The WM Parenting Connection

Every youngster can benefit from added knowledge, and more often than not these skills are not taught formally within the classroom. Teaching life skills need not be limited to pure theory, and there are many practical lessons that can be learned in the home.

1. Start a vegetable patch
What better way of teaching about the seasonality of produce than getting the kids to plant some seed potatoes, and seeing their amazement as the fully-developed tubers emerge from the ground? Working with the soil will allow children to appreciate where their food comes from, and the processes that go into growing it. They will see the processes of decay and fertilization, the worms at work aerating the soil, and pollination creating new plants. More importantly, they will have their hands in the soil and learn that it requires a lot of care and attention. They will develop a sense of responsibility from being given a small plot to work with and entrusted with its care.

Children will learn to use tools and rely on their own labour to achieve tasks. There are child-sized tools available for smaller hands, along with gloves to protect them. Cabbage, pea and root crop seeds will produce robust, easily-maintained plants and give a good yield. In time, the children can appreciate the results of their labours.

2. Get them involved in the kitchen from early on
Once they have contributed to the production of their own food, this knowledge can be further developed in the kitchen. Kitchen skills are helping children to appreciate the sourcing of food beyond the supermarket, it is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate how to prepare and preserve foodstuffs. Pickle Jars, jam making equipment, and child-friendly baking accessories can help children to develop skills that will serve them across a whole lifetime.

Baking, jam-making and turning flat sheets of pasta into ribbons using a machine are all great ways of allowing children to participate in the production process and appreciate the results. Timing, food safety and proper hygiene are all great skills that can set children up for a lifetime of self-sufficiency.

More importantly, the chance to experience so many flavours will help them develop a broader appreciation of different cuisines, and their palates will benefit. For those who remember the youthful pleasures of scooping out the remains of the mixing bowl, this can enthrall a whole new generation.

Guest Post: Fun Activities that will teach your kids a life skill

5 apps to keep your loved ones safe behind the wheel

You’ve seen the car on television that’s started via the simple click of a smart phone app. Well, it’s not that far-fetched when you consider the thousands of smart phone apps available just to keep drivers safe on the roads. As the parent of a teenage daughter, I was horrified when I got a call that she had been in a car accident. My mind immediately went to what I could have done to prevent her from ever having to suffer that kind of fear. My husband had been smart enough to have my daughter download the My Lawyer app (which I’ve made sure to feature below) and immediately after the accident occurred, my daughter was able to contact a lawyer for advice on what to do, who to contact, and what paperwork to have displayed for emergency response.

Luckily, my daughter was fine, as was the colliding car’s driver and all passengers. However, I started to think more and more about the ways technology could prevent a car accident from ever occurring in my family again—when it comes to everything from texting while driving to monitoring the small passengers, like my infant son, of a car.

1. KidSafe ($1.99 – for iPhone and iPad)

As mentioned I have an infant son who I take with me in the car when I go grocery shopping, to the mall, and to medical appointments. My mother-in-law also takes care of him a few times a week so that I can attend a yoga class. I often hear tragic stories on the news about missing or abducted children the same age as my son. And I also heard from these same news reports that the most common obstruction in getting information to the public is obtaining crucial information from the parents. So I looked into KidSafe, a smart phone app that stores all of my son’s pictures, medical information, medications, height, weight and other personal information in one secure location. Heaven forbid I should need it for any reason, but it’s comforting to know that it can be accessed immediately from my iPhone or iPad in case of an emergency.

2. Speedbump (Free – for Android)

Speedbump is a GPS vehicle tracking app that parents can use to locate their vehicle (with their children inside) or find out whenever their car is moving faster than a pre-determined speed. Giving parents full control of their vehicle, they can set a determined speed limit for residential areas and highways. If the car exceeds the set limit, they are notified immediately.

3. My Lawyer App (Free – for iPhone and Android)

This is the app that my daughter was fortunate enough to have access to after her car accident a few months ago. It was created by the law firm of Bachus and Shanker in order to protect their rights of their clients and preserve evidence in the event of a car accident. The My Lawyer app provides a step-by-step accident checklist that guides car accident victims through the steps essential to collecting driver information (like car insurance), witness information, as well as the contact number for a free legal consultation if you are involved in a car accident in the event that you, your family or your friends are ever in an accident and are not sure what to do.

4. Vlingo (Free – for Android)

This app saves drivers from road tragedies that occur from texting and driving because it delivers texts and emails in audio form—and even in shorthand (so you’ll never miss a lol or a ttyl)—so the driver never needs to touch their smart phone when behind the wheel.

5. Teen Driving Log ($1.99 – for iPhone)

If your teen is getting their license, you know that most U.S. states require young drivers to complete an allotted amount of time behind-the-wheel in order to become fully licensed. The Teen Driving Log app features an easy-to-use graphic interface that logs your teen's hours driven, monitors driving conditions, and even quizzes them before their driving test.

About The Author

This guest post is contributed by Leslie Krick, who regularly writes for attorneys in Louisiana. She welcomes your comments at her email ID: leslieekrick@gmail.com.

Guest Post: Must-Have Smart Phone Apps for Parents and Teen Drivers

By Danielle Craigen

Over the past three weeks I have shared some thoughts on parent-teacher conferences from a teacher’s perspective. For my last installment of this series, I’m going to focus on some questions that you should ask your child’s teacher during the conference. This list is by no means comprehensive, but it should help you to find a jumping-off point if you aren’t sure what questions to ask of your child’s teacher. In italics after some of the initial question are follow-up questions for you to ask, if needed.

Academics

• How are my child’s grades determined?

o Is this grade standards-based, or is it determined through an alternate method?
o Is behavior factored in the grade?
o Is attendance factored in the grade?
o Is this grade based on a modified curriculum due to my child’s IEP, and if so, what modifications have you made? (Please only ask this question only if your child has an IEP.)

• Can I see a sample of my child’s work?
• What skills/concepts does my child need to master this year?
• What are you currently working on in class?
• Is my child performing at grade-level?
  

o If they are at or above grade-level, what can I do to make sure they continue to keep up?
o If they are not at grade-level, why? What can be done to fix this?

• What can I do at home to help my child improve his/her grade?
• Is there anything in particular that my child struggles with?
• In what areas does my child excel?
• What supports does the school provide to help my child academically?
  

o Are there any after-school tutoring programs available?
o Are you available if my child needs extra help?

• How much homework do you typically assign each night?

o What is the purpose of the homework you assign? Is it additional practice, or does it serve some other purpose?
o Do you grade homework for accuracy, completion, or both?

• Does my child have all of the in-class school supplies he/she needs right now?
• Do you have any concerns about my child’s academics at the current time?
  

Behavior/Social

• How are my child’s social skills?
• How is my child’s in-class behavior?
• What are your discipline policies/procedures?
• Do you have any concerns about my child’s behavior or social skills at the current time?
  

A Teacher’s Perspective on Parent-Teacher Conferences: Part Four

By Jennifer Tomasino


The other night my husband was putting our 2 ½ year old to bed and they were talking about the day. Our daughter told him this huge story about how she “needed to go to work” and how she worked at Target. He asked why she needed to work and she says “so I have some money, for my pocket” and “I need to buy some new books.”


We have no idea where she got this whole concept from. Yes, we talk about my husband and I needing to go to work. But neither of us ever recall saying that we go to work to get money- especially pocket money. But somewhere along the line her little kid brain put two and two together and decided she needed a job at Target.


I’m not sure how I feel about her revelation. My husband and I agreed years ago that money conversations weren’t going to take place in front of the kids, at least while they were little. Whether our conversations are joyful or strained, it just seems that we have the rest of our lives to worry about finances; preschoolers and elementary age kids shouldn’t have to shoulder that burden quite yet.

But it is a fine line. We also want our kids to grow up understanding the value of money and learning to grasp the concept. But how do you raise a kid that “gets it” regarding money, yet remains blissfully unaware to the rat race of mortgage payments, credit scores, and retirement accounts?

In a past life (a.k.a. before I had kids and started my own business) I worked in Marketing for a financial management company. We hosted family events that were geared towards teaching kids the value of money. I still have one of the little four-chambered piggy banks. The chambers were Spend, Save, Share, and Invest. The concept was that every dollar a child receives should be split up into four quarters and divided into the little sub-banks.

Does it work? I don’t know, but I would love to talk to a parent whose six year old grasps the concept of investing/saving enough to put half of his birthday money away; a kid who willingly takes only $5 of his $20 bill to spend on toys.

It would be so much easier if there were a Money Management chapter in the Child Instruction Guide that kids were born with- unfortunately both of my children were born without these important books, they must be on backorder… :-)

How do you teach your kids about money? Do you have any tricks that have worked for your family?

"Daddy, I Need Some Money For My Pocket"

8 snacks that your kids will like—almost as much as their teeth will

Sure, every time you take junior to the dentist, the dental hygienist gives you a list of foods that you should ban from his or her snack menu. The problem is he/she doesn’t like to munch on the foods that are actually good for his/her teeth. However, it might surprise you to find out that there are healthy foods that simultaneously fall in the “good for your teeth” and the “tasty” category.

What, you don’t believe us—well take a gander at the following list of healthy, dental-friendly snacks that will not only prevent cavities and tooth decay, but also help your kids avoid more costly dental procedures later on in life—plus, your kids will enjoy these snacks almost as much as their teeth will:

1. Whole grain breads and crackers: The problem with white bread (the kind that most kids eat) is that it contains a lot of sugar—which sticks to your kids’ teeth and causes cavities. Try swapping white bread and crackers with whole wheat bread or even whole grain breads that contain less sugar. Smear a bit of peanut butter (natural or low sugar) or creamed cheese on top to make it a delicious, nutritious snack that your kids, and their teeth, will appreciate.

2. Fresh veggies: Celery sticks, baby carrots, cucumbers slices, radishes, cauliflower and broccoli…do you know what these fresh veggies have in common? They all provide a fiber-rich crunch factor to snack time. The fiber actually stimulates the salivary glands inside the mouth, which in turn encourages saliva production, and cleanses and protects your child’s teeth. Make up a plate of fresh veggie sticks with a few healthy dips—like humus, plain yogurt and dill or even fresh salsa—for a healthy after school snack.

3. Natural yogurt: And by that we’re talking about the plain variety. Spice it up by adding your own fresh fruit to the mix (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or raspberries—minus the process sugar found in store bought yogurt with fruit). The store bought kinds contain at least a teaspoon of sugar in each serving. If your kids really want some added sweetness, try honey.

4. Fresh fruits: While fruit (even the fresh kind) does contain sugar—it also provides our bodies with essential vitamins and nutrients.; Like veggies, fresh fruit also contains fiber, which releases excess saliva that cleanses the mouth as we chew. Mix fresh fruits with some plain yogurt or cottage cheese for a protein-packed, after school energy booster.

5. Cottage cheese: Sure, it’s not that tasty on its own, but if you add some fresh berries or even mix it half and half with yogurt you’ve suddenly got a yummy snack that your teeth will love.

6. Nuts: Peanuts, almonds, walnuts…we could keep going, but you get the idea that nuts are an excellent source of protein and good fats that won't harm your teeth (as long as you don’t use your chompers to crack the shells). The extra chew you get from nuts will help saliva production and prevent cavities—just be sure to get your kids to floss before bedtime to get the nutty bits out of their teeth.

7. Eggs: Especially the hard boiled variety, are a healthy, portable snack that’s packed with protein. You can add a little vinegar or make up some deviled eggs with low fat mayo or humus for a quick after school snack that your kids will go crackers over (get it?).

8. Dairy products: Cheese and milk are excellent kids’ snacks because they contain calcium, and phosphates—which are essential for strong teeth and bones. Dairy also banishes harmful acid created by the plaque in your mouth. So cut up some bite-sized goodness by providing snack-sized cubes of cheese in kids’ lunches—or even better, whip up some after-school smoothies containing milk, fresh fruit and yogurt.

About The Author

Carolyn is a freelance writer and guest blogger who worked as a dental hygienist for a cosmetic dentist for several years before becoming a stay-at-home-mom. To this day, Carolyn loves teaching children and writing about family life, couponing and preventative dental care.

Guest Post: Healthy, Dental-Friendly Snacks that your Kids will Actually Enjoy!

By Danielle Craigen

For me, as a teacher, the most difficult part of a parent-teacher conference is discussing behavior concerns. By nature I am the type of person who likes to be helpful and to make everyone happy. Consequently, I get very uncomfortable talking about unpleasant subjects, such as behavior issues in the classroom. Adding to my discomfort is the unpredictability of a parent’s reaction when I discuss behavior. During the portion of the conference where I discuss behavior, I find that most parents are receptive to my concerns; hopefully you are this type of parent. Unfortunately there are always a few parents who react poorly to my concerns. If you find yourself fitting into this second category, having an awareness of the issue is the first step to fixing the problem.

Most classroom behavior problems are minor, and have simple solutions if the root cause of the behavior can be identified. From my personal experience, once the root cause is found and remediated, the behavior issue clears up on its own. A great example of this occurred last year- I had a student whose behavior suddenly changed. Out of the blue he went from being polite and helpful to irritable and disrespectful. I tried several in-class strategies for dealing with his behavior, but nothing seemed to work. At his quarterly conference, I mentioned to his mother the change in behavior and how I had been unsuccessful in dealing with his attitude. She listened thoughtfully as I talked about my concerns, and she agreed that his behavior was not acceptable. As we discussed the matter further, it came to light that she had recently given birth, and that the new baby was extremely colicky. The baby’s crying had prevented anyone in the house from getting a full night’s sleep, and we realized that the arrival of the baby coincided with the change in his brother’s behavior. My student’s exhaustion was manifesting itself in behavior problems, and as soon as we were able to pinpoint the problem we were able to develop a solution. In this case, my student began sleeping in the living room with a pair of earplugs (it was the furthest room from the baby). As soon as he was finally able to sleep properly, he reverted back to his polite and helpful self.

If all parent-teacher conferences were like the previous example, I wouldn’t dread discussing behavior issues. It’s the handful of parents who don’t react rationally and who are not willing to find the cause of their child’s behavior that make discussing this issue so difficult. The following are all actual parent reactions I’ve experienced first-hand at parent-teacher conferences, along with advice on how to handle the situation better.

Inappropriate Reaction #1: Public Humiliation/Belittling
This is the reaction that bothers me the most, because I absolutely cannot stand to see a child upset. It also makes me concerned about what happens at home behind closed doors if a parent is willing to verbally tear a child to pieces in public. I’ve had parents hurl insults at their children over minor issues such as excessive talking in class. I’ve also witnessed parents bully their children for being bullies, and then wonder why their child is bullying others. I understand that parents get upset by their children’s behavior, but instead of verbally lashing out there are better solutions; I can guarantee that your child won’t listen if he is too busy sobbing from your overreaction. It is much more productive to take a moment to breathe, calm yourself, and gather your thoughts before you speak to your child to address a problem behavior. It’s okay to hold your child accountable for their behavior, but please keep in mind the volume and tone of your voice, as well as the words you use when you speak to them about it.

Inappropriate Reaction #2: Denial
I’ve had parents who refuse to admit that their child’s behavior happened. While there are always two sides to every story, flatly refusing to hear the teacher’s side sets a poor example for your child. I’ve had parents tell me I was wrong and that their child would never do what
I said they did. Teachers have much better things to do than to make up stories about student misbehavior, so please don’t brush off the incident as not happening or a figment of the imagination. Just because a certain behavior isn’t typical of your child, doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen. This is especially true during the middle school years when children are testing boundaries and dealing with raging hormones. Students who know that their parent will always take their side regardless of the circumstances will take advantage of that fact to continue their misbehavior, causing more problems later on.

Inappropriate Reaction #3: Excuse Making
Similarly to denial, I find parents who make perpetual excuses for their child’s behavior extremely frustrating. It makes me want to pull my hair out when I have a parent make superficial excuse after superficial excuse for why their child misbehaves. Just like denying behavior problems, failure to hold your child accountable through your own excuse-making will only enable your child to continue to misbehave in class. Instead of making a series excuses for your child, please dig deep to find the true cause and take steps to correct the behavior. It might take time to do this, but the pay-off is worth it, because it teaches your child the value of problem solving and that they are accountable for their actions.

A Teacher’s Perspective on Parent-Teacher Conferences: Part Three

By Jennifer Tomasino

These past two weeks have been sheer mayhem for work. I work from home and when deadlines are looming overhead I have to squeeze in my to-do list wherever and whenever I can. I've broken our "no phones at the table rule" and spent breakfast emailing, talked to vendors while feeding the baby, and tried to proof stories with a wiggly two year old on my lap. I can tell that my kids miss me as their behavior becomes more and more drastic in an effort to get my attention.

Childhood behavior experts say that kids don't differentiate between good and bad attention. If children aren't getting what they feel is "enough" attention then they will try bad behavior in an effort to get the adults to look their way. My kids have certainly put that theory to the test lately. I've had to pull the wiggling crawling baby out from under the computer desk ("don't remove that thumb drive!") countless times. My daughter has been potty trained for the better part of a year, yet for some reason has had more "accidents" in the past week than in the last four months combined (I'm just about to the point of calling them "on purposes"). Both kids have completely melted down over things that normally would only be little blips in the radar.

It’s hard not to be frustrated in the midst of all of this. As an adult I can rationalize and know that if they would just let me work for an hour, then I could have the rest of the afternoon to spend with them. But instead I work in 5 minute increments never really getting any task finished. Sometimes I just have to take a deep breath and realize that it’s not worth the fight. Give the kids the attention they’re seeking now and know that I’ll be up till midnight.

It’s amazing though that Tuesday afternoon, after my deadlines were met; all of the sudden those kids that have been crawling all over me for weeks, I think they sensed that it was over and breathed a sigh of relief as well. I wouldn’t go so far as to say we’re back to “normal” because I still had to deal with a meltdown over yogurt, but the wheels are turning smoothly again.

Now I get to enjoy to the good parts. And since I have no meetings for the next few days, I think a morning of sitting in our jammies and reading stories is in order.

Seeking: Mom's Undivided Attention

by Maria Barker

Choosing a name for your baby can be one of the most exciting, and terrifying parts of pregnancy. On one hand you have all these possibilities and can settle on a name you really love for your child, on the other you can only choose one name and whatever you choose your child will have to live with forever!

All around you will be influences: your old favourite names vs. new and unique ones, trends in names, your family’s and friends’ opinions. So how do you decide on the name that’s right for you and your baby? Well there’s no easy answer. The best advice is to go with your heart and not to let others pressurise you too much.

Try Not To Fall Out!
I’ve often heard about friends falling out over choosing baby boy names and baby girl names. Mums worry that they can’t have the same name for their child as their best friend or sister has. My advice in this situation is to be completely honest about things. Explain to your friend that you’ve always loved the name for your child and knowing their baby has only confirmed how much you admire that name. Most friends will be flattered that you value the name so much and won’t have a problem with it. If they do, you need to decide whether they are really worth your time, or whether you will decide on a different name for your child.

Family Reaction
You might have decided on a perfect name for your little one but when you told your family and friends you had a rather disheartening reaction! This seems to happen a lot. Generally the rule of them for family and friends is to be honest before the child is born, but once it’s been named keep your mouth shut even if you don’t approve of the name; after all, it’s not your baby! If you’re expecting and you’ve received a negative reaction to your chosen name, stay calm and ask your family or friend to explain what they don’t like about it. Only you can decide whether their reasons are good enough for you to change it. If their qualm is something to do with the baby: i.e. ‘it might get them teased, they’ll feel left out, no one will be able to say it,’ you might want to consider their thoughts. However, if it’s just personal preference: ‘I always wanted you to name him after uncle Alfred,’ for example, then feel free to tell them that the decision is yours and you’d appreciate it if they were more supportive.

Surnames?
Another aspect to consider is your surname. You might want to try lots of different names and be flexible when it comes to matching them with your surname. Your baby has to live with this name for all or most of their life (if they take their partner’s surname later on) so you want to give them a name which rolls off the tongue nicely.

Whatever you choose, make sure that you feel happy with it. You’re naming your child and not your friend’s and family’s children so don’t let them influence you too much. As long as you think it sounds nice and have an emotional attachment to the name, you’ll be fine.

Author Bio: This article is written by Maria Barker who has a keen interest in baby names and pregnancy, and hopes to help people in the challenge that can be naming your baby!

Guest Post: The Name Challenge

By Danielle Craigen

Last week I began my series on parent-teacher conferences by sharing the single most frustrating aspect of conferences for teachers: not respecting the scheduled conference time. Today’s post is about another part of parent-teacher conferences that we teachers find frustrating: parents not listening to and taking our concerns seriously. This typically has two components, academic concerns and behavior/social concerns. I will focus on the academic concerns this week, next week I will write about behavior concerns.

We teachers recognize that hearing news that your child is struggling academically can be unpleasant. When we deliver bad news about your child during conferences, we aren’t doing out of spite or as an indictment of your parenting skills; we are simply sharing our professional opinions and observations about your student. Don’t think that we secretly think that you are a failure as a parent, because you are not. At some point every student struggles, even those who are gifted academically. Please don’t brush off our concerns, because it only hurts your student. Instead, listen thoughtfully and work together with the teacher to develop a plan of action to correct the problem. Our goal is to get your student caught up (and maybe even a little bit ahead) so they experience academic success throughout their years in school.

Just as we expect you to hold us accountable for following the plan we develop together during the conference, we also expect support from you at home to follow the plan. Please don’t make empty promises to complete extra practice at home if you are unwilling or unable to do so. Only commit to what you are actually willing and able to do. Of all of my parents that I work with at parent-teacher conference time to make a plan to help their student academically, less than 15% actually follow through with the plan. It gets difficult to continue to hold up my end of the bargain when I know that the other side is not honoring their commitment. This sounds terrible, but it is true.

For example, imagine your kindergartener is struggling with writing b and d correctly. When your child’s teacher mentions this concern at conference time, don’t just say “okay” and move on to the next topic on the agenda. Instead, please ask what you can do at home to help. Ask the teacher for extra worksheets so your student can complete additional practice at home. Set aside a few minutes each night to work one-on-one. Also, please periodically follow-up with the teacher to monitor your child’s progress. As your student makes progress, work with the teacher to modify the plan. When you and your child’s teacher work together, everyone benefits.

A Teacher’s Perspective on Parent-Teacher Conferences: Part Two

I’ve been thinking about what I should write about as my first contribution to WM Parenting Connection this entire last week. I’ve also been busy at my “real” job as a 6th grade reading and writing teacher gearing up for the end of the first semester. As I was putting the finishing touches on my grade book, suddenly an idea for my first blog post hit me- a teacher’s perspective on parent-teacher conferences! Unfortunately as I sat down to write about this topic, I realized that it is much too large for a single post. Necessity forces me to focus on the individual aspect of parent-teacher conferences that is frustrating to most teachers: parents showing up at unscheduled times.

Please respect your scheduled conference time! I know this seems obvious, but a parent showing up at an unscheduled time is a perpetual problem. Showing up five minutes early is one thing; it is entirely different if you arrive two hours early. Although scheduled conferences always take priority, most teachers will attempt to fit you in, but it is not guaranteed. The typical result of fitting in an unscheduled conference is a rushed, uninformative meeting that doesn’t benefit you or your child. Your child’s teacher wants to share your student’s success, discuss any issues that need your attention, and answer your questions to the fullest extent possible. For this discussion to happen successfully, the entire allotted conference time is needed, not just a few minutes crammed in between previously scheduled meetings. If your scheduled time doesn’t work for you, please get in touch with your child’s teacher as soon as possible to reschedule. The same rule applies if you are running late.

Another aspect of respecting your scheduled conference time is to not extend your conference past its scheduled ending time. Teachers don’t mind a conference running long if there isn’t another parent waiting, but often this is not the case. I’ve lost count of all of the times at the end of a conference a parent has said “oh yeah, one more thing…” and sat back down, thus encroaching on the next scheduled conference. If you feel that there are more issues to discuss than time available, I encourage you to schedule a second conference. Believe me- teachers don’t mind meeting with you again. (We just ask that you arrive at your scheduled time!)

Learn more!
Danielle Craigen is a guest contributor to the WM Parenting Connection. Danielle has a Master’s degree in teaching, and is currently a 6th grade reading and writing teacher. She welcomes your comments at kdcraigen@gmail.com.

A Teacher’s Perspective on Parent-Teacher Conferences

First Time Mom Over 40: FEATURED INSEASON MOM-FEBRUARY 2012: Name: Claire B. Hegarty Age: 45 Residence: Dublin in the Republic of Ireland Child’s name and age : Ciarán (pronounced Cirawn), 4 y...

First Time Mom Over 40: FEATURED INSEASON MOM-FEBRUARY 2012

By Jennifer Tomasino

I have a page that has been hanging on my refrigerator for over two years. It was torn from a “2010 resolutions” magazine article and featured ten things for parents to strive towards. Pledge number nine is “we’ll get outside to play every day, even if it means stomping in puddles.”

Right now I’m in the middle of putting together the Spring Issue of my magazine, the issue that last year I dubbed “the Green Issue.” Last year I plastered the title “GET OUTSIDE” in huge letters across the front of the magazine. I resolved that my family would make every effort: even if it’s just our back yard- it’s not that hard to open the door and walk outside. And every day I look at that resolution; but not every day I make it a priority. Some days it’s too cold, some days it’s too windy, some days my schedule is just too full, some days the entire day seems to revolve around “the baby.” But yesterday, even though we all have colds, the sun was shining, the winds were tolerable, and we all bundled up and went outside to swing. It was a brief bright spot in what seemed like the longest day ever.

As cabin fever sets a firm hold on our household, I know I need to make it a priority to get outside, even if just for a few minutes. Those 20 minutes of sunshine break up the monotony and make the world seem brighter. So what if my hair looks like a bird’s nest when we’re done, I’m teaching my kids to make the outdoors a priority. Yeah, we can run and jump around inside just as easily, but too many children grow up with a “nature deficit” from spending too much time indoors. I want my kids to celebrate nature, and in order to do that I have to lead by example.

I’m reminded of a quote- “if it’s important, you’ll find a way, if it’s not, you’ll find an excuse.” So, Mr. Groundhog, peek your head up this morning and give me a reason to make getting outside a priority. It may only be February, but I need some springtime! :-)

Hey Mr. Groundhog! I Have Cabin Fever!