Summer UnPlugged--Fighting Against Tweens and Screens

I never understood people who said they were bored.  Really?  Have you tried daydreaming?  Have you danced in your kitchen?  Have you taken a nature walk or just a walk down your street and made up stories about people you don't know who live in houses on your street or the next?  I mean, come on, bored?  How does that work?

My kids have known from an early age that so-called "boredom" can be inspiration to use their imagination.  When my oldest was very little and he complained of "nothing to do" we sat down and made a list together.  The list was 25 Things To Do When I Feel Bored.  It included things like "play with my stuffed animals" and "dance to my favorite Barney songs."  He was really little and couldn't read yet, but we hung it on the fridge anyway.  Sometimes he'd walk by and point to a number and say "what's this one mommy, I need some impsperashum."  I would read it to him and off he would run to his room to dance to Barney songs. 

That strategy worked for years, but now we are entering new territory....tweens and screens.  Actually, it's also the fact that my stellar parenting of the early years has been slacking since there are now four little beings to "impspire."  All my kids, even the 3-year-old would gladly grab the iPad and play games and play games and play games.  My oldest, now 11, would go from his Kindle Fire to the iPad to Apple TV if there were no rules limiting screen time.  And while I really do love technology, too much of it makes all my kids grumpy and fight more with each other.

In an attempt to fight the lure of the screen to fix any feelings of boredom, we sat down before school got out and made a summer list.  It's on our chalk board in our kitchen for "impsperashum."

So far, so good.  The bike rides, pool time, nature walks and skipping rocks have won out over screen time.  All of that is wonderful and I am once again a pretty proud mama.  But what about when it rains? Last week we had a slew of rainy days and the kids eagerly went for their gadgets and it happened, they got grumpy and fought with each other more than they had since school got out.

I rushed to the chalk board searching for indoor activities that would please four grumpy kids ranging in age from 3 to 11.  And then I saw it, bowling.  We love bowling!  Everyone can bowl.  So off we went.  

Not everyone threw a strike.  Some of us were more interested in the candy machines.  Some of us took it very seriously.  And some of us didn't.  But we all had fun.

What do you do to fight off your kids' "boredom"? Do you struggle with the whole tweens and screens issue?  I'm not alone am I?

If you find yourself with a houseful of kids with "nothing to do" or it's 110 degrees and just too hot to move outside or it's raining or you're just a really cool mom (or dad), here's a special deal for free bowling.  Yup, free with the AMF Summer Unplugged Program.

The AMF Summer Unplugged Program includes two free games every day for each child* ages 15 and under (shoe rental not included). Sign up here (http://bit.ly/AMFSummer) for free bowling all summer long.

*You can register up to six children in the program.  If you would like to add more children, you will need to create a new account using an alternate email address.

And this sweet deal is not just for kids. An AMF Summer Pass is just $34.95 and includes two games per day for the pass owner and up to three guests ages 16 and up. (Shoe rental not included.) Click here (http://bit.ly/AMFSummer) to sign up.

All it takes is one simple sign-up, no coupons to mail or print. Simply present your membership card or your name at your local AMF center and you're good to go.

There are 250 AMF locations, find an AMF Bowling Center near you- http://bit.ly/AMFCenters.

I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing.  All opinions stated in this post are my own.

Imagination, What I Know For Sure & #iPPP

JT got a fishing pole for his birthday.  All the kids were happy and excited about this.  

Yes, that's a flower pin in Wade's hair.
Lucy was playing hair salon before the fishing game.

So they did what kids do.  They went in the back yard to fish.  No, we do not have a pond or any type of "fishing hole" behind our house.  They didn't care.  They flipped over the sand table to use as their boat and went on a deep sea fishing expedition.

They each took turns reeling in their catch of the day. They cheered for each other. They held onto each other when their boat hit rough, bumpy waves. 

THIS is what I love about not being over scheduled--they have more time to play, time to imagine.  THIS is what I'm looking forward to when school gets out in a couple weeks. THIS is what I love about summer. THIS is why I love my kids.  THIS is what I know for sure (this week).

Here's what else I know (this 

week):

• The new app called A Beautiful Mess is pretty sweet.  Fun and super easy to use.  It only took minutes to create this:

It's a fun app to keep your kids busy too.  Lucy made this one with our puppy Cosi.

• Blogs and vlogs, Facebook, Instagram can get a bad rap.  Yes there are negatives, but there's also this amazing world of support, information and inspiration.  My friend Greta, who is co-host of this #iPPP link up, is one of those inspiring people.  She shared her moving story of loss and motherhood on her blog, and at a Listen To Your Mother show, recently.  Click   HERE to read her story.  

• Everyone needs friends that make them laugh.  Laugh hard  with their heads thrown back.

My pal Steph never fails to make me laugh.
And yes, we are wearing the same dress (in a different color), oh I'll write more about that in another post.

• Wade is pretty funny.  He is very into singing right now.  Last week he walked around singing "Juicebox Hewooooo" (you know the Foreigner song Jukebox Hero).  Love it!

• Speaking of singing, I recently impressed, I mean embarrassed, my kids singing White Snake in the minivan with the windows down.  Check out this week's vlog where I tell how it all went down.

• Yeah, and more about singing...this is what I want my family road trip in the minivan to look like this summer.  You've probably seen Nicki Bluhm and the Gamblers Van sessions before, but here's one of my favorites.  

However, not sure if my kids will agree.  I told them all I wanted for Mother's Day was for us to do a kitchen flash mob and they rolled their eyes and said no.  In which I replied, "that's why I had so many kids, so I could have my own personal flash mob!" They knew I was kidding, I think.

What do you know for sure (this week)? C'mon, we're friends, share what you know. Are you excited about summer?  What big plans (or no plans) do you have? Leave a comment here or on the Facebook page.

  Come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

I'm linking up today with my good buddy Greta from  Gfunkified.com and Sarah at SundaySpill.com for the #iPPP link up.  They host a link up where they encourage people to share "your funny, your yummy, your heartfelt, your favorite photos of the week" from our phones.  Check them out.

Oh yeah, and come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood and subscribe to my MomPulse YouTube channel here.

Are You Ready? (& What I Know For Sure & #iPPP)

"We're ready," Lucy and Wade exclaimed yesterday morning before school.

Nobody had a backpack or a jacket.  But Lucy had an umbrella (it wasn't raining), gloves and a smile. And Wade, well he had the Buzz Lightyear costume that has been in our family since my oldest (now 11) was a toddler.

Ready for school? Nope.
Ready for adventure and make believe magic?  Absolutely.

I laughed, Instagrammed the moment and then let it be.  I grabbed Lucy's backpack for her and we were on our way.  They continued the fun in the minivan as we made our way on a "special mission."


We should all be so ready--ready to lighten up, ready to embrace the adventure, ready for special missions and imagination and magic.  I know that for sure (this week).

Here's what else I know (this week):

• I know for sure that I am obsessed with this song--"Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.  Like so obsessed I replay it over and over while I'm running.  Like so obsessed I might be sick of it next week.  Right now, all I know is that it's soooo good.

• Taking asteroids is very bad.  JT was going through his new baseball cards and told us about a player that got in trouble for doing something very bad.  Nervous about what he might have heard from SportsCenter or somewhere else, we asked him what he heard.  "That he took asteroids," he said very concerned.  (Otherwise known as steroids.)

 

• Being a grown up is tough, being a parent to a tween/teen is tougher.  And after the middle school orientation this week, I'm fuuurrreakkkking out just a little.

(Click on this link to see the video if you're an email subscriber: http://youtu.be/04PjGRai-4w)

• There are so many good things happening online.  I'm extremely happy to be a part of shot@life.  Click here to find out how this movement is helping save children's lives around the world.

• I love having a daughter.  My Lucy is incredibly smart and interesting and wears flower pins with her pj's and I love her.

• Laughing is good.  Laughing at goats is ridiculous, but I dare you to watch the clip below and not laugh.  Do it, I dare you.

• Snow in April is wrong, even in Michigan.  Winter hat and gloves at a baseball game is wrong.  We all need a little spring, a little sunshine, a little warmth.  We are ready!

Even though it's freezing, Wade still manages to have fun.

• Subscribing to my YouTube channel will make you feel better about yourself.  I updated my Videos page here on the blog, check it out and then head on over to subscribe to my wee little channel.

What do you know for sure (this week)? C'mon, we're friends, share what you know.  Leave a comment here or on the Facebook page.

  Come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

I'm linking up today with my good buddy Greta from  Gfunkified.com and Sarah at SundaySpill.com for the #iPPP link up.  They host a link up where they encourage people to share "your funny, your yummy, your heartfelt, your favorite photos of the week" from our phones.  Check them out.

Oh yeah, and come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood and subscribe to my MomPulse YouTube channel here.

Lost on Mars

Last night my husband and I went to parent/teacher conferences for our three oldest children.  I'm not going to use this platform to brag, but um, our kids are pretty amazing.  Honestly, I just couldn't be more proud.  The days when I feel like I'm failing at every possible thing to do with parenting, I'm going to remember this night.

Are my kids perfect and have nothing to work on or improve upon? Of course not.  But I was grateful to hear that they are "nice" kids, "thoughtful" kids.  I was nearly knocked over in shock when I saw how clean Lucy's desk was.  

And then there was Lucy's third grade self-assessment.  

Under the "Follows instructional directions" she gave herself a 3 out of 4.  Her reason was this: Sometimes I get lost on mars and wander to a different world.

In that moment, I felt closer to my little girl than ever before. I wanted to scream "Yes, exactly!"   I know this getting lost on Mars idea.  I know this scattered imaginative mind she describes.  I understand how hard it can be to come back from other worlds and concentrate and focus and follow directions.

Even though it can be beyond frustrating trying to work with a wandering brain, I pray she never stops wandering or wondering.  I hope she uses her gift of getting lost on Mars for good someday.  

Lucy spends much of her time with her nose in a book reading about other worlds, ideas and stories.  Everywhere we go (and at every one of her brothers' games) she has a bag of books with her at the ready.

I spent years (and sadly still do sometimes) apologizing for not being able to accept the party line, fall in place, act accordingly, walk a straight line. I wish I would have embraced all that not-fitting-in-ness/right brain/wonderment earlier in life.  

Creativity, day-dreaminess didn't help me much with multiple choice/memorization testing that is the truth.  I do hope Lucy can find a balance with all of that and succeed in school.  But I also hope she embraces that same day-dreaminess and enjoys it because oh, the places she'll go.