Be their encourager!!!

Sariah on her first day of kindergarten.

Encouraging your kids is vital to how much they actually take in while learning at school. You should not leave all the teaching and rewarding up to the teacher. Yes we send our kids to school so that they get an education., but remember that is only the first steps.

When I would pick Sariah up from school everyday I always made sure to ask three questions.

1. How was school today?
2. What did you learn?
3. Did you get homework?

On our drive home she would tell me about her day and what she learned. This probably had to be the best part of the day as a parent. I loved hearing her talk. Listen parents this is key, because had I not asked Sariah how her day was I would have never known that a little boy beat her up. If the child isn't acting normal and seems timid or has their head down, chances are something happened. If they aren't willing to talk about it, you need to turn around and speak with the teacher. This happened a few times. Riri wouldn't tell me what happened, so I would go to her teacher, and she would explain what happened and why Sariah was upset. Communication is a big factor no matter who old or young they are. Once you stop talking to them about things, don't be surprised if they keep things bottled up inside and lash out. I've seen this happen before.

You may be thinking "lash out, my kid is only in kindergarten" Yes, honey it happens. Our kids aren't like the kids we were when we went to school. This generation is much more smart. They see more,

Sariah loves school.

hear more, and do more. 

When asking the question "what did you learn"? Make sure you are asking for full details. Have them explain. For an example. If they say "today we learned about the earth" your question would be "Great, now what about the earth did you learn"? So on and so fourth. I don't think I need to elaborate any more, right? Great, hopefully you got it.

Learning is so important for them at whatever age they are. When they are babies we want them to  learn how to talk, walk, grab things. So when they get older why should it be any different?

Something that my girls loved to do was head out to the library on Wednesdays to check out books. Sariah usually would find books related to what she was learning about at school. She is so smart, and I am blessed to be her mom. We would come home and Riri would tell Kamille about what she had learned. Now Mimi was learning. Your kids can help teach the younger ones. It an added bonus.

This is the most important part of your child's day. Homework time!!! Parents don't slack on this part of the day. Yes, you had a long day at work, the baby is screaming, your husband is driving you crazy, you probably just burned the dinner. I get it, I have 3 kids its not always easy. Just remember if you don't have your kids do homework you are only setting them up for failure.

Sariah would come home every Friday with two new packets of homework, due the next week on Thursday. One would be writing, reading, home connections and the second math. Depending on how many pages of homework she had, would depend on how long we took. I usually had her do 3 a day. Even on the weekend. Our favorite part about homework time, was our one on one time together. I included Kamille in the reading portion because we did it before bed.

I learned a lot about Sariah when helping her out with homework. My daughter is very self conscious about herself and is afraid that people are going to judge her if she does something wrong. This is where parents have to intervene and lift your child's spirits up. Be their encourager!

She still battles with this, but it is something I am working with her on. I see so much potential in her, and I let her know that. If they are struggling in certain areas in school, talk to their teachers. They can give them extra work, and or recommend great "free" websites to use for pintable's.

My homemade packets for Sariah.

Kamille has homemade homework packets
as well.

My favorite place to go is Barnes and Noble. I love to buy there learning activity books. I have the member ship so I get 15% off. It is a must for how often I shop there. I buy them for both girls. They have age one or grade. It just depends on what you want.

Hopefully you have learned a few key tips, school is almost here again. Remember our kids are the next Doctors, Lawyers, Nurses, Engineers and much, much more.

A fun place.

Fun activities are a must with the kiddos. No matter where we live we always have fun... Guess what

Los Angeles isn't the only place to have fun with them either.

I don't think kids should be trapped in the house, so find fun things in your area. Some places are free in your local areas and some cost a little bit of money. If the kids really enjoy the places you can always apply the ticket to the season pass. It just has to be purchased that day.

My girls are very into science, animals and the earth. So we go a lot of museums. Which low key, I love too. Today we decided to try out the Nevada Spring Preserve. http://www.springspreserve.org/coming_soon/coming_soon.html

We totally had fun. They have indoor miniature golf, outside animals, fossils. You name it they probably had it. It did cost to get it, but not a lot. We paid $24.95 for all of us. It opens at 10am -6pm.
Which is great for the kids. On site is a dining area, gift shop and library. Winning.

It was very fun. Inside they do a live animal show. Two different hours in the day. So if you miss the first one you can go to the next. They ask for participation too, so that is a plus. Although my kids cried because they didn't get picked. LOL.

My favorite part (hey parents can have fun too) was the flash flood the do. Mimi was so scared, but not Riri or Logey Bear.

All in all it was fun I am glad that we went.

Now I know that for the most part you that most stay in the greater Los Angeles are, so here are a few fun places my girls loved.
In no particular order:

1. Los Angeles Zoo (it was cheaper to buy a pass for my whole family)
2. California Science center ( The Endeavor exhibit is a must see)
3. Brea tar pit (I loved going her when I was a kid)
4. Aquarium of the pacific (not my favorite thing)
5. Long beach library (my girls are simple)
6. Santa Ana Zoo (The park is amazing)

Now there is so much more to do and see, but these are just a few. Hope you enjoy taking your
kiddos out. Let the fun times begin.

A Materalistic world

I am guilty of spending way to much money at times. Sometimes on things the kids or even I don't need. How about you? I think at one time or another we all are. If we can admit it. For me it was hard to admit because I thought the girls deserved everything under the sun. What I was really doing was handicapping them.

Its not enough that we live in a world full of materialistic people, and now we are making our kids the same. I have learned over the last almost 6 years that spoiling them out of control doesn't do any good or anyone. For one, kids that are spoiled rotten, usually end up like that "ROTTEN".

I noticed my girls starting to act out more and not care about the toys they had. They already knew that mommy would go out and buy new ones. The thing is we aren't rich so throwing toys away and buying new ones gets crazy expensive. Have you seen the price of toys today? Seriously insane.

I am glad that I realized this now when I can still get it under control. Truthfully my girls haven't had new toys since we moved her. So probably around 2 months. That is along time from how it use to be. Every weekend I use to take them to target and or the mall. Yes I said and/or, because sometimes I would buy them toys, clothes, jewelry and books. Ridiculous right? I can admit, I was doing way too much.

Sariah and Kamille still have some learning to do when it comes to toys, but I can say that I do see a change in their attitude about toys. Actually about life.

The other day when I was cleaning the girls room, and purging, Sariah and Kamille said "mom these are the toys that we can give to someone who doesn't have anything". Do you know how amazing that made me feel? My girls thinking about others who are less fortunate than them. Mommy must be doing something right.

Parents don't be the reason our next generation is so absorbed in the materialistic things that everything becomes about what you have and what you don't. Those that don't aren't shit is how society has made it. Let me be the first to say my mom gave me the world and then some, and I became absorbed in stuff  like that. I couldn't even appreciate the love that comes from just a card. I would honestly be pissed if you gave me an empty card. Now just the mere fact that you took the time to write your honest feelings down shows true love (family and friends).

I am glad I can see that now, and I am instilling that in the kids. Lets set positive examples for our babies. They are innocent and if we teach them to be self absorbed they will be, If we teach them to love on others and help the less fortunate then will be better people and this world would be so much better. Let them know God will reward them with more than just toys.

I cant wait to see how they are in the next few years. My kids are amazing and I like to think I had something to do with that, but I give them all the credit.