O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity, Oh Star of the Sea, help me and show me herin you are my mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth. I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me this necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. (say three times.)

Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands.  (say three times.)

Well it’s been some time… back to school has been really busy.

For all of us in the house… Beanie, Roo, me and Daddy too.

Now that I’m teaching we’re on a completely different schedule. I am out of the house two nights a week and so it’s up to Daddy to get the girls, feed them, play princess with them, clean them, tuck them in and then I think he basically collapses.

No he doesn’t… he does the laundry. I hate the laundry. I really do. I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I’d rather clean the toilet than do laundry!

I’m no quite sure what it is abou laundry, but it’s just not my thing.

I do love my hubby though … he keeps clean clothes on our bottoms.

Today I salute you my love… thank you for all you do for us!

So today Beanie has embarked on a new adventure – School.

All set in her little uniform. Hair in a pony tail, bangs clipped to the side. White and pink sneakers – not a scuff to be seen. Tinker Bell lunch bag filled with all her favorites – peanut butter sandwhich, carrots, chocolate pudding, juice and a special napkin note tucked inside – just to let her know I was thinking about her and how much I loved her.

It was two day’s before she was due. My husband and I were in her perfect purple room, looking around one last time to be sure everything was just right for her arrival. Just before we left, I stopped and stared at this empty crib. I let all the emotions of anticipation fill within me. If I close my eyes, I am right back at that moment.  

I looked at my husband and said: “She’s going to be here soon. She’s going to be sleeping right here!”

Now, like a big girl, she’s at school. I’m crying because my first born is off being a big girl. She’s growing. She’s learning. She’s starting her life. I can no longer be there every minute for her. I can’t put the bandaide on her when she falls. I won’t be there when she finds something funny. I am not able to share in her daily experiences.

My tears are filled with a certain sense of sadness. I am sad for myself. For the years that have passed.

Beanie is not sad though. She is more excited than anyone could ever imagine. She could not wait to go through those doors, down that shiny hall and be a part of her class.

For all the mothers out there this week sending off their little “Beanies” here is a poem from Khalil Gibran. Read it. Let the words wash over you. For you, as a mother, are the bow and your child is truly the arrow.

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said,
“Speak to us of Children.”
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
                                                                            Khalil Gibran

What is it with swearing and parents and kids?

This is me... I know gross... but true

I admit, I’m a potty mouth.

I could probably rival any trucker out there on a good day.

Recently my husband started putting me on speaker phone. Do you even know how annoying that is? I’m swearing away as happy as a clam and then he interrupts and says “Um… you’re on speaker.”

GRRRRRR

I’m going to put forth a huge effort to stop, but a friend of mine – also a PM – said it’s ok to swear, even in front of the kids as long as you put something kid friendly at the end.

Here are some glorious examples…

Mother F@%#!r Ice cream

Sh*t M &M’s

Dammit cup cakes

A$$ Hole Fluffy Fairy

The thought here is that the kids will only remember the ending so it’s OK to swear.

Hmmm… I’m still thinking about this one…

Anyhow, to my lovely spekerphone husband… we’re driving along one day and some guy pulls out in front of him and he says “F’in Jack Wad”…

Then Beanie questions “Daddy why is that man an F’in Jack Wad?”

Yes Daddy, why is that man an “F’in Jack Wad?”

That’ll teach him to continue to put me on speaker!

Beanie turned 4 today… my little Beanie, growing up and getting bigger every day…. sigh..

Where has 4 years gone? I can remember her first day in the world. The love I felt. The honor it was to be called Mommy… the months rolled on…the first time I ever heard her say “Momma”, my little Beanie Boo… her birth was the day my heart started walking around outside of my body…

One of my favorite memories is when she was learning her sounds… what does the cow say – Moo… what does the dog say – Woof… what the does the little Piggy say…”Wee wee wee all the way home!“… so original… stilll to this day so original…

She started her day off with me and Daddy singing Happy Birthday… then Little Roo running in the kitchen saying “appy birday”… then a complete game of Princess with Nonni Roo.

Tonight she will dine on the most fabulous Princess Cake life has to offer, from the Red Plate of course and finish with loads of presents that will most likely cause cardiac arrest -

Easy Bake Oven
The REAL Cinderella dress
Princess backpack & lunch box for school
Tinkerbell books and PJ’s
New ballet leotard

For my Beanie… I dedicate this post…

Happy Birthday… Mommy LOVES you LOTS & LOTS & LOTS…

So Beanie is really into chewing gum… I know, I know… not the best thing for her, but it’s sugarless… anyhow that makes Little Roo want it too.

Surprisingly she chews it – for a long time too.

Well I was in the computer roomand Beanie comes running in…

“Mommy, Mommy- Roo threw her gum in the toilet”

In toe – Little Roo, hand dripping wet, chomping away…

“I got it!”

‘Nuf said…

Well school is just around the corner and we can’t stop eating healthy. All that hard work over the summer shouldn’t go to the way-side. Getting kids to eat right and make good decisions isn’t something that stops when the school bell rings.

Here are some things parents can do to stay in the groove and continue on that healthy path…

Pack Healthy Lunches!
Lunch is important because half way through the day energy levels start to slow down which can alter a child’s attention span and concentration.

A signature lunch we created is the “BCG Burrito”. Kids love making their own foods, so a burrito that they can make themselves  at schools is fun and healthy. Simply pack a whole wheat tortilla, some low-fat shredded cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup shredded lettuce, 1/2 cup low-fat ground meat with Taco seasoning, 1 tbs. of sour cream and 2 tbs. of salsa. Pair this with an apple and low-fat milk an you’ve got a complete meal that is healthy and yummie to boot. Your kids will gobble this right up!

Change NO to YES!
One of the biggest challenge’s parents face is getting their child to yes. Once children begin to talk they have the power to say “NO” – and really loud! Parents should use this to their advantage.

Create a snack box with your kids. Kids are hungry when they get out of school. Instead of getting home and eating anything in sight create a snack box with your child. Make it fun for them – break out the glitter, stickers, ribbons and more. Once the box is completed fill it with healthy snack options. You can even go to the grocery store together to pick some food out. They key here is that the child has the power to choose. They will automatically say “YES” when they feel they are making the decision.

Mooove!
Yup, that’s right… move and groove. After dinner instead of turning the TV on, put your sneakers on and go outside. Get outside and walk or run or play a game of touch football with the whole family. If your children are too young bring out the jump ropes, balls or other kinds of sports equipment you have and play together. Lead by example and your children will follow. You are your child’s first hero.

The school year is a great time to get your kids involved in a school organized sport. This will not only  get them physically active, but socially as well.The benefits and rewards associated with setting goals and following through on a sports team are innumerable for a child. Plus, exercise is known to aid insomnia, depression, and low self-esteem issues. Regular physical activity helps the body manage stress.

The younger children become active the more likely they are to carry that passion into the adult years.

The family is the primary unit that ensures the health and well being of a child. By being a postive role model through what you eat and do physically, providing a variety of fruits and veggies for your kids to munch on, choosing “whole grain” pastas, bread and cereal, offering smaller portion sizes and teaching your child to listen to their inner hunger ques will get your entire family off to a great start this school year.

But who’s keeping tab?

Has anyone read the new article from Science Daily ? Well it states, “Providing fruits for snacks and serving vegetables at dinner can shape a preschooler’s eating patterns for his or her lifetime.”

See that last word – LIFETIME!

To combat the increasing problem of childhood obesity, researchers are studying how to get preschoolers to eat more fruits and vegetables. According to researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, one way is early home interventions — teaching parents how to create an environment where children reach for a banana instead of potato chips.”

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – it’s the parents who control what their children eat, how much TV they watch, how often they get outside to get a little fresh air and run around. It’s up to us to give them the right start in life. We’re missing the boat people!

The article goes on to say: “We know that parents have tremendous influence over how many fruits and vegetables their children eat,’ says Debra Haire-Joshu, Ph.D., a professor at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work. ‘When parents eat more fruits and vegetables, so do their children. When parents eat and give their children high fat snacks or soft drinks, children learn these eating patterns instead.’”

We are our children’s voice. We are our children’s future. If your child was falling behind in math class would you not go and talk with the teacher? Would you not find some way to help him? Tutor? Extra help? Summer classes?

What about vaccinations – we vaccinate our children so they don’t get a plethora of diseases, yet we fill their tummies with soda, candy and junk!

The article points out that “Past research has shown that diets high in fruits and vegetables are associated with a lower risk of obesity. Previous studies also have established that children learn to like and eat vegetables at a young age — before they turn five years old.”

Again another great point – “BEFORE THEY TURN FIVE YEARS OLD.”  

Why is it so hard for parents to eat right and set a good example for their children? It’s so simple, but we just don’t get it, do we?

5 – 2 - 1 - 0

Look Greek to you?

Well, it shouldn’t.

Here’s what it means…

This formula represents some of the most important steps parents can take to prevent childhood obesity:

5  Fruits and vegetables…more matters!  Eat at the very least 5 servings a day. To truly get all the nutrition kids need you should follow servings according to age and gender. However, if you are just starting out this is a good rule of thumb.  Limit 100% fruit juice as they can be high in sugar.
2  Cut screen time to 2 hours or less a day.
1  Participate in at least one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.
0  Restrict soda and sugar-sweetened sports and fruit drinks.  Instead, drink water and 3-4 servings/day of fat-free/skim or 1% milk.

There, now you know.

Now you’re empowered to change!

So we just received our second award for the SnackerTracker! In January we were the recipients of the iParenting Media Award for Best Product.

Happy to say kids and parents are just loving the product. I can’t tell you how much that means to all of us.

Creative Child Magazine awarded us the 2008 Preferred Choice Award!

Creative Child Magazine is a national publication that focuses on providing parents with the latest information on how to nurture creativity in their children. Each year, 1,000 sample products are submitted to the magazine’s testing department and a panel of judges, which include parents, child psychologists and child educators, monitor a pre-selected group of children whose ages correspond to the various products that were submitted. The panel then rates each product based on four major factors: educational value, creative nurturing, creative play and overall value with respect to retail price.

I have to say starting your own business is very hard so when you receive awards like this you know you are making a difference.

Just a little thank you to my loving family who continually supports me in this crazy endeavor!

Love to all of you!