Magical Ordinary Life
Posted by Stephanie | Filed under CommiserATE
We have a big case of blog envy when it comes to the last of the featured funny-girl blogs this week. Because of her hilarious one-liners, we think that Christina, the proud mama behind the blog Magical Ordinary Life, should write cards for Hallmark in her spare time (spare time… what’s that?) Our favorite is her Post It Note Tuesdays where she flat out tells it like it is.
The Edition Dedicated to my husband:
The “Just a little love note to my 12 yr old” Edition:
The “I would judge me too” Edition:
The “Ewwwwww!” Edition:
The “Are you kidding me?” Edition:
The “New Cleaning Lady” Edition:
The “Lack of self control” Edition:
The “Note To Mother Nature” Edition:
I am somewhere in my mid thirties with one husband, three boys, and two dogs. I am over committed and under paid. I lead a sometimes comical and quite often chaotic life. I am quick with a snarky remark and often escape into a good book. My life is ordinary but never ever dull. And, somewhere in the middle of this ordinary life there is always something magical. My blog is about redefining ordinary. It’s about my life, and yours.
Haven’t seen enough? To read more, visit Christina’s blog at www.magicalordinarylife.com.
Kelley’s Break Room
Posted by Stephanie | Filed under LiberATE
Our second blogger mom of the week is Kelley, a mom of two, from Houston, Texas. Her comical blog, Kelley’s Break Room, was created as a place where you literally take a “stinkin’ break for a minute” and for us, portrays the “slap-happy” side of motherhood. Warning: Do not drink liquids while reading this blog. According to some fellow bloggers, she’s been known to cause an occasional snort out of the nose while drinking and reading. Consider yourself warned.
But, what if I really AM a super hero?
The girls here informed me that a big part of this blog is to remind moms to put away the SuperMom cape and be “real”… However, what do you do if you are ACTUALLY born a real super hero?
Really. My cape is permanently attached to my unitard …. which, in turn, is permanently attached to me. I wish I could change it. I really do. It’s not easy finding clothes to hide the superhero attire. I actually had to grow an obscene amount of hair to hide the enormous wadded up cape that is stuffed in my shirt.
Just so you can fully appreciate what I mean, I attached a picture of me here. (In case you are wondering, I had this picture taken at one of those old western photo studios.) Most of the time, people are so distracted by my beautiful locks, they don’t even notice the unitard. (However, you can see a bit of it stuffed in my cute shoes there at the bottom.) So, now that I’ve introduced myself, my unitard and my mane, let me tell you very briefly what life is like as a superhero mother. It ain’t easy.
Many super-heroes share a set of characteristics, you see, which include:
The ability to fly.
(I sometimes drive over the speed limit when trying to get the dudes to school
or to an appointment on time.)
The ability to freeze things.
(I’ve got a great chicken pot pie in the freezer now.)
Super-human strength.
(Sometimes the caps on certain drinks are so doggone hard to twist off!
I can make the drink submit.)
Enhanced senses.
(I can smell my son’s diaper from miles away & know if the other one
has brushed his teeth yet or not.)
Projection of energy bolts.
(They come directly out of my eye when I see my son
jump from the coffee table to the couch.)
Strong moral code.
(I have this thing about my kids not hitting each other in the head
with their light sabers.)
Power ring.
(My wedding ring reminds me of how much I love my husband
and the boys we have together. Awww!)
Personal vendetta against criminals.
(Which includes my kids when they steal each other’s toys
or won’t share their Cheetos when it’s the last bag left.)
A belief in humanitarian service.
(Who doesn’t believe in this? You? Meet me outside!)
Secret identity.
(I sometimes get dressed up, go out with my husband or friends
and am called “Kelley.”)
An occupation that allows for minimal supervision.
(I’ve been looking around all day, but I don’t see any other grown-up here…)
Headquarters.
(I love my headquarters. I wish it were cleaner and more organized,
but at least it’s a warm & happy place!)
After looking at this list, I bet you’re thinking that you perhaps you are a superhero too!! If you possess five or more of these superhero characteristics, send me a message and I’ll get to working on your superhero cape! If you send it in within the next 10 minutes, I’ll toss in two Sham Wows and The Chopper for only $19.99! Actually, forget the cape! It just gets in the way and may cause you to grow hair so stankin’ long like mine that you trip over it all the live-long day. No, no…it’s best to stay the way you are right now. That is how you are loved the best!
My name is Kelley and I am the author of the humor blog Kelley’s Break Room. The girls at Southern MOMentum asked me to guest post after reading my Silly CONTRAbandz and Real Women of Genius post. I am in my mid-30’s and love being around my two little boys and their daddy (my husband). Inside my piano bench is sheet music to “Hangin’ Tough” by New Kids on the Block that my mom bought me circa 1988. No matter how hard I ever tried, it never sounded quite RAHT on the pee-yana. It won’t take long on my blog and you’ll know ahm from tha sah-yowth. I like sloths. Eloise is my favorite book character. I appreciate ALL KINDS of people- inspirational ones, quiet ones, serious ones, etc. But I really appreciate people who can make me laugh hard enough that milk comes out of my nose. This explains the pint of milk you will always find in my purse. If you smell the stench, help me find some new milk for goodness sake and say something silleh! Thanks for reading.
The Desperate Housemommy
Posted by Stephanie | Filed under CommiserATE
When we thrusted ourselves into this great big world of blogging, we had no idea that we would soon be mingling with so many fantastic moms from all around the country. This week, we’ve decided to highlight three ladies who inspire us on a daily basis with their witty renditions of their own lives as a mom. You will love our first contributor who joins us from the suburbs of Chicago. She is that nonjudgemental friend you always wish you had. She is … The Desperate Housemommy! We love ya, Sue!
Say What?
This morning at the breakfast table, Twin A said The A Word.
I put down my cup of coffee and blinked, taking in what she had said. I glanced quickly over at her brothers to see if they had picked up on her lingo. It was evident that they had, indeed. I then met her eyes with an even, expressionless gaze. I did not panic. I did not rush to deliver hasty consequences. I did what any sensible Housemommy would do. I responded with, “Hmmmmm. I see. And where did you hear that?”
“Annie and Gina said it at school on Friday. They think it’s cool.” Twin A continued to eat her cereal as if we were talking about something of very little significance.
Well. It was bound to happen sooner or later. I just didn’t think it would be this soon, at the tender age of 8 years and eleven months. My first-born’s delicate ears had been accosted by the one-word thief of youthful innocence: Abercrombie.
Up until this juncture, my only daughter had been content to accompany me to discount stores in order to purchase her clothing needs. Target, Marshalls, and Justice (with a 40 percent off coupon in hand, of course) were our usual haunts. She had never so much as raised an eyebrow when I made the occasional Ebay purchase: A lot of five pairs of Size 10 Slim jeans for $9.99 plus shipping. Score! Hand-me-downs from older girls in our neighborhood? Woo-hoo! Keep ‘em comin’! Twin A was following in my frugal footsteps, and I was loving it.
But this morning, everything changed. Everything.
As my daughter gamely chatted on about Skinny Jeans, Logo Hoodies, and Tiny Little Deer Emblems, I could do nothing to drown out the resounding “CHA-CHINGGGGGGGG!” that rattled around in my brain. Visions of eye-popping price tags affixed to overpriced cami tops swam before my eyes. I could almost literally see dollar bills being flushed down the toilet in exchange for brand-new “distressed” clothing, fashioned to give the impression that it been worn to combat in both World Wars. I had seen the writing on the wall, the telltale signs of fast approaching ‘tweendom months before, but the monologue that my daughter delivered at the breakfast table was the knockout punch that I had not seen coming. My head spun. I clutched at the table for support. I physically steadied myself against the verbal onslaught. Abercrombie! Abercrombie! Abercrombie! The A Word, and its yet to come adolescent F Word companion, Fitch, are destined to become my one-way ticket to bankruptcy.
Desperate? You bet your sweet hoodie I am.
The Desperate Housemommy is an elementary school teacher turned full-time mom who has a gem of a husband, nine year old boy/girl twins and a six year old son. She loves to learn and laugh …not necessarily in that order. To read more, visit her blog at http://www.thedesperatehousemommy.blogspot.com.
There is enough good in the world for everyone
Posted by Stephanie | Filed under LiberATE
Yeah, yeah, I know it’s not Christmas yet … but I just so happen to have a little gift for you today. Yes, for YOU! Every once in a while I come across something online that I feel like I have to share with y’all and this is definitely one of those times. This image from LobotoME sums it all up. Read it. Read all of it. Print it. Slap it up on your laundry room wall to read while your folding clothes. Save it as your desktop pattern on your computer. Put it on your refrigerator so you see it each time you reach for the jelly. Take it to work with you. Tape it to the back of the carpool hanger. Put it anywhere you think you may need a little inspiration. Now, I know they aren’t reinventing the wheel here… we all know we are supposed to floss. But somehow the gals at LobotoME have managed to put some essential life lessons in a beautiful little pattern to create THE motherload of rules to “hit your stride”. We hope you enjoy it!
Go here to download different size images to set as your desktop pattern.
OR you can purchase a poster here for $9.95.
Post 100 ½
Posted by Stephanie | Filed under SoMo Favs
Post 100 and a half? Man, we are milking this 100th post thingy? This is an extension of Anita’s Monday’s post because I wanted to include a paragraph I particularly love from her book. I feel it really rings true to what so many of us talk about here at Southern MOMentum.
It goes something like this…
When your kids are small, people will say to you: “Treasure every moment. They grow up so fast. Don’t blink or you’ll miss it.” Well, I think I speak for a host of women when I say — we blinked. A lot. Blinking, blinking, blinking — hoping to skip over just a ”little” bit of it. As a former mother to multiple simultaneous preschoolers, let me say that some days are just like the movie Groundhog Day, where Bill Murray gets to live the same day over … and over… and over again. It feels like that — the same Cheerios, the same apple juice, the same questions, the same laundry. I’m not saying that it’s not wonderful, just r-e-a-l-l-y familiar. (Blink, blink.)
So when you are done blinking, be sure to get yourself entered in the book/dvd combo prizepack. Trust me, it really is a great (and hilarious) book! I will be drawing the three winners this Friday at noon. (See 1ooth post for details.)
Our 100th Post By Anita Renfroe
Posted by Stephanie | Filed under SoMo Favs
I love that the revered state of Southern Motherhood has a website that reps us and does us proud. Having been a southern mom for my entire motherhood career and a second career in comedy (after I spent my first career developing all my material for my second), I feel that I may be uniquely equipped to discuss the various regional advantages to raising kids here in our distinctive region. I hereby offer a commemorative Top 5 (10 was just too much to muster in middle of Dog Days. If you don’t know what Dog Days are, it’s hot and we move slow this time of year). So here, for your reading and reposting and emailing pleasure, I present to you:
Top 5 Reasons Why Being a Southern Mother Totally Rocks:
1. We firmly believe in the concepts of “Outside” and “Barefeet”
The sanity-saving parental strategy of, “I need you to go outside and play for awhile,” is firmly entrenched in the pantheon of Things Southern Moms Say Right Before They Lose It. “Outside” is a destination all its own with wonders that cannot be discovered nor enjoyed in the air-conditioned environs. There are dirty dirt piles, cool green grass, cloud formations, fresh oxygen and a CHANCE FOR MOM TO HEAR HERSELF THINK FOR JUST 10 MINUTES IF THAT IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK OF THE UNIVERSE RIGHT NOW. Which leads me to…
2. Southern Moms Have More Emotional Range
When discussing and actress’s skill-set, directors often speak of her “range” – the breadth of emotions she can convey given the complexity of a character. This is a good thing. It is also super useful when parenting. A good southern mom knows this. We can actually rachet up any directive or discussion with our offspring through varying methods we have witnessed from our mamas and their mamas before them. And it is purposeful; getting all exorcised about something it is not merely because we need to be heard, it’s because we need SOMEONE to change their mind about SOMETHING. We start off with a provocative passive/aggressive statement meant to kick off intended discussion. When we see that no one is coming around to our clearly superior way of thinking we can move quickly through vapors, sinking spells, crying jags until we land at the jewel in the southern mother’s emotional crown, The Full Blown Hissy Fit. And we “throw” or “pitch” these. It’s quite intense. Often men and children will vacate the premises believing that there is nothing to be done about it/gained from it, but other women will stay around to watch (because we know it’s a spectator sport AND we might pick up some tips for the next one WE might need to pitch).
3. Family Names
Down south, first names that are odd-but-of-historical-importance family names still linger. Southern moms don’t have to look through the baby book names to come up with unique names. Heck! We’ve had them in the family for years! We don’t care if the name is cumbersome, hard to spell, difficult to pronounce or rife with bad juju, if it’s a family name, we take pride in perpetrating the nomenclature crime from generation to generation. We saddle our kids and expect them to bear the 6th generation family name with grace and dignity. We also consider it “character building,” (a category in which we also place large noses, crazy uncles and you’ll-have-to-sit-this-season-out sports injuries).
4. Family Reunions
We still love a good gathering of distant kin and any excuse to eat and play softball beats no excuse. It is somehow comforting to know that, no matter how bizarre the relatives are on some branches of the family tree or how shallow the gene pool gets in certain spots, we all still have a place at the picnic table once a year. It also provides a moment of gratitude as we bow our heads and pray the mother’s cherished prayer, “Dear Lord, I thank you that my child is not as ill-behaved as my cousin’s little hellions. Amen”
5. Manners still matter here.
It’s hard enough to teach kids to have a modicum of the skills that grease the social skids without living somewhere where the culture doesn’t enforce your values of respect for elders, authority and society at large. Although we have sent out into the world our share of social rebels, authors and rock stars, they pretty much all retained the manners that their mama-an-em instilled. In the immortal words of Elvis Aaron Presley, “Thank you, thank you vury much.”
Renfroe, who some have described as “this generation’s Erma Bombeck” has been a featured comedian on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and has filmed a sitcom pilot for Sony/ABC co-starring Ryan Stiles and the late Dixie Carter. Renfroe’s talent has been embraced by such top media outlets as “Dr.Phil,” CBS’s “The Early Show,” Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends,” XM Satellite Radio Network’s “Oprah & Friends,”Inside Edition,” The Gospel Music Channel and others. Anita tours with her own comedy concerts and inspirational women’s conferences where she routinely packs out venues across the United States. Renfroe and her husband John live in Atlanta and have three children, Calvin, Austin and Elyse, one daughter in law (Lisa), ONE GRANDBABY (happy dance, happy dance!) and a maltipoo named Maggie.
… And we would like to thank Anita (vury much) for squeezing us in in the middle of her national comedy tour. Check out her schedule here at www.anitarenfroe.com to see if she will be in your area … you are sure to LOL, ROFL or STOYNFLSH! (“spit tea out your nose from laughing so hard”). I also have to add one more of her videos that just so happens to be my personal favorite. Anita sums this one up as “Sometimes the best gift your husband can get you is a sitter.”
NOW TO THE GIVEWAYS:
Three (3) lucky winners will win a book/dvd prize pack (The book: Don’t say I didn’t warn you … Kids, Carbs, and the Coming Hormonal Apocalypse and the dvd: Big Ol Sweet Iced Tea).
HERE’S HOW TO ENTER:
It’s easy — just follow us AND Anita on Twitter or become a subscriber or member on Southern Momentum and give Anita a shout-out by leaving a comment on this post.
What builds YOUR Momentum?
Posted by Stephanie | Filed under LiberATE
Tap … tap … tap … is this thing on? Oh, thank you. Please. Hold your applause. First of all I want to thank all of our readers out there. Without you, Southern MOMentum would not exist.
To my blog partner, Anne, who has put up with my endless, off-the-wall ideas of emailing Oprah or the Today Show to inform them that we are, no doubt, the next best thing in the world of mommy mayhem.
And of course, I’d like to thank my parents, who would continue to encourage me if I told them was creating a time machine.
And to my wonderful husband, who, bless his heart, has had a years worth of ideas bounced off of him & could “mom talk” with the best of us.
And last but not least, to the academy … who, without them … (Ahem.) Ok, thanks for humoring me for a moment.
I know I get a little carried away but today just so happens to be a BIG deal! It is post #99. This is the post where I share my most heartfelt gratitude to our 200+ followers, our advertisers and our 1,000+ weekly visitors. Eight months of countless hours of brainstorming, wondering if we were just writing “mom stuff” for the heck of it!
And what did I get in return? Well, let’s see … how … about … the most personal satisfaction and fulfillment I have ever felt in my professional career. Yes, really! Not just because of the readers (although that is a HUGE part of it). It is because each and every day I am doing what I love. There is something exhilarating about finding that ONE “thing” that you are passionate about and running with it.
One year ago, this blog was just a dream and a journal full of scribble-scrabble (that’s one of my daughter’s favorite words). Last December, Anne & I put up post #1 and toasted to a journey and commitment to find ourselves and to somewhere along the way, inspire someone else in the process. We did it because we were passionate about creating a place where we can share our insecurities and imperfections as a community of moms — without guilt and judgment. And there is nothing I love more, than to laugh at stories of when our children manage to drive us to the brink of insanity.
Now it hasn’t been all peaches and cream. There were no shortage of days when I ask myself “who the hell do I think I am, expecting moms to take time out of their busy days to read what we have to say — allowing us to inspire them or at the very least give them a good chuckle or make them feel as if they are not alone in crazy mommyland” … Fortunately, those were the days my son would pull THIS out of his backpack.
Or my daughter would come home from camp with THESE.
You can bet when the word “momentum” appears on their spelling tests, they will not bat an eye.
Somewhere along the road my passion for this blog has spilled out onto my family. And to my surprise, I found that THEY were a huge part of the momentum. Although I get it from other places like my amazing circle of friends and my new blogger gal pals — at the end of the day, it is my family that keeps me going.
So today, on post #99, I challenge you to find out what builds YOUR momentum. Dig deep to find that little or big “something” that keeps you going every day. Do you get it from those little faces that peer up over the bed at 6 am? Is it a book or career-in-the-making that makes you happy? Is it the girlfriend who shares a laugh with you when you are ready to jump ship? Insane as it can be, Mommyhood looks good on you … be comfortable in its skin!
We hope that you find your “thing” that pulls you from the rubble on the days that are less than glamorous and we would be humbled and honored for you to be a part of our MOMentous journey!
If you already know, share it with us!
… now on to post #100!
You Tube. iTube. We All Tube, Apparently
Posted by Stephanie | Filed under CaptivATE
I’ll start by admitting that I did not make up this clever title. That, my friend, is the work of who I think should be crowned “The Funniest Mom in America” … and she just so happens to be our guest contributor for our 100th post on Monday! Her talent has been embraced by such top media outlets as Good Morning America, Dr.Phil, CBS’s The Early Show, Fox News and many others.
Her name? Ms. Anita Renfroe. From stay-at-home-mom to modern day Phe-mom-enon … Anita has YouTube to thank for her instant success in the world of comedy!
In case you missed it, this is how it all began…
We thought that Anita Renfroe would be a perfect fit here at SoMo and we are pee-our-pants-excited (which unfortunately doesn’t take much these days) that she agreed to do an exclusive post … JUST FOR US! We sure hope y’all stop by for a visit and a good laugh — and be on the lookout for a special “Momic” themed giveaway that you won’t want to miss!
Just in case you were wondering how we pulled off getting such a famous person to contribute to this here little ‘ol blog — well, I have to tell you that Anita & I are pretty tight these days. Lookie here … here we are, arm-in-arm after her big show last week! Tight.
I Scream For Ice Cream
Posted by Stephanie | Filed under EducATE
Gone are the days of the Backyardigan-themed, Chuck E Cheese and Pump It Up parties in my household. We’ve “been there, done that” and I’ve found the more intimate the party, the more memorable. My daughter’s 6th birthday is around the corner and she’s been throwing around party ideas that involve overpriced rentals, Cinderella tablecloths & your typical goodie bag full of crappy 2 cent toys … uggh! It’s kind of unfair to be dreading it … my son got all those good parties like that, but I’m just ready for one of those cute, color-coordinated events with the gingham patterns that you see on the cover of the Pottery Barn Kids catalog. Can you picture it?
However, my time is limited and, apparently, I’m also lacking the event- planning gene so what do you do when you are looking for something a little less, lets say, “Disney”?
Well, speaking of princesses, I would like to introduce you to someone who just so happens to be better than a party princess … she is the party QUEEN… literally. She is party-planner Tayloire Queen, a mom-prenuer of 2 young boys and the owner of A Queen Affair, LLC. based out of Cary, NC. She is here to share some tips to those of you in need of a unique event.
Get crackin: First of all, pick a theme and stick to it. Put on your thinking caps here ladies — ideas can come from everyday things you like or that inspire you. Think: funny book, favorite food, treat/dessert, color, flower or or a funky tablecloth. There are infinite possibilities! My simple theme set the stage for a picture-perfect birthday in July that was inspired by my son’s love of ice cream.
Get cool: To keep my guests cool and entertained on a hot summer day, the kids started out taking turns gliding down the inflatable water slide — while the adults were serenaded by the giggles and splashes as they sipped iced cold lime green margaritas.
Get creative: To add a surprise element to the party, I made arrangements with a local ice cream truck to make a stop and treat all the kids to their favorite flavor. As a mom, it was priceless to witness the enormous smiles of kids and parents as their ears perked up to the sweet sound of the ice cream truck as it pulled up to the curb.
Get colorful: I chose bright turquoise and lime green — a color scheme that would really pop! The matching cake and pinata were custom ordered several weeks prior to tie the color scheme and ice cream theme together. I kept accent pieces pretty simple by using hand cut hydrangeas and limes for great centerpieces. Ceramic ice cream cones with personalized cookies on a stick made for simple, yet quirky and cute goodies. Fancied up mason jars added extra lighting during a fireworks show. As you can see, sometimes it’s the little inspirations and small details that add the sparkle!
Now … Get Clickin’: Don’t procrastinate — pick a date! You no longer have an excuse with e-mail, Evite, Facebook or Twitter to keep everyone well-informed to save the date. Here is an invitation tip: It is customary and courteous here in the South to send out invitations 3 weeks in advance with an RSVP set for 5 days prior to the event.
The moms at SoMo would like to thank Tayloire at A Queen Affair for providing these great summer party tips. To get some great party ideas or to book your upcoming birthday or cookout go to www.aqueenaffair.com. Whether it is an intimate gathering of 10 or an elaborate group of 60, Tayloire will create an affair to remember for you and your loved ones!
Go With The Flow!
Posted by Stephanie | Filed under EducATE
We are taking a couple week break from our Fit To Be Tied Fridays because, for one, we don’t want y’all to think we are a bunch of complainers, and two, we have some great stuff in store as we gear up for our 100th post! Stay tuned and I will reveal the hilarious, guest contributor mom that will be here for post one, zero, zero on August 23rd! Now on with our regular programming as Anne reminds us why it is important to Go With The Flow!
When my husband and I were engaged we went through a short series of marriage counseling, courtesy of the preacher who performed our ceremony. I remember at the 1st meeting he asked us both what were the three character traits we most admired about one another. I’ll be honest, after 10 years, I cant remember any of them except for one thing my husband said about me — ADAPTABILITY! “She can put on a cocktail dress and be ready for a business dinner or she can throw on a cap and be ready to hit the ballpark!”
Now, before I go any further I want to mention a couple of disclaimers:
1. I have never, nor will I ever, claim to be a perfect mom! I have very little patience and I’m running on ½ a tank of sanity by noon every single day.
2. I constantly worry about raising my children to be respectful and polite citizens.
3. I’m not a professional, so if you do not agree with me with just ignore me.
I recently had the opportunity to observe a child who did not have an adaptable bone in their body and it occurred to me that this “trait” goes A LONG way in life. It made me realize that it is just as important to have the ability to adapt to your surroundings, as it is to have good manners. All the self-help, mommy/parenting books preach to the choir about raising well-adjusted, well-rounded and socialized children and I believe adaptability really is the key!
Think about it, we try to get our kids to learn to do things when they are small by comparing them to others. “Emma went pee-pee in the potty, so you should too!” Your brother likes broccoli … you’ll like it too!” But as they get older, we switch gears and try to teach them to be individuals and to not succumb to peer pressure. Just because Brian is jumping off a bridge doesn’t mean you should do it too!” … “Why do you think you need 100 silly bands on your ankle like Jenny?”
I think we need to think about this. We seem to start off doing things that would prepare our children to become adaptable people, but somewhere along the way we confuse them, and maybe even ourselves a little. We get in a certain routine, we cater to and attempt to please our children at every turn. We peel the apple slices, we cut the crust off of bread, we make sure fluffy bunny is within reach at 2 a.m. That is great — professionals say we need to instill a sense of security in them — but somewhere down the road, isn’t it our job to prepare them to adapt OUTSIDE of the box?
So once we are ready to tackle this “independent” thinking, where do we start?
1. Teach them to have fun: Don’t choose to always have your good times when the kids aren’t around. I know we all want to be responsible parents so save the hard-core evenings for when they are with grandparents, but the truth is, kids model their parents. Take them to someone’s house for a cookout or party and show them how to socialize properly. This includes showing them how to respect one’s home, the company and environment they are in, the culture, the food, etc. Show them that different people may do things differently at their house but it’s not wrong, it’s just different. As a result, it will teach them to adapt when they are on a play date and Heather’s Mommy may not slice the apples just like you do.
2. Teach them to eat what you eat: We have been told this time after time, but you are not doing your child any favors by being a short-order cook. Teach them to respect the fact that you prepared it for them and they should be grateful for even having something to eat. I know — easier said than done — but you will be glad you did it when you can actually sit down and eat a hot meal WITH the family.
3. Teach by example: Remember that your kids are watching your every move. If you get bent out of shape due to the mom cutting you off in carpool line or act “put off” when the occasional pool nazi insists on seeing your ID, even when they know you by name — then your kids will think that’s ok. Teach them that things don’t always go as planned in life and that sometimes you need to adapt to the changes!
Lord knows I’m working hard on all of this myself, but the moral of the story is, let’s be more adaptable and show our kids that it can be cool to “go with the flow!”
