A few weeks ago we bought our soon-to-be five year old son a Wii. To be honest, we first got it because I wanted to play; I just couldn’t justify the purchase to my husband. The game, however, did something absolutely incredible for our family; 
  
 #1. My husband and son finally have an activity they can do together and both enjoy. My husband is not very good at playing board games, but he is good at playing computer games and now thanks to the Wii, he and our son are spending more time together.  
#2. Both my son and my husband are off the couch at least for 1 to 2 hours a day.
 #3. I no longer need the gym membership anymore; you really get a workout from playing some of those games.
 
The best thing happened last night, which provoked me to write this. My grandparents came over while the kids were watching TV. In order to distract the kids and engage our visitors I suggested they play Wii bowling. I don’t think I’ll ever forget (or my kids for that matter) the multi-generational tournament that involved my son, husband and grandfather. Not only did this toy brought the generations closer together and created a mutual interest, it distracted the kids from their TV show and created a memory that will stay with them forever.
 
I recommend this game to anyone who thinks he/she is not good at playing with or entertaining kids.

I had to share an excellent resource provided by our sons kindergarten teacher. She created a sort list of helpful hints to help prepare kids for the first grade

• Practice reading, especially short vowel words, number, and color words
• Practice writing on regular lined paper
• Start writing letters and numbers from top to bottom
• Practice writing numbers from 0-20 or higher (go up to 1000)
• Practice telling time to the hour and half hour
• Practice adding and subtracting with cons – start with pennies, nickels and dimes (1c+1c=2c, 5c+1c=6c, 10c+2c=12c, 10c-5c=5c, 5c-3c=2c)
• Keep a journal over the summer. Begin with the date, write a sentence or more sentences and illustrate it. This may be done once a day or a 4x’s a week. This can be used to record special events or happenings your child partakes in over the vacation

Our sons kindergarten teacher gave parents a list of excellent ideas on helping children make summer a fun and educational experience. I’ve decided to share the list with others.

How parents can help:

1. Listen to your child read
2. Read to your child
3. Go to the library with your child and help him/her pick out interesting books to read
4. Find out about activities for children that take place at the library
5. Look through your child’s schoolwork with him/her
6. Read the comic section of the newspaper with your child
7. Help your child select televisions shows to watch
8. Watch a television show together, then discuss/evaluate the show
9. Teach your child how to make an emergency phone call
10. Help your child learn to use telephone directory
11. Show your child the location of your home on a map
12. Play a board game with your child
13. Help your child start a collection of rocks, stamps, pressed leaves…
14. Give your child his own calendar so he can write down special events
15. Write notes to your child
16. Help your child write notes to relatives and friends
17. Subscribe to a children’s magazine (in your child’s name)
18. Help your child cook something
19. Provide materials such as crayons, art paper and paints for creative projects
20. Look up a word in the dictionary with your child
21. Read road signs, store signs, package labels, and license plates.
22. Show your child how to use a ruler, yardstick, and a tape measure for measuring objects around the house
23. Provide counting experiences for your child
24. Encourage your child to keep a scrapbook
25. Encourage your child to wear a watch (not a digital)
26. Let your child see you reading so that you provide a model for him/her to follow
27. Encourage your child to read books more than once. It will give him/her confidence and help him/her to gain new insight
28. Establish a fifteen minute “Family Reading Time.” Eliminate distractions but make it a fun experience
29. Take books along in the car to read while waiting for appointments
30. Give books as presents so they become special and pleasurable
31. Make puppets, draw maps, make bookmarks, and act out stories to celebrate books
32. Establish a “school box” at home to help your child be more organized. Help your child get into the habit of putting all materials that must be taken to school in the box. This system will help you avoid last minute searches for lunch money, books, and permission slips. Helping your child assume responsibility is an excellent way to foster independence.
33. Don’t forget to Read, Read, and Read all summer long!

This past Sunday my husband and I had to go to a wedding, and it so happened that at the last minute we had to take our four-year-old with us. It turned out that taking our son to the event was the best decision we could have made.

It was absolutely amazing to share the tradition of the wedding ceremony with him. He was interested in every aspect of it and was constantly asking questions (very quietly as to not disturb the ceremony). He was so excited to see his relatives in this different and beautiful place, all dressed up. He also got to take pictures of everyone, which I think, was a special treat for him.

The best part for me, however, was when I got to dance, for the first time in public, with my son. I have to confess (and I hope my husband forgives me for this) that I enjoyed dancing with my son a little more then dancing with my husband. As we were dancing, I noticed my 11-year-old brother sitting as far away from our mom as possible. This image somewhat scared me, especially since earlier that day my mother told me that my brother hinted that it was time for him to start going to the movies alone with his friends.

I know I still have plenty of time until my son turns 11, but the thought of when would my son want to stop hanging out with me kept me awake all night. I decided to do a little research on the matter. The results of my research were less alarming then I initially thought they would be. According to Child Trends Family Strengths: Often Overlooked, But Real, August 2002: “The majority of adolescents think highly of their parents (85 percent for mothers and 81 percent for fathers) … Most enjoy spending time with their parents (81 percent for mothers and 77 percent for fathers)… Moreover, 79 percent of adolescents report that their mother usually or always helps with what is important to them, and 67 percent report that their fathers help them.” The report goes onto give examples of how providing children with age appropriate freedoms benefits and strengthens the parents/child relationship. This report, together with another article I found, made me realize that my brother’s desire for privacy and a little more freedom doesn’t mean that his relationship with my parents will be over any time soon.

So in short, I can go back to sleep knowing that if I support, praise and don’t hover over my kids this first dance can and will turn into a life long friendship.

For more info, check out the articles:
http://www.childtrends.org/Files/FamilyStrengths.pdf
http://family.samhsa.gov/get/time.aspx

All I can say is wow what a day. It felt amazing to start it off with going to the circus this morning. I remember going to the circus with my mom as a child. It was back in Russia I was about  years old. It was a great experience and now I wanted to do the same for my kids. I wanted to see the smiles on their faces when they see how amazing the greatest show on earth really is.

The jugglers were amazing. I am always amazed at how much coordination is needed to make that work especially when more then one person is involved. It was amazing to see how it all worked. The clowns were really funny to watch and one of my favorite was the one riding the really small bike. It was just too funny and amazing how that can be accomplished. He also had a really funny French accent and that added to how funny he was.

My most favorite part was when the animals were out. I don’t recall ever seeing elephants that close. It was amazing to see how big they are but humans were still able to control them and teach them so that they can perform for the circus. It was really funny to see them dance. I also loved the tigers. They had Russian names really is funny to me. I know I may sound like a child but really that is what it feels like when you go the circus even if you are in adult.

When my kids are a little older in a year or two we will go again. It is different but yet the same when you get older and I always want them to remember this special time.

When I got pregnant with my first son the whole experience was very weird to me. Not that I’m a very shy person by nature, but all the doctor visits and constant testing where people were asking me personal questions just felt like a breach of privacy, to me.

It all changed on Sep. 21, 2004 when I arrived at the hospital after my water broke in the early morning hours. I was barely admitted and hooked up to all the machines when my son’s heart rate dropped. Within seconds the room was full of medical staff who were moving and rolling me around, trying to calm me down as though they were dealing with a crazy person. My husband, who was totally freaked out, was trying to use his absolutely inappropriate sense of humor. Meanwhile in my head all I could think about was “I am naked and everyone is seeing me naked”.

After the heart rate stabilized, came the C-section preparations, which I still consider the most embarrassing thing that can happen to a grown woman (because I know we have some pregnant women reading I won’t go into much detail). However, my embarrassment didn’t end with the surgery; throughout my three day stay at the hospital I felt like everyone including the nursing staff, lactation specialist, doctors and residents got a full view of me and what I still consider my private parts.

That experience completely prepared me for my new role as a mom; I don’t think there is a thing in this world that can embarrass me any further. Why am I bringing this up? Well, according to the New York Times article “Lights, Camera, Contraction” (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/fashion/11BIRTHS.html?_r=4&adxnnl=1&hpw=&adxnnlx=1245249910-OQYZJuye3vhAlNtwbWL7CQ) there are tons of women who are videotape the delivery process and then post it on YouTube for the world to see.

As much as I would probably not participate in this activity, no matter how immune I am to embarrassment now, I do commend those women for sharing a private moment with the rest of the world (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dgvC9WW3Bk).

After all what’s a couple of thousands internet viewers (whom you’ll probably never meet) when you were just checked by few hundreds medical students and staff face to face? 

One thing I promise to all the new moms out there is that after your delivery, you’ll have no problem breastfeeding your kid in public or cleaning up your kid’s throw up at a fancy restaurant.

I am not saying that he is an excellent eater but it was never the way it is right now. I just don’t know what to cook for him anymore. I try to make different things but he just refuses them most of the time and wants to eat the same thing over and over again. Lately he has been refusing meat. It scares me cause if I let it go now it will become a habit and develop into something else and eventually we will run out of choice.Does anyone else out there experience this with a child that is 6 or older? I feel it easier dealing with my 3 years old.

After doing some research online I found this post from babycenter.com It helps me understand that I am not the only one with this problem As far as I understand it is a very common problem with preschoolers. I hope my son grows out of it by the time kindergarten is over but for now it gives some good ideas on how to substitute meat so that your child will get enough protein in the diet. I don’t want  to completely remove all meat from his diet I feel he will lose interest in it for good if I stop offering it to him. I feel good knowing that other things can provide the nutrients that he needs to grow strong and healthy.

http://www.babycenter.com/404_what-should-i-do-if-my-child-refuses-to-eat-any-meat_69565.bc

That is the link I hope this could of be of use to all of you as it was a good source of info for me.

I always try to find something for my 3 year old that is colorful, exciting and I know will capture his attention. I came across this book and was amazed not only will he be able to listen to old time favorite children’s verses but he also can do the puzzles that come along with the book. On each page where there is a verse there is a pocket with a puzzle pertaining to that verse. The pictures are huge and very pretty. We spend a ton of time discussing all of them and reading it over and over again.

Then I thought to my self to get more of these types of books. It is a rare find. On the back of the book I found  the publishers website and was amazed to find more of the books I love. I would like to share this site with all of you.

http://www.brollybooks.com/

I hope your toddlers can enjoy these as much as mine does.

Title: Mothers Know Best Brunch
Location: GQ 1836 Mcdonalds Avenue, Brooklyn 11223
Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2009-06-27
End Time: 17:00

At the early stages of “Mother’s Know Best Brunch” planning, I got several request for an agenda free event. Mom’s just wanted to meet and talk to each other, which was fine with me. However, later on, our group members decided that they’d like to see a program.

So here is what you should expect from our event:

1.  At 12 noon we’ll have our intros, when we’ll all get to meet each other

2.  At about 12:30 you can start ordering your food or drinks (if you don’t want to, you don’t have to)

3.  At 1:30 we will discuss a charity project that we as mothers should get involved with “Project Night Night”

4.  2:00 I have a surprise for all my mom fans. A “Passion Party” presentation, where well get to touch, taste and smell intimate product. Some of you will say that “you don’t need help in that department” bla bla bla, well you know what that’s a lie, we can always learn a trick or too. Just open up your mind a little …

To register for the event go to Partyregistry.com > click on Party Search > enter the name of our event “Mother’s know best brunch” and add your name to the list

http://www.kidsrisk.harvard.edu/mediaguide.html

With so many choices on TV today it is so hard to keep track and to decide which one I am ok with my kids watching and what is not good for them at all. Then I came across this article that talks about how to make the choice of what is good for your kid and what to look out for before you consent to a TV show.