Ideas to Simplify the Holiday Season

How to Have a Just-Simple-Enough Holiday

I’m ready for the weekend…and it’s only Monday

If you feel the same, read these ideas and take a break. I'm going to work my way through the list this week, and probably next week too. 

1.  Read a book. Whether it’s a history, mystery, or romance, a good book can transport you. Try Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Like thrillers? Check out The Ark by Boyd Morrison.

2.  Don’t like long books? Read a short story. Check out One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak (of The Office fame).

3.  Read something fun with a little one. Switch things up with Mother Goose on the Loose by Hans Wilhelm.

4.  Listen to music. Slow jazz, classical or whatever helps you unwind.

5.  Catch up on TV. With so many ways to stream, there’s no reason to miss your favorite show, or find a new one.

6.  Take care of yourself with an at home spa. Place cool cucumber slices over your eyes for a few minutes to rejuvenate your peepers.

7.  Got time for a getaway? Check out these ten quick beach getaways from NBC.

Please don’t text while driving!

I don’t often get on my virtual soapbox, but when I do, it’s for good cause. This time is no different.

Many of you know the dangers of texting while driving. You’ve probably heard statistics like these, seen it portrayed on TV shows like this, or encountered it first-hand. So, let me ask you all to sit down with your kids and have a talk.

Maybe you had the birds and bees discussion, or the don’t do drugs talk, that’s great! But, it’s high time as parents, citizens, and adults, we have a talk with each other and our kids about the dangers of using phones while driving.

First, be an example. If they see you doing it, they are more likely to think it’s okay and either do it themselves, or not speak up if a friend is texting while driving. So, put the phone down, please!

Second, tell them you love them and that no appointment, test, date, party—NOTHING—is so important they can’t wait to text, or take time to pull over before sending a message.

The reason for my anxiety, and this PSA? Yesterday, I was driving with my two-year-old through your average suburban neighborhood. While on a quiet street, I noticed a car in a driveway and it appeared to be rolling backwards. Yes, rolling, not driving backwards. 

A teenage boy with his eyes glued to his Smartphone jumped into the passenger side, and I figured the first roll was due to an anxious friend trying to get his buddy’s attention. Note: I’m still driving toward this particular driveway. 

The next instance, I notice the car rolling backwards again, and I’m wary. So, I slow to a crawl and then stop as the car rolls all the way down the driveway and into the street while the driver is looking down at his phone the entire time. He never once looked up to see if it’s safe to back into the street, and he never noticed the huge baby-hauler approaching his driveway. 

If I had not stopped, we would have crashed. He could have rammed the side my kid was on, which makes me want to say STOP and THINK!

He was shocked to see me after he rolled completely out of the driveway and ended up facing our van. The look on his face told me he already knew his error. He knew he was wrong—yelling or throwing up would have only given him an excuse to focus on someone else’s poor judgment instead of his own. (I need to remember this when dealing with my own kids.)

I know we didn’t crash, but it’s because I was hyper-aware. This is only one example of a bigger modern day driving problem. If you need to locate something on your phone, view directions, a map, text, or even call someone, please pull over. Train your children to do and expect the same. Please!

Tips for Getting Your Kid to Like Vegetables - Metro Parent

I got to interview Lisa McDowell, MS, RD, CSSD, manager of clinical nutrition at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor for this article. She is also a mom of two and the team sports nutritionist for the Detroit Red Wings so she knows how to encourage kids and adults to eat their veggies. It's worth a read. 

Check out the article link. The issue on stands also includes a list of top veggies you should try. Happy Munching!

Summer Reads — A Family Finale

It’s back-to-school time, and also time for the final post for this Summer Reads season. Check out these fun children’s books, and a little something for parents, too. Enjoy the school year!

Jamberryby Bruce Degen. Take a cute romp through the berry patches, before winter, with a little boy and a rhyming bear.

TheGoing to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton. A sweet read to share with your little one.

Pete the Cat: The Wheels onthe Bus by James Dean. Read, sing, and laugh.

Schooled by Gordon Korman. Looks fun, if I ever get time. Excerpt from Amazon: Capricorn Cap Anderson has been homeschooled by his hippie grandmother, Rain. When Rain is injured in a fall, Cap is forced to attend the local middle school. Although he knows a lot about Zen Buddhism, nothing has prepared him for the politics of public school.

After only a couple days of school, I can see we are probably going to want a few books like these soon.

Mom’s Ultimate FamilyOrganizer by Amy Keroes. Calendar, directory and planning pages. I need something like this right now!

Weelicious: 140 Fast, Fresh,and Easy Recipes by Catherine McCord.

The 7 Habits of HighlyEffective Families by Stephen Covey.

Big Book of Schools 2013

The Metro Parent Big Book of Schools is out and online. Click the link for listings of area private, public and charter schools. There is also information on top teachers, guides for college and tips for choosing a school and getting kids the right amount of sleep. Just in time for school.