The Children Whine "I'm Bored!"

Solution: Create an “I’m bored” activity box.

Fill a container with craft items and projects that your kids can dig into anytime you hear “I’m bored” or “I don’t have anything to do.” Here are some supplies to get started. The idea is to let their imaginations run wild!

Empty jars
Paper-towel rolls
Popsicle sticks
Index cards
Duplicates of family photos
Paper cups
Straws
Buttons
Thread spools
Marbles
Shells
Scissors
Glue
Tape
Paper
Cardboard
Markers
Cotton balls
Bean seeds

How to Become Your Own Best Friend

If you want to be a better friend to yourself…

1. Stop the guilt trip. Guilt is nothing but judgment about something you should have done or should be doing. Either clean up your act, or become happy with your current decisions. Feeling guilty is a complete waste of time.

2. Be true to yourself. Don’t betray yourself by saying yes when you need to say no. Your attitude will improve because you will be taking responsibility instead of trying to be a people pleaser.

3. Respect others enough to make them pull their weight. Speak to them about the situation and explain where you need help. Be prepared to deal with excessive pouting on their part as they try to guilt you into reverting to old ways.

Be kind to yourself. You can’t give to others what you can’t give to yourself.

Trick or Treat? Organizing Tricks for Halloween

Halloween has changed dramatically since I was a little girl. Then, Halloween was asking Mom for an old sheet or raiding her fabric stash and then fashioning my own costume with lots of imagination. Then I got to visit a few of the neighbors (most of whom were relatives) for treats and that was pretty much it. Fun, but not the production that Halloween has become these days.

Now, stores have two or three aisles of costumes, another two or three of various candies, and yet another two or three of decorations and even orange lights. Grocery stores have huge piles of pumpkins to be carved. There are Halloween parties for kids and adults alike. Adults have theme parties and dinners.

With more Halloween “stuff” and activities comes scheduling, time management and storage issues. Here are some tricks for making your Halloween preparations a treat:

Decorating. Early in the month is the time to take out your autumn decorations and decorate your house.

Start planning what your children will need of Halloween costumes. The earlier you shop for costumes, the better the selection.

Candy and treats are displayed and on sale now for Halloween. Go ahead and stock up.

Choose a pumpkin for dual purposes. Carving a pumpkin has become a fun family tradition. Start a new Halloween tradition and use the meat of the pumpkin and bake a pumpkin pie as a family project.

RSVP for any parties for you and/or your children now. Note the commitments on your calendar so as not to over schedule.

Remember the key to being organized for Halloween: Take down your decorations promptly, store them in a container in long term storage. Label the storage container for easy retrieval next year.

Shop for new Halloween decorations the next day or two after Halloween, when prices are slashed. Think about where you are going to store decorations before shopping. Purge old decorations. Store and label the new decorations right away.

Have a safe and fun Halloween!