We have never allowed them to play excessively. We have a timer that is set and they cannot go over 60 minutes per day. Sounds easy enough…..right? Not so fast!

The boys have to earn their time on the clock. They do things like go to bed on time (no whining), get ready in the morning (without being told 10 times to do s0) and they help with little chores. All of this earns them “daddy dollars” that they can spend on game minutes. One dollar earns them 10 minutes. This works well on the front end of game time….to get them started. It is when itis time to turn off the console that the real problem begins.

I hear “I need to finish this battle” or “Can I ride it just one more time?” It never fails. Not once has the timer beeped and immediately been followed with the controller down and game off. What has also never failed is that I do not allow the extra time so someone please tell me why they keep trying anyway??

I suppose it will always be like this….time is earned, timer beeps, groveling begins and I reply again “no, turn it off.”

Anyone else have little gamers to contend with? What is your strategy to limit time?

On a side note…anyone looking to create your own daddy dollars for an incentive here is the link.

Kids usually start losing their teeth when they are 5 or 6 years old.  They live in that awkward snaggle-tooth stage until they are about 12 or 13 years old.  By then, all of their permanent teeth have most likely erupted (except their wisdom teeth.)  Then they really enter the awkward stage and get those pretty silver braces stuck happily to their teeth. 

It is a big job taking care of our children’s teeth.  By the time they are 2 years old we should be scheduling their first appointment with the dentist.  There are two reasons for this, first is to be on top of their dental care and second is so they feel comfortable with the dentist.

Lincoln has started losing his teeth in the last couple years.  I have found myself  in such awe  watching his teeth fall out.  It is such an interesting process.  The tooth starts to wiggle a little, then it wiggles alot….then it is either pulled out or falls out somewhere crazy!!

As  parent’s, it is important that we take an active role in teaching our children the importance of their oral health care.  Here are a few tips and tricks to get them started making good habits to take care of their teeth.

- Have them brush their teeth morning and night.  If they are home for lunch, have them brush their teeth after lunch too.

-Kid’s should be brushing their teeth for two minutes.  Put a timer in the bathroom so they can set the timer while brushing.

-Have them floss their teeth once a day……they have so many cool kids floss products…take some time to check them out.

-Remind them to use round strokes while brushing and not to scrub their teeth too hard.

-Visit the dentist every six months for a cleaning and check-up.  Try to stick with the same dentist so they have a happy and healthy relationship with their dentist.

What has worked for you in terms of getting your kids to take good care of their teeth? Please share in the box below.

 Everyone made it through school this week, yet another miracle and I’m finally starting to feel human again now that there’s actually some daylight and sunshine!!  The girls were pretty upset after they got to talk to daddy, but I’m just glad that they received the opportunity hear his voice and know that he loves and cares about them.  They’ve been pretty good about it all; sometimes the subject of daddy being gone comes up at night as they’re getting tucked in.  They tell me they miss him and we talk about it.  I don’t want them to feel as though it’s not okay to be sad or miss him.  It’s perfectly fine; however, sometimes I think they use it as a crutch.  It’s kind of difficult to strike that balance. 

Uneventful is the best way to describe this week; I say that with a sigh of relief because there’s no telling what the next few days hold!

There are certainly a lot of options. And some parenting experts feel it’s best to expose your child to an array of activities so they can find what they like.  After the recent Winter Olympics, I personally aways find it intriguing that many of the athletes found sports that they loved so early in life.

Now while every child may not grow up to be the next Apollo Anton Ohno, Lindsay Vonn or even Picasso, studies show that engaging your child’s right side of the brain (the creative side,) can definitely lead to enhanced mental functionality overall.

Take a look at the video eHow has produced offering a variety of ways to stimulate creativity. While playtime is a focus in a child’s early years, it’s important to keep providing activities for creativity throughout their formative years and well into their adolescence.

What types of games and activities do you plan for your own kids? Please share in the comments below.

If Sam could say up until midnight, he would. If his school day could start around 3PM that would be just perfect. Sadly, that is not the world we live in so he (and I) are left to deal with some very rough mornings and even bumpier nights.  He does not want breakfast because it is too early. When I do get him to eat,  it is two bites. I can get a big glass of milk in him so I tell myself he is ready for his day.  :)He manages to get through school, but once we are home, in the late afternoon, is when he really wakes up.

I am a morning person like my oldest Jake. I want to get up, get moving and get some things done. Sam takes after my husband. The difference is, at 5, Sam is still a growing boy and he can’t afford a bedtime of 11PM. Getting him to understand that is the hard part. Both boys go to bed at 7:30. Jake is in dreamland by 7:35, but we often hear Sam chatting away to himself until 8:30 or 9.

I can’t force him to fall asleep, but I do know my job as a mom is to get him into that bed and tell him why his sleep is so important. I know I cannot let him come out and watch TV or push us to let him stay up “just a little more.” I know he and I will butt heads on this one as long as he lives under our roof. I will be pushing him to get ready in the AM so we aren’t late and he will be whining and saying how much he hates it. I also know I am doing the right thing and this is all just payback for my great sleeper Jake

Does anyone else have bedtime or morning issues? What do you do to combat them and ease the stress they cause?

Says Sarah:

I could use some advice on when and how to give my 10 and a half year old stepdaughter “the talk.”

Sarah isn’t alone. I could definitely use some advice on when and how to talk to Mini about birds, bees, etc.

I grew up with two brothers. My parents never really gave me “the talk.” So, to say that the whole idea of Mini getting closer to being a female teenager than a little girl tweenager scares me, is quite the understatement.

Mini has read a book called “It’s a Girl Thing” and my understanding (she wouldn’t really talk about it with me) is that it’s about the changes that a girl’s body goes through as she matures. Exactly how detailed the book is, I’m not sure.

What I am sure of is that I’m glad AM is here to help. I’m going to rely on AM to help me through explaining anything to Mini that she needs, especially regarding her body.

I think I can handle the emotional changes. Girls will like boys and vice versa. The important thing is that there’s no physical contact and if someone tries to touch her inappropriately, that Mini know what to do.

If only I could build a dungeon…

How did you parents handle “the talk”? How have you handled it? Leave your questions, suggestions and ideas in the comments. Please. I could use all the help I can get!

My daughter is a bit more dependent on me.  She really just needs her Mom sometimes.  I can take her out, or spend some time at home with her and it makes everything better.

Here are a few ideas of things to do with your children to have some special time just the two of you.

-Make something in the kitchen together.  Have them help you make lunch or make cookies and sit down and enjoy them together and listen to the things going on in their life.

-Keep things cheap, go to Wendy’s and get a frosty or Sonic for an ice cream cone.  You spend $2 and they are in heaven.

-Read together.  Start a good book, a classic or a good heart warming story.  Snuggle up on the couch and read the afternoon away.

-Make a craft together, build a house out of sticks or make necklaces.

-Go on a walk or a bike ride or toss the football around.

One problem parents face is finding time for these moments.  Another concern is child care for other siblings.  With a deployed or absent spouse, it is almost impossible.  Call on your friends and don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Most people are more then willing to help out.  There are also endless child care opportunities on the base.

Our children need us.  Not only do they need us to feed them, clothe them and provide for their temporal needs, they need our time.  They need to feel safe and loved and needed.  Time goes by so fast and before we know it they will be all grown up.  Take the time, schedule it in your planner and make the time for these sweet kids of ours.

What are some of the things you do to spend quality time with your children?

Are you being bullied?

Is someone picking on you?

Is someone being mean?

Is it not fun? 

The answer would be D, none of the above.  I was surprised to hear Vannah tell me that school was boring.  Considering the fact that there’s a lot of weight placed on education in the house, I was very upset. 

So, I’m not going to let it get the best of me, or of Vannah.  Here’s my plan of action:

1.  I’m going to contact their teacher:  I don’t think she has anything to do with it; as a matter of fact, I absolutely adore her and the assistants in the school.  They all really go above and beyond and perhaps someone will have some ideas so we can get to the root of the problem.

2.  No more watching cartoons or playing while you’re sick.  Sick people stay in bed.  It’s important to get rest when you don’t feel well.

3.  We’ll still work on our sight words and other misc. school work while we’re at home.  It’s magical that you feel well enough to ask me to play Wii, yet don’t feel good enough to hit the books. 

4.  If necessary, I’ll seek professional assistance.  I know that kids react in different ways when a parent deploys, but nonetheless, I want school to be both positive and fun for the girls.  They’re going to be doing this for awhile, so they may as well like it!!

Do your kids try to get out of school?  If so, how and why?  What do you do about it? Please share with me!!

Sam and the wonderful Pre-K teacher both boys had!

When I was a classroom teacher, I knew how important I was. I knew that parents trusted me with their most precious possessions. I knew that for some kids….I was the only adult in their life who cared. I was aware of this each and everyday those buses pulled up and dropped off my students. Now that I am a mom with kids in school, I am seeing things from a whole new perspective.

Have your kids had some wonderful teachers? What made them special? How did you say thank you?

This is the same program that she tried out for the “stowaway” part several months ago. She didn’t get the part, but wasn’t deterred and kept trying for other positions and got a really cool part. Mini could have easily been upset that she didn’t get the part she wanted and then decided only to participate in the most minimal of ways. But she didn’t. She was determined to make the best of it. And she did.

I made a few observations during the show.

• Many of the kids on stage didn’t want to be. It was obvious by their stance and attitude during the program.
• Some of the parents didn’t want to be there. It was obvious by their stance and attitude during the program. They talked and were generally rude.
• The set design was horrible. The pirate ship was on the floor. If you sat in a chair, you couldn’t see it (or the children in it) at all.
• The sound was terrible. Music was provided by a small set of computer speakers. The microphones weren’t balanced well, some were really loud, others really faint.

It was a wonderful performance by nearly all the children. There was humor, music and dancing…and education! I never knew Mini had the authority to make someone a pirate!

What kind of musical programs have your tweens been involved in? How did the show go? Share you ideas, suggestions and questions in the comments.