Do you sometimes feel like the family Uber as you shuffle kids here and there between activities? If so, you are not alone. How would you like to make the most out of that precious time spent in the car?

We recently read an article from LifeTree and wanted to share it here with you. It offers some sound advice for car conversations.

​3 Ways I'm Making The Most of My Role As Mom-Chauffeur

1. Creating Rules For Technology That Make Space For Interaction:
We live in an age when it’s easy after a long day for kids to immediately turn to their device of choice for a game or text. Instead of letting my kids automatically “plug in and shut me out," however, I’m trying to be more intentional with our times together in the car by banning devices. Through this new rule, I’m discovering that this tin box with wheels is the perfect place to get my kids’ undivided attention, especially when I have a chance to be one-on-one with them. Our technology-free-zone has helped spur on all kinds of great and surprisingly deep conversations.

2. Asking Creative Questions:
The silence between me and my teens can be deafening some days. My kids can take open-ended questions and close them in a snap.
“Tell me about school,” I ask.
“It was good,” they say.
Open. Closed.
To help, I try having a few creative interactions in my arsenal.

• “What was the craziest thing that happened today?” is one question I ask often. My kids have come to respond, “Well nothing crazy happened, but this went on...”
• “What is the grossest thing you saw today?”  
• “If you compare the smell of your cleats to a rotten food, what would it be?”

I’m no longer afraid of getting outlandish and eliciting looks from my kid suggesting I’m crazy. My point is to think ahead and get my kids talking. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by what I’ve learned.

3. Accept My Role As Cheerleader, Counselor and Mediator:
The very nature of being a pre-teen/teen is feeling like an awkward outsider, and these feelings are magnified in competitive or performing environments. Thus, chances are good that at least one of my children will have a “bad practice,” or a challenging day at work, or something bad after school at least once a day. I hold my breath after almost every practice or after school activity, hoping to see smiles…but too often seeing hung heads instead.

It’s easy for me to see my time spent in the circular drive as just another to-do--a drain on my already busy schedule during a busy time of year. Instead, I want to use this time in the car to reduce "the business" of parenting and make space to hear my kids. They want to know I care; I’m trying to use the mini-van as a conduit for just that.

To read the article in its entirety go to:
https://www.mylifetree.com/making-the-most-of-her-role-as-mom-chauffeur/?utm_source=internal_lifetree_kids&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ltk_newsletter_20190828&contact_eid=c6b76e9c-bff5-421d-96f1-a09a1bed413d&emaccount=lifetree&_bta_tid=05863831965476382047241604822724430618490214968667574835123220223137374482168331399648215604138779336965

#cartime #conversations #kids #chauffeur #uber #family #time #talk #angels #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme #moments

No matter what part of the country you live in school has either started or is getting ready to start. That means many things to both parents and kids. More routine, more homework for sure, and probably even more student peer drama. 

To help ease into the transition we have some tips to help your family along.

1. Stay connected. Eat at least one meal a day together - preferably two (breakfast and dinner). At breakfast, which are pretty rushed around our place, we are waking up and encouraging each other. At dinner, we are winding down, recapping our day, and planning for the next day.

2.  Do what you can and delegate the rest. If your kids are old enough to make their sandwiches for lunch - let them. If they are old enough to get their own snacks and help pack their lunch box - let them. Many hands make light work! And the more you can do the night before the better. If you can't, all that running around in the morning helps get your blood pumping.

3.  Have the kids lay out their outfits for school the night before. Don't forget the socks and underwear too! This helps soo much in our household.

4.  After school get a treat - whether it be $1 cone from McDonald's (one of our faves) or a slurpee - reward their efforts for getting back into the routine. 

5.  Keep a little bit of summer still alive. Whether you took walks, went to the park, or had play dates continue to do that as time permits. Don't let summer end too soon. While you are making these memories, remember to include your angel. It will make those moments more meaningful.

#schooldays #teachers #family #summer #tips #angels #kids #school #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme #together #memories

Our favorite Pediatrician, Dr. Deepa Sukumar, shares her expertise on trampolines and offers some tips for staying safe.

Recently I saw a child in the urgent care injured while playing on a trampoline. Broken bones, head and neck injuries, bruises, scrapes and cuts are some common injuries due to trampolining.

Here are some recommendations from the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) for the use of trampoline.

• Children less than six years of age should be prohibited from jumping on trampolines.
• Active adult supervision should occur with all other jumpers.
• Trampoline use should be limited to only one jumper at a time.
• Somersaults and flips should not be performed.
• Parents should inspect trampolines for adequate placement and condition of padding.
• Trampolines should be placed on a level surface and away from trees or other hazards
• Trampolines should be inspected before each use for worn or damaged parts and safety equipment such as netting and padding.
• Install a safety net around the perimeter of the trampoline.

And the doctor's final word of advice on trampolines:

The absolute safest way to avoid trampoline injury is to stay off them. (sorry...)

#trampoline #safety #fun #kids #pediatrician #drdeepasukumar #advice
​#angels #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme #familytime #moments

Yay it's Wingsday - no not Wednesday - Wingsday! That day of the week where we think about angels a little bit more than usual. We pause in the middle of our week to be still and consider... which is really meditating. 

Recently we read a story that gave us a new perspective in the "pauses" of our lives. The unwelcome interruption of a phone call at dinner, the person who could have turned on that green light but didn't so now we sit through a red light, a child who asks us to play with them when we have dishes to clean...the interruptions and pauses are many and come in all shapes and sizes.

The author went on to tell the story of how she and her husband were rushing about in the midst of a family crisis at a nursing home. They were leaving (or trying to leave) a parking lot on their way to their next thing - only to be interrupted by an elderly slow man with a walker and downtrodden face walking in front of their parked car. "Could this man walk any slower? We have places to be and things to get done." they thought.

Then the author and her husband looked at this man with different eyes - not the rushed get out of my way eyes - but "eyes to see the sacred." It appeared this elderly man may have just lost his wife. He had some dolls in his hands and was placing them ever so gently in his car. They were witnessing what appeared to be a moment of loss, of grief, of memories.

She said it best: "How often do we pass by someone, irritated by their attitude or even their lack of interaction with us? We may have taken a cursory glance at what's going on - at who they are - and not seen the burden weighing down their heart, shaping their response. A sharp tone may be a hint that someone is in physical or emotional pain. Reticence might mean someone struggles with hearing or vision loss ... or emotional loss. Someone's interruption of our lives might be an intersection of the normal with the sacred - but we have to be willing to stop and see them anew, with eyes of grace."

Today I created a pause in my schedule. I searched out my hiding kids and tickled them incessantly and without mercy. It was a moment that they delighted in and I was glad to have given up for them. My to-do list didn't shrink while I was doing that. But our connections to each other expanded because I paused and look at things differently.

Take some time today to pause and see someone differently.

#interruptions #thingstodo #wait #pause #kids #differently #life #moment
#angels #whereisyourangel

Would you rather go to the dentist than plan what's for dinner? Well, we have a meal plan for the week sure to please your tribe (and your wallet).

Some of these meals are easy enough to put together pretty quickly. Yet they will taste like you spent a lot of time on them.

Monday night:
Chili - it's a great "comfort" food and a beginning of the week meal
This is one I recently threw together with whatever was in my freezer and pantry and my husband raved about it! 
1/2 lb-1 lb of cooked turkey sausage or turkey burger (this sausage was crumbled up in my freezer from a month ago)
1 15 oz. can no salt or low salt corn (no need to drain)
1 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes (do not drain)
1 15  oz. can dark red kidney beans (drained)
1 jar of Pioneer Woman's Rustic Bolognese pasta sauce (I bought this as a BOGO - buy one get one free - at my local grocery store. I needed some more tomatoes to put in the chili but didn't have any cans of crushed tomatoes - which is what I usually use - so this was my substitute. I think using this sauce is what made my husband rave!)
1-3 T. garlic powder (remember, I like garlic so I load it on, if you want to use just enough go with 1 T.)
1 T. fennel seed (I find whenever cooking a recipe with ground meat, fennel adds a nice flavor.)

Put all ingredients in the pot and let simmer boil (bring to a slight boil then turn down to a simmer) for about 20 minutes. Then your delicious dinner is done!

Optional toppings: 
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Sour Cream or Low-Fat Plain Greek Yogurt
Crackers

Tuesday night:
Chicken Spaghetti
A friend introduced this recipe to me years ago and it's been a hit in our home ever since! 
1 box angel hair or spaghetti noodles cooked (I love thin noodles so the angel hair - surprise! - is my fave. Make it healthier by using wheat pasta or veggie pasta.)
1 container sauceless pulled chicken (I buy Curly's Roasted and Seasoned Pulled Chicken when it's BOGO.)
1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1-3 T. garlic powder (see my note on garlic above)
1/2 c. Italian dressing
1 T. dry basil leaves
1 T. oregano

Combine all of the above ingredients (except the cooked noodles) in a pot. Let simmer for 20-25 minutes. You can also put the sauce in a crockpot on low for 4 hours (although to make it worth your while, double the recipe if you do this.)

Sides:
Broccoli is my go-to veggie for spaghetti.
Garlic bread anyone?!?

Wednesday night:
Parmesan Chicken
This one is so simple but tastes soo good.
Breaded frozen chicken breasts cooked according to package directions (you can also use chicken tenderloins or Boca Original Chicken veggie patties for this)
1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce or 15 oz. can crushed tomatoes with basil 
2 c. shredded mozzarella or - for a nice kick - pepper jack cheese

Don't overcook the chicken. If it says 8-10 minutes to bake, then take them out at 8 minutes. Spoon enough spaghetti sauce or crushed canned tomatoes over each chicken breast to cover - but do NOT saturate. Then put cheese on top of the sauce. Put back in the oven for 5-8 minutes, until cheese melts. Viola! You are an Italian chef!

Sides:
A green veggie of your choosing (red and green just look pretty together!) or a nice salad
Garlic bread (we use the frozen kind but you can buy a fresh loaf from the bakery and dip it in olive oil and pepper)

Thursday night:
Left Over night! There should be some left overs from your earlier meals to take the night off tonight.

Friday night:
Sub night
Remember the sauceless chicken we bought BOGO earlier in the week? Well, buy the bbq version with it for Sub night!
1 container BBQ Chicken (warmed)
4-6 sub rolls
1 small onion sliced for subs
Sliced Cheese of your choosing (cheddar, provolone, gouda, pepper jack...)

Slightly toast the sub rolls on 325 degrees for about 3-5 minutes. Put the warmed bbq chicken in the rolls, put onions on top. Bake for 5-7 minutes. Take out of oven and put sliced cheese on top. Bake for another 3 minutes until cheese has melted.

Sides and optional toppings:
Pickles, jalapenos, cut carrots, fruit, and either potato chips or fries 

There you go! Your week of meal planning is done. Simple and easy. Enjoy!

#mealplanning #easy #dentist #yummy #delicious #foryou #whatsfordinner #simple #angelhair #whereisyourangel #angelbooks #angelwatchingoverme 

Do you remember the tv series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"? My family and I loved watching that show! We watched the before pictures, heard the stories, and then watched in amazement at the transformations.

Although we can't promise you Ty yelling in a bull horn and making your dreams come true, we can give you some promising statistics that will bring improvements into your home. The kind of improvements money can't buy and you can't put a price on.

Some of you may already be doing this, some of you may have gotten away from doing it and some of you may want to make it more meaningful. One proven way to help keep your children off of drugs, give them a sense of stability, and a greater connection to you and each other is through having dinner together. Not a drive-thru on the run kind of meal. But a sit down at the table dinner.

Where do you start and is it too late? As long as someone still lives in the house it's never too late to start. Dinner can (and probably should) be the most important meal of the day. It's the "capping off" of the day and getting ready to rest or wind down meal. 

First, set the dinner "rules" or dinner standard. The standard in our house is that dinner means no electronics (adults included). If nobody can live without their phones (or tv) for 30 minutes then there is a bigger problem - seek out a Dr. Phil! 

We don't discuss discipline issues, broken rules, or engage in arguments. The dinner table is a safe place. We do talk about family values (respect, honor, fun, forgiveness, generosity...). We have our Grateful Journal where we write what we are grateful for that day. We will even pick a family member and tell one thing we really like or appreciate about them. The world tells us (and sometimes screams at us!) how inadequate we are, we want to build each other up. 

Other meal time discussions can include talks about being safe and what's healthy. Ask your kids scenario and thought provoking questions. "What would you do if you were asked to take a candy bar from the store without paying for it?" We also tell our kids stories from when we were kids, what we were going through, and what we did for fun.

Weather permitting we take dinner outside or we have a "picnic" on the living room floor. As for what's on the menu, it doesn't have to be complicated or elaborate. Last night we had breakfast for dinner. Tonight my husband requested salad. Tomorrow on this blog we will give you some easy meal ideas for the week.

Remember the best home improvements don't involve a contractor or a demo day. They involve regular maintenance of the most important meal of the day - dinner with your family.

#homeimprovements #drphil #typennington #family #dinners #meaningful #kids #parents #drugfree #connection #engaged #angels #books #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme

Looking to find creative ways to engage your kids, connect with your spouse, and just learn better ways to manage stress and deal with people? We found a great resource that offers up soo many tips and tricks we are fans!

Every other month we get a magazine in the mail (yes we like to put our hands on paper and thumb through the pages!!) called Helping Families Thrive. It is a resource from Focus on the Family. 

Are you struggling with whether or not to let your kid watch a certain movie, play a particular video game, or even read a questionable book? This magazine touches on those issues and more.

This magazine and its resources offer ways to parent better and helps you help your kiddos understand and articulate what they are feeling and what they are going through. It's about relationship building with some of the most important relationships in your life.

You can subscribe by following this link:
https://jimdaly.focusonthefamily.com/subscribe-to-thriving-family-magazine-for-free/

Tell them we sent you! 

#free #family #resource #kids #parents #media #helpful #angels #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme