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The Kids Grow Up

The Kids Grow Up

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Doug Block and Marjorie Silver joined TheMotherhood to talk about Doug’s new film, The Kids Grow Up, and to share stories and advice on how parents can prepare for their kids leaving home.  Here are the Top Nine:

 

1. Give Them Wings: Many parents hold onto their kids as long as they can, but it’s important to give them “wings” to fly, so they can function independently.  Think about it as Jen does: “Mine hasn’t chosen a college yet but is leaning towards the university here, which means I will see him whenever he is hungry or needs clean clothes. Which is why I am trying to get him to go out of state.”

 

2. It’s Not About You, Hard As That Is: The way we raise our kids – teaching toward independence – prepares them for the separation, and often it’s the parents who are really unprepared.  As Marjorie said, “You have to let go. It’s not about you, hard as that is. It’s about shepherding them into adulthood. Let them go now, and perhaps they will want to return of their own volition eventually.”

 

3. Let Them Make the Decisions: We need to allow our kids to show us who they are and listen as much as we can when they make choices for themselves.  When it comes to college, as much as we might want them to stay close to home, we have to let them go where they think they can succeed and grow.

 

4. Make Sure They Know the Basics: Teach your kids the important things before letting them go – how to handle money, avoid credit card debt, drink alcohol responsibly, cook and clean for themselves, etc.  It will make you feel more confident in their ability to survive without you.

 

5. Tips on Applying for Schools: There are lots of deadlines, so make sure you and your child are well versed in the application timeline.  Sometimes early applications (submitted by Nov. 1) don’t require an application fee.

 

6. Transition the Rest of the Family: Before your oldest leaves for college, plan ahead and consider how the rest of your children will handle it, and who will take on the household chores your college kid is leaving behind.  On the bright side, you’ll have less laundry and a smaller grocery bill!

 

7. The Advantages of Technology: With cheap phone calls, Skype and the many other ways technology allows us all to keep in touch, the “only” thing you will need to miss when your child goes to college is the physical closeness.

 

8. Doug on Creating “The Kids Grow Up”: I’d been thinking about [turning the years of video records into a film] often through the years. Just couldn’t figure out how to frame it as a story. Wasn’t enough to just see a little girl grow up on camera, even as interesting, sassy and funny as Lucy is. Wasn’t until she was entering her senior year of high school that I realized it wasn’t really about her growing up. It was about a parent dealing with the looming loss of their only child. It was about letting go. That’s when it became a film.

 

9. About the Movie: The movie follows Doug and Marjorie’s daughter Lucy through her senior year of high school, as they face the prospect of sending her off to college.  It has opened and is having a slow rollout to different cities around the country.  It will also be on HBO on Father’s Day 2011.  Check www.thekidsgrowup.com for details about where the film will be screened.

 

A BIG thanks to Doug, Marjorie and the amazing mom bloggers who co-hosted this Talk:

 

Brandie, Journey of 1000 Stitches

Elizabeth, Busy Mom

Ellen, Confessions of an Overworked Mom

Heather, Domestic Extraordinaire

Jen, Redhead Ranting

Jenn, Mommy Needs Coffee

Latricia, 1 Stop Mom

Mary, Everyday Baby Steps

Deborah, Apples in Wonderland

Mimi, Woven by Words

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62096

Caring for Babies with Colic … and Their Parents

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Social media moms gathered in TheMotherhood to talk about a common affliction – colic, which affects 25 percent of all babies.  Dr. Jen Trachtenberg, author and pediatrician at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York, answered questions about colic from the community.

 

There is no known cause or cure for colic, so all parents can do is wait it out – creating a stressful time for both baby and mom and dad.  Moms who had “been there” pooled their advice and suggestions on how to get through the months of colic.  Read on for great tips and insights!

 

Making Baby Feel Better

 

– If you are breastfeeding, you should think about your diet. Certain foods you eat can make your baby’s colic or fussing worse. Foods to watch out for include: citrus fruit, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, spicy foods, caffeine and beans.

 

– While method of feeding (breast or bottle) isn’t directly connected to colic, style of feeding can make a difference. “Active” feeding, where your baby controls milk flow, can help reduce colic symptoms. The Philips AVENT bottle encourages babies to feed in a way that is similar to breastfeeding as it has a naturally-shaped nipple with a skirt that flexes to prevent vacuum build-up, allows baby to control milk flow, and has an anti-colic valve that limits the air your baby ingests.

 

– In addition to reducing the amount of air your baby swallows during feedings, keep your baby moving. White noise can help, too, as it’s a reminder of the noises heard in the womb. Also consider trying a pacifier/soother, warm bath, gently massaging your baby’s tummy, or swaddling.

 

– You can try the “Happiest Baby Program” – The 5 S’s: swaddling, shushing sounds, side/stomach positions, swinging, sucking as a calming reflex.

 

 

Making Mommy (and Daddy) Feel Better

 

– Getting time away is VITAL!! Talking it out is also important. Having a baby with colic can really be hard on a couple too, so getting time together without the baby can really help.

 

– Something that helped me is taking a minute to do something that made me feel good about myself. I like a hot shower and a mini home facial. Made me feel fresh even when I was exhausted.

 

– If you’ve tried different tactics we’ve discussed here, and nothing has soothed your baby in the least – or anytime you are concerned for your little one’s health – take him or her to your pediatrician. It always helps to get an expert opinion and nothing is more valuable than peace of mind!

 

 

About Colic

 

– No one knows for sure what causes colic. Common theories include tummy spasms as the digestive system learns to process food, excess gas from air swallowed while feeding, lack of good bacteria in the gut, and allergies to cow’s milk. Although we don’t know for sure, fortunately colic is not a serious medical condition!

 

– Colic typically appears by the third week life and peaks around six weeks. It usually disappears when your baby is around three months of age.

 

– Pediatricians often use the “Rule of 3” to diagnose infant colic. Has your baby been crying for three or more hours a day, at least three times per week, for the last three weeks (from about three weeks to three months of age)? If so, he or she might have colic. Other signs of colic include crying in the late afternoon or evening (usually after feeding), high-pitched crying and screaming, a red face, clenched fists and scrunched up eyes, legs drawn to the tummy, a distended abdomen and frequent passing of gas.

 

– There’s really no way to predict colic – it affects just as many girls as boys, and birth order doesn’t make a difference either. There are risks factors that are correlated, though – such as moms who smoke during pregnancy and through their baby’s infancy. There doesn’t seem to be a hereditary link.

 

 

Thank you to the wonderful Dr. Jen, AVENT and our fabulous blogger co-hosts!!!

 

Alaina Frederick, My Heartfelt Life

Angie Knutson, My Four Monkeys

Clarissa Nassar, The POSHpreneur

Stacie Connerty, The Divine Miss Mommy

Victoria Mason, The Mummy Chronicles

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62087

The Sleep Lady Shares Her Secrets for Getting Kids to Sleep Through the Night

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As all parents know, getting kids to get in bed and sleep through the night can be a major challenge.  In TheMotherhood today, moms asked questions, shared stories and got advice from the Sleep Lady, Kim West, author of “The Sleep Lady’s Good Night, Sleep Tight.”  Read the highlights from this insightful Talk for some great ideas for making bedtime easier!

 

Setting a Sleep Routine: Turn off the screens an hour before bed. Have quiet time and a relaxing ritual in dim lights, soothing atmosphere, etc. For adults, don’t bring your smartphone into your bedroom or read work materials at night. Most of all, get your bedtime window right: For adults, usually between 10-11 p.m., and for most children under six years old, 7-8 p.m.

 

When Crying It Out Isn’t an Option: Focus on “filling the sleep tank” during the day (for example, with great naps), figure out when your baby’s bedtime window is, and put him/her down awake at bedtime. Stay and pat, pick up to calm, and soothe until your baby falls asleep.  This will teach your child how to sleep alone early on, rather than co-sleeping, which is a tough habit to break later.

 

Weaning Kids Off of Co-sleeping: Kim’s book outlines how to have a family meeting to set up the new rules or “sleep manners.”  Kids need to learn the skill of putting themselves to sleep without anyone lying with them. Look for a method called “The Sleep Lady Shuffle” in Kim’s book. It will take effort and consistency on your part!

 

Encouraging Kids to Put Themselves to Sleep: Have a regular routine. Make a poster with drawings of bedtime steps to show your child, and explain rules and expectations for sleep.  You can put a tall gate in front of the bedroom door and explain that the gate can come down when they remember all their sleep manners and stay in their bed all night long until a wakeup light or music comes on.

 

Seizing the Day (or Night): The longer you wait to change a habit, the harder it is, so get started right away. If you want to co-sleep for the longer term, then do it safely and at least have your children nap in their cribs.  Then transitioning to independent sleep later will be easier.

 

Creating a Nap Pallet: If your kids are already accustomed to co-sleeping, make a “pallet space” in your bedroom – for example, using a sleeping bag with a warm fuzzy blanket on top – and let your kids “decorate” the area as they prefer with blankies and stuffed animals.  It will help them make a gradual transition from sleeping with you in your bed, to sleeping near you, and eventually sleeping in their own beds.

 

Getting Two Kids to Sleep: You don’t want to end up catering to one child to avoid them waking the other in the night. Start by putting your kids to bed at different times, so you can completely focus on each one.  If the kids cry or fuss at night, divide and conquer, with one parent soothing each child.  If you are a single parent, go to one child and then the other.  If they are in the same room, you can sit in the room until they are asleep.

 

Soothing Your Kids to Sleep: An Epsom salt warm bath before bed can help kids of all ages – the magnesium relaxes them.  Another relaxant is Essential Oil of Lavender. Put a drop on your fingertip and dab the middle of your child’s forehead, then massage their backs and feet with a lavender oil/olive oil combo.

 

Dealing with Bedwetting: If your child wets the bed and crawls into your bed just because it’s a dry place to sleep, try making his or her bed using layers of sheets with a mattress protector in between. That way, your child can pull of the wet layer and get right back in. If the problem recurs, make sure your child does not have sleep apnea, which can also cause bedwetting.

 

Chasing Away Nightmares: Try using “monster spray” to eliminate your child’s fears of darkness and bedtime.  Fill a spray bottle with water and lemon juice (or anything) and spray it in every corner, under the bed, etc.  You can even let the little ones take it and spray wherever they think necessary to help them calm down.

 

Handling the Time Change: Daylight Saving Time is approaching, and it can wreak havoc with kids’ sleep schedules.  The day before the night you change the clocks, make sure your child is well napped so that you can make bedtime a tiny bit later. This will work better if your child is already well rested. Don’t get your child up for the day until at least 6 a.m. the new time. The next day, adjust the naps so that you can make it to the new later bedtime.

 

Most Common Causes of Early Rising: If your kids are getting up and waking YOU up way too early in the morning, one of these could be the cause: Going to bed too late; nap deprivation; being awake too long between afternoon nap and bedtime; going to bed too drowsy.

 

A BIG thanks to Kim and all of our mom experts!!  The amazing mom bloggers who co-hosted this Talk are:

 

Crystal, Simply Being Mommy

Courtney, One Bored Mommy

Ellen, Love That Max

Grace, Formerly Gracie

Mary, Everyday Baby Steps

Niri, Mommy Niri

Pamela, The Dayton Time

Renae, Madame Deals

Stephanie, Montgomery County Moms

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62085

Getting Ready for Flu Season

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Moms came to TheMotherhood today to talk about a very timely, seasonal topic – the importance of getting your flu shot.  Heather Bryant, a Doctor of Pharmacy and Walgreens pharmacy manager in Chicago, provided great advice and information, and five lucky moms won Walgreens flu shot gift cards to get immunized this flu season.  Read on for ways to protect yourself and your family from the flu!

 

– Who Should Be Immunized: Unless they are allergic to eggs, anyone over the age of six months is eligible for a flu shot.  It’s especially important for anyone with a chronic medical issue (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, asthma, etc.) to be immunized against the flu. It’s estimated that between 15 and 60 million cases of the flu occur yearly in the U.S., leading to about 24,000 deaths.

 

– Vaccinating Kids: Keep in mind that if you have a little one who has never received the vaccination before, they will get the dose over two separate visits, a few weeks apart. The mist is only available if children are over two years old. Walgreens Take Care Clinics are able to vaccinate children over the age of two years.

 

– Flu Shot v. Flu Mist: Both the shot and “mist” (nasal spray) are effective forms of immunization. Some people prefer the nasal spray in order to avoid needles. The shot is an inactive form of the flu strains, and the mist contains live flu viruses. People with compromised immune systems should not get the mist form of the flu vaccine. It takes about 2 weeks to develop immunity after being vaccinated.

 

– This Year’s Flu Shot: It’s not too late to be vaccinated.  This year’s flu shot protects you for the whole year, not just the season, and most of the flu shots are a combined dose of the standard flu vaccine and H1N1 vaccine. There are no additional side effects compared to previous years’ shots.

 

– Dealing with Flu Shot Soreness: It is common to experience some tenderness at the injection site, along with some arm/muscle soreness, but use your arm instead of treating it gingerly just because you received a shot. The more you use the muscle, the less likely it is to hurt for more than a day or so.

 

– How We Get the Flu: The flu can be spread through the air from up to six feet away, or picked up on surfaces.

 

– Use Disinfectant on Surfaces: Depending on the surface, germs can remain “living” on surfaces for 48 hours or more. Think about all the “dirty” surfaces we touch on a daily basis – keyboards, doorknobs, telephones. Wipe those items down with alcohol to prevent spreading germs.

 

– The Myth of Vitamin C: Studies do not really support the use of high dose vitamin C for preventing or shortening the duration of a cold/flu. It is more important to rest and stay hydrated.

 

In addition to the accumulated wisdom of the Talk, here are some additional suggestions for flu prevention from our expert mom bloggers’ reader communities:

 

– Get Some Shut-eye: Experts recommend sleeping for 7-8 hours each night for a reason – regularly getting enough sleep at night keeps your immune system healthy and functioning properly.

 

– Avoid Cabin Fever: When it starts getting cold outside, people tend to spend more time indoors in close quarters, where germs can spread quickly.  Take opportunities to leave the house, school, office and other enclosed spaces whenever possible.

 

– Dust Off the Treadmill: Aerobic exercise helps to increase the body’s natural virus-killing cells.  Hibernating during the winter doesn’t mean you can’t be active!

 

– Stay Clean: Wash your hands frequently, try not to touch your face unless you know your hands are clean, and carry hand sanitizer for on-the-go.

 

– Take a Deep Breath: Excessive stress can suppress your immune system.  Find a way to calm down, whether it’s reading a book, enjoying a hot bath, yoga or deep breathing.

 

– Practice Safe Sneezing: Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze, but don’t use your hands, which will spread the bacteria to other surfaces when you touch them.  Instead, carry a packet of face tissues, or sneeze into the crook of your elbow.

 

– A Pound of Cure: Getting a flu shot will minimize your chances of getting sick, but stock up on chicken soup and medicine in case you do.  The last thing you want to do when you have the flu is get out of bed and go to the store.

 

 

A special thanks to Walgreens, Heather and all of our mom experts!!  The awesome mom bloggers who co-hosted this Talk are:

 

Angie, My Four Monkeys

Caryn Bailey, Rockin Mama

Christina, Mommy Story

Connie Roberts, Brain Foggles

Elizabeth, Busy Mom

Ellen Christian, Confessions of an Overworked Mom

Jodi Grundig, Multitasking Mommy

Shannon, The Mommy Files

Stefany, To Be Thode

Suzanne Chan, Mom Confessionals

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62090

MOTRIN #MyUnstoppableMom Twitter Party Rules

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­Sweepstakes Rules:

No Purchase Necessary TO ENTER OR WIN.

The Children’s MOTRIN® My Unstoppable Mom #MyUnstoppableMom Twitter Party starts December 15, 2015 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends on December 15, 2015 at 12:30 PM Eastern Time (“Twitter Party”).

ELIGIBILITY: SWEEPSTAKES ARE Open Only to Legal Residents OF THE fifty (50) UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, who are at least 18 years of age.  Void Where Prohibited.  Employees (and their immediate families (parent, child, spouse or sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and those living in their same households, whether or not related) of Sponsor, The Motherhood, the participating bloggers, and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies are not eligible to enter or win.  By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, participating blog and/or judges, which are binding and final on matters relating to this Sweepstakes.  Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws.

To enter: To enter, follow the directions provided in the Sweepstakes Posting on the participating blog to RSVP and enter (vite.io/TheMotherhoodChats) prior to the Twitter Party.  All entries must be received by the date and time stated in the Sweepstakes Posting to be eligible.  Limit one (1) entry per person/email address.  Entries received from any person or e-mail address in excess of the stated limitation will be void.  Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means or by any means which subvert the entry process are void.  All entries become the property of the Participating Blog and will not be acknowledged or returned.

Drawing:  Potential winner(s) will be selected in random drawing(s) held during the Twitter Party from all eligible entries received.  Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Potential winner(s) will be notified by a tweet from @TMChatHost during the Twitter Party and may be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility, a liability release and, where lawful, a publicity release within seven (7) days of date of issuance. If such documents are not returned within the specified time period, prize notification is returned as undeliverable, or a potential winner is not in compliance with these rules, prize will be forfeited and, at Sponsor’s discretion, an alternate winner selected.  If a potential winner is at least 18 but still considered a minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence, prize may be awarded in the name of his/her parent or legal guardian who will be responsible for fulfilling all requirements imposed on winners set forth herein. Winners will be required to Direct Message their mailing address to @TMChatHost in order for The Motherhood to fulfill prizes. Failure to do may result in forfeiture of prize and, at Sponsor’s discretion, prize may be awarded to an alternate winner.

Prize(s): The prize(s) and their approximate retail value(s) will be set forth during the Twitter Party.  Gift card(s), if awarded as a prize, are subject to terms and conditions specified by issuer. Prizes are awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied.  Prizes may not substituted, assigned or transferred or redeemed for cash, however Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to substitute a prize (or portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value.  Winners are responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes, if any, as well as any other costs and expenses associated with prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being provided.  All prize details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Limit one (1) prize per household.  If gift cards are awarded as prizes, terms and conditions of issuer applies. Prizes will be shipped within two weeks of the end of the Twitter Party. There will be three winners selected at random during the Twitter Party. Each winner will receive a gift card in the amount of $50.

General Conditions: Released Parties (as defined below) are not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, inaccurate, stolen, misdirected, undelivered or garbled entries, Tweets, @mentions or email; or for lost, interrupted or unavailable network, server, Internet Service Provider (ISP), website, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties, or other errors or difficulties of any kind whether human, mechanical, electronic, computer, network, typographical, printing or otherwise relating to or in connection with the Sweepstakes, including, without limitation, errors or difficulties which may occur in connection with the administration of the Sweepstakes, the processing of entries, the announcement of the prize(s) or in any Sweepstakes-related materials.  Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes.  Released Parties are not responsible for injury or damage to participants’ or to any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating in this Sweepstakes or downloading materials from or use of the website.  Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the Sweepstakes or any website or blog or who are in violation of these Official Rules, as solely determined by Sponsor, will be disqualified and all associated entries will be void.  Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to suspend, modify or terminate the Sweepstakes at any time and for any reason, including, but not limited to, should any portion of the Sweepstakes be, in Sponsor’s sole opinion, compromised by virus, worms, bugs, non-authorized human intervention or other causes which, in the sole opinion of the Sponsor, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play, or submission of entries, and, if terminated, at its discretion, select the potential winner(s) from all eligible, non-suspect entries received prior to action taken or as otherwise deemed fair and appropriate by Sponsor. Entrants, by participating, agree that Sponsor, The Motherhood, Participating Bloggers, Twitter, and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies and all of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents (collectively, “Released Parties”) will have no liability whatsoever for, and shall be held harmless by entrants against, any liability, for any injuries, losses or damages of any kind, including death, to persons, or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in this Sweepstakes.  In the event of a dispute regarding entries received from multiple users having the same e-mail account, the authorized subscriber of the e-mail account at the time of entry will be deemed to be the entrant and must comply with these rules.  Authorized account subscriber is the natural person who is assigned the e-mail address by the Internet Service Provider (ISP), on-line service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning e-mail addresses.

Winners’ LIST: The names of the winners will be announced by @TMChatHost during the Twitter Party immediately following the drawing(s).

Sponsor: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division 7050 Camp Hill Road, Fort Washington, PA 19034.

This Sweepstakes is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Twitter.

Kids, School and Food

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Moms talked food in TheMotherhood today, sharing ideas and solutions on the topic of school lunches, weeknight dinners, creating nutritious meals with variety, and finding time for it all!  If you find yourself seeking inspiration for creating new and different meals on a weekly basis, keep reading.

 

– Meal Ruts: It’s easy to feel like you’re in a rut, making the same meals over and over again, but realize that your kids have their favorites and it’s okay to include a mix of those favorites in your meal rotation each week. Weekly meals can be a nice blend of favorites and new meal ideas.

 

 

– Think Outside the Sandwich: Great lunch choices include quesadillas, mini pizzas on whole wheat English muffins, and grilled or ungrilled peanut butter sandwiches with honey and fruit (apples, bananas, peaches, etc.). And don’t forget, sandwiches don’t have to include traditional sliced bread. Tortilla wraps, crepes and even waffles are fun to use for a different take on sandwiches.

 

You can find ideas for school lunches here:

 

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/guide/best-school-lunch-ideas-for-kids/

 

http://onehungrymama.com/2010/08/recipe-parenting-the-only-back-to-school-lunch-post-youll-need/

 

 

– Doing Double Duty: Using dinner leftovers is a great way to make school lunches for your kids.  Here are a few recipes that are quick and easy for dinner, and the leftovers make for a great packed lunch too.
http://www.relishmag.com/article/39701.html
http://www.relishmag.com/article/41830.html
http://www.relishmag.com/article/40849.html

 

 

– Use Creative Containers: For school lunches, Americanized bento-style lunch boxes can help you get creative, instead of always sending sandwiches with your kids.  LunchSkins instead of plastic baggies are also a great option – reusable, dishwasher safe, and they don’t get grimy.

 

http://www.laptoplunches.com/

 

http://www.lunchskins.com/

 

 

– Find Cooking Inspiration: Our co-hosts’ blogs are a great source of recipes and advice, along with these books and sites:

 

http://www.recipezaar.com

http://www.cooks.com

http://www.allrecipes.com

http://www.babble.com – Family Kitchen blog

bon appétit – fast, easy, fresh (cookbook)

How to Cook Everything (cookbook)

 

 

– Meal Planning: Try using a week-based template with columns (e.g., dinners, kids’ lunches, work lunches). Fill in the meals and, to help create your grocery list for the week, bold the ones that require a trip to the grocery store for ingredients. By keeping a record electronically, you can cut and paste certain meals from previous weeks to make the planning easier.

 

 

– Handling Picky Eaters: Deal with it like a politician – with marketing words (princess fish instead of salmon) and familiar flavorings (bacon, honey and cheese). But the most important thing is to serve them with an enthusiastic smile instead of a defensive response to their negativity. You could also try to make meals fun – vegetables with dip or veggie skewers, sandwiches cut out in fun shapes with cookie cutters, etc.

 

 

Thank you to our awesome foodie mom blogger co-hosts:

 

Jennifer Perillo, In Jennie’s Kitchen
Jennifer Leal, Savoring the Thyme
Julie Mastbrook, Mommie Cooks
One Hungry Mama
Robin Sue, Big Red Kitchen
Vanessa Druckman, ChefDruck Musings
Zareen, Cooking with Z
See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62089