Moms, Can You Survive Multitasking? Chicken Soup for the Soul has the Guide for You!

**Disclosure: We received a copy of this book for the purpose of conducting an accurate review. No compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

I am always amazed by the shear number of selections that Chicken Soup for the Soul has. Just when I think they quite possibly have a volume for every situation, they come up with a topic I didn't think about. Plus, all of the anecdotes included within really fosters a sense of camaraderie between all of us. One of the latest volumes of Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Multitasking Mom's Survival Guide, certainly does not disappoint and packs in enough humor to have you openly chuckling while reading the stories of mothers that have been there.

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Mother's Day Quotes Part Deux

I ran across my previous post about Quote Garden and some great Mother's Day quotes that I found there. A really good quote can truly stand on its own and I love statements that are profound, sum up the feelings of a moment or get you to think. So, of course, my stumble inspired me to look up a few more quotes. These may come in handy as you reflect upon Mother's Day and as you get ready to write those cards!

Quotes from Mother's Day Celebration:

Making a decision to have a child--it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~ Elizabeth Stone

Women do not have to sacrifice personhood if they are mothers. They do not have to sacrifice motherhood in order to be persons. Liberation was meant to expand women's opportunities, not to limit them. The self-esteem that has been found in new pursuits can also be found in mothering. ~Elaine Heffner

There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it. ~Chinese Proverb

Quote found in the Huffington Post:

My mother had a good deal of trouble with me but I think she enjoyed it. ~Mark Twain

Quotes from Parade:

Happy are those children who have a mother to whom they can pour out their hearts and always count on her understanding. ~ Eberhard Arnold

Life began with waking up and loving my mother’s face. ~ George Eliot

You may have tangible wealth untold. Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be. I had a mother who read to me. ~ Strickland Gillilan

Inspiration from Quote Garden:


Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. ~Charles R. Swindoll, The Strong Family

A mom’s hug lasts long after she lets go. ~Author Unknown

A mother's heart is a patchwork of love. ~Author Unknown

Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. ~Oprah Winfrey

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Empty Nest: Strategies to Help Your Kids Take Flight {Book Review}

**Disclosure: We received a complimentary book as part of our membership in Off the Shelf. No compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Empty Nest: Strategies to Help Your Kids Take Flight is a new book by Marci Seither that serves as a guide to help parents gently navigate changes as their children leave home. While my daughter is still many years from leaving home, I thought that this would be an interesting read. As my daughter is progressing through elementary school, she is becoming more and more independent. So, I find our relationship rapidly changing as my daughter experiences more of the world without dear old mom at her side. While I am glad for some extra time to be me, there are times that I am wondering what she is up to at whatever function she is attending.

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6 Things to Love When You Wind Down your Trip

We just returned from a week long adventure driving out to Maine and back. We love the road, but sometimes the last leg can be a bear. Last evening, as we enjoyed our last bit of freedom before returning to the hum-drum of everyday life I reflected on one of the great things about by at the end of your trip. Here are some things this traveler enjoys as journey's end nears:

• Whatever you pull out of your suitcase, you wear it clean or dirty. Pretty much, you have reached the slim-pickin's stage of your travels. But, you really don't care and are happy when you find two socks that match.
• Indulging one last time is a must. By the end of the trip, there is less of a worry of undoing your diet. You have already done what you have done and the next day you will be returning home and to a more normal eating and exercising schedule. So, you are less worried about that extra piece of chocolate.
• You start thinking about the next adventure. All of you with wanderlust know what I am talking about. No matter how grand your trip, you are already thinking of future travels while on vacation. This doesn't mean you did not enjoy your adventure. In fact, you are riding so high from your recent trip that you are vigorously anticipating further voyages!
• Soon, you will be sleeping in your own bed. There is nothing like the first night home in your own bed. You will sleep well--don't forget the alarm clock!
• Tails will be wagging when you get home. The welcome home we receive from our dogs makes us feel like we are part of the British royalty. 
• You begin looking through pictures of your adventure and reminiscing of the amazing time that you had. Usually, we have some dead time on our way back whether it be waiting for our flight or taking a breather at a rest area. I fill some of this in with going through our pictures. Reliving the some of the nicer moments of our trip always has us smiling even during a rough travel day home.

Now, the trip back to reality is not nearly as joyous as our time away. But, it does have a bit of its own charm. For now, I am happy to be home and reconnecting. However, I am sure that I will be back to active travel planning again in another couple of weeks! Carpe diem!

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Packing Strategies for Spring Break {Time to Get on the Road}

Spring Break is upon us and it is time to get packing! With some advance planning, packing should go easily and you will have little to worry about. Here are some strategies that we use:

• Lists: I know if I pack casually, I am definitely going to miss something. I don't necessarily make a list of everything---just the things that may be unusual or that I may forget.
• Check the Weather: Do not just assume. I have been in Florida when it was unseasonably cool and Iceland when it was unseasonably warm. Layers are always good to pack because you can easily change attire to fit the weather.
• Pack Plastic Bags: Trust me, just trust me. Ziplock bags can be handy for leftovers or containing found treasures like shells or rocks. Plastic bags are also great for dealing with wet bathing suits and towels when on the move or the *dreaded* bout of car sickness.
• Motion sickness medication: We have been surprised a couple of times with the ugly specter of motion sickness. It is just easier to have the pills along in case.
• Fans, bug repellent and sunscreen depending on season and location: Sometimes you can find these items on arrival. However, they can be overpriced. I have also been places where we could not find bug repellent to save ourselves are the only repellent contained chemicals we were not comfortable with.

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My Daughter's Unique Way to Earn an American Girl Doll

I love how children can be so enterprising. When properly motivated, they can come up with some pretty innovative ideas to achieve their goals. Like shoveling poop. Yes, shoveling poop.

You see, way back when my daughter asked for a new American Girl Doll, I was pretty resistant. I mean, she is not going to be playing with them within the next couple of years and the money could be better served elsewhere. Plus, our luck, there will be no value to the dolls in the future. {Recall the Beanie Baby Bust? Yup, lots of money sunk into that market. Lots.}

I have been able to successfully keep her at bay and our American Girl Doll population down to one until recently. You see, she rounded up all of her Christmas money and began doing chores around the house to earn the doll herself. I am not talking just one day of chores. I am talking multiple. Like in a row. So, how could I say no?

She was pretty ingenious, came up with all sorts of chores to earn money and accepted the amounts I would offer to pay her with a smile and twinkle in her eyes. How could one say no? She even shoveled during the Polar Vortex. Ok--it was in minute stints--but she did it. And, no one else would have. Plus, she shoveled poop. Yup, poop. As in the piles that were left on our deck by two furry beings unwilling to scoot in the 20 inches of snow.

When all goes relatively well, I love when my daughter comes up ways that she can help out. I say relatively because I do not expect perfection. She is 8. She often devises decent plans. So, how could I not let her earn her money for her new doll. And, she shoveled poop. No one else wants to.

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6 Tips for When You Are on the Road with the Kids during a Holiday

This year, we were on the road exploring during a holiday on two occasions. With an 8-year-old along for the journey, being away from home on a holiday can be a wee bit challenging. While our daughter thoroughly enjoyed our adventures, she also missed her normal holiday festivities. With some planning, we were able to bring some of the holiday magic to her. There are some simple things that you can do to help your child still have some holiday sparkle while on the road!

• Bring some beloved holiday items with you. If you are traveling during Christmas, how about bringing along your stockings? Gone for Halloween? Bring  your child's treat basket and costume along for some trick-or-treating. You can check area malls and museums for safe trick-or-treating options on the road.
• Play a holiday-themed game. You can easily create some fun for the car ride or hotel room yourself. Devise an inspired Mad Lib, word search or I Spy game. Be sure to bring clipboards and markers in fun colors.
• Use holiday plates and cups for meals. A plate with cute pink and purple hearts can lighten up Valentine's Day for a child missing their school party!
• Give a gift. Whether big or small, a little surprise can make the day special. A red, white and blue headband or a flag bandanna can put some spirit into Fourth of July away from the usual round of picnics! Gone on Valentine's Day? Don't forget the heart box of chocolates!
• Don't forget the tasty treats! Find a portable food option perfect for the holiday. Or, find a restaurant where you can have a holiday-inspired meal.
• Scout ahead for holiday events at your destination or along the route. With some advance preparation, you can find some holiday events for your child during your trip. On our most recent trip, we were away from home during Halloween. I located a Whole Foods Market as well as a mall that had trick-or-treating for my daughter. We also were able to catch a Halloween parade. A little planning goes a long way!

When we were on the road during the Fourth of July and Halloween this year, I was a little worried that my daughter would never forgive us. By peppering our trips with some holiday fun, my daughter barely mentioned missing home! And, we had mounds of fun along the way!

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Columbus Day History {for a little fun}

Today is Columbus Day, so some of you have found yourself home with the kiddos. My daughter has really been enjoying learning about the explorers and actually began her long weekend by watching a little video about none other than Christopher Columbus.

I am total history junkie and I love reading about holidays because you always learn something new! Here is a little trivia for today:

• Columbus presented his plan to sail West to reach China to both Portugal and England before Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain gave him their support.
• By 1492, most educated Europeans knew that the Earth was round. The ancient Greeks had already proved this.
• When Columbus discovered Hispaniola, he actually thought that the island could be Japan.
• By his third voyage, Columbus realized that he had not reached China.
• Columbus sent Queen Isabella 500 Native American slaves as a gift. She was abhorred and believed that as Spanish subjects, they could not be enslaved.
• Columbus' rule over the new colony was often brutal and he was brought back to Spain in chains. Yet, Ferdinand would still finance the explorer's final voyage.
• On his last voyage to the New World, Columbus made it all the way to Panama.
• Columbus' remains were moved several times until he reached his final resting place in Seville, Spain.
• President Franklin D. Roosevelt made Columbus Day an official national holiday in 1937.
• Columbus Day is not a public holiday in Alaska, California, Nevada and Hawaii. 
• In Hawaii, the day is known as Landing Day or Discoverer's Day in honor of the state's Polynesian discoverers. South Dakota observes Native American Day while Berkley, California observes Indigenous People's Day.

Sources: History.com, Wikipedia, CBS News
The Northwest Florida Daily News

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Chore Ideas for the Little Ones

Over the years, we have been developing a list of ways our daughter can help us keep the house together. My parents {and grandparents} always had chore expectations for me. I feel that chores are important for teaching children responsibility as well as respect for the things that they have. So, having chores is a must!

My 8-year-old daughter is pretty good at remembering some chores, others not so much. Overall, we are pretty satisfied by how much she helps. Of course, every day is a new day! Some days, she is more willing to help than others. But, as she grows older, I see her remembering more of her chores on her own. She actually has been coming up with some on her own as well! {Which is great if her ideas are not too ambitious!}

Here are some chore ideas that we have:

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Stemming the Tide: Unplugging in the Increasingly Plugged In World

Plugged in. There are too many times that I look around the room and see us all plugged in. My
husband, myself, my daughter. Life has changed a lot since I grew up. Dependence on technology has increased tenfold. Technology has brought some truly great things. Sometimes, though, I think that we are missing a lot by spending so much time on the computer.

My grandmother always encourages me to enjoy each moment of life. She always says, "Don't wish your life away." One of the most important lessons I have learned in my life is to listen to Grandma. So, we are trying to slow things down a bit. Read more books, play more games, hike more, bake more, explore more.

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Establishing Restful Sleep Patterns with Sleepy's

We all sleep. However, we do not all sleep well. There are different factors in our lives that affect how we rest. This time of year can be particularly challenging with the beginning of school and new activities. Restful sleep is so crucial to our well being and is really something that we need to prioritize. Proper rest is so crucial to our ability to focus and enjoy life.

Sleepy's, The Mattress Professionals, has recently moved into the Chicagoland area. Sleepy's takes its role of helping you sleep better very seriously and truly goes beyond selling mattresses. Recently, my daughter and I attended an event at the new Sleepy's in Glenview to meet with Sleepy's Sleep Ambassador, Nancy Rothstein, to learn about how to have a restful sleep just in time for the new school year. **You may recognize Nancy Rothstein as the author of My Daddy Snores.**

As the event began, I knew that I was going to obtain some useful knowledge geared towards improving my family's sleep habits. I do not always have what I would call a restful sleep. Judging by the way my husband and daughter are slow to move some mornings, I am sure that they don't as well. So, advice is truly welcome!

First, we learned how important quality sleep is. In fact, a recent University College London study shows how important it is for children to have regular bedtimes. Irregular bedtimes were found to disrupt a child's cognitive development. Sleep is so crucial!

Nancy Rothstein gave us some great advice that is going to provide a little challenge for us bloggers---she instructed us to put the technology away for at least 30 minutes before bed. Wait a minute--I watch TV to calm myself before bed???!!! Well, Nancy explained that our electronics emit light from the blue spectrum which actually stimulates melatonin and keeps us awake. Yikes! She even suggests using a nonelectric clock and powering down your phones until morning. I had no idea! We will need to work on this!

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What I learned while visiting Paris

Paris has always been on my list of dream destinations. With my daughter taking French, I really wanted to be the one to take her to Paris. My husband and I decided that this year would be the year--we would go to Paris to fulfill a dream. We were a little apprehensive about going at first. My husband and I are usually fans of diamonds in the rough, cities that are up and coming, not cities that everyone seems to visit. We were worried that Paris would be a little too much for us. To our delight, we loved it. Absolutely loved it!

As with any trip, we learned a few things along the way:

You will not be able to see everything. Paris is a city--a big city. If you truly want to enjoy your visit, try not to pack your schedule too tightly. We tried to keep our schedule flexible.

You will miss Paris. Paris is such a beautiful city. When I left, I definitely had culture shock. What do you mean I don't have a boulangerie right across the street? Also, since I had spent so much time on researching for this trip, I felt an immediate let down when I returned home. I actually have time to myself. Instead of feeling relaxed, I feel like I am missing something.

Spend time just absorbing your surroundings. Eat at a cafe. Take a boat ride on the Seine. Sit and enjoy a gelato. Do this without frantically snapping pictures. It is truly an amazing feeling when you feel part of the city, not just a tourist. Photography is actually prohibited in some of the sites. To me, this was liberating in a way. You really spend more time enjoying when you aren't trying to get the perfect shot.

You may be surprised by the things that you like. Climbing the Eiffel Tower is the tourist thing to do. Of course, we had to. However, if you would have asked me a couple of months ago if I was excited about visiting the Eiffel Tower, I would have said no. We actually loved our visit to the Eiffel Tower. We ate lunch on the first floor and climbed to the second floor to take in an amazing view. What a wonderful afternoon!

The museum gift shops are definitely worth a visit. We actually found some unique souvenirs to bring back with us at the museum gift shops. If you are tight on time and would rather take in museums than shopping, a stop in a museum gift shop may be the perfect way to still bring something home.

Watch out for the pickpockets. No, we did not get picked. We took precautions with our valuables before traveling. However, we were approached by a couple of scam artists asking us if we "spoke English." Basically, this is a scam to steal money. You will see signs warning you about pickpockets at the major tourist sites. Definitely, protect yourself. This is not to say that we ever felt scared. You just need to be cautious.

Beware of scooters. Scooters zoomed by us while walking on the sidewalk a couple of times. I was not expecting that!

Learn some French phrases. This was not an issue for us since my daughter and I both speak French. However, French is the language of France and knowing some key phrases shows your respect. People will definitely be more willing to help you if you start with basic French. A "Bonjour!" will get you a long way. Plus, it was priceless to see the French light up when you speak to them in French. Your effort will be appreciated.

You will walk and walk and walk and love it! We walked all over and had a great time! My daughter actually did a wonderful job of keeping up with us without too many issues. There is so much to see and do, you do not even notice how much you have walked.

You will miss Paris. Yes, this warrants a second mention. Paris is so unique. When you hear mention of Paris, you will find yourself wistfully recalling your trip--and wanting to return!

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Teaching your children about money

I distinctly remember my French teacher telling me not to say "Je veux, je veux, je veux" in France. Rather, I should say "Je voudrais." She likened "Je veux, je veux, je veux" to a child saying "I want, I want, I want." Je voudrais, meaning I would like, is much more polite. The whole "I want, I want, I want" stuck with me. Now, with my own child, I do hear plenty of "I want, I want, I want." Of course, this is typical of a child. However, my husband and I want her to be cognizant of the cost of things. We have not done anything exciting, just some basic things to help her learn about money. I think that it has worked well. While we do still hear "I want, I want, I want" a bit, we also hear "I don't have money for this right now," "I will buy this with my money" and "I will save money for this."

Here are some of the methods that we use:

1.) Earning: My daughter has an allowance that she must earn through chores. If she does not complete her chores or misbehaves, she gets no allowance. She has had an allowance since about 5-years-old.

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The world through my dog's eyes: behold if you dare

My sheltie, affectionately called FeeFee, is quite a quirky little dog. She is as sweet as they come but is a bit neurotic. She avoided my daughter for about the first two year's of my daughter's life. (I am fairly certain that when my daughter turned two, FeeFee said, "When did you get here?") Ever wary of visitors, she would spend time under our bed whenever our friends came over. I say "would" because after buying a new bed, this is no longer an option for her. She now stays in the room when we have company, however, she does not always welcome pets from "strangers." (Strangers, in her mind, could be people that she has known for about 7-8 years.)

I thought that for something a little different today, I would take you through some of FeeFee's daily highlights.

Most of the day (as in when she is not sleeping), FeeFee likes to watch over her yard. She loves to be part of the world around her. She does this by looking through what we call her "window on the world." As you will see, she is truly part of things.

 

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Lessons in giving from an 8-year-old

Last weekend, we assigned our daughter the task of finding 10 toys for donation. She has drawers and drawers filled to the brim with toys that she rarely, if ever, plays with. This task should have posed no problem. However, instead of quickly pulling out ten toys that she no longer plays with, she proceeded to sit down and get "reaquainted" with her lost friends. Boo!

Eventually, she began to assemble a pile of toys to donate. I went to check on said pile and here is what she came up with:

Yes, she has embraced the trend amongst elementary school kids of donating McDonald's toys. Really, that is all you can come up with, sweetheart? I showed her some more substantial toys that she has not played with in quite some time. Predictably, she coughed up some reason why she needed to keep them.

 As I looked again at her pathetic pile, I began to think more about the world. I began thinking about how we often we give as a little as possible often not truly giving of ourselves at all. In a way, this reflection has recharged me and is pushing me to give to the best of my ability. Life is short and I want to make an impact. This is something that I need to impart upon my daughter. Then, perhaps, just perhaps, she will understand the difference between donating a McDonald's toy and one of her Barbie dolls. Sometimes our kids teach us important lessons. Parenthood goes both ways.

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Classmates.com, does everyone really need to see my yearbook?

Image via stock.xchng

Whenever you open your email, you find little surprises. Whether it be news from a friend, information about yet another activity for your child, worked-related chatter, a sale ad for your favorite store, or that spam from a list you swear you have already removed yourself from, you always find something new morning, noon, and night. A couple of days ago, I received a real treat. A treat as in like why on Earth am I being sent this information and honestly it turns me off from your site treat.

My treat was a little email from Classmates. com asking me: "Is that you on page blah-blah-blah of your high school yearbook?" I mean seriously, you are pointing to me specifically in my yearbook. Well, of course, I had to see this. Sure enough, Classmates.com had identified me on a page of my yearbook and from a page where I am not identified in the photo nonetheless. How did that happen? A little creepy, don't you think?

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How to Prepare for Spring Break {You Can Survive}

Wow, Spring Break is almost here! My daughter is actually counting down the days. In the not so distant past, she lamented being off of school. Now, she relishes time off. (Well, I think she mostly relishes sleeping in, playing the computer and watching TV.) This morning, I find myself with a little over a week to get activities lined up for her week and a half off of school. What to do?

If you have your kids at home for all or part of the break, you will need some ideas to keep them occupied and to keep you sane. Here is what I do to get ready for my daughter to be home:

• First and foremost, if you have things you have to accomplish, make sure to have them on a list or on a calendar. That way, you can make sure you get the things you need done, done. This includes doctor appointments, home improvement projects, etc. When there is a break, it can be difficult to stay on task.
• Line up playdates ahead of time. If you know which kids will be around during the break, it will save you a lot of time finding a playmate for your child.
• Scout information from park districts, libraries and area guides to figure out what events will be happening during break. You may find more freebies and low cost events than you think.
• Stock up on craft materials. Sometimes, I make a run to Joann's to pick up some crafts my daughter will love to help keep her occupied. I wouldn't overdo it--kids can be occupied with just construction paper, glue, markers and stickers.

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Guillotine Cake and Bloody Mary {My Daughter's Royal Obsession}

Image via Marie Antoinette "Madame Deficit"

When Borders was going out of business, I purchased a book about the history of the British monarchy for my daughter. She was six at the time, so the book was not meant for her to read right away. Rather, I thought that I could tuck it away for the future and it was a great deal--I could not resist. Since my daughter was entirely intrigued by the book by the time we arrived home, we ended up reading a little together anyway.

Ever since then, my daughter has had quite the fascination with all things royal. Her ultimate royal obsession happens to be Queen Elizabeth I. While learning about Elizabeth, she also learned about Queen Mary. While I did tread lightly on some of the things that ummm......happened during this period of royal history, my daughter does know about Bloody Mary (in a very bare minimum manner). The good thing about this--she was not afraid when classmates inevitably brought up Bloody Mary at school. (One point for mommy!)

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The Delicate Art of Complaining

I have long looked at complaining as an art form. Knowing how and when to complain is a delicate matter. Many times complaining can go too far. If we act in the heat of the moment, we are liable to let emotions distort what really happened and to make quick judgements without proper assessment. On the flip side, we can let things go because we do not what to make waves. However, doing this, we risk overlooking a problem that will cause us pain far into the future. Whatever you do, you cannot take it back, so you need to really think before complaining.

On my birthday, I had an incident that left me at that fork in the road--to complain or not to complain. I have been witness to people complaining just to get something free. If you have eaten your entire meal and wait until after to complain about it, you should not ask for it free. I so do not want to be that person.

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Eyes and Ears Everywhere

Apparently, even Google knows it is my birthday:

Image is a screen capture from Google.

I wonder if this is how Google looked last year on my birthday, but I didn't even notice it. Lol!

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