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It seems that the majority of posts here on Mom Talk are about going back to school.  I think it is on all of our minds.  We are busy preparing paperwork, school clothes, backpacks, lunch boxes AND our tweens.  I am feeling a little overwhelmed with it all.  This summer was so fun and full of lots of great memories.  Is it really over??!!  I for one am not ready…life has been so busy that I feel behind in the race to get my tween ready for school.  I feel like we are still running OR maybe it is the fact that I am secretly dreading it!  Or, maybe I am going to miss hanging out with my kids and spending days at the beach and traveling together.  On the flip side, I am ready for a little normalcy, a little quiet time, a little organization and a SCHEDULE!!  The start of school is really a double edged sword for me.

To put my anxiety to rest a bit, here is a list of the things that must be done before school starts;

-  Purchase comfortable tennis shoes and socks for both kids.  I love cute clothes, but I want them to be comfortable at school.

-  Purchase new backpacks and lunch boxes for both children.

-  Purchase food that both kids will like in their lunches.  Let them be a part of that process.

-  Be sure all the school registration and paperwork are complete.

- Take an inventory of their closets and see what additional clothing they both need.  Especially, a good comfy zip up sweatshirt they can throw in their backpack to wear if they get chilly.

Ahhhh…my heart is breaking even writing this list….I’m not ready for this!!!!

Are you all ready for back to school?  What else do you have yet to do before the big day?

As parents prepare to send children off to school, families are stocking up on school supplies.  But parents should be thinking about healthy food choices for their children as well .  Below are some general tips for keeping children healthy throughout the day.

School-aged children (ages 6 to 12) continue to need healthy foods and nutritious snacks. They have a consistent but slow rate of growth and usually eat four to five times a day (including snacks). Many food habits, likes, and dislikes are established during this time. Family, friends, and the media (especially TV) influence their food choices and eating habits. School-aged children are often willing to eat a wider variety of foods than their younger siblings. Eating healthy after-school snacks are important, as these snacks may contribute up to one-third of the total calorie intake for the day. School-aged children have developed more advanced feeding skills, are better at feeding skills, and are able to help with meal preparation.

The following are some helpful mealtime hints for school-aged children:

• Always serve breakfast, even if it has to be “on the run.” Some ideas for a quick, healthy breakfast include the following:
  • fruit
  • milk
  • bagel
  • cheese toast
  • cereal
  • peanut butter sandwich
• Take advantage of big appetites after school by serving healthy snacks such as the following:
  • fruit
  • vegetables and dip
  • yogurt
  • turkey or chicken sandwich
  • cheese and crackers
  • milk and cereal
• Set good examples for eating habits.
• Allow children to help with meal planning and preparation.
• Serve meals at the table, instead of in front of the television, to avoid distractions.

Click here for more information about healthy food choices, as well as nutrition advice and tips.

My husband grew up on a small family farm.  He would wake up at five in the morning to pick corn with his siblings.  Needless to say, my husband knows how to work!

We surely don’t have acres of corn, but we have a small family garden in our yard.  Like anything, it is alot of work.  It is so fun to be working out there as a family.  Matt and I pull weeds while the kids help along side of us.  I have to remind my husband to keep it fun!  They get distracted and start tossing dirt balls to see who can throw them the furthest.  Then they get hot and go get water, then they are riding around on their scooters…..while we pull the weeds.

I truly don’t mind.  I love that they want to be out there with us.  I don’t want to be yelling at them to work.  I want it to be a fun memory filled with working together, sweating together, eating popsicles together and getting in water fights together.

Another aspect of our garden that I love is having the kids watch and help plant a seed and watching it grow.  It is quite amazing that you can plant a seed in the soil and carrots form, bright beautiful tomatoes start bursting from the vines and watermelons start as a tiny little ball.  It is a miraculous thing for a child to see.

Not only is our garden a source of family together time, hard work and feelings of accomplishment.  It brings us tasty cucumbers and crunchy peppers.  It teaches the kids that hard work brings a VERY positive result.

What are some things you do as a family that fosters family together time and hard work?

I have officially been a mom for almost eight years.  I have been busy being pregnant, birthing babies, changing diapers and raising kids.  I am not complaining…I love every minute of staying home with my kids.  But there is one truth we all share as mothers.  It is really hard to take time for ourselves.

I recently shared a conversation with a mom I admire beyond words.  She was telling me how her only time to workout was after her kids went to bed.  My jaw dropped at her dedication and work ethic.  By the end of the day I am usually pretty worthless. 

This is something I feel we all struggle with, keeping up our homes, raising happy kids, keeping up with the bills, homework assignments and oh, I almost forgot…taking time to take care of ourselves.

This is an area where I have failed.  I often feel exhausted, frustrated and unable to get the exercise and personal study time accomplished each day.  I feel like I can’t continue to put myself last.  I need to somehow make a change to get my exercise and quiet time each day. 

My children are getting older and I feel like I finally am at a point where I can join a gym.  There is a small amount of guilt I feel inside by putting my kids in the daycare area.  When I start to feel this guilt, I remind myself how important it is for me to take care of myself so that I have the energy each day to keep up with them.  I also remind myself that I want to be healthy and strong to be here for them for as long as I can.  Here is to a summer of health and excercise for mom!!

**I took this picture while I was in Utah of a girl biking…it inspired me!

How do you take time for yourself while keeping up with all the responsibilities of motherhood?

This month’s theme for tweens has been sleep habits.  I know I’m the mom, but lack of sleep has been affecting me lately.  Which leads me to wanting to yell, “When Mama Ain’t happy, Ain’t Nobody Happy!”  I am a person who needs sleep. 

My husband goes to work very early and often gets calls throughout the night, thus disrupting my sleep, as well as my other children’s night wakings- one sleep walks and I have a 1-year-old who is teething and night waking.  This phrase is so true.  If I don’t get the sleep my body needs, I’m scary.   My children can attest to this.  When I am the main provider for nurturing and care-taking, I need to take care of myself too.

So, how does one stay happy?.  Sleep is always good.  There are other things I have found that help me be a little happier.  Eating right and taking the time to eat.  Exercising.  Being outdoors and natural sunlight.  My mom once told me to do something for Kristen once a day.   She didn’t mean it had to be some grand or expensive thing.  It could mean read my own book for 15 minutes.  It could be a shower (with the door locked).  Something to remind myself that I am a person too.  Too often as moms, we get wrapped up in all our other roles that we neglect the one that takes care of everyone and everything.  If we neglect taking care of ourselves it can build to resentment, negativity, burnout and actual snowballing into a shutdown from all roles.  Not good. 

What have you done for you today?  Did you get the sleep your body needs?  Do your children know that you are a person besides being mom, maid, chef, laundress, wife, friend, neighbor, chauffeur, etc.?  If you did something for you, what would it be?  Remember, ” When Mama Ain’t Happy, Ain’t Nobody Happy.” Read the rest of this entry »