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Taming the Preschool Beast

Nothing unleashes a preschooler’s inner beast quite like extracting him from a fun environment without advanced warning. When my daughter was 4 years old she had an epic outburst at a children’s museum in Chicago because I failed to give her proper notification of our departure.  In doing so, I robbed her of the gradual transition I knew she needed in order to calmly exit the building. The fit she threw nearly got us thrown out of the museum. Looking back, my preschooler’s tantrum, which included tossing her shoes down a slide, was simply her way of staying true to … Continue reading →

The Noble Efforts of the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund

One thing I will never criticize Disney about is the good work done by the Animal Kingdom and its sometimes-partner the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund.  The two might technically be separate entities – the Animal Kingdom is a part of Disney World, and the DWCF is a philanthropic branch of the Walt Disney Corporation – but they often work together. Work together, of course, being an operative word.  The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund is what it’s called: a fund.  While some employees might actually go out and do something, the primary purpose of the division is to provide financial support for … Continue reading →

How to Encourage Children to Give Back

Each child should learn the importance of giving back, a lesson that will stay with him or her for a lifetime. Giving our children the opportunity to build character and become excellent human beings is one of the responsibilities and the pleasures of being a parent. Not to take away from the importance of this lesson for our children in the future, encouraging children to give back also has the added bonus of eliminating much of the “gimmies” for us parents, right here and now. Did you know that kids are instinctual givers? They are proud to give of themselves, … Continue reading →

How to Get More Fun for Your Money

You can be happy with less money. It all depends on how you use it and what it does for you. Apply your money in the ways that will make you happiest. Be purposeful in how you spend your cash, and your life will be enriched, even on the tightest budget. Choose Experiences Instead of Materials Experiences can be one of the best investments of your money. Long after the money is spent, you will look back on the time with many fond memories. Money that is used toward experiences generally leaves people feeling that it was absolutely worth it. … Continue reading →

Living with Engineers: Spouses, not Supervisors

Living with an engineer involves more than just having to hear the word “efficient” all of the time. A lot of engineers end up in management positions, and that means one thing: they’re bred to supervise. The word “efficient” does get bandied about, in how they think tasks ought to be accomplished. I already shared my story about measuring butter for baking, and how my husband felt about that. That’s not the only time something like that has happened. Sometimes, I find Jonathan trying to supervise me when we’re completing a project. To be fair, sometimes I ask for it. … Continue reading →

Turkey Day Tricks

The last thing you want to have to deal with on Thanksgiving–besides being forced to watch Uncle George and Cousin Ralph duke it out over ways lawmakers should resolve the fiscal cliff–is witnessing a mini table filled with kids go bonkers from boredom. There may be little you can do to avoid dysfunction amongst your older guests, but there are a slew of simple tricks you can pull out of your hat to keep your youngest Turkey Day guests entertained, including: Turkey Hunt: Place turkey stickers on 12 index cards and list a small prize on the back of each … Continue reading →

Grateful for Baby

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I decided to think about all the things that I am grateful for about my job as a Mother to my sweet little baby. Yesterday, one of my older children was sick. I had very little sleep, and had been up since about 2 am. Needless to say, I was pretty grouchy when the sun started to rise and I had to continue on with my daily duties as a Mom. But, then my baby woke up. I walked into his room, and he smiled at me (like he always does). I thought to myself, … Continue reading →

Inexpensive Seasonal Embellishments

Whether you are getting ready to set your Thanksgiving table, or you are simply looking for ways to bring touches of fall into your living space, the following easy and affordable projects will help you accomplish your goal: Turkey Candle Holders Materials: Small glass containers (baby food jars or small jelly jars work well) Colored tissue paper Scissors Colored construction paper Glue Paint brush Pipe cleaners Sequins Glitter Directions: Cut the tissue paper into small squares. Cover the jar with a thin coat of glue, and then randomly place the tissue paper squares on top, overlapping them so none of … Continue reading →

Affordable Seasonal Adornments

Looking for some constructive family fun this weekend? Raking leaves, cleaning gutters and unpacking winter clothes may not be your kids’ idea of F-U-N, but the jobs still need to get done. One way to make the tasks a bit more enjoyable is by offering a reward upon completion. When your clan is done cleaning up inside and out, empty your craft closet and have fun making the following kid-friendly art projects. The finished items can be used to embellish your home before your Thanksgiving guests arrive. FALL LUMINARY BAGS: Gather leaves from your yard to make these pretty fall-themed … Continue reading →

Easy Thanksgiving Crafts You Can’t Mess Up

Thanksgiving is just two weeks away. Are you hosting the Turkey Day celebration this year? Preparing a massive meal for your extended clan is no picnic. Add to that the task of decorating your home for the holiday and you may be wondering if you bit off more than you can chew. With time ticking down to the big day, now is the time to recruit the troops. Get your kids involved in the making simple decorations to embellish your Turkey Day buffet. The following Thanksgiving-themed projects are so easy you can have a houseful made in no time: PAPER … Continue reading →