Spend some one on one time with each of your children.

Note:

This can be for as little as one minute or as much as one hour depending on your schedule.

Evaluate:

Elese wasn’t feeling well today so she and I spent most the day just sitting together on the couch singing songs and telling stories.  She’s been having a hard time adjusting to the move and I think this really helped her to have some extra attention.  Later, after her motrin kicked in, Max came over and sat by my too.  He talked all about how he has lost each of his teeth and that he was hungry enough to eat half of the world.  Things have been so busy that it was nice to finally have a chance to sit  and just visit

Play Red Light Green Light.

Note:

Max took a community sports class a while back and when they played Red Light Green Light they also added a blue light, a strobe light and a yellow light.  The blue light meant you had to move backwards, strobe light meant you had to dance in place and the yellow light was slow motion.  Add these three lights to make the came a little more exciting and playful.

Evaluate:

This is a great game to keep the kids busy.  The other day we were waiting to go out to dinner and my husband started playing it with the kids.  He was just laying on the couch shouting out the light colors.  Our kids had a blast and my husband kept them entertained while resting at the same time.

Today is veteran’s day and although we generally relate veteran’s to those who have served in a war the term can also be used for someone that has worked very long and hard in any profession, including being a mother.  Find some time for yourself today.  If you need to turn on a movie to get some quiet or force your children to take a nap then that’s just fine.  Go in your room with a book, magazine, newspaper, or even an alarm clock and relax.

Note:

I try to set aside a few minutes for myself everyday to read or sometimes just think.  Even if it only ends up being 5 minutes I still feel rejuvenated.

Evaluate:

If you are anything like me “me time” consists of relaxing while my mind goes over my to do list of things that I should be doing rather than having me time.  The only way for me to escape my daily tasks is to go into a room that is semi-clean and has fewer things to distract me…today that was the front room/TV room.   I enjoyed some down time filing my nails and watching Rachel Ray.  It was some much needed me time….which makes up for the many interruptions I’ve gotten while typing this.

Prepare:

Schedule a play date for your children on Friday the 13^th.

Today’s Activity:

Tomorrow is going to be a fun and sugar rushed day so let’s make today a little mellower.  Remember how I said to record some Halloween movies on your digital video recorder?  Today is the day to use them.  Pop some popcorn (if you have it) and watch a movie to get in the Halloween spirit.

Note:

If you didn’t have a chance, or the equipment, to record anything I’m sure most of the “after-school cartoons” will have a Halloween theme.  You could always try the video store as well, but they may be all checked out.

Advise:

Tomorrow is going to be a long day and your kids may go to bed late or even miss out on a nap or two.  I will be putting my kids to bed at least a half hour early.  If you think I’m crazy then at least try for 5 or 10 minutes early.  You’ll thank me later.  In my favorite things you’ll find the sleep book that I live by.

Evaluate:

I try to avoid letting my kids watch too much TV but my kids definitely needed a day where they just sat.  Generally they don’t sit still long enough to watch anything but they made it through 3 cartoons!   This was a great excuse for me to sit down and relax with them.  It was a wonderfull day for all of use!  We even got in our Jammies at 4pm and made it a pajama party.