The Agony of Packing a Healthy Lunch

While my teenagers do everything from their own laundry to basic cooking, this is the one thing I still do for them: pack school lunches. Why? Because left to their own devices, they would eat granola bars, chips and cookies. And they would also rack up debt in the Columbus City School lunch program which allows your student to accrue a negative balance. (Our highest to date--$120)

So, I pack. And I agonize. And I entreat my teens to eat the "healthy" stuff I pack.

Here is an excellent blog on the kid favorite, Lunchables.

DIY: Homemade Healthy Lunchables (that look just like store bought) http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/09/23/homemade-healthy-lunchables/

Waking up the kids

Read this article this morning about the difficulties of waking kids up for school. Here is the link:

Waking children up for school need not be a nightmare

For those of you who don't like to read, here is a bulleted summary:

• slowly adjust bedtime several weeks before school begins in 15 minutes increments. Don't wait until the night before school starts to try to get them to fall asleep at 8pm!
• have a regular bedtime routine that includes a book or story
• kids need 10-12 hours of sleep a night--teens need around 9 hours...ha!
• turn off the screens at least 1 hour before bedtime as the light from the screens signals our bodies to stay awake
• If children are going to bed at the right time and getting enough sleep, they will easily wake up
• Going to bed time does not always equal falling asleep time: adjust accordingly

Working Mom guilt:

I have heard mom's say they often let their children stay up later  because they don't get enough time with them since they work during the day. My thoughts: 2 hours together with a pleasant child is much better than 4 or 5 with a cranky toddler who hasn't got enough sleep. Quality vs. quantity.

Still trying to get teens to eat healthy!

This was a real event in our house today, then reenacted for Vine. (Vine can be dangerous for parents who might be caught mid-rant.)

https://vine.co/v/ha6ltAYP1Kt?fb_action_ids=289204861225986&fb_action_types=vine-app%3Apost&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582

Why we didn't do sleepovers

When my children were in elementary school and into middle school, I did not let them go to sleepovers. Yes, this made me unpopular with my kids, their friends, and their friends' parents. When asked why, I would say, "The statistics for sexual abuse among children are 1 in 4. That's one of mine. I'm improving the statistics by making it as difficult as I can for my child to be a victim. It is easier to have a blanket rule of no sleepovers than trying to make decisions and not hurt other's feelings."

This did offend people. And it made it hard for me to turn around and then offer my house as a sleepover option. 

My children are 19, 17, 16 and 13. Of course there were some exceptions, but not many. They did get to spend the night with cousins, grandparents, and super close family friends. 

Today, I read an article in today's Dispatch about a Dayton doctor who was convicted of "13 sex related charges involving four girls who stayed at his homes during his daughter's sleepovers." (This story is not available online as it is from the Dayton Daily News. Here is the link to the beginning of the article http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/jury-finds-doctor-guilty-in-child-sex-crimes-trial/nYYg4/)

As I was looking for the link to this article, I googled the title "Man convicted of raping girls at sleepovers" and was surprised by the fact that there were 10 + stories regarding rape and sleepovers. 

I was wrong about the statistics. The National Center for the Victim's of Crime reports 1 in 5 girls and 1in 20 boys.

This is a real threat, parents. We might have to be unpopular to protect our children. 

Laughter, the best medicine OR How did I miss this?

Fatigue from parenting can be overwhelming at times. We are tempted to cry at the end of a hard day. Why not laugh instead?

Maybe I am behind the times, but I just stumbled across crappypictures.com from a friend's Facebook page. What a genius story teller. I'm hooked.

If you aren't familiar with this blog and book, try this story. And to my dear friend Laura Davis with triplets--prepare for this times 6.

Going Viral

Bill Cosby on TV Parents

Interview with Bill Cosby about The Cosby Show. Some quotes: "By Cosby’s estimation, if you want to entertain children 'at the expense of parenting, at the expense of keeping children out of harm’s way to get these laughs, to make these parents look stupid, to make kids look like they are ultra-bright but still lost, then we have a problem.'”

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/newsmakers/bill-cosby-wanted-house-back-kids-201107866.html

When watching these TV shows and movies where kids are trying to solve their own problems without adults, I find myself yelling at the screen, "Just tell you mom! She can help you!"

Food Issues and Parenting

I have spent a great deal of time over the last 19 years worrying about the food my children eat or don't eat. Here are two relatively new books that you may want to look over if you have a picky eater or an over eater.




I have not read either one, but love the rules on the back cover of the French Kids book. Let me know how you like them.



Disclaimer: I eat mostly by Real Food rules (see 100daysofrealfood.com) but my family does not!

Parents Need to Learn to Play Nice

A quick read regarding helping angry parents at children's sporting events. Read on if this is you or you know someone who could use some help in this area. Love the idea of "culture keepers" who hand out lollipops to unruly parents to keep them quiet! The signs read: “This is a game being played by children. If they win or lose every game of the season, it will not impact what college they attend or their future potential income.”
WORLD | Signs at local ballparks warn parents to play nice | Alissa Robertson | June 21, 2013

And a blog on the same topic:
Taking You Beyond the Game

Summer Break Parenting: Too Funny!

This is true in our house, except I would be asking "Is lying there watching Vines all you can do?"

Courtesy of:

http://www.garfield.com/comics/todayscomic.html

Roughhousing!

I have always promoted rough and tumble play when I worked as an Occupational Therapist with preschoolers and wish we could schedule it in our school day with our middle school and high school teens with autism! My kids got a huge dose of it when they were little and we called it "Daddy Climb Time!"

Please head to this excellent video on why roughhousing is good for the kids!

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/05/03/roughhousing-video/