Your Daily Smile

We took our daughter to see this movie last Friday night.  It had been a little while since we went to a movie together due to the lack of movies that were family friendly.  This movie was really funny!  Although I have never read the book that it was based upon, I was very impressed with the storyline.  It makes me want to read the book now.

It told the story about a boy whose mom had total faith in him to be whatever it was that he wanted to be.  For him, he wanted to be an inventor that would invent things that would transform the world.  It also brings in the topics of greed and pride and what they can do to us if we allow them to overtake us.  Another topic that it covered was self-esteem and being happy with the person that you are.  Along with all the funny foods that rained down from the sky, it all came together for a great movie.  We all agreed that we had not seen that great of a kids’ movie since Bolt.  I highly recommend it to anyone with kids and anyone who doesn’t!  You will still enjoy it!  It is probably one of those movies that you could watch over and over and see something new each time.

For more information, you could go to www.cloudywithachanceofmeatballs.com

How many times have your kids said, “You promise?” or “You promised!”

We make promises sometimes that we don’t keep.  To a child, anything we say we “might” do becomes locked into their brains for further usage.

For example, this morning I told my daughter that we might ride bikes later.  In the end, after a trip to the store and cooking lunch and dinner, it didn’t happen.  The night before that we were out to eat with friends after seeing the movie “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” (another post about that to follow).  While we were eating my daughter and their daughter started in planning a spontaneous overnight that night.  They even wrote out a little contract in the Barbie notebook that my daughter got in a Happy Meal the day before.  On the contract, it had two places to “sign here”.  Both moms were supposed to sign to lock in the promise.  Due to other events happening the next morning, we postponed the sleepover to a better planned time and thus did NOT sign on the dotted line.

How many times do you tell your child you will do something with them and then got tired, busy or just didn’t want to do it?  These are the times that we need to invest our time in our children’s lives.  We need to uphold the things that we promise them or tell them.  We need to sit down and play with them.  The times go by so fast.  I know that I am guilty of not playing with her as much as I did when she was younger and required that of me.  Now I know she can play alone so I let her.  My challenge to you is the one I am giving myself.  Do more activities with your child.  Plan 2-3 sit down times to start and then add more.  Don’t be afraid of the spontaneous overnights, bike rides, or interruptions in dinner planning.  Take time and invest it in your children.

My daughter started first grade and thought she would get through another year without homework. I knew that she wouldn’t be so lucky. Although the homework doesn’t seem hard and only takes about 10 minutes or so, she started complaining and it created some stress in the house! Then I got my “Family Fun” Magazine which I love to read. I saw a great idea for the Homework Helper Station and went right out this afternoon after reading it and got the supplies. After school, I made it for her. She waited to do her homework until it was done and then did her homework with joy, yes WITH JOY! Then she said, “I want to do more! I want to do homework all night!

(Oh yeah….I’m the rockin’ mom today!!)
The homework station quickly folds and can be stored or left on a desk.  All of her tools are handy so we don’t have to stop to find a pencil, sharpener, scissors, glue, or eraser.  She even has a pocket for notes, spelling words or stickers.  I am also planning on using the pocket for surprise treats!  (She doesn’t know that yet!)