remember dreading having to wake my sleeping 9 month old up from a carseat nap, or have a restless and and rambunctious 2 year-old in tow with me at the store, but I still did it! At ages 4 and 7, the boys can at least walk on their own and keep up. And if not, can easily understand the consequences of their poor behaviors if they choose not to be behave in the store.

I remember tweeting about it before getting ready to leave. So, just as I was getting ready to back out of my parking space, along comes the mother - heading for the driver's side door. Guess what she had along with her? Yet another little boy who was maybe 2 or 3 years old! Seriously, how much sense does that make?

So moms, this summer as the heat begins to make its way through your town, please, please remember - never leave your kids in the car. Not even for a moment, not even for five minutes to 'just run in and get a couple of things'.

Don't make me shake my finger at you! Pretty, please?