Keep track of 43 parenting ideas for the future

Life is full doing what you want to. When you get older and smarter you get to do want you want EVERYDAY! All I ask is that you spend this small portion of your life doing what I want you to do. So why dont we plan things that both of us want to do, so we are both happy. Do you like … cake?
Yes? It’s settled then, we will bake 2 cakes every month. One cake for you to bring for your class at school, and one for you and I to share.

I continuously forget the cool baby names I come up with, so I’ll keep them listed here for safekeeping… I doubt that I’ll have 43 children to lend them to, so feel free to steal them…. Unless I say otherwise… then it’s mine.

Throw every significantly bizarre article of clothing you encounter into a trunk. Old Halloween costumes… funky hats… it will all be useful for creative plays written, directed and performed by your little star.

Working in a restaurant, you see a lot of ideas on the subject. Parents use various attempts at keeping children quiet during dinner out. The one thing that is growing in popularity though is a portable DVD player. It seems to work all right but I have a big issue with kids being occupied with television, especially during dinner. It actually scares me, like the children are being hypnotized.
Instead, have a little kit used only for dinners out.
Include: Play dough, trivia cards, washable markers, action figures or dolls, cars and notepads.
BUT, as soon as possible, note it’s far more important to involve them in the process. Give them meal/drink choices or set a dollar limit. Involve them in quiet conversations, even let them choose a desert for the family, if they were well behaved.
Instilling restaurant manners at an early age is a must because nothing is cuter than a 5 year old asking politely if all dishes are served with soup or salad.

Keep a box of vests in the closet, and when the kids start going sour, take the family out for some highway cleaning fun! It’s a productive punishment that gets you out in the sun and helping the world, not to mention it makes up for them terrorizing the grocery store.