Living on a Shoe String - from one mom to anotherWritten by Denise Lombardo
Word Count: 546 Character Width: 60 Resource box: 4 lines plus web link to ebook "Living on a Shoe String"========================================================= Fun for kids without spending a dime. - by Denise Lombardo (c)Denise Lombardo - all rights reserved http://www.moneysavingtips.biz ========================================================== Have you ever asked yourself, "Why everything is so expensive?". Taking your child to movies has turned into an event that you must save for. Even if you plan a day with great intentions of not spending a fortune, it can easily backfire. For example, Chuckee Cheese. I've personally taken my children there and said to myself, "Okay, I am not going to spend more than $30.00 today". When it comes down to it, I've got two choices when end is near. Either I will go over my planned budget or two children will be crying because they don't want to leave. (Thirty dollars does not go far at Chuckee Cheese). So in end, I leave frustrated, my kids are disappointed and they whole day is shot. Quite honestly, it doesn't need to be that way. For families living on a budget, there are many ways to show your children a good time without taking a second mortgage on house to do so. Here are some suggestions: * Go to park - Kids love to play at park and it doesn't cost a penny. Find a nice park near your house, pack a picnic basket, bring a soccer ball and enjoy day. * Go to your local library - Most libraries offer programs for children. While you are there, take out books and also videos. (The videos are free) * Family Fun Night - Find a night during week when everyone is available and spend quality time together. Play board games, cards, watch a movie (of course, one that you took out from library), read, do whatever you want. * Home Depot Workshop - The program is free for children. Your child will get a Home Depot apron and will build a project they will take home. The workshops are held on a monthly basis. Call your local store for details and scheduling. * Rainy day fun - Do something crazy. Do you remember being a child and wanting to play in rain. Well here's your chance. Put raincoats on, grab your umbrellas and have some fun. Bring camera because you are going to want a picture of this. * Go hiking - take your child on a nature walk. Kids love outdoors and there's something special about exploring nature together. * Go for a walk - just taking your child for a walk around block can be special. It is a wonderful opportunity to talk and enjoy little things in life such as changing leaves, an animal behind a fence or even a car that drove by real fast. * Turn music on - When is last time you danced around house with your children. What are you waiting for? Turn music on and have a great time. You may surprise yourself at how much fun you'll have.
| | Parents - What Kind of Role Model Are You?Written by Margaret Paul, Ph.D.
The following article is offered for free use in your ezine, print publication or on your web site, so long as author resource box at end is included. Notification of publication would be appreciated.Title: Parents - What Kind of Role Model Are You? Author: Margaret Paul, Ph.D. E-mail: mailto:margaret@innerbonding.com Copyright: © 2003 by Margaret Paul Web Address: http://www.innerbonding.com Word Count: 694 Category: Parenting PARENTS - WHAT KIND OF ROLE MODEL ARE YOU? Margaret Paul, Ph.D. Are you being person you want your children to be? Many parents today really try to be better parents than their parents were. They attempt to be there for their children - to listen to them, support them, spend time with them, as well as hold and nurture them. Their children grow up feeling loved and valued by these loving parents, yet often these same children struggle as adults in many areas of their lives. I have numerous clients who tell me that they had wonderful parents who truly loved and nurtured them, yet these clients are struggling with their work, their relationships, or their lives in general. Why is this? The common issue is that their parents did not role model for them personal responsibility for their own feelings, needs, and physical health. They did not teach them through their own behavior how to take good care of themselves physically or emotionally. So, what are you teaching your children through your own behavior? Do you role model following your passions, or do you spend your spare time watching TV? Do you role model taking good care of your health, or do you smoke cigarettes, eat badly and get little exercise? Do you have a spiritual practice that is meaningful to you and moves you into your heart, or do you stay mostly in your head? Do you have a process for managing your conflicts with others, or do you tend to withdraw, get angry, resist or comply as a way to control or avoid conflict? Do your children see you avoiding life’s difficulties with alcohol, drugs, gambling, spending, TV or other addictive behavior, or learning from life’s challenges? Are you boring because you just try to be safe and maintain status quo, or do you extend yourself and take some risks that result in aliveness and vitality?
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