.... keep giving!
Looking for some meaningful family activities, now that the big day has passed? There are still a few holiday attractions to enjoy, and opportunities to help the young ones serve others.
As your family begins packing up after the holidays and discarding old items, there's a perfect way to combine those activities with charitable giving while instilling lessons about service.
Many thrift stores, including the Salvation Army Thrift Store and Goodwill Industries, are welcoming donations this time of year. Proceeds from the sale of such items are used to support needy families in the area, as well as other charitable causes.
Consider having your children select toys they no longer play with to donate to a youngster in need. Donate clothes, especially winter coats, that no longer fit, too.
You also might ask kids to help clean out your food pantry, then let them accompany you to donate the food at Harvest Hope or another community food bank. If there is an elderly resident living in your neighborhood or somewhere nearby, consider making a batch of cookies with your child and deliver it as a New Year's surprise.
Your child will learn the value of giving and become a more charitable person in the process.
(the above appeared in the Beaver County Times on January 11, 2011. Written by Bertram Rantin via McClatchy Newspapers.)
Showing posts with label cleaning and organization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cleaning and organization. Show all posts
H1N1 Virus Information
There seems to be a panic that comes across one's face when the words "Swine Flu" or "H1N1" enter the conversation, especially in mom-circles. Here are some facts about the virus and what we can do as mothers of young children to protect our families:
FACTS
- H1N1 Influenza A Virus is termed "swine flu" because it is the flu virus that swine get late fall/winter just like humans do. It is NOT the same as the seasonal flu we see each year.
- The symptoms of "swine flu" are similar to that of the regular flu, but there may be a gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhea) associated with it. These symptoms can linger 4-5 days in most people, up to 10 days in children.
- Swine flu is less easily transmitted than the seasonal flu because it is not airborne. It is transmitted through droplets (sneezing, etc).
- If you or your child gets swine flu, you more than likely will not die. Most people who contract the virus do not die, contrary to how the media has played swine flu-related deaths.
- Typical season flu vaccines are targeted to the top 3-4 strains of seasonal flu that are most likely to affect the majority of the population. The H1N1 vaccine is targeted solely to the swine flu, so if you are a family who vaccinates regularly you will need two separate flu shots this year - one for seasonal flu, one for swine flu.
- There are two ways of administering the H1N1 vaccine - a mist through the nasal passages and a shot. The nasal mist is NOT recommended for certain groups, including pregnant women. The shot is safe for virtually anyone. The virus cells present in each of these two vaccines is slightly different, which is why certain people are encouraged to take the shot over the nasal mist.
HOW CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVES?
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Avoid antibacterials as they are no more effective than regular soap. Most antibacterials also contain high amounts of Triclosan, a pesticide actually, and can create Super-Bacteria that are resistant to the antibacterial agents. Safer antibacterial cleansers include CleanWell, which can be found in Target stores.
- Stay hydrated. Drinking water helps flush toxins and other impurities out of our systems.
- Eat healthy. Make sure you are getting enough fruits and veggies, which are high in several vitamins and nutrients that help your body fight off illness. Avoid sugar, as this can compromise your immune system up to 40% over a 4-hour time period. Click here to get some other healthy options.
- Sleep. Get enough rest. This is your body's time to recharge. Neglecting this part of your day can make you more susceptible to illness. The average adult needs 6-8 hours of sleep. Newborns need up to 18 hours of sleep per day, toddlers 12-13 hours, and preschoolers around 10 hours.
- Stay home when you are sick. This is a no-brainer. This not only protect your weakened immune system from additional illnesses, but it protects others from what you have as well.
- Watch where you sneeze - When you sneeze, sneeze into the crook of your arm as opposed to your hand. Our hands touch virtually everything we see, whereas not much comes in contact with your elbow-region.
- Exercise - This helps strengthen the cells in your body that fight off illness.
- Hands off! Avoid touching your face with your hands. If you do touch your face make sure you wash or sanitize your hands promptly.
- Relax - stress can compromise your immune system. Make sure you find time to laugh and enjoy each day.
References
Stay-At-Home Moms Need A Schedule, Too
A common area overlooked by stay-at-home moms is not having a schedule on which to operate. For a preschoolers, not having anything "definite" to look forward to in any given day or week can result in the discipline issues or just sheer-out boredom. Moms suffer from lack of a schedule or routine as well. It's easy to become stressed or unmotivated without some skeleton of what a day or week is going to look like. Having a routine in place helps everything run smoother and more efficiently, and your family will appreciate knowing what to expect.
If you don't have a routine, or are struggling with your current schedule below are some examples of real moms who live by a routine to get your started:
- Routine With Kids (includes 20 practical pointers for having a routine for your kids)
Does something work especially well for your family? Share with us!
There Are No Mundane Tasks In Mothering
from "No Mundane Tasks," part of a 31-day series on Revive Our Hearts (a radio program for women), hosted by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
to read the entire transcript or to listen to the broadcast go here
Remember
... as you’re cleaning - as you’re ironing, sewing, picking up, as you’re painting, as you’re beautifying your home, as you’re doing things to make your home attractive, remember that you’re painting a picture for your children—a picture of God. You’re demonstrating to your children in ways that penetrate deep into their hearts, the heart of God, the ways of God, and you’re increasing the likelihood that your children will grow up to love that God and to want to be like Him. You’re demonstrating parables of spiritual life to your children as you work with your hands, as you serve in your home.
... when you prepare food for your family, you’re demonstrating to them that God is a faithful provider.
... when you’re being quality conscious in the things that you purchase, you’re showing your children the excellence of the character of God.
... as you are orderly, you are teaching your children that God is a God of order.
... when you clean things up in your home, when you keep a clean home, you’re showing your children the importance of purity, holiness of heart, of being clean and washed before God.
... when you’re disciplined in your life and habits and schedule and the time you get up and the time you go to bed according to the way that God has directed your family, you’re teaching your children that the Christian life requires discipline. You are teaching them that you can’t just stay in bed and become spiritual. It requires effort and cooperation with God’s Spirit to develop godly habits, patterns, and sanctification in our lives.
... when you reach out your hands…to the poor and the needy and you’re ministering to the needs of others, you’re showing your children the heart of God for those who are poor and needy and oppressed.
There is indeed NO mundane task! Every task assigned to you is spiritual and paints a picture of God to your children.
Travel Planner / Scrapbook
Hosting Overnight Guests: How To Create A Welcoming Environment
You don't have to have a gigantic house, or even a perfectly-decorated one to have overnight guests feel welcome and comfortable in your home. Check out these 10 tips for preparing and hosting visitors in your home:
- Be yourself. Truly. Most house guests aren’t expecting a perfectly immaculate house, and if they are, there’s no point in loading your shoulders with the pressure to try. The best kind of guests are there to see you, not you on stage.
- Let your guests be themselves. Really mean it when you say, “make yourself at home.” If you’re willing to have guests, be willing to let them put their feet up on your coffee table ... {click here to read more}
Spring Cleaning for People With Allergies or Asthma
Check out this short article about how to spring clean your home when someone in your house has allergies or asthma - from the seventh generation blog
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