Trying to stay calm during the storm is rather difficult.
Things can be only slightly bumpy, yet I react as if it were the most violent storm this earth has ever seen.
The kids are just being kids for the most part, but there are some very real behavior issues I’m being faced with.
Between video games, YouTube videos, certain school friends, and just simply feeding off of eachother, makes this whole parenting thing super challenging.
I love each and every one of my kids, and want them to be so many things.
I have compiled a list / ideas of ways to help boost the kids attitudes, behaviors, hearts and improve our bond together. Let’s hope these work.. or at least minimize these recent hurdles.
- Taking them to buy gifts for each other. We plan on doing this tomorrow. Autumn and Allie will buy for each other, and the boys will buy for each other. The girls seem to have a very distant friendship, at best. This should be interesting on the gifts they choose for one another. I told them about this idea I had, in the car yesterday, and they seem to be pretty excited about being able to go shopping and spend some money for gifts. I’m quite pleased with this. This is our first time doing anything like this, so I have such anticipation of great things coming from this experience.
- Christmas Parade – Austin is in it, so we are all going to be together, supporting this cub scout. He’s not excited about being in front of everyone, but we will be there, and the girls are encouraging him. So, hopefully all will go smoothly with that tonight. I will have some candy for him to throw to kids.. I might even give him a few extra pieces for his participation 🙂
- Electronic Free day – Sunday will be electronic free day for ALL of us. I don’t have plans on what we will do yet, but maybe we will do some baking together, organizing our bedrooms, and donate some things we no longer need. Cleaning / getting organized is essential to help keep sanity, calmness, and feeling good and proud of your space. So, I want the kids to recognize these things in themselves, with their levels of accomplishment. We will see how far we get this weekend on that project.
- Girls night out. We have our annual date night, just us girls. We will attend the Nutcracker Ballet Saturday night, with my mom and their cousin, Mckenna. It should be a great time. We always go out for hot chocolate and a cookie afterward, at the Walmart Cafe on the Bentonville Square. Such fun and delight. I always look forward to this night. I hope the girls enjoy the tradition as much as I do.
- Hosting Christmas Dinner at our house. The kids were at their dad’s for Thanksgiving, so I hope to make up for their absence with me, during Christmas. We will have some delightful treats, a great meal, and the family will all come and visit at our house. I really enjoy the holidays, especially Christmas. We decorated together last Sunday, when they got back from their dad’s, and it was special. I let the boys put out the village, we all put up tree ornaments, and next up.. the wrapping of some presents to put under the tree early. They cannot wait to start seeing presents under the tree.
- Advent Calendar – This is another tradition we have in our house. Each child gets their very own chocolate Advent Calendar, they look forward to these. It’s the main reason to get out of bed everyday in December, right?
With all these “little” things, I hope hearts become a little softer, voices a little gentler, hugs a little longer, kindness a little bigger, and friendships a little stronger.
All in a Day 