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Welcome
Living on Less, Experiencing More
A recent New York Times/CBS News poll found nearly half of Americans say they are spending less time buying things...online or at stores. What they are doing with that time is spending it with their families and friends. Museum attendance is up. Disney parks enjoyed a 3 percent increase in new visitors last quarter.
I'm excited to see that people may be shifting thier desires from material possesions to what is really so important in life: Time with family. We do not need the latest toy, or tv to be really happy. Most of us have all we need right in our own dwellings. Each other.
Sleep!
Cats love it for 20 hours a day. Giraffes need 1.9 hours a day. Dolphins only rest half of their brain at a time, keeping one eye open, and still surfacing for air. I know a lot of parents who struggle staying asleep as their brain races from the events of the day, and what needs to be done tomorrow. Parents with infants are wishing there were a few extra hours in the day to catch up on thier sleep! We all need varying amounts of sleep. Even though my 12 year old goes to bed at nine p.m. and gets up at 7 a.m. (10 hours!), he could use more sleep. His alarm is his least favorite thing. One thing is for sure, and that is an early bedtime is better than a late one. Kids need their rest. My son's behavior depends on it!
One way to ask your child "How was school today?"
Let your child quiz you! Have them try to remember something they learned, then they can quiz you to see if you can answer a question about what they learned. Sometimes we do this while doing homework. We set up at the kitchen table. I try to look through bills and mail as my "homework" while my son does his homework.
21 things to do before summer ends
The weather here in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area has been so perfect lately! My son starts school tomorrow, and it is hard to believe he will have a limited amount of time to wear the plaid shorts that are so popular in middle school. While reading one of my favorite magazines, I stumbled apon a list of "21 things to do before summer ends." Here are a few that I would like to try while we still have this beautiful weather!
-Make real lemonade with lemons, sugar, and lots of ice!
-Shop at a Farmer's Market. There are probably alot of different things in September off of the farms!
-Go stargazing. My son suggested we go lay on the trampoline in the backyard.
-Complete a triathalon. For those of you who know me, you know that I would far prefer a stroll-a-thon. It sounds like an amazing thing to do, but there are plenty of area walks, trots, and runs for charity. My family has never done anything like that, and we should!
I am so looking forward to the structure that school brings to our life. We have spent a great summer filled with baseball, traveling, and lots of free time. Structure is good, but I try not to forget to plan that family time together. Sundays are such a great day for us. We try to keep that as our family day together. I hope that you can find a day like that for your own family!
Thanks,
Stacy
The 3 R’s? A Fourth Is Crucial, Too: Recess
To read a recent article about student learning from the New York Times, click here.
GET READY TO WIN A FABULOUS FAMILY GETAWAY!!
The Putting Family First Challenge starts in March! Visit our Challenge Page to learn more.
There is more to February than Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is always a fun way to express love to your family, but did you know that we also celebrate Bubble Gum Day (the 6th) and International Sword Swallower's Day (the 28th) in February?
We celebrate very important things like Black History Month, and I Love to Read Month. Some of the lesser known celebrations include Bake for Family Month, Jello Week, and Pancake day. I was thrilled to know that my favorite pie has it's own month! February is National Cherry Pie month! Of course, while I looked through all these different activities for February, I looked for days that would apply to some family fun. February 27th starts American Crossword Puzzle week. My son is 11 years old and tried to do the local newspaper's crossword puzzle. We tried to help him, but it was like trying to figure out a foreign language! I suggested we start with an easier one, and work our way up to the newspaper's puzzle. Maybe we can progress rapidly enough to give it a try by the 27th.
I saw that the planet Pluto was given a day. February 18th would be a good day to discuss with your family all the controversy about the poor planet (or non-planet!)
My son will be celebrating the anniversary of the Boy Scouts on Feb. 8th. I bet there is a celebration for scouts near you! Keeping my son up-to-date with his scouting goals has certainly kept our family busy!
There were so many February celebrations that caught my eye that were worthy causes like heart health,loving libraries, the PTA, President's Day, and Love a Shut-in Person Day. I also noticed that Random Acts of Kindness Week is the 11th-17th. I really should pencil that in on the calendar and be extra kind to anyone and everyone that week. I know it would make a difference in my week for the better! (And the rest of Gum Drop Month!)
Putting Family First helps you live longer
Today on Oprah (Nov. 25) Dr. Oz talked about places where people live to be 100 years old. One thing centanagarians had in common was tradition. Whether it was eating tortillas together, or gathering for meals, these long-lived folks all had their families and traditions to give them purpose every day. I even heard Oprah say the words "Putting family first helps you live longer!"
We here at Putting Family First always knew traditions were good for families, and now we know it can be good for your health!
Twilight Together
I just attended a midnight showing of a movie on a school night! The audience was full of moms, daughters, a few boys, and some reluctant dads. What brought out all these people on a cold Minnesota night? The movie Twilight. Twilight is the first in a series of books written by Stephenie Meyer. Her books have caused a sensation around the world. I happen to be a HUGE fan. I even stood in line for 13 hours at the Mall of America to get her autograph! Why am I writing about this movie and book on the Putting Family First website??? I have seen moms and daughters bonding! Moms and TEENAGE daughters experiencing the enthusiasm together.
In my own family, my husband read the whole series. I LOVE how this book series has us talking about these fictional characters like they are real! I must admit I'm still as exhilarated this morning at 9am, as I was walking out of the movie at 2am! The movie and books will not affect everyone like they have affected me, but I have had so much fun bonding with the teenagers in my life. Now, I have to go brush my teeth, then get over to movie theater for the 10am show!
-Stacy
Shake Up Mealtime Ideas
- Make mealtime a family affair - everyone helps prepare and clean up
- Try Backwards Day - eat dessert first!
- Go on an alphabet picnic - all food must start with the chosen letter (i.e. a "P" picnic might include peanut butter sandwiches, plums, popcorn etc.)
- Eat in the dining room for no reason - light candles
- Have the kids do an internet search on another country - try a food from there
- Explore your heritage and cook a native dish
- Have everyone share an "Up" and a "Down" that happened today
- Change chairs at the table and assume the duties of that chair (in Mom's chair do Mom's duties)
- Make good use of mealtime to check in with each member of the family!
If you can do only ONE thing to help your kids each day...
SHARE A FAMILY MEAL!!
Click here to learn more!
MINNESOTA SAYS YES TO NO
A new book by Dr. David Walsh, president of the Institute on Media and the Family has sparked a new statewide initiative in Minnesota. The book titled,
NO: Why Kids – of All Ages – Need to Hear It
and Ways Parents Can Say It
talks about Discipline Deficit Disorder and what we as parents can do to reverse this alarming trend.
As Mary Pipher (author of “Reviving Ophelia”) has said, “Walsh is an excellent scientist and cultural observer who gives sage, sensitive, and practical advice. “NO” should be required reading for every parent who walks out of a hospital with a newborn.”
Learn more about this new initiative and about the tools you can download to help parents at:
Reclaim the Family Dinner Hour
Emily Puro, a freelance writer in Portland, OR, just wrote a wonderful article for Metro Parent about reclaiming the family dinner. See current research and great ideas on how to make it happen at http://www.metro-parent.com/Jan07_1.pdf (2.3mb). It starts on page 12.
Need Acrobat Reader? Get it here.
New Book “No” hits the shelves!
It was an exciting day when I attended the book Premiere Event for:
NO: Why Kids – of All Ages – Need to Hear It
and Ways Parents Can Say It
“NO” is the latest book by Dr. David Walsh, President and founder of the National Institute on Media and the Family. In his book, Dr. Walsh talks about Discipline Deficit Disorder and what we as parents can do to reverse this alarming trend.
As Mary Pipher (author of “Reviving Ophelia”) has said, “Walsh is an excellent scientist and cultural observer who gives sage, sensitive, and practical advice. “NO” should be required reading for every parent who walks out of a hospital with a newborn.”
I encourage parents with kids of all ages to learn more at www.mediawise.org.
January is National Hobby Month!
In many parts of the country, families are "nesting" to stay out of the cold and snow. This is a great month to share a hobby with your children or begin a new one! Try scrapbooking your holiday memories, take up knitting, woodworking, stamp collecting, baking, reading...the list is endless! Visit our newsblog for hobby ideas. Send us your creative thoughts on hobbies that your families share!
Family Connection Quiz
Take a Family Connection Quiz at www.spiritualparenting.com/family.htm to see where your family scores in those all important family connections. This comes to us from Mimi Doe, author of Busy But Balanced. You can find her at www.spiritualparenting.com.
Other News
Recent New York Times Articles
Families With Full Plates, Sitting Down to Dinner
By LISA W. FODERARO
For Cathy and Bill Powell, finding a time when all three of their children are home for dinner can be like working a Rubik's Cube. A recent Monday was typical: Valerie, 9, got home from dance class at 6:35. Brian, 10, had to leave for Boy Scouts at 6:50. That left 15 minutes to sit down for tacos.
"I actually have to take all their schedules and make calendars and put things in different colors," said Mrs. Powell, of Wantagh, N.Y.
Still, she said, the effort is worth it. "It's crazy, but having dinner together reinforces the family unit," she said. "That's when we get to hear about their day. We ask them questions, and the other two can't butt in." (more)
Ah, the Family Dinner. Remember? (5 Letters)
To the Editor:
Re "Families With Full Plates, Sitting Down to Dinner" (front page, April 5):
I have memories of sitting down to family dinners five, six, even seven nights a week. My father, who commuted from Manhattan to the southern tip of Brooklyn, relaxed with the evening newspaper and we all sat down to dinner at 6:30 sharp every night.
Today, the 9-to-5 job and single-income household are a distant memory. I spend dinner hours teaching college courses until 8 p.m., and my husband travels on business. When family dinners are not possible, we have found another solution: the family breakfast. (more)
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Mission
Putting Family First works to raise awareness about the crucial connections between parents and children, and helps families find balance in their lives.
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