Baking With Kids!

Why Being A Mom is Worth It

Note from my son 7-year-old son (translated as best I could)

Dear Mom and Dad,

You have guided me through life.  You have always been there for me my entire life.  And, Dad, you have always been my buddy my whole life.  And you are the only boy there for me when I need you.  I love you, Dad.

Mom, you have done everything to make life better. I love you mom.  If it wasn't for both of you.  I wouldn't be here right now.   I love you Mom and Dad.  You are the best parents.  Anyone would want you for parents, but you guys are here.  You are loved most with us. 

From Mom and Dad,

Because of you, I am home and I'm where I'm supposed to be with you guys.  I'm home.

Crying Kids? Encourage it.

 

 

 

Well, maybe not always.   Crying for attention, show or just plain whining, isn't quite what I'm referring to.

 

 

However, crying emotional tears (genuine frustration, anger, sadness) is very healthy and important--even for boys!  Your moody teen?   The perfect example of someone who should be allowed to cry--and often.  (Just think back to your pregnancy and those wacky fluctuating emotions.)

Research shows emotional tears release harmful chemicals and stressors from our bodies. They also contain natural endorphins, painkillers and antidepressant chemicals.   For more detailed information visit: Go Ahead and Cry

How 'My Plan to Teach My Kids Responsibility' is Working:

Sadly these are NOT before pictures.

They are AFTER.

If by chance, you would like to try this method….or more likely just want to know what I’m referring to, click here. 

Or here, for the simplified version.

Irony

Why is it that my kids will put EVERY towel they touch (easily three a day) in the hamper, and yet, not one piece of clothing makes it to the bin?

My Floor

A little help around here! PLEASE

I'm tired of picking up after my  kids.  What mom isn't?    Every day, it's six pairs of dirty socks on the floor (we don't even have that many feet in the house), old school work strewn about, dirty clothes,  hairbrushes, "artwork," blah, blah, blah.  We all know the drill.   Like most moms (well, I hope I'm like most moms) I've tried everything: no TV, canceled invites, double chores, screaming, swearing (yes, I've resorted to the "shock therapy," although it really isn't shocking at all for a teenager).  Of course, nothing works.  
 

I do not want to try the strike method.  You know, where the mom stops doing EVERYTHING, and four months later the rest of the family finally notices?Effective or not, it's gross.  Who really gets punished when dishes are piled to the ceiling and the laundry room smells of mildew?   Believe me, kids don't care that much.  

I do have one more idea.  It's bold, brash, daring, actually more than anything it's probably pointless.  We'll see.  I'm going to do what I always do: CLEAN UP AFTER MY KIDS.  Why?  Because I want a clean house. I don't want to be invited on a hoarding show; I don't want to climb over rat-attracting piles to get from my bedroom to the kitchen. I don't want to see, hear, breathe, walk on or touch filth!
 
Don't worry, I'm not giving in.  There is a catch. Instead of putting my kids' clothes in the washing machine, I will throw them on their bedroom floors.  Old papers?   Bedroom floor.   Jacket?  Floor.
Books, hair ties, trinkets, toys, gadgets, etc., all on the bedroom floor.  Then I will close the doors tightly.   Everyone will think my house is neat and tidy.  

I have no idea if my kids will even notice. Like the blogger who went on strike, only time will tell if this method proves effective.  I can guarantee I will get blamed when they can't find any clean clothes--or their bedroom floor!  I do promise this: I won't help them find what they're looking for.  Let them finally have to sort through their junk.

 

How to Get Out of Making Dinner

I'll be the first to admit it.  Dinner wouldn't be such a bad thing, if it wasn't a requirement every single night.  Night, after night, after night. If you have picky children like I do, it's even more irritating.  Surely, I'm not the only mom who has slaved (yes, slaved, I'm calling it like I see it) over a hot stove, to have not just one or even two kids complain, but every single one.  And worse, if I'd truly made what their father and I would have preferred (something containing more than two ingredients) I would actually get to enjoy the meal myself. 

Here's the Mom Wants A Life answer:

1)      Teach your child how to cook:  microwaves and toasters are relatively safe, right?  And they make decent toasted cheeses, bagel pizzas and cheesy quesadilla.

2)      Declare a cereal night:  My kids absolutely love cereal night.  Unfortunately, this option only works when my husband is out of town.  For some reason he doesn’t find joy in fine cereal.   Please be aware, there are rules to cereal night: the kids must choose a relatively healthy variety.  (Tips on what a healthy variety looks like: the cereal is typically a toasted brown  (no vibrant colors), the box is free of cartoon characters or Disney stars, sometimes dried fruits or nuts are included, and the milk in the bowl stays white. 

The best part about cereal night is that you can add a dessert if you'd like.  Choices include, but are not limited to: Captain Crunch, Fruit Loops, etc.  (Tips on what a dessert cereal looks like: it contains any or all colors of the rainbow, the front of the box looks like a children's TV show, any fruits included are man-made, and last, the liquid in the bowl no longer resembles milk after the first bite.

3)      Once a week, Introduce your children to the RAW diet:  Remind them, and yourself, how healthy raw is: Grab a plate and pick out two servings vegetables (uncooked of course,) two services of fruit, and for protein a handful of peanuts or almonds. Voila.  Three minutes from fridge to table, and zero guilt.  Add a slice of bread, and you've covered the best of the food pyramid.  

4)      Casually mention to your neighbor how much your children rave about her (insert whatever meal your neighbor has just prepared).   Immediately add that you simply have not been able to replicate said dish to the perfection she has managed. Innocently ask, "Can my kids try a few bites so they can tell me what's missing?"  Proceed to hand her a large plate for each hungry child.

5)        Repetitively tell your children they already ate.   After the tenth protest that they have NOT eaten dinner and are starving, reply: "Of course you had dinner (describe last night's dinner in detail). You're not really hungry, you're just tired.  In fact, you're soooo tired you can't even remember eating dinner."  Send them to bed.

 

 

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