Mommy Teaches

Reading Counts Everywhere!

2018-02-13T09:36:27Z

I am never one to ask for help from anyone. I don’t know and can’t really answer it right now. It will probably take some deep reflection to answer this one a few posts from now (not making any promises). What I can say is that when it comes to my classroom children, I get a little bit gutsier and I will ask. That’s exactly what I am doing here.

This past Friday I was in my classroom all alone when I looked to my left and glanced over at the library. It made me so sad. Had I noticed it? Yes, of course, I did but I have been so preoccupied getting the class organized, getting to know the scholars and getting the work done. I have been with them since January 5th and as a teacher, there are so many factors that go into coming into a classroom mid-year, actually 4 months into the school year.

Let’s fast forward back to those books. I am an avid reader, I love to be introduced to new authors and there isn’t anything better to me than seeing a child with a book. I really can’t explain the feeling but I get all warm and fuzzy inside. It gives me goosebumps to witness them read a page and make that connection. What can I say, I am a teacher-geek like that! I am all about books that those who follow me on Instagram and my stories know that I am always introducing my followers to new books. I have also written reviews here as well.

Moving my bookworm ways into the classroom definitely, has me feeling that I can do so much better for my scholars in this department and this is where you come in. This is where I reached out on DonorsChoose and created this project for these books. I have also completed a form on The Book Fairies that a good friend/colleague of mind reached out with. She also shared First Book with me as well and I registered my class. I am searching for more ways than one to assist my scholars.

As we move into more independent reading and assessing their reading levels we see that we need a variety of texts in the classroom. I always read aloud to them and I can see they really love that. My goal is to model that fluency, imagination, and that real love for book reading. We ask/answer questions and have “book talk”. I want them to be able to do this on their own when we are in D.E.A.R Time {Drop Everything And Read} and they are reading independently. I also want them to be able to read texts that are on their level and books that they are able to comprehend. This is why the books are so needed on so many levels. I want to service all of my scholars and make them feel successful, they deserve it.

I ask that you find it in your heart to share this post on your Instagram, Facebook page, Pinterest, within your stories and maybe someone else would love to lend a helping hand. Give to our classroom by February 17, 2018, and your donation will be doubled thanks to DonorsChoose.org. Just enter the code LIFTOFF during checkout and you’ll be matched dollar for dollar (up to $50).

My goal is to place books in the hands of my scholars, and all scholars so that reading books become a way of life, not a force of habit.

Thanking you always.
Your Partner In Education,
~Eileen~

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Enhancing Your Property’s Exterior

2024-02-23T05:45:05Z

The exterior of your property is the first impression visitors or potential buyers will have, making it crucial to invest in its visual appeal. Here’s a guide on improving the exterior of your property.

Landscaping is a powerful tool for enhancing curb appeal. Start by assessing the current state of your garden and lawn. Trim overgrown bushes, plant colorful flowers, and maintain a lush, green lawn. Consider adding features like a stone pathway or decorative planters to create visual interest. Professional landscaping can elevate the overall aesthetic, providing a welcoming atmosphere and boosting the value of your property.

The condition of your roof and siding significantly impacts the external appearance of your home. Schedule regular inspections via experts like Knipp Roofing services to identify any signs of damage or wear. If your roof is aging or has missing shingles, investing in a replacement can provide both aesthetic and functional benefits. Similarly, updating or repairing siding can transform the look of your property. Choose materials and colors that complement the architectural style of your home, ensuring a cohesive and appealing exterior.

Over time, dirt, grime, and algae can accumulate on the exterior surfaces of your property, diminishing its visual appeal. Power washing is a cost-effective and efficient way to refresh these surfaces. Clean your siding, walkways, and driveway to remove built-up residue and reveal the original beauty of your home. Power washing not only enhances aesthetics but also prevents long-term damage by eliminating harmful contaminants.

Revitalizing the exterior of your property involves a holistic approach that addresses landscaping, roofing, siding, and cleanliness. A well-maintained exterior not only improves the overall look of your property but also adds value and curb appeal. Whether you’re preparing to sell or simply want to enjoy a more attractive home, these improvements can make a significant difference in how your property is perceived.

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Supporting Our Students With Heifer International

2021-05-14T18:21:28Z

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Heifer International and all opinions are 100% mine.

Supporting our students is top on my priority list. As a classroom teacher and mother, I feel as though it’s my duty to make sure the children eat well. I make it an important part of my day to get down to the cafeteria five to ten minutes before to make sure they have a good breakfast. It’s how they begin their day in the morning and I want them to succeed! When I think of the success of my students The Heifer School Feeding Program comes to mind. The Heifer School Feeding Program was launched in July of 2017 to help communities. That’s what I’ve been doing for the past fifteen years of my life. I help communities of children!

Photo Credit: Heifer International

This community is amazing, The Children’s ISA has many of users that help the kids family. Many children from the community would arrive to school late and without any breakfast. Many times when I would arrive downstairs they would be just walking in. I know that if they didn’t nourish those bodies and minds I would lose them for the rest of the day. They are presented with a rough schedule. Bombarded with core subjects at such a young age. Mathematics, English Language Arts, which entails a lot of comprehension, and social studies and science is a big deal for such young minds. I want to know and witness with my own two eyes that they have something in their system up until lunch, which may be two to three hours away. Imagine a child not having anything to eat since the night before, but walking into the classroom and having to complete all of this strenuous mind work on an empty stomach? That’s why my support for them is crucial right from the start!

Photo Credit: MommyTeaches

Once I know my children have been nourished I feel fulfilled as an educator. It seems as though The Heifer School Feeding Program has the same goal in mind. Great minds think alike right? The ultimate goal of the program is to provide 9,000 pupils (ages 9 and under) in the Njombe, Iringa, Mbeya, and Songwe regions with a packet of free fresh milk every day Monday – Friday during the school year. Isn’t that amazing? Just think about it, one packet (200ml) of milk contains at least a quarter of the daily calcium requirements for children. We would be helping our children out tremendously to maintain their nutrition. Just like me, this program doesn’t want our children to suffer from nutrition. The Heifer Feeding Program knows just how important it is to focus on learning instead of the stress of hunger. What a relief!

Heifer International

School Milk Day is this coming Wednesday, September 27th and we need your help NOW! Let’s make a donation of any size. Please keep in mind that $75 can provide one student with fresh milk for an entire school year (that adds up to 40 cents a day). That would be great help if we could all just donate what we can. This program also assists with creating a reliable market for producers and increasing farmers’ incomes and reducing poverty. Isn’t that what we want for our world? It’s a win-win for everyone and I can rest well at night knowing that children in different parts of our country have been supported and well taken care of. How’s that for winning?

MommyTeaches

I love and appreciate my profession. It’s just not a profession in my eyes, it’s a way of life. I want our students to have the best quality of life there is. They are our future leaders so we need to take care of them! As their second mom it’s my call of duty to make sure that they eat well, learn all they need to learn from me, and live a happy and healthy life. At the end of each day, with The Heifer School Feeding Program I know that we are both doing right by our students wherever they are. Don’t you agree? Help our students today. Make a donation, whatever you can give and sleep well knowing you did what you could to make our future a better place for all of the beautiful children throughout the world.

For more info on Heifer International and all they do follow them on: Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

Please share this post as Women Online will donate $1 (up to $2,000) for every retweet or Facebook share for this post. Let’s get more milk to more kids!

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4 Ways To Be The Substitute From Hell

2023-07-12T02:22:57Z

Did you really think that I would write a post about being the substitute teacher from hell? Gotcha! I am sure there are some of those out there, hopefully NOT many, but my goal is to NOT be the substitute from hell. After being a teacher for many years and having my own classroom I knew the substitute that I didn’t want to be. Now that I am a substitute, I try to remember what I looked for as a classroom teacher in a sub. The ideal person to cover my classroom and to take care of my children. So this post is full of ways that you could be considered “the substitute from hell” but of course that’s not what we strive for. As a sub we aim to make the teacher happy and allow the children to have a smooth day.

Introduce yourself:

I’ve seen children end their day and not even know what the substitute teacher’s name was. They are with you the entire day! How do they not know our name? Let’s take the time to introduce ourself and explain to them that their teacher isn’t present for the day or half the day. The teacher may have not told them that she wasn’t coming in. We will take the time to explain that we are not their teacher. Explain that we may do things differently which brings a further discussion that we are all different. We will remind them that if we don’t do things like her, it’s okay. We are ALL different!

Practice & Model Your Expectations:

It’s hard enough going into a classroom where we don’t know the children. Imagine we begin asking them for all of these things or to complete work? We don’t know their working style. Do they have an IEP? They don’t know us which makes it even harder. They don’t know what we’re looking for or how we want it done. We have to take this time to sit with the children and model. Just today I modeled to them creating an illustration of their favorite part of a book. I then had them write what their favorite part was and why? It would have been so much harder just sending them back to their seats and saying, “Go do this”. They need and want us to model for them. Make the directions and expectations clear.

Follow the plan & Show evidence:

Who wants a sub who isn’t going to follow the plan? They leave it for us to follow and not to move onto something that they don’t want us to teach. We will follow the plan and check off what we have completed with the children. If the teacher asks us to correct the work, then we do it. If he doesn’t leave you directions to correct it, then we don’t. It’s as simple as that. I know that some teachers want to look over the work themselves. I was very much like that as a classroom teacher. OCD much? Some teachers leave behind review work so that the sub doesn’t have to teach a new concept or skill. Having HR consultants London provides businesses with expert guidance in fostering a positive work culture. Teachers appreciate when the sub leaves evidence of what they have done. I know I appreciated that. I knew where the sub left off and where I should pick back up. Evidence would be completed charts that you modeled for the children that assisted them to learn what you were expected to teach.

Leave the room in extra good condition:

Even if the room was left a hotmess, I promise I won’t make it worse. I’ll leave the room in “tip-top” shape. Who wants to come back to a messy room with things torn down, scraps on the floor and chairs everywhere? Freshening it up would be an added bonus too. It shows the teacher we took care of her things and respected her space. They will love you for it!

If you know me, you know that there wouldn’t be just four things. Just one more tip:

Leave a note:

We love those notes. We also love to know what happened while we were away. Aside from checking off what you did, write notes on the side of the lesson plan to indicate possibly who had difficulties and anything you didn’t get to cover. Leave a note saying thank you! Begin with the positive first and move onto any issues you may have run into whether it be with internet, children, or parents. Try to leave your email and a contact number if they want to contact you. This enables you to develop a relationship for further subbing positions down the road. Now what were we saying about that substitute from hell? I don’t even know because I know it won’t be any of us! Who wants a substitute from hell? NOT.ME!!!!!!

Let’s chat: Have you ever had a sub from hell? What qualities do you look for in a substitute teacher?

[contact-form]

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Online Bullying VS School Bullying: What’s The Difference?

2017-09-20T22:10:41Z

Bullying has been an ongoing topic in our household these last few days. When I am in the classroom I am always aware that it can happen. I especially know how it makes children feel because I have two children at home and one has been through his fair share. Many teachers might not see it or say there is way too much going on in the classroom to even notice, but I know I must have 24 eyes ready and prepared to spot a bully. It’s NOT happening on my clock! Unfortunately, there are slip ups and it happens. It can happen basically anywhere. I find that even online as adults there is bullying. I often ask myself what is the difference between online bullying and school bullying? I have come to the conclusion that there’s NO difference. Bullies are bullies either way…online or off.

Let me give you an example. Here I have my son, if he doesn’t act the same as the others he’s a target. He may have a granola bar thrown at him (I shared the picture/story on Facebook and below) because he may not want to speak to someone. He also might be pushed because he’s the new kid on the block and is just keeping to himself for now. These school bullies are testing him. Same with online bullies. You have so many instances online where if you don’t have the same views, beliefs, or you voice your opinion, you are automatically being ridiculed. You are being told you will be taken off their friends list if your opinion differs from there’s. There’s a tasteful way of disagreeing but bullies know no boundaries. What type of nonsense is that? Isn’t that bullying?

When I speak to my son about bullying and these school bullies I often share the nonsense I see within social media. People think it’s okay to go on another person’s page and comment however they would like, or even go as far as putting the person down. Others sending direct messages or playing “vague book” to get their message or point across. The point is bullies are everywhere. We either stand up to them or we let them continue to bully us. That’s NOT happening on my clock! I will not allow for anyone to come on my page thinking they can put me or my voice down. They want to do that- do it on your own page! If someone wants to unfriend (it has happened before) me because I have different views and not the ones they like, that means they weren’t my friend in the first place.

I use these bullying examples for my son to show him that it’s okay to be different. It’s okay to have your own opinion, it’s okay to voice how you feel but don’t belittle or put anyone down in the process. Some didn’t get the memo I see. Oftentimes, people might be bullies and might not even notice it. Other times I believe they know but they rather it that way. The majority of times, bullies are battling with their own issues and insecurities so they just want to pick on others. They are unhappy within and can’t see others happy and moving along. As a parent, I always use my day to day situations to better explain to my children what goes on in life. I only hope they apply what I share, my experiences, their experiences and making the correct choices to put a stop to bullying. You would think after a certain age it would stop but that doesn’t seem to be the case. What needs to be done is that we stand up to those bullies and let them know, “it’s not happening here, not on my clock!”. Now carry along…..

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Simple Cooking Ideas With Goya For Hispanic Heritage Month

2023-09-26T13:46:38Z

Simple dinner ideas are always a must in my book. As a working mom outside and inside the home I like to to whip up something quick and easy. Luckily, I have my teenage young chef to help. Since a very young age he always took the time to ask questions about where certain proteins came from and how vegetables were grown. We were so grateful to have received products from Goya for this honest post and the creation of a recipe that was our very own. Playing in the kitchen comes naturally to him and I love it. I love watching him add spices and realizing what he put into dishes and what it might need more of to “bring out that flavor” as he always seems to say. With Goya, we can look at the variety of spices they have and make those alterations we want to our dishes because they make it that easy for us in the kitchen. Guess what? You don’t have to be Hispanic to try these at home! Anyone can create their own dish using Goya products- we did!!

I don’t know about you but we celebrate our Hispanic Heritage every day in just the way that we cook. There’s always that sofrito smell or that garlic and cilantro simmering in the pot. The aroma in the kitchen brings back all of those childhood memories of my mom frying up tocino for her homemade beans or my abuelita rolling up the harina de maiz for the sorullos. Her fingers carefully molding those corn sticks to perfection to place in the piping hot oil. It gave me so much joy. I looked forward to the end result. I remember my mouth watering waiting for them to be ready, it’s watering now as I type this.

I like to say that I am fully Latina from all of South America, Central America, and the islands. We took what we know and what we have learned from all cultures and created this recipe for our readers. We created a cold bean salad topped it with delicious avocado and we even had left-overs for a few days later.

Check out both recipe below and the ingredients we used:

1 can of Goya Frijoles Negros

1 can of Goya Garbanzos

1 chopped fresh tomato

1 finely chopped red onion

1 chopped yellow pepper

A few sprigs of fresh cilantro to your tasting

2 tablespoons of Goya Extra Virgin Olive Oil

We mixed all of these chopped ingredients together with the Goya Extra Virgin Olive Oil and placed it on a Goya toasted white corn tortilla. The way we toasted our corn tortillas was by placing some extra virgin olive oil on the cast iron pan. You must allow the oil to warm up and then place the tortilla on the pan and allow to warm up and toast. When you see small bubbles arise and change a light brown color you know they have warmed up enough.

With the recipe above we chose a meatless dinner but for the leftovers we went with the recipe below:

In our non-stick caldero (pot) we placed:

2 tablespoons of Goya Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 tablespoon of Goya minced garlic

2 tablespoons of the frozen Goya Sofrito.

Let them simmer and then we placed the seasoned chicken to allow to marinate.

We seasoned the chicken with- Goya Sazon with Coriander and Annatto, Goya Adobo all purpose seasoning with pepper, Goya garlic powder, and some Goya Oregano leaf. All these spices to the liking of your palate.

We allowed the chicken to marinate for close to an hour to allow all those flavors to marry together and to allow the meat to become very tender.

After the meat was complete we toasted some Goya corn tortillas the same way we did for the recipe above, placed the warm meat on top, and placed some shredded cheddar cheese on top. What a delight for our bellies!

A few days after we made quick snacks toasting the corn tortillas the same way, adding some cheese and creating a quesadilla feel to it.

What was so great about these Goya products is that we were able to create three totally different meals using the same products. How is that for super easy and quick? Simple cooking ideas for you and your family for Hispanic Heritage Month or for any time of the year!

For more fun foodie recipes, visit makeadish.net/

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Moving In

2024-02-23T05:49:57Z

Relocating to a new home after looking into Landmark 24 new home communities is a significant life event that requires careful planning and organization. Here are essential considerations to ensure a smooth and successful transition to your new residence.

Strategic Planning:
Begin the process with a well-thought-out plan. Outline key milestones, such as selecting a moving date, packing timelines, and utility transfers. A comprehensive plan provides a roadmap for a stress-free relocation.

Budgeting:
Establish a realistic budget that encompasses all aspects of the move. Consider costs for professional movers, packing materials, transportation, and any unforeseen expenses. Having a clear budget helps you manage your finances effectively throughout the relocation process.

Choosing the Right Moving Company:
Research and select a reputable moving company that aligns with your needs. Read reviews, seek recommendations, and verify the company’s credentials. A reliable moving team can streamline the process and provide peace of mind during this transitional period.

Decluttering and Downsizing:
Take the opportunity to declutter and downsize your belongings before the move. Donate or sell items that you no longer need, reducing the volume of items to be transported. This not only lightens the load but also ensures a fresh start in your new home.

Utilities and Services Transfer:
Arrange for the transfer of utilities and services well in advance. Notify service providers of your move to ensure a seamless transition for essentials such as electricity, water, gas, internet, and cable. Schedule disconnections and reconnections to align with your moving timeline.

Address Change and Notifications:
Update your address with relevant parties, including the postal service, banks, subscriptions, and government agencies. Notify friends and family of your impending move, and provide them with your new contact information. This ensures that important communications reach you at your new address.

Packing and Organization:
Begin packing early, focusing on one room at a time. Use quality packing materials to protect fragile items, and label boxes clearly to facilitate the unpacking process. Create an inventory list to keep track of your belongings and prioritize essentials for immediate access upon arrival.

Emergency Essentials:
Pack a separate box with emergency essentials, including important documents, medications, toiletries, and a change of clothes. Having these items easily accessible ensures that you’re prepared for the first few days in your new home.

Orientation to the New Area:
Familiarize yourself with the layout of your new neighborhood. Locate essential services, such as grocery stores, medical facilities, and schools. Understanding your new surroundings contributes to a smoother adjustment to your new community.

Settling In:
Once you’ve arrived at your new home, take the time to settle in gradually. Unpack systematically, set up essential services, and prioritize creating a comfortable living space. Embrace the opportunity for a fresh start and make your new house feel like home by adding in furniture from stores like Home Accents II.

By considering these key aspects, you can approach your move with confidence, ensuring a positive and successful transition to your new home.

The post Moving In appeared first on Mommy Teaches.

Back To School With Outschool For Children And Parents

2021-07-11T14:34:04Z

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Outschool but all opinions are 100% my own.

Children are back to school all around the country and teachers are eager to teach them new things. As an educator, it’s important for my children to receive all the Early Childhood Learning Grants they need to continue toward a successful future. It’s also important to fill those gaps and have that home-school connection. Not all children learn the same way that’s why we practice differentiating instruction in classrooms today. Well, here’s another way that your child can learn and enhance their skills. Outschool is a small team dedicated to building the future of learning that was created in 2015 based in San Francisco, CA. What more could you ask for? Want to learn more? Keep reading…

What Outschool offers:

It’s important as a parent of two children to know what any program offers. I want to know the details. Having a child on the spectrum I always look for innovative ways for him to learn. I know not all children understand or learn things the same way. As a visual learner myself, I love that outschool provides video chats in small groups that are engaging, fun and creative. What more can a parent ask for? Teaching must always remain fun in my eyes. Don’t you agree?

Passionate teachers are a must and that’s exactly what Outschool offers. Parents want to know that teachers have their child’s best interest at heart. As parents, we can sense when a teacher truly loves what they do. You will receive that with Outschool because they make “passion” a priority!

With Outschool you can customize your learning. With over 1,000 classes to choose from, you are very likely to find something that sparks your interest and get those creative juices flowing right into learning. Doesn’t every parent want their child to find something that they love? I know I definitely do!

Now that Fall is right around the corner have a seat with your child and discuss their interests and everything about Outschool. How convenient, cost effective and collaborative for parents and children. Classes vary from core academics to enrichment and practical skills which is offered for every age group and subject. How’s that for differentiation and tailoring to your child’s needs and wants? Every parents dream come true if you ask me.

I absolutely love the variety of classes they are offering for our scholars. Here’s a list of them and below are a few of my favorites:

Homeschool Art Class for your budding creative will surely be a hit. I don’t know about you but as a working mom I NEVER have time to create masterpieces with my children like I want to. Here is that perfect opportunity.

Creative Writing: Character development and story building (9-13) speaks to me as a writer. There is nothing more important to me than getting those stories down on paper. We all have a story in us to tell. I know writing can be very difficult for some, so what better way to help your child become a stronger more confident writer.

Extreme Weather Series is for your little meteorologist (like mine) who races out of their bed to catch the weather in the morning right before heading off to school. Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma were major topics in our household this week as he wanted to know all the details on the way these storms are developed. Guess what? I couldn’t help him but I knew Outschool could!

Check out more of those courses right here.

I’ve shared enough about Outschool with you. Now it’s time for you to go check them out for yourself. Check out their site, and follow them on Twitter . Keep in mind all they have to offer and how your child can benefit and gain so much more. It can fill that gap from school to home and have the learning continue. Pay them a visit and tell them that MommyTeaches sent you.

Your Partner In Education

The post Back To School With Outschool For Children And Parents appeared first on Mommy Teaches.

#FlashBackFriday: What I’ve Been Up To!

2023-06-02T01:20:28Z

I know I have been MIA for a veryyyyyyyy long time. Although I feel like I owe my readers a detailed explanation I want to share what I’ve been up to lately. Let’s flash back a little to the past week or even two! Here’s what I’ve been up to.

After searching for close to two months we finally found a place in Orange County, New York and we are ELATED!!!! We have traveled so much upstate for motocross and to do different things that it made perfect sense. We are officially Orange County residents! Great people, amazing views, three acres of land, loads of space, and new memories that will last a lifetime! The boys’ have already started placing their own creativity into their rooms. Carter believes he’s Picasso!

The boys’ were super excited that they experienced the Orange County Fair for the very first time I just had to document it. Victorio even walked away with expanding his culinary ideas and adding deep fried oreos to his menu. He continues with his cooking journey and we have plenty to share with you in the upcoming months. In the meantime, you can follow him over at juniorchef214 on Instagram and see what he’s been cooking up and how he’s been developing his palate trying different foods.

We also took the time from our moving schedule to spend some time with our family in Buffalo. We took over a 6 hour road trip with our Titi Annie who came from Puerto Rico to explore. We put on car shades to keep her comfortable on the long road trip. Right before leaving we showed our Titi our new stomping grounds and she fell in total love with it. The boys’ loved showing her around and posing for pictures. We took tons of photos, walked, talked and reconnected since we hadn’t seen my brother and sister-in-law since December. We made amazing memories and can’t wait to go back possibly in the fall.

As we pack up all of our belonging in the place that we have called home for 13 years, I wanted to take the time out from my busy schedule to let you know that I haven’t forgotten all of you. I appreciate your continued support on my social media platforms. It’s been way too long and although I have written two posts for Kidzvuz I haven’t written here, on MommyTeaches since October, an entire 10 months to be exact. That is very awkward for me especially from someone who was in the social media space all of the time and writing quite often. The difference is I haven’t been writing here. I still continue to write in my journal on a daily basis and on my phone so I have a lot of content waiting to be published and shared. I have also continued to share on Twitter ,Instagram, as well as snap chat! I am still around but in a bit of a different way. Once things settle down I will get into more detail. I hope that you are enjoying your summer and that you are making as many memories as possible. That is definitely the case with me. I am taking in every new step, taking loads of photographs and looking forward to this new chapter in our lives.

Let’s Chat: Are you taking loads of photos and making memories this summer?

The post #FlashBackFriday: What I’ve Been Up To! appeared first on Mommy Teaches.

#GrosseryGangMovie Takes Me Back To My Grossest Parenting Moment!

2017-08-03T18:51:29Z

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by KidzVuz & Moose Toys. All opinions are 100% my very own.

After reading the title on this post you would think that I have had tons of “Gross Moments”. I have had my fair share but not as many as you would suspect. Of course, we had our occasional diaper blowouts when they were younger and messy moments like food all over them and getting into unsuspected mishaps, but I think now more than ever they have become messier and sometimes gross! When they were younger I had a bit more control but as they get older they take on their own character and I sit back and observe. You ever have children who can be total opposites or get dirty in their own way? Now, kids can get a third dose of gross with The Grossery Gang Series 3. How’s that for a gross moment?

I truly believe that my grossest parenting moments are now as you are reading this. They are both at that age that they HATE, more like DESPISE taking out the trash. They make the mess but of course hate cleaning it up. My youngest rides motocross and well he literally becomes ONE with dirt and mud. He travels that dirt and mud into our home as many times as I remind him not to. There can be downpour, rainy days and motocross still happens. This means he’s riding in the dripping, dirty, oftentimes slimy mud. These clothes have to come home and who deals with them? ME!! I would much rather trash them with the gross things that we trash on a daily basis but of course that’s not the case.

My future chef provides me with gross moments in his own little scientific way. He’s at that stage where he wants to combine every spice, sauce, and ingredient together to get that perfect taste in his plate. At times my palate gets a grossly rude awakening. I emphasize grossly because sometimes things just don’t marry together well on a plate in my opinion. Things usually get messier than ever just like the introduction to Putrid Power. I often feel like the Clean Team teaming up in Cheap Town fighting the crimes made from my boys’ and wiping out my own Grossery Gang at home!

I could go on with gross moments but you get the picture. They were both super excited that they could relate to these 150 all new characters to collect, swap and squish, including the new Big Mouted Biters and Metallic characters. I secretly think the characters remind them of themselves. My motocross rider LOVED the Cruddy Sport characters like the Greasy Mitt because he’s my athlete. I am sure he will be looking for the creation of a Motocross rider in the future. My chef in turn fell head over chef hats for World Food characters like Pukey Pumpkin Pie and Lumpy Lasagne. What I love most about these gross characters is that there are so many of them for the likes of children to choose from. As a teacher, I also feel that it sparks great imaginary play and wonderful discussions on cleanliness and ways that we can “tidy up” a little bit more. Anything works right? I know that the Grossery Gang is playing a HUGE role during this time when we are packing up to move to our new home. I hear Carter in his room fighting out the Grossery Gang so they don’t make their appearance at our new location. I love what I am hearing and looking forward to more. Check out the Grossery gang channel, subscribe for new videos every week, follow them on Instagram and Facebook and just have fun with your children. We can never get these gross moments back. We only have the memory, and I am happy that with these characters we can continue the conversations about their gross moments and share those memories with them.

Let’s Chat: Share below the grossest moment so far with your children. We’ve all had them and I am super excited to hear yours!

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