parenting Archive

26

Preparing Meals on the Fly – Not for Me #dadchat

By
dadofdivas
– April 12, 2012Posted in: parenting

As a father and a parent I have to say that sometimes it is so hard to manage everything and to be on top of everything when it comes to your kids and all of the daily activities and daily duties that need to be accomplished. What are the things that I know our family sometimes struggles with is meals, as now that J-Mom and I are both working it becomes more difficult to have a plan for meals and to know that we have all of the food ready to go in a timely manner daily.

With this in mind, I just was introduced to a great new site called the food on the table. what I love about this site is that it gives you the opportunity to plan whole week of meals in advance and gives you recipes as well as helping you build your grocery list and even finding grocery deals. The site seems to have it all! the site also is so easy-to-use and is quite intuitive to your needs and the needs of your family.

 

If you are like me and struggle with meal preparation and planning for your meals for the week this site is definitely one that you’ll want to take a look at and consider whether it will make your life easier and more stress-free. They even have an app for your phone, so if you like the online version, you will also be able to take it with you!

 

During the month of April, new members can use the promo code: SPRINGFREE, and get the premium version of the service for FREE for life.

 

So go and check the website out to see what you think, I think you’ll be impressed!


25

A Moving Video to Thanks all Teachers ( via @socialmudpies )

By
dadofdivas
– April 10, 2012Posted in: parenting

I just saw a very moving Thank a Teacher video that was created to remind us that teachers have the ability to inspire greatness and change lives. With Teacher Appreciation Week coming up, it’s important we remember all of the teachers working incredibly hard to help students reach their full potential. Please  share this video with your readers so they can pass it along to their child’s teachers.

6

Story-Telling: The Perfect Cure for the Winter Blues

By
dadofdivas
– January 17, 2012Posted in: Guest Post, parenting
Story-Telling:
The Perfect Cure for the Winter Blues

By Thomas Weck
This winter try something different with your children to cure the winter blues. Instead of simply reading to them from the books on their shelf, why not come up with your own story? Storytelling is a time-honored tradition, handed down from generation to generation. In some cases, handed-down stories turn into beautifully written-down tales, decades later as in case of myLima Bear Stories*.

You, too, can create stories either on your own or with the help of your family. The result will not only be entertaining but a source of family memories as palpable as any family vacation photo album.
To get started in creating your family story-telling memories keep these tips in mind:

1. Do not be intimidated. Anything you have to share is going to be interesting to your children.
2. Use what is important to you. If you are super clean, for example, create a character who learns the hard way why cleaning up is important.
3. Use humor. Goofy=happy children
4. Create catchy character names. Catchy names make the story come alive and easily remembered.
Another way to create terrific tales is to let the story unravel by having your family add the content along with you. For example, why not turn the television off on a cold winter’s night and simply start a story much like the old children’s game “whisper down the lane?” Start with a funny scene using material that is obvious to you. Let each family member add to the story and take the story over for a while. Enjoy as you witness the creative juices flowing. Each family member gets a chance to add and embellish until finally a completed story is created. After you get to the end of the story see if family members can repeat the story back. Did the story change? Try the story again using the new embellishments to see if the changes may become permanent changes.
One of the hardest tasks in creating any story is coming up with a beginning to the story. Below are some ideas of story-starters to get you on your story-telling way:

1. Is a holiday near or around a corner? Make your story a holiday tale.
2. Put a twist on a famous fairy tale. If the writers of

Shrek and Enchanted can do it, you can too!

3. Use a topic from the news. A young hero story, for example.
4. A famous writer instructor once said “write what you know,” in this case, “tell what you know.” Use what interests you: a football story, a story about your favorite animal, etc.
5. Tell a story based, loosely or closely on a relative who your children may have never met — what a wonderful way to teach them about someone special who is actually a part of them.
No matter what you decided to base your story on or how you choose to create it, remember that by storytelling you are sharing not only time with your child but a part of yourself. Enjoy making your very own story-telling memories.
Thomas Weck is the author/creator of the *Lima Bear Stories. Originally made-up bedtime stories he told his four children, the Lima Bear tales resurfaced when Weck’s son Peter had children. Peter remembered the stories and wanted to have his father write them down so that he could share them with his children. Father and son took it one step further and created Lima Bear Press to produce the stories as books that children everywhere can enjoy. The first three titles in this award-winning series were released in 2011: The Megasaurus,How Back-Back Got His Name, and The Cave Monster. The books are not only fun and funny with great illustrations, they also have an underlying message such as such as tolerance, honesty, courage, etc. Additionally, each book has an Extend the Learning and an Activity section at the end where children can become active participants in the story experience. More books in the series will be released in 2012. Learn more at  LimaBearPress.com.
2

@Upromise Makes it Easier to Save Money For College

By
dadofdivas
– December 21, 2011Posted in: parenting

Since I found out that my wife and I were expecting our first child I have been trying to find ways to save money for college for my kids. Seeing that I work in higher education I see how expensive it is becoming and how much debt students today are leaving college with and to be honest I am concerned about this and about where this will be in 11-14 years when my own daughters are ready to go to college themselves.

With this in mind, my wife and I decided to join the Upromise program.  What I liked about Upromise was that it provides you with a way to save without making the choice to save. What I mean by this is that it allows you to do what you normally would do in your daily life and get money back by doing it that can be used to save money for your own kids, or it also can be used to pay down your own debt if you so choose.

Upromise is easy, The Upromise credit card is one of the fastest ways to save, but you don’t have to have the card to participate in Upromise.  If you do have the credit card, you simply use the Upromise Credit Card for purchases and the rewards follow you. I like that there is no fee to the program. Also at different points in the year there are great additional savings that are provided to you as a member of the program. For example, right now they are having a holiday promotion with the card where you get 11% back on all online shopping purchases made at Upromsie.com with the card.  This is in addition to rewards offered by the merchant you are purchasing from. How better to shop then to receive money back, right?

Also, you can save even more money by using the Upromise Website, as on this site there are even more deals that are placed in front of you without you even knowing that they are there. The hardest part, at least for me, is remembering to actually go to the site when you are thinking about making a purchase. One of the things that do help people that are a part of the program is the Turbosaver toolbar. When you download Turbosaver it remembers you are a member of Upromise and you can receive Upromise rewards even if you start your purchase right on the merchant’s web site

I have found in exploring the site itself that the site includes things from the everyday things that you might search for, like new clothes or a new television to larger purchases such as going through the site to find a realtor to sell your house. Depending on what it is you get a certain percentage or a set amount given back to you for investment in yourself or in your family.

I have seen the amount of money that we have collected steadily rise as our daughters have gotten older and while this is not a fail safe for saving enough money to help our daughters go to college completely, it does at least provide us with something that will help them in the end which is what my hope is for them in the long run.

If you have never checked out Upromise.com, you should, as I believe that you will be impressed at what you will find!

 

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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0

GMC ( @thisisgmc ) Offers Great Winter Safety Advice For All #GMCWinterDriving

By
dadofdivas
– December 15, 2011Posted in: parenting

Whether you’re commuting daily with a Terrain or headed to the worksite in a Sierra 2500HD, safety comes standard on every new GMC vehicle in the form of StabiliTrak with traction control, anti-lock brakes, tire pressure monitoring, and OnStar connectivity. Additionally, four-wheel or all-wheel drive systems are available on every GMC model.

 

When winter comes and roads get messy, the engineering that goes into every GMC is immediately apparent. But even the most-capable vehicles cannot overcome the laws of physics, so they need to be properly equipped for the upcoming 10-day forecast. That begins with a set of important supplies, but it includes the driver as well.

 

A vehicle’s preparedness starts with tires. Ensure they have adequate tread and air pressure, and never drive on summer tires when the temperatures drop. All-season tires are appropriate in most conditions, but if driving consistently on snow covered roads winter tires can offer more traction.

 

Many items can be packed away as helpful tools and emergency aids, but every vehicle should at least have some basics:

 

  • Ice scraper to clear windshield, windows, and all snow off roof, which can otherwise blow off and impede other motorists.
  • Jumper cables because batteries are more susceptible to power drains in cold- weather conditions.
  • Cat litter or spare floor mat to be used for added traction if the vehicle gets stuck. A small shovel and a 50-foot tow strap are useful for freeing stranded vehicles, too.
  • Cell phone to call for outside help. And don’t forget to have a charger in the vehicle. GM vehicles equipped with OnStar also offer a built-in lifeline.
  • Emergency supplies including extra warm clothes or a blanket, a flashlight with extra batteries, food and water, and a small first aid kit

 

It’s important for the driver to be prepared as well. Find a comfortable seating position where the brake pedal can be depressed completely, controls are easy to reach, and then adjust the mirrors for optimum range of view. Also get in the mindset of keeping your fuel tank from going below a quarter-tank to avoid running out of gas.

 

Once on the road, staying safe is about execution. Making smooth, deliberate inputs to the brakes, throttle, and steering prevent unexpected vehicle movement, and keeping your eyes far down the road helps your brain prepare for both changes in the road and the actions of other drivers.

 

Being well rested is a good idea in any driving situation, but it’s especially important in winter when sharp responses are a necessity. Dress warm, but remember that thick boots or gloves can dull feedback from the steering and brakes. Additionally, overheating can lead to drowsiness.

 

Understanding road surfaces is also a good way to prepare for surprises. Test the brakes on a straight, flat section of road. If the vehicle’s ABS system makes a pulsing noise without much pedal pressure, slow your speed and use caution. Ice is the most unpredictable surface any driver will ever experience, becoming most dangerous at temperatures of about 30 degrees and higher, when ice could be covered by a thin layer of water.

 

It is estimated that if a smooth, dry, paved road is considered a 100-percent traction situation, a paved road with fresh or packed snow generally has 50 percent of that grip available. When a road is covered by ice, that percentage drops to around 25 percent, and when that ice is covered by water or slush, the percentage is even lower. Road surfaces like dirt, gravel, or broken pavement offer lower traction on warm dry days, so even more caution must be taken in winter conditions.

 

Winter can catch even the most-experienced drivers by surprise. Having many winters behind you is helpful, but having a great vehicle, the proper tools, and good technique is key to making it through to another summer. It’s better to be over-prepared than over-confident.

 

About GMC

GMC has manufactured trucks since 1902, and is one of the industry’s healthiest brands. Innovation and engineering excellence is built into all GMC vehicles and the brand is evolving to offer more fuel-efficient trucks and crossovers, including the Terrain smaller SUV and Acadia crossover.  GMC is the only manufacturer to offer three full-size hybrid trucks with the Yukon, Yukon Denali SUVs and the Sierra pickup. The new Sierra Heavy Duty pickups are the most capable and powerful trucks in the market.  Details on all GMC models are available at www.gmc.com, on Twitter at @thisisgmc or at http://www.facebook.com/gmc.

0

What are you looking for from Upromise?

By
dadofdivas
– November 30, 2011Posted in: parenting

Upromise.com is a site that I have talked about in the past in regards to the great benefit that it offer parents in saving money for their children (or for themselves) for future education. I have been a member for some time and what I love about the program is that it works with you so that anytime that you use your UPromise credit card you have the opportunity to get a percentage back that is used to save money toward college. On top of this though there are great opportunities to go online and save money by purchasing or using the services of certain companies  through the UPromise.com website.

All someone needs to do is go to the UPromise website and find the company that they are looking to purchase from and then you can see the percentage of give back as well as getting complete access to the company’s website as you typically would if you had gone directly to the business directly. Upromise has a huge number of companies represented, but they are always looking for more companies to add for all of their members.

What I am doing today is asking that each of you go to Upromise.com and check out the businesses represented. Once you do this, I would request that you come back here and let me know your thoughts are of the site as well as any businesses that should be listed on the site that are not currently there.

I really look forward to hearing from you and your thoughts on their great website and company!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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40

9-11 – Honoring the past. Where were you 10 years ago?

By
dadofdivas
– September 11, 2011Posted in: parenting

I think that for most of us we can all remember the moments that surrounded the 9/11 tragedy that struck our nation ten years ago.
I remember where I was… I was in the my office at the university that I was working at as a Student Affairs Professional. I believe it was J-Mom who called me and told me to turn on the radio because it looked like a plane had collided with one of the twin towers. Unbeknownst to us was all the malice that was behind the first attack, let alone the subsequent attacks within New York City as well as the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.
I remember hearing this and calling my colleagues to fins a television that we could turn on and we watched in our main office as the tragedy revealed itself. I was numb, dumbstruck. Only once before had I felt this way, and that was when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded. I simply had never witnessed such hatred, such a loss of life and later that week we found out how close to home this hit our family.
The Saturday before 9/11 J-Mom and I celebrated the wedding of a high school friend of J-Mom. The wedding was a wonderful event full of love and laughter. At that event I was able to meet a friend of the bride named Kelly Ann Booms who sat in front of us during the wedding. She made a comment that she had to get back to Boston on Sunday because she had a business trip that she had to fly out for (to Los Angeles) early on Tuesday morning (9/11). Later that week we found out that Kelly was a passenger on the first plane that hit Tower 1 (Flight 11). We were shocked that someone we just spoke with could be gone in an instant and it brought the national tragedy to a whole new level of meaning. We now felt a part of this tragedy and not as far removed.
The images of the first few hours, the first few days afterward still are burned into my memory and I think they will never leave. For my generation, I think that this even will be the event that truly defines our generation as it may have been Pearl Harbor for my grandparents of the JFK assassination of JFK for my own parents.
So today, seven years later I take a moment to remember Kelly and the other victims of the 9/11 attacks. May we never again live through such an event.

When my daughters get old enough to understand the significance of this day I will help them understand, but it will not be easy for the to grasp the severity of the events and what it did to the American Spirit that followed. I can only hope that I will be ready for this discussion when the time comes.

So my question for the day?
  • What are your memories of this event in our collective history?
  • How will you tell your children about this event in the future?

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0

Show Me the Money – Managing My Family Finances

By
dadofdivas
– February 10, 2011Posted in: parenting

Thank you to TurboTax for sponsoring my writing about household finances.Learn more about how TurboTax can help you find every tax deduction you deserve. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

I know that as a family I have struggled with both budgeting and figuring out the best way to manage money. I have always been frugal, but being frugal and know what to do with money are two different things in my perspective. I have read books, and I have tried numerous methods, many times to no avail.

I have been lucky though that my family and I have never gotten into financial trouble in the past. We have good credit scores and we stay on top of things. I think we do this by limiting what we do and being frugal with what we must have. This does not mean that we don’t have debt, far from it. Actually, we have college debt, car loans, etc, that we will be paying off for some time to come. What I am saying is that we have never gotten to the point where we have felt so lost that we didn’t know what to do, though there have been a few times where it has felt close.

Lately what I have been doing to try and keep track of expenses is that I track my receipts based on the budget that I set. I know that this sounds extreme to some but I find it lets me see where we are overspending and where we have saved money. In some of the books that I have read they recommend that you cash out your ceck and live off cash. We do not do this (though for those that do, I hear it is very eye-opening), but we slowly but surely have started to be able to do the things that we want to do, and not just the things that we need to do (if you know what I mean).

Managing your money is never easy and it takes time and discipline, but it can be done.

I am really interested to hear the tricks that all of you use to manage your finances? What has worked, and what hasn’t?

Look forward to your thoughts!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Terms of Use for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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4

When Teens Say No to Homework Help

By
dadofdivas
– January 31, 2011Posted in: Guest Post, parenting

When Teens Say No

to Homework Help

By Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed.

Living with a teenager is challenging in and of itself; trying to assist a student who may not want help is even more difficult. Teens desire nothing more than independence from their parents. They crave autonomy even though they still want parental feedback and approval. Teens are known for testing parental boundaries and limits. In addition, hormonal changes can wreak havoc on teens’ daily moods. One moment an adolescent can seem perfectly secure and happy and the next she can snap over an innocuous comment. Homework and academic expectations add another layer of stress. If this situation sounds familiar, try any one of the following strategies.
The Ball Goes Into Their Court – To parents, teenagers often appear to have all the freedom they could want. After all, they can drive, stay out later in the evening, and have part-time jobs. Frequently, however, their anger comes from the feeling that others have all the power, and they have none. Instead of insisting that your teen accept your homework help, give him a choice. For example, if his biology grade isn’t what it should be, ask him if he’d like to work with a study group, stay after school for teacher help, or work with a tutor. Allow him to make the decision of how he will accept help. Getting assistance isn’t an option, but the way he obtains it is.
Become A Supporter – Be there to offer support and guidance, but resist the urge to correct or provide answers. A good rule of thumb is, “A parent’s pen should never touch the paper.” Any mark on a student’s paper should be his alone. Help him to interpret directions and get started and, if necessary, review the assignment when he’s done. Do not criticize wrong answers or he’ll be turned off to your help. Teens often don’t want to work with their parents because they feel judged, whether their perception is true or not. The assignment just has to meet teacher expectations and reflect the course’s guidelines. Striving for perfection can inspire rebellion, especially in adolescents.

Plan Ahead – Arguments over homework often occur at stressful times, especially when a deadline is approaching. Pick one evening every week to preview the upcoming workload. If the week is going to be particularly stressful, determine what extra-curricular activities can be skipped. Teens tend to hunker down and resist support when they’re feeling overwhelmed. If this is what’s happening in your household, plan a weekly meeting to work out a less hectic schedule. By planning ahead, both you and your student will be more at ease.
Stick To It – Parents often ask me how they can establish routines when their adolescent has his own schedule, friends, and social agenda. The bottom line is that parents of teens should still make the final decisions concerning academics and socializing. Parents can insist that schoolwork comes before socializing or screen time, but allow your teen to choose his homework schedule. For example, if he likes to start after dinner and is able to get it done, then fine. He’s more likely to stick with a schedule if he chooses it. Establishing the “work before play” family policy (for all kids, not just your struggling student) is important. It sends the message that school is the number one priority. Enforce this policy consistently, instead of haphazardly, and your teen will adjust in time.

Use Technology – Teenagers these days are extremely tech savvy. Use their interest in everything online or interactive to provide additional support during homework time.

· Math – When your teen is resisting your help, identify key websites where he can find support. There are many resources online where students can find additional explanations of topics, problems, or concepts, as well as supplementary practice to reinforce trouble spots.

· Writing -There are many software programs out there to help students with all aspects of the writing process, from brainstorming to essay organization. These programs also help students overcome the initial hurdle of “getting started.” Check out Inspiration, Co-Writer, and DraftBuilder.

· Reading – If your child struggles with reading, consider utilizing books on tape. Many textbooks have audio versions that allow students to listen to chapters while they follow along in their book, providing both visual and auditory input. These are available through the publishers or online. Be sure that you purchase the full text and not an abridged version. Kurzweil 3000 is a more expensive option, but it allows students to scan in book pages that are “read” to them by the computer. It also includes highlighting and note-taking features that many students find helpful.
Leave It Alone – It can be difficult to decide how much support you should provide your teen as she matures, but it can be the case that the more you “hold her up” the less she learns. Ultimately, providing too much support may cause her to fall even harder down the road. Build a strong foundation to keep her afloat, but know that high school students should function fairly independently. And remember, your teen’s actions are not always a reflection of your parenting abilities. At some point, there will be diminishing returns on the work that you put into the situation. Letting your child be a self-sufficient learner may be difficult, but this is a way for her to learn and internalize new skills.
Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed., is the founder and president of Educational Connections, Inc., a comprehensive provider of educational services in Fairfax, VA and Bethesda, MD. In her book, Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework, Dolin offers proven solutions to help the six key types of students who struggle with homework. Learn more at anndolin.com or ectutoring.com.
2

Video Game Piracy – Things You Need to Know

By
dadofdivas
– December 16, 2010Posted in: Guest Post, parenting
You might be familiar with how the music and movie industries have been plagued by illegal downloading and file-sharing. However, did you know that illegal online piracy also affects the video game industry and that most of the offenders are children?
While video game piracy may not be the topic of choice at the dinner table, a recent Wakefield study shows that many parents need a crash course in what video game piracy is, what the consequences are and why it’s important to have a conversation with their kids about it. Furthermore, there is a need for parents to have these conversations sooner rather than later as younger children may be more impressionable and open to these topics.
Survey results show that as children get older, they’re more likely to have pirated video games. These activities ultimately affect the parents, as they are often the official Internet subscribers, so we encourage you to share these survey results with your readers:
  • 10 percent of kids ages 8-12 say that they have participated in video game piracy, so it is important that parents become familiar with the issue and have conversations with their children at an early age. When you look at kids ages 13-17, that number jumps to 16 percent.
  • Although 94 percent of moms and 91 percent of dads agree that video game piracy is wrong, most parents  – if they found out their child was downloading pirated games – would let their kids get off with a warning or light consequence, such as temporarily taking away the game system. This suggests parents do not believe that piracy is a serious issue.

We’d like to shine a light on the issue and encourage parents to talk to their children about video game piracy and how it equates to stealing.  Here is some food for thought:

  1. It is wrong and illegal to download copyrighted material or share them though uploading without permission from the manufacturer.
  2. The use of game copying devices (also called game copiers) to copy, download and play unlimited illegal copies of Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi game software from the Internet or PC is illegal. Game copiers are devices designed specifically to circumvent the Nintendo DS/DSi technical protection measures employed by Nintendo.
  3. Downloading illegal content may result in children being exposed to inappropriate content.
  4. Piracy hurts companies who depend on legitimate sales to survive, including small developers. It affects people’s careers and possibly even the types of jobs children may look into in the future.
  5. If parents want to learn more about piracy or if you come across illegal video game content on the Internet, direct them to: http://ap.nintendo.com/
  6. Alternatives to downloading illegal content include a range of legal Nintendo game content available online, such as the Nintendo Wii WiiWare, Virtual Console and DSiWare games purchased via the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop.
  7. This conversation with your kids likely won’t be the first time they’re hearing about it. Elementary school students are learning about intellectual property rights in school through a program run by The Entertainment Software Association (ESA). The program provides educational materials to students on the right way to copy words, pictures and other digital content. Learn more about this program here: http://www.theesa.com/policy/domesticip.asp#4
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