The MomTini Lounge^SM

Here’s a great “feel good” post — I came across these tips and wanted to share.

Thanks to Darren Hardy, Publisher and Editorial Director of SUCCESS magazine, for sharing tips on how to build “abundance attitude” in your kids.

He explains, “Fostering a mindset of abundance in your children is one of the greatest gifts you can give them—especially during less than ideal economic times. Doing so helps them see the world as full of opportunity for those willing to work diligently toward their goals. Young people with an abundance attitude realize that wealth is not finite and that they can create lives of prosperity for themselves and others.”

8 Strategies for Building Abundance Attitude in Your Kids
(as featured in Success Magazine)

* Reward Responsibly – Don’t give rewards for promised future behavior. Reward when the goal is accomplished. Acknowledge the accomplishment and celebrate it.

* Clarity – Be open about your financial state. Work as a family toward saving for a big item like a dream vacation. Adopt a family mission statement.

* Everything is a Teaching Tool – Use economic and financial news, as well as the success stories of business owners as conversation starters or as talking points around particular issues. Inspire your kids by highlighting positive entrepreneurial stories.

* Foster Support – You’re not necessarily the dominant adviser to your children. Kids need support, mentorship and encouragement from coaches, teachers and other influential people. Find out who your child’s favorites are and encourage their support of your child’s endeavors.

* Encourage Networking and Innovation – Connect your children to people who have passion for what they do that’s of interest to your child. Encourage them to set high goals for themselves even if they don’t reach them.

* Learn Business – The greatest teacher and confidence builder is to learn by doing. Encourage your child to take a part-time job, volunteer or start their own business. Programs like Youthpreneur give kids business skills whether for their own for-profit business or fundraising.

* Giving Back – Show your children the power of sharing. Volunteering time and resources goes a long way toward teaching an abundant outlook by giving to the less fortunate.

* Gratitude Attitude – Appreciate the things you have. Teach your children to take stock of and appreciate the intangibles like relationships, nature, shared experiences and things that don’t cost money.

Editor’s Note: Great tips! I love the ideas, and how the positive parenting relates to our current economy. Feel free to add any tips you have as well by leaving a comment on this post!

As you’ve seen, I shy away from anything too personal. As a “parenting reporter,” I try to take an objective approach to delivering news about the different topics of parenting our kids.

This post, however, is different, personal, and very special. This is a tribute to our dog, Goldilox, who we lost this week. Goldi was an amazing companion, a great dog, and worked by my side for the past 14 years. We jokingly referred to her as my “Vice President.” Who else can boast of a VP who is loyal 100% of the time, demands no more than a scratch behind the ears or walk, wags her tail every time you walk into the office, keeps a smile on her face even when life or work is stressful, accepts a piece of bread as payment for overtime, doesn’t care if you need to work into the wee hours of the night, sits quietly through conference calls, can shift between writing about parenting and running a PR firm instantly, and tells you with her sweet eyes and her constant presence that you rock her world? My son completed a video tribute of her life, and I hope you enjoy this walk down a wonderful memory lane.

Goldi, the office…and house…won’t be the same without you! This MomTini is for you…Hugs & tail wags…

Note: The photo is my favorite – at 6 weeks, Goldi could melt anyone’s heart, and that was true until the very end…

I know, silly question for parents. Few of us get enough sleep – between to-do lists, nightmares, wet beds, teething pain – regardless of your kids’ ages and stages, there’s probably something keeping you up at night at least sometimes.

Help is in sight…In honor of National Sleep Awareness Week (kicks off March 7th), I’m focusing some time on this very important issue in the hopes of lending some help and generating some comments from other readers (leave comment at the top of this post) so we can all get a good night’s rest!

First, some facts from the National Sleep Foundation website:

– > If you don’t sleep well, you’re not alone. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM), approximately 30 million Americans are affected by chronic insomnia each year.

– > According to the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America poll, which focused on the sleep habits of women aged 18 to 64, American women are over-worked, stressed-out, and significantly sleepy. The poll also showed that pregnancy and motherhood can increase a woman’s risk of sleep problems and that whether you are a stay-at-home moms, a mom who work full-time or part-time there are specific sleep challenges you face.

So, what can we do? Here are some great resources:

– > Healthy Sleep Tips – such as maintain a regular schedule, and establishing a peaceful, relaxing bedtime routine

– > Sleep Tips for Kids – some great tips regarding caffeine, routine, and all in a kid-friendly format

What tips do you have to help fellow parents fall asleep and stay asleep?

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz…..

It seems like teens and even tweens today can text using two thumbs faster than most adults can type using 10 fingers. That’s not research, by the way, but a MomTini observation. They’re fast; they’ve got their own lingo; and for parents who grew up with cassette tape players in their cars (!), the technology can be overwhelming at times.

A recent study, “Sex and Tech,” by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and CosmoGirl, reported that 21% of teen girls and 18% of teen boys have sent or posted nude or semi-nude images of themselves.

There are some great tips, for both parents AND teens in their “Five things to think about before pressing ’send’ ” — click here for the full text. I’ll highlight some of my favorite tips for parents and teens here:

Tips for Parents:

–> Talk to your kids openly and honestly about what they’re doing in cyberspace.

–> Know their address book – know who they’re talking to.

–> Set limits and expectations on electronic communication.

–>Tips for Teens and for Parents to Discuss with Teens:

–> Don’t assume anything you send will remain private. The study found that 40% of teens and young adults “say they have had a sexually suggestive message meant to be private shown to them; and 20% say they shared such a “private” message with others.

–> There is no changing your mind in cyberspace – anything you post will never truly go away. Editor’s note – I like to refer to this as an “electronic fingerprint” — it’s indelible, it’s yours, and it’s there for good.

– > Don’t give in to the pressure to do something that makes you uncomfortable, even in cyberspace. Editor’s Note: Peer pressure is intense, especially online where it seems more anonymous, but is anything BUT.

– > Consider the recipient’s reaction. They say, “It’s easier to be more provocative or outgoing online, but whatever you write, post or send, does contribute to the real-life impression you’re making.”

Great tips – hope they’re helpful! Here’s a Sex and Tech”>short-cut to the National Campaign’s page with more tips, video, and even state-by-state resources. I’ll be reporting more on this topic – and welcome your comments and feedback! Add a comment to this post with any ideas you have to keep kids safe on cell phones.

Before we heat up this discussion, here’s a quick reminder about snow safety tips — check out some ideas on staying safe if you’re in the snow zone. [It's ironic, but this snow safety post was exactly one year ago today, and we're looking at a record snowfall in Maryland tonight!]

I came across some great resources from Planned Parenthood, complete with their latest video tutorial on how to talk to your kids about sex in a healthy, open way. This is well worth 5 minutes – it’s very direct, straightforward, and has a healthy approach:

Definitely worth a listen, but here are some of the highlights I thought were really powerful: Read the rest of this entry »

Note: This is a sponsored post by Frigidaire. What tips do you have to help other moms get organized and be more efficient at home? – Amy

The tragedy in Haiti is one that will involve aftershocks in so many ways. The efforts to rebuild will take years, and while the devastation is far away geographically, the crushing images are as close as our family rooms. I wanted to pass along some resources for fellow parents in coaching our kids through tragedy, and also suggesting some kid-friendly ways we can help the families in Haiti.

First, I loved these tips from World Vision US, a relief organization with hundreds of people helping in Haiti:

1. Start by listening. Find out what your kids already know. You can then respond in an age-appropriate way. The aim is not to worry them with the devastating details, but to protect them from misinformation they may have heard from friends or disturbing images they may have seen on television.

2. Provide clear, simple answers. Limit your answer to Read the rest of this entry »

Note: This is a sponsored post from Ubisoft – hope you see some interesting fitness tips from Jenny! – Amy

I was just putting the finishing touches on a PTA presentation on “A Dozen Ways to Make Your Life, Home and Kids More Productive” (love to talk, as you know – let me know if your PTA or Mom’s group is looking for a speaker this year), and that, combined with the New Year, has me thinking about resolutions and making 2010 the best year yet.

When I hear the word “coach,” I’m thinking sports teams, muddy cleats and uniforms, and the craze of winter sports. I recently saw some tips from another kind of coach – the “mom kind!” Amy Goslee, MA, of Embracing Transformation, is a Professional Coach for Moms. She posed some questions for moms about the frenzy and balance challenge we all face, along with some useful tips. The New Year is always a great time to take a personal audit, to evaluate what didn’t work for you last year, and what could work even better in the coming year.

Goslee suggests you ask yourself the following questions:

Do you…

Feel overwhelmed?
Experience a lack of balance or fulfillment?
Desire change?
Want more out of life?

Goslee says, “We have all felt the pressure to be supermoms! Let’s face it; with all that we do for our loved ones, we don’t have as much time as we once did for ourselves. As a mother of two young children, I struggled to find balance and fulfillment in my own life.” She insists, “I truly believe we can all have the best of both worlds. We can be loving nurturing mothers to our families, as well as happy, fulfilled women.”

Sounds good…where do we sign up?

Goslee recommends incorporating Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been a busy few months at The Lounge, and I’ve been hanging onto a story that I thought was very important to share. Teen Driving Safety Week a couple of months ago, but the topic of safe driving is timeless. It used to be that teenagers, being new behind the wheel, were at greatest risk. That theory is supported by the increased cost to insure teen drivers. However, driving around, it’s clear that we’re all doing a lot more multi-tasking that we should behind the wheel. Between cell phones, in-car movies, activity overload, and hectic schedules, we’re busy. Add to that the pressure of holiday shopping and end-of-year work stress, and we’re even more frenzied. I thought some safe driving tips would benefit us all.

Dan MacDonald, Executive Director of Communications for Bridgestone Americas, also oversees communications for the company’s consumer road safety programs, including Think Before You Drive and Safety Scholars. He shared these helpful tips (slightly edited) for The MomTini Lounge parents.

Tips: Don’t Drive Distracted

As parents, we worry about a lot of things: our kids’ health, performance at school and their safety. And as our children get older, it doesn’t get any easier. Take one glimpse at teen driving statistics and it’s clear: the real culprit facing today’s teens behind the wheel is distracted driving.

During National Teen Driver Safety Week, we encourage families to take the opportunity to talk to their teens about driver safety. The conversation is changing, and it needs to. We can no longer be content with just warning our teens about the dangers of drinking and driving or the importance of buckling up. We must also address distracted driving – and set an example.

To keep everyone safe on the roads, here are a few quick tips on how to avoid distraction behind the wheel:

“Would you do it in the shower?” Ask yourself this question every time you start an activity behind the wheel. Would you eat, text, talk on the phone or change a CD in the shower? Then you probably shouldn’t be doing it behind the wheel either, right?!

Know Point B. You should have a Read the rest of this entry »

Tick tock, tick tock. If your gifts need to ship out, it’s time to lock in those purchases! True to Business of Motherhood style, here are some quick tips and links to top sellers.

First, here are some creative gift ideas that will extend the joy:

1 – Encourage the gift of giving. Have your kids clean out the playroom and box up toys they’re either outgrowing or are willing to share with someone less fortunate.

2 – Magazine subscriptions. You can give a year of fun to someone in their specific interest area. Pick up a copy of the magazine at the grocery or book store; send in the subscription card yourself; and wrap the magazine with something related (for example, some tools if it’s hardware-related; a portable USB flash drive with a computer magazine; some kitchen utensils with a cooking magazine.

3 – Draw names – Gift giving can get really excessive. Draw names; set a Read the rest of this entry »

As you know, I love to study, write about, and report on parenting tips and tactics in all areas of our busy lives. My greatest reward is undoubtedly meeting fellow Mompreneurs who share my passion for helping other Moms make life more productive. One such Mompreneur was a friend of a friend turned friend and someone I love to follow online.

Aviva Goldfarb , author and founder of The Six O’Clock Scramble®, has focused on the bewitching dinner hour, and she does it with great finesse! Aviva, Mom Since 1997 (MS’97) shared some great and timely tips on table manners, offering The MomTini Lounge readers a great “tune-up” in time for Thanksgiving. Enjoy! – Amy

Do Your Family’s Table Manners Need a Tune-Up for the Holidays?
By Aviva Goldfarb, Six O’Clock Scramble author and guest to The MomTini Lounge

Our children, who are 10 and 12 years old, are at the point where eating dinner with them shouldn’t be like watching hyenas devour a carcass on the African plain. Then again, we’re a good deal older than they are, and don’t always act like we are dining with the Queen, either!

Last week at the dinner table I noticed that they were hunched over their plates, shoveling food in by the forkful. While that probably reflects well on the recipe I was testing that night (Sizzling Korean Beef), it doesn’t reflect well on their table manners. Then I noticed that my husband and I weren’t exactly ideal role models for refined dining habits. I had an elbow on the table and was sitting cross legged, and Andrew looked like he was orally vacuuming food rather than chewing it. Our whole family needs a table manner “tune up” before Thanksgiving if we want to distinguish our eating habits from those of Suerte and Jesse, our beloved dogs.

Is insisting on good table manners old-fashioned? Not at all! According to Cindy Post Senning, co-author of Emily Post’s Table Manners for Kids (Collins, May 2009), “Table manners are tools that can keep eating and mealtimes as pleasant as possible. Also, if you know which one is your glass, you’re less likely to drink your neighbor’s cider. If you know how to hold your utensils, you’re less likely to spill your food in your lap.” In other words, meal time is more enjoyable and more sanitary when we observe good manners. Plus, basic table etiquette shows respect for your dining companions, be they royalty or relatives.

I have come up with a list of my top 10 table manners that will likely help all of us get more enjoyment out of family dinners. (Of course, depending on the age of your children, some of these goals may be too lofty; you may have to settle for having younger ones eat from the table and refrain from mashing food in their hair, or yours.)

1. Wash your Read the rest of this entry »

With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, the clock is ticking…I noticed in Disney Family Fun’s November issue an interesting resource to pass along: their 18th annual Toy of the Year (T.O.Y.) Awards. The report lists the top toys each year according to an independent market survey by families nationwide. So…who made the Read the rest of this entry »

Amy with FOX DC’s Holly Morris

What a great morning with Holly Morris (as a smashing pumpkin!) from FOX DC and the fun team at kiddie party central, Andy’s Parties.

There were three live segments this morning – each is below – loaded with tips and treats.

First segment: Punny Halloween Costumes

Second Segment – Our Very Own Secret Service and Adorable Little Goblins

Third Segment – Safety Tips and a Halloween-Tini!

So…have you entered your best safety & costume tips at our reader-giveaway? Click here, and scroll down to enter to win – just “Leave a Comment,” and you could win a Boost Mobile phone or a Wow! Wow! Wubzy Goes Boo DVD! Just a few days left – enter your ideas today!

Enjoy, and have a safe Halloween!

Black Cat Martini - image courtesy of HINT Essence Water

Tune in to see Amy live with FOX DC’s Holly Morris this Friday October 30th (live morning interviews at 7:40, 8:40, and 9:40). I’ll post the segment Friday with additional Halloween treats, tips and links. Plus, read through to the end of this post, and you can win a FREE cell phone or DVD.

I was looking for a spirited visual for this year’s Halloween post (beyond of course the Black Cat Martini above!), and without going to the dogs, here it is…

Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens, there are lots of free pumpkin carving stencils you can download.

Here are some Business of Motherhood “treats” to get your little goblins ready for Halloween. I want to cover several subjects with quick tips and helpful links on each.

COSTUMES – QUICK AND EASY:

As adults, if we were sprinting from house to house (in the dark nonetheless), we wouldn’t be thinking of putting on our party best. But for kids, this is the ultimate show and tell all year! It doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg – here are some quick tips on creative ideas that you can pull together without an art degree Read the rest of this entry »

What a FABULOUS title! This week, we’re talking about a great new book on the Mom-Tastic Bookshelf, and…the author is coming to the D.C. area, so local moms, you’ve got a chance to hear this expert in person, and at a MomTini discount. Have I got your interest?

The title, Honey I Wrecked the Kids, is so honest, funny, and catching, and after speaking with the Author, Parenting Expert, TV Host, and of course, Mom Since 1994 (MS’94), I could see so much of her bubbling personality at work. We had a great conversation about the book, about parenting, and about creative ways we can all respond to the many “dances” our kids do to get our attention.

Schafer said this book is a response to the desperate questions she was constantly receiving from parents. She realized, “Nothing is broken, but we’ve gotten ourselves into patterns that are not helpful. Here’s a fresh way to look at your child & understand these dances we’re all in.”

Her book is a parent’s guide to understanding why kids misbehave and how we can turn things around.

So, how did we get here in the first place? According to Schafer, “Most of the techniques we use come from the parenting style we’ve inherited over the years, basically an ‘external control’ method of trying to manipulate children into behaving by using some kind of punishment or reward to make them mind you.” The problem with this strategy, she said, is that it “doesn’t work on the new generation of kids who are what I’d call the ‘Rosa Parks’ of their generation. They aren’t going to take it; they won’t be manipulated.”

So, what can we do? Read the rest of this entry »

I get lots of fun parenting books to review for my blog. Once in a while, I see something where the title grabs me. Here’s one!

When I saw author Nancy Tringali Piho’s book, My Two-Year-Old Eats Octopus: Raising Children Who Love to Eat Everything, I was skeptical about the octopus part, but hopeful about the expanded horizons in the eating department. So, I asked Nancy to share some tips with MomTini Lounge readers, and she did. So thanks, Nancy, and best of luck to fellow moms in getting beyond chicken nuggets! — Amy

Guest Post on Getting Kids to Eat More Variety
by Nancy Tringali Piho, Mom Since 2004 (MS’04)

“So how do I get my children to eat Octopus…. Or better yet, just the basic green beans and meat loaf that I put on their plates?”

I hear questions like that all the time and believe me, I sympathize with you. Two-year-olds (my own included) have a way of bringing us moms to our knees with their pickiness, food strikes and other antics at the table. But if you have young kids, I have found that there are concrete steps you take to start them on the road to being Good Eaters, rather than Picky Ones! Here are some tips from chefs, mom friends and other experienced Read the rest of this entry »

Depending on where you live and your local school calendar, back-to-school time may seem imminent or a few weeks off. Regardless, it’s a top-of-mind subject for many parents. Administrators are busy planning for the students’ return; kids are gobbling up the last bits of summer; and parents are getting ready to shift from summer to school routines.

A local behaviorist, Dr. Robin Allen, shared some excellent tips to urge parents to start planning now for back-to-school success. She said it can take up to two weeks to reset our sleep cycle, so now is a great time to start inching your way toward a Fall schedule. She also offers some fabulous tips on creating charts and checklists. As you know, if I was able to take only one item to a deserted island (beyond my family of course!), it would be a chart! Here are edited highlights from some tips Dr. Robin recently published:

1. Sleep schedule. Begin this week to get your child on a school wake up and bed time schedule. This will get his/her rhythms re-set for the coming months, which are critical for learning, expected behavior, and attention. If you shape the wake-up and bed times in the direction of what will be expected the first week of school, you and your child will have an easier transition.

2. Charts and checklists. Begin to use or think about using Read the rest of this entry »

Many kids are away at camp, and parents are looking for creative ways to stay in touch. I just published my national wire column on “Easy Ways to Get Lots of Details from Your Camper” which you’ll see in a minute, but I wanted to add a bonus for MomTini Lounge readers regarding care packages.

Many camps restrict food, which I think is a great idea for so many reasons. First, I’m a big fan of a rodent-free environment! Also, camp is full of treats; many camps have canteens where the kids can buy junk; and food doesn’t typically keep well, especially in humid environments. (How many cabins have central air?!). Here are some creative ideas for non-edible treats you can send your camper:

– Disposable cameras they can develop at home (or waterproof variety!)
– Paper games – like Soduku, Word Finds, Crossword puzzles (Create your own puzzles for free online)
– Glow Sticks
– Dollar Store treats – too many to list, but lots of fun, easy toys
– Small easy games – Jacks, Cards, Dice
– Clippings from the newspaper or comics

Now, enjoy some tips on how to create a camp questionnaire to get LOADS of details easily from your camper!

Many parents I talk to have hysterical stories about letters (or lack thereof) from campers. “Send money.” “I broke my leg – just kidding, but now that I scared you, send lots of candy!” “Camp is cool.”

Moms (and Dads!) want to know every last detail, and we’re used to communicating in writing. For today’s high-tech/instant gratification kids, though, writing a long, detailed letter may feel more like a homework assignment. Plus, they’re so hot and tired after a long day, so the last thing they want to do is sit and write.

While I think it’s excellent for kids to be away from technology for any period of time, let’s be honest. Many kids are used to the text messaging immediacy of their worlds, but hand written letters, while they may seem prehistoric, are a gem we should not only treasure but promote as much as we can!

I tried to find a happy medium between prose and “TTYL” (a.k.a., “talk to you later”). So, here’s a Business of Motherhood tip to the rescue: Create a questionnaire that your child can write and easily return to you. Here’s the strategy: Read the rest of this entry »

I meant to post this earlier, and I realize many kids are already away at camp, but fear not, there are some tips for anyone sending (or having sent) kids away to camp this summer. (Also check out creative tips for staying in touch while your camper is away).

First, for those in prep mode, here’s my latest national wire column:

Sleep-away camp is a great experience for many kids and parents. New experiences, adventures outdoors (or at the camp mess hall) await. Kids miss parents; parents miss kids; but great memories are formed.

With the economy in a slump, camps are definitely feeling the crunch. If you haven’t yet signed up for camp, you may still have a great chance at a spot, and possibly at a reduced rate if camps are looking to fill empty spots. Some camps also offer scholarships or paid counselor spots for older kids, so explore your options, and be creative!

Here are some quick tips for parents as you prepare your kid to get away:

1. Planning and preparation will help make the experience less anxious for kids and mom. Prepare a few weeks in Read the rest of this entry »