After a weekend full of harried back-to-school shopping, looking for notebooks, the perfect pair of shoes, and school clothes to please kids (a feat in itself), the day has finally arrived - the first day of school. *Cough* dollars later, the kids were off to school this morning without a hitch, and I found myself fighting back a few tears…I just can't believe…it's free childcare. Lol.

The first few hours of freedom have been spent working, and I forgot how much I can accomplish when the kids are in school. It's incredible. It takes a 10 hour work day down to about six hours. Amazing what you can get done when you're not running around fixing snacks every 30 minutes, answering questions like "how do you spell dinosaur" (had to throw that one in again) and picking out new Barney shows for the kids.

Here are just a few things that come to mind when I think back-to-school. (Feel free to throw in an "Amen" here and there).

- For a few hours each day the house will be quiet
- I'll finally be able to go to the bathroom by myself
- The house will stay clean more than 5 minutes
- The food bill will decrease by half
- I can actually have "alone" time with my husband
- The ability to go somewhere on my own
- Showering without having to chase the kids out of the room
- I get a break from Barney from 8am-3pm
- Listening to or watching what I want (instead of Barney, Wiggles, or my daughter on the phone…)

Of course, school time does bring about new challenges for kids and their parents, and I'm sure we'll discuss some of them along the way here at Parents R Us. However, just for today, it's time to celebrate…the kids are back in school! Have anything to add? Feel free to share as always!

Ahhh summer break. It's the thing every kid looks forward to all year long and every parent dreads all year long. Even I used to look forward to it when I was a kid. Lol. Summer break is in full swing now, and more than likely you are dealing with some changes in your life now that the kids are at home 24/7. This is today's topic for Parents R Us.

As a parent, I don't believe I ever fully understood the phrase in the Christmas song, "Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again." I do now! I've experienced this on school breaks, and summer is even longer.

Personally, I always find it difficult to adapt to a new schedule. I get a good schedule going, I get into it, and I like it that way. While the kids were in school this year, my husband and I adapted to our own schedule. We both work at home and we had a great schedule, work during the day, a little more work in the evening, relax for a couple hours, then go to bed. Then the whole schedule was changed when the kids got out of school.

It's getting better, but I do have to admit I'm still trying to adjust. I wake up and my home office is already invaded by kids. There are about 500 questions asked each day. I'm trying to work and some random question is asked in the middle of my work, like "How do you spell dinosaur?" There went my train of thought and I'm now preoccupied with the idea that my 8th grader going into 9th grade is asking me how to spell "dinosaur." What are they teaching kids in school anyway??? My reply..."Google it."

They always seem to want something else to eat too. I mean seriously…how much can two kids eat? I can't even sneak to my office with a small lunch without it being "eyed' by the kids. Then I just end up fixing some for everyone. An hour later I'm finally back to work again. Lol.

Just about the time I get in a good working groove, there is some kiddie related interruption. "Mom, the cable is acting funny." "Can you buy more ice cream?" "Will you help me fix my hair?" "When will the laundry be done?" The questions go on and on.

Plus there is the fact that time alone with my husband is practically non-existent unless we stay up really late at night. Even then, there seems to be a kid that decides to wander the house just at the moment things seem to "heat up" (if ya know what I mean). By now a lock on the outside of their bedroom door is beginning to sound REAL good.

If you are a parent trying to work at home, or even if you work out of the home, you no doubt know how different the summer can be. All you can do is hang on, work to preserve your sanity, and pray that school (free daycare) starts again soon. Of course by the time the end of the summer comes, you'll be adapted to the summer schedule, and once again you'll be back to getting into a new schedule. Ahhh, the changes never end when you have kids…

So what are you experiencing with the kids home this summer? Share your laughs, your frustrations, and even your tears with us. We're here to listen and enjoy hearing from other parents. Check back soon and you'll find some great tips on how to keep the kids busy during the summer. Thanks for checking out Parents R Us. Until next time, God Bless. You need every blessing you can get. :-)

Welcome back to Parents R Us! Today I want to talk to you about something that I feel is important, and something that many families have forgotten - family time.

Today we all lead busy lives. Think about your own life. How many things do you have to do every day? Sure, you do all the important things for your kids. You feed them, clothe them, put a roof over their head, but how much time are you spending with them?

It's easy in a hectic world, especially as your children get older, to have that family time together. However, building those family ties is important. Family is forever!

Here in our house, we have a special family night about once a week. Now I can't say that there haven't been times when the situation called for family night to be put off, such as when sickness hits, but we do our best to make this a weekly routine.

The choice of activity varies. Often we spend time watching a good family movie. In fact, last week we watched "Bedtime Stories" together, which ended up being a pretty cool movie for the family. There are other times where we play games, or sometimes we invite over extended family for a nice dinner and chat.

With parents and kids going a million different ways these days, too many times families forget to spend time together. Then as kids grow up, parents suddenly wonder why their kids basically shut them out of their lives. It's because those family bonds were not tightly build during time together.

Years ago before computers and cell phones, families spent more time together. They enjoyed each other's company. Now families text each other or leave an IM. While new technology is great, there is nothing that will ever take the place of quality time with your kids.

Take the time out to spend time together as a family. We've forgotten today how important family really is. Spending time together can help. No matter what you do, try to spend one night a week having special time together. You'll never regret it.

I realize that the last Parents R Us blog was a bit sober, and today I'm planning to keep the tone a bit sober. I want to talk to you about a topic that has been heavy on my mind in the past few days. While you may find it a bit difficult to think about, it is something that every parent must think carefully about - preparing for the future.

Unfortunately, no one is guaranteed to be here tomorrow. It's a fact of life. Just because we are parents doesn't mean that we are immune to this. You may not always be around to take care of your children, and this is a fact that you must prepare for to ensure their needs are taken care of, even if something happens to you. Here is a look at some of the important steps to preparing for the future.

Talk to Your Spouse
It's not the most fun thing to talk about, but you need to sit down with your spouse and seriously talk about what will happen if something happens to one or both of you. You need to make sure that you are both on the same page. Find out your thoughts and try to come up with good decisions that will best take care of your children in the future.

Advance Directives and Power of Attorney
One thing that you may want to do is set up advance directives and medical power of attorney. If you both have end of life wishes, make sure you have an advance directive in place, also known as a living will. Medical power of attorney can be important. While usually spouses are automatically given this right, if something happens to both of you at the same time, it's a good idea to be prepared with someone you can trust to make these decisions. Don't just think about it. Get it in writing and ensure it's legal.

Child Custody
What will happen to your kids if something happens to you? If one of you has children from another relationship and you are living in a blended family, this is a decision that must be carefully made. If the children are yours, are you comfortable with them going back to your ex husband or wife? Maybe you want your current spouse to be the one to take care of your children if something happens to you. If so, make sure that everything is legally in place to ensure this happens, especially if you have an ex spouse that happens to abusive or dangerous. Consider child custody plans if something were to happen to both of you. If you are both gone, make sure you designate who will get your children so YOU are the one that makes that decision - not the state.

Write a Will
Writing a will can be important, especially if you have things you want to leave to your children. Many young couples don't have a will in place, which can lead to problems if something happens to them. You want to ensure that you say what happens to your money and other assets if something were to happen to you.

Get a Life Insurance Policy
While money can often be tight for parents raising a family, a life insurance policy is a need, not a want. What will happen to your family if you are suddenly taken from them? Will they be able to get by? You want to have the peace of mind knowing that they will be taken care of. A good life insurance policy can give you this peace of mind, and they don't have to be that expensive. This is especially important for those that are homeowners with large mortgages.

Thinking about these things is sobering; however, it is something that responsible parents must do. If you have not made these decisions, take some time to do so. You want to be there for your kids forever, but this is not always the case. Prepare for the future and remember - you are doing this for your kids!

Today at Parents R Us I want to take a bit of a different route than we usually do with our blog. Perhaps you could call this a parent "heart to heart."

I have to tell you, there are days that I'm not so sure why I'm writing this blog for parents. Here I am giving advice to other parents, and I'll admit I don't always feel I have it all together myself. LOL. However, this blog is all about us learning together and providing a place where parents can pick up tips, spend some time venting, or even get a good laugh.

More than likely you can identify with the way I feel. You've probably had days when you feel exactly like I do - like you don't know a thing about being a parent. Things are going along okay…you think you have the hang of things…and then something happens that lets you know you're just learning. Yeah…don't be self righteous out there. You've felt that way too!

Most of you know I'm a step parent. I've been at this now for going on a year and a half. There are some days I feel like I'm getting in the groove, getting the hang of the whole parenting thing, and then there are those days where I sit back and feel like I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. Of course I don't let the kiddies know that though. I'm pretty good at acting like I know what I'm doing.

So, what do you do when you sit down and realize that parenting is still a mystery to you? Well, you keep going. Parenting isn't all about a short sprint - it's a long marathon. You get to about the 5 mile point of your 20 mile marathon and you feel like quitting. Muscles burn, you can barely breathe, and you don't feel like you can go on…but you do. It's like that with parenting. There are days your parenting "muscles" burn, you can't breathe, and you aren't sure how to go on, but you just keep on going!

While there are many things I don't know about being a parent, here are the things I DO know. I know that parenting is not for cowards. It's not for people who give up and quit. Parenting takes perseverance and it's not for the selfish. It is ALL about love. Okay, so maybe I'm not doing so bad here.

I know that practically every parent out there deals with these same feelings. Admit it…you know you do, lol. Just remember, you don't have to know what you're doing to be a good parent. As long as you don't quit on your kids, you're doing great. If you have moments like this, feel free to share. We'd love to hear what you have to say…so go ahead and vent.

Welcome back again to Parents R Us. I hope you had a wonderful weekend, and I'm sure you're all ready to get the kids back in school!

Today I want to address a serious topic - healthy eating for kids. Sadly childhood obesity has become a horrible problem today in the United States. More and more children are considered obese before the age of 10 and many kids are actually ending up with Type II diabetes. The problem…the foods that kids are eating.

Now you probably know that getting kids to eat healthy is not always such an easy task. However, with some work on the parts of parents, it can be done. While it's often easy to give up and hit the fast food joint or grab something quick at the store that's less than healthy, it's important that you start focusing on making sure your kids eat healthy foods. Here are some great tips for getting kids to eat healthy that can make a huge difference in their life now, and in the future.

Tip #1 - Buy Healthy Foods - First of all, healthy eating for kids starts out by you purchasing health foods. Kids are going to eat what is available to them. If you want them to eat healthy foods, then buy healthy foods for them. Leave the junk food at the store and they won't eat it. Purchase more fruits, veggies, and snacks that are healthy.

Tip #2 - Set a Healthy Example - Setting a healthy example as parents is also very important. Kids watch what you eat. If you are telling them to eat healthy and you don't do it yourself, expect them to mimic your actions, not your words. More than likely if you eat healthy foods in front of them, they are going to want to sample what you're having.

Tip #3 - Get Kids Involved - Get your kids involved with food preparation if you want them to eat healthy. If kids get to help make the food in some way, they are more likely to eat it. Come up with small tasks that they can help you with in the kitchen when you are preparing meals. It will get them more interested in the food. Allowing them to help out with choosing healthy foods at the store is another great idea. (If you dare to take the kiddies grocery shopping…lol)

Tip #4 - Presentation is Important - Presentation of the food is important. Part of getting kids to eat healthy is presenting it to them in an attractive way. If it looks bad, kids probably won't eat it. They are pretty picky about the way food looks. So, work hard to make the healthy food look enticing on their plate and they'll be more likely to eat it.

These are just a few tips that can help you get your kids to start eating healthy foods. Healthy eating for kids is so important. Not only is it going to impact them now, but the eating habits they learn as kids will stick with them for life. Get them eating healthy foods when they are young, and they'll be less likely to deal with health problems later in their lives. Hopefully you'll find these tips helpful and get your own kids to eat healthy foods.

Welcome back again to Parents R Us. We hope you have been enjoying our posts and we look forward to hearing your feedback too. After all, hearing from other parents is what this blog is all about. So, don't be shy!

Today I want to introduce to you the idea of a "green hour" in your home. It's something that my husband and I are seriously considering for our own kids and I wanted to introduce this idea to you as well.

Kids today are surrounded by electronics. They have computers, televisions, video games, and cell phones. Too many kids spend the most part of their day watching some kind of a screen. Sadly most kids don't get any time of unstructured play, especially outdoors.

The concept of "green hour" comes from GreenHour.org. This idea is to give your kids an hour a day where they have interaction with nature and play that is unstructured. It includes taking away the electronics for an hour, and getting your kids involved in play that is emotionally, physically, and mentally good for them.

I know sometimes I look at my kids and think how different it is to grow up today. Many kids just don't get out much. They don't relate to nature, and they don't fully explore their imagination by unstructured play.

This website, GreenHour.org, understands that it can be difficult to come up with ideas for your "green hour," so they provide a discovery journal and some great activities. In fact, each week you'll find a great list of activities to use, or you can come up with your own. You can even talk to other parents and share activities, ideas, and more.

The National Wildlife Federation is actually behind the "Green Hour" campaign. Some of the benefits of unstructured time outdoors has been proven to provide the benefits of lowering stress in kids, keeping them in shape, helping them develop immune systems that are strong, encouraging creativity, developing imaginations, and kids that play outdoors are less likely to deal with the symptoms of ADHD.

So, maybe it is time that your kids get some "green" time. It's so easy to let them stay occupied with all the technology of the day. Why not work to get them to spend some time playing outdoors or doing something creative? One day they'll thank you, even though they may fight you now.

With the average kid in the U.S. spending 44+ hours each week looking at some kind of screen, it's time to do something. So, why don't you join with me and try this out? If you do, I'd love to hear how it goes for you.

Since becoming a parent, I've learned quite a bit. Some of you know that I'm a step parent of 2 teens, and I've only been mom now for about a year and a half. Since then, I've learned a whole lot. I thought that I'd share with you today a few of the things I've learned in my parenting crash course.

1. Parents Speak in Different Languages - Yep, that's right…parents speak in a different language. Each family has their own dialect. Parents have things they say that would make no sense to someone else. Sometimes I reflect back on something I say and laugh. No one else but our family would understand it. I've acquired the "parent speak."

2. I Now See Money Differently - Or should I say I spend it differently. We have a budget. We plan out what we spend. Now I've always been fairly careful about what I buy and have always been one to look for bargains. Since becoming a parent I'm always looking for the best food deal, coupons that will help me save, and trying to figure out where the money is going to go. After all, you know you're a parent when you do your "happy dance" in the meat aisle because ground beef is on sale.

3. Me-time is Actually Planned - Having kids means you are always on call. Even if they're in school, you're still on call. I can't count the times we get phone calls from school. When the kids are home, you're especially on call…even in the middle of the night. Finding me-time is a whole different story. You actually have to plan it. My husband and I plan dates together. If we didn't, we wouldn't get them.

4. Time has a Different Meaning - Speaking of time. Time has a whole different meaning when you're a parent. I used to always be 15 minutes early for everything. It rarely works that way when you have kids. You have to get them ready, get them motivated, and out the door. I've always liked things to happen on time. Well it doesn't happen that way with kids. I've learned to live with it. Lol

5. Love and Like are Two Different Things - I love the kids all the time. I don't always like the things that they do. I've learned that love is still there even when you are not at ALL happy with something they pull. In the past few months of being a parent, I've learned more about unconditional love than ever before.

6. Laughter is a Parents Best Friend - Sometimes you just have to laugh. You may want to cry, you may want to be upset, but you go ahead and laugh. Times with the kids are precious. I've learned to spend as much of that time possible laughing.

7. Parents Aren't Perfect - Shhhhh. Don't tell the kids out there, but I've discovered there is no way for parents to be perfect. Every single child wonders at some of the mistakes their parents make. It's only when you become a parent that you understand how tough it is and how easy it is to make mistakes. I make mistakes all the time. After all, there is no manual out there and kids don't come with directions.

The list could go on an on about the things I've learned since becoming a parent. Of course I figured you all wanted a blog post, not a small book. Lol. Parenting is all about a learning experience. It's a crash course that you pray every day you'll pass. I'm sure some of you can identify with some of the things I've learned. I hope you will share things you've learned as well…feel free to leave comments. I'd love to hear them!

Stressing out? It's easy to do when you are a parent. After all, our kids often do their best to make sure we are stressed. Funny how that works. Parents deal with a huge amount of stress in their lives. As you probably know, stress can cause health problems and shorten your life. So, what can you do to help alleviate some of this stress? Well, here are some top stressbusters for mom and dad.

Get a Hug and a Kiss Each Morning
One of the best ways that you can deal with stress is to make sure you get a hug and kiss each morning. This can be from your spouse or from your kids. Hugging releases the "feel good" chemicals in your body, helping to ease your stress. So hug away. It's good for you.

Call a Friend When You're Frustrated
Ever got to the point where you are so frustrated with your kids you are seriously considering ripping out every shred of hair you have? It's at this point you need to communicate with a good friend. Instead of going bald, call a friend. When you talk with friends, your spouse, or even lose family, it can keep stress hormones from being released. So, call someone up and vent a bit of steam. Your hair will love you for it.

Buy or Pick Yourself Flowers
You don't have to wait for someone else to bring you some flowers. Go out and pick or purchase some flowers every once in awhile. Put them on your desk or the table. Enjoy looking at them. Studies actually show that those flowers can relax you. Maybe you should give your spouse the hint…you'll relax if you get flowers.

Schedule in Some Free Time
We schedule everything into our days - except for some free time. Free time is so important. It doesn't matter what you do with it, you just deserve to have some free time. This time to yourself can really help you to get rid of some of the stress that you are dealing with. So, guard that "you" time carefully.

Laugh, Giggle, Chuckle
Laughter is truly great for relieving stress. Sometimes we take ourselves far too seriously as parents. Find something funny every day. Your heart and your blood pressure will thank you for it.

Every child knows the exact buttons to push with their parents. They know what makes you upset. Sometimes they don't hesitate to use that knowledge. Every parent gets angry. If you're sitting there thinking "not me," get real, stop being so righteous, and realize that you have at some point been angry with something your child did.

What parents need to realize is that anger is a human emotion. It happens. If you haven't experienced it yet - you will! I guarantee it. Why? Because you are human. You don't need to feel guilty because you get angry, but you do need to know that how you handle that anger is important.

No matter how much you love your children, you will experience anger. Learning to handle it is imperative. Here are some tips for dealing with anger that are important for parents.

Tip #1 - Exit Stage Right… - Sometimes the best way to deal with your anger is to exit. Take a breather before confronting your child. As a parent myself, there have been times I walked away because I was angry and I needed to get a better perspective on the situation before I responded.

Addressing your child when you are angry is not the best option. When you are angry, you may say things that are not wise or you may even be angry at the wrong thing. If you feel angry, take a breather, figure out why you are really angry, get perspective on the problem, and then go back and deal with it.

Tip #2 - Don't Use Anger to Bring up History - With kids it's best to focus on the present situation. When you are angry with your child, often it is because there have been a series of an events that have occurred in the past weeks to bring you to this point. However, even though you are upset about the last few weeks of behavior with your child, it is best to address the current situation, especially with smaller children. Chances are they don't even remember what happened a few weeks ago. Let go of the anger and address the current situation.

Tip #3 - Get to the Point - When you're angry, it's easy to drone on to your child about what they have done and how upset you are. After about 5 minutes there's a good chance your child is going to turn you off. Try to keep it short, get right to the point, and make sure the important issues are addressed. This way you avoid making your kids go "parent deaf."

Tip #4 - Figure Out What REALLY Matters - Sometimes as a parent, you need to choose your battles. Make sure that you choose the ones that really matter. Don't just pick a battle because you are angry. Make sure that you focus on the important matters and allow the small things to go.

Tip #5 - Let Your Kids Know You Love Them - Once you have dealt with your anger, make sure that you let your kids know that you love them. Handling your anger appropriately teaches your child an important lesson. Letting them know you love them even when they do things that make you upset also teaches them an important lesson - the lesson that you'll always love them. This is an important lesson for them to learn.

Anger is going to occur. It is a human emotion. You are only responsible for how you handle and deal with this emotion. Keep these tips in mind when you are angry with your children, especially the last one - loving them.

Kids are well known for coming up with questions that totally floor their parents. Sometimes their questions are like a curve ball that leave you fumbling for the right answer. If you are a parent, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Unfortunately, many parents make the mistake of avoiding the question or giving the wrong answer, shutting down communication and sending the wrong message to their kids.

So, how can you answer your kids' questions and learn to appropriately talk to your kids? It's important that we learn how to talk "with" kids instead of "at" your kids. Here are some excellent tips that can help.

Be Respectful of Their Question
First of all, you need to be respectful of the question they ask. It may be tempting to laugh or act astounded at their question. However, you need to remember that it's amazing that they came to YOU for the answer in the first place. You don't want to make your child feel stupid. If you do, then they may never come back to you again.

Let your kids know that their question isn't stupid. Reassure them that you are happy to answer questions. Always make time to talk. This opens up the door for further communication in the future.

Ensure You Answer the "REAL" Question
Sometimes the question that your kid asks isn't what actually spoken. Figure out what they really want to know before you give them an answer. This can help you ensure you answer the right question.

Know When to Keep Quiet
It's also important that you know when you should keep quiet. Parents have a tendency to say more than they should. Kids can't absorb things that fast. Give them a bit of information to think about, then stop. You can talk to them more later.

These simple tips can help you talk to your kids in any situation. Communication with your kids is important, so remember these tips to make sure you can keep those lines of communication open.

If you are a parent, you'll find that life will go a bit better if you have certain things on hand all the time. Here is your list of things you must have if you have kids in the house.

#1 - Disinfectant Wipes - These wipes, such as Chlorox or Lysol wipes make life so much easier. They work on just about any surface, they wipe up all manner of messes, and they kill germs. This is a must in your home if you have kids.


#2 - Plenty of TP - Toilet paper. You need plenty of it. With kids, toilet paper tends to go fast. Stock up.


#3 - Eggs, Milk, Bread, and Butter - You can make many different things with these four ingredients. Keep them on hand all the time.


#4 - Ice - Ice is great for making milkshakes, smoothies, and cold drinks. It will help keep your kids happy. Either buy a bag of ice or keep the ice trays full.


#5 - Anti Bacterial Hand Gel - This is great for when you are out and about. Always carry it with you. You never know what kids are going to get into.


#6 - Paper Towels - Messes happen in a house with kids. Go with a good brand. If the paper towels are cheap, they won't soak anything up. Buy in bulk - you'll really use them all.


#7 - Soap Scrubbers - Want to make bath time fast and easy without making a big mess? Get soap scrubbers. They are made by Johnson's and great for kids.


#8 - Children's Tylenol - Have Children's Tylenol or a similar product on hand at all times. It's great for bringing down a fever. The best option is Multi Symptom Cold. This has a fever reducer, antihistamine, and decongestant in it. It knocks fevers and colds fast.


#9 - Emergency Numbers - You never know when something bad will happen. It's not being negative to think about it - it's only practical. Have important emergency numbers, such as poison control, your child's doctor, and more on hand. This way if something happens, you are prepared for it.


#10 - A Great Digital Camera - Kids grow up so fast. You should be taking pictures all the time. You don't want to forget these years. They'll be all grown up before you know it. So, take time to snap pictures on a regular basis.

When you were a kid, your parents probably said things to you that you vowed you would never say when you became a parent. Well, you were wrong. You became a parent and you were genetically changed. Soon you found yourself saying things you thought you'd never say. Here are the top 10 things that many parents vowed never to say…and yes, now they say them. I'm pretty sure you'll identify with them...I know I do!

#1 - Because I said so.

#2 - No one ever said life was fair.

#3 - If you don't like it you can live somewhere else.

#4 - What part of no don't you understand?

#5 - If your friends jumped off a bridge would you do it too?

#6 - Don't give me that look!

#7 - Don't make me ask you again!

#8 - You'll understand when you're a parent.

#9 - Look at me when I'm talking to you.

#10 - You're in so much trouble when your father gets home.

Ever caught yourself saying one of these things? Funny how we end up saying things we always swore we never would say to our kids. Apparently parenting brings on some form of insanity and we lose control.

Have any additions to the list? Feel free to share them.