The (Not So) Perfect Parent

 I live in one of those throw-back neighborhoods.  The kind that you see in “Leave It to Beaver” reruns.  Everyone knows everyone, and the kids spend much of their time at one of the many Kool-Aid houses on the street.    The only difference is that the moms exchange wine rather than recipes and our grass is not quite as green because of the football games that take place in the front yards.

The kids in our neighborhood are getting together to create a volunteer project in conjunction with the Slant 45 initiative.  Slant 45 stands for “Service Learning Adventures in North Texas” and it is the largest education initiative ever undertaken by a Super Bowl Host Committee.   Kids across the area are coming up with different service projects to address needs that they see in our community.

Our first meeting was last week.   The kids sat around and exchanged ideas while one jotted them down with a marker and some poster board.  Some of the more creative ideas included saving extinct (or nearly dead) animals – with the emphasis on rhinoceroses.  There was also a request for increased safety measures for the squirrels that wind up as road kill on the street. 

We haven’t made our final decision where the kids will focus their efforts – but at least they are working together towards a higher purpose beyond baseball and video games.

Here are some quick tips for getting your kids involved in volunteering:

1. Establish a Monthly Family Volunteer Day

As with most major lessons in life – it starts with us.  The moms and the dads.  Kids will follow our lead.  By having a volunteer day – just once a month – will make an impact on the kids, help a cause, and offer much-needed quality time together.

 2. Find a Charity that the Kids are Interested In

Let’s face facts – if it’s not interesting to the kids – the process will be much more painful.  Kind of like dragging them to the dentist or piano practice.  If the kids are interested in the cause – they will give YOU the motivation to keep volunteering- even after an extra tough day at work.

3.  Keep an Open Mind

Now I’m not saying that parents should agree on a charity that supports the ongoing development of video games – I do think we have to be open to not only the charities that interest your kids – but also the methods that they want to take to raise the money.  It may take three hours of your shrinking time to put up the lemonade stand for the $4 it raises – but it is worth the memory and the lesson!

4.  Invite Other Kids to Join In

Progress is made in numbers!  Gathering the neighborhood kids and getting them involved is a great way to make a big impact.  Plus – it keeps the kids interested and involved!

Some people are going to thank I am crazy – but we planned a vacation the week before school started. Frankly – I thought I was a little crazy when I was packing swimsuits at the same time I was buying #2 pencils. Still – off we went to sunny California to salvage what was left of summer.

We had a blast! It started with where were staying. The Hyatt at Huntington Beach (www.hyatt.huntingtonbeach.com)  is nothing short of amazing. The resort is beautiful. The view from our room provided a daily glimpse of paradise as it overlooked both the pool and the beach. The staff was friendly and professional and the food was incredible.

We went to Disney, California Adventure and Lego Land. All of these were great – but we collectively agreed that the highlight of our trip was spending time on the beach. I think it actually prepared me for what was in front of all of us the minute our planed landed in Dallas. I came home with many Lessons for Back to School from the Beach!

1. Build Your Castle
Now believe me – I am not the queen of organization. Still – the more that I identify “stations” in the house – the more successful everyone is. I have a homework station and a backpack station. The kids know where to drop their loot before heading to the kitchen for the after-school –snack. Building the castle means coming up with a plan that allows for school to enter the home without taking it over.

2. Teach Them to Come Out of Their Shells
School anxiety is real. Kids are afraid of not-fitting-in and that can cause an enormous amount of insecurity. By encouraging kids to be themselves, the need to conform to the popular crowd becomes less important. Also, let your kids know that school is a great way to discover new interests and explore their talents. Parents are key for this type of development. You can help shape your kids’ dreams by giving them the resources to pursue them – that can come in the form of after-school activities or at-home projects.

3. Don’t Get Buried in the Details
It is easy for the kids and the parents to get overwhelmed. Remember – your kids will be looking to you on how you manage your stress when it comes to homework, carpool, baseball practices, and ballet recitals. One way to avoid having the details of life turn into quick sand is to build in some down-time with the kids. Have a working puzzle on your dining room table or do a board-game night each week. Your family is the team and your kids are the MVP – that knowledge will get your kids through even when they bomb the math test or strike out on the field.

4. Ride the Wave
More than anything else – remember that neither you nor your kids will be perfect. There will be homework pages that will be misplaced and library books forgotten. THE BIGGEST LESSON from the Beach is that Riding the Wave rather than Controlling the Wave will make Back to School and Back to Life much more manageable!

That ringing you hear in the distance is the faint sound of the school bell. It will only get louder as August marches along. So why not get a jump on the Back-to-School rush and start making plans for an easy transition from the lazy days of summer.

On today’s show – Lorriane Brock, founder of www.getorganized.ws, will be providing some great Back-to-School tips. Also, you can read my article on home work tips by clicking the link below!

I am turing off the tube and gathering my kids for a trip to the library. Not just for them – but also for me. I confess – my reading resolutions have not been as consistent as I hoped. Still – the summer is not over yet and I think we can squeeze in a few good reads before the school bell rings!

For tips on Summertime Reading – check out my article titled “Reading Resolution” found in the Resource section under Articles.

On Today’s show – I interviewed an amazing teenager that survived a trampoline accident in which she broke her neck – but escaped paralsis – thanks to the amazing folks at Cook Children’s. They also had some other great advice for preventing summertime injuries.

Check out my article on Summertime Injury Prevention Under my resources section!

www.notsoperfect.com

So I walk into the bathroom and Luke (my six-year-old) is laying face down on the floor.
Alarmed I say,
“Luke, what are you doing?? Are you okay??”
Without lifting his head he responds,
“Yes I’m fine. I’m just weighing my head.”
I look closer and sure enough Luke’s head is resting on the scale.
Although there were many questions swirling in my head – I settled on the obvious.
“Well, how much does it weigh?”
Frustrated he replies, “I can’t tell because I can’t see it. I was hoping you would tell me.”
He seemed pleased when I told him 20 pounds. He even let me grab a camera and snap a picture.