I’m so excited!  My daughter recently returned home with a flyer announcing this fantastic program being offered through her school!  It’s called, Girls on the Run!  Check out their website, philosophy, vision and plan!  It’s definitely an attitude of CAN that I want my own daughter to embrace.  The problem…my daughter hates to run!  I’m not surprised, my husband doesn’t prefer it either, I, however, love it!

Dilemma…my husband and I both think this is a fabulous opportunity for her.  Not only for skills, friendships, teamwork, but for self esteem. The program in not just about running.  It is goal oriented.  It is work oriented.  It is people oriented.  It is self awareness oriented and it is about a can do attitude. I often have found myself telling my kids that “can’t” isn’t in their vocabulary, that I think they can.  However, it is mind over body sometimes.  Just like the Little Engine that could.

From their website, they state this about their program:  “Girls on the Run® is a 501(c)3 positive youth development program which combines an interactive curriculum and running to inspire self-respect and healthy lifestyles in pre-teen girls. Our core curriculum addresses many aspects of girls’ development – their physical, emotional, mental and social well-being. Lessons provide girls with the tools to make positive decisions and to avoid risky adolescent behaviors.”
Vision

• To provide life-changing, high quality programs for girls
• To provide life-changing and high quality experiences to the women developing and delivering the programs
• To promote and provide an environment that allows girls and women to reach their full potential
• To positively transform how girls and women perceive themselves and their place in society

Editor’s note: Onslow is a proud community partner of Girls on the Run and recently sponsored one of the 5K events. For more information about GOTR, visit their website.

Is this program being offered at other local schools?  What do you think?  For it or against it?

Which way will we go??

From some previous posts (like this one) you may know that we are in limbo at the moment. My husband’s career could go a couple of different ways and this means we are not sure what our plans are for this summer. We could move to another state, stay put one more year or move overseas (new option I learned of this past week! ). With so much up in the air I sometimes wonder how much the boys really need to know at this point. Do they need to be in the loop or should we just fill them in when we have a firm decision?

It was so much easier when they were little. We moved and they could have cared less! By the time Jake was 4 he had already lived in three states and four houses. It made no difference to them where were were or how often we moved. As long as they had mom with them (and dad when he was stateside), things were OK and stable in their eyes. Now it is different. They are school age and no matter where we go, they will make a big transition to a new school next fall. I know how stressed out I am about all of this and I just feel like maybe keeping them in the dark another month or two won’t hurt.

The truth is, they don’t have a say in what happens so I suppose they might as well just be told the final course of action. I am not even sure they could wrap their heads around all of our options and choices at this point. My biggest concern is that I keep my cool and don’t become too stressed around them at this point. They know daddy has an interview this week and that is about it. I think I’ll keep it that way for now.

Did you ever keep things like this from your kids to lessen their stress?

What is the going rate for the tooth fairy?  What happened to the ole’ quarter and being happy and excited?!  Things have changed as children understand the concept of money, competition and freely discuss all of the above with fellow schoolmates.  My son recently lost his first tooth and the second is on the brink.  He made sure to let me know that the tooth fairy was supposed to come and leave at least a $1.  Hmmm… children with demands.

As I polled other parents I got a variety of answers to how they make traditions and compensate for this monumental occasion.  Let’s face it, we all remember how hard our kids worked to “cut” their first teeth.  We all know the pain of teeth.  We should be compensated, right?!  I realized my son was more “wowed” by the letter he received from the tooth fairy than the money left.  I chuckle because my daughter was 8 when she stated she’d rather keep her teeth than get mom’s, I mean the tooth fairy’s, pocket change.  She was definitely not “wowed” by the letter or the money.  I for one don’t want to start an outrageous tradition and have always written a letter saying the first tooth is a big deal as it marks the day as “growing” out of their baby days and into adulthood.  However, all subsequent teeth will not be compensated the same!:)

Where did this crazy custom begin?  In early Europe it was a tradition to bury baby teeth that fell out. The tradition is still very much alive and well in Ireland and Great Britain, where it is common for young children to believe in the Tooth Fairy. When a child’s sixth tooth falls out, it is customary for the tooth fairy to slip a gift or money under the child’s pillow, but to leave the tooth as a reward for the child growing strong.

Rosemary Wells, a former professor at the Northwestern University Dental School, found evidence that supports the origin of different tooth fairies in the United States around 1900. Folklorist Tad Tuleja suggests postwar affluence, a child-directed family culture, and media turned the myth into a custom.

What do you do to celebrate this custom?  What is your going rate and how was it influenced?  Just curious.

Jake is 8 and Sam is 6. When Jake was 5 he hated to clean up his toys. Sam will still sit and complain about his meal for 2 hours if he is in one of his “moods.”  No matter what age they are or how many stages they go through…it is always something. I really thought there would be some magical age where all of these little issues would go away…..it looks like I was wrong.

I am not sure what I expected. There was no age I had in mind..no time table. I just told myself  that at some point, they would be more mature and the antics would end. Clearly, I was delusional Of course, the problems and behaviors change as they get older. Jake cleans up now without complaining, but he has moved on to arguing with me for more XBox time. Sam’s food issues still come up,but not as often. Now he seems to like arguing more with Jake.

Round and round we seem to go…we lose one quirk and pick up another. I am slowly coming to the realization that no matter what age the boys are….I will have to continue to be their teacher and mom and help them work through these things. After all, would I really be a mom if I did not have to get on them to get their clothes IN the hamper (not next to it) or remind them for the 15th time that lights need to be turned off when they leave a room?

What about your Tweens? Do you find yourself dealing with one thing after another?

I recently had to go in for a sleep study.  Mainly to rule out some health issues.  Although I hesitated at the thought because, really, do moms ever feel completely rested?!  I thought motherhood is synonymous with fatigue.  I mean sleep has become highly overrated.  It’s not like it was what I remembered it.  During sleep studies they also ask questions about my children and what type of sleepers they are.  Honestly, none of us sleep well.  I have a family of snorers, sleep talkers and walkers.

I recently read an article that stated 60% of American children don’t get enough sleep.  Another study cited cellphones, Facebook, and video games were to blame.  Our elementary age children need 9-12 hours of sleep.  Experts say that sleep deprivation at any age can impair metabolism, immune functions, and motor skills, increase stress hormones, and cripple sugar metabolism.

So, maybe my lack of sleep accounts for my few extra pounds, poor health, high stress level and slow responses.  To think I attributed that to my age and motherhood.     I guess the answer is simple….my family all needs more sleep.  Sleep is important and I need to ensure we have good sleep habits, cause if “momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!”

Signs of sleep deprivation:

* Can’t fall asleep within 15-20 minutes of going to bed

* Has a hard time waking in the morning

* Has trouble remaining alert and active during the daytime

Establishing good sleep habits is imperative for the healthy development of children. The National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute offers the following tips for parents to help get their kids to bed:

• Set a regular time for bed each night and stick to it.
• Establish a relaxing bedtime routine, such as giving your child a warm bath or reading him or her a story.
• Avoid giving children a big meal close to bedtime, and no caffeine within six hours of sleep.
• Make after-dinner playtime relaxing; too much exercise close to bedtime can keep children awake.
• Keep the noise level down and the bedroom dark. If some light is necessary, use a small nightlight.

Do you get enough sleep your body needs?  How about your children?  Any tips to get higher rate sleep?