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EmmieJ posted a new comment on Is a Busy Schedule Really So Bad?...
Awesome advice. One other thing I do is pick a time of year that is relatively commitment-free (my kids are 8 and 5 so I recognize this won't be possible forever). Generally speaking, they do daytime camps all summer so that's when we pause the extracurricular activities - teams that require weeknight practices and weekend games, dance class, etc. They're plenty active during the day and we have evenings with lots of light and entire weekends to do fun things as a family.
May 17, 2012
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EmmieJ posted a new comment on Flo Rida ft. David Guetta's 'Club Can’t Handle Me'...
Few moments have made me more proud than when my sleepy five-year-old turned to me and groggily said, "Mom, the club can't handle me."
May 14, 2012
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EmmieJ posted a new comment on Does your husband have a "work wife"??...
I've heard the term a couple times (though the first time it was with a heterosexual female and a homosexual male so that kind of made it more ok in my mind) but I'm horrified by the idea and find it to be highly inappropriate for many many reasons.
May 9, 2012
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EmmieJ posted a new comment on Between work and home, how am I EVER supposed to find time to exercise?...
I SOOO hear you on this one! I agree about trying to break it up. You can get some great (and free!) 10 minute workouts on sparkpeople.com that are decent. I successfully lost almost 30 pounds working out only at home. (I've since gained some of it back so there's that. :-/) When I was good, however, I was working out for no more than an hour at a time and often times much less. I ran outside, used my elliptical, did workout DVDs and the Biggest Loser game on my XBox Kinect. Unfortunately, it does often mean getting up earlier. I've also found that scheduling the time on my calendar helps me stick to the routine. See if there's a way to enlist your kids in it too. For younger ones, encourage them to try the exercise videos with you. For older ones, ask them to ride alongside you while jogging. Just some ideas...
May 9, 2012
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EmmieJ posted a new comment on Do I let my son go to a co-ed sleepover?...
That's a tough one. My initial reaction was No for the reasons you both laid out. But then I thought that if a family friend was coming to visit, we'd put all the kids in one room to sleep and so why is that any different? Really, though, I feel like you should go with your gut. If you're having doubts, there's probably a good reason for them and the downside of letting him go and being wrong are much worse than the downside of not letting him go.
May 9, 2012
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EmmieJ posted a new comment on Help! My daughter cries hysterically every morning when I leave her!...
Have you noticed anything that helps? When my son was that age, we realized that the trigger was HOW he was dropped off. If I carried him in from the car and stood him up and tried to leave, he would absolutely FREAK. But if I carried him in from the car and physically handed him to his teacher? He was fine. There was something about me passing the baton, so to speak, that seemed to set him at ease.
May 9, 2012
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EmmieJ posted a new comment on Potty training OMG! When did you start and how long did it take?...
I tried to potty train my oldest when he was 3 years old and his brother was about to be born. He was having none of it. I tried all the tricks in the book. Finally I gave up and figured I'd be changing diapers for the rest of my life. On our cross-country move (we drove) three months later, my spunky kid just decided on his own that it was time. I got the joy of stopping at every. single. disgusting. pit stop along Route 66. Like Jess, I came to believe they'll just do it when they're ready. It might mean an extra six months or a year in diapers but in the grand scheme of things, your sanity (and theirs) is probably well worth that.
May 9, 2012
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EmmieJ posted a new comment on Help! The school isn't stopping a bully. What can I do?...
The mom of my son's classmate told me a story about her son getting bullied daily. She complained frequently and asked that her son and the bully be put into separate classes. Eventually, her son ended up bloodied on the playground (they were in 1st grade!!! Bloodied!!!). She marched into the principal's office and demanded that he be moved that moment. She refused to leave the office until it was taken care of. I've had luck with going straight to the Superintendent (first stop after principal before school board) when I've had major issues. Sometimes we just need to go angry mama bear on "the man" to get what our kids need.
May 9, 2012
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EmmieJ posted a new comment on ...
Amen. That milk chocolate with caramel looks especially yummy this afternoon.
May 9, 2012
