Divine Parenting Tips

Image via WikipediaLast week, I was privileged to watch the April General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (yeah, that's the name of my church). No, I was not in Salt Lake where it was held but we get the CD and we view it at church 1 week later after it is held.

There were 28 speakers spread over 4 sessions (2 sessions per day). The speakers consisted of the First Presidency of the Church, the Quorum of the Twelve and of the Seventies. Yes, it was good to hear the prophet, his apostles and leaders giving divine counsel. I just want to share with you some of the things that were said that really helps me as a mother.

The talk by Lynn G Robbins titled "What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye To Be?" really touched my heart and opened my mind. I will share some excerpts here but I would recommend that you listen to the whole talk, especially if you are struggling with a difficult child. The 10 minutes you spare here will not be wasted. On the contrary, it may be the best parenting advice you hear.



Excerpts:

And to be good parents, one of the most important things we can teach our children is how to be more like the Savior. …

Christlike to be’s cannot be seen, but they are the motivating force behind what we do, which can be seen.

Because be begets do and is the motive behind do, teaching be will improve behavior more effectively than focusing on do will improve behavior.

If you are blessed with a child who tests your patience to the nth degree, you will be enrolled in Parenting 505. Rather than wonder what you might have done wrong in the premortal life to be so deserving, you might consider the more challenging child a blessing and opportunity to become more godlike yourself. With which child will your patience, long-suffering, and other Christlike virtues most likely be tested, developed, and refined? Could it be possible that you need this child as much as this child needs you?

We have all heard the advice to condemn the sin and not the sinner. Likewise, when our children misbehave, we must be careful not to say things that would cause them to believe that what they did wrong is who they are. “Never let failure progress from an action to an identity,” with its attendant labels like “stupid,” “slow,” “lazy,” or “clumsy.” 2 Our children are God’s children. That is their true identity and potential. His very plan is to help His children overcome mistakes and misdeeds and to progress to become as He is. Disappointing behavior, therefore, should be considered as something temporary, not permanent—an act, not an identity.

In helping children discover who they are and helping strengthen their self-worth, we can appropriately compliment their achievement or behavior—the do. But it would be even wiser to focus our primary praise on their character and beliefs—who they are

And so, I hope you will join me in teaching and focusing on what we want our children to be and not just trying to change their do.

I know families can be together forever. Yes, your spouse and children can be sealed to you beyond the grave. What a wonderful promise. I am grateful to know this truth and I want you to know it too. Knowing my family can be an eternal family helps me to appreciate and value my role as a mother. And it is wonderful counsel like this that strengthens me when parenting gets a little tough. I encourage you to learn more about how you can strengthen your family and work towards becoming an Eternal Family.

Leave me a comment and tell me if the talk by Lynn G Robbins was helpful to you.

How To Create A Homemade Easter Basket for Girls

One of the best things you can do for your children are create special memories for them. You can create a special memory this Easter by creating a special Easter basket for your children. If you have boys, you can check out my previous blog post: How To Make Your Own Easter Basket For Boys

This post is dedicated to creating Easter baskets for the princesses in your life. There are many different themes that you can use for a basket. With a little time and effort, you can have something that rivals the pre-packaged baskets from the store.

Flowers
What little girl doesn't like flowers? There are any number of adorable baskets and buckets with flowers on them. You could even put her things in a clay flowerpot. Decorating a plain container with either paint or stickers can personalize it even more. You could purchase a few packages of flower seeds and kid garden tools so she can plant her own flowerbed. Chocolate roses could also be a nice touch. You can find them in most stores, or buy molds and make your own. Depending on her personality, adding some gummy worms could be fun as well. Top it all off with a new Easter bonnet that can double as a gardening hat, covered in flowers.

Animals
If she loves animals (and what little girl doesn't?), you could put together a basket featuring her favorite animal. If the animal has a distinctive pattern, such as a zebra or giraffe, you could decorate the outside of a simple basket or bucket with the same pattern. You could probably even find a stencil at your local craft store. A small stuffed version of the animal is usually easy to find, instead of using the standard Easter bunny. There are many books and movies to chose from about animals of all shapes and sizes. It should be no problem to find an enjoyable one. Of course, no matter what her favorite animal is, she'll still enjoy having a chocolate bunny in her basket.

Fashion
Many girls love playing dress up and getting into mommy's makeup and clothes. Putting together some age appropriate makeup, or even play makeup for the younger girls, would be a nice treat. Add in some things for her hair, like barrettes, clips, ribbons, or headbands. A matching comb, brush, and mirror set can make a nice gift to add to the basket as well. Depending on the young lady's age, you could put in some of the candy jewelry, like necklaces and ring pops. The older girls would enjoy some fun jewelry as well.

There are many other possible themes for girls. If she collects a particular toy or figurine it can be used as a theme. Add some pretty tissue paper or Easter grass, some ribbons or bows and your basket is almost complete. There's an almost endless choice of candy out there to add for the finishing touch.

More Resources:
Get all your Easter sweets at EdibleGiftsPlus.

* Affiliate link

How To Make Your Own Easter Basket For Boys

What kid doesn't enjoy getting a basket of treats on Easter morning? Boys quickly outgrow stuffed bunnies and chicks, but still want a basket for Easter.

It can be fun to put together unique baskets for the sons, grandsons and nephews in your family. By focusing on their interests, and adding their favorite sweet treats, it can be pretty easy to put together great themed baskets.

Here are three ideas to inspire you to create your own homemade Easter baskets.

Sports
Whether the boys in your family play sports, or just enjoy watching their favorite team, a sport themed basket is sure to score big. Sports trading cards are always popular with young boys. Another easy idea is to use sports themed pencils and erasers; sometimes you can even find them for specific teams. If you are feeling creative, you can make cookies or candy with cutters or molds shaped like balls, bats and other sport equipment. Age appropriate books about their favorite sports or athletes can also be a great addition to their basket. If you buy a simple bucket, it can be decorated to fit the theme either with paint or stickers. One suggestion would be to draw lines on the outside of a bucket to look like a basketball hoop.

Vehicles
Boys of all ages love cars and trucks. A few small cars or trucks are a great gift idea. Older boys might enjoy putting together models. There are many nice snap-together models that don't require any glue or painting. If your boy enjoys drawing, there are books that can teach them how to draw and design their own cars. Car shaped cookies and candy can be fun. Remote control cars are also a great gift. There are even a number of kid friendly movies about cars out there. A cute basket could be made from a new NASCAR trashcan.

Science
Do you have a future scientist in your family? An archeologist? Putting together a science-themed kit is as easy as one, two, three. Find a few simple things, like a magnifying glass, small telescope, possibly some rocks, . Plastic dinosaurs are always popular. There are even kits you can find where the kids can "dig up" bones just like an archeologist. Adding dinosaur cookies and bug shaped candy provide the finishing touch. A book with kid-friendly experiments done with household items can be a great gift that is fun for the whole family.

Putting together your own Easter basket is not only fun, it is a more personal gift. With some smart shopping, it can be less expensive than the pre-packaged ones as well. It is easy to adapt any boy's interests into a nice gift for Easter.

More Resources:
Get all your Easter sweets at EdibleGiftsPlus.

* Affiliate link

Tips On How To Throw A Tantrum

See, they even have a tutorial on how to throw a tantrum :) It's not like our kids need it, they already know these stuff naturally.

You may laugh watching this cute video, but when you have to deal with your own children's tantrums, it is not so funny. So, if you are out of ideas how to stop the terrible tantrums, your answer is here: Happy Child Guide

It will change the way you think about these tantrums and give you a way to discipline your children without yelling.

How To Make Your Own Convenience Foods

Image via WikipediaHave you ever encountered a day when you didn't have time to cook a nice meal for the family? What did you do? Let's see what options are available:

• Go out to eat
• Drive by a fast food restaurant
• Call for some pizza
  
• Decide it's time to visit your mom, aunt, best friend etc... (whoever you think will invite you to stay for lunch/dinner)
• Microwave one of those frozen dinners
• See what can food you have in the pantry

All of these options just spell one thing: Convenience Foods.

Although they are great when you are in a rush, it's not very healthy and neither is it cheap.
A better option would be to make your own convenience foods.

The Happy Housewife has shared some recipes so you can make some homemade convenience foods. If you want more recipes (about 200 of them), Hillbilly Housewife has compiled that for you in her new book. Click this affiliate link of mine to get it (plus bonuses too):

HOMEMADE CONVENIENCE FOODS EBOOK

Unique Mother's Day Gifts

How will you choose your Mother's Day gift this year? Well, there are several ways to go about this:

• Practical gifts - Give her something that she can use. Moms appreciate things, gadgets and stuff that will help her save time and effort. Help her become more efficient.
• Jewelry and accessories - Make sure you know what kind of style she likes.
  
• Nice-to-have gifts - Teddy bears and flowers would be in this category. More examples would be like mugs, Luxury Heatable Cozy Boots and a Telescopic Backscratcher.
• Electronic gadgets - Yes, some moms like gadgets too.
  
• Edible gifts - Her favorite cake, cupcakes, cookies, gourmet chocolates. Fill a basket with your mom's favorite snacks.
• Homemade gifts - Kids can easily make this lollipop flower and write their own heartfelt messages. Not so crafty? It's okay. Why not put together a coupon book filled with service coupons just for mom.

Whatever gift you choose, don't forget the most important gift of all... TIME OUT FOR MOM. Yes, give your mom a day to pamper herself. Let her refresh her spirits and allow her time to do the things she wants to do (but hardly get to do). Show your love for her through your actions, and not just with words and gifts.

Here are some cute, unique gift ideas for Mother's Day.



Throwzini Knife Block
I know some people don't like the idea of giving knives as a gift. But look how cute this is. Mom gets a new set of super sharp knives that makes her cooking easier. And the knife block not only properly protects the knives but also adds some style to the kitchen.



FunKey Boards
Make mom's computer more uniquely hers with a non-generic looking keyboard. The FunKey stickers are placed on each individual key, which blend together to create an awesome theme or one eye-catching graphic!



Power Pouch

So mom never runs out of power, give her this universal solar charger. What can she do with it? Charge just about all of her everyday rechargeable gadgets and gizmos – mobile phones, MP3 players, iPods, GPS devices, PDAs.

*Contains affiliate links

Moms, Are You Taking Care of Yourself?

The one thing mothers fear most is their children getting sick. They are always taking care of their children's health and wellness that sometimes they forget that they need to look after their own health as well.

For example, mothers have to make sure that the kids are up, dressed and fed before they head off to school first thing every morning. Then, for many mothers, they are off to work themselves. Once work is finished, it’s time to hurry back home and take the kids to their extracurricular activities, run errands, pick them back up, go home, fix dinner, make sure the kids’ homework gets done, they bathe and brush their teeth and are in bed at a decent hour. Of course, all of this is excluding the extra stuff like keeping the house clean, doing laundry, paying bills, etc.

Now you can probably see why many mothers aren’t concerned with their health. You may be one of these women yourself. If so, then please understand that it’s important for you to stay healthy. After all, if you get sick then who is going to get everything done? Below are some healthy tips that you need to follow to ensure your good health.

• Tip #1 – Eat
  Obviously, you don’t have a lot of time to eat, but this is essential to staying healthy. Most of us know that we need to eat three meals a day, but do you also know that you should be eating at least two snacks a day as well? This will keep your metabolism going and your energy levels up – so don’t skimp on your food. You should be eating healthy foods too. Things like yogurt, fruit, granola bars and nuts are quick, easy and healthy!
  
  
• Tip #2 – Drink
  Water that is. In addition to eating healthy foods, you need to be drinking water throughout your day. We’ve all heard the “8 glasses a day” speech so I’m not going to give it to you again. Just stay properly hydrated. It will keep your energy levels up as well as flush the impurities out of your body and ward off urinary tract infections and much more.
  
  
• Tip #3 – Exercise
  Your body needs exercise each day and it doesn’t care whether you’re a mother or not. Although you may find yourself busy throughout the day and exhausted at the end of the day, it’s important that you squeeze in at least 20-30 minutes of exercise each day. There are several ways you can do this. For instance, you can go on a walk after dinner, play Xbox Kinect or Nintendo Wii games with your family or enroll in a yoga class at a fitness club.
  
  
• Tip #4 – Be Happy
  As women and mothers, we tend to overload ourselves with work, family and worries. There isn’t much time to focus on being happy. However, this is important too. Studies have shown that, generally, happy people are healthier people. In order to become happier, consider setting aside a little time for yourself every day – or week – to do something you like doing. This time will help you feel refreshed and become happier.
  
  
• Tip #5 – Sleep
  Getting a good night of sleep is critical to your overall health. Sleep is when your body recharges itself. So, naturally, if you aren’t getting enough sleep you aren’t operating on a “full battery,” which means you’ll wear out quicker. It also means your body will too, which depletes your immune system. So, get the sleep you need at night. Don't stay up too late blogging or socializing on Facebook :)
  

Stress Less!

By Aurelia Williams, author of Journey to Joy

STRESS. "Yes, the S word'. Stress is the 'wear and tear' our bodies experience as we adjust to our constantly changing environment. Stress has both physical and emotional effects on us and can it can create positive or negative feelings.

As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new consciousness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, insomnia, ulcers and other health problems. As you can see, as we adjust to different situations, stress can either help or hinder us depending on how we react to it.

I'm not going to sit here and tell you that you shouldn't let things concern you but what I do what to say is that you can slowly begin to reduce the stress in your life.

As women (and it's something I cover extensively with my Journey to Joy Toolkit) we wear many hats and as moms, our hat racks are overflowing. Be sure to recognize stressful situations and take a notice of how you deal with them both mentally and physically.

You remember that saying? If mama' ain't happy, nobody is happy? Well, I tend to agree with it so I am very conscience of the stressful situations that I am confronted with and I am sure to time off when I can to replenish my mind, body, and spirit.

Sit back, relax, and see if you can apply some or all of the action steps below into your life and begin on the road to less stress.

• Write it down. Write down goals, errands, chores, due dates etc and instead of creating just a "To Do" list, keep a "Have Done" list too. Move things from your To Do list to the Have Done list after having completed them. At the end of the day, review how productive you were.
  
  
• Express yourself. Unloading your worries and concerns is a terrific way to clear your mind and reduce stress. It's very important not to keep everything inside so try finding a friend or a professional whom you can talk to. You can also write your feelings down in a journal. Moving things out of your head and onto paper can help you release a lot of the inner turmoil you may feeling.
  
  
• Don't avoid. If there's something in your life that's causing you to worry; seek out things that will help you feel in control. For instance, if you're suffering from financial problems, try read some books on gaining control of your financial life or seek the help of a financial planner.
  
  
• Drink some orange juice - Scientists have discovered that vitamin C can reduce the production of stress hormones. Try Eating an orange, drinking some juice, taking a Vitamin C supplement. Here are a few foods that are rich in vitamin C: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, strawberries, grapefruit and cantaloupe.
  
  
• Exercise. Studies have shown that taking a brief 10 minute walk during intense times will increase the amount of oxygen to your brain, allowing you to think more clearly and ultimately helping you to make better decisions.
  
  
• Give yourself a license to be imperfect. No one is perfect. Give yourself a break. Try to reach a healthy balance between what really needs to be done now and what can wait. Also give yourself permission to ask others for help when you need it.
  
  
• Adjustments. Let's face it -- there comes a time when we have to make adjustments. Try to identify your stressors and adjust yourself so that you react differently to them.

Next Steps:
For more help, instantly access your instantly access your Journey To Joy tools for a happier and more fulfilled you. This inspiring eBook with accompanying audio recordings, worksheets and easy-to-apply action steps shows you you how to eliminate stress and lead a productive and satisfying life.

Homemade Convenience Foods: A Healthier Alternative

Image via WikipediaHOW OFTEN DO YOU PURCHASE CONVENIENCE FOODS?
We all know how hard it can be to break a habit, especially when it seems like it is saving us a load of time and stress. How often do people find themselves in the drive thru lane of their favourite fast food joint ready to order some premade quickie breakfast or lunch just because they slept that extra five minutes that morning, or decided to take the extra time under the hot jets of water in their morning shower?

DO YOU REALLY NEED TO BUY CONVENIENCE FOODS?
Imagine though that you had taken out a bag of pancakes you had made up a few days before and just had to throw them in the toaster for two minutes. If you had prepared them with cinnamon or other flavourful spices, you wouldn’t even need to worry about syrup, you could just take them in hand and be out their door in no time.

There are many items that can be made in bulk while you are already cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Take dishes like lasagne for instance. How much more work would it take to make 2 trays at one time? You could serve one for dinner and pop the other tray in the freezer for a quick dinner the next week.

Since you have already made the decision to make your own recipe, you can choose the ingredients that go in your dish. You can be sure to add healthy ingredients, fresh from your own garden perhaps, and know that none of the chemicals or additives that are so often put in pre-packaged foods to help keep their shelf life longer, are present in your food.

Choosing to grow your own fruits and vegetables is a fun and affordable way to ensure that you are not getting foods that have been sprayed with ingredients that could cause harm to you or your family in the future. If you grow a lot of food, you could purchase items such as a food dehydrator and dry and package the food for use as needed. Most dehydrated foods retain most of their natural vitamins and minerals and are good for up to several years when packaged and stored in the correct manner.

Learning how to make your own jam, yogurt and salad dressing can ensure that you are not getting any unnecessary amounts of sugar, salt or other ingredients that could cause health problems in the long run. Diabetes is on the rise, with too many people buying and eating foods that are pre-packaged with unhealthy amounts of sugar.

By taking a few minutes or a couple hours out of your week, you can feel confident that you are helping your family eat the best choices they can have with all of the taste still to be enjoyed.

The Hillbilly Housewife has created a book that will get you started learning what needs to be done to create your own homemade convenience foods that are chock full of goodness and will save you both time and money. Get on the road to keeping your family healthy today!

To gain access to a copy, click the title or image of the book which is my affiliate link.

HOMEMADE CONVENIENCE FOODS

Not only will you get the Convenience Food ebook with over 200 recipes, you also get
these bonuses:

Bonus #1 - Homemade Bath And Body Products
Bonus #2 - Homemade Cleaning Products
Bonus #3 - Memory Lane Meals - Sweets
Bonus #4 - A Year Of SnacksYou'll get

We Have Baby Rabbits Again

We finally have 2 baby rabbits that didn't die on us. The last time we thought we had a surviving baby rabbit (we named it Champ), it died the day after I blogged about it. I hope I'm not jinxing the rabbits by writing about them here :)

This time, I didn't bother to wash them up after they emerged from their burrow. They were really dirty, full of mud. But we decided we were going to let them be. Only recently have we took them out to play and pet. It's been about 2 weeks already since they came out of their burrow. They are definitely weened from their mother. They can eat on their own now.

So, we would like to introduce you to "Blackey" and "Oreo". I think you can figure out which is which.

Mommy and baby. Mommy's name is "Fei Poh" which means "Fat Lady" in cantonese. She was quite fat when we found her.

Can you see how the rabbits cover up the burrow?

My Interpretation Of What A Covered Burrow Means
That usually means they've already given birth. Actually, that's just my guess. I've notice that they will dig, dig, dig a burrow. Then they will go round collecting grass. They'll also pluck out some of their fur. After that, I will find that the burrow is covered back up. About a month later, I'll find the burrow uncovered and 1 or 2 baby rabbits hopping around.

The thing that puzzles me the most is... how in the world do they feed their babies? The burrows always seems covered to me. But then, I don't watch what them 24 hours. Heheheh. So who knows, maybe they dig back into the burrows at night. Obviously they must be doing something right for the babies to grow.

I noticed these 2 surviving baby rabbits went back to their burrows to sleep, hide or whatever. I'm guessing that the burrow is important to their survival. I know, it sounds like a "duh" statement. I guess I'm saying that I've learned my lesson NOT to take the babies out until they are much older; until I can see them feeding themselves; until they are much stronger.

At one point, we didn't see Blackey for 1 whole week. We thought he had died or escaped from the hut. When we saw him again coming out from the burrow, he was already significantly bigger. It was difficult to spot him after that coz' he kept running back into the burrow. So yeah, the burrow is important.

Anyway, thanks for listening to my rabbit story. We are just happy to have 2 cute bunnies to play with.

Related articles

• Why are all the babies rabbits dying after being born (wiki.answers.com)

Positive Ways to Deal with Anger

By Aurelia Williams, author of Journey to Joy

"This is making me a headache!"

That lovely line above came out of my now 5yo's mouth when he was frustrated over the daunting task of trying to learn how to tie his shoes. He blurted the sentence out then tossed the sneaker across the room. I walked over to him and talked to him about his frustration (Heck, getting those loops just right is hard work -- smile). I explained to him that while it is OK to get angry and frustrated that there are proper ways to do it.

Anger is a completely natural response to frustration. Let's face it, life is filled with things that can become frustrating, and most of those things are totally out of our control. What we do control is how we deal with those issues. In this message that I also share with my Journey to Joy students, I wanted to touch on positive ways that we can deal with, express and release our anger and frustration in positive ways.

• Think it out - When you begin to feel angry -- sit down, relax and then try to think about how you can solve the issue.
  
  
• Talk it out - Talk to a friend, coach, counselor, or a church member. Expressing your anger by talking to someone about it is a great way to get the anger out.
  
  
• Write it out - Keep a journal about your feelings. It really helps to get your feeling out of our head and heart and onto paper.
  
  
• Let it out - Find a place that is secluded and SCREAM!! Yes, let it out - you can scream into a pillow, punch a pillow or stomp. Sometimes a good temper tantrum is in order.
  
  
• Channel it out - Find some creative way to channel your feelings. Listen to music, paint, turn on the music and dance! There are many ways to creatively channel out anger.
  
  
• Chill out - Try listening to calming music, taking in slow deep breaths, meditating or doing yoga.
  
  
• Work it out - Do something physical. Get out and run, go to the gym or go for a brisk walk.
  

Please keep in mind that anger isn't always a bad emotion but sometimes the way we deal with our anger is bad. There are many times where anger can be good and is quite appropriate. At can be protection from allowing other people to manipulate or dominate us. It can also motivate us to take action when needed.

Next Steps:
For more help, instantly access your instantly access your Journey To Joy tools for a happier and more fulfilled you. This inspiring eBook with accompanying audio recordings, worksheets and easy-to-apply action steps shows you you how to eliminate stress and lead a productive and satisfying life.

Create rainy day fun with kids in the kitchen

(ARA) - The rainy weather during the spring months can often keep your children cooped up indoors, begging for entertainment. Instead of spending the afternoon watching a movie or playing video games, invite your kids into the kitchen to help whip up a delicious meal that doubles as playtime.

Cooking with your kids is a great way to introduce them to basic math, chemistry, different cultures and foods, and more - no matter how young they are. Best of all, it can be both fun and rewarding, especially when your kids proudly pass around their creative dish to share with friends and family members.

If you're interested in finding a great way to have fun with your kids on the next rainy day, consider some of these creative kitchen cooking activities:

• Plan a menu with a rainbow of colors. This will introduce your kids to a variety of foods and tastes, and also help them creatively incorporate some of the more unusual food colors into a meal plan - and everyone will have fun eating the rainbow of colors.

• Cook family favorites with your kids. There are some simple ways to creatively involve kids into the cooking process. Younger kids can easily find ingredients in the cupboards and help wash vegetables or stir in ingredients. Older kids can help with measuring and mixing ingredients together. Just think about simple tasks that they can accomplish and before you know it, you'll have an "assistant chef" at your side.
  
  Your kids will love to help make this delicious Ore-Ida Steam n' Mash mashed potato recipe - they can help measure the ingredients and do the mashing.
  

Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
Ingredients:

1 package Ore-Ida Steam n' Mash Cut Russet Potatoes
2/3 cup evaporated milk
2 tablespoons butter
3 ounces cream cheese softened
1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons fresh chives chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper ground
1/4 cup crumbled bacon
1 cup cheddar cheese shredded

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 8-by-8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Microwave the potatoes according to the package instructions. In a large bowl, mix together hot potatoes, milk and butter, and mash until smooth. For a smoother consistency, mix with an electric mixer to desired consistency. Add cream cheese, sour cream, chives, salt and pepper, and mix well. Spread evenly into baking dish. Top with bacon crumbles and cheese. Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, or until heated through.

• Play "name that taste." Prepare a variety of different food items in your kitchen and, with your kids blindfolded, see if they can name the items in the taste test line up. Just use some simple snacks that they are already familiar with, such as cereals and fruits. Then throw something new into the mix and see if they can guess what it is. You can even offer a fun reward for dessert if they get it right.

• Have imaginative fun with your food. Who doesn't like pancakes shaped like an animal or cookies that spell out their first name? Let them sculpt and create fun, imaginative displays that will have family members 'oohing' and 'aahing' at their edible artwork. Mashed potatoes can also be a great canvas for creativity and with Ore-Ida Steam n' Mash potatoes you can have real homemade mashed potatoes in less than 15 minutes. That's because the real potatoes are already peeled and chopped. You microwave and mash the way your family likes, then let the kids create their mashed potato masterpiece.

If you are looking for more ways to get creative with your kids in the kitchen, visit the Ore-Ida Steam n' Mash Mash Destruction contest at www.mashdestruction.com. The contest is searching for the most creative, fun ways to mash potatoes - from the obvious to the obscure. Simply submit a drawing of your kid's idea through March 29 and you could win up to $5,000. You can also visit the site from April 5 through April 15 to vote on your favorite potato mashing ideas.

How To Keep The Peace In The Home

A home should be a heaven on earth. Unfortunately, my home often resembles a zoo or fight club when the kids fight and scream at one another.

Naturally, my kids will turn to me to play judge and carry out "punishments". As a mother, I always want to be fair BUT you know what I learned, I can never be fair to all my children. If I side one child and not the other, I'm not being fair. One child will be happy but the other will not. If I decide not to take sides, I am also not being fair. Plus, there is always the possibility that I do not know the whole story of what happened.

Here is an example:
D2 (crying): Mommy, koko kicked me.
Mommy: Koko, why did you kick him? No physical violence isn't it?
Koko: Fine-lah. He can punch me but I cannot kick him-lah. He do me first. You don't care about me, you only care about him.
Mommy: D2, why you punch koko? Of course koko will fight back isn't it?
D2: Because he don't share with me his junk food

... and the story can continue on and on and whatever judgment you give, it is not going to be fair to someone.

So, what to do?
I took a step back and decided to implement some principles that have been taught by parenting experts:

• Acknowledge their feelings
• Use the word "I"
• Seek first to understand... then to be understood

Acknowledge Their Feelings
No more playing judge. I realized that what the children really needed was not for someone to say who is right and who is wrong. When they come running to me with tears in their eyes and a complain, they really just want someone to emphatize with them. They want someone to acknowledge how they are feeling.
For example, when my daughter came to me bawling because baby bit her arm, I just acknowledged how painful it must be and lovingly rubbed the injured spot. After a while, all is well.
So the past few days I've been using the phrase "I know you are feeling...."

Use The Word "I"
When my kids come to me complain about their siblings, they always start the sentence with "he" or "she". For example, "he snatched my scissors from me and don't want to give it back". Well, whenever the sentence starts with "he" or "she", it is in an accusing tone. And no one likes to be accused right? That's where the arguments start.
So, when my kids come to me to complain, I asked them to start the sentence with "I". I say I want to hear what happened to them and not what someone else did.
It wasn't easy for the kids to do this because they are so used to talking in an accusing manner.

Many times they needed help, so I would start the sentence for them "I feel... because...."
This also helps them convey their feelings better.
Sometimes, they would get so frustrated not knowing how to start the sentence, they would just huff off and forget about it. Hahahaha.

Seek First To Understand... Then To Be Understood
This one is from Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families.
I realized that more often than not, the arguments are because of misunderstandings. My children like to assume the worse of their siblings. What was accidental is interpreted as intentional. What was done as an act of good will is seen as an act of annoyance.

I realized that often they don't even know why the other sibling is angry at them.

So, not only do I try to understand what they are feeling, I try to get them to understand each other too. It was hard for them to talk to each other without shouting. So, on this one occasion, I had them write notes to each other. On the note, they were to write:

I know you are feeling....
I will ... (write what they are going to do for the other person)

This really helped a lot. The hitting, shouting, name calling etc... are really the kids' ways to get the other person to acknowledge and understand how they feel. Once the "angry" person is understood, the angry feelings go away.

Well, I won't say my home has achieved 100% bliss :) The kids still do argue and fight. But at least we have a better way of solving the problem.

More Resource:
The Happy Child Guide is the best selling parenting ebook of 2010. Find out the right way to respond to your children's misbehaviors. If your way is not working, you need to find a better way. The solution to a more well behaved child may just be a click away. Have a look at how you can benefit from it by clicking my affiliate link:
HAPPY CHILD GUIDE PROGRAM EBOOK

Tips to Become Happier & More Empowered

By Aurelia Williams, author of Journey to Joy

Hey - Did someone press the FFW button?

Have you ever felt like someone just pressed the Fast-forward button on your day and before you know it the day is over and you are sitting there wondering what you've accomplished?

I love to organize and with working Part Time outside of the home and FULL-TIME at home with my business, 4 children and Husband I really rely on a schedule and many time management tips to keep my sanity (ok, so some of you think I am already insane, I won't argue with that) but at least I am organized ;)

Here are a few of my favorite Time management Tips (these are just a few of the tips I share with my Journey to Joy students):

1. Meal Planning: Try planning 1 - 2 weeks worth of meals at a time and write them down on a calendar. Do your shopping accordingly and prep tomorrows dinner today. You will be AMAZED at what a time saver this is.

2. To-Do Lists: I know most people HATE them but they actually do work. Just take a few moments out of your day (either in the morning or in the evening) to make a list for that day or the following day. Be sure to only put down the items that you MUST finish on this list.

3. Delegate: Do you have friends, a husband, children that can pitch in and do a few things for you? If so, be sure to use all of your resources.

4. Morning Rush: Scooting the children out of the door can be a huge time eater! Be sure to prepare lunches, lay out clothes and plan your breakfast the night before. This will make your mornings run a tad smoother.

5. Just say "NO"!: Such a small word that carries a might punch! If you truly can't fit something into your schedule and it is not urgent, just say No!. Keep a list of non-urgent things that you can do on hand for when you do have some down time.

Well, those are just a few of my time management tips. I personally set aside about 15 minutes a night and sit down with my Palm Pilot and make a short TO-DO list for the following day and it is amazing at the time this save.

Also be mindful of your own body. Are you a morning, afternoon or night person? Try to schedule your most time consuming tasks when you have the most energy.

Take Care!

Next Steps:
For more help, instantly access your instantly access your Journey To Joy tools for a happier and more fulfilled you. This inspiring eBook with accompanying audio recordings, worksheets and easy-to-apply action steps shows you how to squeeze more time and happiness into every single day.

Choral Speaking For The First Time

My girl was asked to be in her school's choral speaking team. They went for their choral speaking competition last Wednesday. I've never heard of choral speaking coz' they didn't have it when I was in school. So, I took some time out from my daily house chores to go support my girl at the competition.

Here's a video of her school team. One of the rules in choral speaking is they are not allowed to move their feet. All actions are to be waist up. Plus, the kids have to memorize the whole script.




Unfortunately, her school took 6th place (out of 15 teams I think). I didn't stay until the end. I left after her school finished their presentation.
Oh, my girl is in the front row, right in the middle. She's they one that yells the letter "Y", in the word UNITY.

Well, I'm glad she got to experience being part of a "team".

Mamas Parenting Tip

• Encourage your kids to be active in school. Encourage them to try out for whatever activities are available. BUT don't pressure them into joining. We have to respect their wishes and take into account their personality too.
• Teach them how to balance their time between work and play. Too much studying and not enough play is no good. Too much play and not enough studying also not good. Teach them time management skills and learning how to prioritize.
  

Playdate tips to keep toddlers and preschoolers happy and busy

(ARA) - When the weather keeps children inside, clever moms need to get creative to keep toddlers and preschoolers from going stir crazy. Experts agree that screen time is not the answer: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children younger than 2 years old watch no television and that those older than 2 watch no more than one to two hours a day of quality programming.

So what's the answer?

Arranging a playdate is a great first step. Whether they consist of activities for side-by-side play or group play and interaction, playdates encourage the development of social and communication skills and, even better, break up the day by offering something new.

But instead of inviting over the entire neighborhood, Heather Flett and Whitney Moss, co-authors of Babble.com's No. 4 "Most Useful" parenting blog, RookieMoms.com, and the book "The Rookie Mom's Handbook: 250 Ideas of Things to do With (and Without!) Your Baby" recommends keeping it small. They say try mini playdates.

"A playdate with two or three young children max is the optimal number for socialization without intimidation," says Flett. "Any more than that and you've got a circus on your hands, and worse yet, your child can get more overwhelmed than engaged."

Ready to play? Here are tips to help guide the fun:

* Empower your child. Involve your child in planning activities. Show him how his favorite toys - that may be harder to share - are being safely tucked away.

* Keep it short and sweet. Parents know better than most that variety is the spice of life; keep playdates to an hour until attention spans grow with your child. A great Rookie Moms tip: Establish the end time before the play even begins to accommodate nap times, dinner prep or errands.

* Provide easy-access toys. Children should dictate the flow of playtime but moms can provide icebreakers. Moss suggests that moms plan activities where everyone gets to hold something and feel as if they have a role and purpose in the play. One great idea, she says, is to dump out a bucket of DUPLO bricks in the middle of the play table or floor. The larger bricks are better for little hands and encourage individual creation or group building projects. Moss' children especially love when she gives them a challenge to guide their play, such as "Who can build the tallest tower?" or "Let's see if we can make a little village."

"No matter their age or skill level, giving children a bucket of bricks allows them to find a fun and engaging way to play in his or her own way," says Birthe Jensen, a preschool guru from LEGO Systems. "The versatility of DUPLO gives so many ways to play, and not only will children hone critical skills like hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and shape and color recognition, they are building creativity and confidence.It's fun to see where their imaginations take them."

* Feed the animals. Encourage little guests to eat at the table but if the kids wander off, the RookieMoms suggest that drier snacks like crackers or raisins will help keep the play area (somewhat) clean.

* Don't forget to clean up. Assign each child a specific task. You will have much more success with asking "Can you put all the blocks back in a basket?" than "Can you help me clean up?"

Beyond playdates, other ways to break up foul weather days include:

* Freeze dance: Boogie to favorite music - when music stops, children freeze into funny poses;
* Pillow forts: Throw a sheet over a card table and fill with pillows, books, furry friends and even a flashlight;
* Dress up: Pull out mommy and daddy clothes, Halloween costumes and giggle over gear like goggles, aprons, purses and more;
* Or, plan an outing to the library for storytime.

Whatever your day brings, don't forget to mix it up. A busy child is a happy child.

Mom Bloggers Can Make Money

There are thousands of mom bloggers already online. Many of them are making money, and most of them are trying to make money. Do you have what it takes to be a profitable mom blogger? I believe that any mom blogger can start to generate a profit from her blog with the right approach and learned skills. That means you too.

It does take some study and some work. You will not become a millionaire overnight. Now that we have that cleared up let me reiterate that you can make money blogging. It might not be the same type of blogging that you are thinking of right now. How serious are you about making money blogging? You might have to adjust your thinking, your habits, and your schedule, but you can make a profit.

Here’s some ways to start a blog that won’t work very well.

• the willy-nilly-slap-something-up approach
• the kiss-up-to companies approach
• the controversial approach to get attention
• the fake-it-till-you-make-it approach
• the guilt-my-family-and-friends-into-reading approach.

Go ahead if you want to try them. You might see a flare-up of popularity before everything goes down the drain. If you do try them you will learn some good lessons, but you will also waste some valuable time.

While you are working on building traffic to your blog you can add affiliate links and become an affiliate marketer. You don’t have to have your own product to sell; you can sell an already finished product for a commission. You can also use your sidebar as a place for an ad network. They find the advertisers; you wait for the profit.

Just because anyone can start a blog for free does not mean that there isn’t a necessary skill set. The good news is that the necessary skills can be learned and developed by anyone with the will to learn. There are profitable bloggers of all age levels from middle school to senior citizens; and of all skill sets from drop-outs to college grads. Blogging is a good thing to know. Most websites have them and the skill of blogging is a marketable asset in and of itself.

Just doing what you can and hoping for the best will only get you so far. If you want your blog to make a profit then you need to study and learn the best way to do just that.

If you want to learn more about blogging, gaining more exposure in the blogosphere, building great relationships and incorporating new profit points into your content be sure to sign up for the Smart Blogging Skills 10 week course.

p.s. Kelly is doing a Group Coaching for the first time. Besides the ten weekly audios and printable curriculum lessons, you will be able to join Kelly for a live weekly Q & A session on Wednesday nights. This starts 30th March to June 1st 2011. There are no extra charges. You can pay $10 a week or $59 up front. You'll
be able to ask questions and get feedback every step of the way - at no extra cost.
The Group Coaching Bonus is only available once this year so be sure to take advantage of it!

Don't Fall For Work From Home Scams

Working from home is a fantastic way for moms to earn some extra money and still watch the children. Every woman who wants to become a WAHM has traveled down the same path. Unfortunately, that path is littered with scams and traps to take money and time from honest women looking to make money from home. With a little common sense and extra research, you can find legitimate work at home opportunities.

ARE YOU LOOKING IN THE RIGHT PLACES?
The first step is to search for jobs in the right places. Don’t simply click on ads to find work. Try to find helpful groups of WAHMs who have successful work at home jobs to guide your search. You can try searching on message boards or finding e-mail groups for ideas of where to start your work at home job search. Many of these women can give you insight into which work at home opportunities are actually worth your time.


FORGET ABOUT GET RICH QUICK SCHEMES
Keep in mind that there are no real ways to get rich quick on the Internet or by working at home. The only people who get rich are those who are scamming others. Never believe an ad or an “employer” who claims that you will get rich instantly.


HOW TO SPOT A SCAM
There are also a few red flags to look for when you are searching for Internet jobs. You should never have to pay for work or job lists. There are plenty of free listings available that can provide tons of work at home opportunities. Companies that want to charge you for lists of jobs are just trying to get your money. The lists are often filled with dead job leads, or lists of companies that want to charge you money. Many work at home scams will also require you to pay a start-up fee or cover the cost of “necessary” training. Again, legitimate jobs will never require you to pay them any money for you to work.

Another warning sign is if the ad or website tells you to “act now.” You should always do research before joining a company and never feel pressured to make a decision right away. Many websites are set up with text that says that the offer will expire on today’s date. But if you revisit that website the next day, the ad says that the offer expires on that day.

If you are unsure about a company, do some research on the Better Business Bureau website. The BBB has files on all businesses that have had complaints filed against them. You can see what other people have to say about a particular company and be steered away from scams.


WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESS TO AVOID
There are some scams that have been around for years that should be avoided at all costs. These business scams have unfortunately been successful for the scammers, so they continue to take the money and time of hardworking WAHMs. If you see an offer for any of the following types of jobs, run the other way.

• Envelope stuffing is a common scam, although it is being seen less and less these days. These jobs are normally listed as mail service jobs, and then you are asked to pay for a start up kit. After you receive a start up kit, you are given instructions to place your own work at home ads. You basically just sell the start up kit to other people and become a scammer.
  
  
• Craft assembly scams can take many forms. Typically, you receive a set of crafts to complete with instructions. You generally pay for the set and then are told you will be reimbursed for the kits and also paid for their assembly. After working hard at assembling the kits and returning them, you will be told that your work is not up to their quality standards. You will be out the cost of the kits, and they will sell your crafts anyway.

There are legitimate jobs out there for WAHMs, but you have to do some research on the opportunities first. If you do your research and are careful, you can successfully work from home and never be scammed.

Click here to get a guide that will show you 15 legitimate work at home business you can start. Perfect for moms.

Mom, Do You Want More Me Time?

By Aurelia Williams, author of Journey to Joy

Let’s see. You did the laundry, dropped the boys off at Karate and the girls at dance class, stopped at the grocery store for a few last minute dinner items...What’s missing? As you were taking care of everyone else all day long, did you remember to take care of yourself?
I know it can be hard to carve out space for you, since being a mom is a full time job, but taking care of yourself helps you have the strength and energy to keep taking care of everyone else, from your children to the snake your son left in the pocket of his dirty jeans. It's all part of what I teach my Journey to Joy students. It IS possible to find the time to get what you need done.

If trying to squeeze out a few more hours a day just for you seems impossible, why not try one of these ideas:

1. Don’t be afraid to start small. It’s better for you to take five minutes to read the funny pages or your favorite inspirational poem than it is to not take any time at all for you.
   
   
2. Get up twenty or thirty minutes earlier than usual and spend some time doing something you enjoy, such as reading the paper while you sip your coffee or meditating. By the time the children wake up, you will be ready to start your busy day.
   
   
3. Talk to the other moms at your children’s classes and find out if any of them live nearby. See if several of them are interested in forming a carpool, so you don’t have to make every trip to drop off and pick up the kids.
   
   
4. Find another mom who has children that get along well with your kids. Alternate babysitting services with her, so that you each have a few hours of free time every week to go to the gym or get your hair done. Don’t be tempted to do chores instead. You need this time for you and you won’t feel very rested and refreshed if you pick up the dry cleaning, do the grocery shopping, and run the car through the car wash instead of relaxing.
   
   
5. Delegate evening chores like setting the table, washing the dishes, and packing the next day’s lunch. If everyone does ten or fifteen minutes of work, you will have enough free time to soak in the tub or read a chapter of the newest best seller.
   
   
6. If you cook all of your family’s evening meals and always pack lunch for your children, don’t be afraid to give yourself a break once a week. Pizza every night may be unhealthy, but an occasional slice isn’t too unhealthy for the kids. Eating the occasional school lunch can actually be a fun treat for children, even if it doesn’t taste that great.

Finally, make sure your family realizes the importance of letting you find some time for yourself. Speak with your children about respecting your quiet time, whenever and however you manage to fit it into your day.

Next Steps:

For more help, instantly access your Journey to Joy tools, for more time a happier and more fulfilled life. This inspiring eBook with accompanying audio recordings, worksheets and easy-to-apply action steps shows you how to squeeze more time and happiness into every single day.

Raising children to be environmental heroes

(ARA) - For modern families, being eco-friendly can be a big priority. That's why it's important to plant the recycling seeds in children early so their love for the environment grows as they do. However, because students spend significant hours in the classroom, teachers must partner with parents to develop habits that are relevant at home as well as at school.

The United States generated more than 243 million tons of material waste in 2009, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. However, Americans recycled only 34 percent of that waste. Statistics such as these present ample opportunities for teachers and parents to implement recycling programs through which young children can make real contributions to saving the planet.

Here are a few tips to get started:

Find the right program
Getting your family or children signed up in a recycling program often helps make learning more fun. Elmer's Products has developed the Elmer's Glue Crew Recycling Program as a resource for helping teach children how to show the planet some TLC. The program provides parents and teachers with helpful recycling-related lessons as well as hands-on projects to keep kids excited about recycling in their daily lives. Additionally, it ensures the plastic that glue bottles and sticks are made of is delivered to the type of facility that can recycle them, making sure they stay out of landfills.

Reduce paper use
New information is thrown at children everyday - often times in the form of sheets of paper. While using recycled paper is good, the added communications can pile up. Teach children to print only if absolutely necessary. Instilling selective printing habits in children early will cut back on paper waste and foster environmental awareness for the long-term.

Divide and conquer
The Environmental Protection Agency estimated that more than 30 million tons of plastic waste was generated in 2009 alone. Rather than having one universal trash bin, teach children to separate their waste across various recycling bins. Creating separate bins for materials - such as paper and plastic - will get children in the habit of sorting waste so they can recycle both at home and at school.

To help parents and teachers ensure the recycling message stays relevant and fresh, companies like Elmer's have setup online resources at ElmersGlueCrew.com and Facebook.com/GlueCrew so users can find new activity ideas and share success stories.

Tips to Become Happier & More Empowered

By Aurelia Williams, author of Journey to Joy

In a search for happiness, many people look for it in other people and not within ourselves. Many people feel that things like money, a better job, better relationships..etc will make them happy. In reality, to find true contentment you must look inside yourself and learn to be your own best friend. That means you have to trust, love, and care for yourself just as you do the people you consider to be close to you.

Following are steps that you can incorporate into your life that will help you to feel more empowered and happy about yourself! These are just some of the many practical strategies I provide to my Journey to Joy students:

• Begin to lift yourself up, not put yourself down. If you don't like something about yourself, work to change it. If you can't change it, simply accept it. Don't beat up on yourself with negative self-talk. You're not likely to change for the better when you fill yourself with negative thoughts.
  
  
• Give yourself positive rewards. When you do something that you are proud of give yourself a small reward. Try not to wait for others to praise you because you may grow resentful if the praise doesn't come. Pat your own back, it is a great feeling that can stay with you for a long time.
  
  
• Forgive yourself. I doubt that you would keep scolding a child over and over for making a mistake so don't do that to yourself. Give yourself the gift of forgiveness when you make a mistake. After that, work to figure out what lesson you can learn, and use it to make better choices the next time around.
  
  
• Enjoy your successes. Most people can remember all of the details of depressing, painful or even embarrassing events that happened many years ago. What if you did the same thing with all of your wins? Try to remember all of the triumphs and accomplishments that you've made and keep that memory with you and think about it at least once a week.

Always remember to celebrate your wonderful qualities! You will soon discover that the more you love yourself, the more you will be able to give love to others - and the more others will be able to love you!

Next Steps:

For more help, instantly access your instantly access your Journey To Joy tools for a happier and more fulfilled you. This inspiring eBook with accompanying audio recordings, worksheets and easy-to-apply action steps shows you how to take back the joy in your life.

My Prayers Were Answered

Today I decided to work on our income tax.

I looked high and low for our 2010 Life Assurance Premium Statement because it is deductible. I thought I had kept it in the business expense document folder but it wasn't there. I figured it must be my very poor memory that I couldn't remember where I put those statements.

I checked and double checked all our drawers. I went up the attic to see if there were any more boxes with documents. I made DH go up the other attic too. I just couldn't remember where I put those statements and figured it was misplaced when moving house in November.

I said several silent prayers to Heavenly Father that I would find it.

Well, guess what??? I did find it. It came in the post.

How stupid of me. Of course I couldn't find them because the insurance company hadn't sent them yet. The insurance statements I remembered putting away in the folder were actually those of 2009, not 2010. So either my memory is too good or too lousy.

Anyway, I am at awed at how this small prayer was answered. Of all days for the statement to come in the post, it came today. It came at the very moment I was looking for it. Coincidence? Hmmm....

I don't know if you are the same way but if I can't find something that I need, it bugs me and bugs me until I find it. It's like I can't rest in peace. Anyway, I am grateful for Heavenly Father's tender mercies. It was a small matter but He helped me anyway.

I am thankful for all my blessings, big and small.

How To Stop Nagging The Children

I hate it when I have to tell my kids to do certain things over and over again. It gets my blood boiling and I don't like getting riled up like that. So, to avoid the unnecessary sore throat (from nagging and screaming), I started a to-do list for my kids.

I have a white board on my living room wall. So I divided it into 3 columns and wrote the names of each kid at the top of each column. Then I made a list of things for each of them. Throughout the day, we would tick each activity off when it was completed.

The kids really like having the to-do list. I guess it gives them a sense of direction and purpose. It is clear what is expected of them. It gives them a sense of accomplishment seeing all the tick marks next to the completed tasks. They like it so much, they now make their own to-do list. I don't make the list for them anymore.

Mamas Parenting Tip

• Besides stopping you from being a nag, the to-do list is a good time management tool. Don't just expect your children to learn core curriculum like maths and science. To be successful, they need to learn living skills too. Learning how to manage time is a good skill to have.
• Want to convey a message to your children? Sometimes, writing it down gets the message across better and clearer.
• Getting the children to make a to-do list gives them a plan to follow. It gets them thinking about what they should be doing. It helps them to become productive. When children don't have a purpose, they usually end up doing stuff they shouldn't be doing, or wasting time.
  

Where To Get Some Cool Homeschool Curriculum

Whether you send your children to school or are homeschooling, you will like this website called CurrClick. You'll find tons of educational material such as lap books, ebooks, file folder games, activity books etc....

I really like how you can preview most of the books. That way you can have a peek to see if it is something your children will like.

I bought a book called 100 Little Language Lessons. Each page is a passage on a certain topic. My kids get to pick up new vocabulary and learn how to spell them. I love it because it doesn't take very long to do. The little passages are educational by themselves. It's a fun little activity to fill up time.

If you are looking for educational stuff to supplement your children's education, give this website a check. Click this affiliate link to see for yourself: CurrClick

Baby is 18 Months Old

Unbelievable! She's already 1 1/2 years old. This little girl is an active one. She may be small but she keeps all us big ones mighty busy. As we are cleaning up one mess, she is already working on creating another one.

This is where we hope she would play.

But this is where she spends most of her time:
ransacking the table for pens, pencils, color pencils and magic pens.

I have to be more vigilant now coz' she's started to draw in books. I have to make sure the library books are not left out for her to find. I also have to keep reminding the older kids to keep their school books out of her reach.

Regarding her speech, I'm still called "papa". That is still how she calls everybody. She is trying to communicate more. I think I'm getting pretty good at playing charades with her. Whenever I guess the right answer, she will say "yes". That's pretty much the clearest word she can say. I'm glad she's learned how to say "yes" instead of "no". There has been attempts to say "helicopter". Every so often we have one fly over the house. It's funny actually; Here is a baby who can't call me "mama" but is attempting to say "helicopter".

Oh, there is a new word: "Awak, awak." That is what she says when she wants you to read her a book. How she got to "awak awak" from "read book", I haven't the faintest idea. Talking about books, she really likes reading. She will toddle over to the bookshelf and bring books over for me to read. She will also sit and thumb through it herself. However, she doesn't really care about the story. She just likes to turn the pages to look at the pictures. So I deliberately point to the words and ask her to wait when she wants to turn the page.

We've started our toilet training. That was quite by accident actually. You see, we were at church and she was running around with the other kids. I was getting my weekly dose of socializing and I didn't know she had a poopy diaper. By the time I changed her, her skin was already red with rash. So the next few days I let her run diaper free around the house. She eventually got the idea and would pull down her pants to tell us she wanted to go pee or poo. I didn't know she was ready for potty training but obviously, she is. We still have accidents though. That's normal. What makes me tired is when she takes off her pants every 10 minutes to go to the bathroom. Whether she has pee or not, we have to take her. Take goodness for older siblings to help out poor mommy:) The thing is, babyK is choosy when it comes to wearing back her pants. Normally she will not allow the person who takes her to the bathroom to put her pants back on for her. So if I take her, she'll look for her daddy to put on her pants and vice versa. Real cheeky.
Oh, almost forgot to mention that she likes to pee like a boy. She has seen how her brother stands at the toilet bowl; she thinks that's how she should do it too.

She doesn't eat much but loves to drink soup. So that's motivation for me to boil soup every week.

Her molars have emerged. Unfortunately she don't like me brushing her teeth.

When I'm in the kitchen preparing meals, she will position her stool next to me and stand to watch what I'm doing. Watching only is fine with me, unfortunately Miss Octopus Hands will want to touch this and that. Eventually, my patience wears out and I chase her out of the kitchen.

Well little girl, your energy is wearing me out. Hopefully the supplements daddy bought will help me keep up with you.

How To Reduce the Stress Mom

Do you remember the song sung by the 7 dwarfs in the Snow White movie? They were mining for diamonds and were singing "We dig dig dig dig dig dig dig in our mine the whole day through". We mothers are not much different. Our song would be "We work work work work work work work for our family the whole day through".

We fill our time "manning the ship" (so to speak), after a while, we start to feel worn out. As important as it is to take care of the family, it is doubly important that moms take care of themselves too.

DON'T EVER FOREGO YOUR PERSONAL TIME.

Like a car that needs gas to run, you need to replenish your "fuel" too. You know it's time to schedule that personal time when you get irritated by small things, loss your temper too quickly, feel like screaming, feel unappreciated, feel like crying, feel trapped etc.... In other words, it's time for a break when your negative emotions are starting to get the better of you.

Don’t be ashamed to sit for fifteen minutes doing nothing. In the springtime, relaxing in a hammock under a tree is the perfect getaway from the pressures of the day. Reading a book for 30 minutes can also seem like heaven to many moms.

Here are a few tips to help you fit in much needed “mom” time:

1. Get up early if you have to. When you have kids, the day begins at a hurried pace. Once you hit the ground running, there is no stopping you. Waking 30 minutes to an hour ahead of time means quiet solitude to drink your coffee, read a book, meditate or listen to music.

2. Turn ordinary experiences into major events. When you take a bath, add candles, bubble bath, quiet music and/or an inflatable bath pillow. Your regular bath has now become a spa level experience. If you watch a movie, turn out the lights, pop a bag of microwave popcorn and curl up on the couch.

3. Ask your significant other for help. Kids love their mothers but time spent with dad is important too. Let them bond with dad while you go shopping for a new outfit or root around in the garden. Since the time is yours, do whatever you like.

4. Use the Boy Scout motto. Always be prepared and you can spend more time in a relaxed mode. Fix lunches the night before. Iron clothes for the next day and place backpacks by the front door so kids can grab them on their way out. The fewer things you have to do throughout the day, the calmer you will be with your family and not experience burnout.

5. Take exercise breaks. When you get a few minutes the last thing you want to do is exercise but getting a little physical activity in your day has far-reaching implications. Exercise helps you to think clearly and stretches the muscles. Also, stress will drain away as powerful endorphins are released into your system. Do jumping jacks during a television commercial or jog to the bus stop to pick up the kids.

6. Laugh at regular intervals. Keep a funny calendar cube on your desk or subscribe to a daily joke site. Laughing releases stress and can lift your spirits significantly. It also keeps the abs tight.

So, when is your next me time? And what is your favorite me time activity?

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How To Handle Tantrums In Toddlers

I really loved it when my kids were little babies. So small and so angelic. Then they became toddlers and the angelic part slowly walked out the door as the screaming and kicking took over. Toddler tantrums! Yeah, it's a real headache. Some people call it the "terrible twos", but as many other mothers have learned, it usually begins before they hit 2 years old.

If you are scratching your head wondering what is the best way to handle tantrums in toddlers, here are a few different suggestions from other mothers.

1. Ignore the tantrum. This technique works best when at home. In public places, you don’t want to ever leave your child unattended as a form of punishment. Good behavior in public begins at home. Ignoring a toddler is not harsh. If your child is squirming on the floor screaming for a cookie, continue to talk to them as if you never noticed. Eventually, they will get the hint and stop screaming.

2. Avoid instant gratification. In public, toddlers throw tantrums when they are denied something that they want. Some parents give in to keep their child quiet but a child learns quickly. Tantrums will continue if they know you will cave. Simply tell them “no” and keep moving.

3. Don’t get angry. When you scream and they scream the situation is wildly out of control. You’ll end up crying and your toddler will still be screaming. In any situation, raised voices mean civilized conversation has ended in favor of basic primal instincts. Don’t revert back to the days of early man. Keep using the same calm voice you use when they are behaving to get your child to calm down as well.

4. Praise your toddler when they behave well. Positive reinforcement is better than negative. In the absence of positive attention a child will behave badly just to get some attention at all. Acting out and throwing tantrums may be a cry for attention. Don’t let it get to this point. Clap and celebrate when they go to the potty successfully and when they put away their toys. Good manners such as saying “please” and “thank you” deserve a smile and a hand clap as well.

5. Run errands after nap time. Kids get punchy when they get tired. A toddler misbehaves more often if they are dragged around when they are tired.

6. Carry snacks with you. Low blood sugar can lead to tantrums. If you are out longer than anticipated and lunch or dinner time is close at hand, let them eat a healthy snack to keep their hunger pains at bay and sugar levels stable.

7. Be consistent in your punishment. At home, you might use “time out” to deal with a tantrum for bad behavior. In public do the same. Sit your child on a bench for five minutes or take them to the car. Eventually they will learn that you are not a pushover and they will begin to behave.

So, what do you do when your toddler throws a tantrum?

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Breastmilk Ice Cream, Anyone?

Have you heard of Baby Gaga? No affiliate to Lady Gaga I'm sure. It is an ice cream made from breastmilk! An ice cream parlor in London introduced this new type of ice cream just recently (late Feb 2011).

So, what was your first reaction? Probably like many others, "Ewwwwww". However, there are people that are all for it.

Okay, let's be rational and look at both sides of the coin.

What's good about it?

• The owner argues that it is "pure, natural, organic and free range." And if it is good for our kids, then why should we think otherwise.
• It tastes just like ice cream. Even melts in your mouth. Well, that's what someone said. Of course I haven't tried it.
  
• It doesn't come from cows that have been injected with hormones.
• Get paid for your breastmilk. Mothers who gave their breastmilk for the ice cream earned 15 Pounds for every 10 ounces of milk. If you're a lactating mom and you need cash, this is good news I guess.

What's not that great about it?

• It's expensive!!! 14 Pounds (USD23) for a martini glass of ice cream. Not sure if I would fork out that much money for that little bit of ice cream.
• Pure and natural may not be so safe afterall. The local government has stopped the sale of breastmilk ice cream for now because there are health concerns such as Hepatitis virus that can be transmitted via breastmilk.

Will I eat it?
Ummm... NO! You can list down all the benefits of it but I don't think I can bring myself to eat it. My head may say it is okay but I don't think my body will want it.

To me, breastmilk is for babies. They need it. Give it to them. Let's not take that and commercialize it. I was reading other people's comments about this breastmilk ice cream and someone over here said:

"There's nothing wrong with human milk but considering that there are malnurished babies and babies being poisoned by melamine-tainted formula powder, it seems a bit over-the-top to be making gourmet ice-cream out of it, don't you think?"

Yeah, I second what she says. Why not channel that extra breastmilk to other babies who need it instead of giving it to adults who obviously have out grown it.

To me, cows and other animals were given by God for the use of mankind: for food and raiment. So, to drink cow's milk is not disgusting to me, but drinking another woman's breastmilk just doesn't seem right.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not looking to start an argument here about whether we should or should not eat breastmilk ice cream. Everyone is entitled to their own preference.

I asked my kids if they would? 2 said yes, 1 said no. I'm sure babyK will give an astounding yes :)

So, would you?

Educational Online Games

Came across these online games that's educational.

• Nutrition Explorations: Play these games and learn about nutrition at the same time.
• SpinandSpell: Spelling practice
• Multiplication: Fun ways to practice those multiplication tables.
• Animal Jam: National geographic's online game. Learn fun animal facts and play different games to earn gems (points).

If the kids are going to be on the computer, might as well give them something fun and educational to do.