YES?! Us too!
Did you know that the National Retail Federation estimated families with children in elementary through high school would spend, on average, $890 per household. WOW!
Here are 10 ideas for smart shopping – money saving tips from imom.com
Click HERE for the full article.
This will be a special week on The Morning Thing. Today, we kicked off Mom’s Week – a week to honor and encourage Moms at all stages of life.
Today, we shared 5 ways to be a mentally strong Mom. Click HERE to see the full article from imom.com
1. Empower yourself.
To be a better mom and mentally strong in trying times, revise your default phrases. When you’re stressed or challenged, try these instead: I’ll rise above this. I won’t let this bother me. I’m human. I’m gonna do the best I can.
2. Be content with who you are.
Comparing ourselves to others in person or on Instagram steals our joy. Self-worth is built on contentment with who you are. If you want to be a better mom, start with identifying your own wonderful qualities instead of comparing yourself to others. Are you a good listener? Are you crafty and creative? Are you the best at making your kids laugh.
3. Let your mind wander.
Instead of scrolling your phone when you have downtime, try turning inward. Think about your experiences and look for solutions to your problems. Building mental strength takes effort. Sometimes that means facing the hard or challenging thoughts we’d rather choose to avoid. But the payoff comes with being a more thoughtful mom.
4. Be on the lookout for progress.
In this moment in your life, you may feel frustrated with your child. But instead of holding her to standards you’ve read about or seen in your friend’s child, shift your focus to small, measurable goals. You’ll not only be a better mom, but you’ll build mental strength because you’re feeling hopeful rather than defeated.
5. Lay your head down more.
Getting more sleep will help you be mentally strong on those days when your kid refuses to get dressed or your teenager blames you for not waking him up for school. When you’re sleep deprived, you’re much more likely to lose your cool. Stixrud and Johnson say, “[S]leep deprivation decreases your flexibility, weakens your ability to see things in context, and impairs your judgment.” Getting a good night’s sleep can help deliver the patience we need in a heated moment.
imom.com also has 7 quick prayers of encouragement for moms. Print this one off! 🙂
Today in Canada, they will celebrate Family Day. This day was established with the purpose of bringing relatives together, strengthening family ties and celebrating the importance of family.
Click HERE to read more about the history of this special day and find some ways that you can celebrate (from Days of the Year).
The Morning Thing decided that since the USA was celebrating a holiday today (President’s Day), it would be a good day to focus on the family. They shared 5 ways to strengthen your family. We hope you try an idea today, while most families have the day off.
Click HERE to see the list created by the Department of Homeland Security.
Valentine’s Day is next Wednesday! YES – 1 week away!
Today, The Morning Thing shared some fun ideas on how to make this day extra special for your family.
Thanks to imom.com for their wonderful and creative ideas!
Let us know if you try any of the ideas. We would love to share your family’s story!
WNZR does not endorse or support any events or entries on this list. We recommend that each family or individual use their own discretion before participating or attending.
Fall officially kicked off on Saturday, and Ohio is so beautiful in the Fall. Of course, there are so many fun things that you can do in the fall, like apple picking, exploring a state park, trying out new fall recipes, and having fun with your family.
Ohio.org has a list of 100 fun things to do in Ohio during the Fall. Check out this list HERE for some ideas for your family!
The 4th Monday in September is National Family Day. The National Center on Addiction declared National Family Day in 2001 as a way to combat substance abuse among teen. Their research shows that teens who ate meals with their families were less likely to fall into substance abuse.
Click HERE to read more about this special day.
Taste Of Home has 90 Quick and Easy Family Dinner Recipes! Click HERE to see the full list.
Marcy shared a few today on the show:
Marcy and Judah also shared some fun ideas and traditions that your family can do now that Fall is here!
Click HERE for a great list of ideas from imom.com
We hope that you can find time today to sit down to dinner with your family.
We also pray that you will take time every day to celebrate your family! They are a precious gift from God!
National Care of Kids Day is held annually on September 20th and gives us an opportunity to positively impact a child’s life.
Here are some easy ways to celebrate (ideas from National Day Calendar):
– Donate to your favorite children’s charity.
– Volunteer with a children’s service organization.
– Make an in-kind donation. This can be a service, supplies or other needs a charity requires.
– Share stories about amazing service organizations, volunteers or children.
When you celebrate, be sure to use #CareforKidsDay on social media.
The Morning Thing shared some inspiration from Crosswalk.com for this special day.
Here are 4 godly ways to care for your child’s mind, body and spirit:
1. Reject the World’s Ways – ”Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
2. Have the Wisdom to Give Them Healthy Choices – If you’re like most confused and frazzled parents, God understands and promises: “…If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
3. Have Courage to Overcome Negative Emotions, Starting with Yourself – The words parents say, the expressions they repeat and the attitude they convey can either bring life into their children, or bring death to their sense of security. Proverbs 18:21, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”
4. Emulate Boldness to Make Them Warriors – We emphasize God’s purpose for their lives.
Click HERE to read the FULL article.
Did you know that families who eat a meal together are happier and healthier? Perdue University’s Extension Nutrition Education Program encourages families to make mealtime family time as you cook, eat, and talk together! This can build your family’s relationship, promote healthy eating, foster your children’s sense of family stability, save money, develop everyone’s cooking skills, help your children develop important social skills, and even let everyone try new foods.
Click HERE to learn more from Perdue University Extention Nutrition Program.
Need some cheap and easy dinner ideas for your family? We shared some recipes from Country Living. They include pictures of every recipe so you can see what amazing food you can make You may even have some of these ingredients in your pantry now so you could even try one tonight!
Click HERE for 68 cheap dinner ideas for families from Country Living.
School is back in session, and the kids are getting back into their after-school activities. Does it seem overwhelming to keep track of? We talked to 3 moms to get some real-life advice on organizing your family’s schedule. Lindsay Robinson, Amanda Smith, and Soni Douglas share their experiences.
We also shared 7 tips from Very Well Family for creating those family calendars. Some advice they gave included:
Make sure the calendar is updated and accurate.
Try a digital calendar. Make sure the app works for your family and your needs!
Use a physical calandar, and keep it where it’s accessible to everyone in the family. Use color coding if that’s helpful for your family. You can also blend these two and write your schedule in both your calendar app and your physical calendar so your phone can send you reminders.
Get everyone in the family involved, even the little ones! Teach them the importance of keeping a schedule so they can use it effectively when they get old enough to use the calendar.
Check-in with your family regularly about their schedule. Talk about what they need to do the next day, and what they need to plan in the future.
Don’t forget to plan for time to rest and relax. Having a jam-packed schedule once in a while happens, but it shouldn’t be every day. Studies show that people who don’t take time to rest are at risk for depression, anxiety, lack of sleep, eating less/poorly, and poor decision making skills. Make time for your family to spend time together, or for you and your significant other to have a date night.
Click HERE to read the full article from VeryWell Family.
We know many students in our area are getting ready to go back to school, and many students are going back this week. We want to help you and your child have a smooth transition as they head into the school year!
This morning on The Morning Thing, we shared some relaxing things you can do before the semester starts. Click HERE to see the full list. We especially loved the idea of taking a hike (and the weather forecast looks promising for a hike this week!), cleaning out your closet, and going berry picking. Take some time for both you and your student to unwind before the school year starts.
Is your child feeling anxious for the school year? Sometimes starting new things can make children nervous. If they are, here’s 5 tips from Johns Hopkins Children’s Center:
Click HERE to learn more about easing your child’s anxiety.
Rise and Shine 