Mom Writes Stuff

Don’t look now, but it’s almost time for that much awaited event in any young person’s life: Spring Break!  If you happen to be a mom to a college student or if you’re simply a weary young professional who badly needs the time off, do keep these safe spring break tips in mind:

Know all you need to know about where you’re going.  It helps if you brought with you a map of your destination before you even pack your bags.   If you know the ins and outs of your destination, you could better plan time-efficient routes from your hotel to the beach, for instance.  You will be able to maximize your vacation if you can manage to squeeze in a lot of activities in a day.

If you are driving to your Spring Break destination, be sure to stick to major highways, so in case anything goes wrong, you won’t be stuck in the middle of nowhere with nary a soul in sight to help you.  Of course, it makes perfect sense to make a thorough car inspection before you leave.

Inform yourself of the legal drinking age for your country of destination.   Be in the know of any legal documents you may have to secure prior to heading off for a particular country.

Forewarned is forearmed.  If you know how to have a safe holiday, you won’t have to bring along those utility knives to defend yourself.  Just remember to be safe while you have fun.

Who in her right mind wouldn’t want to be given the honor of being called “The Best Girlfriend Ever”?  It would be such an honor to be thought of so highly by your boyfriend, wouldn’t it?  Although you may be a week late in thinking of unique valentines gifts for boyfriend, you can never be too off in giving him gifts for any occasion.

The key to scoring points with your boyfriend is to give him something which feeds his fancy.  If he is a sports buff, you can get him a jersey of his favorite basketball team with his name on it.  If your boyfriend is someone who enjoys hanging out with his buddies (well, not as much as he loves spending time with you, of course!), you can get him a set of personalized beer glasses which he can use when he has the guys over.

Don’t let your imagination stop you.  Just keep your boyfriend’s interests in mind, and you’re sure to come up with unique gift ideas for the man you love.

Once in a while, we moms do like to take a breather from our everyday life of laundry and dishes.  With the words NFL and Superbowl becoming part of the household again, I can’t help but be sucked into my husband’s undeniable euphoria over this much-awaited football event.  And what game would be complete without a tailgating party?  Though we don’t actually plan on going to a tailgate party, we still can have one right in the comforts of our own home.  If you plan on doing the same thing, you don’t have to fumble for your book of tailgating recipes.  Here are a few simple food ideas for your indoor tailgating experience:

Potato salad.  This can be made in advance and served right before kickoff.  Toss boiled potatoes in with mayonnaise, a red onion, diced celery, and pickles.  Season with salt and pepper, and you’re good to go.

Chili.  Just like potato salad, this can be prepared ahead of time and served when it’s time to party.  Chili actually tastes better after a day or so when the flavors have developed.

Chicken wings.  This is the ultimate finger food, in my book.  If you can’t grill ‘em, bake ‘em.   They’ll taste just as good.  You can choose to baste them in either honey garlic or hot sauce.

Quesadillas.  You can use the traditional veggies and cheese or add in some ground beef.

Putting together an indoor tailgate party is easy.  So, chill the beer, put on your jerseys and get that party started.

Throughout your child’s life, his or her pediatrician will be your best friend. Your child’s doc will virtually hold your hand as you make sure that your kid is always in the pink of health. The care you provide your little one is similar to electric blankets which keep him warm on a chilly winter night. If trips to your kid’s doctor sometimes leaves you frazzled, here are some tips for you to remember:

Prepare a list of questions well in advance. Once you’re in the pediatrician’s office, you wouldn’t want your occasional bouts of memory gap to take the better of you. Beforehand, make a note of what issues you may want to discuss with the doctor. This way, you wouldn’t have to bother him with a call back or a repeat appointment.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s your right to clarify things with the pediatrician, so don’t hesitate to engage him in a bit of a discussion over your kid’s health. If you keep things to yourself, you will never be reassured about your child’s condition. Ask him to explain things in layman’s terms.

If you can, ask someone to look after your other kids, so you don’t have the whole brady bunch making a circus out of the clinic.

Most importantly, be nice to the office staff. Whether you like it or not, they are the middlemen to your doctor. They will give you better service if you’re kind to them.