Surviving At Home

My youngest daughter got her fingers caught in the car door today. Of course, I was trying to move too fast and didn’t pay attention before closing the door. She calmed down rather quickly but that doesn’t take away the guilt. Ugghh…

I’m a self-admitted reality show couch potato. I don’t care for the campy dramas but I love to watch the races around the world, the awesome kitchen talents, and the creative design-types.

I’m especially excited about the newest addition to the reality genre, The Next Internet Millionaire. It’s not exactly good for my time management skills (or lack thereof) but you can watch this show from the comfort of your own computer (presumably trying to make money online?) And who doesn’t want to learn how to make more money?

I’m excited to learn some tips from both the contestants and also with the experts who will appear. I look forward to seeing what tasks are presented to the contestants and how they compete.

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It’s that time of year (already!) when the kids are headed to school. Alyssa Avant at TwoMomsInABlog.com is looking for some ways to help her son adjust to preschool and since my daughter is a new preschool graduate, I thought I’d help out.

Tip #1: Talk to your child about his/her day. Opening the gates of communication early can only help you as your child grows up.

Tip #2: Stay calm when you hear about a problem. There are always 2 sides to each story so hear both sides before placing blame and throwing accusations.

Tip #3: Continue to teach by example. Parents are the single most important teachers in their children’s lives and their behavior will often be copied.

Tip #4: Talk to your child if they are struggling with academics or social issues. Sometimes all it takes for your child to feel better is to know that you’ve had a similar experience and how you handled it.

Tip #5: Become an active volunteer at the preschool. You can get a glimpse into your child’s school routine, learn more about the teachers, and meet your child’s friends, all while providing a great service to the school.

I’m sure I can come up with a whole top 10 list but I won’t be greedy!

Many years ago we discovered how much more relaxing our family vacation could be when we rented a spacious, 2-bedroom condo on Lake George. Having two young girls, we were able to put them to bed at their regular bedtimes and we were able to relax on the deck or watch our favorite nighttime shows on television. No more being stuffed into one hotel room and having the kids up until 11pm or having us in bed by 8pm. Renting a condo was the way to go and we’ve done it every year since!

I have since discovered a website, Vacation Rentals by Owner, where you choose where in the world you would like to travel, and they provide you with pictures and details of rental properties available in your desired area. Also, if you have a property you would like to rent, you can pay a yearly fee to be listed on their website.

Since our dream vacation is to go to Hawaii, I will definitely check out their Kauai vacation rentals!

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