One positive thing about our current situation: it’s a great time to teach kids about gratitude, and brainstorm creative ways to say thank you.
Remember when our daily mom-tasks were fairly straightforward? We packed lunches, folded laundry and tried to keep the house generally tidy. These days, with everyone at home, our job has taken on a few unexpected roles, such as:
Those of us at home right now are doing a lot of sitting.
We all know there’s no “i” in team, but as we’re learning, you can’t spell “pandemic” without “panic.”
“Yay! I get to take my toddler on a plane!”
Photo Credit: Richard Termine
It’s been 50 years since the first episode of Sesame Street aired on November 10, 1969. Its creators pioneered the idea of using television to build early-years literacy skills – and still be entertaining. The show was heavily researched and carefully constructed, using proven advertising techniques (such as repetition of short, zippy inserts) to build letter and number recognition. Every episode ended with harmonica music and a voice-over saying: “Sesame Street was brought to you today by the letter E and the number 5.”
Getting your kids to all their practices, games, tournaments, competitions, lessons and meetings is one thing, but what about fueling them up with healthy food? When faced with the challenge of feeding my kids in the car on the way to that day’s scheduled extracurricular activities, I find myself wondering: “What on earth do other moms do?”
Has your child been selected (or is thinking of trying out) for a “rep” team? Also called “travel” or “club” teams, these programs offer a more competitive experience than a local “house league.”
I’m a big believer in thank you gifts at the end of the school year. And not just because I used to be a teacher. I’ve given gifts of appreciation to coaches, babysitters, and swimming instructors, too.
I deliberately avoid using the term “staycation.” I don’t like it. It feels like a lame attempt to cover up the fact that my family’s not going away on vacation (which we aren’t) because it’s too expensive (which it is). Am I so desperate to feel like I’m part of the “vacation” scene that I’ll use a made-up word that rhymes with it?