Meeting my Nemesis: Caillou

As a parent, we do things for our kids that we normally wouldn’t do for any other human being.

For me, that means taking my kids to meet Caillou.

If you know anything about me, you know I have a love/hate relationship with the little bald-headed poopy head. Truth be told, it’s mostly a hate relationship on my end. I’m sure if Caillou ever sat down for a coffee with me, he would love me.

Although I can’t stand the little whiney kid, my girls tend to love him. Watching him before bed is a ritual. So, when I heard there was going to be a free meet and greet at my local mall, I put aside my feelings and decided to take them. I’m still waiting for my Mother of the Year Award.

caillou meet2

The boy, the myth, the legend!

I expected there to be other kids, but I guess I underestimated Caillou’s popularity. There were tons of kids! The line wrapped around the lower level of the mall. When my kids saw the line they were a little discouraged. When I told them we didn’t necessarily have to wait for a personal meet and greet, they weren’t buying it. We were committed to this line and to the meet and greet. It didn’t matter how long we had to wait.

caillou meet1

OMG! It’s Caillou!

 

Of course, things would have gone a lot faster if Caillou didn’t need to take a nap after only thirty minutes at work. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised. He does always complain and whine over every paper cut. Standing to meet fans was perhaps a little tiring for him. On the inside I was telling him to just suck it up.

So we waited. And waited. During what felt like eternity, I realized my phone/camera only had 20% battery left. OMG! If my battery ran out before we got to the main event I’m sure my Mother of the Year Award would have been taken away. What an epic fail!

Thankfully, a few crying and traumatized kids who freaked when they actually got to the front of the line made the whole thing move along much faster.

As we inched closer, I could feel the excitement build. We were in the presence of toddler greatness. To say my kids were excited would be an understatement. Let me tell you, it was the equivalent of me meeting Adam Levine.

caillou meet3

Dreams do come true! LOL!

 

When Caillou’s handler (yes he had a handler) motioned for us to come on down, my girls ran right up and gave him a hug. It actually warmed my Caillou hating heart even though it took nearly an hour and a half for a ten second picture and a high five. A woman offered to take a picture of me with him too. No way. I need to draw the line somewhere.

So I left the mall with two girls Caillou crazed kids who couldn’t wait to tell everyone who they met. Deep (deep) down it made me feel good that I did something to make my kids happy, even if it did involve Caillou.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are Your Kids in Activity Overload?

Soccer practice. Dancing. Gymnastics. Piano. How many activities are your kids involved in? More importantly, how many different practices and games are you rushing off to each and every week? Just thinking about it probably makes your head spin.

Have you ever thought of “slow parenting”? Have you actually ever heard of “slow parenting”? I can tell you I hadn’t until I read a recent Boston Globe article. Basically slow parenting means not overscheduling your kids so they and you are not running around like you’re on fire. It means letting them (and you) have time to just hang out. It means spending time playing outside, going to the beach, and doing loads of other things that don’t require practices and recitals.

Crazy, I know.

But, in this case crazy is good. At least I think so.

I’ve heard so many parents lately complaining, or possible even bragging about, how many different activities they’re bouncing to and from seven days a week. Soccer, dancing, gymnastics, softball, piano…you name it and they’re kid is into it.

Or are they really?

Are we forcing our kids to get into everything?

I’m all for letting kids try things out to figure out where their true passions lie. But, I think as parents we need to draw the line for them and for our own sanity. We don’t need to spend our weekends running from activity to activity. It’s okay to have some down time.

My five-year-old daughter already comes home from school with fliers for all kinds of activities. Of course, she wants to do them all. But, I was the “mean” Mom who told her to pick two.

So, we settled on soccer and Girl Scouts. Soccer only has one practice and one game a week. So, that’s only a two-hour commitment. Girl Scouts is once a week which equals one hour. All in all, we’re only committed to activities three hours a week. That still leaves plenty of time for play and for Mommy to take a breath.

I know as my younger daughter gets older juggling both girls’ activities is going to be more challenging. But, I’m going to try to stick with the “two rule”. They can change their two activities each season if need be. But, I don’t think my wallet or my sanity can handle much more.

When it comes to activities it should be quality over quantity. There’s nothing wrong with letting your child try new things. But, once they find a couple of activities they truly enjoy, let them excel in those rather then have them dipping into five others.

 

 

 

 

 

Sponsored Post: Great Learning Tools for Kids from Kadho

Meet Mochu. He’s an animated penguin who takes his job very seriously.

Meet Mochu! Courtesy: Kadho, Inc.

Meet Mochu!
Courtesy: Kadho, Inc.

He wants to help your babies and toddlers develop and learn sounds. He’s all about great games and eBooks designed to entertain and engage your children and develop their brains.

Kadho has developed Mochu along with a new generation of resources aimed at taking all of those “goo-goo gaga” sounds to the next level. Scientists and early childhood educators have teamed up to create a line of products aimed at making the most out of sound and language. Research shows paying attention to and distinguishing between sounds plays a pivotal role in how children learn as they get older.

If you’re a little shy about using technology to help teach children, don’t be. It’s all around us and it’s not going anywhere. So why not use it to our advantage? In moderation, screen time can actually help a child, if monitored and used correctly.

Take the Mochu Pop game for example. This game lets kids have the fun of popping balloons while hearing sounds that make up languages like English, Spanish, and Italian…just to name a few.  While kids think they are just playing a game, they’re actually learning language skills that may otherwise be hard to teach. The game is geared for ages five and under. So, if you have more than one little person at home, you can experience different levels.

Although the game is top notch, I have to admit, my favorite is the eBook, “Mochu Says Goodnight.” I love it for kids for several reasons. Let’s start with the storyline. Poor little Mochu can’t fall asleep. I’m sure many parents and children can relate to that problem all too well! So, he goes on a little journey to say goodnight to all his friends as he tries to fall asleep.

Then comes the all-important words on the bottom of the screen. I find these helpful for toddlers learning words. They can see them as they are being read and match the sounds they are hearing at the same time. If that weren’t enough, they are hearing different words in different languages.

You can monitor the sounds your child can recognize through Kadho’s parental dashboard. This allows you to keep track of what sounds from what languages your child actually knows. This way you know what you need to work on. It’s a great tool to keep your child’s learning organized and moving in the right direction.

When it comes to teaching our kids, I think we need to be open to everything. Products like Mochu Pop and various eBooks are useful and unique tools that can only help your child succeed.

*This is a sponsored post.

 

Why I Don’t Want Any Gifts for Mother’s Day

We all know Mother’s Day is coming up faster than you can say flowers and jewelry. You just have to look in an ad or go in a store if you weren’t sure.

“Look it’s _____ ,the perfect gift for Mom this Mother’s Day.” You can fill in the blank with the Mother’s Day typical gifts…flowers, perfume, jewelry, gift card, etc. Choose whichever one you think is going to make the Hallmark holiday one Mom will never, ever forget.

Ugh. Spare me.

I think I’ll pass on the one-day Mom lovefest.

Although I’ve written posts before about what I really wanted for Mother’s Day (peace, quiet, spa day, etc.), I’ve changed my mind this year.

I don’t want any gifts for Mother’s Day.

Now before you strip me of my Mommy crown, hear me out.

Sure, I love to get gifts and get pampered just as much as the next momma. Do I deserve gifts? Sure, why not. But, why do we have to guilt our kids and significant others to buy us something special, take us out to eat, and let us put our feet up on just one day?

Are they doing it out of the kindness of their hearts or because they feel like it’s the “right” thing to do?

Hmmm…

Flowers for Mother's Day? No thanks! How about on Tuesday?

Flowers for Mother’s Day?
No thanks!
How about on Tuesday?

I would much rather like a bouquet of flowers just because it’s Tuesday, rather than because it’s Mother’s Day.

Why? First of all, I wouldn’t be expecting it if it was just Tuesday. I would know that there was an actual thought behind it. It wasn’t an automated response to a day on the calendar.

How about some jewelry? No thanks!

How about some jewelry?
No thanks!

If I have to wait until the second Sunday in May for my kids to be nice to me or my husband to give me a break and let me just chill out, then I must be doing something wrong the other 364 days of the year. My kids should be nice to me everyday, okay, at least every other day. The same goes for the hubs. He shouldn’t have to wait until Mother’s Day to realize I don’t yearn to clean up after everyone 24/7.

Now, I know there are women out there who really enjoy and look forward to getting showered with gifts, cards, and flowers on Mother’s Day. They look forward to not having to cook and clean for one entire day.

That’s great.

I don’t mean to poop on your lovely bouquet of roses and day of relaxation, really I don’t. But, just think about what happens the other days of the year.

We all know being a mother is more than just getting props for one day.

My 5-year-old daughter asked me the other day what I wanted for Mother’s Day. When I answered, “nothing”, she looked at me as if I just told her Caillou was dead (now that would be a REAL gift).

I went on to tell her that Mommy doesn’t need any gifts and that she and her sister were my gifts. I know it may sound cheesy, but it’s the truth Ruth.

As much as they drive me nuts and make me scream in octaves I thought only opera singers could reach, they are my little booger-nosed, “mommy wipe my butt”, “can I have another cookie?”, filled treasures.

Although I won’t be looking for gifts, I will take all the hugs and kisses I can get when my kids and husband wish me a Happy Mother’s Day.

So, what are you looking forward to this Mother’s Day?

 

 

 

 

How Much Time Do You Spend Playing With Your Kids?

“Mommy, can you play with me?”

I hear these words either more times than I can count in one day or not any at all.

It’s weird.

Some days my kids, or more so my younger daughter, want to play with me 24/7, other days, they don’t even know my name.

It’s weird.

They like playing together, but sometimes they want me too.

There are days when I feel like I’ve spent all my time playing. That means I’m ignoring the clothes that need to be put away, the toilets that need to be scrubbed or the dishes that are whispering my name from the sink. I’m surprised those dishes aren’t screaming at me by now since it feels like I’ve been ignoring them for so long.

There are days when I can spend hours playing “Go Fish”, “Crazy 8’s”, Barbies, or even school. It still amazes me that my daughter wants to play school after being in school nearly all day, but she does.

We play.

They’re happy.

I’m happy too but sometimes I’m secretly twitching on the inside, thinking of all the things I probably should be doing rather then pretending I’m in a student in my daughter’s Kindergarten class.

I know there will be days when my kids will probably not want anything to do with me. So, I should cherish these days when they actually want to spend time with me. Right?

Then why do I feel like there are days where I’ve done nothing at all? Having only a few “Go Fish” wins under my belt and one beautifully dressed Barbie seems like anything but a productive day. At times, it feels like I’ve even wasted my day. There is still a list of chores that need to be done, articles that need to be written, e-mails that need to be answered, etc.

When these feelings start creeping up, I try a little game with my girls. I play something of their choice for awhile, praying it’s not school! After a half hour or so, they have to let Mommy do what she needs to do. This little pattern continues until I feel somewhat accomplished for the day. It’s all about finding balance, right?

I stay home with my girls so that I can spend extra time with them and help them as much as I can, but I don’t want to lose myself in the process. While it may sound a little selfish to some, I think those of you who are in the same boat know what I’m talking about.

So, how much time do you spend playing with your kids? How do you find a balance?

 

 

 

 

 

Jem is Truly Outrageous for My Girls in 2015

If you’re now a mom who grew up in the 80’s, chances are you rocked out to at least one “Jem and The Holograms” episode in your life. Okay, admit it, probably dozens more!

Courtesy: www.hollywoodreporter.com

Courtesy: www.hollywoodreporter.com

In case you were living under a rock during the 80’s, Jem is the alter ego of Jerrica Benton. Jerrica has these super-cool star earrings and an out of this world computer named Synergy that help transform her to the pink-haired rocker Jem, lead singer of the totally rad Holograms. Jerrica’s little sister Kimber is part of the band along with friends Aja and Shana.

Of course the Holograms have an enemy…The Misfits. These girls look like a cross between KISS and Poison, but with a bad girl attitude. They’re no Debbie Gibson or Punky Brewster. Pizzaz is the lead singer of The Misfits and would love to pull a Karate Kid on Jem and her little Holograms. Her little crew get into it with Jem in every episode. It’s fan-flippin-tastic. And who could forget Rio! Rio is Jerrica’s boyfriend/Jem’s stage manager. I think every little girl had a crush on Rio growing up!

Jem & Rio! Courtesy:www.angelfire.com

Jem & Rio!
Courtesy:www.angelfire.com

So, why am I going on about an 80’s cartoon that has long been canceled? Because my girls are now rocking out to Jem too some 25 years later! One morning during their spring vacation last week I was flipping through the kiddie channels and stumbled upon Jem on the Discovery Family channel. Transported back to my electric youth, I made my girls watch it with me. They asked a lot of questions about this Jem person. Why is she two people? Why is Pizazz so mean? Why do they all have different colored hair? I could go on, but you get the point.

After about ten minutes, they were hooked, cheesy music and all! Another episode followed and they sat down and watched the entire thing, then asked for more when it was over! This was truly outrageous!

On Saturday morning they woke me up at 7:15 to ask for Jem or as my three-year-old calls her “Hem”. They were actually disappointed that it wasn’t on during the weekend! This was so “out of the blue”! I felt like this could happen “only in my dreams”. But, I really was reliving my “Electric Youth”. It was so refreshing and such a nice change from our usual “Lalaloopsy”, “Kate & Mim-Mim”, and ” Max & Ruby” cartoons.

This morning I even had to yell at them to leave “Hem” on the screen to eat breakfast before school. Bring back ALF and this 80’s obsessed mama would be one silver spoon away from taking out her old Kirk Cameron posters from BOP magazine! (Come on, I know I’m not the only one out there who had them!)

Needless to say, I’m ready to relive my 80’s childhood with my girls. I even hear a Jem movie is in the works! Now, if I can only find my Jem dolls! Hmmm….

 

 

 

 

 

Monday’s Mommas: The Mama from “My Kid Doesn’t Poop Rainbows”

This week’s Monday’s Momma comes to us from Thailand. She’s a funny lady who tells us a little about things getting lost in translation.

Lost in Translation

I had IVF treatment, was pregnant and am raising a baby with my wife in Bangkok, Thailand, which is approximately a million light years from my little Scottish hometown. Oh, and my geography isn’t great.

I thought I had adjusted well, having been here for 3 years before I started on this journey.  I was wholly unprepared for the new cultural differences which would present themselves.

  1. Telling someone they’re fat is not taboo.

‘ Wow, you got your hair cut,’ carries similar weight to ‘Wow, you got fat.’ I knew this but was still surprised that when I was six months pregnant, complete strangers would stop me to point out how fat I was.

you're fat

          2.       Some Thai people assume foreigners are crazy.

My cleaner saw that we (when I was seven months pregnant, and she saw me every week) had installed a crib and decorated a nursery. Her response:

the dogs crib

       3.       Pregnant people are seen as very delicate.

I had to work really hard to convince my wife I wasn’t going to lose the baby if I lifted something or kneeled. Then I realized that I could have a nine month excuse not to clean the house, so I stopped trying.

pregnant docs appt

 

      4.       People have different ideas about health and safety.

This is not limited to Thai’s. Plenty of Westerners think it’s a great idea to have their first go on a moped in Thailand. Wearing shorts and t-shirts. With their kids. With no helmets.

family motorbike

 

5.   They have their own set of weird stuff they do to kids.

No cheek pinching or hair ruffling in Thailand, which are also pretty odd, if you think about it.

hom feet

 

6. School photo days could put ‘Toddlers in Tiaras’ to shame.

Who wouldn’t want to remember their 4 year old child wearing more make-up than a $10 stripper?

school photo

I think the biggest thing which I wasn’t prepared for is how bizarre some of our own cultural ideas and practices are, when seen through someone else’s eyes. Christening gowns (‘Boys wear this? Boys?’), the Easter Bunny (‘It’s a giant rabbit that lays chocolate eggs?’) and the tooth fairy (‘A creature sneaks into a child’s bedroom and buys their old teeth?’) have all, rightly raised an eyebrow here and there.

What are some odd cultural differences you have come across?

About the Author

high res head shot

The Mama from “My Kid Doesn’t Poop Rainbows” survives, sweatily, in Bangkok Thailand with the Mummy, the Baby and the Dog. The Mama is a part time amateur blogger, a part time teacher and a full time toilet humor enthusiast. She started writing “My Kid Doesn’t Poop Rainbows” as a way to share the funny which happens to her family on a regular basis and give other exhausted parents a laugh or two. She trained for a year as an illustrator in kindergarten and decided to put these hard earned skills to use with this blog. She loves connecting with people from all walks of life- be sure to stop by www.pooprainbows.com and say hi! You can also connect with the Mama on Twitter and Facebook: Poop Rain

 

 

Getting Kids to Eat Healthy

We all know how hard it can be to get your kids to eat healthy. No matter how you try to sell it, sometimes they would rather go to bed early than eat their fruits and veggies. As a mom, this can become extremely frustrating. We all want our kids to eat right, but at times it seems impossible.

So what’s a mama to do?

Well, here are a few ways to get your kids on the right eating track:

1. Eat by Example

If junior doesn’t see you eat any fruits or vegetables, chances are he isn’t going to want to eat any either. When it’s snack time, encourage a fruit or veggie by sitting down and eating one with your little one. This will not only help them, but also help you eat healthier too!

2. Make it Look Good

If it doesn’t look good enough to eat, chances are your kids are not going to eat it. Sometimes making a smiley face out of apples and blueberries may make a fruit plate look more appetizing rather than just throwing it on the dish. Another idea is to find healthy foods in great packaging.

Chobani Tots

Chobani Tots

 

Chobani Greek Yogurt, which I love for smoothies, is also available for kids. Chobani Tots & Chobani Kids is one of those products that looks fun for kids. Many of the Chobani products for kids have fun characters and are good for on the go. This makes it a win-win for both moms and kids!

 

chobani1

Chobani Kids

3. Sticker Charts

When my daughter wasn’t eating enough fruits and veggies, her pediatrician suggested keeping track of exactly what she was eating everyday. Each time she ate a fruit or veggie, she got a sticker on her chart. My daughter loved seeing how many stickers should could rack up by the end of the week. Once and awhile I would reward her with something small like a coloring book. Sometimes a little incentive goes a long way!

4. Take Unhealthy Snacks Out

If your child opens a cabinet and only sees cookies and chips, you can pretty much expect that’s what they’re going to want to eat. Why not stock the fridge and pantry with healthier options? This way they have plenty of good food to choose from instead of just junk.

Besides these tips, get creative and see what works for you and your family. If you get them on a healthy eating track now, you’re setting the pace for a lifestyle full of good food and habits.

How do you get your kids to eat healthy?

Spring into Savings

Decorating On A Dime

Tired of the same old boring or outdated home décor but living on a dime? Not everyone has the type of cash needed to replace countertops, redo flooring, and buy new furniture, so here are a few cheap and easy home makeover tips for busy moms who can’t afford a full home makeover. Of course, my first tip is to always, and I mean always, search for coupons, deals and promotions online. If you’re new to couponing, I suggest that you go to www.discountrue.com and you’ll get every coupon you’ll need in one place. Every penny counts so saving just a little bit now may mean you can spend a lot later!

Start with the walls

Your walls are the most prominent feature of your home so start with them. Adding a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for any room and you can work out how much you’ll need by visiting DIY sites that offer pretty accurate calculators. It’s best to choose neutral colors when painting a whole room but if you like bold colors then painting just one wall is a good idea. You could also paint the top half of the wall in one color and the bottom in another with some sort of border between the two halves.

If painting is something you avoid at all costs then consider a feature wall. Your family pictures have more impact when they’re grouped together and it doesn’t matter if the frames are all different. Create box frames using old crates or egg boxes and add a 3D element to your photos by pinning small items that tell a story inside the frame. You could paper the wall instead or even create a mural with self adhesive stickers which are durable, easy to replace and don’t leave any residue.

Unique artwork is an answer

Unique and unusual artwork is easy to come by and can instantly liven up a room. Get a few arts and crafts ideas and get your kids to create some quirky pieces for you or else head out to flea markets, thrift stores and garage sales to find something you like. It doesn’t matter what the art looks like, grab a few pots of acrylic paint, throw a few splashes of color at a piece of paper and voila you have a painting that looks just like the ones hanging in art galleries!!!

If you have any then use the off cuts from old wallpaper to line drawers, shelves and even the inside of cupboard doors to give them an arty feel. Use a corkboard or fabric covered pin board above a desk to display anything that catches your eye such as pretty greeting cards, interesting postcards, cutouts from magazines, fabric swatches, a motivational print, and your children’s drawings. It doesn’t matter what goes up there and the best part is that it changes as you do.

Jazz up items you already own

Use leftover paint to give the legs of a banged up wooden chair a stylish look then use it as a side table in the sitting room, bedroom, dining room or kitchen. Create a display with layers of different colored sand, pebbles, a small ornament, and silk flowers inside an old jar of instant coffee (or any kind of glass jar) and place it on windowsills for a whimsical decoration. Arrange mismatched tableware on a mirror that you’ve turned into a tray to organize the toiletries that always litter your vanity.

Sometimes all you need to do is rearrange the furniture a little. Place the sofa at an angle or move it into a different corner and the whole focus of the room shifts. If you’re getting tired of a piece of furniture in a certain room, think about a way to repurpose it or else move it to another room where it might work. Create a new headboard by folding a beautiful quilt or knitted blanket over the bed frame or else make your own with plywood, some fluffy batting and an attractive fabric.

As you can see a few of these ideas won’t cost you a cent, never mind a dime and they say that a change is as good as a holiday so what are you waiting for? For all things with a price tag, get a coupon from Discountrue and you’ll save lots. Give in to the spring fever and give your home a makeover that won’t break the bank.

*This is a sponsored post.

 

Monday’s Mommas: Marina Vesela from Parental Journey

When it comes to deciding what to cook for the family, I’d rather poke my eyes out with a spork at times. That’s why it’s great to plan ahead.

This week’s Monday’s Momma, Marina Vesela from Parental Journey shares five great tips. Check them out!

5 Great Tips for Easiest Menu Planning

When you have kids, you have to be all about planning or you won’t make it. Without strict plan you will not be able to focus on anything. Having a plan helps me to remember all I have to do and to do more in my short day.

One thing that I find really useful is weekly menu planning, so I wanted to share my tips with you.

1. Every Monday, Thursday, Sunday or any other day that works for you sit down, take a piece of paper and a pencil and write down lunch ideas for every single day.

2. Try to include one new meal every week. You can find ideas for new meals on numerous food blogs that you can find on internet. It’s easier to do that if you decide that one day a week will be your “New Meal Day”. When I read food blogs, I bookmark all the recipes I like, so when it’s my New Meal Day, I just browse through my bookmarks and find something I like. If the meal is successful then I put it into my cookbook.

3. When you finish your menu plan, put it on your fridge, so you can’t forget about it. And then, when you go shopping for groceries, buy only what you need for that week planned meals. I guarantee you that you will spend less money and the less food will be wasted!

4. At the end of the week, when you have to write new menu plan, look into your fridge and see what groceries can you use for next week meals.

5. If you want to save more money, then look online what kind of sale does your supermarket has this week, so plan your meals in the way that you include things on sale. My favorite supermarket has sale on chicken, so I will definitely have chicken two times this week!

That’s it! Simple as that! And don’t say: “I will do it next week!”… Do it now!! Now is a perfect moment to start a new habit!

*This post originally appeared on The Parental Journey.

About this week’s Monday’s Momma:

Marina1

Marina Vesela is from Croatia, born and raised, but planning to move soon, probably to UK, her favorite country in Europe. She has been blogging for 10+ years. Parental Journey is her new project where she wants to share interesting activities she does with her 2 year old girl. So, just another mommy blog 🙂 She is a work-at-home mom, ideation researcher, freelance writer and a journalist. Jack of all trades! Journalism was always her biggest love, but at the moment she is working in the marketing field. She loves new experiences and is always looking to try and do something new and exciting.