Earnest Parenting » Family Builder

Take a Family Trip to New York and New England

Amy LeForge — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 04:08:52 +0000

(Editor’s note: please welcome our friends from Trip and Travel Blog, with some suggestions a family might enjoy on a trip to New England. Thanks, guys!)

New York does not disappoint even at first glance: dizzying skyscrapers, yellow cabs, limos, shops and local ethnic hip hop. We decided to take a vacation there with the family and we did not regret it and we will not forget to write a travel blog about New York. Our first day went like this: Morning Mass and afternoon at the park. The park was Central Park and in the church everyone was very elegant. Central Park was holding a concert, but unfortunately that day it was Simon and Garfunkel. The thing that struck me most was the kindness of Americans, if they saw us confused in the subway they’d stop and offer help.

As for the food, the restaurants were quite expensive, however, and fast food there are the great kingdom of “junk food”. Watch out for breakfast, as it might cost more than lunch. New Yorkers are big for breakfast. As for shopping New York is definitely the global capital for purchases. Exciting was the vision of Ground Zero and a worthwhile experience was the ascension of the Empire State Building with a view of skyscrapers lit up all over Manhattan. In China Town we felt as if we had left the United States, where you can still do good business in shops with affordable products and good food in family-friendly Asian restaurants.

Obviously the city’s museums are a must in particular the Metropolitan Museum that Americans define the most important in the world. The MOMA and the Museum Gugghenheim was the ones we visited. In the evening the premises to be preferred are in Greenwich Village, attended by students and employees of the City. The means of transport that we used most is the bus that is slower than the subway (“train” for Americans), but it allowed us to see the city while moving around.

The best way to visit New England is to rent a car. They have an automatic transmission and are easy to drive. The green landscapes and elegant city in New England are something completely different than what you can see in New York. On the way to Boston, New Haven, is located the Yale University, which is worth making a detour for in order to visit the university town. Boston, the capital of this area is quiet and more European than the rest.

Here you can visit the universities of Harvard, MIT and, following a red line on the ground, the most important historical monuments, excursions, and boat rides, departing from the port city allows you to see the whales. Boston is a city that pays particular attention to food and we were able to adapt. We spent a while in the square next to the harbor, enjoying a few good shows and fun international street artists performing. Among other places we visited was the wild Cape Cod, Newport, for years home of the America’s Cup.

In Bellevue Avenue, there are incredible villas built in various styles: neo-classical, Scottish manor, ranch etc. The only one missing is the minimalist style. Martha’s Vineyard is a beautiful island, very green, with beaches, dunes and villages built by whaling captains. On site you can rent a bike and follow the various routes proposed.
In conclusion this is a journey which we highly recommend and if you decide to do so, enjoy it.

Brought to you by Trip and Travel Blog

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Parenting Help: Use Lemon and Sugar to Talk to Kids about Anger

Amy LeForge — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:14:28 +0000

I don’t know if it’s just a boy thing, or if our culture in general has programmed children to be angry. The fact that we teach our kids they’re entitled to everything certainly has to be a part of it. Either way, the anger that I see in the boys is some days just plain over the top.

What really frightens me is when I see and hear them start to act bitter. I know from personal experience with someone how that can turn out, and I don’t wish that kind of life on anyone.

Last Sunday during church, inspiration hit. When we got home, I pulled out a bunch of medicine measuring cups. I filled half with sugar, and the rest with lemon juice. Then I gave one of each to every member of the family, along with a toothpick.

First, everyone tasted the sugar. Next, we all tasted our lemon juice. Then I explained: we are like the lemon juice and God is like the sugar. (For the purposes of the discussion, I said that lemon was bitter-even though it’s actually sour.)

I explained that when we’re angry, we can get bitter. Bitterness leads to all sorts of problems in life and most bitter people end up alone. What we all need is some sweetness. Everyone added their sugar to the lemon juice and we taste tested until the concoction wasn’t bitter anymore. It took as much sugar as lemon juice to make it at least palatable.

Granted, this wasn’t the most complete metaphor in life, but it did start a good conversation about anger and when it’s appropriate to actually be angry. To be honest, I don’t yet know the definitive answer to that question. But we’re doing a study on the matter, and at least the conversation has gotten started.

Have you dealt with anger in your kids? What do you do about it?

Earnest Parenting: helping parents teach kids to control anger.

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5 Fun Fall Activities to do with Your Kids

Amy LeForge — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:24:26 +0000

(Editor’s note: Nancy has fall activities all planned for us. Thanks, Nancy!)

Summer is often touted as the best season of the year for kids because it means that they’re home from school and can play outside all day every day. There’s trips to the pool, picnics in the park, and summer vacations to look forward to. But just because summer has ended and school has started doesn’t mean that the outdoor activities have to end. Here are five fun fall activities you can do with your kids:

1. Visit a pumpkin patch
Picking out the perfect Halloween pumpkin is a great way to get your kids out of the house on the weekend and in the Halloween spirit. A lot of times you’ll be able to find a local pumpkin patch that also has other fun activities going on, and once you’ve found the perfect pumpkin (or pumpkins) you can go home and have a pumpkin carving contest.

2. Go apple-picking
Visiting an apple orchard to pick ripe apples is one of those quintessential fall activities. Most apple orchards plant some trees that are low enough to the ground that kids will have no problem picking apples off of, meaning you don’t have to suffer through the worry of watching them climb through trees to get to apples and they still get to be part of the activity. Plus picking all those apples can only mean one thing – homemade apple pie!

3. Build a scarecrow
Fall weather practically begs for having scarecrows added to the front yard, and what better way to do so then by building one with your kids? You can use leaves to stuff an old flannel shirts and jeans (which is a perfect excuse to get them to help you rake the front yard!) and wrap an old coffee can in construction paper (or use a pumpkin from your trip to the pumpkin patch!) to make a head. Let the kids glue on buttons for eyes and a mouth and then add straw where his hands and feet should be. Top him off with a straw hat and you’ll have the perfect scarecrow for your house and your kids will have had a blast making him.

4. Find a fall festival
Fall festivals are all over the place and offer a great way to pack in a full day of family fun. Usually they have all sorts of activities kids love to partake in – from fun houses to face painting, and different contests where the kids can win prizes. Added bonus: they’ll probably be worn out and fall straight to sleep once you get home!

5. Take a trip to a local farm
Many local farms will open up their farms to visitors on the weekends so that families can visit. You’ll be able to pick up some fresh and local produce and the kids will be able to go on hay rides and pet the animals, plus the cooler weather will mean that being outside all day will be pleasant instead of miserable!

Just because school has started up again and the leaves are starting to change color doesn’t mean that the fun outdoor activities have to end! Fall brings some of the best outdoor weather and activities, and the fact that you can do all of these activities as a family is an added bonus!

Nancy Parker was a professional nanny and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, Parenting, Child Care, and Babysitting, find a nanny tips etc. You can reach her @ nancy.parker015 @ gmail.com.

Earnest Parenting: tips for fall activities the whole family can enjoy.

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Teaching Kids How to Serve Others by Entertaining Outdoors

Amy LeForge — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 11:04:31 +0000

(Editor’s note: please welcome Stan’s post with suggestions for teaching kids to serve. Thanks, Stan!)

There are many important lessons that we all want to teach our children as they grow up. There are plenty of ways to incorporate these lessons into everyday life. If you are going to have an outdoor party, for example, you can teach your children how to serve others. Leading a lifestyle of service can greatly benefit any child as they enter into adulthood.

It is helpful if, before you have the outdoor party, you make sure your children understand that even though you want them to have fun, they are also expected to help. The children may actually be even more excited about the party once they hear that they can help make it happen. There are a number of things children can do to serve others during an outdoor event.

Option 1: Put Kids in charge of drinks
Children, depending on their age, often like getting drinks for people. Tell your kids to ask guests if they would like a drink when they first arrive. Once everyone has a drink in hand, ask the children to circulate and watch for glasses that may be low. They can then begin to offer refills. You can make it even more simple by setting up a drink station. Place the child at the station and have them get the drinks as people come by, wanting a refreshment. They will not only have fun getting the drinks, but they will likely get to talk to everyone at the party.

Option 2: Allow children to seat guests
As guests arrive and mingle, children can insert themselves into conversations and ask the guests if they would like to have a seat. If the guest agrees, the child can lead them to a seat and ask if that particular chair will work. This option will allow the children to have conversations with each guest as they arrive and find their seats. If the guests are mingling too long when you need to get dinner on the table, the children can be quite helpful to move things along.

Option 3: Put children in charge of personal items
Whenever you have an outdoor party, guests may bring extra items. They might have a jacket, a purse, a diaper bag or something else. When the guests arrive, have the children meet them at the door. They can ask if there is anything they can take for them and then store those items in the storage bench on the patio. That way, the purses and coats are easily accessible if they are needed, but they are also out of the way.

In order to teach children how to serve others, it is important that they are included into every aspect of life, even the outdoor events.

Stan Horst enjoys spending time with his wife, two teenage children, and dog Toby Jax. They spend much of their down time outside fishing, hiking, camping, and enjoying nature. When Stan is not outside, he publishes a website about quality benches like the Kingsley and Bates line.

Earnest Parenting: tips for parents who want to teach their children service.

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Avoiding the Lumps: 4 Easy Ways to “Blend” Step-Families more Smoothly

Amy LeForge — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:59:29 +0000

(Editor’s note: please welcome Mariana’s post helping step-families blend more easily. Thanks, Mariana!)

As if “parenting” your biological child wasn’t challenging enough as it is, trying to parent your new spouse’s child can be a downright struggle. According to statistics more than 65 percent of all re-marriages include a child from a previous relationship. With that said, about 1,300 new stepfamilies are created every day. But blending families can be tough. Really tough. Especially if the child fights the changes a new marriage brings.

The problem can even reside with a parent: he or she may become disenchanted because the new family does not function like the previous one. But while step-parenting can be tough, if handled correctly the feeling of a happy, “unified” family can be restored. If you are going through the transition of becoming a new step parent, below are some tips to make the process of blending a family a little easier.

1. Try to Be Understanding. First and foremost, it is highly important that frustrated step parents remember why step families are formed in the first place—they are formed because of the death of a parent, because of divorce, or because a parent walked out on them. These experiences can be very traumatic for a child to cope with, thus the child may need some time adjusting to the situation and the new person in their lives (you).

But it’s important that while giving your step child time to adjust, both you and your spouse work to develop a new family identity as a “group effort” by participating in bonding experiences and making new traditions. Don’t try to make the family function exactly like the old one—realistically someone will be let down because it won’t be exactly the same. Instead of trying to fill someone’s shoes, buy your own.

2. Get some Solo Bonding Time with your Step Child. While developing a new family identity as a group is crucial, it’s equally important that the step parent puts in effort and tries to establish a relationship with the child on a one-on-one basis as well. The child needs to know that you actually care about them as well and not just about your new spouse. So do your best to invest some time and get to know your step child’s world—play video games with him or her; take him or her to a concert to see their favorite band; volunteer to help out with a school function; visit him or her during lunch; or simply drive him or her to/from school every now and then to get some valuable talk-time. Whatever you do, make an effort.

3. Get the “You’re Not My Mom/Dad” Talk Over and Done With. While you can’t expect to form an immediate bond, it is important that you as a step parent try to establish a level of trust and respect early on. An easy way to go about this is to not talk ill of the child’s biological parent (your new spouse’s ex) in front of your step child; try not to argue with your new spouse in front of the child; and go ahead and have the “you’re not my mom/dad” talk over with. Admit to the child that you are more than aware that you are not the child’s biological parent and do not intend to replace them, however you are the adult in charge and he or she needs to follow your rules and respect you— at the very least. Explain that this isn’t necessarily because you or older, but because all of you are a family now and family members need to pay each other with the highest respect. Additional note: An easy way to receive respect is by giving it. So be a role model. As far as discipline goes, let the biological parents take care of that, at first at least.

4. Be Positive. Lastly, it’s important that you try your very best to stay positive throughout the whole transition. Even if your new kid is the Problem Child himself, don’t resort to verbalizing harsh criticism, or use of sarcasm. Also, don’t drill your step child when he or she makes mistakes (everyone makes them).

Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031 @gmail.com.

Earnest Parenting: helping step families grow together.

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