Family Briefs

So here we are with another podcast. We’re still liking our new format, but as always, we’d love your feedback!

The podcast begins with our latest tip - setting a timer at bedtime to make sure we get kids to bed on time when we might be otherwise distracted. Rylan mentioned an alarm he has installed on his computer to make sure we get kids to Tae Kwon Do (and then again so we don’t forget to pick them up ). Here’s a link for the clock he uses, and I’m sure there are lots of others available: http://www.clocx.net/

We then talk about the teleclasses that I’ve participated in with Toni Schutta (http://getparentinghelpnow.com/ and http://familiesfirstcoaching.com/). I’ve really enjoyed the three classes I have been involved in, and I love being able to re-listen to the information on the audio files she sends after the class. She has so many great ideas for parents!

Pinewood Derby racing was our next topic, including some of the the good conversations Rylan had with the kids about winning and losing. It’s hard to be a good loser, especially when you came in second place! If you’re in scouting, you might find some great ideas from our experience this year.

We talked about the scare we had in the parking lot. One day the kids were racing ahead of me a bit, until we realized we were behind a car with it’s back-up lights on. Although frightening, the incident prompted me to discuss some parking lot safety ideas I had never considered before.

Thanks for listening - send us your ideas for podcast topics and be sure to let us know what you like about the show!

You wanna know what bugs me??? Working so hard to get my kids to bed on time (it’s for their own good, after all), only to have them keep each other awake or to have them get up super early. It’s even worse when BOTH happen!

Yes, my 5-year-old kept two other children awake until 9 p.m. last night talking about scary green-eyed wolves (his newest fear). 9 p.m. may not sound late to you, but it’s 1 1/2 hours AFTER bedtime!

To make matters worse, our Read the rest of this entry »

How is it that in a matter of just a couple of hours, my home can go from neat and orderly (well, relatively) to there being stuff everywhere??!!!! It’s so incredibly frustrating! I don’t want to nag the kids all the time, and I try to remember that they are just kids. Of course, the reality in our home is that we truly have too much stuff! Even the kids admit that they have too many toys, of course I don’t see them tossing their stuff in boxes to give away or sell .

Less is more I’ve decided, so I’m going to Read the rest of this entry »