momonthegoinholytoledo

Pet vs. Pest (Insect Education Kit Giveaway)

September 10, 2013September 10, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

If I were to say our 7 year old daughter likes insects that would be an understatement. Obsessed might be a better description of her interest.

Why, just the other day I was searching for a Pyrex dish to place leftovers in and came up empty-handed. Why? Well, apparently they make the perfect bug bungalow, who knew? She had those dishes piled 3 high with various bugs; pill bugs, worms, spider, crazy legs, etc. Please note, I do not share the same interest and have no idea what the actual names of these “bugs” are called. But since her interest doesn’t seem to be fading perhaps I should learn? (Image below is of her holding a stick bug)

Her interest in insects began at a young age. I can recall one incident in particular. She and I were in the bathroom, she must have been around 3, and we were brushing our teeth and out of nowhere “crazy legs” (again, I have no idea what they are actually called but they are big and they have WAY too many legs…all those legs, they creep me out!) went bolting across the floor. I let out a yelp and began my search for an object to kill the pest. But not my little princess, she clearly did not share my same detest for the “crazy legs”. Her eyes widened and her facial express said it all, she displayed awe and inspiration. She said, “awe mommy look he is so cute…a new pet”. No. No. NO! How was I supposed to put my fear to rest if this thing was still lurking in my house….but how do I break my little girl’s heart and kill her pet? Oh the quandaries of motherhood. On the plus side maybe they didn’t live long!?

Take the Pest Test today….Click on the image and see how well you know your pest (you can find out how long cockroaches and bed bugs live…the answers may really surprise you, they did me!).

Her interest has only intensified with age. Whenever we walk to the park her focus is more on the insects along the way as opposed to the destination. And when she arrives at her Nana’s house which has a big wooded backyard, she requests a Ziploc bag and heads right out the backdoor in search of insects. We even currently have a Mason jar specifically for Locus shells. And the cherry on this bug infestation fascination, her teacher this year once had a cockroach for 8 years. I know what most of you are thinking, eww right?! But I was so excited for my little entomologist. Since she is my love and I want to take an interest in what my loves love I am slowly appreciating the role insects play in our lives, slowly.

GIVEAWAY

So when I came across this awesome Orkin Education Kit plus Flashlight I knew I had to share. For all you parents out there who are raising little entomologist and even for those who aren’t this is a great way to educate yourself and kiddos….

The Orkin Home Education Kit includes:

• 2 Orkin Factoids 11×17 Posters

– Poster #1 – The Pollinators

– Poster #2 – The Recyclers

• 1 Orkin bug-finding flashlight

• 20 Rubber Toy Creepy Crawly Bugs

To enter complete each of the following:

Like Mom on the go in Holy Toledo Facebook page

Like The Orkin Ecologist Facebook page

Follow @mamaof3onthego on twitter

Reply to this post expressing what answer from the Pest Test shocked you most.

Winner will be randomly selected Sept. 20th @11:59pm

Sunday’s Food for the Soul: Stop Criticizing and begin Healing

September 8, 2013September 15, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

“Thank you so much for pointing out my flaws, I so appreciate it “said no one, EVER!

Have you ever come across that person who gives you a backhanded compliment or openly criticizes your clothes, actions, food, parenting style etc.? Or perhaps they sent you an email, an instant message, or you caught wind of it via another close companion? Either way, the act of criticizing others solves nothing. In fact it often has quite an opposite effect. It brings about defensiveness, resentment, and sometimes more criticism or it simply pushes people away. When someone chooses to be critical of another it actually speaks volumes about that individual.

Those who criticize others are often hurting themselves. And instead of looking within themselves and trying to determine where the jealousy, resentment, or need to be right stems from they continue to criticize others and the hurt within them just escalates and compounds.

This week’s homework: Break the habit…….this week if you find yourself experiencing critical thoughts about another person….

First, do not act on them. Keep your thoughts to yourself. Remember that age-old saying from childhood, “If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all”.

Second, take a moment to analyze the root of the thought. For example:

Let’s say at the PTA meeting a mom has a brilliant idea that she shares with the crowd and the crowd reacts positively. Instantly you find yourself trying to find any and all flaws with the idea, her wardrobe, her kids, etc. while the anger within you builds. Consider why you are experiencing such anger towards another person’s idea. Is it jealousy within you? Do you wish you had come up with the idea? Perhaps you wish you had her courage to stand up and vocalize your ideas?

And lastly, turn that criticism into admiration. This step is often the most difficult because it is admitting that we are not perfect, in fact someone else has a quality that is better. Admire that quality within that person, perhaps you can learn from them.

Bonus points: Go up to that person and share the quality that you admire in them. This can take a lot of confidence and courage but I know you can do it….I have faith that one day you will be the best you that you can be.

There will always be someone smarter, more attractive, better at math, better at sports, etc. that doesn’t mean that you do not have your own unique strong qualities. It simply means that you are a confident individual who can admire those who are better than you at certain things. The sooner you can come to terms with your own shortcomings and realizes those are others strong suits the happier and more peaceful you will be.

You can rent LEGOS!? (Includes FREE month subscription!)

September 5, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

My relationship with Legos is a rocky one; I am not going to lie. Don’t get me wrong, I simply adore the fact that my children can spend hours creating cities, castles, cars, putting together kits, etc. with Legos. I appreciate the cognitive benefits that Legos provide the children. I admire watching those wheels turn in their little brains and the joy come over their little faces when they connect and build from their imagination and instruction. What I don’t appreciate is the fact that they seem to multiply overnight!

I mean seriously, when did Legos start reproducing? And don’t even get me started on Lego pain…not to be confused with labor pain…though they are both up there in terms of intensity.

At first I had them under control. They were limited to one bin. Then we expanded our collection with each child, so we upsized to the large tub with wheels. Then the children grew but the Legos got smaller and multiplied much faster. Now we have Mega, Duplo, Ninjago, etc. strategically planted throughout the house, where ever I could find storage. At this rate, eventually our home will become taken over by Legos! Help!

Help has arrived…..

What if there was a Legos service like Net-flix? Guess what? There is! (Go ahead and do a happy dance now…ya know you want to, ha-ha). Pleygo is a Net-Flix like service for Legos! Subscribe, rent, play, and exchange sets of LEGOs unlimited times per month. Shipping is always free both ways.

Hello, GERMS!

I know what you are thinking because I thought the same thing….what a great way to spread the flu so much faster. But there is no need to fret, sets are sanitized when returned. Pleygo offers a convenient, quick, and inexpensive solution that relieves clutter and saves space at home while saving money. (Can we say answer to my prayers?)

Who do we have to thank for this amazing service?

Co-Founded by influential parenting blogger and creator of A-List mom Elina Furman, Plegyo is the perfect way to supply your child with endless developmental tools and allow for that much-needed quiet time at home!

How it works….

Three levels of subscription starting at just $15 allow you to find the plan that best suits you. They offer credit towards your account for sets and mixed bricks that you donate, and they provide the shipping label too! Pleygo is a perfect gift for a family friend, loved one, or birthday party. Purchase a gift subscription and send it with a special message from you! They are constantly expanding their inventory with more sets!

Saved the best for last….

Receive your First Month FREE! Yep, you heard right, click here to get started!

Don’t you think this is a genius idea? Little upset that you didn’t think of it? Are your kiddos big Legos fans? Do they have a favorite? Or maybe you yourself have a favorite Legos moment? Ever stepped on a Lego…no pain like that, huh? Please share.

First Day of Kindergarten!

September 4, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

Last night our home was bursting with energy. Every soul in the house knew that the next day was going to be unlike any other day we had experienced. The kiddos were acting so rambunctious to the point of being agitating! Or maybe it was me. Maybe it was because my mind was preoccupied with a whirlwind of thoughts and my heart was beginning to ache. Why? Because my little boy was starting kindergarten and I was going to miss him during the weekdays. I was going to miss his company, sense of humor and utterly contagious laughter. I was going to miss the way he looks out for me (there really is something extra special about that mother/son relationship…don’t get me wrong I love my girls but they don’t lookout for momma the way a son does). And he is such a great big brother and helper with his little sister. It will just be me and her now…forever…until she starts kindergarten and then… (I need a moment.). It hasn’t been me and one child at home during the weekdays in 6-1/2 years! If I was feeling all these emotions surely he must be feeling something.

So I diverted my attention from me and asked him if he had any reservations. But kindergarten didn’t seem to faze him at all. In fact, he was actually excited. As the kiddos packed their lunches for school the next day he was beaming with pride to finally be joining his big sister in such a prestigious task, ha-ha! I have to be totally honest; there was a part of me that hoped he was going to miss me, just a little bit.

The Big Day……

He was up early and ready to go a ½ hour before schedule. I have never seen a child so eager to go to school, ha-ha! Thankfully we had plenty of time for pictures…..

I drove the kiddos to school and we all walked him into his classroom. He sat down as if he had been in the classroom for weeks, like it was old news. All the parents had their phones, cameras, and video cameras out trying to capture every last morsel before bidding their babies goodbye. And then it was time to go. As I walked down the hall, out the building, and down the sidewalk towards our car I held onto my little Gracie girl’s hand so tight, as if to say, I will never let you go.

As I buckled her into her car seat her big blue eyes looked up at me and asked if her brother was coming with us. It took everything in me not to cry. All this time I was so focused on me. I was completely clueless to the fact that there was another little person who was dealing with a lot today, his little sister.

So we did what most gals do when their hearts are aching over some boy. We had coffee and chatted about our feelings…maybe this one-on-one time together wasn’t going to be so bad after all? Just to clarify, she had a cake pop and I had the Latté and it was the perfect way to mend our aching hearts.

Any other mommas out there have a kiddos start kindergarten this year? How did you do? How did they do? Have an experience regarding kindergarten? Please share.

Sunday’s Food for the Soul: Random Acts of Kindness & Senseless Acts of Beauty

September 1, 2013September 15, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

Do you find yourself becoming overwhelmed with work, back to school, or just life in general? Wish there was some way to ease the anxiety and bring contentment back into your life? There is. The treatment towards contentment within is threefold; service, kindness, and love.

See, the moment you remove your attention from yourself and put that thought and energy into doing good for others through acts of kindness you are reminded of what truly matters in life. Random acts of kindness is a way to keep you grounded and you never know just how much your act of kindness means to others…it might be the one act that prevents someone from making the biggest mistake of their lifetime.

Please note these acts need not be to time consuming or elaborate, but simple everyday choices you can make to make others feel loved. Here are some suggestions for encouraging others with your random acts of kindness (source)

Be kind
Be thoughtful
Use your manners as a form of kindness.
Give out compliments generously.
Think about people who quietly make a difference to your community and thank them.
Cheer up the lonely.
Volunteer.
Shower a coworker with kindness
Share a little wealth around
Give your family a break.
Hold a friends night-in
Send a message
Forgive somebody
Share a smile
Expect nothing

Do you have any suggestions to add to the list? I know I personally enjoy serving others with friends (thus the image above…we are rockin those hairnets, lol!) and family. Do you have a story, experience, or act that you would like to share….sometimes reading about the joy others receive through acts of kindness encourages other to do the same so please share.

The Ultimate Life Giveaway (Are you living life to the fullest? Take the quiz to find out)

August 29, 2013September 9, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

Are you living THE ULTIMATE LIFE?

Between the pressure of running a foundation started by his late grandfather, being sued by his greedy extended family, and seeing his beloved Alexia leave on an extended mission trip to Haiti, Jason Stevens’ world is unraveling. But when Jason discovers a journal that his grandfather began as a Depression-era lad, his writings transport Jason on an incredible rags-to-riches ride. With everything he loves hanging in the balance, Jason hopes he can discover THE ULTIMATE LIFE.

Opening in theaters September 6, THE ULTIMATE LIFE (the sequel to The Ultimate Gift) reminds us some things are worth more than money!

With The Ultimate Life Blog App, take the quiz to find out if YOU are Living Life to the Fullest! (click on the image above to take the test) Read six great ways to start living the ultimate life NOW, as written by Jim Stovall, author of The Ultimate Life book. And watch the official trailer for this inspiring movie!

GIVEAWAY……

The official Ultimate Life Prize Pack will be awarded to one lucky reader! The prize pack contains:

• DVD of The Ultimate Gift

• The Ultimate Gift book by Jim Stovall

• The Ultimate Gift charm bracelet

• The Ultimate Life leather-bound journal

To enter complete each of the following:

Like Mom on the go in Holy Toledo Facebook page

Like The Ultimate Life Movie Facebook page

Follow @mamaof3onthego on twitter

Reply to this post with the results you received from the Blog App…are you living your life to the fullest?

Winner will be randomly selected September 9^th @ 11:59am

This is not a Drill

August 27, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

While floating in the pool this morning, gazing up at the sky, and listening to my children giggle and splash about a sudden sadness came over me. This was our last official day of summer break and boy was I going to miss this!

I spent the next 2 hours simply watching my children. I admired how well they played together. How they made each other laugh. How they simply enjoyed each other’s company. I was going to miss this once school started. They will each be off to their own classrooms…and who knows what next summer holds. What if next summer is the summer our eldest wants to spend more time with her friends and less with her sister and brother? What if this was our perfect summer? Right then and there I decided I wouldn’t allow this summer to end (I am pretty sure the clinical term is denial). I would try my best to extend the essence of summer break. And so I did.

As we gathered in the car this evening to go to the children’s Open House I rocked my denial with an orange shirt, black pants, and flip-flops. As I signed up to participate in the classroom parties, denial! As I signed up for parent teacher conferences, denial! As I walked the halls and said hello to neighbors and friends it felt more like a dream than reality. As we entered our son’s kindergarten classroom which just so happened to have also been our eldest daughters kindergarten room I really slathered on the denial…no way my little man was going to start kindergarten!

There I stood in the middle of our son’s kindergarten room and a slide show of images of my little man began playing…his birth…walking…him in his highchair…trips to the apple orchard…trips and falls…mommy kissing boo boos…MEEP MEEEP MEEEP MEEEP. My show was interrupted by the most absurd sound on this planet, the fire alarm! Followed by the teacher expressing, “This is not a Drill!”

As we made our way out of the classroom and joined other families in the hall the MEEPING intensified. It was as if God was setting off a huge and extremely loud life alarm in hopes of getting me to wake up. To stop dwelling on the past, stop living in denial, to embrace the present no matter how hard. After all, life is not a drill!

Are you living your life as if it is a drill? Do you think denial is a simple means for coping when life becomes too intense? Or maybe you are like me and simply have issue with the culmination of events, outings, shoot, even books (I wait days to finish reading the last page of a book because I don’t want it to end)? Ever wish motherhood came with a warning…warning: emotions will run deep?

Sunday’s Food for the Soul: Humility

August 25, 2013September 15, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

I have been posting Sunday’s food for the soul on Mom on the go in Holy Toledo’s Facebook page and it has been received well. I realize that not everyone follows the Facebook page so I thought I would start including it as a post. Sunday’s food for the soul is a simple phrase, saying, or contemplation on how to live a more focused, centered, less stress-full, and more fulfilling life. It is a great reflection to get the week started and hopefully carry with you for the duration of the week. Please feel free to share your thoughts, experiences, tribulations, etc. as they relate to the week’s topic.
Sunday’s food for the soul……humility and inner peace go hand in hand.

Our culture is very status conscious and people naturally want to socialize upward. Resist the temptation of being partial to those with status or wealth. Resist the urge to brag or try to convince others of your worth…people are drawn to individuals with inner confidence that do not need to make themselves look good or be right all the time, who instead speak from their heart and not their ego.

Tips for a Trauma-free Kids Haircut

August 20, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

Today I took all 3 kiddos to get their haircut for back to school (Let me just preface this post by stating that I was not blessed with the haircutting gene so for my children’s sake I take them to someone who was) They were so well-behaved that the hairstylist jokingly asked, “Did you drug them or something, ha-ha….these kids are acting perfect, even our first timer”. Yep, you read correctly, I took our youngest to get her first haircut!!! It was my last first haircut…between that and all 3 of them acting so well-behaved I almost started crying.

It should be noted that this type of behavior didn’t just happen overnight. All 3 of our kiddos were born with hair and it never fell out. In fact, our son received his first haircut when he was only 8 weeks old. I had grown sick of all the people commenting on how precious my baby girl was. I even dressed him in all blue, with a blue blanket but those thick eyelashes and long hair said otherwise, ha-ha. So he is an old pro when it comes to haircuts.

Our oldest on the other hand didn’t receive her first haircut until she was 3. She was unsure of the entire process. She had a difficult time understanding that getting her hair cut would not hurt, that her hair would grow back, and that she needed to sit still. Back then I was a new mommy and I was still very much concerned about what others thought. I was afraid of her throwing a temper-tantrum and then me being judged by others and I think she could sense my tension. She was scared the first time she had her hair cut. Back then we went to one of those ‘fancy’ places to get her haircut. You know the ones where the children sit in airplanes and cars and get to pick a movie to watch while they get their haircut. Funny, even with all the bells and whistles, so to speak, to distract her she was still nervous.

Fast forward 4 years and I have a few haircuts under my belt. Through experience and learning from my mistakes and other moms I can now say that I have successfully mastered the first haircut reservations and taking all 3 kiddos to get their haircuts…want to know the secret?

Tips for a Trauma-free Kids Haircut

Have a conversation with your child before you go to get their haircut. Explain what will happen in a positive and uplifting way…watch tone and terminology, you might want to refrain from calling it a haircut but rather a new hairstyle…the word cut can be very scary for young ones. Little boys maybe scared of the sounds….try to correlate the experience with their favorite action hero/character…this is what Spiderman does, you are brave like him. If at all possible take your child with you when you get a haircut.
Schedule their haircut on a day that mom has patience. Do not try to squeeze it in-between doctors’ appointments and daily errands.
Allow child to bring a comforting/security small toy…I allowed our daughter to bring her Pocahontas doll that sat and watched.
Take kiddos to a playground to play before their haircut…totally did this today…they played for a couple of hours and we had a picnic lunch then headed to get haircuts. Getting out all that nervous energy and just energy in general really helped…but make certain they are not too tired.
Make an appointment or go when there is not a crowd. Little ones will only have so much patience…they can wait or get a haircut but there more than likely isn’t enough for both.
Explain that good behavior will be rewarded. I expressed that if they sat still, listened to the hair stylist, and had overall good behavior that they would receive a treat (a Dum Dum sucker).

Have any great tips to add to the list? Perhaps a crazy haircut story? Please share

Post Vacation Stress Disorder

August 17, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

While on vacation last week in Douglas, Michigan with my parents, siblings, grandfather, uncle, aunt, cousin, husband and children I experienced a profound state of peace…. peace that I can only compare to prayer.

In the morning I would get up and be greeted by my uncle, the early riser, and then head outside to sit in the red Adirondack chair to read a few chapters (currently reading, My Sisters The Saints by Colleen Carroll Campbell). And sometimes in the quite that was only filled by the occasional turning of pages deer would pass by…can you say breathtaking!?

And each day was filled with an exciting excursion….one afternoon I went to Holland and tasted beer with my brother, perused the interior design stores with my mom, and stopped in at a candy store with my daughter.

The next day we all went horseback riding….

and finished off the day at the park where ALL of us acted like kids…..

Then one night my hubby surprised me. He had my parents watch the kiddos while we went wine tasting, out to dinner, and perused the shops in South Haven, MI. Oh, and the sunsets, talk about romantic….here is a pic of us on the beach smooching during the sunset….

The next adventure…canoeing!

We row, row, rowed our boat till our little one fell asleep. It was so peaceful on the water. And I enjoyed the opportunity to canoe with my hubby and then with my aunt.

During our vacation I did not engage in any social media, in fact I left my computer at home. And my phone had horrible reception so talking on the phone was out of the question too. And I am glad it was…I think I needed a break from the inauthentic pull social media can prescribe at times. I thoroughly enjoyed time with my family and I am so grateful we had that time…none of us knows when our lifetime is up thus we must treasure the time we have together. Which is precisely what I did and that paired with the 3rd Coast (not west or east coast but the great lakes) or what they call around there, the Lake Effect I was in a state of peace that I can only compare to prayer.

Then it was over. That state of peace was quickly replaced with grief, I think I began grieving the vacation in addition to having to get the household back in order, back to school shopping, and celebrate our youngest turning 3. That first day back was extremely hard for me. Has anyone else ever experienced a sense of heartache at the end of their vacation?

Any tips for decompressing after vacation? Or suggestions on ways to transition the entire family back to reality?