This sounds like a no brainer right? I mean who doesn't play with their kids? Actually you'd be surprised a lot of people don't. And actually do YOU?
Do your kids play while you are busy doing housework , checking email or are on the phone? Do you play with them when you go to the park or do you spend your time talking to other parents? These things are fine and necessary, (yes, if you are home all day with kids chatting with other moms becomes a necessity), but playing WITH your kids is important too.
Lots of parents, including myself have gotten caught up into making sure that playtime with their kids is a planned event that is education and "worthwhile." These activities are great too, but don't let details get you bogged down and keep you from enjoying your kids.
Yes, independent play is an important skill and you are not your child's personal entertainment. But playing with your kids for just a short time a day is beneficial to both of you.
Playing with your kids can be simple. Just grab a car, train or doll that they are playing with and join in. Don't worry if you feel dorky your kids won't care. Make some with play-doh instead of it letting your kids have all the fun.Help your baby stack blocks or race your preschooler to the tree and back.
If you can throw some extra learning in (For example: here's a blue block or now lets race from the short to the tall tree) that great but don't over think it. Just spending the time with your child and making it about him or her will be more essential in the long run. You will help build social skills and confidence. Also if you give your kids some uninterrupted time quality time they are less likely to nag you to death later just for attention. Plus you'll just feel happier and better about your self as a parent.
Well I have two little boys waiting to get outside and PLAY!
The how to place for moms
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Why Grilling is Great
There are many reasons why it grilling is a great way to cook. First off it's healthy because it adds little fat or oils to your foods. Also many vegetables grill-up wonderfully so kids who normally turn their nose up to veggies might actually try some. Grilled fruit can make a delicious yet healthy dessert. Steaks, burgers and hot dogs seem to be typical grilling staples but lighter meats like lean pork, fish,chicken and turkey breast grill up great as well.
During the summer heat it keeps the house from getting heated by your oven or stove, which in turn saves money on the energy that is needed to run the A/C or a fan.
Grilling is usually quick and easy and if you make foil packets you can put them together earlier in the day and just toss them on the grill when it's time to cook. Also tools like a a grill basket or a grill pan (a pan that has holes in it that is made for using on the grill) can help you break out of the box of "normal" grill fare by allowing you to stir fry or cook small pieces of meat and vegetables.
Kids love to cook and prepping food for the grill is a fantastic way to get them involved. Also many grilled meals can easily be personalized for all tastes. When making shish-ka-bobs or foil packets have a variety of ingredients available and let everyone assemble their own using their favorites.
Also,the only time many husbands cook is when it's on the grill. I discovered this quite by accident the summer my second child was born. My oldest was only 18 months when her sister was born at the end of June. As most moms know there are some days when you just don't want to or just don't have the energy or mental capacity cook,especially with a brand new baby and toddler to care for. It didn't take me long to learn whenever I took the food out to the grill my husband was there taking it out of my arms. So I started saving the grilled meals for those days described above. It also didn't take long for my husband to figure out what I was doing but he appreciated that I had him cook the way he enjoyed when I wanted a hand with dinner.
Monday, July 19, 2010
No More Manic Mondays- Menu Planning
Planning a weekly menu is smart for a few reasons. First off writing a menu helps build your grocery list. If you plan everything for the week you won't have to run off to the store continually in order to have all the ingredients you need for dinner. This will save time, gas and money since you won't have so many chances to buy things you don't really need.
Also, by planning a menu will help those rushed moments trying to figure out what to make for dinner while the kids are whining that they are hunger and you're already running late to drop off various family members at various evening activities.
There are a couple ways to write a menu. Some like to plan every meal for each day and it is pretty much set in stone. I like a more lax approach. Generally before writing my menu I check the calendar and see what's planned for the week. Days that I'll be busy all day or need sometime to grab before running the kids in the evening,or if my husband has to fend for himself I plan slow cooker meals. The rest of the week
I number and list meals and then when I decide what to make for dinner I just look at the list and decide what i feel like making or eating or what my husband is in the mood for.
I can't tell you how many times I that the meal I made for dinner was the exact meal that my husband had for lunch. It's not just on spaghetti or taco night this has happened when I made things like pork tenderloin or baked fish. So I usually check with my hubby.
What techniques do you use for writing your menu? Please feel free to share your ideas or tips.
Also, by planning a menu will help those rushed moments trying to figure out what to make for dinner while the kids are whining that they are hunger and you're already running late to drop off various family members at various evening activities.
There are a couple ways to write a menu. Some like to plan every meal for each day and it is pretty much set in stone. I like a more lax approach. Generally before writing my menu I check the calendar and see what's planned for the week. Days that I'll be busy all day or need sometime to grab before running the kids in the evening,or if my husband has to fend for himself I plan slow cooker meals. The rest of the week
I number and list meals and then when I decide what to make for dinner I just look at the list and decide what i feel like making or eating or what my husband is in the mood for.
I can't tell you how many times I that the meal I made for dinner was the exact meal that my husband had for lunch. It's not just on spaghetti or taco night this has happened when I made things like pork tenderloin or baked fish. So I usually check with my hubby.
What techniques do you use for writing your menu? Please feel free to share your ideas or tips.
Friday, July 16, 2010
The Importance of Pampering Yourself
As moms we naturally give our bests to others whether its to our kids, our husband, our friends our bosses, we tend to put ourselves last. This is not a bad thing, as Christians we are called to serve others. (See Mark 10:43-45, Luke 22:27, Proverbs 31;10-31)
Yet because we are human we can feel burned out, or used. Sometimes as moms we can feel like we are not truly appreciated; that a maid or a cook or a taxi service would get as much gratitude as we do from our families. Those are times we need to sit back and remember why we do what we do. We need to remember those wet oatmeal kisses are worth more than gold and that the sparkle in a child's eye can sometimes say thank you better than his words. These are the times we need to look at the blessings we have been given and remind ourselves to be thankful for them. In the words of the Veggie Tales "A thankful heart is a happy heart.I'm thankful for for what I have it's an easy place to start."
That said these feelings of discontentment and of being unappreciated can be staved by not only caring for our families but for ourselves as well. A wise woman gave me some wonderful advice when oldest daughter was born and I decided to be a stay at home mom. She told me find a hobby or activity- something that was mine- so when the kids grew up and moved out I would not feel useless.
I have also learned over the years that I have learned from various sources that there are three aspects of ourselves that we need to care for and nurture. They are our physical, mental/intellectual and spiritual well being.
Physical well being is our health, nutrition, fitness, hygiene and appearance. By appearance I mean we feel better about ourselves if we look our best. It can be as simple has having our face washed,our teeth and hair brushed and clean clothes on (even ifthe baby has spit up on you three times in the last hour.) I don't mean we have to put on make-up if we normally wouldn't or wear designer clothes. My mom once told me about a woman who showered and changed her clothes and did her hair everyday at 3:00 before her husband got home from work and her kids returned from school. It not only made her feel good about herself it also helped her relationship with her husband because she felt it was important for her husband to come home to a wife who looked as nice as the house did instead of to a slob in sweats. Sometimes just taking an extra 10 minutes in the shower or a coat of nail polish on our finger or toenails is all we need to feel better about ourselves.
Moms and dads who are primarily at home with kids,especially young kids who don't speak well, can feel like their brains have gone to mush. This is why we need to take care of our mental or intellectual health. Make it a priority to exercise your brain. Try to read at least a few times a week. It doesn't have to be classic literature to use your mind, a magazine or web article will work. (Look, you're doing it now.) Word games or even video puzzle games can stimulate your problem solving or critical thinking skills. You can also take a class or try a new hobby. My library has many programs throughout the year for various age groups. Although it doesn't usually work out for me to take an adult class, taking my kids benefits me as well. By taking my youngest to lap sit story time I get one-on-one time with my son, the focus is on my child rather than a mommy gossip group (not all mom groups are like this I just had bad experience in the past so I tend to steer clear of these)yet I have a brief chance to interact with other adults. Or when I take my three year old to the story time where care-givers are not required I have 30 minutes of me time at the library to look for books, read magazines or chat with the other moms.
Humans are spiritual creatures. As a Christian it is important for me to care for my faith by studying God's word, worshiping God, fellowship with other Christians, and serving the Lord and others. I encourage you to do what is necessary to care for your spiritual side.
Wow, I realize this is a long post,but that is because I feel it is very important. Please share your thought or ideas on how to pamper yourself. On up-coming Fridays I will post ideas of how to pamper and care for yourself.
Yet because we are human we can feel burned out, or used. Sometimes as moms we can feel like we are not truly appreciated; that a maid or a cook or a taxi service would get as much gratitude as we do from our families. Those are times we need to sit back and remember why we do what we do. We need to remember those wet oatmeal kisses are worth more than gold and that the sparkle in a child's eye can sometimes say thank you better than his words. These are the times we need to look at the blessings we have been given and remind ourselves to be thankful for them. In the words of the Veggie Tales "A thankful heart is a happy heart.I'm thankful for for what I have it's an easy place to start."
That said these feelings of discontentment and of being unappreciated can be staved by not only caring for our families but for ourselves as well. A wise woman gave me some wonderful advice when oldest daughter was born and I decided to be a stay at home mom. She told me find a hobby or activity- something that was mine- so when the kids grew up and moved out I would not feel useless.
I have also learned over the years that I have learned from various sources that there are three aspects of ourselves that we need to care for and nurture. They are our physical, mental/intellectual and spiritual well being.
Physical well being is our health, nutrition, fitness, hygiene and appearance. By appearance I mean we feel better about ourselves if we look our best. It can be as simple has having our face washed,our teeth and hair brushed and clean clothes on (even ifthe baby has spit up on you three times in the last hour.) I don't mean we have to put on make-up if we normally wouldn't or wear designer clothes. My mom once told me about a woman who showered and changed her clothes and did her hair everyday at 3:00 before her husband got home from work and her kids returned from school. It not only made her feel good about herself it also helped her relationship with her husband because she felt it was important for her husband to come home to a wife who looked as nice as the house did instead of to a slob in sweats. Sometimes just taking an extra 10 minutes in the shower or a coat of nail polish on our finger or toenails is all we need to feel better about ourselves.
Moms and dads who are primarily at home with kids,especially young kids who don't speak well, can feel like their brains have gone to mush. This is why we need to take care of our mental or intellectual health. Make it a priority to exercise your brain. Try to read at least a few times a week. It doesn't have to be classic literature to use your mind, a magazine or web article will work. (Look, you're doing it now.) Word games or even video puzzle games can stimulate your problem solving or critical thinking skills. You can also take a class or try a new hobby. My library has many programs throughout the year for various age groups. Although it doesn't usually work out for me to take an adult class, taking my kids benefits me as well. By taking my youngest to lap sit story time I get one-on-one time with my son, the focus is on my child rather than a mommy gossip group (not all mom groups are like this I just had bad experience in the past so I tend to steer clear of these)yet I have a brief chance to interact with other adults. Or when I take my three year old to the story time where care-givers are not required I have 30 minutes of me time at the library to look for books, read magazines or chat with the other moms.
Humans are spiritual creatures. As a Christian it is important for me to care for my faith by studying God's word, worshiping God, fellowship with other Christians, and serving the Lord and others. I encourage you to do what is necessary to care for your spiritual side.
Wow, I realize this is a long post,but that is because I feel it is very important. Please share your thought or ideas on how to pamper yourself. On up-coming Fridays I will post ideas of how to pamper and care for yourself.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Salt versus Iodine Consumption
This is a bit different from my normal Tuesday post, but I thought it was important to share and this was the best place to share.
I received an email from the Self Nutrition Data news. It contained a very interesting article about the reduction of iodine in the average American diet. The article explained that although sodium consumption has gone up, iodine consumption has gone down. Much of this is sue to the increase consumption of package foods, but the reduction of adding salt to cooking. The sodium in packaged foods does not contain iodine like table does.
In my own personal cooking I have switched to natural sea salt, however while researching this topic I have discovered two things 1. sea salt does not contain enough iodine for body (come on now the label does warn us-it is stating the truth) and 2. iodine is important for a healthy thyroid, a good metabolism, and the prevention of birth defects.
An iodine deficiency can be linked with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, frustration and lower IQ, physical issues such as dry skin, constipation,weight gain and fatigue.
A 1/4 teaspoon of iodized salt contains 95 micrograms of salt. Depending on age 1/8 to 1/2 teaspoon of iodized salt will contain your daily requirement. According to A to Z of Health, Beauty and Fitness here are the daily requirements of iodine:
Infants: 40- 50 micrograms, Children 1-3: 70 micrograms, ages 4-6: 90 micrograms, ages 7-10: 120 micrograms, ages 11- adult: 150 micrograms, pregnant women: 175 micrograms and breastfeeding women need 200 micrograms a day.
Disclaimer and legal jargon: This is information I have come across and passed along because I find it interesting. It is by no means intended to diagnosed or treat a condition or illness. Do not change your diet or follow any advice in this article without contacting your doctor or health professional.
I received an email from the Self Nutrition Data news. It contained a very interesting article about the reduction of iodine in the average American diet. The article explained that although sodium consumption has gone up, iodine consumption has gone down. Much of this is sue to the increase consumption of package foods, but the reduction of adding salt to cooking. The sodium in packaged foods does not contain iodine like table does.
In my own personal cooking I have switched to natural sea salt, however while researching this topic I have discovered two things 1. sea salt does not contain enough iodine for body (come on now the label does warn us-it is stating the truth) and 2. iodine is important for a healthy thyroid, a good metabolism, and the prevention of birth defects.
An iodine deficiency can be linked with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, frustration and lower IQ, physical issues such as dry skin, constipation,weight gain and fatigue.
A 1/4 teaspoon of iodized salt contains 95 micrograms of salt. Depending on age 1/8 to 1/2 teaspoon of iodized salt will contain your daily requirement. According to A to Z of Health, Beauty and Fitness here are the daily requirements of iodine:
Infants: 40- 50 micrograms, Children 1-3: 70 micrograms, ages 4-6: 90 micrograms, ages 7-10: 120 micrograms, ages 11- adult: 150 micrograms, pregnant women: 175 micrograms and breastfeeding women need 200 micrograms a day.
Disclaimer and legal jargon: This is information I have come across and passed along because I find it interesting. It is by no means intended to diagnosed or treat a condition or illness. Do not change your diet or follow any advice in this article without contacting your doctor or health professional.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Welcome to Wiki Mom
I would like you to join me as I share my ideas, triumphs and mistakes as a stay at home mom of four. I am by no means an expert or the perfect mom.I am just a lady who loves God, her husband and her kids.
I have a somewhat interesting perspective to motherhood because I have two teenage daughters 18 months apart and two toddler/preschooler sons two years apart. Yes they they are all the from the same father/husband but God chose to give us 2 "sets" kids almost 12 years apart. I was 20 when my oldest daughter was born and 33 when my oldest son was born so I have been the young mom and now I am one of the older moms. I am a mom of teenagers so I am currently going through milestones like driving and dating. Yet I am a mom of little ones so at the same time I am going through challenges like baby proofing, potty training, picky eaters and understanding "kid-speak."
Please check the tabs above. Each one contains themed articles. I am trying to do a different theme each day and I am putting all the articles from one day on it'sown page for easier access.
I invite to share your stories and your comments. If you have a related blog post feel free to add a link or link my blog back to yours.
-Kim
Latest Articles:
http://wikimom.blogspot.com/p/no-more-manic-mondays.html
I have a somewhat interesting perspective to motherhood because I have two teenage daughters 18 months apart and two toddler/preschooler sons two years apart. Yes they they are all the from the same father/husband but God chose to give us 2 "sets" kids almost 12 years apart. I was 20 when my oldest daughter was born and 33 when my oldest son was born so I have been the young mom and now I am one of the older moms. I am a mom of teenagers so I am currently going through milestones like driving and dating. Yet I am a mom of little ones so at the same time I am going through challenges like baby proofing, potty training, picky eaters and understanding "kid-speak."
Please check the tabs above. Each one contains themed articles. I am trying to do a different theme each day and I am putting all the articles from one day on it'sown page for easier access.
I invite to share your stories and your comments. If you have a related blog post feel free to add a link or link my blog back to yours.
-Kim
Latest Articles:
http://wikimom.blogspot.com/p/no-more-manic-mondays.html
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