July 26th, 2010 at 09:11pm
Under Teens/Tweens
On Sunday afternoon, set up an assembly line at the kitchen table.
You will need:
- Bread for as many sandwiches to feed the family for one week.
- Luncheon meats, tuna fish, PB& J, or whatever else you and the kids like.
- Labels or scraps of paper for labeling.
- Sandwich bags or tin foil, whatever you prefer.
How to do it:
- Have the kids lay out all the bread on cookie sheets or parchment paper on the kitchen table.
- Also have piles of lunch meats, condiments, peanut butter and jelly. Have kids make all the sandwiches.
- Have the kids label them.
- Put the sandwiches in your freezer where the kids can see them and the labels. (If you have a deep freeze with a top rack, or your fridge has a bottom freezer this works best for kids to see and reach.)
- In the fridge or on the counter have a fruit bowl available where the kids can grab an apple, orange, banana…
- In the cabinet or on the counter have a dessert/snack dish available with portion size snacks available to add to the lunches. (pre-measure the snacks- raisins, cookies, crackers, cheese in snack size sandwich bags-kids can also do this and it is cheaper than buying them already snack sized)
- In the morning before sitting down to breakfast have the kids choose a sandwich from the freezer, a piece of fruit, a snack, dessert, napkin, etc. (If they go to day camp or daycare have them put the items in the lunch box. If you do this for August, getting ready for return to school will be a breeze!)
You do the same- again think of all the money you will save by not eating lunch out!
Parent Hint: If you prefer salad for lunch, while preparing the dinner salad make extra and put in plastic wear. Make extra chicken or other protein, such as tofu, salmon, steak,etc. at dinner and during cleanup add this to your salad. A few cranberries, and almonds, a sprinkle of oil and vinegar and you are good to go! Store in fridge and grab in the morning!
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Tags: calm parenting, meal time, parenting, parenting powers
By Susan Epstein
July 19th, 2010 at 09:44pm
Under Children+ Family+ Teens/Tweens
If you are like me, you have thousands of details running around in your head. Sometimes you might be doing one thing and a thought comes flying in… “Oh yeah! I forgot I have to make that doctor’s appointment.” And then it leaves your head and doesn’t get done…maybe for months!
Recently I have found that it helps to make lists. I fought this for years thinking that it would feel worse to see everything that I wanted or needed to do on paper. But I was wrong. The list is amazing. First, it allows me to free associate, mind dump, clear…whatever you want to call it. (Even if I didn’t take it a step further than that it is helpful.)
Secondly, it allows me to prioritize and decide what needs immediate attention, what I can put off, what I can group together (such as errands or phone calls). And third, there is magic in the writing down. I had been wanting to go back to the gym for months! Talked about it, imagined it…all that. I didn’t go. Last night I opened my calendar and made an appointment with myself for 8:00am Monday morning. Guess what? Yup, I went. Magic.
What do you want to accomplish? Where can you write it down? Let me know.
For specific help with streamlining your home and getting rid of chaos and overwhelm….check out:
Are You Tired of Nagging?
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Tags: calm parenting, parenting, parenting powers, taking care of yourself
By Susan Epstein
July 19th, 2010 at 07:44pm
Under Teens/Tweens
The well known African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child” brings many thoughts and emotions to my mind. I know it to be true from personal experience as a child who grew up in a single parent home. I have fond memories of the neighbors who monitored our comings and goings, as well as the mischief we got into while our parents were working during the day. I also remember marveling at how quickly word traveled to my parents when things got out of hand! Discouraged as we were at our inability to ‘get away’ with anything, I must say that it was also very comforting to know there were adults around us who cared about what we were doing – good, bad or indifferent.
Now as the parent, my role has changed quite a bit! But the need for a network of support around us has not. As a working mom with a husband who travels, I depend on trusted individuals (some family, some not) who help take care of the kids when other responsibilities take us away. Our children are young (ages 4 ½, 3 and 9 mos.), so at this stage, we want to ensure their needs are being met through consistent loving, caring relationships with other adults in and outside the family. Building this support network has been an enriching experience for all of us, as we’ve watched the children develop close relationships with the other adults in their lives whom they trust and love.
For some parents, the idea of branching out to non-family members for support may seem a little far-fetched. Others may feel guilt or just not comfortable asking for help. It’s important though, to recognize the benefits that this would bring to you and your child(ren). Developmentally, it is essential for children to know that in addition to their parents there are other adults, neighbors, teachers who will be there to offer love and support in their lives. Equally as important is the need for you, the parent, to make time for yourself and pursue your passions in life. Remember, taking care of you is taking care of your kids!
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Tags: calm parenting, Children, parenting advice, Parenting Calm, parenting powers, taking care of yourself
By Susan Epstein
July 13th, 2010 at 01:39pm
Under Teens/Tweens
Making time for you, while parenting, can be a huge challenge. Sometimes it might feel like likes an impossibility…your job, long commute, household chores, kids activities, busing the kids to and from, laundry, meal prep, shopping, cleaning…..tired yet? So where do you fit it eating right, exercising, socializing, solitude, meditation and prayer, fun? This week, I want you to do some research, that means keep track of what you do and when you do it. Note everything down to the nitty gritty.
Notice these things…
- How many times you check your email or your phone
- Get distracted from what you are doing and not complete tasks
- How much structure you have in place in your day
- Bed time routines, meal time routines, etc..
Now think about how you might streamline these activities and come up with a plan of how you are going to do this. Join us for a free tele-class on July 19th.
Click here for more information
Clean up your organization and make time for FUN!
And if you need more….also…
For specific help and techniques on bedtime, meal time, computer/phone control, etc…check out the Parenting Powers System book.
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Tags: Children, communication, making time for you, parenting, parenting powers, susan epstein, teens
By Susan Epstein
July 6th, 2010 at 10:10am
Under Teens/Tweens
Summer is a great time to put into place family rituals, things that you do over and over again every summer. It could be that you eat outdoors or that you take a walk together after dinner. It might be that you go camping or take some type of family vacation together or visit relatives. It doesn’t matter what you do or if it costs $ or is free…what matters most is the TIME together. This is fairly easy to make happen with some children but how do you entice children with special needs and tweens and teens to participate in family time?
- During your family meeting brain storm things that they want to do (it is important that you have buy in from them…believe me….it will be much more pleasant)
- Be conscious of your child’s developmental stage. For kids with short attention spans change up the activities frequently (every 40 minutes or so) so they don’t start acting up. Better to end the activity while it is still fun rather than running it into the ground..(a real recipe for a meltdown)
- Correct- don’t punish…kids will act out…expect it and be proactive.
- Take pictures
- Do the same activity again next summer and ever summer thereafter.
Leave a comment on what you are planning with your family this summer!
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Tags: Children, family rituals, family time, parenting advice, parenting powers, summer vacations, susan epstein, teens, tweens
By Susan Epstein
