Mom Writes Stuff

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.

Tags: football games, nfl, superbowl, tailgate party, tailgating recipes

As a mom, you know all too well that nothing beats spending time with your kids.  You’d move heaven and earth just to be able to have an extra hour in a day with them.  But with the huge pile of paperwork sitting at your office desk, next to those coffee pods you got as presents last Christmas, that seems almost unlikely.  Your boss just asked you to work overtime again. 

Such is the dilemma for most working parents.  You toil away in the office to provide for your family, but your time with the kids gets compromised.  It’s a nasty trade-off, and sometimes you feel you’re left with no choice but to fall prey to the corporate world. 

They say that time- once passed- is gone forever.  Since we can no longer bring back lost time, we do what we can to make up for it by buying our kids fancy stuff, or taking them places on weekends. 

The good news is, you don’t need to wait for Saturday to make your kids feel loved.  On weeknights, for instance, if you manage to get home just in time for your kid’s bedtime, you can stop and read him a story, or have a quick chat about how his day went.

If you get home early enough for dinner, make it special.   Talk, ask questions about your kid’s day in school.  After dinner, make him a smoothie or some hot chocolate as you plop in front of the TV to catch his favorite cartoon show.

If you can, drive your kid to school.  Even if it’s just a short trip to his school, you can still strike up a conversation with him. 

Try as much as you can to be involved in your child’s personal and emotional affairs.  Even in your absence, he will feel the warmth of your love.  That will give him the confidence he needs to make it through life.

You know you’re a parent if your previous worries about your goals on getting small business equipment financing have shifted towards issues on your toddler’s developmental milestones. While it’s perfectly normal for any parent to worry about problems on raising their kids at one time or another, there are some who feel that whatever issue they’re facing will never be resolved. That then signals the onset of parenting anxiety. When a parent thinks this way, they can be severely stressed out. What can you do if you find yourself going through a case of parenting anxiety?

Talk. Find someone to talk to, whether it’s your partner or other parents. It helps ease the burden, knowing that you aren’t alone in your parenting woes, and that there are possible solutions to whatever it is you’re going through.

Ask. Don’t be afraid to get professional advice from your pediatrician, for instance, if you’re left in limbo about certain health or behavioral issues about your kid.

Take care of yourself. Don’t let yourself be overcome by parenting worries. Remember to eat well, get enough sleep, and exercise. Keep doing the things you enjoy.

If you feel that you can no longer function normally, seek professional help.

You almost did cartwheels on the living room floor and broke your electric sunglasses when you first saw your four-year old son take a keen interest in those box of crayons which were a gift to him a couple of years back. He’s definitely growing up, and you feel it in your bones that he is ready to start kindergarten. But how can you tell for sure if your little one is all set for it?

Here are the signs of readiness to start kindergarten according to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics:

• He can communicate about things he needs and wants.

• He knows how to share and take turns.

• He is curious and enthusiastic about trying new activities.

• He has the ability to pay attention and sit still.

• He can use a pencil and paint brushes.

• He can count up to 20.

• He can recognize the letters of the alphabet.

Other common signs that a kid is ready for kindergarten are that he can follow one to three step instructions, behave well in the classroom, and can get along well with other kids.

Do know though, that four- and five-year-olds often develop at different speeds, so it can sometimes be difficult to know which kids are ready for school and which ones aren’t. You may find that while some five-year-olds are already reading, others can’t even count to 10 yet.

Before you make your kid take the kindergarten plunge, be sure that he is ready.

Tags: kindergarten readiness

Image source: aboutpixel.de / kaufrausch #2 © maçka

The early bird catches the worm.  The late bird gets the retail rejects.  Well, not necessarily.  While it’s true that those who do their Christmas shopping early experience less of the stress which comes with the holidays, sometimes, if you wait until the last minute to do your shopping, you stand the chance to reap some benefits.

A few days, or even after Christmas day, stores usually sell their merchandise at rock bottom prices.  Everything must go, so they do all they can to get rid of old stocks.  Sure, there’s a high probability that you’ll lose your temper with the crowd and hold it against the guy behind the mall’s POS system, but you can certainly control that.  At least, you’ll get more for your hard-earned money.

Whether shopping early or late, always carry with you your shopping list, so you’ll be in and out of the shops in no time.

Have a merry Christmas, and an even merrier last minute shopping!

Tags: christmas shopping, last minute shopping

You couldn’t care less if you were singing slightly out of tune to “Deck the halls”.  What was going through your mind while you were merrily caroling at your office Christmas party was how you were going to manage to “un-deck the halls” at your upcoming mini-Christmas party-slash-get-together with your friends the following day.  There promises to be a lot of empty beer bottles and cigars boxes scattered around your living room after the party, and the mere thought of cleaning up makes you let out a resounding “Humbug!”

If the idea of cleaning up after a party makes your Christmas a little “un-merry”, take heart and realize that it’s not really that bad. 

Think disposable.  To save on energy doing the dishes, use utensils which you can dispose of.    Paper plates and cups will be a better choice, as these are more environment-friendly.

Clean as you go.  Have those garbage bags ready and toss paper cups in them right after use. 

You can even ask your friends- yes, they are your friends after all- to help out in the post-party cleanup.  If they need a little prodding, you can jokingly ask them to throw out their used paper cups after downing huge amounts of alcohol.

The stress of cleaning up after your Christmas party shouldn’t ruin your holiday mood.  With a little organization, your post-party cleanup will be a breeze.

Tags: Christmas party

Instilling a love for reading in your children may seem as unattainable as winning the lottery.  Pulling them away from that video game in exchange for a paperback is almost like a shot in the dark.  Is it still possible to get them to enjoy reading?  Yes, it most definitely is.

First of all, as a parent, you must set an example to your kids.  If you want to get them to do something, show them that you yourself are doing it.  So, if you want them to start reading, stop spending hours surfing the net for rv loans, and start burying yourself in a good book.  Teaching by example still wins wars in whatever day and age.

Fill your home with good reading material.  Be it magazines or thick paperbacks, keep a worthy selection of books on different topics.  It would help to tap into your kids’ interests.  For instance, if your teener is into basketball, get him books on his favorite player.

Reduce TV time, and spend more time reading.  Show your kids that reading can be fun and interesting too.

The key is in luring them into the habit of reading.  If they realize that reading isn’t all about academics and boring theories, they will sooner or later develop in them a liking to it.

Tags: how to get kids to read, kids and reading

You can hardly contain your excitement as your best friend breaks the thrilling news to you:  she and her boyfriend are finally engaged!  You should know well enough not to get the couple a run-of-the-mill gift.  What you want is to get them a personal engagement gift.  You’d want to make their engagement a special event, and mark that with something which they will also remember you by.

First think about what they would like (what they need can come later, as a wedding gift). Consider any hobby which the couple may share. If they’re into sports, get them personalized memorabilia, perhaps. If they are both wine connoisseurs, why not get them personalized wine glasses? You may even ask the couple’s family for suggestions, since they would know best.

Choosing engagement gifts need not be a herculean task. Just tap into your knowledge of the couple’s personalities, and you’ll be fine.

Just because you’re a busy mom who looks after your family’s welfare 24/7, that doesn’t mean you no longer have the right to look good- even as you sleep.  Occasionally, it doesn’t hurt to reward yourself with sexy lingerie or figure-flattering teddies.  When looking through a wide range of teddies lingerie shops have to offer, do consider the following tips:

If you want to make your legs look longer, go for a sleek or body-hugging teddy.  They come in a high-cut panty design.

If you want comfortable sleepwear, choose loose teddies.  If you’re a little full-figured, you can go for a two-piece, camisole style teddy which provides a bit of tummy control.

If you have full breasts, try not to pick those bare-back teddies, as they provide little support for your breasts. 

Looking good makes you feel good.  If anything, that’s what we moms need- a mood pick up!  Teddies can give you that.  Just be sure to choose well, carefully inspecting the quality of the fabric.

Tags: choosing lingerie tips

We live in difficult times, it’s true. More than anything, we moms have mastered the art of penny-pinching, if only to save for our family’s future. We cut corners here and there, and try our hardest to make ends meet. We aim to give our kids a comfortable life, without having to scrimp on the essentials.

One of the ways to cut down on our expenses is by spending less on groceries. If you often feel that you need heavy-duty material handling equipment just to haul your shopping bags to your doorstep every time you do the groceries, then you may be buying more than what you really need. So, how can you exactly put a ceiling over your supermarket spending?

Make a list. And just like good ol’ Santa Claus, do check it twice. It’s almost a mortal sin to hit the supermarket without it. Going up and down the grocery aisles without a list in hand compels you to pull out anything you see on the shelves. Discipline yourself to strictly stick to your list.

Leave the kids at home. If you have kids in tow at the grocery store, you sometimes find it hard to say no to what they want.

Eat first. If you’re hungry as you do the groceries, you will tend to buy more of what you see, especially if they look scrumptious.

Saving money on groceries is not at all hard. All it takes is a good amount of discipline. After all, the money you’ll save will be for your family.

Tags: money saving tips, saving money