We've Got it in the Bag!

School is upon us once again and that means friends, homework and packed lunches. When I younger I brought my mom-packed lunch every school day.  It consisted of the exact same contents from elementary to high school:  a ham and cheese sandwich on white bread with mustard (cut vertically) and a Tasty Kake holiday cake treat (you remember the ones with the orange sprinkles for fall and the Christmas tree-shaped cakes during the holidays!)  To me the monotony was welcome and expected.  Every once in awhile I would get a personalized mom-note that I would read in secret.  I cherished those.

A lot of parents do not have time to make lunches and opt for the school meals.  True that laws are being passed to encourage healthy eating but make no mistake about the extreme calorie count during "Nacho Tuesday" and "Pizza Friday."  Convenience may have its consequences.

But then there are those picky eaters who poke and prod at their food.  I came across a great resource to help out those parents in search some practical lunch solutions: 

http://www.simplebites.net/balanced-school-lunches-for-picky-eaters/

No matter what method you choose for your child, be sure that s/he is happy with his/her lunch.  A belly needs to be full for the brain to be on! 

It's what time??!!

It's 5:14 AM as I write this piece in the spirit of getting ready to go back to school.  For the past few days I have driven by the local school with one eye closed, too afraid to see the metamamorphisis of their announcement board from Thanks for a great year!  Enjoy your summer! to Wecome back!  School begins September 6!  I finally mustered up the courage to open both eyes and face the sign head on. In a way it got me back into the school spirit as much as one can be after having a generous two months of freedom. :)

And now it's all about getting back to business.

But in baby steps.

A few months ago Drew got up around the same time as me.  The first words out of his mouth?  "Oh my gosh!  It's still dark out!  Who gets up before the sun is out?"

Umm...teachers do.  Thanks for noticing.

But rolling out of bed and stumbling through the bedroom in darkness for the first time in eight weeks made me wonder the same thing.  Will my brain even function at this hour?  Thank goodness for coffee!

And now it's time to get right back to it!

Goodbye late nights. 

See you later sugary goodies at 9PM. 

Hasta la vista morning television.

Hello reality! 

1.  Begin to reinstill an appropriate bedtime for the kids.  A full night's rest is imperative for a successful school day.

2.  Eat a healthy breakfast.  Skip the sugary cereals, white breads, and sugary fruit juices and opt for eggs, strawberries and blueberries and some oatmeal.  Get the brain juices flowing and revved up for the thinking that lies ahead.  Here are some breakfast recipe ideas:
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/healthy_breakfast_recipes_for_kids

3.  Eat brain foods!!  Fruits and vegetables are a no brainer, but did you know that some dried fruits, tuna, yogurt and oatmeal also have some brain power?  Check out this reference site for more information:
http://suite101.com/article/best-brain-foods-for-children-a29540


4.  Set up a study area for homework time.  Encourage your child to be a part of the process to create ownership and to build excitement.  If possible, allow him to have his own space.  Be sure that this area has a crate of everything that might be needed for homework including extra pencils, sharpeners, erasers, glue sticks, crayons, markers, scissors, paper and a ruler.  It will save the aggravation of tearing the house apart later!

5.   Enourage and enforce reading time for at least 15 minutes each day.  Research shows that children can drop up to 3 reading levels over the course of the summer.  Reading is a skill that needs to be practiced so get reading!

Best wishes as we all gear up for the start of school! 

 



I Ain't Afraid!

Home sweet home!  Drew and I just returned from a fabulous trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands.  It has by far been one of the best trips we have taken to date.  Each day was packed with different activities like an all-day snorkel and boating trip, night sailing, ziplining, and a visit to the local aquarium.

I have recently discovered that one of my favorite outdoor activities is ziplining. Whoa!  Standing on a platform harnessed and attached to a single metallic wire that you entrust with your life is a rush for sure.  Leaping off and hanging on tight takes some courage without a doubt.  Because Drew and I had been zipping before, we felt like old pros surrounded by frightened novices who talked a big game on the ground but stood with wobbly knees and closed eyes and gasped a few panicked breaths once standing with their toes hanging over the edge.   I, on the other hand, shot my hand up in the air when asked, "Who's going first?"  Oh I'm so brave.

So when Drew signed us up to swim with sea lions you would have thought that this would be a piece of cake.  I wasn't crazy about the idea but tried to reassure myself by looking at the photographs of children balancing balls on the sea lions' noses and wrapping their arms around their necks.  If the kids can do it, it must be harmless, right?

That's what I told myself as I sat through the orientation on the dos and don'ts once we entered the sea lion pool. 

"Just listen to what I tell you and you'll be fine, Lynn," the trainer tried to reassure me sensing my hesitation. 

But I was just never really into this whole thing.  And Omar the sea lion knew it.  Within the first ten seconds of us being in the water this huge creature dove in and swam right up to my left thigh to take a nibble.  The trainer quickly regained his attention and got him back on deck leaving me completely stupefied.

Yep.  He got me.  An oh-so-cute sea lion.  The 3 bruises on my leg prove it.  

Believe it or not I opted to stick with the encounter for the full hour.  Omar certainly didn't have my trust but I couldn't get the pictures of the 10 year olds smiling and kissing the aquatic mammals out of my mind.  It had just looked so innocent. 

After pictures of my leg were taken and insurance paperwork complete, we left the sea lion pool and passed 3 kids in a pool with sharks.  SHARKS!  Every ounce of my being wanted to throw them a lifeline and drag them out of there.  But their curiosity seemed to overcome any fear.  They were touching them, feeding them and asking the trainer questions about where they live, what they eat and how long they have been there.  I stood against the rail in amazement wondering if some forms of fear are learned behaviors.  I certainly had learned that I'll leave all the cute and cuddly looking sea lions alone.

Don't expect me to be swimming with anything anytime soon.  No sea lions, sharks, or even dolphins.  Nada.  I'll leave it all to the fearless kids while I bravely go zipping.