October Blog 2011…

StacyRae Mednick October 3rd, 2011

With the new school year? underway most of us are? back to? a family schedule with school, sports, volunteering, church activities? and so much more. The year begins with most of us hitting the ground with both feet running? and in a hurry. But isn’t that what happens every year? Wouldn’t it be nice to have things run as smoothly as possible? I think that would be every family’s wish. Here are a few tips? to create a? smoother school year for more organized? school mornings, less chaos after school and even time for family exercise. Wow, now that’s what I’m taking about!

Plan your month in advance, sit down with your family and write down on your calendar every ones schedule using a different colored pens.? Write down all the homework assignments like book reports and special homework projects well in advance to have plenty of time to get them done. Write down all the events for the month including? sports and practices of each child and who is going to get them there. Plan doctors appointments and dental appointments in advance so they won’t interfere with school and sports if possible.
Talk with your family about what kinds of food they would like to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This will help you so you can? plan and cook ahead of time. Even? if you have to cook? on the weekends it can really help your week? run more smoothly, it is actually is worth it.? I find that if I shop and cook on the weekends and freeze meals that my family eats healthier. If you plan your meals you will be less likely to be tempted to go to a fast food restaurant .? Most clients that I work with end up at the? drive through restaurants because of poor planning.? Eating at home most evenings throughout the week will save your family money and weight gain. Try to connect to eat at home with your families at least 2-3 times a week. This is so important and your family will always remember these family dinners as a tradition to pass on to there kids when they have families of their own. Then when you do eat out once a week or so, it will be more like a treat for the whole family.
Pick out clothes for school the night before. Make lunches the night before and get back packs ready and placed by the door for a smooth school morning. If possible set out breakfast dishes the night before and know what you’re going to have for breakfast. Make sure to ask your children if there is any paper work that needs to be signed for there classrooms so that gets handled in the evening before. If? is helps a sign bathroom times so everyone isn’t in there all at once. Bathroom shifts help with all families but especially for larger ones. Try it and see if your mornings run smoother.
Try to get as much done during the week so that when the weekend comes your not stuck doing chores and laundry. Have the children help with basic chores throughout the week and stay consistent with making sure they do them. Put together a chore chart and have each child check off the chores each day that they are done.? This teaches them about life and how to prepare for later years when they move away from home. ATTENTION ALL FITNESS MAMAS; avoid cleaning up your children’s rooms this only teaches them that they don’t have to be accountable for there own rooms and later in life this could cause problems in a? marriage, at work or any other? room mate situations. Teach them to clean up their own rooms and they will learn that they are responsible for there space and there things. Mothers that clean there children’s room don’t do them any favors except to co-sign there own child’s lazy behavior. Have consequences for un-clean rooms and when your children? want to go somewhere or do something fun then the answer will be easy to say, “NO”! Explain why and trust me they will get better at taking care of there rooms and doing there chores. Be consistent and follow through. The follow through part as parents is very important or your children won’t take you seriously.
Lastly, try to find some time in the afternoon, early evening or weekends? and go for an after dinner walk, bike ride or play at the park as a family. Bring a blanket, some snacks and hang out and relax. It doesn’t take a lot of money or expensive trips to rally up the troops to get? some exercise and family time in. Re-connect when ever you can with a game of basketball, tag, throwing the baseball to each other, get creative.? Great conversations come out of playing and exercising with your kids. You never know what they may talk to you about, and that’s worth a lot to? a parent. On the weekend look for places near by that you can explore like local hiking trails, bike paths and local parks. Get outside with nature with your family and get away from the computer, games, and other things that may distract you from being really present with your family. Time passes quickly and therefore now is the time to make those memories and value on-another.

Here is a great book that I have been reading that you will love: Boundaries with Kids, by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend.

This summer we went to Palm Desert for our family vacation. We had a blast we spent time together and did lots of outdoor activities. We went swimming, hiking, walking and explored the town. We even went to the water park in Palm Springs. Hopefully you were able to do something with your family this summer even if it was to take a drive to San Diego and go to the zoo. Spending time with your family is what matters most, making memories and taking time out for each other.

Here are some photos of our trip to Palm Desert…