Tips for First Year "School Parents"

It can be quite scary that first year your child enters school in kindergarten. You can't imagine having all that "free time" and your little buddy not hanging out with you all day or taking them to daycare.

Just as your child is probably excited to enter school, you, as a mom or dad are just as nervous. How will YOU survive going into this new phase of childhood with them?

Here are some tips to help you both ease into the school routine and put your mind at ease:

1. Know that you have done an amazing job with your child to begin with. You have raised a little super-hero so far and this phase is just as scary, but also exciting as that first step or first day of daycare. You and your child will be OK.

2. Try not to show how nervous you are as that can run off onto your child and make first day jitters hard on them as well.

3. It will probably help if you and your child tour the school before that first day. It will help calm you to meet administration and teachers and begin to visualize your child in this environment.

4. See if the school has a kindergarten get together for parents of new children entering school. If not, maybe try to plan one? It will help you, as mom and dad, not feel so scared if you know that you are probably not alone.

5. Hold a party for both you and your child. Do something special together as you both enter this phase. Have a "big boy" or "Big Girl" party to prepare yourself and your child for the new adventure.

6. In the weeks leading up to school, get a routine down for bedtime and wake-up time. This will help you ease into it better for both of you.

7. The night before school starts, do a low-key and easy meal..maybe even pizza or takeout. Spend that day and evening with your child and do something fun.

I promise, you will get through this, brave Mom or Dad. All of life and parenthood is so full of exciting changes and you will be so happy to see your child gaining more independence and almost leap for joy when they tell you all about it!

"Boy, You have Your Hands Full!"

I begin my blog today with a simple question…why must random strangers tell me daily I have my hands full?

 I begin my day with dressing my two kids (Jayden-5 and Jude-almost 3) and rushing out the door for work at our Pizza business. Jude goes to “school” for his morning socialization, while Jayden comes to work with mommy. Why not start them as early as possible developing a strong work ethic?

Anyway, finish up my work and pick #2 back up from school and we all head to the grocery. Sister has a cart, which is always an adventure, and the brother must have a giant car. I was maneuvering down the aisles at the speed of lightening, might I add it is 1 hour until naptime. Enough said. I pass by one woman whom you could tell her children were grown and she says, "You have your hands full."

This always leaves me speechless.

 Does it look like I’m out numbered? I guess so. Does this seem like a motivational comment? I would think not. I guess it would not seem to boggle me as much if it wasn’t said mostly daily everywhere I go.

 I discuss with my husband that night how often it is said and vow I will not be that grandma someday. I will send words of encouragement like…”Good job mom!” Mom’s need encouragement and feeling that they have control. Even when, some days it seems you are out numbered. What is said of those that have more than two kiddos?

 I am the first to admit we have ground rule discussions (threats) prior to entering public establishments to be sure everyone remembers how to behave. My 3 year old even recites his own now. I just have to say, remember no..and he finishes with no fighting, no pinching, stay in the cart and no yelling. Yes sir, good boy.

  Imagine if I didn’t lay this ground rules down what the comments would be All those mothers out there.

 Keep your head up, your doing a great job. Take those comments that your hands are full with smiles and fist pumps.



Julie Boyd is an ordinary Pizza Making Mother of two.

Tugging the Heartstrings of Parenthood

Just as I thought I had overcome the trauma of watching my heart walk around in another human being's body, one of my boys managed to get slighted in recreational league sports and I was the one who cried.  I’ve coached at the high school level, all the way down to these little leaguers and I do my best to be objective.  I can look around and see that my little 45 pound Mini-Me simply can’t hit with those 80 and 90 pound kids that are the same age.

So, what sets him apart in my mind? 

It’s his attitude.  I watch other kids go up to bat and even after a good hit that resulted in an out, they retreat to the dug out in tears.

Now don’t get me wrong, I know some kids are just wired differently but the thing is, those kids don’t take the game any more seriously than my son.  What he sets him apart is just that; his attitude.  I joke about this, but it’s true.  He goes to games and win or lose, hits, homeruns or errors, he has a good time and on our way home, his first question is, “who’s going to throw with me when we get home”.  

And as a former coach, even with my parent blinders on, I want players that can take the bumps and bruises and move on.  Moreover, the life lessons learned from that are enormous. The main reason our kids participate in sports is directly related to their ability to take the good and the bad in stride and move on.  We don’t encourage them to participate so they can be major leaguers one day, we encourage them to participate to learn life skills.

7 Days, 700 Miles, 1 Adoption- Rider Tells All!

A few years ago, KiKi and I were in college together. She always inspired me with her faith, her bubbly personality and her dedication to whatever it was she was doing at the time.  This time, she has blown my mind! As she says in the interview below, we all know someone who has involvement with adoption - so we should have some idea of how difficult it can be, right?  I admit I didn't have the full perspective until I began to follow www.RideForAdoption.com, a group of cyclists who rode 7 Days, 100 Miles a Day, for 1 Adoption.  KiKi isn't the one adopting but she rode like she was.  I don't know the adopting parents, but I hope to one day because when you surround yourself with people who inspire you, the sky is your limit, too!  Here is KiKi's story.

 

In just a few sentences, explain what you did:

I rode my bike from Centennial Park in Nashville, TN to Daytona Beach, FL, 700 miles in

Like New Shoes? So Do These Kids!

There are times when I think, "I am not getting anywhere (with Kidzies).  Maybe I should do something else today."  And then in a somber moment of quietness, I remember that if I am not trying, that I am letting down so many people.  And, no, I don't mean my husband or child (although, I guess them, also).  But I mean a lot of kids in Romania, whom I've never meet, but I've promised to help put shoes on their bare feet.  Kidzies gives 3% of each and every sell we make to Sole by Soul and though that may not seem like a lot, it is enough to pick me up on those low days.  I hope that one day I get to go with Reita to Romania, but until then, here is how she so vividly describes her last trip, taken just a few months ago.

In just a few sentences, explain to me your charity:

Sole by Soul Charity reaches out to children