The Mediocre Mom's Guide to Greatness

Monday February 8th, 2010

Monthly Goal:

Ok, new rule.  I will do the $25 GC giveaway to the person with the most comments but they have to leave at least 5 comments.    So far I’ve only been left 3 comments and I KNOW that you moms are doing a lot of good things for your kids.  Please let us celebrate your mothering no matter how big or small!

What I did nice today was kiss my daughters dirty smelly toe after she stubbed it.

Don’t forget to leave a comment about what you did today.

Today’s Activity:

In the spirit of Valentine ’s Day, which is fast approaching, take some time today to write each of your children a little love note.  Write this in a place where they can find and appreciate it when they are old enough to read it.

Note:

If you blog and turn your blog into a blog book each year then you could write the note to them on your blog.  Otherwise a journal of yours, one you have created for your children, or even just a blank page in their baby book will work great.

Evaluate:

This was really enjoyable for me to take the time to focus on my kids good qualities.  When I read them the letters they smiled so big which mad it even a better experience.  I wrote them on loose piece of paper and I’m going to put it in their journals.

Sunday February 7th, 2010

Take a moment for yourself today.

Saturday February 6th, 2010

Monthly Goal:

Today I didn’t get upset with Max when he was being silly while I was helping him with his homework.

Don’t forget to leave a comment about what you did today.

Today’s Activity:

Have an indoor picnic with your little ones.

Note:

Be sure to put down a blanket so you will be less likely to have to pull out the vacuum afterwards.

Evaluate:

Our picnic was a little rushed like everything else has been this week but the kids had a fun time.  They were so excited that they even invited Grandma to join us for our picnic.

Friday February 5th, 2010

Monthly Goal:

Today I did today’s activity.    Things have been crazy this week with me training for a new job but I made sure I fit in a little bit of Simon Says.

Don’t forget to leave a comment about what you did today.

Today’s Activity:

Play Simon Says.

Note:

This is a great activity if your children are having a hard time listening.  You could even rename it “Mommy Says.”

Evaluate:

This was a great game to play while I was making lunch!  Rather than having them running around under my feet while I tried to get lunch ready I could tell them to run into the front room or jump up and down.  I even had Simon tell them to clean up their toys and they did it!  While we were eating Max kept saying, “Simon Says eat your lunch” and then Elese said, “Simon Says eat a cookie.”  Then I jumped in and said, “Mommy says don’t eat a cookie.  What mommy says always beats what Simon says.”  It was a fun little game that we could fit in on a busy day.

Thursday February 4th, 2010

Monthly Goal:

So after some snapping, yelling I was forced to sit down and watch the Justice League with the kids.  They were extremely whinny today and the only way to get them to calm down was to sit with them.  Although it was by necessity, the nice thing I did today was sit and watch cartoons with my kids.

Come on ladies!  Who couldn’t use an extra $25 GC and a little bit of recognition?  Check this out if you don’t know what I’m talking about!

Today’s Activity:

I suppose this doesn’t really constitute as an activity but it will make things around your home more fun.  Rather than just telling your children to clean up their room or do their chores turn it into a race by telling them to see if they can be done before you finish singing the ABC’s.

Note:

Feel free to choose another song depending on how long it will take them to finish the chore.  You could also see if they could finish before you sing it 3 times.  Do your best to let them win this game because then they will want to play it more often.

Evaluation:

I’ve been doing this a lot lately and it’s been working really well.  For the most part the kids get excited about trying to finish as quick as possible.  I have noticed that setting a timer seems to be more effective than singing, at least for my kids.  Today it took them 10 times through the ABC’s but mostly because they would stop cleaning and just sing with me, then about 30 seconds later the house was a mess again.  Thus the lack of a photo, when I turned around from grabbing the camera to take an after photo the house was just as messy as before.

RECOGNITION:

Tracy spent some one on one time with her niece, did laundry, and helped her husband with his homework.

Hannah snuggled with her kiddos while watching a movie and she LOVED it!

Way to go ladies!  Not only did you get an entry into our drawing but you also made the day very special for the ones you love most!

Wednesday February 3rd, 2010

Monthly Goal:

Today I turned off the computer and pretended to be batwoman.

Don’t forget to leave a comment about what you did today. Remember, it doesn’t have to be huge…just something that you wouldn’t have normally done.  I wouldn’t have played batwoman if I didn’t realize that I needed to post something on here but it ended up being great for me and the kids!

Today’s Activity:

Have your children help you plan for a summer vacation.

Note:

If money is an issue then plan something close to home and set out a jar so the kids can put their change in it to help pay for the trip.  They will appreciate the trip so much more it they contributed to making it happen.

Evaluate:

I did this activity super quick!  We just talked about it as we walked to school.  I decided to be brave and just see what they wanted to do for a vacation this summer.  I was nervous it was going to be something oober expensive but Max excitedly replied, “Let’s go to Raging Waters!”  That was the perfect idea.  With us trying to get into a home that will likely need some repairs, staying close to home is a great idea, although, I’d love to go to Disneyland.  When I told Max that he could help us save up to go he was thrilled and said that he wanted to use the change from his “money jar” to help contribute.  The above picture is of Max when he was 4 and going on his first water slide with my nephew.  Being that I have a fear of water I was a nervous wreck but he had a blast!

Tuesday February 2nd, 2010

Monthly Goal:

The thing I did today for my children is start training for my new job.  I feel that it is important for me to do my part to help us get into a home that will provide the space we need for our family.  I do not want to work but I’m glad I found a job that will allow me to still be mom during their waking hours.  They are worth the sacrifice!

Don’t forget to enter our $25 GC Give away by leaving a comment about what good thing you did today.  To read more about this activity check out yesterday’s notes on the monthly goal.

Today’s Activity:

Today’s activity is actually more like two.

1^st:  Today would have been my sweet nephews 20^th birthday but unfortunately he was killed in a car accident in 2006.  Justen was generally pretty good about wearing his seat belt but for some reason he wasn’t that night.  Remind your children the importance of wearing their seat belts and sitting in their booster seats.  This may even be a good reminder for you.  I’ve always been a little bit of a seat belt freak but this experience has increased my worry about accidents.  Please drive safe and make sure your children know the importance of seat belts!  I do not want any of you to have to suffer the same loss that my family has.

2^nd:  Today is Groundhog Day.  Teach your children a little bit about this holiday.

Note:

Maybe you can make a family rule that the car doesn’t move until everyone is buckled.  Check out this website  for more Groundhog Day information.

Monday February 1st, 2010

Monthly Goal:

Sometimes us women are WAY too hard on ourselves and I think that we need to celebrate our accomplishments rather than dwell on our weaknesses.  So this month’s goal is to focus on the positive things you do.  Then leave a comment about something good you did that day.  Every mom needs a little recognition and we all know that our husbands and children don’t always give it to us so I say, let’s toot our own horn!  It doesn’t have to be huge.  It could simply be, “Today, I really wanted to yell at my kids and I didn’t!”  Let us celebrate your accomplishments with you.  Because focusing on our best qualities can be hard I’m going to motivate you with a little bit of a prize.  The person I get the most comments from will win a $25 gift certificate to a restaurant in their area.  If there is a tie then I will do a random drawing.  Please only leave one comment at day.  No fair leaving ten every day.  I will participate in this as well and post it on my daily blog posts.

Today’s Activity:

Plan an upcoming Birthday party.  If your kids are like mine they love to plan and talk about their next birthday even if it is eleven months away.

Note:

If there is a birthday coming up right away you can do some detailed planning, otherwise just let your kids brain storm about their dream birthday party.

Evaluate:

Max’s 6th birthday is just around the corner.  At first he said he wanted a baseball party but then it was a Batman party and then an Iron Man Party and then a Super Hero party.  Personally I thought the baseball party was a great idea and he had a super hero party last year so I did a little manipulating.  I told him a few game ideas that I had for an indoor baseball party and he seemed semi excited but then I thought of something that I knew he couldn’t turn down.  Pinatas are generally hit with bats and he LOVES pinatas!  So there you have it, we will be having a baseball party.

Prepare:

Next Thursday we will be having a family etiquette dinner so if today is your grocery shopping day then plan for a really nice formal meal.

Month Goal:

The nice thing I did for my kids today was bring them along on my birthday celebration.  We spent the weekend at Daniels Summit snowmobiling and doing the kids favorite thing (jumping from bed to bed in the hotel room).

PS…HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!  I’m 30 but I still feel like I’m 19!

Sunday January 31st, 2010

Enjoy your Sunday.  Today is the last day before a new month goal.  How did this month go?

My kids are flushing the toilet more than they used to but it’s not as consistent as I would like.  I’ll have to keep working on it.

Saturday January 30th, 2010

Today’s Activity:

Learn about B’Shvat.

Note:

Today is B’Shvat, a Jewish holiday.  This year I’m going to focus on different holidays that we may or may not know about.

Evaluate:

This was a really quick activity.  I like teaching my children about other faiths and cultures.  Because my only way to look up info is online I don’t necessarily get all the information or even accurate information.  Today we ready about B’Shvat on Wikipedia and learned that sometimes on this day they plant a tree and eat dried fruit and nuts.  I’m sure there is a lot more to it than that but it got us talking and Max remembered playing dradle with the librarian who is Jewish.  After that we helped ourselves to some almonds.