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Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween safety tips

Trick or treat safety tips!  Happy Halloween everyone!

***Content source: http://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/10312011halloween-safety-tips/

1. Dress well. Choose costumes that are bright, and allow kids to walk easily. Avoid costumes with long trains or tails. These can be a tripping hazard. Have your child wear safe, comfortable shoes so he can walk and manipulate stairs and walkways safely. Make sure your wigs, hats and capes are flame resistant.
2. Make sure masks allow your child to see well. If your child can not see with the mask on, opt for non-toxic face make-up.
3. Give your child a flashlight with fresh batteries so that he can navigate his Halloween route.
4. Young children should ALWAYS be accompanied by an adult.
5. Look both ways when crossing the street. Pedestrian accidents are the biggest hazard on Halloween according to Healthychildren.org. Make sure that you only cross in the crosswalk.
6. Check your child’s bag of Halloween treats when they come home. Any opened candy, or suspicious treats should be tossed. You may also want to discuss how much candy is okay. We make sure that the candy stays in the kitchen so it is not eaten in the bedroom. Not only will you have an ant problem, but you want to make sure it is eaten before kids brush their teeth, and not squirreled away for an after bedtime treat!
Please visit Healthychildren.org for a complete list of safety tips.

Monday, October 24, 2011

How to enjoy Halloween with little ones


Happy Monday!
Have you decided where to go for some Halloween fun with your little ones?  Other than joining us at the CCPOM Halloween party on Oct 29th , here are some other options that I found from a BabyCenter’s blog, for your consideration!

***Content source : http://blogs.babycenter.com/life_and_home/7-ways-to-enjoy-halloween-with-little-ones/

1) Community Centers, Schools and YMCAs. These organizations usually offer younger children safe and fun alternatives to Halloween chaos. You’ll be able to celebrate with friends from your community and maybe make some new ones while you’re there. The convenience is perfect for young families.
2) Master the corn maze. Nothing says Fall more than a corn maze or a good old-fashioned hay ride. Some places in your community may even have a special area just for the little ones with a tractor pull and maybe even the ever-popular bounce house. Trust those who have gone before you, you’ll return home with happy, exhausted little ones and memories that will last all year.
3) Embrace the mall. Mall Trick-or-Treating has become a safe and reliable option for young families. Area stores can give back to the community by providing a safe place for the kids to celebrate and parents don’t have to worry about whether it’s raining or too chilly to be outside in costume.
4) Host an old-fashioned Halloween party. Invite friends over for bobbing for apples, decorating pumpkins and face painting. Kaboose, Family Fun and BabyCenter all have wonderful ideas for simple activities, crafts and fun for all.
5) Attend a Fall festival: Many churches offer free, kid-friendly “Trunk-or-Treat” parties including trunks that are set up as trick-or-treat stations so children can enjoy age-appropriate dress up and play time.
6) Pumpkin patches, apple picking and farmer’s markets. Make good use of those cute costumes by dressing up your princess, prince, pirate, cowboy, bumble bee or lady bugs and heading out to these great Fall destinations. The children will love their dress up time and you’ll come home with pumpkins, apples and a few other goodies from your local farmers.
7) Treat-or-treat early. Early treat-or-treating is the way to go for little kids. After you’ve made the cul-de-sac loop or your street, head home for hot apple cider and let your children help hand out treats.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Tips to minimize mommy meltdowns


Hello everyone!
Hope you’re enjoying your Sunday night before another crazy week begins! I don’t know about you, but I always feel a bit blue on Sunday night as the weekend is nearly over, and I am the most unfriendly person on Monday morning before getting some caffeine.   Vulnerable day to have a mommy melt down?  You bet.   There is a reason why I started playing angry birds, so I can cool off and face the crazy kids again.  And one of my dear friends who’s also a stay home mom, keeps a good amount of small Pellegrino sparkling water in her refrigerator, and she can reach for one any time she feels like she’s about to explode.
Below are some useful tips that I found on BabyCenter’s blog, hopefully they will come in handy when you face some tough parenting moments.  

Tip #1 – Count to 10:
It’s a classic, but sometimes it still does the trick.

Tip #2 – Have an Ally McBeal moment:
Remember that show? Ally used to have fantasies about breaking a chair over someone’s head, or throwing wine in someone’s face and then snap back to reality with a slightly glazed look on her face. Sometimes a little fantasy retribution is very satisfying.

Tip #3 – Picture the child sleeping:
All children look angelic when they are asleep. My daughter and I can have the worst bedtime and yet, as soon as she’s out, I take one look at her face in repose and my heart melts.

Tip #4 – Remember what it felt like to be a kid:
You were small and everyone else was big. No one ever listened to you. Everyone else made the rules. You were too young to do anything fun. For all the great things about childhood, there are many that were not so great. Try to put yourself in your child’s shoes for a minute.

Tip #5 – Remember when the little tyrant was a snuggly babe:
When my seven year-old spitfire is actually spitting fire, I try to put out the flames of my own ire with memories of snuggling the little hellcat when she was just an infant. It brings out all mushy maternal side.

Tip #6 – Remember something sweet the little cherub did:
Though kids know how to push our buttons, they also know how to tug at our heartstrings. Recalling a sweet mother’s day card or a special hug or a “You’re the best mom ever” moment can help you simmer down even in the heat of an argument.

Tip #7 – Step back and look at the Big Picture:
It’s SO hard to do sometimes, mired as we are in the thick and sticky day-to-day grind, but if you can get a little perspective, you usually realize that the crisis-du-jour isn’t worth getting your panties in a twist over.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Toys that drive you crazy

Christmas is right around the corner, what are the must have toys on your children's list?  Any of those choice that your children are absolutely in love with,  but you will try everything under the sun to avoid buying it?
Share your story!

Here is a funny story from another local dad's blog, about a pair of toy broom and dustbin that might just trigger the OCD in your children, and cause you to snap.
http://buboblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/surefire-way-to-give-your-kid-ocd.html

Also a funny (or rather annoying) CBS news clip from last year, "Toys that drive parents crazy", just for a laugh.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7091827n

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Excerpt from September GM, Jill Shugart (MFT) workshop

For those who weren’t able to attend but interested in the workshop material she provided for us, here is a short version of her workshop handout.  We have her agreement to publish her material for our club memebers' use only, if you do intend to share this material with others, please remember to site the source.  thanks.


Excerpt from Jill Shugart(MFT) workshop for CCPOM members, on September 22, 2011.
(for more info on Jill, please go to her website @ www.jillshugart.net)

6 Daily living rituals to nurture your marriage in small but meaningful ways:
((1) Parting - Say goodbye each morning and find out about one thing that your partner is doing that day, showing your interest and support.
((2) Reunion – At the end of each day, greet each other with a hug or kiss. Create the time for a short conversation about the highs and lows of your day, before immersing yourself in other tasks. This can be done over the heads of your children, while they are watching TV, or after they are in bed.
((3) Appreciations – In a happy, satisfying marriage, people feel appreciated for what they do! You can appreciate your partner in 3 different ways….through your touch, your words or your actions.  Find out which way your partner prefers to be appreciated and do that.
((4) A weekly date – Find a time during the week that’s just for the 2 of you. This can take place outside the home with a sitter, but can also be at home, after the kids are in bed.  Even a half hour will add to your feeling of connection.
((5) Respond positively to your partner’s sharing of any joyful or positive experience – Even better, ask questions about it. Be his or her cheerleader. This includes cute stories about the children, or reminiscing about happy occasions.
((6) Make one minute apologies – when there are small hurts or disconnections, be quick to respond with “I’m sorry”, or ”I didn’t mean that”, or “Can we have a do-over?” A simple apology can keep you on track and is a way to avoid building up resentment.


When parents disagree – guidelines to become a better team in parenting:
((1)  Even if you emphatically disagree with the way your partner is handling a situation or responding to your child, agree to back her up by not interfering or criticizing in front of the child.
((2)  Develop a cue word or signal to ask for help from your partner when you’re struggling.
((3)  Get in the habit of conferring with each other on how to respond to your children’s requests or handle their offences and consequences.
((4) Change your mindset from trying to figure out how to agree with each other all the time. To how to back each other up and do so willingly.
((5)  Develop 3-4 family rules which you both will consistently apply using the same method and consequences.
((6) For all other misbehaviors, leave these to the discretion of the parent in charge.
((7)  Offer support to your partner.
((8) Learn some positive discipline methods that work.