Yes! it's finally Bedtime

Hey dolls, Happy Sunday. Wrapping up August with a revisit to an old post I thought was relevant since school has arrived once again. Summer can be disruptive to a bedtime flow because of the later Sunset and all the fun activities. Getting back into the swing of things can cause stress and anxiety.

 Bedtime for kids can either be fun or full of drama.

You had a long day at work or you have spent your day home with the kid’s one task after another and when 7:30 rolls around all you want to do is say goodnight and have some alone time. But your little one has a different idea. He or she wants you to sit with them. Wants you to sing one more song or read just one more story please please please mommy you hear.

I remember those days very well the following is the routine I used that worked pretty well give or take a few tweaks here and there:

-set a specific bedtime, No excuses no fuss. My daughter and I would begin to get her bed ready about 20 minutes to half hour before bed.
-I'd get book or song together for the night. This would also be the winding down time no more TV, no more food, drinks etc..
-We would prep ourselves for down time. If she chose a song or a story I'd lay next to her and proceed with our quality bedtime wrap up.
-when we were done, we would say good night and share few hugs and kisses, I would dim the lights and put the radio on to a lite station with calming music and that would be that.

illustration by positive-discipline.ca

Now on the nights it didn't go as smoothly due to a cold or bad dream or potty break I would go back in reinforce with a few more kisses and leave quickly again. You cannot engage in long chatter or indulge in their whimpering because if you do, the night will never wrap up.

What is your bedtime routine? What tricks do you use to get your night to end smoothly?

Always stress free xo,

Mari

Helping with Homework and reducing Stress

Ever sit at home and watch your kids from afar? Do you ever just sit and observe what they are doing or how they are handling certain tasks?
I do, I love it it's like my own special television show. Especially when it comes to watching my daughter doing her homework.

Apparently college and homework is very different than elementary, middle school and even high school homework. By this I mean how often it is done and how it is being done.
I don't recall ever allowing my daughter to watch television as she did her homework or to have the radio on but today she has all those things and more going at the same time, go figure.

I ask her often, how can you concentrate and she replies it helps her focus better. Really?! How is that even possible. One second she is deep in thought typing away on her laptop, the next she is roaring in laughter texting on her phone. One minute she is highlighting notes or putting sticky notes on pages and the next minute she is scrolling through Tumblr.
I just love this show!

When I am working I find I need total silence. When I read, when I write, when I open my emails...total silence. My daughter on the other had reads while the music is playing omg!

In my last episode (watching my daughter do home work lol), I was recalling the years my friends sat down and helped their kids with home work and how stressed they would be. I also recalled I barely helped at all and thank heavens for that!
I was blessed with a kid who didn't have to be pushed much and we had after school programs.

But for those who find it tough and for those parents who find themselves almost pulling their hair out especially in the early school years, not so much during high school, I remembered some tools I shared in the past. Something that perhaps can ease those words "I need help with homework".

I call it delegating.
- Find an after school program that helps kids with school work.
- Enroll them in tutoring classes
- Have another child, a friend or another family member chip in, even if for a small fee or fare exchange.
-Use the computer and other means of gathering information to help your child.

All these tools can aide in this matter and relieve the stress of coming home to those words. It gives everyone the time they need to complete their tasks. No one has to feel rushed or like they are not doing well enough, especially us moms who want to do everything.
With these tools, we can come home, settle down, be helpful, prepare dinner and at the end of the day feel accomplished.

What tools do you use for homework blues? How did you deal with the "I need help" issues?

Always stress free xo.