2007 August | Mommy Points

August 29, 2007

Are You Feeling Lucky?

Filed under: Children, Chores, Humor Keeps Me Sane, Keeping It Real — Chris @ 11:12 pm

After dinner at our house we have “chore” time. I put the word chore in the quotations simply because these are not defined chores, but rather things that are subject to my whims. Some nights there are many things that need to be done and I fire off my orders like a general. Other nights there isn’t as much. And then on the rare occasion when I am feeling particularly generous, or energetic, or perhaps crazy, I let everyone off the hook and do the nightly clean up myself.

But the point is that the kids just never know.

There are basically two options.

1) Hedge your bets , try to disappear into the woodwork and hope it is your lucky night and I forget about you.

2) Option two is to take the initiative and try to grab the least offensive chore, which everyone agrees is sweeping under the breakfast room table, before it is given to someone else, thereby sparing yourself one of the most despised chores… collectively agreed to be loading the dishwasher. heaven forbid your hand grazes some food that was once on someone else’s plate. The HORROR!!!

My oldest son has mastered the second option. In fact tonight I think I saw him sitting at the dinner table with one hand firmly gripped onto the broom and the dustpan wedged between his knees.

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August 28, 2007

Toys, Lead, Recalls and Thoughtful Living

Filed under: Basics, Children, Keeping It Real, parenting — Chris @ 9:01 pm

Today I read another news article about a toy recall. Yes, they were sold at a chain store. Yes, they were made in China. And yes, it was because of lead.

This time it was watering cans that were sold nationwide at Jo-Ann Stores.

Surprisingly we had none of the toys, I think this is probably due to my hatred of plastic toys. If they ever find something harmful in non toxic wooden toys I will be in trouble.

Link to Mattel recall of more than NINE MILLION TOYS. Holy cow that is a lot of toys! I should note here that many of the toys are being recalled due to improperly adhered magnets.

And here is another Mattel link. This time for the Fisher Price toys that were affected by the recall. Maybe everyone else in the world already knew that Mattel was the parent company of Fisher Price, but I had no idea.

But what it does bring to the forefront of my mind is the idea of being mindful with purchases. Asking yourself if your child really needs that cheap, poorly made, plastic toy. You know the ones that your children HAVE to have in the store. The ones that entertain them until your arrival home. And once home the toy finds it’s way to the back of the toy box or closet never to be seen again.

When toys are inexpensive we tend to think of them as being disposable, which really is bad for our environment on so many levels. Perhaps the easiest step we can all take towards becoming more green is to never bring the things into our homes to begin with. To skip the plastic bags. To skip the products that have lots of extraneous packaging. To leave the cheap plastic toys on the store shelves.

I have been pretty good about this sort of thing for years now. With many children the clutter can add up quickly, and I hate clutter.

My new resolve is to try and buy products that are not made in China. To look more carefully at the items I am bringing into my home. To strive for non toxic wood, hand crafted, not mass produced. Toys that don’t do things, but rather inspire the sort of play that requires children to be the doers. They may cost more, but I would rather have less of quality items, than more, well, potentially poisonous ones.

I am already keeping my eye out for Christmas.

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August 26, 2007

Reuse, Recycle, Freecycle

Filed under: Ideas, Making It Work, On The Web — Chris @ 9:54 am

Remember when I wrote about being green?

I forgot about one of my favorite programs, Freecycle. From their website:

The Freecycle Network™ is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It’s a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them’s good people). Membership is free.

I used Freecycle a few years ago to get rid of a washing machine and dryer that had no resale value, but were still in perfect usable condition. A family with 5 kids came and picked up the washing machine. They were thrilled with it. Some man, who I assume owned a resale shop, came for the dryer. And I assume this solely based on the ease with which he was able to pout it into his truck and the fact that he had all available straps and transporting things handy. Either way, it prevented those two large items from going to the dump.

Check out their website and find a chapter near you. I assure you that no matter what it is, people will want it. U have seen people offer baby items, clothes, skiis, appliances, books, you name it– it has been offered and taken.

I logged back on this weekend to offer our old refrigerator.

The Freecycle Mission Statement:

“Our mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.”

How awesome is that?

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August 23, 2007

I Need A 12 Step Program

Filed under: Children, Ideas, Just For Fun, Keeping It Real, schedules — Chris @ 1:57 pm

Hello my name is Chris, and I am an office supply addict.

The paper, pens, notebooks, pens, rulers, more pens, more different notebooks, calendars, organizers… ACK, I can not be trusted in the local Staples. Especially at this time of year when they are offering all the loss leaders on products for kids going back to school.

Yesterday I went there with a list. My kids didn’t need much. You know since I am the teacher and don’t require bulk purchases of glue sticks, kleenex, and pink pearl erasers.

Things bought from the list:

some new colored pencils (the good ones, not crayola or rose art that rip holes in your paper when you try to color),

regular pencils (since my children eat them. No really, that can be the only explanation),

pens (black ball point. Though I personally have a penchant for the fine rolling ball black pens I don’t like them using that kind because they end up smearing the ink with the back of their hand. But never blue. dear god in heaven NEVER blue),

Wall calendar (large, but without any pictures, for me to hang up and have a broad overview of my insanity. I already have a pocketbook sized calendar thing),

agenda books for me and my three oldest (so I can use them like a syllabus and have a record all in one place.)

pocket folders (3 different colors for 5 kids, and then a fun one for my 2 and 4 yr olds because they like to be in on the action)

Things I bought that no one needed, but I couldn’t resist:

personal three hole punches to fit in their 3ring binders (can you have too many little paper holes on your floor and scattered throughout your house? I think not)

pencil cases to fit inside the 3 ring binder (wishful thinking on my part that they will actually keep track of their pencils)

clip on calculators (what? they were cute and also cheap, though this morning I realized that I only bought three. Why three? I have no idea. But guess I need to head back to Staples.)

new scissors for my 4, 6, and 8 yr olds (their old ones have become dull, probably from all the cutting of hair, clothing, and other unapproved items)

an obscenely large bag of Skittles (for me, to help ease my post purchase anxiety. Note they are not in the photograph because I ate them on the way home from the store)

Things I needed but forgot:

3 ring binders x 5: now that I bought hole punches and pencil cases that go inside of 3 ring binders it might be nice to say, actually have a 3 ring binder

~~Index card boxes x3 (not the cheesy plastic kind that break. Don’t they make sturdy ones anymore?)~~

Bound Index cards (package of 3) I was just looking at the index cards I bought that are bound together (for vocabulary words) and thought these would be perfect for what I need. And also cheaper. How often does that happen? I’ll answer, Never.

And here is a random photo to show you the key to my organization this school year. Matching agenda books for us. Now to actually use them. Unless just owning them makes you more organized? Because that would be awesome. Anyone know?

Notice I have the blur effect going on? Quite possibly it was because I was unable to hold still after eating my body weight in sugar.

Oh, and while I am there I might as well buy another bag of Skittles. You know to reward myself. I am sure I deserve them for something.

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August 21, 2007

What Makes Them Happy?

Filed under: On The Web, Teen years, parenting — Chris @ 11:21 am

Turns out that it isn’t things, money, drugs… or any of the other myriad of things that we fear. Probably from watching too many tv shows filled with supposed teenage angst.

I read about this study a few days ago and have been rolling it over in my head since then.

Turns out that what makes youth, defined as those ages 13-24, happy is having a strong close tie to their families.

Spending time with family was the top answer to that open-ended question, according to an extensive survey more than 100 questions asked of 1,280 people ages 13-24 conducted by The Associated Press and MTV on the nature of happiness among America’s young people.

Next was spending time with friends, followed by time with a significant other. And even better for parents: Nearly three-quarters of young people say their relationship with their parents makes them happy.

I think the study shows us what a great asset a strong loving family. And that maybe we need to remember (we, meaning me) that while our teenage children are pulling away from us and acting like they know it all and we as parents know NOTHING and could in fact probably take life lessons form them and their wise teenager ways, that when all is said and done they highly value their relationship with us.

“It’s good news to hear young people being realistic about what really makes them happy,” says psychologist Jean Twenge, author of “Generation Me” and a professor at San Diego State University. “Research has shown us that relationships are the single greatest source of happiness.”

Virtually none of the respondents said that money made, or would make, them happy.

I think that it would be interesting to further delve into the findings and discover what makes a good family. Why did the other 25% of youth NOT chose their family as the primary source of their happiness? Are their families wildly dysfunctional?

Perhaps the next study. For now I am just hugging this one close to my bosom while my almost teenage son rolls his eyes at me. And not just so my hands are occupied and can not strangle him.

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August 19, 2007

Quote of the Day

Filed under: Children, Humor Keeps Me Sane, Just For Fun — Chris @ 8:14 pm

My 4 yr old daughter to one of my unmarried, child-free friends.

“Do you have a baby?”

“No.”

“Do you have a kid?”

“No.”

“Do you have a grown-up, then?”

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August 18, 2007

The Most Difficult Part

Filed under: Children, Ideas, Keeping It Real, Making It Work, schedules — Chris @ 11:12 pm

For me making up a schedule is easy. It is more routine oriented than a minute by minute scheduling of our days. A master plan. A list of tasks in the order they should occur. A list of wishful thinking (some days).

No, for me the most difficult part is trying to use that d#@& spreadsheet generating computer program. Seriously, I think I am mentally deficient whenever I try to use it.

“Sorry kids, no school this week. Mama can’t figure out how to print out your syllabus.”

I vow to figure it out tonight. I am comfortable on the couch, my laptop open, a glass of wine in my hand, you know to help me think better. Or not care quite so much about my mentally deficient state.

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August 16, 2007

Back to School Means Back to Schedules

Filed under: Basics, Children, Making It Work, parenting, schedules — Chris @ 10:39 am

I know many of you have children that have already started the new school year. Which, wow, what happened to the long lazy days of summer, huh?

Next week we are starting back. Since we homeschool, we have some flexibility to take a day off here and there and enjoy the still nice weather. Soon enough winter will be here and we will be trapped inside, huddled around our wood burning stove. Okay, maybe I exaggerate slightly about being trapped, but I really dislike winter… the cold, the ice, the need to wear sensible shoes.

But back on topic, it is the time of year when suddenly schedules need to come back to the fore front of our lives. Even those of us who are the most schedule adverse, still need to have them since activities have a way of happening at specific times. I know, imagine that.

I am working on our basic schedule right now. I’ll try to post it in all its rough form tomorrow. But, I would love to see yours. Do you have one? Even for the time before and after school? How do you fit everything in?

This is the first time that I am doing enough freelance work that I will need to designate a time for working.

So, show me yours and I’ll show you mine.

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August 14, 2007

Flow It, Show It, Long as God Can Grow It

Filed under: Children, Keeping It Real, parenting — Chris @ 8:30 am

Yes, I am talking about hair.

My boys have always had the buzzed look. My husband invested in an expensive pair of clippers a years ago that have more than paid for themselves. Every couple of months he sits them on a stool outside and shaves off their hair. Not bald, do not fear; they don’t look like a gang of white supremacists. Just the classic short boy hair cut right out of 1950.

Two years ago my oldest son decided to try and grow his hair long. He has very thick wavy hair that grows quickly. After about four months it looked like he had a gigantic mushroom shaped hair cloud on his head. It was not attractive. In fact, it was the opposite of attractive.

Finally my husband offered him cold hard cash to cut his hair off. The negotiations were tough. Both sides had compelling arguments. I, however, stayed out of it. My feeling is that it isn’t on my head why should I care. Eventually they settled on a dollar amount that made my jaw drop open, and off came the hair.

Fast forward to this year. My 8 yr old decided that he wants his hair long. He is the only one with blonde hair, and the hair is pin straight and fine, though there is a lot of it. It also grows very slowly. Last week I looked over at him and realized my son was sporting a mullet. My husband, for all his mad skillz with the clippers, does not feel comfortable with the scissors on such unforgiving straight hair.

So I made an appointment at our local hair salon. As he sat in the chair he told her that he wanted the back to stay long, but the front to be short so that it isn’t in his eyes. I said I didn’t want his hair to look like a mullet or to be so long in front that he needed barrettes to keep it out of his eyes.

In all fairness, she did exactly what we asked. But now he looks like the little Dutch boy.

I am not sure if it makes it better or worse that he loves his new do. But I do know I am this close to busting out the cold hard cash.

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August 10, 2007

kerplink, kerplank, kerplunk*

Filed under: Basics, Ideas, Just For Fun, cooking, parenting — Chris @ 1:30 am

We have lots of blueberry bushes in our yard. I am frequently asked, “What do you do with them all?: I am not big on measuring so I love recipes that are flexible.

Blueberry Crisp/Cobbler

I fill the bottom of a large pyrex baking dish with blueberries.
Mix together:

2cups of flour
1.5 cups of oats
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup of chilled butter
2tsp cinnamon

Cut all the ingredients together until the mixture is crumbly.
Sprinkle over the top of blueberries.
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes

Serve with vanilla ice cream.

I also try to find interesting ways to use blueberries. Because there are only so many blueberry muffins you can eat. This simple salad, I wish I could remember where I read the recipe, was a huge hit with my children and guests.

Salad with Blueberries

Mixed green salad mix
gorgonzola cheese
toasted chopped walnuts
blueberries
toss with Newman’s Own Raspberry and Walnut Vinaigrette

* from Blueberries For Sal by Robert McCloskey

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