This morning after my 3:50 AM wake-up call, I loaded up my momster truck and headed South to the CBS2 studios. I seriously don’t know how those folks get up that early everyday.
Mary Kay Kliest, Super Meteorologist and cool mom herself, joined me at the idea table.
Except for the fact that we both were on the wrong camera for the first 30 seconds, I think it went pretty well.
Enjoy your Halloween festivities with your own little monsters, and remember, the word “roll” is in the name tootsie roll for a reason. Moderation is key ladies:)
If you have any other great non-candy Halloween treats to share, please tell us all about them!
Like many of you moms out there I am in the mad dash to help my kids embrace another identity this Saturday.
I am not one of those crunchy granola moms who sews her kids costumes from scratch using self-designed, one-of-a-kind patterns. I can hardly sew on a button for goodness sake. But I do love the whole costume thing nevertheless.
This year I’m particularly thankful that my twelve year old still even wants to participate at all. I keep wondering when he’ll be “over” it.
This All Hallows Eve. he’s chosen to be everyone’s favorite gangster Mister Al Capone. A lovely hero don’t ya think?
And my little guy has decided to embody two people this year performing a costume change mid-festivities.
He’ll be our favorite NFL safety Troy Polamalu on Friday for the school parade, and Harry Potter on Saturday for the candy gathering. Sort of a theme…they are both quite magical.
I’m all good with these selections because for me it only means digging through the neglected dress-up bin in the attic, buying a long black wig for Tru, and a fake cigar and oversized sport coat for Max. Easy.
I have to say I am holding on to these Halloweens just a wee bit tighter than before.
Max, our beloved tweenager, has informed us that this year he wants to be with his friends for a large part of the night, which we’ve agreed to…reluctantly.
We’ve never trick-or-treated without him. And we just can’t fathom why he doesn’t want to to troll around with his mom and dad. Maybe it’s the bare mid-drift cheerleader costume I decided to wear last year.
He has agreed to walk around the hood with us for a small portion of the evening, knowing that we don’t want this tradition to end just yet and for the sake of his little brother who wants to BE Max in another life, (being idolized is so hard).
In all honestly we know the face of Halloween is slowly changing for our family. All too soon he’s going to ask for a roll of TP and the keys to the car.
So, because I like to torture myself from time to time, I started looking back through my old photos to reminisce about the ghosts of Halloweens past.
(Don’t know what was up with the face paint and playdoh box on the head…may have been a shot from Robin’s days at the frat. house.)
AND because my twelve year old would be mortified if I posted old pics of him in his Buzz Lightyear costume, your stuck with two of Tru. My little super hero. These were my favorite. I love that when our kids put on their costumes they are completely transformed before our very eyes. They truly believe. And we eagarly believe right along with them. And for my twelve year old, he gets to play dress-up again. A thing I think he sort of misses being “allowed” to do.
So today’s nugget of parental wisdom is to have fun gathering, or God forbid making those Halloween costumes this week. Even if they don’t decide what they want to be until Friday night and you’re stuck in the party store at 8:50 pm.
And remember to take loads of pictures.
Sooner than you think they’ll be asking to go it alone. sniff sniff.
Yesterday I was out shopping at a local outdoor mall, all by myself.
I know that for those of you who are toddler toting everyday, the idea of solo shopping seems as blissful as a 90% off sale at Prada.
And it was delightful.
But just as I was heading to my car my heart cracked a little. I saw a young mom carrying her little blonde baby in her arms, guiding a little girl (with the same hair) into a cafe to have lunch. “Awwwwwww” was all I could hear in my head. I miss that.
I miss having a little buddy along to chat with and discover “new” things with everyday. I didn’t even eat lunch yesterday because I basically forgot amidst the errands and work I needed to get done before 3;15. When you have a little one around, you can’t just forget about lunch.
Anyway, I felt sorry for myself for a few minutes, replayed the “maybe I should have another baby” dialogue again in my head for the 487th time, and then went about my day as usual.
When my newly turned 12 year old came strolling in from school, all DC skater hat and cell phone clad, I was reminded of how cool this older kid thing is too.
So today, I’m listing the top five things I really love about my tween…and you probably love about yours, if you have one.
1. I love their language.
I find it most amusing how my kid is trying to create and embrace the “cool” words in his world.
Everything right now is either “sick”, “epic”, or “bootleg”. These all mean “cool” by the way. He may have made up the last one, which I find simply awesome.
2. I LOVE to go shopping with him.
My boy happens to have a sure sense of style. His favorite store is PacSun,which I find way more fun to browse around then Baby Gap, not to mention I buy stuff for myself there too on occasion. He’s all about the skater look these days, which I used to find a little sloppy and odd, but now think is adorable. Funny how that happens when you actually know the kid in the clothes.
3. I now have my own personal search engine.
Between what he’s learning in tech. at school, his undying determination to figure out everything his itouch can possibly do, and his young uncluttered brain, my tween can work the web.
Thankfully he’s still frightened of the “bad stuff” on-line, and we’re a bit over-protective when it comes to internet access, so it’ all good. He has on more than one occasion hooked me up with some of the best music and videos and information on the internet.
4. He’s cheap and easy… in the babysitting department that is.
Now that my boy is twelve I never again have to shlep he and my 7 year old out to the grocery store because I forgot milk, or call a sitter so that I can attend an evening Parent/Teacher conference. For short, close to home outings, I’m all covered. And he never asks to be paid. (He knows where his next skater- boy sweat shirt is coming from.)
5. He’s really funny. My eldest has always had a really good sense of humor, but we certainly went through the silly/obnoxious/ I think I’m hilarious but no one else is laughing phase somewhere between 7-10. But along with his new-found sense of style and a slight rise in maturity levels, comes a truly funny and sweetly sarcastic young man. Now instead of laughing cause he’s so “cute”, I find myself chuckling at his dry wit. There are even times I think ” that’s so funny, I wish I’d have said it”.
So if there are any other out-of-diapers moms out there who are still getting side-kicked with maternal angst when you see a toddler at the park, I find it helpful to take a second to stop and take a look at a few of the perks of pre-teens.
I’d love to know some of the stuff you love about the “sick” kids living in YOUR house.
Enjoy the day girls!
Right now these cool white gourds are on sale at Michaels Craft stores for about 5 bucks. I’m sure whatever crafty place you have in your hood has these too.
I’ll post “after” pics of my finished pumpkins this weekend. Throwing a girls only Pre-hallows Eve. party is a great way to get all jacked up for the night of walking your little monsters around the block. Enjoy your weekend super moms of the world!
Okay: here are the bedazzled pumpkins. I’m feelin’ all Martha Stewart.
I was going to start this post with a laundry list of stuff that keeps me up at night, including my 13 point home improvement to-do list that my husband wants to light on fire.
But then I deleted it realizing that all of you have your own such lists you use to justify the tightening in your chests and brain twirling routine going on in your heads.
Don’t you?
Here’s the thing. Fall is my favorite season. I love everything about it.
But this Fall I’ve put a few too many entrees on my proverbial plate. It’s all good stuff, just a whacked-out sense of portion size.
Consequently, I haven’t saved room for the desserts I love. I haven’t read my favorite Halloween book to Truman (The Runaway Pumpkin), I haven’t found time to get to the pumpkin patch, I still haven’t put up all the spooky decorations and we’ve, they’ve only played in the leaves once. But I managed to completely blame that on our uber-efficient lawn service.
I clearly need to step away from the all-you-can-eat buffet. I NEED to go play.
The hypocritical part is that I believe in play. Deeply. In fact one of my all-time favorite parenting books is The Power of Play by David Elkind. In it he makes a very compelling case for why play is vital in the lives of children… and adults. It’s just necessary for a person’s over-all well being. I recommend it highly…he’s a smart man.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been out and about a lot lately doing all sorts of fun grown up things. But playing the way my kids play is what I’m missing. I didn’t realize what was really gnawing at me until I went to organize my pictures in iphoto this morning.
I came across this picture and it gave me great pause. This is how I want to play. Unstructured, creatively, full-out and unabashed.
A few weeks ago my little G.I. Joes had asked for a cardboard box, some tape and a rake, and then disappeared into the backyard. The result was a spy fort complete with hidden compartments and a lengthy dissertation on it’s special features. And they were just so darned happy.
That’s what I’m talking about. Play. Real play.
I need to have my kids help me remember how. I need to get myself on their play date schedule…while they still think I’m cool. I need me some play a’ la mode.
Autumn affords us many heart warming things like
crunchy leaves, the feel of your favorite sweater, and apple cider simmering on the stove.
Oh… and those pumped-up packs of sweaty, jersey-clad jocks smashing into each other on TV for three hours every Sunday.
Instead of rolling your eyes at this male centered game of controlled chaos, let’s look at a few parental lessons hidden under all that padding.
Lesson 1. Never out-punt your coverage.
It’s swell to be known for prize-winning birthday cakes, un-stained, uber-polite kids, and a stellar volunteer record. But life is… life. So, survey your field carefully, get some good blockers, know your limits, keep an eye on what really matters and “punt” appropriately. Remember: Over-punting often leads to getting scored upon.
Lesson 2. Good Defense beats a great Offense
Beef up your defensive line by packing that first aid kit, a second pair of mittens, and a few extra water bottles. That way when the offender: a scratched, frostbitten or dehydrated kid comes at ya, you’ll remain standing.
Lesson 3. Don’t be afraid to call an audible.
It’s a good skill to have. The ability to switch things up and be flexible enough to change plays at a moments notice. If you plan on going apple picking and a classic Mid-western storm blows through, don’t be defeated. Shout out a new play like: fireplace “smores” or “the Spit-Ball Super Bowl of‘09!”
Lesson 4. When you reach the “End Zone,” look like you’ve been there before.
Or as I tell my husband after he unloads the dishwasher and boasts about his domestic skills…“act like you’ve done this before.” Save the gloating and showboating for the really big accomplishments in life…. like childbirth.
Lesson 5. Spandex is NOT the miracle, ultra-slimming material we wish it was. Look at any offensive linemen for examples. Black is the only color worth considering and white should be against the law. Save spandex for the 20-something tight ends.
Lesson 5 ½ It’s now very clear why my husband thinks smacking my booty will make me feel appreciated and honored. It’s like a kicked-up high five in football-ese. Now I just smile and smack his boo-ya back…harder.
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And here’s the direct link to the store. Simply type in the word ESSENTIALS in the space alloted for the code, and Amy will give you %15 off! Now that’s a great deal.
*Oh, and I apologize for my weakened state in the post. Cold’s bite.
Before we get started with my top-five manners, please, moms and dads – think of yourselves as your little dude’s coach! Just as we wouldn’t send them on the field without a coach on the sideline to help along the way, we don’t want to send them into situations without a game plan. Here are five basic manners for helping little dudes feel confident in any social situation.
Remember – these are skills they will use for the rest of their lives!
1. Stand up. Standing is a gesture that shows respect – for others as well as yourself. It says, “I’m willing to sacrifice my comfort to show respect to you.” This act, and understanding why it’s important, will help your boys understand similar respect manners, such as opening doors for everyone, pulling out a lady’s chair, and removing hats when appropriate.
2. Smile and make eye contact. Facial skills can be tricky for little and big dudes, but it’s a very important skill to learn. Since most of us have a digital camera, keep yours on hand. When you greet your dude at school or see him with his friends, snap a quick photo. This photo will help him to see the good, the bad, and the ugly facial expressions. Many times we don’t know the looks we’re giving until they’re pointed out. When he sees the photo, help him identify what his expression might be communicating. For example, a grumpy or straight face may say, “I’m not happy to see you,” or “There are other places I’d rather be.” Dialog about how your son wants to present himself.
When it comes to eye contact, help your little dudes look you in the eye by practicing at home. At ManneroftheMonth.com, we try to help our subscribers with resources to make teaching eye contact easier. Here’s an old sales tip – if your little dude is struggling to make eye contact, take a sticker and place it between your eyes. This will help him to create a habit of looking in the direction of another’s eyes.
This is a perfect example of why we suggest boys and men remove their hats indoors. Removing the bill barrier enables a clear line of sight for eye contact. Even if your dude isn’t comfortable without his hat, with a little practice he’ll adjust. Taking the hat out of the equation helps everyone to communicate better.
3. Speak and say your name clearly. Helping children to enunciate properly is an important foundation for confident social skills. Start with his names – take time to talk with your dude about why it’s important to feel comfortable saying his name. Practice slowing down and saying names clearly.
4. Shake hands. Teach your boys to extend a hand when meeting, greeting, or leaving. Practice this at home, and talk about appropriate firmness when shaking. Have fun with it! Give them examples of the “Dead Fish” and “Bone Crusher” shakes before practicing a confident shake that won’t end in a hand injury.
5. Strike up a conversation. Help your little dude stock his social arsenal by starting with conversation skills. The ability to ask and answer questions with more than one word is a valuable life skill. This can be tricky, and requires time your part to help your son expand his communication arsenal. For example, when asked about school, prompt him to answer with his favorite subject or activity, and why. When asked about his sport season, suggest that he answer with why he enjoys that sport.
Help him to start conversations by practicing at home. For a peer, practice having your sons open with, “Tell me about your game.” For an adult, try, “It’s nice to see you, Mrs. Jones, tell me about your day.” The phrase “tell me” is an open-ended question, and will help your little dude strike up a real conversation, rather than a dud of a conversation!
As you work with your dudes to improve their manners, remember baby steps. When we overwhelm our children, they never give us the results we’re looking for! Make sure to praise your boys when they open doors or give a good shake – they’re on their way to being confident big dudes.
You can check out more of Mindy’s superb etiquette advice at her fabulous site Manner of the Month
