How do I love thee? A Love Letter to Mom for #MothersDay

Why a Love Letter to Mom is the Perfect Gift:

Parenting can be tough ...

Two years ago I wrote this post, but it's just as true today as it was two years ago. The day to day trials of parenting two now young adult boys is challenging, at least in my experience. On the really bad days, when I question myself and my parenting skills being able to put out and read something that reminds me that my efforts do not go completely unnoticed is a gift. A Love Letter to Mom is what I really need more than flowers, chocolates, jewellery or brunch. 

The importance of articulation and communication ...

The act of my sons thoughtfully articulating why they love me is a gift I'll cherished more than any they can buy. In some ways it's a gift to them as well; as it makes them examine their feelings, and even if just a little, become more comfortable being open about and sharing those feelings. I know the ability to articulate and communicate their feelings will impact their happiness and every relationship they have in life. But maybe more important, learning to share their feeling and reach out when they're unhappy or in crisis may actually save their life. If I can help my kids do this, it's a gift. 

Post from May 7th, 2014:
"Getting teenage boys to share their feelings is no easy task, but never being one to shy away from a challenge, I've decided to ask my two teenage boys to do just that. I'm asking them to focus 100% of their attention on the specific task of writing a two or three paragraph essay or letter, once a year, telling me why I am important, inspirational, or add value to their lives, including a few specific actions, activities or memories over the last year that are meaningful to them."
Read more...

To the Moms out there Happy Mother's Day, to those missing their Moms on Mother's Day I hope you have some happy memories you can cherish and hold on to, and to those dreaming about being Moms may your dreams come true.

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud and again about Love Letters to Mom for Mother's Day.

Parenting 101: Bedtime Stalling Styles - Just #5MoreMinutes Pleeease! #Streamteam @Netflix_CA

When it comes to bedtime avoidance is your child a stall-stylista or a single stall-styler? 

I chuckle thinking of the ways my kids tried to negotiate just one more: story, snack, drink, or show. 

Just 5 more minutes Mom pleeeease!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, even Evil Teens try to push the bedtime limits!

But until then, parents of younger kiddies have a new tool thanks to Netflix to help combat 5 minute run-on! 

You know when 5 minutes keeps going and turns into 10, 15 or even 20 minutes. 

DINOTRUX 5 MINUTE FAVORITES: 

A parent's solution to the nightly pleas for just #5MoreMinutes 

DINOTRUX 5 MINUTE FAVORUTES: BIG BUILD

DINOTRUX 5 MINUTE FAVORITES: TARPIT RESCUE

DINOTRUX 5 MINUTE FAVORITES: TORTOOL'S SURPRISE

Fast Forward:

Kids are asleep, and you've settled in for some Netflix-ing of your own. Just don't be surprised when it's time to turn Netflix off if your partner turns to you and says:

"Just 5 More Minutes Pleeeese!"

Where do you think your kids learned their "mad stalling skills" from?

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Netflix streamteam and 5 more minutes. 

Note: As a member of the Netflix Streamteam I receive Netflix and a streaming device free of charge for the purpose of my Netflix reviews and posts. All opinions are my own. 

Costume Inspiration via @Netflix_CA #NetflixHalloween #StreamTeam

When it came to Halloween costumes at our house, the kids would let their imagination run wild and then expect me to be able to recreate that in costume form. 

I don't think they understood there was a possibility I might not be able to do it, so the costume requests were anything from Mario and Lego Knights to a Giant Rat and the Burger King King costume. Figuring out how I was going to make the costume required as much creative thinking and imagination as the costume idea itself.

That time I spent with the kids discussing and planning their Halloween costumes are some of my fondest memories.

Many of the costumes and Jack-O-Lanterns were inspired by their favourite show or movie characters. 

 

How about your kids? Are they looking for a bit of costume inspiration? Why not take a peek at their favourite shows or movies to get the creative juices flowing. Below are a few of our favourites.

Marvel Ultimate Spider-Man

Despicable Me

Scooby-Doo

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Be sure to follow the hashtag #NetflixHalloween on social media for a look at what great costumes and ideas my fellow #streamteam members have come up with!

Wishing everyone a Happy Safe and Spooky Halloween! 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about a #streamteam #NetflixHalloween.

Note: As a member of the Netflix Streamteam I receive Netflix and a steaming device free of charge for the purpose of my Netflix Streamteam reviews and posts. All opinions are my own.

Wah Wah Wah... @Netflix_CA counteracts Wah Wah Syndrome #StreamTeam

There's always a buzz and energy as summer comes to an end and we start our "back to school" rituals and traditions. 

New knapsacks, lunch bags, and shopping for school supplies. There are discussions over teachers, and who might be in their classes. My kids are teens, one in high school and the other starting college so there's also focus on tech to purchase, schedules, managing the work load, pressures around marks, and college and university. 

And there's the mandatory parent-child discussion about working hard, making this year count and how decisions you make now can impact your future for many years to come. My kids have heard it for so many years I'm sure to them I sound like the teacher from Charlie Brown. "wah wah wah ... wah wah" and another thing "wah wah wah" 

Notice the smile set in place, and the eyes are starting to glace over. Soon the automated nodding of the head to appear to be listening will begin!  I call this the "Wah Wah Syndrome" and find one way to counteract it is watching some of the great series on Netflix Canada based on the life of teens with my kids. Not only does it keep the kids attention, it also gives me as a parent insight into some of the issues kids are facing at school today. 
It can be a good parent-child bonding opportunity, and a great way to segue into important conversations with your kids. 

Here are some of my favourites for teens: 

About a Boy

The Fosters

Switched at Birth

There are lots of great series for the younger kids too! 

Project Mc2

DinoTrux

Ever After High

So starting this year I'm adding watching relevant shows and then talking about back to school with the kids to our "back to school" traditions. I feel it's important to talk with (not at) my kids about acceptance, tolerance, peer pressure, not to mention academics and the importance of a good education. I think Netflix might be the perfect way to do that without the Wah Wah Syndrome. 

To keep up on all the new releases and news follow Netflix Canada on twitter or Netflix Canada on facebook. If you have some favourites to counteract Wah Wah Syndrome please share them with me in the comments section. I would love to hear them!

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Netflix Streamteam ... wah wah wah.

Note: As a member of the Netflix Streamteam I receive Netflix and a steaming device free of charge for the purpose of my Netflix Streamteam reviews and posts. All opinions are my own.

Summer School Cramps My Style!

There I said it. I am not anti-education, unless if interferes with my summer plans, or more importantly my desire to have a lack thereof! I'll be angry if my kids end up in summer school, and it is looking like a distinct possibility for both of them! Don't they care about me? I like summer to be less scheduled and relaxed. I can write and post to Cathy Thinking Out Loud  while on the road, or visiting family, but summer school is in class everyday for the entire month of July! We always like to go on a family road trip in the summer which takes at least a week if you include travel days. Visiting family that live out of town is a must. We ignore them the whole year because of school work, and projects, and the visits we do make are short and rushed. That takes another week plus two travel days. 

Not surprisingly the kids have plans of their own with friends, and things they want to do on their summer break. I haven't even started in about the 40 volunteer hours one of them has yet to do, and 40 hours of in class and road instruction for driver's ed. We have now burned through six of the eight weeks of summer vacation, and what happens if they get a job? At least they no longer go to camps, or quite literally there would be no summer left!

We only have a couple more years before my kids venture off to university, college or jobs. Once that happens things are never quite the same. Oh, we might go on vacation together, or they might come back for the summers while in school, but that carefree feel of long summers, where we can be unscheduled and spontaneous will be gone. I am not ready for that, and really do not appreciate summer school spoiling it for me. Personally, I think my kids will just have to kick it up a notch at school during the school year, so is summer school is not required, and it stops cramping my style! 

What is your summer style? Scheduled and action packed, or relaxed and spontaneous?

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about my summer style!

Fitting Everything You'll Need for the #ThemePark into 1 Knapsack #travel #TravelTuesday

EVERYTHING ON THE LIST IS IN THIS KNAPSACK 

1 FAMILY, 1 DAY, 1 THEME PARK, AND 1 KNAPSACK:
No one wants to lug around tons of bags and items on a day of family fun at a theme park. Neither do you want to spend a fortune on stuff you forgot, or have the day ruined by not having the basic essentials you need. Given the financial investment a day at a theme park is for a family of four (easily $200-$300 just for admission) a bit of planning and packing expertise is so important to ensure you get the most out your adventure. Here is my best advice after 16 years of packing for the 50+ theme park visits to at least 10 different theme parks, on how to make your experience magical.
Before hand: 
Take a minute to download the theme park maps, and attractions. Make a plan about what the must do rides and attractions are, and how they can be visited in an order that avoids multiple cross park walks. Disney World's Magic Kingdom is 107 acres, and Animal Kingdom covers 500 acres according to About.com Family Vacations. A plan will help to ensure even with wait times you get so see and do all the top attractions on your list. In the case of Disney be sure to look into, understand, and use the Fast Pass option. Also many parks open early or late to visitors staying in one of their resorts or hotels. Check the weather, and the UV rating for the day! Bring sunscreen and hats!!!
Given the acreage of these parks wear a pair of comfortable shoes you can walk in for 8 - 10 hours! In my opinion that does not include flip flops. After years of searching for the perfect park shoe, I noticed in the last 3 years that about 75% of people were wearing Nike Free Run shoes. So I bought myself a pair (or two), as well as a pair for my son, and husband, and indeed they are the best shoes I have ever owned for a day of walking around a theme park. Highly recommend them!
Okay, what goes in the knapsack:
The Must Haves:

• Sunscreen!!!!
• 4x hats (one for everyone).
• 4x long sleeved shirts (one for everyone). These are great in the evening, in the air conditioning, to block the sun, and act as an extra shirt, should your t-shirt get wet on a ride. 
• 2x hoodies (one in kids size and one adult size so they can be shared).
• 2x spare t-shirts (one in kids size and one in adult size so they can be shared) Pack in ziplock bag so wet t-shirts can be stored in that same bag in the knapsack).
• 2x spare pairs of socks (in sizes that can be shared).
• 2x green garbage bags (they can double as a rain poncho, and keep your knapsack, or seat dry on water rides).
• a couple of ziplock bags for wallets, etc when on water rides.
• 4x dollarstore rain ponchos (you will pay as much as $7 each at the park).
• 4x bottle of water (refill them at the fountain throughout the day) You WILL need to hydrate, and this can get very expensive without a water bottle. Everyone carries their own using a bottle clip or lanyard.
• 4x bottle clips so everyone can easily carry their own bottles or empty ones can be clipped onto the knapsack.
• 4x sunglasses and strings so they can hang from your neck.
• Emergency kit: safety pins, bandages, wipes, kleenex, lipbalm, pair of shoelaces (can double as a belt), foam earplugs, luggage tags (to use as ID and Emergency Contact Info Tags and Cards  for kids), pen, cell phone charging cord, earbuds, Gravol, Tylenol or Advil.

Optional: 

• Camera and or Cell Phone (Note: Disney has free wi-fi everywhere in the parks, and a cell phone game can make long wait times go by much faster. Also Disney has an app with all sorts of great park information).
• Granola bars, a few snacks, and single serve flavour crystals to add to the water. (My kids have a fast metabolism and need to eat every few hours. These help to hold them over until we can sit down for a meal).
• Card Holder and Lanyard: convenient for Fast Pass tickets ($3 at Walmart, $8 in the park).
• Autograph Book and fancy Princess pen: $12 & $8 in the park, substantially cheaper at Walmart. (or have your kids make an autograph book to bring to the park).
• I always bring a collapsible folding bag like an Envirosac, or a cinch knapsack with me. (It makes carrying purchases that do not fit in the knapsack much easier).

In our family the adults have always taken turns carrying the knapsack, but since my kids are now teens, they are required to take turns too!

Yep, just me Cathy thinking about travel and theme parks.

#WordlessWednesday - Yep, that is my kid!

#WORDLESSWEDNESDAY

This is my life......need I say more? I think not!