Hope for the Holidays

My middle child has always been reluctant to believe in Santa. She's been looking for ways to disprove his existence since she was old enough to say, "I think Santa is a fake." I've spent the last few years trying to re instill her belief in the bearded man and his reindeer. First I went to great lengths wrapping presents in different paper and writing left handed on the name tags to disguise my penmanship. My husband ate the cookies and drank the milk. He even made noise on the roof. She never even woke up. One year we even got her an ipod shuffle monogramed "To a great little girl, From Santa." Every Christmas morning she would open her presents so happy and excited. Then she would come over to me sometime later in the day and say, "I know it was you". Finally I gave up. A couple of years went by and I took the road of honesty. Letting her know that Santa wasn't real and she was good enough to keep up the charade for her younger sister. Then this Christmas happened. She came home one day telling me stories of friend who has an elf that comes every year to play jokes and make sure that she behaves so that Santa can bring her everything on her wish list. You're supposed to leave crackers and water (the opposite of cookies and milk) so that an elf can come and visit you for the holidays. My daughter said she didn't believe it for a second, "How silly", she said. That night, I came down to turn off the lights and saw on the mantle a plate with the crackers and water. She still wanted to believe. At 11:30PM my husband went out into the night searching for an elf. He found one. The next morning I woke up to her standing by my bed holding the elf beaming, "Now what do I do. I bet Katie five dollars that it wouldn't be there ." She was happy, and I was happy. Letting our kids believe in magic is what teaches them to have hope. To believe that the impossible can happen. A tool that we will need many times as we get older to get through the darkest of our days. I wish for all of you have a hopeful and happy holiday.

Election Fever

This is the first election that my kids have really been interested in. My two older ones are the perfect ages to learn about the government of our country, and this exceptional presidential campaign has been an amazing experience for all of us. The schools held an election ranging from 4Th through 8Th grades. Each homeroom acted as a state so that they could understand the process of electoral votes. The kids were allowed to voice their opinions on the candidates, rally , hold campaign signs and vote. What amazed me was the fairness and dignity they seemed to exhibit throughout the day. They respected each others opinions and seemed to respect the entire process better than most adults I know. Some of them voiced the opinions of their parents, while others were proud to be making their own choices. My own children came home excited and eager to see the outcome of the "real" election. They became engaged in what I'm sure will be an important part of our history. Even our youngest looked up at dinner to announced her choice for president, "McBama"!

Testing the Waters

My youngest daughter has always been the most easygoing of my three kids. I've never been quite sure if it was her nature or if she just knew she had to be that way to keep up with her older siblings. She never really had much of a schedule. She napped on the way to soccer, nursed in the car outside hockey rinks and constantly had her little world interrupted by her brother and sister's friends coming in and out of the house. Yet she never complained, made demands or even seemed the slightest bit bothered by the chaos around her. I was beginning to believe that I had the perfect child. Slowly, as she approached five, it all began to change. I noticed little things at first, like she began asking for everything that she saw on TV or in a store, "I want that toy!", "buy me that doll!" Then she stopped wanting to take showers or brush her teeth. Soon she began blackmailing me, " If you get me more cake I won't scream!" or "I'll put my toys away after I have a play date!" In five years she had never had a time out and now she was spending more time in trouble than not. As maddening and frustrating as it had become, I was thrilled! My peaceful and beautiful well behaved little angel had been stressing me out. How can a child go through life perfect? How can they never be disappointed as a child and survive as an adult? Kids need to test themselves and others, face consequences and meet with adversity. It's hard to see your kids unhappy, picked on or not get what they want. But without having some degree of unhappiness in childhood, our kids won't develop their most important quality as an adult, character. Do your best to keep your kids safe and keep them healthy, but let them feel a little unhappiness once in a while. Let them want things that they can't have. Let them know that they are not perfect. It may seem like they hate you for it now, but they will truly appreciate it later.

Freaky Friday

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I love the spookiness and mischief of that night at any age. The cold air and dark sky, everyone running in the streets dressed up. My five year old can't wait to put on her Hannah Montana costume, putting her hands in that "yucky pumpkin mush", and filling her bag with as much candy as humanly possible. My ten year old is planning her night with the girls. Organizing her friends, what streets the will hit and who will sleepover. I'm not sure what my thirteen year old is planning, but I'll bet it has to do with a role of toilet paper and a can of shaving cream... that's the one I'll be keeping an eye on. Last year one of his friends decided that he was going to egg something. He bragged to all of his friends and they quickly jumped at the chance to join in the fun. They spent most of the evening arguing over what they would throw the eggs at, a passing car, other kids, the school. A few of them wimped out pretty early on while others got annoyed fighting over what the plan would be. The boy finally lost his "gang" and ended up only having the courage to egg his own house, alone! His mother was home at the time so he spent the next day cleaning the mess. A Halloween he will never forget.

From babies dressed as pumpkins to dads carrying princesses on their shoulders, it's a great night to forget about the real world and enter into the imagination of children who still believe they can be whatever they want to be. Be safe, have fun, and enjoy the night!

A Mom's Thought on the Bailout

I've never been a very political person. I vote in the major elections and sometimes like a good social debate with a friend. That's about it. I have opinions on issues now and again, but nothing has gotten me as engaged as the current financial problems in our country. Call me simple, but I just can't comprehend that kind of money and the logic behind bailing out these companies. I understand that our country's economics revolve around Wall Street, and that the mortgage lenders and banks going under have a direct link to our abilities to access credit in the future.I realize the importance of being able to access credit . The ability to borrow money allows for business growth, it helps our farmers be able to thrive and can put a kid through school who might otherwise not have the chance. Credit can be good. What I don't understand is why these people have been allowed to pull the financial puppet strings, of almost every American, with seemingly no limitations. Credit doesn't help most of us anymore. By burying ourselves so far into debt, we have actually taken away our freedoms and the lenders have been laughing all the way to the bank. Until now.

The financial crisis is not new to our family. We've noticed it for years. Prices rising in the housing, automobile, and fuel markets. But it was all o.k. because as the prices increased so did the ability to get affordable financing. Funny coincidence isn't it? Take buying a car for example. We're inundated with commercials and news stories showing the importance of having a safe car. You do your research. You read the articles, surf the net and go to the dealership to find the safest car to fit your needs. You walk out of that dealership with a seven seat, gas guzzler with 6 airbags for somewhere in the $28,000 price range. You can't really afford it, but it's all good because you have financing. The banks make sure that you feel comfortable buying that car. The dealership makes money, the bank makes money and your in debt. Two years later the car isn't worth anything, your house isn't worth anything and it's getting harder to meet the bills. To make matters worse you have Suze Orman on the Today show telling you to stop buying your cup of coffee every morning because your in debt. As if we now deserve a punishment for buying into the American dream.

What angers me is that the banks, Wall Street and politicians have been feeding us this bait for their own financial gain. They wanted us to borrow money. That's what keeps them rich. Don't get me wrong, we're at fault as well. We were greedy too. But if I'm not getting a bailout why should they? If I'm going to have to give up my Starbucks as penance for my financial sins, why should I have to keep the people who got me into this mess free from consequence? The politicians are acting as if we should be the "better people" and "take one for the team". I don't think so . If I have to take responsibility for my own finances so should the big companies. I'm not getting a bailout and neither should they.

Safe Bottles for Baby

With all the news reports talking about the hazards of drinking from plastic bottles, how do you know what’s safe? Here are some tips to keeping your babies healthy when using bottles or toddler cups...
Do not use any bottles or cups with the numbers 3, 6, or 7 on the bottom. There are concerns that the chemical Bisphenol A or BPA may be ingested in harmful amounts. BPA is believed to mimic hormones in our bodies which may cause many health problems. More studies are being done to determine the actual safety of plastic drinking cups. In the meantime, better safe than sorry. Don’t use plastic liners in bottles. The soft plastic can leach chemicals, especially when heated.Use glass. Infants and babies who aren’t holding bottles yet can use glass.
Now, for all of us who have already been using plastic don't worry. The studies regarding the use of plastic bottles and cups are still inconclusive. Many of us have grown up eating and drinking from plastics and are fine. All we can do is take this new information and be cautious in the future.

Not All Hockey Moms Are Pit Bulls

Many are saying, thanks to the media’s obsession with Sarah Palin, that soccer moms are out and hockey moms are in. Seemingly overnight, being a hockey mom has become the newest trend. Hits for the term on the internet are soaring and a new stereotype is emerging. The preppy , minivan driving soccer mom has been replaced by the aggressive, loud, Suburban driving hockey moms. Are we all nuts? Do we need yet another category to differentiate ourselves from one another? Yes, I do have two kids that play hockey. They also play baseball, softball, gymnastics and even sometimes soccer. They even have some non-athletic interests like theater and music. I don’t drive a minivan, I hate getting up in the morning and I’ve been just as cold standing on a soccer field in November as a hockey rink in January. I know some hockey moms that work and some that don’t. Some that are loud and some that aren’t. Kids have activities and we as moms are responsible for supporting whatever dreams they have. Childhood activities should never be about a parents needs or wants. It should be about raising healthy, active, well rounded kids who have their own dreams and ambitions. My only role is to support and help them to achieve what they desire as human beings. My kids play hockey because they want to play hockey. It’s not “trendy” or “popular” just because the media wants it to be. We should never let ourselves be labeled as a hockey or soccer mom because at the end of the day our jobs as women deserve much more attention then that.

Kindergarten, Here I Come!

Entering Kindergarten can be both an exciting and terrifying experience for a child. It’s a milestone that children and their parents likely remember for a lifetime. Often, however, the worry that accompanies this transition can often put a dark cloud over that first day of school. There are many things moms and dads can do to ease the fears of their child and themselves.

1.Meet the teacher. Many schools have orientation days were kids can see their classrooms and meet their teachers. This is important for both parents and their children to attend. Knowing what to expect can greatly reduce fears that first day.

2.Practice the route. Walking with older siblings or riding the bus for the first time can be terrifying for a young child. Going through the motions can really help ease fears. Practice walking the route to school, or the bus stop, and show them were to enter the school.

3.Meet the Kids. It is much easier to adjust to new situations with friends. If your child doesn’t already know other kids in their class, arrange for them to meet some. Most schools can let you know who will be in your child’s class. Call a few and try to arrange a time for all of you to get together. Maybe even at the school’s playground.

4.Relax! Kids often get their feelings about a new situation from their parents. If you are worried or nervous, they will be too. Focus on making the process enjoyable and fun. Don’t fill yourself or your child with expectations for how this first day will go. It will be what it will be... a memory special to your family story.

No More “Four Eyes!”

Getting glasses can be an adjustment for many kids. They often worry that they will be made fun of by their peers. But a new study may give them some peace of mind on the matter. A study, published in the May issue of the journal Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, found that children between the ages of 6 and 10 actually found kids who wear glasses to be smarter and more honest. It was also clear that the children did not believe the kids who wear glasses to be any less attractive. The study included 80 children (42 girls and 38 boys) who also did not judge peers who wear glasses in terms of athletic ability or potential as a playmate. Good news to give your child!

Growing Up

My oldest child will become a teenager this week. I remember holding him as a baby...looking at that little face and imagining what he would grow to be. It seemed like so far away in the future. Now I watch him biking down the street to his friends, getting slammed by hockey pucks launched by boys that are taller than me, or simply reading in bed with his feet getting closer and closer to the edge. He doesn’t cry anymore when he gets hurt. He just winces a little when I clean his cuts. His once toothless smile has braces with colored bands and his hair has grown long under the baseball cap he always wears. We have conversations about sports or the news or things that happened in his day and, once in a while, I’ll hear the occasional “crap” come out of his mouth. He’s begun to have his own experiences separate from me. I know that there are parts of his life that I don’t know about and I hold my breath hoping that he is good and happy and safe. Every once in a while he’ll give me a hug or I’ll watch him sleeping and he still seems somehow small. I dream about this next stage of his life and realize how proud I am of all he has done so far. Happy Birthday!

Summer Peace

We’ve made it through another school year! This last week we finished a baseball season, went to two “Nights Of Excellence”, a piano recital and a preschool graduation. We’re all ready for some relaxing days at the beach. No calendars or events to live by for the next 10 weeks! My son is looking forward to hanging with his friends and becoming a teenager in August. My daughter is already worried that she won’t be in the same class as her best friend next year. The world may end if they can’t be together! Little Emmy has her sites on kindergarten. She can’t wait to buy lunch at school like her big brother and sister. I’m just hoping the summer goes by slowly, so that we can enjoy a few moments together away from the chaos that a school year brings. l little window of peace and quiet. I suppose I’m dreaming about the quiet!

Just Around The Corner

Emmy started singing a new tune a couple of weeks ago. It was one line she repeated over and over, “Just around the corner!”,”Just around the corner!”. I even began humming it, like a commercial jingle that you can’t get out of your head. The two of us walking around the house, “Just around the corner!” A few days in, I began to notice my older kids giggling every time they heard us singing. The giggles turned to whispers between the two of them. Finally they would just look at each other a burst into laughter whenever Emmy sang the song. I new it was cute, but this was ridiculous! I had to ask, “What is so funny?” My older daughter looked at me smiling, “That’s the song from the fourth grade video about puberty!” I was horrified. There Emmy was in Starbucks, the playground, the supermarket, singing what every child from the age of nine knows as “The Puberty Song”.

All About Emmymom

O.k. fellow bloggers,I'm new at this, blogging that is, so be kind. I'm a mother of three. Emmy is 4, Sabrina 10, and James 12. I went into motherhood with confidence. I was 24 and thought I knew exactly the kind of mother that I would be. I was going to be the coolest, most patient and understanding mother ever! They would grow up respectful, polite, neat and never judgmental of me. What happened? I'm nowhere near cool anymore, the house is a mess,and my patients went out the window years ago. Now I find myself navigating the world of parenthood blind. Each new day filled with challenges and lessons, taught more often from them to me. I no longer have a plan. I just hope that I will somehow do something right and that they will grow up healthy, strong and happy.