Moms & Family - Moms In A Blog

Temper Tantrum Drama

November 9, 2011 By Amy Bleser 6 Comments

This isn’t going to be your typical post about a 2 or 3-year old throwing a fit. Instead, this is about a perpetually 39 year old throwing a fit. That’s right, I threw a fit this morning. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t acceptable and there is no taking it back. It does give me the opportunity to show to my kids that I am human, I get overwhelmed and make mistakes. And it gives me an opportunity to model humility and how to sincerely apologize.

So what could have been so bad at 7:25 am this morning that caused me to throw a fit? My keys – I lost my keys again! I hear you asking – who’s problem is that yours or the kids? And you are right. It is entirely mine. Let me set the scenario for you….

I came home from the kids school yesterday late because I had spent an hour with the counselor and my daughter because my sweet girl is being bullied and really struggling. I entered the house so we know I had my keys then. I then proceeded to work a full day and when it was time to get the kids, couldn’t find my keys. They were no where to be found. I ultimately grabbed my husband’s spare key to my van, set the alarm and headed out the door. (I couldn’t lock the door because I didn’t have my keys but I faked it in case anyone was looking and set the alarm).

Sure that they would turn up under a stack on my desk, the clutter on the island etc, we came home and entered our normal homework, play out front, snack, karate etc routine. When it came time for me to leave for karate – no keys. Fortunately Dave was home so I took the boys and his spare key. Looked everywhere last night, no keys. Misplacing my keys is so common for me that a friend of mine two years ago for Christmas bought me an electronic key finder.

Fast forward to this morning and it is time to leave, I have fed three kids, signed their paperwork, gotten them dressed, had them take their medicine etc etc. but I still can’t find my keys.

And this is when it happened.

I threw a fit.

I started frantically going through everything to find the keys and in doing so, lost it with the kids. “I can’t find anything because ya’lls stuff is everywhere” and instead of calmly moving things around, I swept the books, transformers, toy cars, bakugans, whistles, Cub Scout caps etc, all onto the floor. Mind you, I wasn’t yelling, screaming, kicking or jumping up and down. I didn’t hurl the stuff across the room, just swept it onto the floor. But for me, this was a temper tantrum. All three of my kids knew I was unhappy.

As they went about picking their things up and putting them away, quietly and without protest, I started tearing apart my desk. In my desk cabinet, in the box of all my miscellaneous camera supplies, I found them. Ashamed at myself, I told the kids I found them and to jump in the car. I explained to them that yesterday while a client was “going on and on” I decided to clean off my desk and misplaced them. I dropped them off at school and came home and realized, I threw a fit and I didn’t apologize.

So this afternoon, after I pick them up from school and get them settled, I will sit down with them over the usual snack and apologize. I will tell them that I was wrong, that I was upset with myself and took it out on them, I will tell them that while I would like them to clean up a little more, I love their stuff and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I probably won’t be able to do it without tears, but that’s okay. It’s okay for them to see that I am human, that I make mistakes and how I handle it. Hopefully at the day’s end, we will all learn something from my mistake.

I would love any and all words of wisdom and ways that other Mom’s have handled this situation. Got a story to share? Leave a comment, I’d love to hear it.

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Filed Under: Moms & Family, Moms At Home, Parenting

SuperMom Syndrome – How Do You Cope?

October 28, 2011 By Amy Bleser 8 Comments

Oh if I was only this skinny!

Today is my birthday so I am stepping out and stepping up with my first post here on MIAB. I’ve been talking about it, longing to do it and hesitating for almost two years. (Not sure that counts as hesitating – that might be down right avoidance!) And why not start big – with a confession.

I have SuperMom syndrome. There, I said it. Before I go any further, let me briefly introduce myself. I am a Working Mom with three very active kids (10, 8 and 6) and a fabulous husband (he’s amazing – really). We live in San Antonio, TX with one dog, 2 cats, a rabbit, a tree frog and whatever else my daughter catches in the backyard and insists we provide food and lodging for.

So back to this “SuperMom syndrome”. What do I mean when I say “SuperMom Syndrome”. For me, it is a complete inability to say “No” to anyone to the point that it drives me to weary levels of tired, negative self-talk and drives my husband a little batty (or a lot batty as the case is). Oh wait – I did say “No” once this school year. Yay! There is hope. (Well truth-be-told, I said “No” because I truly dislike the person who was asking so it was ultimately selfish of me to say “No”.)

It is a constant juggling act – school, my business, afterschool activities, karate, soccer, taking care of the house, cub scouts, girl scouts, art class, demo team, dates with husband, play dates for the kids, cooking dinner, helping out at school and more. Every day is an adventure and it often feels like even the slightest loss of balance will cause everything to fall down.

Don’t get me wrong – I love my life. Love my kids and husband to no end. My business is awesome. Life is good. But it is sometimes hard and I often beat myself up about….

The articles I haven’t posted
The Boo bags we created but haven’t delivered
the state of the yard
not enough quality time with the kids
being late to everything
not calling my Mom often enough
neglecting friendships
missing deadlines
falling asleep while snuggling with the kids and not waking up to do a couple hours of work at night

….and the list goes on.

Can anyone relate?

I know you can because by simply reading this and being on this blog – I know you want and do give everything you have to your kids and family. And because you are a Mom and you want the best for your kids, it will never feel like enough.

Well off I go to start my day…it’s 6:10 am and I’m already late.

How do you cope with SuperMom syndrome?

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Summer Picnic Ideas: Romantic Gestures

June 24, 2011 By Tracy Leave a Comment

Summer. Long days and warm nights. Barbeques & picnics. Vacation time. Romance. <3

Taking time to nurture your relationships is important and now that it’s summer why not pack up a few things and head on out for a romantic picnic?

Need a few ideas? How about a special day at the park, in the mountains, or even in your own back yard?

Rekindle The Flame

Keep it simple. Don’t pack too many things or plan too many activities. By keeping your planning uncomplicated you’re better able to enjoy a nice, relaxing picnic.

Planning the Menu

Romantic picnics are about enjoying each other. Decide on fun finger-food items like fruit slices, chicken fingers, cheese, crackers. Beverage choices can be anything you like but, why not bring along something with sparkling bubbles like wine or champagne. If you’ll be driving to your picnic spot consider something non-alcoholic like sparkling apple cider or grape juice.

Setting the Scene

A soft blanket or cushy waterproof mat gives you both a place to sit and enjoy your rendezvous. Bring another blanket along in case the evening gets chilly. Make plans for bad weather (it always pays to be prepared) and shield each other from chilly or windy weather by cuddling.

Bringing along a tent makes for an even cozier picnic! It doesn’t have to be large, just big enough for two. That way, if you fall asleep or want to watch the sun go down, you are sheltered from the elements. C’est Romantique!

Making it Special

Think about buying a traditional picnic hamper for romantic occasions and most are packed with favorite foods & beverages for special occasions. Bring a cooler along, if the picnic hamper isn’t insulated for anything needs to be kept cool.

Wicker picnic baskets look nice but aren’t always made to carry foods that need to maintain a certain temperature. The baskets you can buy online or in stores now come with utensils, cutting boards, corkscrews, and wine glasses so that part will be a no-brainer.

If you plan on exchanging gifts think about how you can set a romantic mood. Bring some flowers and sing love songs (or have them playing in the background).

Taking the time to plan a romantic picnic can be the highlight of your summer. Just remember to keep things simple and go with the moment. It doesn’t have to be perfect just memorable. Most importantly, enjoy each other and the time you get to spend together.

This is a sponsored post http://cmp.ly/3/2tB0tJ

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Filed Under: Marriage Tagged With: picnic ideas, romantic picnic, summer picnic

Why Connections With Generations Matter Now – Share Your Family Stories

March 4, 2011 By Patti Winker 1 Comment

I’m a daughter, granddaughter, mother, and grandmother.

This simple fact of life gives me a quadruple layer in my view of things. Because I’ve experienced life through these four particular lenses, I respond to people and events from all four spheres.

Take, for instance, the “rock-cital” I attended the other day. My grandson and granddaughter were both performing; grandson on the drums and granddaughter on guitar and vocals. What a wonderful night!

As I’m watching the show, the stage represented more than a place to play music; it was like my own four layers, my life-blood, was on display. Here’s what I mean:

My granddaughter is the ‘daughter’ – all the world’s HER stage, literally that night, and figuratively speaking every day of her life, for now. She’s not thinking about how this impacts her grandmother, nor should she. I know because I am a daughter, too.

My daughter is the ‘mother’ – all the world’s wrapped up in her children and their performance, with a passing thought that she is thankful that her mother is there. She’s not thinking about how this impacts her legacy… yet. I know because I am a mother, too.

I’m the ‘grandmother’ – and here’s where it gets odd. I don’t just get to be the grandmother. We are given a gift of immortality when we have grandchildren. In that room with us was my mother, and her mother, and her mother, and her mother… and I have a tremendous opportunity, as well as a duty, to keep their legacy alive. I didn’t know that about my own grandmother, but I wish I had. Maybe it’s something we can’t know until we experience the same thing.

This is a gift I want to give to my daughter and grandchildren. I want them to know the importance of passing on the legacy, the stories of their family.

We don’t expect children to know the value of this while they are young. I know when I hugged my grandkids after their performances that I would remember that moment more than they would. But, what I hope is that I can help them value their legacy as it plays out in thirty, forty, fifty, sixty years.

The best I can do is be there when I can, and share my family’s stories with my grandkids, even when they roll their eyes and laugh at me! I’m old enough now to really value my own grandparents’ and parents’ stories, and I know my grandkids will be there some day. And, I want to give them stories to remember.

What can you do as a mother to help your children value their legacy?

Start telling your children THEIR stories first. Every child loves to hear about the day they were born, their first steps, their first words, their first tooth, their first friend, etc. etc. Remember, it’s all about them!

At some point, children start to wonder about family relationships. They start to try to figure out all the complications of how people in their lives are related. If you have a big family, like we do, write it down! Make a family tree. But, don’t just write down a bunch of names; tell the stories that go along with the people.

This isn’t something that happens overnight, or quickly. Sharing your family’s legacy with your children takes time… years. This is an ongoing project, but it shouldn’t be a chore. This is a project of love. Tell your kids one story about either themselves or you or a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or cousin. Don’t let your family’s legacy, history, or heritage go unspoken and unloved.

Thanks for reading!
Patti Winker
www.RemarkableWrinklies.com

p.s. I spend a lot of time reminiscing about the “good old days” on my website RemarkableWrinklies.com but I also share tips for staying healthy and fit as we age. I hope you’ll stop by and see what we Grandmas are up to these days. And, when you do, be sure to leave a comment and share your own thoughts!

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Filed Under: Mom - Daughter Connection, Moms & Family Tagged With: family legacy, family stories, family tree

Fit Family Fun Into Your Workday

February 7, 2011 By Hillbilly Housewife Leave a Comment

I just had the opportunity to spend time with two marvelous friends; Tracy Roberts of right here at MomsInABlog, and Nicole Dean of NicoleOnTheNet. Just like me, these active moms each have a home-business to run along with a family to keep happy. It can be tricky to do both, but why? Working at home sounds like a dream come true.

Moms with jobs outside the home often approach me with wistful looks in their eyes, saying how wonderful it must be to spend all day at home, enjoying my family, never feeling guilty about being away at work, etc. etc. etc. Many people think because you’re a “work at home mom” (WAHM), you are available to your kids 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It must be so easy, right?

I am here to let you know, as Tracy and Nicole can attest to, that building a successful home-based business, while finding time to enjoy your family, is a task fraught with difficulties. There will always be times when you have to make choices that aren’t necessarily going to make your kids, your spouse or partner, or you, happy.

Like most moms who decided to create a home-based business, you probably did so to carve out more time to spend with your children than an outside job would allow. As you’re working hard to build your business, you may have found yourself getting so absorbed in your work that your reasons for working at home started to erode.

What can you do to avoid the trap of focusing so much on your work that you lose sight of why you’re working at home in the first place? On the same note, how can you avoid the trap of playing so much that your business suffers? Here are a few things I’ve done to get back on track whenever I’ve found myself drifting:

Schedule play time – This is a tough one because surprises happen; both good and bad. A new project may land in your lap that needs to be done immediately. Your child may wake up sick. All you can do is put something fun on the calendar every day and give your family your best effort, and ask patience when things don’t turn out quite right… then plan again.

Schedule work time – This may seem like a no-brainer, but many moms who work at home become so comfortable with their loose schedule that their workday suffers. If you are constantly being pulled away from your fun to work, and from your work to fun, both suffer. Get out your calendar and start planning.

Schedule short blocks of time – For both play time and work time, whenever possible, keep your scheduled time short. It’s much easier to keep your family, and yourself, happy when you’re available more often throughout the day. How many times have you promised an afternoon of fun, and then had to cancel because work didn’t go quite right. A ten minute bike ride around the neighborhood is better than an entire failed afternoon play date. This works especially well with young children who don’t understand the concept of ‘later.’

Of course, these tips work for moms who work outside the home, too. Oftentimes, moms who rush home after work find they have to face two decisions: get caught up with cooking, cleaning, etc. OR play with the kids. By scheduling short spurts of work and play mingled together, everyone gets a chance to be a family together. Plan your evening just like you do your days off, with a mixture of work and play.

I was reminded again recently of one of my favorite sayings – “The days are long, but the years are short.” The first time my friend Nicole shared that with me, I was having a bad time, feeling guilty, ignoring my daughter, and I made a decision right then and there to take a break and just play, even if only for a few minutes. You can read what I wrote about that by clicking right here: Make Time For Kids

At the end of the day, ask yourself two questions; 1) did I work today, and 2) did I play today. If you can answer “yes” to both, you are on the right track.

Thank you for spending your precious time with me today. If you enjoyed what you read, please come back and join me again.

Warmly,

Susanne Myers – The Hillbilly Housewife
www.HillbillyHousewife.com

p.s. Many families find the most chaotic time of the day to be after school If you do one thing today, start planning snacks to save frustration during that time before dinner. Click here for great snack recipes and plan ahead for those busy times.

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Surprise Your Kids With Some Yummy Fruit Smoothies This Week

July 9, 2010 By Hillbilly Housewife 1 Comment

: Image via Wikipedia

You are going to love my frugal tip for you this week. It’s all about getting your kids to consume more fruits and even vegetables. During these hot summer months there is lost of fresh produce available all over the place. But often the hardest part is not finding delicious fruits and vegetables, but getting your kids to try them. Let’s surprise them with a yummy frozen treat this week that looks a lot like a milkshake. In fact, you may want to call it that when you serve up the smoothies. The fact that this drink is actually made from things like fruit, milk and yogurt can be our little secret.

A frozen smoothie can be made from just about any type of fruit. We like berries, bananas, pineapples and peaches a lot in ours. Simple smoothies that include just one type of fruit are great, but these summer drinks really shine when you start to combine your favorites. Start by making smoothies with flavors that your children enjoy already. Got a child who likes strawberries and vanilla ice cream? Make a smoothie from frozen strawberries and vanilla yogurt along with a bit of juice or milk. If your child likes bananas and absolutely loves chocolate ice cream, blend some frozen slices of banana with chocolate milk.

From there, once you have them hooked on smoothies expand their flavor horizon by including various other types of fruit including strawberries, mangoes and various melons. Don’t be afraid to add a little sugar or honey to the smoothie to make it taste good.

My daughter’s favorite right now is this strawberry banana smoothie recipe, but she also enjoys a yummy banana smoothie or even mango and pineapple ones. Give a few different smoothie recipes a try until you find a favorite for each member of your family.

Of course you don’t have to use yogurt or even milk. Smoothies can be made with fruit juice as well; orange juice is always a popular ingredient at my house. Rice, almond and soy milk are good dairy-free alternatives. Don’t forget to make your own smoothie by the way. Your body can use those vitamins just as much.

As you and your kids get more and more into smoothie making, consider adding some vegetables to the mix as well. Start with something simple like adding some carrot juice to your favorite fruit smoothie. Cucumbers, celery and even spinach are other good choices. You may want to skip the milk and yogurt in a smoothie made mostly from vegetables. Just add some apple juice or the likes instead.

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Filed Under: Frugal Living, Homemaking, Moms & Family, Recipes & Tips Tagged With: fruit smoothies, fruit smoothies for kids, kid-friendly smoothies, smoothie ideas for kids, smoothies for kids

Setting Up Your Home to Learn!

April 20, 2010 By Tracy 2 Comments

Today’s guest post is by my friend, Cindy Rushton.

If you currently homeschool or have ever thought about homeschooling then read on and then take a look at what Cindy’s got up her sleeve over at the Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2010

Setting Up Your Home to Learn!
By Cindy Rushton

Homeschooling? Thinking about Homeschooling? BUT…do you have to turn your home into a school? No, my dear friend, you do not need to turn your home into a school. Your home can still be a HOME. A home ready to learn! Ready?

Ready? This is EASY as ABC…

–> Find a good nook! It does not have to be huge. Certainly does not need to be expensive. All that is needed is a place that invites your children (and YOU!) to think, work through the studies (writing, reading, studying, proofreading, projects, experiments…). Ask yourself, “Where do they gravitate toward to read…to research…to write…to print?” Keep in mind that each and every student in your family will be very different during the learning process, but most will appreciate having all of the supplies and equipment in a safe, quiet, comfortable place to study. When deciding on a spot, make sure that the spot has good lighting and a good, solid, clean, work surface. Make sure it is a good spot to think AND work on lessons.” Set up the area with a nice table or desk with plenty of work area…comfortable chairs…limited distractions…shelves for books and notebooks…space for a computer and printer…convenient power supply…space for you to sit down and work with them during their lessons…and a specific spot for organizational bins that will hold supplies.

–> Get supplies together! You probably have supplies ALREADY in your home. Use our list to remind you of which supplies you will need to gather for homeschooling. Gather them and organize them so they will be ready to use when your children can snatch time to dig into their studies.

–> Give easy access to materials and supplies! Don’t just gather supplies, give your children easy access to those supplies! Nothing else can encourage your children to dig deeper into studies like having the materials needed to learn AND free reign to use them. Gather the supplies you will need and store them in clearly marked plastic bins and containers. There are SO many options available. Find what will work for you and your family. Get paper and printable pages together. I have always stored ours in our school materials so the children had their materials on hand as they needed it. A quick glance can remind me that we need more. I buy all of our paper, ink pens, pencils, 3-ring binders, etc in bulk at Sam’s Warehouse. During the school breaks, many stores have supplies and paper in bulk for better prices than all year round. That is when we also stock up. We store it on our school shelves and have what we need as we work.

–> Invest in the best tools! It may seem to be an added expense, however tools make all of the difference in the world! For example, you can buy a cheap stapler for under $5.00 OR you can buy a long-arm stapler for $29.95 at an office supply store. The difference? Well, we have bought SO MANY cheap staplers. They simply do not last. Plus, they are limited in what they can do. Now, contrast that with the long-arm stapler? They are built to last. You can use those for making any size booklet and for regular stapling. Just watch your most reluctant writer when they figure out ALL that they can do with one stapler! $29.95 will be the best investment ever! J Buy the best as you can. The investment is more than just for equipment, it is investing in your child’s education!

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Need MORE Help?

How about the ULTIMATE mom-time? Yep! Check out our Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2010! Cindy Rushton is the hostess of the Ultimate Homeschool Expo, the very first online homeschool convention. She is recording Preview Chats for the 2010 Ultimate Homeschool Convention RIGHT NOW! Join her wonderful guests FREE as they count down to the Ultimate Homeschool Expo (May 3-7, 2010–BUT! NEVER ENDING because it is an ONLINE Convention!). Check out all of the details here: Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2010

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Coping With Teenage Mood Swings

January 15, 2010 By GuestBlogger 1 Comment

By Aurelia Williams, author of Understanding Your Teen

If you are the parent of a teenager, you are familiar with mood swings. One minute, your teen is happy and loving, the next they are sullen or angry. These mood swings can happen fast and can seem to come out of nowhere and it’s one of the reasons I created my Understanding Your Teen Guide.

You may find yourself wondering what you did or said to cause this shift in your teen’s mood. The truth is, you probably didn’t do anything wrong at all. Your teen’s mood swings are normal, and there is not much that can be done to stop it.

Your teen is slowly becoming an adult and they are developing the skills the need to handle the pressures of the adult world, but this process takes time. They may have a school project due, have chores around the house to complete, and then they get into an argument with their best friend.

Some of these things may seem silly or trivial, as you have work to do and a lot more housework on top of that. Try to remember that your teen’s brain is still growing and they may simply not have the ability to handle all of those pressures and keep a smile on their face at all times.

While you may not be able to end your teen’s mood swings all together, you can use these techniques to help both you and your teen learn to cope:

Encourage your teen to talk to you when they feel upset or overwhelmed. Let them know that you are there for them, and that you have experienced those same feelings from time to time.
If your teen doesn’t want to talk, encourage them to express their feelings in a creative way, such as painting, drawing, or writing. Let them know that they can keep this private, that they do not need to show anyone. Once they get their frustrations out, they will feel a lot better and will be able to move on.
Try not to react to your teen’s mood swings. Sometimes, they say things just to get a reaction. If you ignore the bait, they may change their attitude.
If you and your teen do get into an argument, diffuse the situation by getting up and taking a break. When both you and your child are calmed down, you can finish discussing the issue.

At times, it can seem like your teen is from a foreign country. They have different behavior and customs and sometimes, and sometimes it can seem as though they are speaking a different language.

Even though there are difficult times, try to enjoy this period of your child’s life as much as possible, because these years will go by very fast.

Next Steps
1. To gain a little more patience and whole lot more understanding of your teen, pick up Aurelia’s Real Life Guidance to Understanding Your Teen – it’s a lifesaver for so many parents.

2. If you’re gearing up for another summer with your teen and want to dread trying to keep them occupied, happy and out of trouble, check out School’s Out for plenty of expert resources to make it a great summer.

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Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: Adolescence, Kids and Teens, Parenting, Teen Life

Work at Home & Kids: Balancing Your Schedules

August 13, 2009 By Tracy 3 Comments

: Image by atconc via Flickr

One of the top reasons many women become work at home moms is to be available for the children. Most choose to start when the children are young and need constant supervision. Many continue the experience as the children get older because of the flexibility it offers.

It can be a struggle being a work at home mom. You are constantly juggling the needs of the children with the needs of the business. Finding a balance between the two is the key to being a successful (and peaceful) work at home mom. Here are some tips on how to achieve this:

1. Make a schedule of times when you KNOW you won’t be disturbed (early in the morning, late at night or during naps). There are several hours in each day that you can devote to work that are completely undisturbed by the rest of the household.

2. Keep a calendar of all the children’s activities close at hand (include everything from doctor’s appointments to carpools). It will help you know how to juggle your schedule if you always have the important events written out for easy access.

3. Use that same calendar to keep track of due dates or projects that you need to complete. It will help you stay on track if you know what you have to do and when you have to do it. You can use a paper calendar or even one of the many automated calendar programs (that will sound an alarm when things are suppose to happen).

4. ALWAYS aim to complete your projects at least three days ahead of schedule. Procrastination can be one of the major pitfalls of the work at home mom. Keep it at bay by staying ahead of schedule.

5. Expect the unexpected. One of the main reasons that people choose to work at home is so that they can be flexible. You want to be able to walk away from work if the children have an unexpected awards program or they are just sick. Plan to have unexpected down time – keep ahead of your workload, set aside a day that can be a time for catching up, plan on getting up an hour early (or staying up an hour later) the day after the unexpected changes occur.

6. Put the children first. Whether it’s a splinter in the finger or a question about homework, help the children to understand that they are more important than any project or work schedule. Remember that they are the main reason that you are a work at home mom.

The best way to balance your children’s schedules and your work load is to stay organized. Keep lists and schedules easily accessible and keep them up to date. Before long you will find that the juggling act is really much easier than it looks.

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Filed Under: Moms & Family, Working Moms

Bullying In Schools: How To Deal

August 13, 2009 By Tracy Leave a Comment

There are always bullies in social situations – people who have to build themselves up by tearing down or beating down the people around them. Unfortunately, that will be true at any age. Whenever there is a group of kids, there is likely to be a bully amongst them. It is important that you give you child the right tools to know how to deal with bullies, today and in the future. Here is some advice to help you and your child:

1. There is no way to avoid the bullies of the world. They can be found in Sunday school classes, homeschool support groups and school classrooms. Instead of avoiding them you will have to develop ways to live or deal with them.

2. Walk away. Almost every confrontation offers the chance to just get away from the situation. It is not running – it is looking for a more appropriate time and place to deal with it. Most bullies want to be seen by many people; if you can take that away from them then you might be able to deal with the situation with fewer problems.

3. Retaliation leads to escalation. Although the television shows and the movies show that confronting a bully is the only way to win, in truth it could be the one sure way to lose. Especially in today’s society – where escalating violence is the norm – pushing someone who wants to be the “top dog” might cause an escalation in violence towards your child and towards others as well.

4. Talk to the people that are in charge when your child is being bullied. If the teachers won’t listen, then talk to the administration. If the administration won’t listen, then talk to the authorities. Bullies can be an extremely dangerous element for any environment. The people that are in charge need to be aware of the dangers involved.

5. Talk with your children. Open lines of communication make it easier for your children to come to you if there is a problem. Taking time every day to talk about their day, their thoughts and their ideas is likely to make you aware of any problems or potential problems before they can get out of hand.

6. Stay involved. By being around your children at play and at school you can recognize bully situations before they become problems. Make a point to attend birthday parties, ballgames, practices or other group events and activities.

The natural instinct for many parents is to shield their children from bullies or situations where the children might be bullied. The truth is that it is impossible to completely avoid all bullies. It is better to learn how to deal with the situations at the earliest possible age, rather than being shocked by bullies that are more aggressive and more dangerous in the future.

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Filed Under: Moms & Family Tagged With: Bullying, Kids and Teens

Temper Tantrum Drama

SuperMom Syndrome – How Do You Cope?