Working Parents, Thriving Families- Possible? YES!

Time is flying faster and faster these days...If you have kids, you realize that the month of May is fast becoming as booked as December. Band recitals, track meets, sport tournaments, dance shows and all conceivable types of end of year banquets merge together with semester and year-end finals, packing overflowing stressors onto already busy families. If you feel like your family is crammed together on a giant version of a hamster wheel, running frantically and getting no where, then I've got the first book for your summer reading list: David Palmiter's Working Parents, Thriving Families: 10 Strategies that Make a Difference.

The best part of this "edutaining" family self-help book is that it is literally laugh-out-loud funny, so it is not a chore to read. Face it, the last thing an overextended parent needs is a dry psychology text- unless, of course, you suffer from insomnia. David brings to life common, potentially emotionally hazardous situations, and then OFFERS PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS. From coaches manipulating unequal playing time on team sports, to kids requesting violent video games, to challenges of single/divorced parent dynamics, this book offers concrete, proven effective strategies that you can add to your emotional toolbox.

Who should read Working Parents, Thriving Families? Every busy parent who has a robust sense of humor! If you are looking for a serious book on academic parenting theories, this is not it. If you are looking for a book that can seriously help you learn (or even simply better prioritize) positive family interactions and parenting skills, then grab your NOOK or Kindle and order it now, or grab a hard copy at amazon or your favorite local bookstore. Whether you're having one of those exhausting "what IS my kid THINKING?" weeks, or simply enjoy learning new nurturing skills, I think you'll enjoy and benefit from reading Working Parents, Thriving Families.

BOTTOM LINE: Crazy-busy lives with over-extended parents AND kids have become the norm. Stop racing and create some "special time" with your kids today.

PS. It's MAY- a new month- CHANGE THOSE AIR FILTERS (especially here in Austin, the Oak was out of control!)

Christmas Gift of HEALTH!

'Tis the season of giving, and many of us are trying to find the perfect gifts for our friends and families. Before you choose gift baskets loaded with wine, chocolate, and other delicious goodies, though, stop and think. Is this the right gift for your friend who is struggling with her weight? What about your mother-in-law who has high cholesterol and "borderline" diabetes? Well, maybe not, but hey, it's the holidays, right? Doesn't everyone deserve a little treat? And they LOVE chocolate...

Well, yes, I agree that everyone deserves a treat, but is it really a treat if we're giving them something that works against their health goals? If your friend is fit and healthy, knock yourself out with edible treats with a clear conscience. BUT... if they are NOT, why not focus on gifts that encourage health? Mind you, I'm not suggesting sticking a bow on a bag of carrots, either. How about fun workout socks or a new top? Buy matching pedometers for you and a buddy or two for some friendly competition or at least mutual encouragement. How about a gift certificate for a massage or manicure or pedicure? Or a new healthy cookbook? Or-gasp- a plain old BOOK book-by your favorite author? Need a suggestion? Try ANY of Jeff Abbott's thrillers! Out of money (and who isn't?) Make a gift certificate for a outing to a park or walk around the lake or a bike ride. Be creative!

BOTTOM LINE: Think twice before sending out edible treats to ALL your friends and family this year, and show you really care by giving gifts that promote physical, mental or spiritual health! Happy Holidays!

Great Family Game!

Okay, after dealing with more serious issues all week, how about a fun one? Summer is a wonderful time to focus on your family, without the constant stress of homework and packed schedules. Breaking out a deck of cards or a traditional board game can be a terrific break from the electronic world we all live in. Our family is, well, a touch competitive- yes, including the adults ;0) So, we were thrilled to find a game a that allows us all to compete equally, yet on our own level: BANANAGRAMS.

The game comes in a cute little bag shaped like a banana. It consists of alphabet tiles like those in a Scrabble game. How it works is that each person creates their own crossword-type puzzle (again, a la Scrabble). Points do not matter, however- it's all about being the first person to finish your own puzzle, using up all of the tiles. The cool thing is that one player may use simple words (DOG, GO, MAD) while another is using SAT-prep words; it makes no difference!

Our family discovered this game a few years ago, and we actually have one we keep in the car for any restaurant trips. We typically play the condensed version which means that play starts once we've ordered our drinks and stops when the waiter arrives with the food. By the way, we purchased our first game in a local bookstore, and have since seen Bananagrams in numerous retail stores and on line. I have no financial ties to this product, though from the number of games we purchased for ourselves and friends, perhaps I should!

BOTTOM LINE: Find games to play with your friends and family that engage players of all levels, and sit back and ENJOY!

I would LOVE to hear from you about your family's favorite games!

A Word About New Year's Resolutions

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Can you believe we've reached the end of 2009 already? Well, it's time for New Year's resolutions, and I have a suggestion. Instead of creating a huge "to do" list this year, choose ONE WORD that represents something you'd like to focus on for 2010. Write it down and stick on your fridge (or computer home page, or wherever you will see it every day.) In our family, each New Year's Eve our daughters create a small poster for each member of our family with our word printed in large letters and decorated with appropriate symbols. We then post those four words on the wall of our stairway for the year, where everyone can be reminded of their resolutions daily as we trek up and down the stairs.
For example, my word for 2009 was HEALTH- big surprise, right? But it meant not simply medical health, but spiritual, mental AND physical health. Some days that word pushed me to exercise when I didn't feel like it, and other days it challenged me to prayer. In previous years, my words have been "patience", "peace", "simplicity", "family", "finish" and... did I mention "patience"? (I have to focus on "patience" every few years, so it bears repeating. My kids think it's funny because I have "patients" at work and need more "patience" at home!)
I have found that having this one word resolution is far more effective more me than the shopping list of resolutions that I used to espouse each year. The word becomes my theme for the year, almost a mantra for me. I love that with one word, it is a positive statement (rather than quit this or that, or lose weight, etc.)
Thanks to the Austin reporter who many years ago challenged our city leaders to try this single word resolution and shared their experiences in a New Year's column. I confess I've long since forgotten the reporter's name, but the tradition lives on.
BOTTOM LINE: Choose a ONE WORD RESOLUTION for 2010- perhaps HEALTH!!