Slowing the holidays down

Posted on December 20, 2011 by FoBaM-Jamie

No matter what holiday you celebrate, there’s a good chance that you’re feeling in the thick of things right now. As the year comes to a close, we find ourselves endlessly tying up loose ends. There’s just so much to do and never enough time to get to everything AND manage a good night’s sleep. It’s so easy to get caught up in all the chaos and frenzy. Today’s guest post is a gentle but firm reminder that the holidays should be about slowing down and being with our families. It comes from guest writer Wendy Thomas – a mother of six who is always at the ready with a witty quip and a grounding life lesson. Take a moment. Read. Breathe. Slow down. Enjoy the moments and the little things. Happy holidays.

Well before Black Friday arrived (and can I just say that when I was a kid we never called it Black Friday? It was always the “Friday after Thanksgiving.”) I made the following announcement to my kids:

“As you know, it’s been a rough year here. We’ve had pets leave us, compromised health, and it’s been tough financially. Which is why this holiday season we are going to celebrate it our own way.

We can’t be at Occupy Wall Street but we can take their message of supporting local businesses to heart. This means that many of our holiday gifts are going to come from local craftsmen and small family owned stores (“Just say no to Monster High Dolls”.) We’re going to bring Christmas back home with locally made gifts (including homemade items), lots of baked goods, and a general slowing down of things so that we have time to spend with each other.

Don’t worry, there will still be plenty of presents, it’s just that the gifts this year are all going to have heart (and will support our local economy.)”

I wasn’t really sure what reaction to expect. I knew the older teens would understand what I was trying to do, they were as fed up with the insanity-provoking commercial hype as I was, but I wasn’t sure if my two youngest children, both daughters would go along.

And the blame for this rest solely on my shoulders.

Yup, I’m the mom that makes sure Christmas is perfect. I shop till I drop, I get absolutely everything that I think will make my kids happy and then I usually end up getting more. A singing reindeer? Adorable. Books that can record your voice? Into the cart they go.

I am responsible for creating my own little Christmas Frankensteins.

I waited for the fallout from the kids, but guess what? A few months of life not going the way you had expected, tends to make you grateful for things other than a bunch of toys. When two of our dogs unexpectedly died within two weeks of each other, we learned to appreciate every moment we have with our only remaining dog. No one wants another puppy for Christmas, we just want to be able to keep the one we have.

When brothers are diagnosed with a painful, progressive disease (Lyme) that make walking across a room a chore, you start appreciating your health a little more than the most current Wii game. Suddenly a walk outside with the family becomes a blessing, an accomplishment we can all cheer about.

When the kids accompany me to the grocery store each week and see how carefully I plan a menu and buy the food we will need for the following week while keeping within our budget, they realize that $40 for a plastic toy really is a lot of money.

To my relief, even the girls have agreed that things had gotten out of hand. They are all for our downsized Christmas and have been keeping themselves busy making crafts they can’t wait to give to their family and friends.

Oh, I’m not going Grinch on anyone, we’re still going to have plenty of presents but this year some of the presents might be made from feathers that have fallen off our chickens, a hat just perfect for someone that was found at a thrift store, or ornaments made from some of the pine cones found in the back woods. Or we just might sit down, truly grateful that we are together and talk about our favorite family memories while I pass around mugs of hot chocolate with candy cane stirrers and gingerbread hot from the oven.

Wendy Thomas is an award winning journalist, columnist, and blogger who believes that taking challenges in life will always lead to goodness. She is the mother of 6 funny and creative kids and it is her goal to teach them through stories and lessons. Wendy’s current project involves writing about her family’s experiences with chickens (yes, chickens).

Pip and Posy book giveaway

Posted on by FoBaM-Jamie

When you are a kid, your world is made up of small things – a favorite pair of mittens, the promise of an ice cream after dinner, a play date. Events and interactions that are incidental to adults can loom large in the context of a child’s life. Each book in the Pip and Posy series by Axel Scheffler (published by Nosy Crow, an imprint of Candlewick Press) focuses in on one small event – looking at it from the perspective of a child.

In The Super Scooter, Posy takes Pip’s new scooter for a ride with some not-so-great results. First, Pip is angry that Posy took the scooter away from him and then Posy takes a tumble and hurts her knee. Luckily, Pip comes to his friend’s rescue, helping fix her up and find a less dangerous way to pass the afternoon. In The Little Puddle it’s Posy’s turn to come to the rescue when Pip gets distracted with all the fun he’s having on his play date at Posy’s house and forgets to take a potty break. Posy’s kind-hearted handling of the embarrassing situation makes Pip feel better and the two friends enjoy the rest of the afternoon painting.

Both Pip and Posy books use simple language to tell stories that are just the right size for young children to understand. As I read these, they seemed to me the kind of stories that might spark parent/child conversations that would be helpful in addressing otherwise delicate topics like friendship, sharing, and accidents. Scheffler presents the “crisis” in his stories as a non-crisis. These small experiences that might feel traumatic are actually, for his characters, just a chance to learn something new. The Candlewick site features a video of Scheffler talking about the creation of the Pip & Posy books.

Scheffler, also the illustrator for the Oscar-nominated short film The Gruffalo, fills the Pip and Posy books with illustrations that are bright, cheerful, and full of fun details that kids will love “exploring.” There are keys hanging on the hook and mail on the table, children’s artwork scotch-taped to the walls, bugs hiding from the rain under a leaf umbrella, smiling snails and slugs, and loads of other fun bits and pieces that will tickle funny bones. Most important, no matter the drama, there’s always a happy ending.

If you’d like a couple more happy endings in your home library, we’ve got just the thing. Our friends at Candlewick and Nosy Crow would like to give two lucky winners this pair of Pip and Posy books.

For a chance to win one of the sets of free copies, simply leave a comment below sharing your thoughts about the importance of small events, kindness, or friendship. All comments must be in by midnight EST, Thursday, December 22nd and include a valid email address. Please note that the comment must be on the blog, not on our Facebook fan page to be eligible to win. If you’re one of our randomly selected winners, we’ll be in touch by email to get all your shipping details so the nice folks at Nosy Crow can send out your goodies.

Thanks for sharing a small moment with us. Good luck, happy reading, and be sure to stop by and “Like” Candlewick’s Facebook Page.

Seeing is Believing – Capture the Magic

Posted on December 19, 2011 by FoBaM-Meredith

A couple of years ago, unbeknownst to me, my oldest son set up our video camera on top of an armoire in our living room in an effort to catch Santa in the act.  He had been on the fence about Santa’s existence, his belief still hanging by a thread with the explanation “you and dad just aren’t cool enough to get me that stuff.”  Fortunately, the batteries on said camera gave out prior to capturing my husband and me groggily filling stockings and putting presents under the tree, but his skepticism remained.

Let’s face it – a little proof of concept in the Santa department would help beef up the little white lies that all parents tell.  It’s not enough that after the kiddies go to bed we gobble up just the right amount of cookies and milk and put “reindeer” marks on carrots in the front lawn.  Our savvy, and often jaded, big kids want concrete evidence that the big guy in the red suit really does exist, and our younger more innocent tots often can’t conceptualize who this Santa guy really is at all.

Created by the father of two to prove to his children that Santa does really exist, Capture the Magic is a simple, fun way to completely blow the stockings off of your kiddies on Christmas morning.   The site allows you to instantly upload a photo from your home, drop, drag and resize one of dozens of Santa images in various poses into that photo and immediately download and print the picture.  The story that you create about capturing him in the act is totally up to you, but Capture the Magic makes it effortless to provide actual evidence.   It took me about 5 minutes to create a print, and even with a less-than-stellar upload of my Christmas tree, the finished product looks legit.   For just $9.95 for three photos it’s way more economical than a Santa photo from the mall.  And, the elves at Capture the Magic will give the first 10 moms to purchase and download a print a bonus Santa calling card that can be personalized for your child.  Check out the demo using the link below and give it a try.

Even though my son is officially in the non-believer camp, he is old enough to appreciate that there’s still something magical about presents under the tree on Christmas morning.  And if a photo can reinforce that it’s wondrous to believe in something special that you can’t necessarily explain, I’m all for it.  At the very least, we might fool him into giving us props for our sweet Photoshop skills.

Maisy book giveaway

Posted on December 16, 2011 by FoBaM-Jamie

Here at Fans of Being a Mom, we believe it’s never too early to encourage a love of reading in our kids. That’s one reason we were so charmed by a new title from Candlewick: Maisy’s Snuggle Book. This book is perfect for even the youngest “readers” in the family. It features Maisy and all her friends – Charley the crocodile, Tallulah the chick, Cyril the squirrel, Eddie the elephant, and – of course! – Maisy’s special pal, Panda. The friends are all here, sharing their bedtime routines of getting into their pajamas, brushing their teeth, having some milk, reading a story, and getting a cuddle.

Maisy has always been a favorite at our house. Though my daughter is, in her opinion, too grown up for Maisy now (she is in the second grade, you know), we still read some of our Maisy favorites at bedtime … just for old time’s sake. Maisy and her friends are cheerful without being saccharine. The bright colors and bold lines are especially appealing to the younger set, offering lots of contrast and vibrancy. For kids old enough to follow a storyline, the adventures of Maisy and her friends are entertaining and comforting.

The soft, plush edition of this book makes it a literal snuggle book – the outside cover is a fuzzy, fleece material that’s both printed and embroidered, giving it some great texture for baby’s fingers to explore. The inside pages are a durable material around a soft stuffing, making the whole book soft and squishy and very inviting. The binding on the cover is a smooth, blue satin, like the edging on many favorite baby blankets. The book comes packaged in a gift-worthy striped box with a peek-a-book window that will probably keep your little one entertained for almost as long as the book.

If you think your little one would enjoy a copy of this Maisy’s Snuggle Book, you may be in luck. Our friends at Candlewick Press have offered to give away two copies.

For a chance to win one of the free copies, simply leave a comment below sharing your thoughts about Maisy or bedtime or really young readers. All comments must be in by midnight EST, this Sunday, the 18th and include a valid email address. Please note that the comment must be on the blog, not on our Facebook fan page to be eligible to win. If you’re one of our randomly selected winners, we’ll be in touch by email to get all your shipping details so the nice folks at Candlewick can send out your goodies.

Good luck, happy reading, and be sure to stop by and “Like”Candlewick’s Facebook Page.

Food Truths for Moms of Picky Eaters

Posted on December 13, 2011 by FoBaM-Jamie

Today’s guest post comes from the delightful and talented Beth Bader. She is, among other things, the co-author of a great new cookbook called The Cleaner Plate Club. As a mom who is seriously challenged in the kitchen, I was thrilled to test drive this book with my daughter. It’s full of fabulous ideas for all kinds of  snacks and meals that left my seven year-old daughter saying, “Finally!  A cookbook for me!” We’ve already made the Honey-Sage Sweet Potatoes with Pasta and an appetizer that involved bread, cheese, and apples (I felt so Parisian). Both were easy, delicious, and – gasp! – healthy! Besides recipes galore, the book includes charming illustrations and a bevy of nutritional and general information tips and insights that are both fascinating and very useful. From shopping tips to a whole section on bringing your family together with food, this book is chock full of Really Good Stuff. It’s earned a coveted space not on our bookshelf, but right on the kitchen counter – where we can refer to it for inspiration and instruction at any moment. Enough of my gushing. Let’s get on with Beth’s insights about picky eaters, and then check the bottom of the post for a GIVEAWAY.

When it comes to picky eating, my kiddo has been pretty normal. I’ve realized this as we have other people’s kids at our table. There have been one or two unforgettable moments when these children have taken one look at fresh berries, meatballs and pasta and screamed at me, “I hate this! I’m not going to eat this!” before even taking a bite. Or, refused to eat anything but plain noodles and meat, not touching one another on the plate.

Worst of all, there was the heart-wrenching moment of parents admitting that, on a scale of one to ten, the best any meal at their table has ever been is a two.

I try to look at these moments as learning opportunities. Are there things I did right or am I just lucky? Both? I must not be the brightest crayon in the box because I tend to have a lot of these “learning moments.” To quote a Wally Lamb book, however, “This much, at least, I’ve figured out. I know this much is true.”

Sometimes, all the tips in the world won’t make it easy.

There are kids who have real eating issues, in rare cases requiring a feeding therapist. Conditions like ADHD and autism can add to eating challenges. Count your blessings if your kid is just in the normal range of picky. You can solve this.

Your best picky eating advice will come from your child herself.

I let my kiddo teach me how to best avoid food fights. Barely crawling, she showed an adventurous streak, a boundless love of play and a willingness to put anything — from drinking water off a manhole cover to licking a gas station bathroom door — in her mouth. By toddler years, she could throw a meltdown that could go three hours plus. At preschool graduation, she was dubbed “Future Lawyer” partly for her analytical mind and mostly for her debate skills.

I used each of these personality “quirks” in our approach to food. I made first foods a fun adventure by arming both the kiddo and I with spoons. She was allowed to feed me, too, making it a shared experience instead of Mommy shoving food at the kid. It’s really, really hard to laugh and giggle while gagging on pureed baby food, but a mother’s love can conquer all.

As my child aged into the “I do it!” control years, she became my constant kitchen companion. We explored smelling spices, choosing vegetables at the market, tasting and preparing things together. It gave her an outlet for her very strong control need. It made a massive mess in my kitchen, but extra dishes are easier than table wars hands down.

With her newfound verbal skills and a brain that constantly, constantly churns, my “future lawyer” enjoys reading cookbooks with me, finding foods she would like to try, then tasting and evaluating them as a family. It’s not unusual for me to ask, “I think this needs more vinegar, what do you think?” Or, “this is not the best way I like carrots, either, what recipe do you like best?”

I’d like to think I had some small role in how much easier my child can be than others when it comes to food. (Note: that’s only about food!) Truth is, all I did was observe and let her be my guide. You know your child best. You will find your happy path together. Let the fun — really, FUN — begin.

There are a few universal truths that can help you.

• Food issues can be with color, texture and taste, and quite often more about control than food. Try different approaches with an open mind to solve the issue without stress.
• It can take up to fifteen exposures to a new food before a child will like or even try it. Fifteen! Don’t give up too soon.
• Stack the odds in your favor by serving the new food alongside proven favorites. You won’t have to worry if your child is leaving the table hungry.
• Enjoy your food. Your healthy food. The number one predictor of the number of fruits and vegetables your child eats is how many you eat yourself!
• Your food critic writes in crayon. Don’t take his criticism of your efforts personally.
• Now, enjoy your dinner. Really. Enjoy.

Finally, sometimes there is no win — in the short term.

There will be bad days. There will be days when your child hates food he loved just yesterday. There will be painful dinners just like there are difficult days in general. Raising a healthy eater is a long process just like raising your kid on the whole. Breathe. Be kind to yourself. You’ll make it.

GIVEAWAY: If you’d like to make things easier for you on those challenging days, I really do recommend Beth’s book The Cleaner Plate Club. Beth, along with co-author Ali Benjamin, has done an amazing job of creating a cookbook that both moms and kids can enjoy and learn from. I’m willing to bet you’ll use this book not only as a cookbook, but as a general guide to food and source of inspiration when you’re wandering around in a daze wondering what the heck is for dinner. Beth has graciously agreed to give away three copies to three random Fans of Being a Mom winners. To enter, just leave a comment below before midnight EST this Friday (December 16th) telling us your best picky eater story. If you’re one of our randomly selected winners, we’ll be in touch by email to get all your shipping details so Beth can send out your book and you can get cookin’.

About the author: Co-author of The Cleaner Plate Club: Recipes and Advice for Getting Real Kids to Love Real Food. Beth Bader has been a photojournalist, writer, and shark wrangler. As much activist as cook, she is, most of all, a mom determined to make the world a better place for her child, one meal at a time. She is a food blogger at Expatriate’s Kitchen expatriateskitchen.blogspot.com and contributes to EatLocalChallenge.com and EatDrinkBetter.com.

Image Credit: mrgreen09