Mealtime

I don't know if any of you are like me, but mealtimes at my house have been known to be, shall we say, stressful? The whininess due to lack of food...the hyperness due to everyone being together...the unorganization due to lack of time....the list goes on. So, in my new and ongoing effort to make mealtime an event to be celebrated rather than a necessary evil to be endured, here are a few things and ideas to help!

• Make mixes ahead. Once a week, I make a bunch of dry mixes for things like pancakes, rolls, breadsticks, etc. Why does this help you ask??? I have 3 very sweet, well-meaning children who are like bugs to a light when it comes to helping with mealtime. So if I can cut out some of the steps to make it more simple not only for them, but it also cuts down on the mess and chaos for me.


• The kids each get to pick a meal a week and help me (or Bryan) prepare that meal. They get so much personal satisfaction out of knowing they created something, but they are also learning to cook...I love 2 for 1's!


• I borrowed the idea for this game from my sister-in-law, Danelle. We play "Would you rather___" at the dinner table. Someone starts out and asks someone else, "would you rather go skydiving or scubadiving?" That person answers the question, and then they ask someone another "would you rather" question. Even my little kids get into this, and it has developed into some very interesting conversation.


• When it's a less involved meal, like breakfast or lunch, I will read scriptures to them, or we'll discuss a scripture story. One time, we were talking about 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon, and how after the earthquakes, the land looked different, and they got asking what it would look like here if the same thing happened. Kind of a fun conversation to have with a 6 year old, a 4 year old and a 2 year old :)
• Prepare for dinner. When I make that extra effort to make the table look nice, get the dishes all done and focus on the presentation of the meal, that feeling carries over into the meal, and the children tend to be more subdued... well, more subdued than usual.
• Have an etiquette dinner. I have the kids all dress up...this is a risk on my part because it is almost a sure bet their clothes will get stained :) I have friends who do this at restaurants, and I love that too, but I love having this kind of experience at home as well.
• Have a mixed-up dinner. This idea came from www.ywconnection.com. There is also a variation of this idea on www.mormonshare.com. I make a menu..include utinsels, salt, butter, water, ice....everything! Only write everything in either a foreign language, or in code (ie. salt could be listed as "ancient preservative"). Divide the meal into 3 or 4 courses, and have everyone pick a maximum of 3 or 4 things (depending on what you're having). It can end up pretty hilarious what you can end up with! This is great for older kids and even teens. Younger kids LOVE it, but will need adult help with the reading and filling out of their menus.
• Johnny Lingo Dinner. Make hawaiian haystacks or hawaiian pizza. Throw a blanket in front of the TV and eat and watch Johnny Lingo for dinner. For dessert have ice cream sundays (ice cream is from a cow...get it?!? hahaha)
• For older kids or adults, have a mystery dinner (also from www.ywconnection.com). You can also do the scripture version. This is a BLAST!
• Do a dutch oven dinner.
• Okay, so this list is short, because I definately need more ideas. Send them my way!!!

One-On-One

When we had my 3rd child, I started to realize how important it was going to be to make sure we allowed one-on-one time with each of our children with both parents together, and then time with mom alone and dad alone. Some of these are more involved, but some of them can easily be built into even the busiest of days. My life at least, has been known to be mega-chaotic for long spans of time. In times of trial, or a major event, moments still need to be made (they won't just happen usually) to show to your children that their needs are still paramount, and their happiness is of the utmost importance to you.

• Father-Son or Daddy-Daughter Bike Rides
• Trips to the store to buy a soda from the vending machines
• Friday night scrapbooking nights (put the other kids to bed on time, and allow this child to stay up extra late with you).
• Friday night movie nights (take them to the movie store, or redbox and let them pick the movie. Even if it's Polly Pocket or Ben 10...it's only one night :) )
• Let them to make dinner with you
• Slurpee or Frosty Break! This one is great because 7-11 and Wendy's are usually open really late.
• Visit a pet store to pet the animals.
• Grocery Shopping! (I know what you are thinking on this one, but if you can allow yourself [okay I'm talking to me here] to not be rushed...the time to just walk and talk is a great thing).
• Hikes...if you have something important to talk about...make it a long one :)
• Read or talk about scriptures together. Favorite heroes, scariest stories, what story most applies to them, what book of mormon hero are you (this one gets some pretty funny responses)...all of these are great simple things to talk about on the spur of the moment.
• Read anything together.
• Take time to pray specifically for your children in front of your children. This is a very powerful tool for building and strengthening relationships.
• Angie said "One thing we do is let one of the kids choose an activity (within reason) and then they choose if they want to do this alone with mom or dad or as a family. It has been fun and the kids get excited that they are in charge of their activity."
• Aislinn said her dad used to dance with her in the living room...cuteness :)
• Aislinn also said "[Dad would] take us to a fancy place for dinner and treat us like we were adults. That always made us feel special."
• Take your daughter to the local beauty college for a beauty treatment. I took Liah to Fran Brown, spent a grand total of $2 and got her fingers and toes painted...complete with polka dots! She was in heaven ;)

Back to School

Some of these ideas are just for the first day of school, but others could be used every day.

• Make a special breakfast and eat early as a family before everyone has to go their own separate ways. http://www.familyfun.go.com/ actually has some really cute, easy breakfast ideas perfect for those moms on the run.
• While you're eating, read scriptures together...even just one scripture and discuss it. It totally sets the tone for your day.
• I make sure everyone is awake before my husband leaves for work, and we all kneel together for family prayer.
• Write little notes and hide them in your kids' backpacks for them to find at school...make them easy to find :) I actually bought a book of these little notes from an elementary school Sally Foster Fundraiser last year.
• Have cookies and milk ready for an after school snack to discuss the day over with your children.
• My friend, Kristy B., would make a special back to school cake every year. She has done everything from a box of crayons, to a bus, to a pencil, to an apple...whatever speaks school to your soul.
• Surprise your kids by doing a chore or two for them so they get more free time after homework (your more oblivious children may need you to point this out for them hahaha)
• The Sunday before school begins, make special time to provide fathers' blessings for each child (even the ones not yet going to school).
• The weekend before school begins, if you aren't up to an out-of-towner, head for the backyard! Set up the tent, roast smores (if you aren't able to have a fire in your backyard, you can do this over a gas grill, or light some briquettes over tin foil on the cement, and then once they are white, roast your mallows), and play games by flashlight.
• My friend, Rachel had this suggestion: "I have a friend who likes to put together a humanitarian school kit or two or three with her kids at the beginning of the school year when supplies are cheap. It helps those who aren't going to school to be excited about a school project."
• Have more ideas??? Please send them so we can add them to our list!