Response to: “Parents of teenagers”Mine are not teenagers yet, but as a former teacher of teenagers, there are some many resources for academic and emotional education. I would love to see a space dedicated to sharing those resources.
Response to: “Tips for making homework fun and quick?”My kids have a hard time with piano practice and their piano teacher suggested I only count “positive practices” on their practice chart. After like…10 positive practices (so like…2 weeks) she lets them choose an index card that my kids and I put together at the start of the school year. These have activities that are reasonable for me (based on time and money limits), but they have chosen. Examples of some: Bubble bath with ice cream, new nail polish, item from dollar store, special date with mom or dad, a chore free day, pack of gum…just to name a few. Seriously a game changer. My girls used to scream and curl up in an unresponsive ball on the piano bench EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. This year has been almost magical. I’m actually having fun with them when I help them with practicing and they will often practice randomly without me asking them to. Instead of tally marks on their practice books, I mark the practice with a smiley face. Perhaps there is a way that something like this could be beneficial helping with homework time as well. ❤️
Response to: “How can we make BTFL better?”Honestly, one of the hardest things for me is the organization. I think it would be a cool feature to have a way to have topics in which an individual might have interest, specialty or background in leap up to the top or placed in a separate section to encourage response to targeted topics for each user. Then maybe a section dedicated to questions I have specifically asked. Just some thoughts.
Response to: “If you could redo the baby phase, what things would you actually want?”Honestly, if I were putting together a registry again, I would just ask for a cleaning service that could come about once a week for the first month (maybe twice a week for my first couple kids…definitely once a week for my fourth baby). My boss actually offered this gift when I had my twins. I valued that more than anything else.
Response to: “What are your favorite early instruments for kids? And how do you motivate them to practice?”My kids do the Lets Play Music program and they love it! They start out on tone bells and learn wholistic musicianship before instrumentation. That way, they can learn music concepts before their fingers and hands have developed fully to engage with piano. Then they move to piano to practice theory concepts that they have already learned through play and songs. That musicianship can be more easily applied to any instrument later. It is a 3 year program designed for ages 4-8ish. They have programs for younger kids and older kids as well. My husband is a high school band teacher himself and we LOVE this program!
Response to: “What’s one thing you need on a beach day with the kids?”I’m in love with Sand Cloud towels! ❤️
Response to: “What are some of the expert parenting resources that you love?”Where I am, we have a local organization that I wish every parent in the area knew about and utilized more of. It is called The Family Place. They hold parenting classes, step family classes, group therapies, 2 hour weekly childcare for moms… such an asset to parents and the family at large! I know there are a number of organizations like them in the state as well. While online resources are valuable, I think we would all be surprised to find resources within our immediate communities as well.
Response to: “Is there anything you've given up minimized or banned from your home to make the house run smoother?”We don’t do sleepovers. We also don’t do birthday parties with friends until they are 8.
Response to: “What “parenting win” are you most proud of recently?”I was given the advice to dress my daughter in play dresses and to let her go commando to help with potty training. I’m amazed how well it has worked! Both pee and poop, the is going on her own a lot more than she used to.
Response to: “What’s your go-to dinner recipe when you need a quick, healthy meal?”Walmart (at least the one nearest me) discounts their Rotisserie chickens in the late afternoon and there is a lot you can do with it. For a quick meal though, we will just carve the chicken and have it over rice with a creamy Parmesan sauce with lemon and basil and serve it all with a side of something green (usually frozen broccoli or peas). Dinner is done in less than 20 minutes. I do this at least once a week. 😂🤣 You can then take the remaining bones, skin and bits of the chicken and let them simmer for a few hours to make a potent stock (start just after dinner and strain it before going to bed). I actually use the stock from the week before and cook the rice with it to give it flavor. Then use the stock made that night for the following week.
Trying to get a handle on laundry....how do you keep it under control without it controlling you?I make one separate load of whites a week, but usually everything gets thrown together. I feel like we are living in piles of clothes, both dirty and clean. I have weeks where I am really on top of it, but I feel like when I am it is all I do. Any tips? I have 4 kids under 7 and while I can have them help a bit, it is still rough. My husband is also super busy. Help. I’m drowning in clothes. Haha!6 answers
Salads...Okay…I think I’m just making salads wrong. I never really ate them growing up at home and now that I’m an adult I want to like them…but I am having a hard time moving away from a classic iceberg with some veggies and ranch. And honestly…not loving that. 😂 This mama has to eat better and lose some weight. Help me embrace the salad!6 answers
Family Friendly Halloween MoviesMy kids love watching holiday movies leading up to the actual day, but I struggle with Halloween because of being able to find age appropriate content. I have 4 under 7 years old and one that is very impressionable to scary images and who has recurring nightmares. Any recommendations? I’m tired of the same 4 or 5 Halloween movies. 😂🤣6 answers
Busy activities for younger kids...I am looking for suggestions on easy, child-led activities for my 3 and 1 year old to do while their older siblings are at school and when I have chores to do. I feel like it’s only an hour or two throughout the day, but it becomes so easy to get caught in a habit of TV time. Any ideas?2 answers