Kids have feelings??

This sounds like a stupid question, but even the best of us find ourselves dictating to our kids how to feel. One thing I have never appreciated as a child or now, as an adult, is other people telling me my feelings are wrong. They're FEELINGS! How can they be wrong? Come on girls, if you're feeling sad is it totally encouraging and wonderful to hear your husband or boyfriend or best friend say to you...."don't be sad! You shouldn't be sad. That's wrong...you're wrong because you should be happy!" Yeah right! Okay! Now I feel better! I was wrong! I should've been happy and now I am! Thank you very much!

It doesn't work like that for us and guess what, it doesn't work like that for our kids either. After countless arguments with my oldest child (age ten) about how his feelings are wrong, I have learned the following facts we must all accept:

* Different people have different feelings and no one is right or wrong--just different!
* Even if you are cold, your child might actually be hot--let him take off his jacket!
* Listen, listen, listen (with your mouth shut!)
* Have conversations with your kids about their feelings so you can learn where they are coming from...not so you can fix them (be careful).

Although kids needs direction and training from us, they need their own feelings and personalities. Work one day at a time on tuning in to your child and you will see a world of difference and a new respect for the little people!

Monday Mornings

Why is it that Monday mornings are so difficult? It could be the lack of sleep from an exciting weekend, a break from weekly routines, the dread of another long week at work or school, or possibly a suggestion from society, songs, and movies (i.e.Manic Monday) that mondays are horrible and should be outlawed from the week altogether. Whatever the case may be in your house, there is a way to get kids out of bed and off to school without all the drama (you super-mom's know what I'm talking about!)

Tips for sane Mondays:

* Kids need sleep even if it's the weekend. Depending on their age, kids need anywhere from 9-11 hours of sleep each night. Believe it or not, their bodies and brains do not know that it's the weekend, or a special birthday party, or late-dinner-party night, and therefore must stay awake longer, sleep less, and wake up in the morning happy and joyful with a smile on! If us adults don't get enough sleep we all know the next morning is going to be a battle, so why would we expect anything different from our kids?

* "Monday Funday" It doesn't look like it rhymes, but say it out loud...."Monday Funday!" If your kids go to school and bring lunch, make monday lunches extra special...something they know each week to look forward to. Add a note for the week or a new pencil or something special (you know your kids unique needs) that will cause them to look forward to getting up and going each monday (sorta like a mini-Christmas morning only not lol). Or make a kid-friendly fun breakfast every monday...if you have time...and if no time, throw poptarts in for them. Unless it's poptarts ever other day as well, then it's not special so you need a new idea!

There you have it...2 little tips for making mondays better for your kids. And if that doesn't motivate a smile, you can always wake them up with a squirt bottle of ice water............