Life As Mom

Eat Well, Spend Less: Letting Kids Cook

Jessica Fisher — Tue, 22 May 2012 08:36:29 +0000

Including your kids in the kitchen is a great way to teach them life skills and, eventually, save money. Eat well, spend less, and let the kids cook!

As we all know cooking and eating at home is typically healthier, tastier, and often more economical than processed or restaurant fare. And if there’s more than one home cook in the house, chances are there’s always someone available to cook up the night’s dinner. Someone besides the Colonel, that is.

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to teach my boys to become more independent in the kitchen. That, my friends, is easier said than done. Not because they aren’t capable. But, because I’m a control freak.

I didn’t realize how much this was true until the last month or so when I started checking myself before I grabbed the tongs, spatula, or spoon away from the child working in the kitchen. I had no idea I was doing this previously. But, I must have been. All of a sudden I found that I was stopping myself from interfering.

And the result?

My seven-year old started cooking the pancakes on the griddle and flipping them with gusto. He begs for pancakes every morning so that he can make them.
My nine-year old portioned a bulk bag of cheese into perfect one-pound portions to store in the freezer and now regularly mixes the bread dough.
My eleven-year old mixed up the dough for hot dog buns and tested a recipe for stuffed crust pizza.
My fourteen-year old baked a batch of Chocolate Minty Melts while I was out of the house and figured out his own substitutions when he saw we didn’t have any chocolate kisses.

Who knew?

Apparently, I did not. Because I would not previously have asked anyone of them to pull off the aforementioned feats alone or with limited supervision. But, once I put the blinders on (myself) and walked away, they did great. And now I know that I can cut them lose on a lot more cooking tasks.

Now, I wonder what ELSE they are capable of!

My kids have been cooking with me or hubs in the kitchen since each one was big enough to climb on a chair. But, I’ve been reticent to just release the reins and let one of them drive the chuck wagon.

The entire process has been such a lesson to me. My kids are capable of far more than I expect them to be, especially where food is concerned. While hubs and I were gone on date night, my eleven-year old even tried his hand at food photography!

It’s one thing to set a good example, but it’s another to teach — and to let go. I think I’ve worked at the first two, but have failed at the last.

And yet, how did I learn? I just messed in the kitchen, and my mom let me. (Thanks, Mom!) I started copying down recipes as soon as I could write, attempted (and failed) to make fudge when I was seven, and had perfected lemon meringue pie by ten. But, my mom really didn’t have to do much — except maybe clean up after me.

She cut me lose. And then I just did it.

What am I afraid of?

Why haven’t I been looser with my control of the kitchen? I have no idea, really. I hate to clean, that would be one thing. I fear wasted ingredients. But, let’s look at the ultimate fruit:

I can do something else while my kids do the cooking!

It’s an amazing thought, really. And then because I’m the mom, I can make them clean up the mess. Goodness, what have I been waiting for?

I don’t have it all figured out, but I’m sure excited to see where this goes. As I type this, one of my sons is crafting birthday cake toppers for his brother’s big day while the cake their sister and I made is cooling on the counter.

I can’t wait to see where this goes!

This post is part of an ongoing series about how to eat well and spend less. Along with some fabulous foodies, organizers, and frugalistas, I’ve been bringing you suggestions on how to eat like a king without becoming a pauper to do it.

This month we’re sharing tips and tricks for including kids in your kitchen routine. Be sure to check out what the other ladies are sharing this week or browse their archives:

Aimee from Simple Bites
Amy from Kingdom First Mom
Carrie from Denver Bargains
Katie from Good Life Eats
Katie from Kitchen Stewardship
Mandi from Life Your Way
Shaina from Food for My Family
Tammy from Tammy’s Recipes

How do YOU include your kids in the kitchen?

Let’s Tour Colonial Williamsburg

Jessica Fisher — Mon, 21 May 2012 08:36:04 +0000

Colonial Williamsburg, formerly a colonial capital, has been restored in architecture as well as in spirit, making it the ideal “family field trip.”

I’m a West Coast girl. I’ve lived in Southern California for most of my life. When I’ve lived or traveled elsewhere, I haven’t ventured father east than the Mississippi, unless it was to hop all the way to Europe or journey south of the border to Honduras. While I’ve hiked in a rain forest or toured throughout the South of France, I just don’t know much about 3/4 of my own nation’s territory.

Instead, most of my life experience has been rooted in the West and, historically speaking, in the adventures of the Spanish Explorers or the pioneers. The kinds of field trips I took as a child and those that I now take with my kids involve Spanish missions, stagecoaches, cowboys, and the Wild West.

But, recently, I got a chance to go back in time and in space to Colonial Williamsburg, VA. Wanna go with? Let’s take a tour!

All photos by Heidi.

My sister and her family moved to Williamsburg last summer. My niece’s school borders the gardens of the Governor’s Palace. My guess is that she will have a different cultural experience in second grade than my sister and I did at her age. As one who has visited many of California’s missions, regularly drives streets named for famous Spanish explorers, and knows her maize from her pintos, I’m amazed at the vastness of our country as well as the richness and diversity of its history.

This is one of the things that struck me earlier this month when I had a chance to tour Colonial Williamsburg with Tsh, Stephanie, Sarah, Mandi, and Heidi. We didn’t get to spend a lot of time roaming, but we were extremely grateful to the folks at Colonial Williamsburg to allow us complimentary passes to check out the place.

We even got to hear George Washington speak!

In case Colonial Williamsburg is as new to you as it was to me, let me explain. This “living village” is a restoration of the original Williamsburg, capital of Virginia during colonial times. It witnessed much of history first hand, including The War for Independence as well as The War Between The States.

“From 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg was the political, cultural, and educational center of what was then the largest, most populous, and most influential of the American colonies,” states the Colonial Williamsburg website. Considering that many of our nation’s founding fathers were also Virginians, it was most certainly a happening place to be.

Today it offers visitors a chance to step back in time. Not only are the buildings restored to the way they would have been 200 years ago (plus indoor plumbing and air conditioning in certain areas), but interpreters roam the streets, man the shops, and speak from platforms, giving you a real taste of 18th century life.

This woman worked in the dressmaker’s shop, sewing and explaining her craft to visitors. We took shelter from a rain storm in this shop that is kept impeccably clean. The dresses looked like they’d be so fun to wear. I knew my girls would have such fun here.

Since things are kept to period standards here in the Historic Area, there are no electric lights in the public areas. So, when rain clouds cover the sun and the afternoon slips into evening, it really does get dark in this shop. I can’t imagine sewing dresses by candlelight, let alone without a machine!

We probably don’t know how good we have it these days.

However, it was nice and soothing to dine by candlelight. One night we splurged at Chowning’s Tavern. And I do mean splurge. Probably one of the most expensive meals I’ve eaten in quite some time. But, it was all a part of the experience, which evidently, is NOT true to the 18th century in all ways. Hehe.

Their lunch menu is vastly different in price, so plan on lunch at the Tavern.

I’m a history geek, so I like to go authentic when I can. The tavern’s menu is reflective of what folks might have eaten at the time. The servers are knowledgeable to tell you about different aspects of colonial dining. We split a few orders of Welsh Rarebit which I’ve read about in books and cookbooks for years yet had never tasted. Very rich and good when piping hot.

During dinner we were treated to roaming minstrels, another aspect of a visit to Colonial Williamsburg.

Walking through the village of Williamsburg was extremely peaceful. The gardens are beautiful, the flowers were all in bloom, and the streets were tranquil. I imagine there are crowds galore on certain days, but we must have timed our visit perfectly. It felt like we had the place to ourselves. I could have sat under a tree and spent the day happily.

One of the highlights of visiting the Historic Area was our tour of the Governor’s Palace. Since this was once a capital of the Virginia Colony, the building, reconstructed from original plans, is full of history. I loved hearing the stories our guide had to tell about different rooms, different household items, and the different customs of the time.

If you live within a stone’s throw of Williamsburg, or have plans to travel that way, it definitely is a fun and educational stop to make. There’s so much to see and do, you could easily spend several days exploring. And if your kids are studying the 18th century or American history, it’s definitely a must-see.

Have you been to Colonial Williamsburg?

Disclosure: I received a complimentary pass to visit Colonial Williamsburg, but I am not under any obligation to post about my visit. All opinions are my own.

Flight Plans May Be Delayed

Jessica Fisher — Sun, 20 May 2012 08:06:56 +0000

We can make the best plans in the world, and the experience can still be fraught with complications and challenges. What then?

A couple weeks ago I flew across the country to spend a weekend talking, laughing, and brainstorming about life with some blogging friends. I had a chance to tour Colonial Williamsburg, meet one of my homeschooling heroes, and hang out with my youngest sister and her family.

But before that happened, I had to get there.

And the fates, or rather United Airlines, were against me. My friend Heidi and I spent five hours on a plane. At the gate. On the ground. It was one thing after another; a late flight crew cost us a couple hours; bad weather, an empty fuel tank, a new cabin crew, and a host of other small details ate up the other three.

The flight attendant actually blamed it on the Chicago Cubs.

We arrived in Virginia at three in the morning, five hours late, despite our best efforts to arrive at a time when it wouldn’t disturb our ride or our hosts. So much for impeccable planning.

On the way home I experienced similar delays, convincing me to take another airline next time I fly. Don’t even get me started about the strange woman emitting a strong chemical odor and rubbing a cloth all along the sides of the emergency exit door.

Making Plans

As moms, most of us have a fair amount of planning to do. What clothes the kids will wear, what we’ll eat for dinner, what to do on vacation — there are a myriad of details for us to consider and to provide for each and every day.

Sometimes we run ourselves ragged in the preparation of school clothes, dinner, trips, you name it. And sometimes, it all falls flat.

The kid refuses to wear the outfit or spills on it five minutes before it’s time to leave. Dinner burns. The car breaks down on vacation, the hotel loses its reservation, or yes, the Chicago Cubs cause your sister to drive Virginia back roads to pick you up at 3 am.

Life is subject to change.

We can make the best plans in the world, and the experience can still be fraught with complications and challenges. What then?

Rant? Rage? Blame your city’s baseball team?

Moms, we can only do what we can do. Honestly, it was hard not to complain for that five hours in a cramped little seat.

And no, they don’t have to let you off. They have to give you the option. But, they don’t have to let you back on the plane. Sometimes you just have to suck it up. And that, my friends, is hard.

I’m a big proponent for creating change in our lives to serve our families and ourselves better. I’m more than impatient with a status quo that doesn’t benefit people directly.

But, sometimes there’s nothing else you can do but ride out the storm. Make the best of it. Wait for the plane to refuel. And then move on with your journey.

Ultimately, believe that God really is the best travel agent and trust Him to get you to your destination.

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. — Proverbs 16:9

Books and What to Do with Them (Zone Defense)

Jessica Fisher — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:12:16 +0000

On Zone Defense this month, we’re tackling living spaces. Books play a big part in how we live, so let’s get them organized and avoid the visual and physical clutter.

As a family of book lovers and folks who do school at home, we have a lot of books. A lot.

Over the years I’ve tried to pare down our collection to those that we love, that we really need for school, or that are difficult to get from the library. We also like to give the kids books for birthdays and Christmas so that they can start building their own personal libraries.

There’s just something sweet and comforting about a well-loved and well-worn hard copy book. While we have a Kindle, an iPad, and numerous devices on which to read electronic books, I still love being able to turn a physical page. So, I don’t think that we’ll ever really say goodbye to real live books.

Who would want to?

But what to do with all those books?!

That said, books do take up space and can contribute to the clutter in a household if not organized and corralled in someway. Here are several different means that we use for organizing and storing our books.

1. Deep storage

Some of our books are those that are not needed on a regular basic, but are those that we dig out for a certain season. Many of our music books, holiday books, and school books which are designated for a certain grade level or subject are stored in boxes on shelves in our garage.

Since we live in a temperate climate, our garage rarely gets too hot or too cold, so this works for us. When we lived in Kansas, I stashed these boxes in the backs of closets.

Keeping these books that we reference once a year or once every few years in boxes helps relieve visual clutter on the shelves and helps me find them when I really do need them.

2. Book shelves

We have tall bookcases in my office, the school room, and in the aforementioned garage. We try to store books as close to the place of use as possible. So, personal and writing books go in the office, school and library books in the school room, and pleasure reading or other general school books that we want to reference on a regular basis go in the garage.

Bookshelves are a tricky thing. I love the looks of them, but kids, lazy or otherwise, have a hard time putting books back on the shelf in a way that lends itself to neatness. Just saying.

Our school shelves need to be straightened regularly, so that they don’t look like a jumbled mess. But, I’ve got some people that are now old enough to take on the task.

3. Sterilite boxes

Years ago I read in an organizing book about making things easier to put away that take out. It’s a brilliant idea if you can pull it off. One way that we do this with children’s books is to store them in Sterilite boxes on the book shelves. It’s easier for little hands to toss them into the box than to line them up on a shelf. And to retrieve a book, they just need to flip through the box like in a card file.

Keeping storybooks in these boxes also makes it easy to pull out a box to use in the car or bedroom or some other place in the house for easy reading.

This year we’re on Zone Defense, moving room by room, tackling clutter and disorder. This month we’re closing in on living spaces. Check out the month’s general assignment or browse the archives to see previous months’ assignments.

How do YOU organize your books?

12 Ways to Save on Gifts (Frugal Friday)

Jessica Fisher — Fri, 18 May 2012 03:11:20 +0000

It is better to give than receive — unless it puts you in hock! Avoid debt and overspending by giving gifts wisely and economically.

1. Bake something.

Bake someone happy with homemade breads, cookies, cakes, and pies. Homemade is always better than storebought. And the ingredients can often be less expensive that a fancy bakery. Package them nicely in a cloth lined basket or paper box. Deliver with a smile.

2. Give a gift card.

It is the thought that counts! A lower value gift card to a fun splurge like Starbucks or iTunes is often more welcome than an expensive doodah that will eventually end up in the donations pile. It doesn’t need to be high priced to be fun.

3. Package some cash.

Likewise, a creative cash present will bring a huge smile to the honored friend. When Aunt Cass sent us our “box of chocolates”, I was bowled over by her creativity. I haven’t even spent any of it ($43.15 to be exact) since it’s just too cute for words. It’s a little emergency fund, perfect for teens, college students, and, ahem, grown-ups.

4. Shop the clearance.

You will be amazed what great things you can find on clearance, especially if you start looking early. I have found great culinary gifts on clearance including a French press for $5! Keep an eye on the clearance section in your favorite stores for great deals.

5. Give an experience.

Sometimes time doing an activity together is worth more than any gift. Think picnic, a day at the beach, a trip to an amusement park, a movie night with popcorn and large boxes of candy. Consider your birthday person, graduate or other honoree to be the guest of honor and treat him or her like royalty.

6. Stock up on seasonal sales.

If you’re looking for token or hostess gifts, then keep your eyes open at back to school time, the holidays, Valentine’s Day and Easter. Candy, chocolates, candles, dishes, other small gift items, and school supplies often go on great sales at these times. Stock up on these items and save them to repackage as gifts.

Yes, you can even transform humble school supplies into gifts.

7. Use Swagbucks.

Swagbucks is a search engine that rewards you with “Swagbucks” for searching online, participating in surveys or in other actions. You can redeem your Swagbucks for a number of prizes including Amazon and Starbucks gift cards. We have used the Amazon cards to offset gift giving costs at Christmas and birthdays.

Plus, Swagbucks will also award you points when you refer friends. For instance, if you signed up with this link, I would get some Swagbucks for sharing the love with you.

8. Pre-order new releases on Amazon.

Amazon offers a number of great services including Prime free shipping, a lending library, and free streaming movies. But, many folks don’t understand their pre-order policy. If you pre-order a new release (ie. before it hits the stores), you will be guaranteed the lowest price on that item between the time you pre-order and the release date.

Since Amazon prices fluctuate so frequently, this can save you a lot of money — as well as time spent checking the price.

9. Make a meal to deliver.

Who doesn’t like a home cooked meal? Everyone from busy moms to starving students to hungry bachelors will appreciate a home cooked meal. Take a few extra minutes to package it in a fancy manner and deliver with a smile.

For new parents or other busy folk, consider stashing several meals in their freezer so that they can enjoy your gift for several days into the future.

10. Order online to save money on gas and to use cash-back programs.

Shopping online has been a real blessing to me, especially in the days when all the kids had to be latched into carseats. Not only did it save me money to shop from home, but it also saved me from endless errands and dragging more poor kids into a myriad of stores when we couldn’t find what we were looking for.

I can also use cash-back services like Ebates to get cash back on my purchases when I initiate my shopping session through their portal. I can maximize my rewards by using Ebates’ tell-a-friend referral program. Whenever a friend signs up with my link, we both win.

Plus, it’s nice to shop in my pajamas.

11. Request free samples.

There are so many wonderful free samples available out there. One year, I planned ahead and saved up enough free granola bars to stuff the kids’ stockings at Christmas! And now that I think about it, some samples are very generous, making it easy for you to put together a fun gift basket — for FREE!

12. Give a memory.

A picture really is worth a thousand words. Some of the most meaningful gifts I’ve ever given have been of the photographic variety. Whether it takes the shape of a video slideshow, a photo album, or even just a framed picture, photo gifts are fun, meaningful, and typically quite frugal.

Today’s Frugal Friday!

Time to swap ideas and inspiration for saving money.

How do YOU save money?

Please remember to follow the Frugal Friday Guidelines or be deleted.

Post a money saving idea and explain how it is helpful in your post.
No giveaways or deals posts.
Recipes are allowed, but you must explain how it saves people money.
Please include a link back to Life as MOM.

Grilled Pizza (Ultimate Recipe Swap: Cooking Out)

Jessica Fisher — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:10:30 +0000

Can’t stand the heat? Get out of the kitchen! Cooking out doesn’t have to be limited to meats and burgers. Try grilling pizza.

The first time we grilled pizza was about five kids and ten years ago. It was amazing! And then we didn’t do it again for quite some time.

Last summer we took up the practice again and were amazed (again) how fun and easy it was!

Here’s how to take your pizza pie outside.

1. Get your pizza dough and toppings (and side dishes) ready.

As you know by now if you do any grilling at all, you need to have everything ready. How many times have I heard my dad or husband holler, “Is everything ready? The meat’s almost done.” The grill waits for no man. So, get everything ready to go before you start.

2. Fire up the grill.

We have a Holland gas grill that we bought off craigslist years ago for a steal. It operates very much like an oven. And as you can tell from the grates, they are fairly close together, making for a great pizza grilling surface. You can make your pizza on a standard grill, just be sure to place the crusts in such a way not to slip between the grates. It shouldn’t be a problem.

While the grill is heating, bring all your toppings outside. It’s nice to have a table right next to the barbecue to make this neat and easy.

3. Bake the crust.

Don’t assemble the pizzas yet! Lay the crusts on the hot grill and allow them to bake on the underside, about 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how hot your grill is. Once the crusts are baked on the bottom, flip them over.

4. Add the toppings.

Spread your sauce and toppings on the baked top. Close the grill and cook another 5 to 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the crust is crisp.

5. Be patient.

This is not an exact science, especially if you’re working with a sensitive grill. So, be patient. The end result is an amazing pizza full of texture and flavor. It’s worth waiting for.

Some of our favorite pizzas:

URS Guidelines

Remember: Each week at Ultimate Recipe Swap, there is a posted theme. You are welcome to share any recipe that fits the theme and contains a link back to Life as MOM. If you’re curious about the upcoming themes, I have a calendar here. This week’s theme is Dessert.

If you have a recipe that fits the theme, please link it. However, things like Beef Strogonaff will be deleted from Chicken week because it doesn’t contain chicken. Please keep this meme as helpful to others as we can.

And don’t make me the bad guy!

What is your favorite recipe for the grill?

Easy Cakes You Can Decorate Yourself

Jessica Fisher — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:18:45 +0000

Decorating a cake you’ve baked at home is not difficult. In fact, it’s a great way to customize it for taste and birthday party theme — without paying a high price. You CAN have your cake and eat it, too!

If I can decorate a home baked cake, so can you! I am not all that gifted in this area, but my kids are always happy. And that is what counts!

Here are some ideas to get you started.

(I once wrote a couple ebooks full of cake decorating ideas. But, these are no longer for sale. My apologies in advance — there may be dead links in some of these posts.)

Here are some cool themes, anyway!

Sports Cakes

LA Kings Cake

Disc Golf

Surfer Cake

Movie Cakes

Indiana Jones

and another Indiana Jones

Cars 2 Cake

Captain Jack, Pirates of the Caribbean

Death Star, Star Wars

Rapunzel, Tangled Cake

Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story

A Drive-in Movie Theatre

Book Cakes

Narnia – Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Fancy Nancy

Character Cakes

Dora the Explorer

Bob the Builder

Sonic the Hedgehog

Lego Bionicle Thornax

Pokeball and Pikachu

Shamu

Cakes for Grownups

Dave Ramsey

What’s your favorite out of all your birthday cakes, past or present?

Q&A: Video Games

Jessica Fisher — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:08:44 +0000

Occasionally, readers write with questions that I know others might be able to add to or benefit from. Today we’re talking about video games, gaming systems, and how to know if and when to introduce those to your household.

Take whatever I say with a grain of salt, and be sure to add your two cents in the comments section.

Q.I was hoping you could share with me the age your kids were when you first allowed video games? I have three boys-7, 3 and 7 mo. We homeschool. Winter is long around here and the big guy wants a Wii. Bad. Am I nuts to give in so early? Obviously the baby won’t be joining in, but I don’t see how I’ll be able to keep the almost 4 yr old away. Any advice is much appreciated!

A. Well, this is, indeed, the five million dollar question! While I would like to say that our family is immune to the mind-numbing powers of the video game, I can’t. I don’t really have “an answer”, but I’m happy to share our experience.

Our life with video games

My kids love to play video games, be they computer, gaming system, or iPad. I never had any intention of buying anything video game related. And in fact, in the early years, I didn’t.

I know first hand the addictive qualities of video games, having spent adolescent nights bleary eyed trying to beat Pacman as well as wasted adult days absorbed in Tetris or Baby Park. I can’t get those minutes back and now that every second of my life is accounted for, I want that time back! I guess we could say I have some video game regrets of my own.

It seems time slips by unnoticed when one is playing a video game. But to deny their presence and influence in our culture is unrealistic. The real question is who will control whom?

I will be the first to admit that video games have a fairly large presence in our home life. I don’t like to admit it. I think there’s an unspoken law in Parentdom that you’re a better mom if your kids don’t watch TV, don’t know a Pokemon from a Super Mario Brother, and never eat processed sugars.

While I know where we “coulda, shoulda, woulda,” that’s not always our reality. This is:

1. You want it, you buy it.

I think the saving and subsequent ownership is an important part of the equation. If you want something bad enough, you’ll do what you need to do to make it happen. And since I don’t share their love of video games, I don’t plan on paying for them.

My oldest, at about age 8 decided that he wanted a Nintendo 64. He had played a number of different game systems at friends’ homes and decided that the vintage “cassette” games were ideal, especially with baby siblings in the house. These could not be scratched or destroyed as easily as the Game Cube which was current at the time, seven years ago. (Smart boy.)

His brothers were then 5, 3, and 1. Only one of them was really capable of playing anything because back then most of the games were too advanced for toddlers anyway. Regardless, we limited game time to weekends and perhaps 30 minutes on a school night.

My oldest son and my husband shopped on ebay and he bought a used system and the games to go with. Since he had invested his money (with some help from younger brothers), it was a great experience in saving toward purchases and shopping for good deals.

A few years later, friends gave us a Game Cube that they no longer wanted and the hunt for used Game Cube games commenced, now with more boys saving money and investing in games or requesting them at birthdays and Christmas.

Inevitably, Nintendo retired these systems and the games became harder and harder to find. That is the way with technology — and marketing.

Since the Wii was/is pretty cool, the boys started to save their money. With fervor. They did odd jobs around the house. They weeded the flower beds in the summer heat to earn extra money. And they reached their goal! It was amazing to see how hard they worked.

And even though they had the cash earmarked for this special purchase, they were willing to share it when their parents were short on funds!

We ended up buying them the system – and have been known to play it on occasion. They spent their savings on the accessories and games, which add up anyway. We were so proud of their hard work and determination and their generosity. And they are still responsible for buying games and accessories.

Currently, only the boys, age 14, 11, 9,and 7, are very active with the Wii, though my 5-year old daughter occasionally joins in. Each of the boys has saved the money to buy handheld systems as well, Nintendo DS, and the Girl says she wants one as well.

She also has her eye on a Bitty Baby, so we’ll see who wins out in the end.

2. Set limits on the gaming time.

Video games are generally off-limits on school nights, and we try to have time limits on the weekend gaming. While timers have worked on and off in the past, inevitably we have bouts of too much time spent on gaming — or fighting as a result of overly competitive spirits. This is our cue to pull back.

We have called for Total Unplugging on occasion in order to curb the control that gaming has.

Our plan for the summer is to have a few windows per day when gaming is allowed. The rest of the day the games need to be powered down, and children need to be involved in other pursuits: reading, playing outside, doing chores, or playing “real” games.

Having “gaming hours” is easier for me to monitor when there are so many people playing games!

3. Playing together does matter.

I think we could live a happy existence without video games, but I also know that my kids truly do enjoy this pursuit. Now that we’ve dipped a toe into iPad apps, I realize the huge addiction/education possibilities. It’s all about balance.

And there’s the added value of time spent together. My husband has had wonderful experiences playing football and hockey via the Wii with our boys. They’ve also had great times playing real football and hockey outside. But, as you say, winter is long. Having indoor pursuits is nice. And so is time spent together.

Do I wish we had fewer video games? Yes. Do I wish I could claim the no-video games, no-TV rule that I once held to steadfastly? Sure. My life would be a lot simpler — and a lot quieter.

Would that make me a better mom? I’m not so sure.

How do YOU handle video games at your house?

Summer Fun for the Only Child

Jessica Fisher — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:08:07 +0000

We’re planning for summer fun around here. Today Prerna shares how to enjoy the summer daze with an child.

We’re enjoying full-blown summer days here in India and soon it will be that time when school shuts down and our daughter is at home. all day. alone. with us.

Yes, we have an ‘only’ child and while we do manage to keep her engaged and entertained successfully during after-school hours and during the cool, winter months when picnics and outdoor fun is easier to manage, the summer is a whole other story.

The days are hot and long, school is out, friends are away with families traveling and she is pretty much housebound during the day. Yes, and we, my husband and I, have a busy home business to run as well.

So, here’s how we make the summer days fun for her and keep ourselves productive and sane.

A Stash of ‘Special’ Toys

Yes, every mother’s secret tool – special toys. If you haven’t put together a box of toys that you don’t pull out every day, do that now! Whenever, she’s getting cranky and irritable with her collection of cars or dolls, we pull out that special box which basically, has toys she hasn’t played with in months. They’re all new to her and I can almost hear her squeal in delight as she opens the box to pull out that old-for-us but new-for-her pushback car.

An Ice Cream a Day

I know. An ice cream every day. But hear me out. You can make fudgecicles by freezing simple, home made chocolate pudding in molds. Or you can do what Jessica does and make your own ice cream. Healthier and cheaper.

You’ve gotta admit, every kid loves ice cream and there is something about having a bowl filled with slurpy, yummy, ice cream when the sun is blazing outside.

Splash Fests to Cool Off

We don’t have a garden because we live in an apartment. But we let her splash around in the bath for around 10 to 15 minutes. She loves it. It cools her down and playing with water and her strange, assorted collection of bath toys just makes her day. Plus, it gives us 15 minutes to catch up on email or other biz-related tasks.

Quiet Play Time

In my earlier post on fun activities for an only child, I shared how much our little girl loves pretend play, reading books and DIY craft. We schedule all of those as well for the summer days and let her play quietly till she tires of them and needs something else to do.

A Routine to Keep it All Together

I am a huge fan of planning and routines and the summer holidays are no different. Regardless of the activities you plan or think of, they’ll be of little use if you don’t have a routine in place. Knowing what to do every day makes life much simpler for this work-at-home mom of an only child. I try (operative word, try) to not fly by the seat of my pants and yes, Jessica’s Organizing Life as Mom eBook is my trusty sanity-saver, along with her Summer Survival Guide that gives me much-needed inspiration whenever I’m stuck.

Keep in mind that all these ways to have fun can be used in families with multiples and where parents are not working out of home. However, when you have just the one child and a home business to boot, these simple activities are an easy way to keep her engaged without the need for another child for company and give you some time to work on your business as well.

Interested in more summer fun and sanity savers for the busy work-at-home mom? Sign up to be notified when my eBook Summer Sanity Savers launches soon and get access to free chapters, a special LOW pre-launch prices and fun bonuses as well!

– Prerna Malik is a mom, a wife, a writer and woman who believes in parenting with love, being postively productive, and creating a home that invites you to put your feet up and relax. Find her sharing her simple tips and easy-to-do ideas at The Mom Writes or follow her on Twitter.

Zone Defense: Living Spaces

Jessica Fisher — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:06:06 +0000

This year we’re on Zone Defense, moving room by room, tackling clutter and disorder. This month we’re going after those living spaces and all the “stuff” we use to entertain us.

By now you’ve noticed a pattern for our zones:

Personal space
Food (kitchen)
Clothing (laundry room/linens)

Now we move to the living spaces. I define “living spaces’ as those areas of your home where daily life happens, namely entryway, living room, family room, den. Whatever you call it at your house, you know what I mean, right?

These are the spaces that draw clutter as much as they draw a crowd. It’s where we “do life”. And life, as I know it, is messy. It’s in our best interests and that of our families and housemates to put some order into those general everyday spaces.

At our home, that one where ~~six~~ eight kids of all ages reside, that means a variety of stuff — and lots of little crumbs. Especially under the couch cushions!

Recently, in anticipation of the grandparents’ visiting, we gave our living spaces an overhaul. This is your task this week as well. Check out the tasks that may or may not be needed at your house. They were at ours!

Declutter the entryway by thinning out shoes and coats. What really needs to be there?
Clean out the coat closet.
Sweep and mop the entryway floor.
Dust furniture in living and family rooms
Vacuum couches and chairs. Yes, under the cushions.
Replace burned out light bulbs.
Remove clutter.
Rearrange/straighten books on the shelves.
Dust light fixtures.
Vacuum baseboards.
Wipe fingerprints from walls and light swithces.
Add some fresh flowers or other decorative touch to brighten up your everyday.

Your living spaces may need all of these or just a few. Don’t feel overwhelmed! You don’t have to do them all or all at once. If you chose two per day, your house would look like a new place in a week.

But remember to do #12 when you’re done. It will make you feel so good after all your hard work.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be looking more closely at the items that can bring great joy to our lives: games, books, movies, and music. They can also bring a huge mess if we’re not careful. So we’ll be talking about ways to tame and organize these entertainment beasts.