We are about to wrap up basketball season and move into lacrosse and tennis. I am glad that Jake and Sam have tried just about every sport they could. I want them to at least experience each one and then decide what they like and what they can live without. To this point we have given a thumbs down to soccer (no fault of the coach , but everything else seems to be fairly fun for them. Luckily, they have had good coaches along the way who have been supportive and great teachers. I think that has made all the difference in the world.

Great coaches care and understand they are working with kids..not adults.

I applaud those who coach, just as I applaud anyone who teaches. For the most part they have had volunteer coaches on base or out in town. The coaches give up their time to help my child learn some new skills and have fun while they do it. Each time the boys have tried something new, they have jumped in knowing nothing. They have often played with kids who have played before and that could go one of two ways. They could feel so far behind and overwhelmed that they never want to try again or they can feel secure, safe and supported and given time to develop on their own time table. Thankfully the latter has been the case each time and they have had a blast trying new sports.

With tennis ramping up, the boys will get some time with their favorite coach and Jake is thriving on the lacrosse field. It is so fun to watch them have fun and get better each week. I wish every child had experiences like this on the court or field…..sports should be fun at this age. After all, if they don’t have fun now and learn the fundamentals, how will they ever make it to the Horseshoe at Ohio State on Saturdays??

GO BUCKEYES!

Have you had great coaches? Any bad ones in the bunch?

I’m pretty sure I have blogged about this before, but it is a topic that is dear to my heart!  My friendships are something I deeply treasurer in my life!  Over the years, I have “collected” an amazing group of friends and sisters!!  I spend a lot of time fostering those friendships.

In turn, I feel the same way about my children.  More then anything (besides their family) I want them to have wonderful friends.  Friends who are kind, share common interests, have high morals and are a positive influence in the life of my kids.

Each of my children have been lucky enough to find this here in Jacksonville.  It has taken some time, but they have found their kindred spirits.

Unfortunately, since school has started this year, finding the time to get them together is quite difficult.  Between the longs hours of school, extracurricular activities and family there isn’t much time OR energy.

So, we make every minute count during the school year.  We have enjoyed getting the kids together over Christmas break now that there is a little extra time.  As the old saying goes, it is QUALITY not QUANTITY.  The summer will be here again.  Unfortunately, this year we will be moving and having to say goodbye to these friendships.  Those days at the beach and pool will be over, but the friendships and memories will never die.

I hope and pray that my children will always be lucky enough to find kindred spirits wherever they may go.

One thing I personally enjoy doing is meeting people.  I am very much a people person.  I enjoy my friends, enjoy learning about people’s lives and developing dear friendships.

I have found the same thing with my tween, he loves people, loves to be surrounded by people and thrives socially!!

I have also enjoyed the many things I have learned from different friends.  No two people are alike.  Some women are incredible Mothers, excellent sewers, incredibly intelligent, sweet as can be, funny and even inspiring!!  In my life so far, I have met women who fit in each of these categories.

The same goes for our tweens.  This past weekend, one of the neighbors brought his field hockey net and hocky sticks over for Lincoln to play with.  Lincoln LOVED it, he had never done anything like that before.

He was inspired by his little friend to try something new..and guess what, he loved it!!

This was a great learning experience for me.  The more things we expose our tweens to the better.  Whether it is bowling, ice skating or painting pottery they are trying things out.  Figuring out what they love to do, what makes them happy!!  Maybe your tween is destined to be an artist or a guitar player.  How in the world would they figure this out if they weren’t exposed to it?

Hit the museum, swim in the ocean or have your tween take a singing class.  Let them experience all there is out there and help them dig deep creatively and figure out exactly what it is that they love to do!!

How have you helped expose your tween to lots of different people and activities?

I don’t know if all tweens are like this, but my tween hates going to bed.  He won’t take a nap to save his life and is usually up pretty early.  He just has this zest for life and doesn’t want to miss a minute of it!

Since school has started, we are trying to be pretty strict with an early bedtime.  During the summer we are much more relaxed. I’m not talking about a late bedtime every night, I’m just not such a drill sargent about getting to bed right on time.

One thing I have learned is that things fall apart if my tween doesn’t get some sleep.  All of a sudden these really minor things or situations turn into all out DRAMA!!  I’m talking tears and other crazy behaviors.  He is a really great, happy kid….unless he is tired.  So, my solution to this is to just get him all the sleep he needs and realize if we let him stay up late…there just might be a meltdown on the horizon.

In my research, I found that tweens need at least nine hours of sleep a night.   I found peace in this once I did the math and found my tween is getting on average, about ten hours of sleep a night.

Here are a few other tips I found to help out your tween with their sleep:

1. Quit Caffeine

2. Establish a Transition (read a book, allow them to relax and have downtime before bed)

3. Stop Snacking

4. Kill the Light

5. Slow Down (re-think your schedule, maybe your tween is just too busy)

6. Children, Sleep and Stress – (your tween could quite possibly be stressed, check in and see how they are doing).

There are a few tips and tricks for you.  Good luck and get that tween of yours sleeping like a baby!!

What are some things you do to be sure your tween get adequate amount of sleep?

This past weekend we hit the Florida beach.  We had a fun group of family together.  One of the reasons that I love the beach so much is that it is a wonderland of entertainment.  Between crabs popping up out of their holes, waves crashing, seagulls and fish nibbling at your toes, there is NEVER a dull moment.

I carry a HUGE mesh bag full of sand toys to the beach.  I lug it through the sand for each trip.  I personally love sand toys and feel they are the perfect way to ‘create’ while at the beach.

During this particular beach trip, my tween, his Dad and Aunt created this amazing sand village.  They built roads, a fort, a church, a garden, little homes and even a shell garden.  It was pretty spectacular.  I wouldn’t have been surprised to see an architect’s drawing tucked away somewhere.  My tween was SO PROUD  of the things he created in their little village.  I felt like I could physically watch his imagination working.  He was having such a wonderful time.

Yet again, I am in awe of all the wonderful things the beach has to offer our children.  If it isn’t a sand castle village, it is catching fish in buckets.  The list of wonderful-ness could go on and on.

Don’t be afraid to bring your tween to the beach as much as possible…it is a great place to learn and play!!

What are some of the things you enjoy doing with your tween at the beach?