Helping Kids Appreciate What They Have

Did you know that on average, kids are exposed to 360, 000 ads by the time they graduate from high school? Yikes!

It’s no wonder they are always under tremendous pressure and influence to get their hands on all the newest fashion staples: the most stylish clothes, the hippest shoes, the trendiest hair accessories. In turn, parents feel the tremendous pressure to buy those things for them!

As most parents know all too well, sometimes it’s easier to just give in to what our children want than have to battle with them why they can’t have what they want. Yet on the other side, we also know that getting our children everything they want is not a good idea either. It's our job to help them understand why that's so.

The key is to help them appreciate what they already have… sounds so simple, but it’s no way simple when kids are directly targeted daily by media, even toddlers!

Try your best to make them understand how fortunate they are on a global level. Show them examples in your own community of people who may not be as fortunate as they are. If there are opportunities in your community for them to participate in programs to help the homeless, by serving meals for example, encourage them to join. Nothing beats a first-hand experience. Your kids will come back with a better idea of how less fortunate people live.

Such experiences will not only help them appreciate what they have, but it will help foster in them a sense of social responsibility. It will be very beneficial to them and to the world around them if they can begin learning at an early age to appreciate what they have and to share when they can, and give back.

Teaching Your Kids about Savings

Young children don’t usually grasp the general concept of money until somewhere between the age of 3 and 4. So they expect to get whatever captures their fancy and expect you to get it for them, like picking fruit from a tree. It’s there, and I want it, so pick it for me mom!

But you can begin teaching your kids early on the value of a dollar and the importance of saving money. According to WC Randall of Edward Jones Investment, take your next bank visit as an opportunity to teach them the concepts of a bank and what you are doing with your money. Make things simple. Take the following short explanation as an example:

The nice people that you are giving the money to are called “tellers.” Then when you give the money, tell them that this is called a “deposit.” The money you are depositing to the teller is placed in a “checking account” or a “savings account” to keep it safe. This is so that mommy doesn’t have to carry a lot of money with her all the time.

Explain to them that the money that stays in the savings account earns interest and becomes more money. Mommy’s plan for how to save and spend that money is called a “budget.” Tell them that if you follow this budget, you can be sure that there is enough money for you to use on things you need to buy and pay for. If you save more, it means you can possibly afford more in the future, like splurging a little on your budding fashionista’s No Slippy Hair Clippy collection!

It might not be easy for kids to grasp right away, but it will be helpful for them to become familiar with the words that are commonly used:

Deposit- to put money into an account
Withdrawal - to take money out of an account
Teller - the person who takes deposits and withdrawals
Savings Account - an account where money is left to accumulate interest and grow
Interest - the money earned by the money in a savings account
Checking Account - an account where money is deposited and that checks draw from
Budget - a plan for saving and spending money

Explaining Money Matters to Your Kids

It’s a fact: we’re living in challenging times. But while we are struggling with our personal financial budget deficit, we can learn from it too. As parents, our natural instincts tell us to try to deal with it alone, and not involve our family, but as we try to shield our kids from it, they can easily see through our façade, and see what’s happening, at least our frustration.

Nobody is immune to the hardships of raising a family, and the financial stress that has been more apparent the past few years.

So this week, I wanted to give some helpful hints on how to have a talk about money matters with our kids, and about my recent experience with regards to money and budgets and my son Austin.

Though it’s difficult at times, it’s also a good reason to begin the conversation with our kids, even if when they are young. Children between ages 3 & 4 may be too young to understand entire concepts, but they can grasp general concepts, like buying something with money.

This weekend I went shopping for back-to-school clothes with my 16-year-old son Austin. (Now I do admit that boys are much easier on the pocketbook and less costly than teenage girls, so I’m feeling a bit fortunate about that!) My shopping experience with him was insightful and positive, and I wanted to share it:

I gave Austin a budget for our shopping event, and that was all I could spend. I wanted him to try to make conscious decisions, and make sure each purchase was what he needed, not necessarily what he wanted. So before we went off to Kohl’s Saturday, I asked him, what did he need most? He told me pants, shorts and some socks, and a jacket. I knew right away the jacket would put us over budget because he likes expensive brands for jackets, and besides, we live in California, and don’t need a jacket right now. So with that said, he agreed to put off purchasing a jacket for winter until September sometime. I was amazed that we came $9 under budget! He got exactly what he wanted, felt good about it, and we didn’t over spend.

Funny, he wouldn’t show me his jeans and shorts when he was trying them on, just that they all “fit” and not until we got home, did he model ALL his clothes! So that’s a 16-year-old's way of saying, I love my clothes! He also said thank you as we left the store, and I could tell he was very pleased. So I was pleased that he stuck to the budget, didn’t give me a hard time about buying more clothes (the “I want” list) and was satisfied with what he got.

How are money-related decisions made?
A chorus of “But Mooooom, all my friends have it!” should make it obvious to you that children want things and they want them now. It’s the instant gratification generation, and all that marketing via TV, Web, etc… makes it even harder for them to understand “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” like that Rolling Stones' song! It’s best to explain to your kids the difference between wants and needs and let them know that right now, the money you have is only for necessities. This sounds easy, but it’s not. My kids have finally gotten to the age where they do understand it better, but getting them there took a lot of patience.

Is the family on a budget?
You need to make it clear that your financial situation differs from that of other families, and that they should not compare. They may see friends who always have the latest gadgets and gizmos, and wonder why they cannot have the same. Let them know that at this time, your family is on a budget and money must be spent wisely for things the family needs, not what the family wants.

How Are You Spending Your Time?

In today’s busy world, it’s hard enough to find time for the tasks that we have to do. And if we hardly have enough time for the things that must be done, how much less time do we have for the things we’d like to do? In the middle of all the hustle and bustle, are you sure that you are spending your time on things that truly matter?

Time with Your Children
Spending time with your children is one of the most important things you can do. According to the Office of National Drug Control Strategy, strong ties formed between children and their families make them least likely to develop drug problems.

Spend Quality Time
Assure your children that they can count on your time with them. Try to set aside particular times when you can give your full attention to them, with no distractions. Younger children need more time, but older children need regular time with you as well.

Three Kinds of Time
According to education.com, here are the three kinds of time that you can spend with your kids:

• One-on-one time: Just you and your child talking, shopping, cooking, going to the playground or the park, watching TV, reading aloud, or playing a game
• Family time: The whole family eating a meal, cleaning the house or car, hiking, making plans, reading aloud, cooking, going to a movie, or playing a game
• Community time: Family, or you and your child, attending neighborhood or sports events

Happy Grillin'

It's National Barbecue Month this month! And that means you better get those grillers out because there's no better time for some barbecue than at that perfect moment before the hottest season kicks in. (I don't know about you, but standing in front of burning coals on a sizzling Summer day doesn't make me a happy camper!)

So this week, we're giving you all our favorite barbecue recipes for you to enjoy with your family! Enjoy the remnants of Spring by having a get-together with your friends and loved ones. Then feast on some scrumptious barbecues. Here's one from allrecipes.com:

HOOT N HOLLER BABY BACK PORK RIBS
Serves 6

Ingredients:
2 racks baby back pork ribs (about 1 1/2 lbs per rack)
1 (12 ounce) jar of mesquite-flavored marinade
3 bay leaves
1 whole medium onion, peeled
1 cup prepared barbecue sauce (mild or spicy)
1/2 cup brown sugar

Directions:
1. In a large stockpot, place both racks of ribs; add enough water to cover ribs. Add marinade, bay leaves and onion. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat. (This will create foam on top.) Reduce to medium-low heat; simmer 45 minutes or until ribs are just tender. Remove ribs from cooking liquid; drain on rimmed baking sheet. Heat grill to medium heat (about 350 degrees F.)

2. Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, stir together the barbecue sauce and brown sugar. Brush over both sides of ribs. Place ribs on grill, bone side down, close lid. Grill for 7 minutes, turn and grill 7 minutes more.

Of course, when you have guests coming over, make sure your little girl is dressed to impressed ;) And we, as always, have just the thing for you. Here's a cute one and is one of our favorites, perfect for a fun day with family and friends:

Ramie Double Sequin Orchids

Happy grillin' everyone!

Your Teen's Love Language

I'm not a mother yet, but I do spend a lot of time with my mom. And I know how difficult it can be for her to communicate with us (especially with my teenage siblings... oh alright, with me too although I'm older now).

Once we become teenagers, so many changes took place not just on the outside but also on the inside. Sometimes it gets confusing trying to adjust to these changes. It's a forked road: we're no longer children, yet we're not yet adults. In the process of "finding ourselves," we tend to pull away from our parents. But it doesn't mean that we want them out of our lives--or at least that wasn't the case for me! There were simply so many new emotions raging inside me that I didn't know how to express. In truth, I still loved and needed my parents, even as much as when I was a kid. I just wasn't sure how to express it.

I recently came across an article from Families.com written by a mom of teens. It's about knowing your children's "love languages." It's interesting and insightful. Let me know what you think:

LEARN YOUR TEEN'S LOVE LANGUAGE

"One of my favorite books that I have read more than once is "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman. This book talks about the different love languages that we have. They are: words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service and physical touch. Most of us enjoy all of these love languages but we tend to especially appreciate one or two more than the others.

By reading this book not only do you discover what your primary love language is but you also realize that it's usually the love language you show toward other people. The problem with that is we may not be speaking their love language. So we need to figure out what other people's love language is.

I have learned to do this with my children. In fact there is a specific book Gary Chapman has written for parents called "The Five Love Languages of Children." I think this is especially helpful when raising tweens and teens. Relationships between parents and children tend to take a turn when they become tweens. It becomes different and because of that, many times parents are unsure how to walk this new path. But if you learn your teenager's love language and speak it to them, you really can't go wrong.

My oldest son who turns 16 next week is a very quiet, shy and introverted person. Although his personality traits need to be taken into account as our relationship grows and develops, I especially need to pay attention to his love language. The love language that speaks to him is words of affirmation. He tends to question and doubt himself which I think has a lot to do with his personality so he especially thrives on hearing encouraging words.

My daughter who is on the verge of turning 13 is not real shy but not real out there either. She is in the middle and actually that is very fitting since she really is our middle child. She is a balance of my oldest and youngest sons. However her primary love language is quality time. She especially enjoys when we have mother/daughter nights. Spending time with her means the most.

Then there is my youngest son who is a tween. He is the wild, crazy one of the bunch. He is very social and loves life. His primary love language is gift giving. He just lights up when he receives a gift.

As for myself, my primary love language is acts of service. Do you know which love language I tend to speak the most? Yes, acts of service. It is easy for me to get sucked into thinking that others enjoy that love language; however, I need to nurture the primary love language of each of my children. When I do that I notice that our relationship is better and communication is stronger. They feel more connected to me.

Learn your teen's love language and I can bet you will see a more positive change in your relationship."

You may also read the article here.

Image from sheknows.com

Cheerios!
Rach

Guide for Baby Naming

From all-time favorites like Mary or James, to celebrity favorites like Aidan or Ava, to the downright quirky like Sage Moonblood or Jermajesty, one of the first decisions you will ever make for your child is what his/her name will be.

While it has become a trend to think out of the box and give unique names for your children, there are some things that you'll have to consider. Lilsugar.com gives us some things to think about when baby naming:

21 CONSIDERATIONS FOR NAMING BABY

* Will you name the baby before your water breaks?
Actress Jessica Alba named lil Honor before the sweet girl was born. The mama-to-be even received personalized presents for her daughter at her baby shower.

* Would you bring your babe home without a name?
Many moms and dads wait until they meet their babe to decide on a definite moniker. At that point some couples still can't choose, so they take their wee one home from the hospital without a name. Celeb mama Brooke Burke and David Charvet were more than excited when they welcomed son Shaya, but it was weeks before they named him.

* Will you name the baby after mommy?
While some moms give their daughters monikers after their own, it's not nearly as common as it is for fathers. Famous chef Giada de Laurentiis named her daughter Jade, which is the American way of saying Giada. While it's the same meaning, it's different enough to stand on its own.

* Does the name's meaning matter to you?
Whether it's something traditional or never heard before, every name has a meaning. Some people inherit family titles, others carry the same moniker as '80s cartoon characters, and some names are plucked straight from a book.

* Will cultural naming play a role in your selection?
In Jewish tradition, names are given to honor family members, traditionally deceased relatives. Recent generations have modified the custom by using the first letter of the relative's name for their baby, like taking the "S" from Sally and naming their daughter Sabrina. In doing so, the family can remember a loved one on a daily basis.

* When is a name off limits?
Bronx Mowgli was likely not on Jessica Simpson's short list of names for her future children. I'll also go out on a limb and speculate that Angelina and Brad won't call a hypothetical seventh child Jennifer. But would it be inappropriate for Courteney Cox and David Arquette to have a son and name the baby Brad? It's one thing to rule out your own ex when it comes to naming a baby, but what about a best friend's old beau?

* Do you like family name themes?
Families like the Kardashians and the Duggars pick a letter and stick with it. But other parents choose a theme to guide them in naming their kids. In the famously talented Phoenix clan, each child was given a nature-inspired name — River, Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer. Chef Jamie Oliver recently joked that his wife, Jools, has floral aspirations since she's named their three daughters Poppy, Daisy and Petal.

You can find the rest here!

So whether you go for something traditional or go for something unique, take the time to ask yourself these guide questions.

We do a lot of baby naming ourselves. Except, our babies are our clippys of course! Come up with something lovely and we might end up naming our best clips after your baby! Check out our website for some name inspirations for girls: hairclippy.com.

Cheerios!
Rach

April Fool's With a Vengeance

So you were pranked by your family last April Fool's and this has led you to device your own pranks for next year. But why wait? The best tricks come when you least expect it!

Well technically, it's still April and it is called April Fool's. So who says you can only prank people on April 1? Try these Foolproof Food Pranks from Disney Family Fun and have some lighthearted fun with your family:

COLORFUL CUPCAKES
The first surprise here: there's not a grain of sugar in these cupcakes. The second surprise: your kids will love them anyway.



Ingredients:

MEATLOAF
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

POTATO FROSTING
3 cups mashed potatoes
food coloring

Instructions:
1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line 12 muffin tin cups with foil bake cups.

2. In a large bowl, mix together all of the meat loaf ingredients until well combined. Divide the mixture evenly among the lined cups (the liners should be about three quarters full).

3. Place the filled muffin tins on cookie sheets and bake the cupcakes for about 15 minutes or until cooked through.

4. Divide the mashed potatoes among three small bowls and stir a few drops of food coloring into each batch to create blue, yellow, and pink pastel frostings. Spread a generous dollop on each cupcake. Makes 12 cupcakes.

GELLED JUICE
A thirsty family member is the perfect target for this glassful of trickery that's impossible to drink. And since the undrinkable beverage is made by the batch, you'll be able to fool more than one person.



Ingredients:
lemon-flavored gelatin
red food coloring

Instructions:
Following the package directions, mix up a box of lemon-flavored gelatin (we added a drop of red food coloring to darken it). Pour the mixture into clear glasses and insert a drinking straw into each. Place the glasses in the refrigerator to set. When they're ready, serve the jiggling juice to the next parched target (or two!) looking for a cool drink.

FAKIN' AND EGGS
Trick your family with a tiny breakfast that's really a cleverly disguised dessert.


Ingredients:

FOR THE EGGS
3 tablespoons white chocolate chips
12 yellow M&Ms

FOR THE FAKIN'
1 square caramel
1 Tootsie Roll Midgee

Instructions:
1. For the eggs: Melt the white chocolate chips according to the package directions. Transfer the melted chocolate to a ziplock bag and snip off a corner.

Squeeze nickel-size portions of the chocolate onto a sheet of waxed paper, then gently press a yellow M&M, letter side down, into the center of each. Let the candies cool. Makes 12 eggs.

2. For the fakin': Remove the wrapping from a square caramel and a Tootsie Roll Midgee. Microwave the candies for 4 seconds to make them soft. Use your thumb and forefinger to slightly flatten each candy piece, then press them together.

Halve the candy, then stack and press the pieces into alternating layers.

Slice a 1/4-inch-wide piece from the stack. Pinch and stretch the piece lengthwise into a flat bacon strip, then cut it in half. Add ripples to each half by gently bending the edges. Makes 3 strips (6 pieces).

Have some food fun and let me know how your tasty little vengeance turns out!

Cheerios!
Rach

What Your Family MUST Have in the Fridge

One of the many frustrations of working mommas is hardly having time and energy left by dinner time. Or even before that! Sometimes you just want to close your eyes and desperately wish that when you open them, dinner will be done and everyone will be good boys and girls. But alas, not even the toughest mom can conjure such magic spells like Bewitched's Samantha...



So here's a little guide to help you out in the kitchen. I found them in INOMommy.com:

We can all use a little extra help becoming organized in the kitchen and during meal planning. The best way to ease stress is to be prepared. Make a list of frequently used items and attach it to your refrigerator door. Every weekend, check for items that you’re running low on, and take a trip to the store to replace them. Here are some items to get you started:

In your refrigerator
* Eggs (or egg substitute)
* Fat-free Parmesan cheese
* Fresh fruit
* Green onions
* Jar of minced garlic (I prefer to buy the already peeled garlic and then zest it into whatever I am cooking)
* Low-fat shredded cheese
* Low-fat yogurt
* Low-sodium soy sauce
* Pre-washed and sliced veggies
* Ready-to-eat salad bags
* Reduced-calorie margarine
* Fat-free milk

In your freezer

* Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
* Frozen pasta such as tortellini or ravioli
* Frozen vegetables
* Frozen yogurt
* Lean meat and pork
* Leftovers!
* Salad-size shrimp

The original article can be found here.

PONDER, PONDER, PONDER...
Got any tried-and-tested tips you'd like to share? How do you stay on top of things at home? Or do you also find yourself stuck in the struggle?

Cheerios!
Rach