Morning tips....taken from More4kids

Parenting Tips for Taming Morning Mania

Beating the Morning Rush
When you are getting your kids up in the morning to get ready for daycare or school, it can definitely become frustrating and stressful. Often morning mania occurs, which has you dreading those mornings during the week. If you're tired of dealing with this problem, there are things that you can do to deal with this in a positive way. Here are a few tips that can help you go from morning mania to something a bit less hectic.

Tip #1 – Make it a Routine

One of the most important tips for taming morning mania in your home is to make getting up and ready for the day a routine. If you don't start a routine and make sure your kids know that this is not an option, your mornings will become a lot easier. Establish a routine that is non-negotiable and talk to your kids about consequences that will occur if they not follow the routine. Without a routine you'll end up with tantrums and morning melt-downs, which will mean everyone begins their day in a stressful way.

Tip #2 – Try Planning Out Outfits

Morning mania can often be caused by missing socks, shoes that are mismatched, or a shirt that suddenly has a stain on it. To avoid the frantic shuffle trying to find clothing to wear, try planning out outfits for your kids ahead of time. For younger kids, help them pick out what they'll wear, allowing them some input. This should include everything, from socks, to shoes, outer clothing, underwear, and anything else they are going to wear. Plan ahead and lay it all out the night before. It will save a lot of time. Older kids can choose their own clothing, but have them choose the night before as well so you avoid clothing drama in the morning.

Tip #3 – Determine Breakfast the Night Before

Another tip for taming down that morning mania is to determine breakfast the night before. Decide what you'll be doing for breakfast in the morning. Every family is different. You may want to send money so kids can eat breakfast at school, or always have cereal and fruit waiting in the morning. Maybe you want to plan out a breakfast menu to follow. However you decide to do this, just make sure your kids get plenty of good nutrition and have it all planned out so you aren't scrambling to find breakfast options in the morning.

Tip #4 – Try Some Organization

Some organization can make a big difference and cut down on the stress of those weekday mornings too. If your kids take lunch to school, make sure that you have them packed and ready in the fridge the night before. Keep jackets in one area where kids can quickly grab them on the way out the door. Make sure kids have their backpacks ready and loaded before bed so they can just grab them and go out the door without dashing around trying to find the missing homework.

Tip #5 – Make Kids Responsible for Getting Up

Older kids should be made responsible for getting up on their own. There comes a point when you shouldn't have to be the one getting them up in the mornings anyway. Instead of having parents yelling at them to get up, give them the option to use an alarm clock so they get up and get ready on time. If they miss something, have them set their alarm a bit earlier the next day. This is a good way to help kids learn responsibility.

Tip #6 – Be a Role Model of Good Behavior in the Morning

Last, make sure that you are a role model of good behavior in the morning. That morning mania may be caused by you if you aren't showing off a good model of proper behavior. If you are frantic, grumpy, and you moan and groan your way through the morning, your kids are probably going to copy your attitude. Start getting up a few minutes earlier, stay organized, and keep your attitude level and happy as you go through the morning routine. Over time your kids will catch on and you'll be able to end that morning mania.
You don't have to keep going through mornings that have you stressed to the max before ever leaving your home. Start using these tips on a daily basis and you'll definitely see a positive change.

8 Simple Keys to Resolving Conflicts With Your Ex: No Cooperation Required

Taken from the Attachment Parenting Blog...   by Dave Taylor
You can work a little magic and learn to resolve almost any conflict with your co-parent even any cooperation. That's difficult to believe, I know, but when you change your own behavior and response to arguments, others' behavior in response changes automatically. It's like magic but it's simple yet not easy. Like poker, though, it's a minute to learn and a lifetime to master.
You can get started with 8 simple keys:

1. Be hard on the problem, but easy on the people. "Winter break is always such a hectic time since the kids aren't in school. How do you want to rearrange the parenting plan to adjust for that?" gets a better response than "You never help with childcare over winter break so I'm taking the kids to my parents' and that's that." People will help you solve a problem if they don't feel attacked.

Please continue reading 8 Simple Keys to Resolving Conflicts With Your Ex: No Cooperation Required - Tech Support

Counting Sheep

Kids!  They are all so different, aren't they?  My older child, a boy, slept at least 10 hours a night, and took at least one nap a day...even in high school! I could never understand how parents could possibly have trouble getting their child to sleep at night.   But then my little girl came along...hmmm!  Well, she loved life so much, she never wanted to miss a thing, and sleep, well, that was certainly an activity that she was dead set against participating in.   Oh, how I dreaded night time!

Well the good news is, she got tired, and slept, eventually.   Somehow, the baby grew up and made it to college AND she sleeps...a lot!

Are you looking for a bit of advice about sleep?  The following article, while written for parents of toddlers, also contains lots of info for parents of primary age students.  Take a peek, and let me know what you think!

Eight Sleeping Solutions to Help Tired Tots and Their Parents Get Some Rest

Kimberley Clayton Blaine, MA, MFT

www.TheGoToMom.TV

If you have a young child at home, chances are good that you aren’t getting quite as much sleep as you used to. But what if your little one is missing out on much needed Z’s? Lack of sleep can lead to bad behavior and what you can do to help create better nights for the both of you!
As most parents of small children know, it’s the Holy Grail. Having a child who sleep well means having a child who is more likely to be even-tempered, easier to please, and more compliant. And a mom and dad who are rested, refreshed, and ready to face the day with their energetic bundle of joy. But let her skip naptime one time and your typically happy-go-lucky toddler can quickly turn into a tantrum-throwing, argumentative, meltdown prone monster. There’s a good reason and there are solutions out there to help lull your little one into better naps and nighttimes.

see the full article by clicking on:


http://www.more4kids.info/3370/getting-back-to-good-nights-and-days/

Kids eat free!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello folks!


Check out the link below:

http://www.kidseatfor.com/metro/ny/syracuse/
This will connect you to a calendar which Syracuse area restaurants and days that kids can eat free!

Got the Homework Blues????

Every child is different.  Some children seem to have absolutely no problem cracking open their books after school, completing their assignments, and getting prepared to take on another day of school.  Of course, there are the other kiddos who find any excuse to avoid getting homework done.  I remember all too well the challenge that homework at times brought to my own family's nightly routine, and over the years, I have heard from many parents about this issue as well.

Below is a podcast that you might be interested in listening to!  It provides a bit of guidance to parents for consideration regarding homework.  So, click below and invest 10 minutes time that could alleviate the impact of the dreaded "homework blues" this year.
 
http://www.cubicledivas.com/podcasts/up/ultimateparent-episode006.m

ESM Coat Exchange

Kids grow sooooooo fast!  In order to help families keep their children warm during the winter, the ESM School District is holding it's 3rd annual coat exchange.  If you would like to donate a coat for a child, there is a barrel in the Minoa Elementary lobby.  If you need a coat for your child, stop down to East Syracuse Elementary School, which is located on Kinne St. in E. Syracuse, on October 18th between the hours of 3 - 7 PM and choose a coat.

You don't need to donate a coat in order to receive one! 

got questions????

When I first had children, I remember thinking and saying that although parenting is a life changing and incredibly rewarding experience, it has so many challenging moments.   As they say, our little "bundles of joy" don't come with instructions!  I really enjoyed finding out new information about raising my kids through books, magazines, family, friends, and professionals.  I recently stumbled upon this interesting website that I thought could be useful to our Minoa families:    http://www.pal.ua.edu/index2.php

Check it out!  It comes from the University of Alabama and has lots of on-line resources for parents.  It also says that it has a toll free Parent Assistance Line:
Phone: 1-866-962-3030
It claims that a parent resource specialist will be happy to talk with you. Calls are free and confidential.  I will give the number a call later this week, find out more about the program and will post additional info on this blog!

If you visit the site, please share comments regarding your thoughts and impressions.  We ALL can use a little support now and then!