What Teens Think Of E-mail
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A suggestion for getting around in the rain
We’ve had rain for two days straight from one of the tropical depressions that tried to be a hurricane and destroy New Orleans for the second time. It’s enough of a challenge to keep the girls occupied on a sunny weekend, much less a holiday weekend when it rains all the time. So when the girls begged to be allowed to play in the rain it wasn’t hard for them to win me over.
“We have ponchos.” Gwen added. “It’s not lightning.” she was a persistent salesperson.
The kids are back in school, let’s work out
My workout routine tends to fall by the wayside when the kids are home from school for the Summer. Now that they’ve been back in school for a whole month and are finally in a routine it’s time for me to find my own routine.
It’s one thing to set a goal to get in shape; it’s another to stay motivated. This is why New Year’s fitness resolutions tend to fizzle by February. This should not stop you from making realistic fitness goals, however – there are some things you can do to keep yourself motivated toward your goals. Here are some ideas to keep yourself on track.
Set Realistic Goals
If you’ve set a goal to lose 30 pounds in 3 weeks and run a marathon in 10 days, you may find yourself disappointed and discouraged. It’s not possible or even healthy to attempt such goals! Instead, do your research – find out what your ideal weight is for your height and build; be honest about your current physical state; take your family budget, diet, and time into account. Once you have a good idea as to where you are, you can get a better grasp of where you can realistically go.
Also, many sources point out that setting small goals is better than setting just one big one. You can have the larger goal, of course; but mapping out a series of goals that lead toward that may be quite helpful. Reaching small, weekly or monthly goals can go a long way toward keeping you motivated.
Don’t Be Too Strict
Part of your fitness goals probably involves a change in diet. While healthy changes are good, simply cutting out every “bad” food, such as sugar, white flour, processed foods, fast foods, etc., may end up backfiring. If you feel deprived, you might be more likely to break your dietary restrictions and binge on treats.
To avoid this, you might try cutting out a “bad” food each week, or maybe cutting out one sugary food every week. Maybe you could start by replacing sugar-sweetened iced tea or sugary sodas with stevia-sweetened teas or colas. If you eat fast food daily, cut back to twice a week to start. Choosing one day a week to ’cheat’ within reason helps me, especially when that one day a week involves a family gathering or a special occasion where sticking to a strict diet is unrealistic. These are just some of the ways you can make significant changes in your diet without feeling deprived and frustrated.
Find a Workout Partner
Having someone who will hold you accountable for your goals can be invaluable. Make this person aware of your long-term and short-term goals, and ask him or her to work out with you or call up and see if you’re exercising. Knowing that there’s someone else expecting you to meet your goals can go a long way toward keeping you motivated.
Make It Enjoyable
As much as you can, make your workout time something you look forward to. Maybe you can choose a beautiful, attractive location for your exercise, such as a lovely outdoor area or gym where you feel comfortable. If you like to socialize, you can make your workout time social time by meeting up with friends. If you enjoy time alone, finding a location where you can be by yourself may help entice you to keep doing your workout.
Make “You” Time
That hour after the kids leave or school and before I start working is ‘my time’. Many Moms have a hard time claiming at least an hour of ‘me time’ each day because we somehow always put ourselves last. Turn the cell phone off, get out of the house for a walk, or work out inside your home. If you have a two story home, you have a built-in stair master. Climb those stairs 10 times in a row, you will feel it in your thighs. Don’t have weights, use the milk jug for resistance. Just going through the rest of the day knowing you took an hour to improve your health relieves stress and brings a peace of mind that noone can take away from you.
Parents feel separation anxiety, too!
When you think of separation anxiety, does your mind turn to clingy toddlers, fearful preschoolers, or upset gradeschoolers? While these are the types of people – children – that we tend to think of when we consider separation anxiety, parents can feel it, too.
Whether your child is going off to college and you’re facing an empty nest, or your child is starting preschool for the first time, some parents have a hard time coping with being separated from their children. When parents feel separation anxiety, there are some things you can do to help ease the separation. Here are some ideas.
Plan, Plan, Plan
And then plan some more! Parents tend to “walk in circles” after their child leaves, unsure how to spend their time. This is especially true if parents include their children in their daily activities and schedules. Open, unplanned time that used to be filled with your child can be anxiety-producing. So before the day your child leaves – even if the separation is just for a few hours – plan the day and how you’ll spend your time.
Since the separation from your child is likely to be a regular (or even semi-permanent) thing, plan your days that will follow the first separation, too.
While you’re keeping busy, try to schedule activities you haven’t gotten to do in a long time, or that you have wished you could do for a while. This can help you look forward to this “me time.” This is a great time to take that class or join that group!
Keep It Positive
When you are around your child, try not to communicate your anxiety. You shouldn’t be expected to stuff it all inside; your spouse, a therapist, pastor, friend, etc. can provide a listening ear. But your child benefits from seeing your confidence in his ability to be on his own. Try not to make her feel guilty, or be “clingy” in an adult way.
Letting Go
It’s tempting for parents with separation anxiety to become stifling, even remotely. In today’s world, there are more ways than ever for parents to “hover” and shadow their children. But it’s probably not a good idea to follow your child on every social network or insist that he call or send a text message every hour. Talk to other parents or professionals about what’s normal in this regard, and set up a sensible contact plan and stick to it.
Know Who’s in Charge
It might help your anxiety to know your child’s caregiver(s) well. Take some time to get to know teachers, camp counselors, or whoever your child is going to be around when she’s away from you. If your child is going to college, meet her roommate and some of her professors, particularly those in her chosen field. Then, once again, let it go – try to resist “harassing” teachers, caregivers, etc. by insisting on updates all the time.
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How to prepare for kindergarten
Many parents want to know what they can do to prepare their child for kindergarten. This concern is understandable; going to kindergarten is a big step, and whether your child has been in preschool or not, kindergarten is a milestone. Here are some ideas and tips on how you can prepare your child for his or her first kindergarten experience.
Visit
Perhaps this is obvious, but it’s still something that parents may not think of. It’s a good idea to arrange a tour of the kindergarten and school, meet the teacher, and get a feel for the school’s layout. If possible, eat a meal in the cafeteria and spend enough time at the school to get oriented. Check for the location of bathrooms, the school nurse, and, of course, the classroom. Try to arrange more than one tour and meeting with the teacher so it becomes more familiar.
Following Directions
Kindergarten involves following directions. Teachers do not have time to shadow each child and see that she does what’s requested. Practice giving your child simple directions with multiple steps, such as, “Go into the kitchen, get your shoes, and bring them in here, please.” You can try making it into a game by timing how long it takes her to follow through.
Listening Skills
A kindergartner needs to listen to instructions, whether it’s on a field trip or in the classroom. Some children seem to “tune out” and not listen, so honing these skills is a good idea before kindergarten. Make sure your child does not interrupt conversations, and practice waiting to speak. While we’re no longer in the “children must be seen and not heard” era, experts have noted children’s tendency to interrupt and speak before listening. It’s also a good idea to practice raising hands and being called on before speaking.
Social Skills
It’s been said that kindergarten is just as much (if not more) about socialization as it is academic skills. Prepare for this by getting your child into some group activities. It does not have to be complicated, but regular interactions with others – particularly other children – can help prepare your child for the social interactions of kindergarten.
The Basics
Experts agree that there’s no need for flashcards for preschoolers. But brushing up on basic skills is a good idea so your child is ready. Making it fun and part of everyday life, teach your child shapes, colors, counting, and contact information such as his address, phone number, and the spelling of his name.
Read
Daily reading time is considered very important for reading preparation. Sources suggest spending 20 to 30 minutes a day (at least) reading to your child. Take her to the library with you and choose books together, and attend read-alouds with other children if they are available in your area.
Writing Preparation
Handwriting can be challenging for some kindergarteners. To help prepare, encourage the formation of letters with chalk on the driveway, or have your child form letters with strips of clay.
image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net