Inspiring Moms Blog

Thanksgiving Book Reviews

Thank You, Sarah - The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson illustrated by Matt Faulkner - Love this story!  The heroine is a mom who was brave, bold, stubborn, smart, and she saved Thanksgiving—how’s that for a role model?!  Check it out on Amazon.com
 
Thanksgiving at the Tappleton’s by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Megan Lloyd - Everyone in the family has a secret that could spoil the much anticipated Thanksgiving turkey and all the trimmings. Fortunately, the message of this book will warm your heart and might just help you deal with your “Uncle Fritz”. Check it out on Amazon.com
 
We Gather Together…Now Please Get Lost! by Diane deGroat - This story follows Gilbert and his class on a field trip to Pilgrim Town.  Unfortunately, Gilbert gets stuck with the class tattle-tale, Phillip, but ends up being thankful to be his buddy. Check it out on Amazon.com
 
Turk and Runt, A Thanksgiving Comedy by Lisa Wheeler and illustrated by Frank Ansley - This story is about Turk, the “prize” turkey and his little brother Runt the one that “no one ever listens to”.  You and your kids will crack up at this hilarious book and will be thankful that the family finally listened to Runt! This one is our family’s all time favorite year after year!  Check it out on Amazon.com

We would love for you to post your family favorites on the inspiring Moms Facebook Fan Page so that we can add them to our collection!

Make it a Happy, Healthy, Safe, & Cozy Thanksgiving!

Halloween Book Reviews

 

With it just weeks away, here are our all time favorite Halloween books and our favorite Halloween DVD:

Kiki's Delivery Service - I love Halloween; watching the kids race through our neighborhood screaming for each other to wait up, while munching on their favorite candy—honestly does it get any better than this as moms or as kids?  One of my favorite traditions every year since my oldest were little is to make cocoa for everyone and then curl up, candy  bags spilled out on floor, and watch our favorite Halloween movie, ever; Kiki's Delivery Service.  No matter the ages of my kids, this tradition is enjoyed by EVERYONE. It wouldn’t be a Davis Halloween without it!  Check it out on Amazon.com.

Halloween, by Jerry Seinfeld - Imagine Seinfeld recounting his Halloweens as a kid sharing his quest for the all important, “candy.”  You’ll love it!  Check it out on Amazon.com.

One Halloween Night, by Mark Teague – We adore Mark Teague’s illustrations.  Anything can happen on Halloween, as you follow a group of kids trick-or-treating while enchantments keep them safe from the town bully. Check it out on Amazon.com.

Alice and Greta, by Steven J. Simmons - Alice is a sweet witch and Greta is the less than sweet one.  Learn how the enchantment they learned as kids teaches an important life lesson that all kids will remember.  The message of this book is powerful. Check it out on Amazon.com.

Runaway Pumpkin, by Kevin Lewis - This lovely rhyming tale follows the trail of a pumpkin on the loose.  You’ll love reading this one as each page rhymes with the next. Check it out on Amazon.com.

Halloween Night on Shivermore Street, by Pam Pollack and Meg Belviso– A counting book that gives you chills along with some thrills. This playful, but sometimes scary Halloween Party has a guest list that may be a bit ghoulish for wee ones, but perfect for your older ones. Check it out on Amazon.com.

Each one of these books is fun, colorful, and will become a fast family favorite!  As always, I love to hear from you so please email me (amy@inspiringmoms.com) with your family’s favorites or post them on our Fan Page on Facebook and we will add them to our growing list!

As a parent, I am always nervous about what to expect from parent teacher conferences. What questions should I ask?

I love this question.  Our children, like many, have conferences this week so the timing couldn’t be better.

 

First off, understand that your feelings of nervousness and anxiety are normal. Many moms feel like they are on “review” as much, if not more, than their kids. Dig deep to not take your child’s conference personally, rather, try to view it as a wonderful opportunity to hear from the one person or group of people who have the privilege of spending the entire day with your child—soak it up and enjoy it!  Your child’s teachers are some of your most valuable resources.  Together, you are partners in raising a happy, healthy, and successful child.

 

Let’s begin with what to bring.  I have a spiral notebook that I bring into every conference.  I have seven kids, so I have seven notebooks.  Bring that notebook to every conference or school meeting that concerns your child throughout the year.  Write your child’s name, grade, and year on the front.  You may have 3 or 4 school years in one notebook, and when that one is full, store it and buy another.  It will become a treasured keepsake of your child’s growth over the years.  Next, before you go, write down any specific questions you have or bring along any examples of your child’s work that you want to discuss.  One quick reminder, do your best to arrive on time.  That can be tough, but being on time sends a message to the teacher that their time is valuable and you respect it. Now, for the two questions you should ask your child’s teachers:

1. What are my child’s strengths?
2. What are my child’s opportunities for growth and development? 

The minute you ask about your child’s strengths, a positive atmosphere is created.  It’s fun to talk about where your child excels and it is a wonderful way to begin your conference.  I love to watch my child’s teacher sing their praises.  I want to hear the positives: both intellectual strengths as well as social strengths, as both are equally important to me.  As the teacher shares where your child excels, write them down in your notebook.  Ask the teacher to repeat any you might have missed because later you will share that praise with your child.  It’s important for our kids to hear genuine praise, especially from the people who make a difference in their lives.  Your kids will love it and it will motivate them to continue with the positive behaviors.  It is so important to witness the power of affirmation and how valuable it is to build in your child a positive self image.

 

Now it’s time to learn where your child has room to grow.  This question is important because it establishes that your child is human.  We all have areas of opportunity for growth and it is normal and healthy to approach life eager to learn where we can improve.  As the teacher shares the areas, it is your job to empower your child with this information.  Once your child has clarity on what the areas are and where to focus, they will know exactly where to begin to direct their time and energy as they build these skills.  Utilize the conference time with the teacher to hear specific examples so together you can create an action plan for your child’s growth.  Suggest your plan to share this information with your child and request a follow up to review the steps of the plan to motivate progress.  It is important to set weekly check points to touch base to make sure your child is making progress.  It’s in this process of setting goals, working toward them and ultimately achieving them where your child learns their capabilities.  They take ownership of their progress and learn the importance of a strong work ethic, which helps their self-confidence grow along with a host of other virtues.  A productive parent teacher conference is the stimulus for empowering your child to learn, grow and develop.  You and your child’s teacher help fuel that process. Make it a great one!

Fall Into New Traditions

Fall is a perfect time to share my thoughts on the importance of traditions and creating an environment for your family that is joyful, happy, and full of love.  The beauty of traditions is that they provide memories that capture wonderful moments over and over again.  Your kids look forward to them and eagerly await the promise of another year of festive celebrations.  Whether it’s your annual decorating of the front door with the pumpkins they’ve made over the years, or the hanging of the bats and black spiders on the dinner table light fixture; traditions create suspense and anticipation of fun to come.

 

I‘d love to share some of my traditions to inspire you to join in, as well as encourage you to keep up the traditions you’ve started.  Some years, I’ve been so beat, I couldn’t imagine pulling my decorations out from the basement, yet after I did, the expressions on the kids’ faces are payment enough for digging deep and following through.  You can do it!

 

I’ve already shared my pumpkin, bat, and spider traditions earlier, so here are a few more.  Most years, I decorate the house to be Halloween ready for the kids when they wake up on October 1^st.  I love the excitement on their faces as they discover it all decked out for the season.  This year however, it happened in stages.  The point is that it happened.  However you do it--just make it happen! Imagine how fun it is for your kids to wake to a house all festive and fun!

 

I love to bring out all of my Halloween bowls, platters and dish towels to make the month of October one huge celebration.  I’ve picked many of them up over the years after the Holiday and on sale--Target is great for that!  As the kids bring home their crafts and art projects, I hang them everywhere.  The best way to hang them is to laminate them first.  I go to a local home school store which laminates for 25 cents a foot; it’s such a steal!  I then cut out the creations and put yellow sticky tack on the back and hang them everywhere: on windows, doors, cabinet—honestly wherever the stuff will stick.  After the season, I pull them down and save the yellow tack and use it for the next season of creations.

 

To store the laminated works of art, I staple two poster boards together on three sides and leave the fourth open.  I write the name of the season or holiday on both sides and store everything inside.  I keep all of the poster board holiday files close at hand in a closet so it doesn’t feel like I’m moving heaven and earth to decorate throughout the year.  Sometimes going into the basement to get decorations feels like one step too many.  And there you have it, a festive house decorated with your children’s works of art and laminated to be keepsakes forever!

 

One last tradition I will share with you is to create a holiday book collection.  As many of you know, or will learn, I love books.  My kids have grown up surrounded by them.  My earliest and fondest memories with my kids come from the warmth and comfort of the kids on my lap or snuggled up close to me enjoying a book.  Reading creates that “cozy” that has always been so important for me to nurture as a Mom.

 

To inspire you to begin your collection or to keep adding to it, here are a few strategies to making it meaningful and memorable for years to come.  First, I buy one book (not one for each child—in case you were wondering).  I date it, write the town where we live, and then write a note sharing a snapshot of our family’s blessings and current successes and challenges.  I always end with a line of gratitude for each other, our faith and our health.  I then set it out on the counter after the kids go to bed so it is the first thing that they see when they enter the kitchen in the morning.  That book is then passed around all morning long, and then it is added to the coffee table of Halloween books from past years.  You can see my top five Halloween books by clicking HERE.

 

The Halloween books stay out all October long until we usher in November and the Thanksgiving books.  After Halloween, I store the books out of sight in the basement until the next year.  I love this tradition as much as the kids.  And no matter the age, they all reread those books every year.  I watched my senior in high school reading one yesterday while having a snack.  Reading the books from when they were younger brings back those memories, good, sad, scary and wacky that we can relive each and every year.  And that’s the beauty of creating a tradition.

Help your child thrive in any situation.

One of your greatest objectives as a parent is to help your child manage through both the highs and lows of life.  In fact, some of the most valuable gifts you can give your child are the strategies, and tools to manage through some of life's scarier and more challenging moments.  Heading back to school provides a great learning opportunity riddled with excitement and joy, as well as unsettling anxieties and fears.

 

As your kids return to school or are just starting, take a proactive approach and find some time to talk with them. Find out what they are thinking and feeling. What are they looking forward to? Who are they most excited to see again after the long summer break? Which teacher are they most excited about? Do they have any concerns or worries?

 

It won’t take long for your child’s excitement, disappointments, and anxieties to spill. Your greatest challenge happens next...listening. You need to let your kids be disappointed, afraid, and anxious.  Those emotions are real, natural and healthy. Getting a “crummy” teacher is a “drag,” having no friends to sit with at lunch is “no fun”, and not having one of your friends in class does “stink!” So, instead of trying to talk your child “out” of their emotions, or fix the dilemma, why not just let them “be” and do nothing.  Let them devise the “fix.” You just encourage and praise their attempts. Problem solving is a skill and takes practice. Creating solutions helps build determination, confidence and drive. Consider these statements to encourage solutions:

 

• I’m certain you will come up with some great ideas to handle that one!
• Knowing you, you’ll figure out how to make that work!
• That would be a bummer, before you know it, you’ll have that one nailed!
• That would be tough, if anyone can handle that, it’s you!
• I’m confident you’ll figure that one out!

Reinforce that for every problem– there is a solution.  Encourage your child to focus on solutions rather than problems. This process is powerful because it empowers and encourages confident kids. We often underestimate our kid’s capacity for critical thinking and reasoning, as well as their resiliency—don’t! Sure there are exceptions when your kids need you to step in, but let them be exceptions, not the rule.

Remember, as mom, you need to “sell the fun” of the new school year. It is going to be great, especially if you approach it with confidence, optimism and excitement. You need to sell the dream of what the year can be—exciting, educational, fun, and most of all, what ever they make of it!

 

Knowing you Mom, you’ll be great!

I'm always intimidated by Back to School Night. I feel like I just show up and never know how to get the most of it.

The most important thing about Back to School Night is that your kids know that you are excited to meet their teachers and learn about their school community. You are your child’s most important advocate and Back to School Night provides the first opportunity to create a partnership with your child’s new teacher and staff.

 

Back to School Night kicks off your partnership. It allows you an opportunity to get to know the people who will be spending time with your child. It also provides a glimpse into the curriculum, the teacher’s experience and their philosophies. To make the most out of this evening, start off by introducing yourself.  Shake the teacher’s hand; let them know that you are excited to meet them and appreciate the work they have done to prepare for the year. (ie. “The classroom looks so fun," or “What a neat year you have planned for the kids.”) Be honest with your praise-- everybody enjoys sincere recognition.

 

Next, make sure the teacher has a good idea of who your child is, academically and socially—the clearer the picture, the better. Many teachers provide an information sheet for you to complete regarding your child; their strengths, challenges, likes, dislikes, interests, etc. and ask you to turn it in at Back to School Night. If not, take some time before you head out and jot down some notes regarding any information you think the teacher would need as they begin the year instructing your child. Remember, you are your child’s first and most important teacher-- share your wealth of information. I promise the teachers will appreciate it and respect you for making the time to partner with them to make it the best year for your child. I have such respect for teachers. Like us, they work hard!

August Reviews

Every year at this time, I’m reminded of one of my favorite books: Oh, the Places You’ll Go, by Dr Seuss. As your kids start school, a new grade--maybe in a new town, whatever the transition, the message is timeless and overwhelmingly realistic, positive and encouraging. The book starts confidently with “Congratulations, today is your day. You’re off to great places, you’re off and away!“ You then get a dose of reality, with “I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that bang ups and hang ups can happen to you.” The coolest thing about this book is that it gives you an opportunity to relate to your kids, talk about how everyone has “bang ups and hang ups,” even you! This book is all about encouragement and accomplishment sprinkled with failure…Life.  Run out and buy this one if you don’t already have it. It’s a classic. Check it out on Amazon.com

 

Consider The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn to help ease the anxieties of separation when your little ones head back to school or off for their first day ever. Sweet Chester, a raccoon doesn’t want to go to school. His momma gently lets him know that “sometimes we all have to do things we don’t want to do.” Momma raccoon’s solution is dear and one that has helped my kids take my love with them wherever they go. This book will become a family favorite, I promise!  Check it out on Amazon.com

 

 

Tips to help you make your next road trip fun and family friendly!

As our family gears up for a road trip to Chicago for a family reunion, I want to take a minute to wish you all a safe and festive fourth and to give you a few tips for the road. Load up on audio books and CDs.

My kids have grown up listening to the Adventures in Odyssey series, by Focus on the Family (www.focusonthefamily.com), and we love all kinds of books on CD/tape. Any one of the Harry Potter books will take us to Chicago and back or wherever your family destination. We also enjoy the Ramona the Pest series and Junie B. Jones. Head to your local library and see what they have available and chances are they have something for everyone.

As far as music, I would suggest any CDs from our dear friends, and Kansas City favorites, Mr. Stinky Feet (www.jimcosgrove.com) and Funky Mama (www.funkymamamusic.com). Our kids fall asleep each night to their hits. It’s so fun for me to hear the voices of my good friends echoing in our halls at night. We’ve also discovered a new group called the Recess Monkeys (www.recessmonkeytown.com). I had the chance to spend some time with this ultra cool group from Seattle at Jiggle Jam and they are as hip and fun as their music. The kids love their Beatles like beat and even the older kids agree--this band appeals to all ages. One neat fact is that the three band members are teachers by day and rock stars by night.  

Here’s to a rockin’ fourth!

Make it a great weekend,

Amy

June Reviews

Mommy Brain by Katherine Ellison. This book will fascinate you and peak your curiosity regarding motherhood and why we are all so darn smart! Author, Katherine Ellison tackles the science behind the organic changes our brain endures as we juggle the never-ending physical and emotional demands of motherhood. You’ll be thrilled to learn of the benefits associated with your most important profession, being a mom. Check it out on Amazon.com

 

Day Out With Daddy by Stephen Cook. Don’t wait for Father’s Day to buy this one! Any day can be daddy day with this darling picture book. The story involves Mommy heading out of town, (seems like a perfect reason to plan an overnight somewhere, mom!) and Daddy is in charge. Their adventures are a scream. I bought this one for Anderson, our four year old, and he cracks up whenever we read it. This will soon become a family favorite! Check it out on Amazon.com

How do you keep your kids’ math and reading skills sharp over the summer?

Great question. Like any muscle, the brain can atrophy if not used, and some of those important skills your child spent a year mastering can fade. My approach to keeping my kids intellectually fit is pretty easy going, yet consistent-- I encourage them to read, write and play throughout the summer.

 

To begin, make the library one of your first destinations this summer. Take advantage of the summer reading programs that begin at birth and span every age group up thru high school. Most programs encourage kids to set a goal as to the number of books they want to finish before the summer’s end and incentives are given along the way to entice them to achieve their goal. An entire world of learning and adventure opens up to your kids at your local library. We make multiple trips each week-- it’s our routine, make it yours, too.

 

Next on the literacy front is writing. This one isn’t as simple, yet very important. My strategy to keep my kids writing is to encourage them to do it daily. Every summer I buy the kids composition or spiral notebooks and they journal each morning. Writing well is a skill, and the only way to develop it is to practice. I want my kids to be confident writers-- more so than their loving mother. J Yes, it’s quite possible that your kids may not like their new journal routine, and, they may even complain. I’ve personally heard almost every complaint, yet my response is this, “My job is to keep you healthy, and that includes your intellectual health. I’m confident that you will think of something fun to write about!” To start your kids off, you may want to suggest that their first entry is to make a list of all the things they want to do this summer-- places they want to visit, people to play with, etcetera. Make it fun! Then let your kids write whatever comes to mind each morning. At our house, my kids write for about 20 minutes and it’s for their eyes only. They all get into it and it becomes easier and easier for them and you! Start today-- you won’t regret it! Also, all ages join in; scribbles, pictures and stickers are all early learning. Your younger kids may want to dictate their entries to you. Great, support them, have fun and watch their love for writing grow!

 

Finally, it is time to play-- games that is. Your kids will stay mentally sharp and have fun at the same time.  All it takes is a deck of cards and some board games. Think back to when you were a kid; remember card games like war, gin rummy, hearts, concentration, or spoons? Those are great ones and all require number computation-- math.  Board games also sharpen skills like critical thinking, spatial reasoning, strategy, and the list goes on. Our latest family favorite is Qwirkle, and the kids love Risk, Blokus, Connect Four, Yahtzee, Scrabble, etcetera. Keep a game or two out on the kitchen counter or table and start one up after dinner-- if you set it up and invite them to play, chances are, you’ll have little trouble getting your kids to join in. Enjoy!