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Jump Over to Launch Trampoline Park

Jump Over to Launch Trampoline Park

As a mother, we are always looking for cool new places to take our kids. While parks and beaches are great, we all know sometimes kids need a little variety. They need a place to get out all of that energy. They need a place where they can jump around and not get yelled at. How about a place where they can throw balls at one another and not even get yelled at for that?

I have just the place for you.

Launch Trampoline Park.

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Courtesy: launchmilford.com

 

My girls and I recently took a trip to the new Launch location in Milford, CT. I first found out about it through some promotions going on at my local movie theater. It was one of those places I put on my “I’ll surprise the kids if they’re good some day” list. Well, they were good one day, so they got surprised.

When we got there and my kids saw all there was to do, they didn’t know where to turn first. Once I signed the waivers and bought their special Launch socks, we were ready to jump. We started off at the large trampoline area. They jumped from square to square. Honestly, I think they stayed there for at least a half-hour. Then it was off to shoot some hoops. Jumping to try to get a basket was a lot of fun too. But, I think the part they enjoyed the most was the dodge ball area. One of the benefits of going on a low-traffic day is that there aren’t a lot of kids to compete with for space. So, if you want to get the most out of your visit, I would recommend going this route. My kids played a friendly game of dodge ball with a couple of other kids and had so much fun! In fact, I wish I could have joined in! (Maybe next time)

Courtesy: launchmilford.com

Courtesy: launchmilford.com

Besides just having fun all around, the Launch Trampoline Park is a great place for kids to get some exercise. According to a NASA study, scientists show that rebounding on a trampoline is 68% more effective than jogging. As a nation that is constantly battling childhood obesity, any time a child can get out and exercise is good. If they can have fun at the same time, then it’s a bonus!

Besides all the trampoline fun, the Launch Trampoline Park also has a game area and food court. So, you can really make it an afternoon of family fun! You can even schedule your child’s birthday party. Joey the kangaroo would love to meet you!

Courtesy: launchmilford.com

Courtesy: launchmilford.com

 

 

So, what are you waiting for? There are plenty of reasons to jump over to Launch Trampoline Park in Milford, CT.  The folks at Launch in Milford are so excited for you to come and visit that they are giving away Four FREE one-hour jump passes to one lucky reader of this blog post. The contest runs from midnight September 19, 2016 through midnight October 3, 2016. That’s when one lucky winner will be chosen at random. Be sure to enter the giveaway & visit the Launch Trampoline Park in Milford for some great family fun!

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*This post is sponsored by Launch Trampoline Park. All opinions are my own.

 

AutoRight Steam Machine Giveaway

Welcome to the AutoRight SteamMachine Giveaway

Sponsored by HomeRight

Hosted by Life With Kathy

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This giveaway is for an AutoRight SteamMachine. It can clean up your vehicle’s interior with the power of steam. The AutoRight Steam Cleaner is a chemical free way using water to steam clean dirt, grime and grease from vehicle upholstery, leather, carpets, wheels, windows and dashboards. The quick change accessories include; crevice tool, jet nozzle, large and small nylon brushes (black bristles), large and small soft nylon brushes (grey bristles), large and small brass brushes, squeegee with base and a poly/cotton bonnet. The AutoRight Steam Cleaner uses pressurized, high temperature steam to loosen and dissolve dirt, grease and grime. The SteamMachine leaves behind no chemical residue and disinfects 99% of all germs and bacteria. This steamer is compact and portable and the wheels allow the steamer to follow you as you clean.

You can enter below for your chance to win one. The Mommy Rundown is helping to spread the word. It’s open to the U.S. only. You must be 18+ to enter. This giveaway will run from 9/12-9/26. Good luck to everyone.

Disclosure: Life With Kathy and all other participating bloggers are not responsible for prize shipment. The giveaway is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or any other social media. The winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is drawn. I received this product in exchange for a review. The opinions are all 100% my own and may differ from yours.

A New Frontier For Mom

As a mother you’re always looking and waiting for your child’s next milestone. Learning to talk, learning to crawl, learning to walk…they’re among the biggies. As children get bigger, so do the milestones. Things like getting a driver’s license, graduating from high school, graduating from college…they all signify major changes.

While we our mindful of our children’s milestones, our milestones as mothers seem to get lost in the background. Whether you are a working mother or a stay-at-home mother, sometimes the big changes in our lives seem to go unnoticed. For many of us, having kids means taking a bit of a backseat.

But, what happens when you get to ride shotgun again, even for just the short rides? Well, I guess you can say that’s kind of what’s happening with me these days. If you follow my blog regularly (which you should), then you know my youngest daughter started Kindergarten this year. I was and still am sad to see her go. We were like peas and carrots while her sister was at school. Although she went to pre-school, Kindergarten is a whole new game. Her and I had a good thing going, but now that’s all changed. For better or for worse, that special time is over. We still have our time, just not like that. Now, for the first time in five years, I have a bit of unprecedented freedom.

It is a new frontier for Mom.

What am I talking about? I’m talking about being able to focus on myself more and not feel guilty. As a stay-at-home mom for five years, a lot of what I did or didn’t do revolved around my kids. Honestly, I wouldn’t change one second of it. I feel totally blessed to have been able to stay home and witness so many of their milestones first hand. There comes a point when your role as a mother shifts. Trust me, my kids still need me, but it’s different. They’re just not as needy if that makes any sense. They can go off and play together while I work on writing in the other room. They can sit quietly and watch TV or read a book. I don’t have to worry about someone choking on a Lego while I try to meet a deadline. We still have our time together, but I can have mine too.

Before you think I’m about to pull a “Thelma & Louise”, I’m not. But, I am ready to explore. It’s only been a week and in just one week, I’ve already been able to scope out new writing and job opportunities…ones I wouldn’t dare to before because I just didn’t have the time to devote.  I can carve out a new path for myself which is exciting, liberating, and scary all at the same time. I can try to figure out what’s going to work and what isn’t right now as we all adapt to these changes. I can think out of the diaper box and it feels wonderful.

Some may say I could and should have done this all along. But, I chose not to. Everyone makes decisions that fit their lives. That was my choice. I don’t judge you, so hopefully you won’t judge me.

Although I feel like a little Davy Crockett these days as I explore new frontiers, I still miss my babies when they’re at school. I wonder what they’re doing and if they’re having a good day. I wonder if they ate their lunch, if they went to the bathroom, and more importantly if they washed their hands. That’s why I love seeing their smiling faces when they get home. I love to be able to hear about their days and help them with their homework and just be their Mom. I am even more focused when they get home because I’ve had “my time”. Now this is their time.I don’t feel frazzled because I’ve played ten-thousand rounds of Candy Land or played referee to a million arguments. If you’re a stay-at-home mom, I’m sure you can relate!

There is a bit of Zen in this new frontier and it is simply amazing.

 

 

 

Save Big With Groupon Goods

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine.

As a mom, you’re always looking for ways to save money. You also know rule number one…never pay full price. Moms have radar for deals and coupons. If you’re like me you even get a little rush when you know you’ve gotten a steal!

My bargain hunting led me to Groupon. When I first started using it, I thought it was only a great resource for excursions and event tickets. I quickly discovered Groupon is so much more. The site has bargains on thousands of Groupon Goods. It’s like a mall at your fingertips, but at prices you can actually afford.

Are you looking for Ray Ban sunglasses? Groupon’s got it. What about 18K White Gold rings? Groupon’s got that too. How about deals on your favorite protein bars? Just go to Groupon . Those are just a few of the long list of things you can get at a fraction of the price. By fraction, I’m talking about more than 60% off in some cases! It all depends on what you’re looking for. No matter what it is though, you’ll never pay full price. In fact, Groupon Goods is a great place to not only shop for yourself, but also for gifts. Just give yourself enough time for shipping and you’ll get some deals of a lifetime.

If you don’t have time to search through the Groupon site, download the app to your smart phone. This is one of my favorite ways to get the goods from Groupon Goods. Alerts flash on my phone when there are some mega deals that I need to know about NOW. There’s no waiting around or missing out. If there’s a deal I want to take advantage of, I don’t have to wait until I get home to check it out. This is great for mommas on the run. If you’re like me, you’re always a momma on the run! Groupon is the place to go. It’s not Groupon Goods, it’s Groupon Greats!

 

I Don’t Want to be “That” Couple

The other night I was out to dinner with my kids at a “semi-adult” restaurant. By “semi-adult” I’m talking about no crayons or paper kids’ menus. There were families eating as well as just couples. Some of the couples were middle-aged, the others a bit older. The common denominator was that they didn’t have any kids with them. It was just the two of them. Just a couple enjoying a nice dinner…alone.

Besides having no kids, they had something else in common…no conversation. It wasn’t because they were distracted by something else. They were just not talking…at all. Perhaps they said a few words here and there about the veal or the salad. But, that was it. You could tell there was no vital conversation going on.

Before you start calling me judgmental, this was not the first time I’ve seen couples like that out at a restaurant. I know you’ve seen them too. I know we all don’t know the circumstances surrounding their relationships. Perhaps they have engaging conversations at home and go out to enjoy silence. Who knows? You may be saying, well maybe they just had a long day or maybe they were just really hungry. I honestly hope one of those scenarios is to blame. If it’s not, then I truly feel sorry for them. I can also say I don’t want to be “that” couple.

It seems “that couple” is often the pair that has grown old together, raised their children and are now left with their partner. Just the two of them. Everyday. 24/7. There are no more “how was your day at school?” conversations or “should we let Cindy go to that concert?” or “who’s taking Billy to practice?” questions to answer. There are no little ones interrupting your conversation. You’re no longer talking in code with your partner so the kids can’t figure out what you’re saying when in reality they already have.

That chapter is over. In fact, the whole book has been read…a thousand and one times.

Now it’s time to move on to another chapter…start another book in your relationship. The book that just involves two main characters. Hopefully it’s not a book filled with dinners in silence and no conversation because the kids are gone. Who wants to be “that” couple?

Not me. I feel so sad when I see couples just sitting an entire meal without talking to one another. Is that what there is to look forward to once the kids are gone?

We all know kids take up a lot of time and most of the conversation at home. That’s why it’s important to just have couple time every now and again. Some people laugh at me when I say my husband and I have “date night”. It may sound silly to have a date with someone you are married to and live with. But, sometimes you need to make an effort and make a “date” to make that happen. Sometimes that means finding a babysitter or shipping the kids off to grandma’s house for the night so you can just be a couple. You don’t have to spend the meal cutting up food or playing rock, paper, scissors. You can enjoy your meal while it’s hot, have a couple of glasses of wine, and actually talk without being interrupted. You can have time together now so that you don’t become “that” couple later.

Carving out that alone time isn’t easy. With crazy work hours, multiple jobs, and toting the kids around to every activity from A-Z, life is hectic. Life is crazy.

What’s even crazier is spending a lifetime together only to end up as “that” couple. After “x” amount of years married you might not have a lot to say to your spouse, but I really hope I’m never sitting in silence during a dinner. I hope that I’m never riding in the car and find that I don’t have one thing to talk about that doesn’t involve the kids. If that’s the case, I know we’re becoming “that” couple. That’s an ending I certainly don’t want to read.

 

 

 

 

Dear Kindergarten, You’re Taking My Baby Away

Dear Kindergarten, You’re Taking My Baby Away

Hello there Kindergarten. So we meet again. I remember you quite well from a couple of years ago when you lured my older daughter into your lair of learning. Now, you’re back with all your fancy sight words and cutesy books. But, this time, you’re going for the jugular.

You’re about to take my baby girl.

Do you know the worst part? She’s actually excited about meeting you. Before you go around and brag to all your little ABC friends, I have some words for you.

I know you’re used to sucking up to all of your new recruits with the glories of snack time and gym class, but I’m not too happy about all the things that are going to change around here. This momma is one carrot stick away from some major water works. You see, baby girl and I have been together like peas and carrots from day one. Yeah, yeah I know, you’re little brother pre-k has had her for a few hours a day over the past two years. But, this is not the same. You’re taking her for almost the entire day. You’re going to get to have lunch with her. You’re going to get to see the little light bulb in her head go on when something she’s been trying so hard at finally clicks. You’re going to hear her little giggle all day long. I’ll just get your leftovers when she comes home and tells me all about how great her day was. Thanks a lot.

You know you’re taking on a big responsibility. Sure you have experience and some great references, but you need to really take this one under your wing. I know all the other mommas tell you this too. But, you should listen to me. I have friends…a lot of them…friends that carry bats. I think I’ve painted you a clear enough picture.

You see, although my baby girl is excited, I know she’s a little scared too. So am I. It’s a whole new world for her. It’s a world filled with new people, new ideas, new routines, new lessons…heck, even new crayons. Since I can’t be there by her side it’s your job to make sure she gets through it all okay. Got that? You need to guide her and let her know she is going to be just fine when she feels like she won’t be. You need to encourage her when she gets frustrated. You need to cheer her on for a job well done. You need to make sure she’s kind and doesn’t say any bad words. You need to make sure she knows her teddy will be waiting for her in the car afterschool just like she asked. Perhaps most importantly, you need to make sure she pees! And of course, she needs to wash her hands.

Kindergarten, are you up for the job?

You’re not just adding another player to your roster. You’re adding one of my all-stars. I know this is all part of the circle of life, blah blah blah, but I kind of liked the circle we’ve created over the years. I’m not ready to start another one just yet. But, I know the decision is not mine. You’re a pushy one Kindergarten with no wiggle room for giving me more time.

I wish I could make time stand still, but I know Kindergarten is just the beginning of letting go. It’s a baby step in what will be a lifetime of changes, challenges, accomplishments and even let downs at times.

So, Kindergarten, be gentle with my baby girl. Although she may act like a tough cookie, on the inside she’s a big softie.

Sincerely,

One Misty-Eyed Mom

I’m Not Ready for Summer to End

I’m Not Ready for Summer to End

As I look on my calendar, I realize that the kids go back to school in about a month. While many parents are doing somersaults and are ready to do the happy dance, I can honestly say I’m not. Truthfully, I’m sad that summer vacation as we know it will be coming to end sooner than I can say day at the beach.

Although there have been plenty of times my kids have driven me crazy over the past six weeks, there have been more times filled with laughs, smiles and hugs. For this, I am eternally blessed. There have been playdates and get togethers with friends that we don’t get to see as often during the hectic school year. I’ve been able to actually watch my kids learn how to swim right in front of my eyes. This is an accomplishment that I am more than proud of because there were plenty of moments when I honestly thought it would never happen! There have been walks on the beach and melting ice cream cones along with carnival rides and rollercoasters. There have been countless nights of no bedtime so we can stay up to watch “Full House” re-runs on Nick at Nite (this is a personal fave!). There have been lazy mornings listening to my girls actually play with each other without killing one another.

So, why would I want summer to end?

I’ll be trading all of this in for bedtime fights followed by morning struggles of literally pulling my girls out of bed. There will be the whole Kindergarten transition for my youngest (that’s a topic for an entirely different post). I’d rather poke my eye out with a spork! I can’t wait for the outfit battles this year now that our school has switched from a uniform to a dress code policy. That should be fun!

There will be extracurricular activities and sports to keep the girls busy and Mom crazy all at the same time. Saturday mornings will be taken up with soccer games and smelly cleats. There will be the birthday invitations coming home for kids I didn’t even know existed! Don’t forget the homework and the effort to get it all done without a fight.

Remind me again why I want the kids to go back to school? I’ll trade all of that in for an endless summer…along with the sunshine and great weather. A momma can dream…

 

 

 

Restaurant Menus Are Failing Our Kids

Have you ever noticed how limited many kids’ menus are at restaurants? Honestly, it never really hit me until we were on vacation last month. Ninety-five percent of the choices for kids consisted of chicken nuggets/tenders, hot dogs, cheeseburgers, macaroni and cheese, or grilled cheese. Of course the options for sides included fries because there is no other way to prepare potatoes apparently. Some offered fruits and vegetables…but not all.

Sigh.

I know many people are brainwashed to believe that is the complete food pyramid for many kids. Is that just because that’s all that we’re offering?

Case and point. During a dinner out while on vacation, my 4-year-old was not in the mood for the typical kids’ choices. She moaned and groaned. When she asked what I was having and I answered steak, she asked why she couldn’t have that too. Good question. So, I asked the waiter if I could order a smaller steak for her. While he said they couldn’t do that (hmmm…okay, can’t you just cut a smaller piece of meat?, but I digress) he did tell me I could simply order a beef kabob that was listed as an “add-on” on the adult menu. While this satisfied her carnivorous craving, I asked myself why this couldn’t be an option on the kids’ menu. Sure, I could have just given my daughter some of my steak, but that still doesn’t solve the problem. Plus, mama wants to eat too! Why are kids locked into a box of hot dogs and grilled cheeses? Can’t we do better for our kids? It’s no wonder we have a childhood obesity problem in this country.

Maybe some of it comes down to the all mighty dollar.We all know restaurants are making some bucks on their kids’ meals. Sorry, but when you’re charging $5.99 for a bowl of mac and cheese and a drink, I know there is profit to be had. A box of Kraft mac and cheese goes for about one dollar…and that’s a whole box that feeds more than one kid. It doesn’t take a mathematician to figure out who’s coming out on top here. It’s certainly not the kids and parents. If it’s not mac and cheese then it’s a $4.99 “meal” that consists of a hot dog, fries, and a drink. Sure it’s cheap, but mama always said, you get what you pay for. There is nothing nutritious going on in there. Why not offer more balanced “adult-like” meal options? Maybe baked chicken, steak, dare I even go so far as suggest fish? If restaurants have to charge more then so be it. It will then be on the parents to decide whether they want to pay an extra five bucks for their kid to have a better quality meal. Until or should I said if this happens it looks like I’ll be ordering that beef kabob from the adult menu for my kid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review & Giveaway: KidloLand App

Review & Giveaway: KidloLand App

As a parent, we’re constantly looking for innovative ways to teach our children. Whether you love it or hate it, we all know technology plays a huge role in the way our children learn. Our kids are much more tech-savvy at three-years-old than we ever were!

With that said, the market is flooded with apps and games aimed at teaching our children. Some teach colors, others teach numbers; still others aim to do both while entertaining our kids at the same time. Trying to find an app that does everything isn’t always easy.

That’s where KidloLand comes in. KidloLand is an app that has it all. It not only has well-known kiddie songs and nursery rhymes, but also neat games to teach numbers, shapes, and even the months and days. It’s geared towards kids ages 0 to 5. I recently had my 4 year-old experiment with the app. She enjoyed the games focused on numbers, colors, and shapes. As a parent, I found the KidloLand app to serve as a fun reinforcement to some of the lessons she has already learned in pre-school. The numbers activity helps kids with numbers from 1 to 100, so it is great for all kinds of stages in your child’s life.

The months of the year and days of the week is also a wonderful addition, especially for the pre-Kindergarten set. One of the great things about the KidloLand App is that you can feel at ease that your child is using technology to help learn, not waste time. I wish I had it at my fingertips when my kids were younger!
If you want to see how the KidloLand App can help your kids on their learning adventure, here’s your chance! KidloLand is offering FIVE people a FREE three-month subscription for you and your child to try out.

Click below to enter the giveaway!

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You can download it at the Google Play Store or for your IOS devices.

*This is a sponsored post. I was provided with the product to complete this review. The views stated here are my own.

My Kids Will Be Doing School Work Over the Summer and I’m Not Sorry

Start the name calling and pouty faces. I’m putting the school work in summer.

Yes, I know it’s going to be 80 plus degrees out and there are sand castles to be built and bikes to ride.

My girls will get to do all that and then some. But, they’re also going to be reading and brushing up on their skills. I’ve been browsing the internet and reading some debates about whether kids should be doing “homework” over the summer. For every yay there’s a nay.

See, I don’t really consider my little plan “homework”. It’s more like “Let’s stay smart so we don’t fall back in September.” I don’t think that makes me a mean mom. I think that makes me a mom who cares about her children’s success and is taking a hands on approach to help them get ahead. Why let them fall victim to the so-called “summer slide” and waste all the progress made over the school year? It just doesn’t make sense to me. I can’t understand why so many parents are still anti-school work over the summer.

What kind of horrid school work am I going to subject my children to this summer? For my soon-to-be Kindergartener, we’ll be practicing writing her letters and numbers as well as her name. Her new school actually sent home a packet of practice sheets to help with the process. While some parents scoffed at it during orientation, I wanted to give the packet a big old bear hug! At least now I don’t have to go looking for sheets to help her. We’ll also be practicing counting and shapes.

For my soon-to-be second grader, we’ll be reading books to keep her skills up to par. We’ll also start working on more reading comprehension so she knows what she’s actually reading. I’m also going to have her brush up on her math so she doesn’t forget the skills and tricks she’s learned over the year.

Before you think I’ll be chaining my kids to the kitchen table for hours on end over the summer, think again. We’ll do these little exercises ten to fifteen minutes a day or every other day. Reading will be done for at least another ten minutes a day. On average, my kids will spend 20 minutes a day doing dreaded school work. I’m going to try to bang it out in the morning so the rest of the day is free. That leaves 23 hours and forty minutes a day to do whatever else they want. I don’t think that’s too much to ask, do you?

Here’s the alternative. I can have them not do any kind of school work all summer. They can go back to school in September and not remember anything they learned. They’ll waste time re-learning things they knew so well. They may even run the risk of falling behind if everyone else is on the express train and they’re stuck making all the local stops. All for what? All in the name of summer fun?

There needs to be a balance. The earlier we teach our kids this coping skill, the better. They need to learn just as there’s time to play over the summer, there’s also time to learn. It’s just like fitting in play time during the school year. It all gets done.

No child ever suffered from reading or practicing some letters over the summer. So, yes, my kids will be doing school work over the summer and I’m not sorry.