Making the Kid Cry

We recently decided to watch a classic by the name of "Where the Red Fern Grows" with our two boys. We were both pretty excited to introduce a movie based on literature to our kids. I think 50% of the family is finally done with "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" which is just fun to request because the kids call it "Cloudyballs". The best part of watching a scary movie you've already seen is watching it with someone who is seeing it for the first time. You can't wait to see their reactions to your favorite parts.
In the event of a drama, I think it's the same. This may be a confession, or it may have you nodding your head in agreement but my husband and I both knew the movie would be sad, we both knew it had the potential to make our 8-year-old cry, and we both could not wait till that part came. It seems pretty messed up when I put it that way but I think, deep down, we like to use these types of movies as opportunities to see what kind of kids we have. I truly wanted to know the level of compassion my kid would have for this kid who lost one dog to tragedy and the other dog to a broken heart. Movies like E.T. can tell a lot about sensitivity, compassion, attachment and how a child values relationships. So, of course, our son ended up crying at the end, during the montage of the dogs who had passed (this is the Dave Matthews version of the movie, by the way). And, of course, we felt like big jerks for letting it happen. But in the end, we also gained an opportunity to talk about what the boy would do next, how he would deal with it, and how we would deal with the loss of our pet if it ever came. It sure beats bringing down the conversation over dinner in a random fashion. Anyhow, my poll of the week is related to this post. Vote on it if you like. If you think of any other movies that can be used to open up converstations with children, comment below. I just picked the first five that came to mind. Don't laugh!

Love,
Marthaaaa!

Welcome!!

Hi! Thanks for visiting my bliggity blog. This is my first one ever and I have no idea what the heck I'm doin'. A while back I started a small newsletter called "The Conversation Piece" and over the course of a year the "Piece" began to grow. Being a stay-at-home mom running a home daycare I found it hard to keep up with publishing the newsletter. Well thanks to the speed of technology, I can sit here while my infant chews on my sleeve for five minutes and VOILA I can produce a lot more information for families than I used to. I'm seeing about getting the band back together - meaning the band of writers and artists who contributed to the original newsletter. I hope you enjoy some of our archives as I get them posted. I'm going to beg them for some new stuff here pretty soon.

Get With It

So every so often I linger back to this old blog of mine and read the old stuff. I'm not embarrassed to say I crack myself up. Especially my entry on going to the grocery store without a pen. That was an adventure I'm proud to say I have not repeated since. It's been a long time since I've written an entry yet there have been plenty of opportunities to share my nutso stories that you can probably relate to. I'm getting with the times and finally figuring out how to link up blog with facebook with twitter with the toilet seat handle and the garage door opener. If I can sync them together, I think I'll save a lot more time.
My current status in life is married with two boys - 8 and 4. What an adventure. I am happy to say that the family has agreed on a having a girl soon. We just have to search the internet, find one that needs a home, build a fence and we're set! Wait, maybe the fence should come first.
Hopefully I'm back for a while. The creative juices have always been flowing, it's just time to look behind the old marinades and condiments, pull the juice out, check the expiration date, and pour the juice out. The great part is that, even if the juice is old, I can pour it on the page and it's still relevant. Just watch for chunks!

Love Marthaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

I Kid You Not!

I'm starting a new topic based on an experience I had at church over the weekend. This discussion is reserved for those of you who have had some of the most embarrassing moments with your children...

Fire Plan Exit Strategies - Contributed by Denise Meyer

We are aware of how important it is to have a Fire Safety Plan, which includes having two ways to exit from every room in your home, regularly tested smoke detectors, and a meeting place for your family. But how does that plan differ when there are more babies than adults? What if you are alone with 3, 4, 5 or more babies?

Although prevention is vital, a good place to start when planning your strategy is proactive preparation. Most experts agree that you have less than 3 minutes to exit a burning building, which is not enough time for multiple trips. So the best way is to carry everyone out in one trip, which seems easier said than done. Here are a few ideas that make it possible:

Test Kitchen: No Eggs French Toast

We recently found out that our 7 month old is allergic to just about every ingredient the nutrition facts have to warn you about. Peanuts, Milk and Eggs are among the list. Not only do we have to be careful of the foods we feed him, but the doctor reminded me that Breastfeeding is best especially for babies with allergies. But because he eats what I eat, I have to maintain the same cautious diet. So I’m dedicated to providing breast milk until he’s one year old when he’ll be retested for his allergy to soy and see if that supplement will even be possible. In the interim, I have been adjusting to the fact that I used to eat at least two servings of Peanuts, Milk and Eggs daily and now I have none. There was actually a one-month period of withdrawals and nausea because of that drastic change. Now that my options are limited I have had to come up with new ideas on how to enjoy meals the rest of the family will like, minus the ingredients I cannot have...

Summerize Your Kitchen

The spring season has arrived and of course summer is just around the corner. This is a great opportunity to shed the winter hibernation weight and take advantage of the seasonal growth of veggies and fruits. Here are a few tips on how to encourage healthier eating for your family while preparing for a busy season of outdoor activities...