To quote my college friend, Riann, “Vacationing with children is kinda like childbirth. Your brain erases the pain so you’re dumb enough to do it again!”

For the most part our boys are great travelers, but no one really enjoys being trapped and strapped in a vehicle for an entire day, do they? We try to make the best of the hours on the road with a activities, snacks, and special treats to help pass the time.

Here Are a Few of My Top Tips for Road Trip Survival With Kids:

• Check out a giant stack of library books.  Store about 3-5 of them behind each seat. Have them look for a while, and then trade with someone sitting close to them. Replenish with a fresh choices during stops.

• Bring a portable potty for roadside emergencies and a container for the motion sickness prone.

• Borrow DVDs from friends or the library that your kids have never watched.  Having something new seems to capture their attention best.

• Load up a clipboard with coloring pages and white drawing paper, along with a small box of crayons.

• Plan for sleep patterns and normal nap schedules to be disrupted. (Sometimes just having realistic expectations and a positive attitude when the crankiness strikes is a huge deterrent for backseat meltdowns.)

• Try audiobooks – sometimes the quiet listening lures them to sleep!

• Window markers are great for inserting some creativity to an otherwise boring day.

• Bring flashlights or glow in the dark sticks for night travel.

• Take exercise breaks at rest stops.  Run around the van 5 times, do 20 jumping jacks, hop on one foot, shake out your arms, etc. It gets some wiggles and sillies out before they have to be strapped back into their seats.

• Cheer like crazy people when you reach a new state.  It’s an accomplishment to be celebrated!

• Buy a bag of trinket toys at Goodwill (we can buy a whole bag for $3) and toss them back one at a time.

• Bring baggies of snacks, and treats and span them out throughout the day.  Our go-to road snacks are: protein bars, dried fruit, lunch meat roll-ups, applesauce pouches, string cheese,and yogurt. Suckers are also a good treat because they keep their mouths busy and last for a while!

• Track your progress using a map or another sort of visual to show that you are making progress!

• Have a reward (aka bribe) for good behavior and patience on the road.

How about YOU?  How do you keep your sanity with kids during road trips?  Share your tips and advice!

Planning is the key to a perfect party.

When it comes to parties, planning makes perfect. We asked parents and party professionals for tips that are sure to make your celebration a success.

1. Let your child help pick the theme. Involve her in the planning and preparation too.
2. Invite a number of guests equal to your child’s age, plus one or two. Try to keep the guests in the same age range, or at least provide alternate activities for any older or younger kids.
3. Write on the invitations whether parents are invited or if kids are to be dropped off. (Parents should be expected to stay with children under age 5.) If parents attend, provide a snack for them.
4. Keep the party 1 1/2 to 2 hours long, and indicate on the invitation at what time the party will be over.
5. Have your child see and greet each guest upon arrival to make them all feel welcome.
6. If you’re buying pizza, order it early and keep it warm in the oven. Waiting to order could bring unforeseen delays.
7. If the children will be making a craft project, create a sample for them to see. This will help you gauge whether the project is age-appropriate and if you’ll need help.

Avoid games that require kids to wait a long time for their turn — or at least give them something to do while they wait.

Used with permission. © Meredith Corporation. http://www.meredith.com. All rights reserved.

Serving dinner to your family doesn’t have to be a struggle. We’ve got tricks, tips, and a work-week’s worth of recipes to get a delicious healthy food ready in half an hour or less.

By Paula Bernstein

Parents posted a request on Facebook for families who find getting dinner on the table challenging. The hundreds of moms who responded know that family meals are more than simply sustenance. But with kids, jobs, and cooking skills that are perhaps not Top Chef level, doing it night after night can seem beyond daunting. Not if you have a system. We paired one working mom with our cooking coach to make an easy plan.

Meet the Braley Family: Sally is a writer and her husband, Peter, is a salesman who travels often. Their kids are Meg, 8, and Phillip, 5, and they live in Montclair, New Jersey.

Fun Family Meal Tips: Laurie David

Their Dinner Challenge

By the time Sally picks up her children from day care and school, it’s nearly 6 p.m. Since the kids’ bedtime routine starts at 7 p.m., that gives her less than an hour to put food on the table. Peter, loves to cook, but he travels frequently for work and usually isn’t around to help with weeknight meals. Dinner stresses Sally out.

Like most of us, Sally avoids thinking about what to make until it’s time to eat. “I plan dinner about five minutes in advance,” she says. By then, of course, it’s too late to start a complicated — heck, even an uncomplicated — dish. And forget shopping for any missing ingredients. “I can’t get organized on Sunday to plan for the week,” she says. So Sally ends up serving whatever is in the freezer — usually frozen chicken nuggets and fish sticks.

Our Solution

Parents enlisted Jenna Helwig, a mom and dinner coach, to draw up a weekly menu to help Sally prepare tasty, healthy meals for her family in less than half an hour.

The Results “We haven’t bought another box of fish sticks since Jenna was here!” Sally says. Using Helwig’s menu as a jumping-off point, she’s planning the week’s meals on Sunday and preparing food in advance. “I no longer feel as panicked about getting dinner on the table,” Sally says.

Preparation isn’t as much of a chore as Sally thought it would be. And, even better, her family is not relying on over-processed, out-of-the-box food. “We’re eating much more of a variety at every meal,” says Sally. Recent dinners have included turkey meatballs, stir-fry with vegetables, fried rice, and quesadillas

And what about the kids? They’ve adjusted — and are even warming up to the new dinner routine. “The truth is, if my kids don’t see chicken nuggets in front of them, they’re going to say they don’t want to eat whatever I’m serving,” explains Sally. “Once we sit down and start eating, though, they’re fine. I made a stir-fry the other night, and they both asked for seconds.”

The 5 Commandments of Planning Ahead

1. Take 15 minutes on weekends to map out the week’s meals.

2. Create two or three weekly dinner menus and then rotate so you don’t get bored.

3. Organize grocery shopping so there is always something in the house.

4. Prepare as many meal elements as possible in advance over the weekend (chop and bag veggies, make rice, stir together spice mixtures or sauces). Buy pre-prepped or frozen fruits and vegetables.

5. Start preheating the oven as soon as you walk in the door on those nights when you’ll be needing it to prepare your meal.

Used with permission. © Meredith Corporation. http://www.meredith.com. All rights reserved.

When it comes to parties, planning makes perfect. We asked parents and party professionals for tips that are sure to make your celebration a success.

By the editors of Parents magazine

Planning Tips

• Let your child help pick the theme. Involve her in the planning and preparation, too.
• Invite a number of guests equal to your child’s age, plus one or two. Try to keep the guests in the same age range, or at least provide alternate activities for any older or younger kids.
• Write on the invitations whether parents are invited or if kids are to be dropped off. (Parents should be expected to stay with children under age 5.) If parents attend, provide a snack for them.
• Keep the party 1 ½ to 2 hours long, and indicate on the invitation at what time the party will be over.
• Greet everyone in a special, attentive way. Make each guest feel wanted and important. Say goodbye in a similar way.
• Kids love seeing their names in print. Writing their names on badges, place cards, or party favors makes them feel important.
• Let kids know your ground rules early on. For example you might announce, “Just three rules, kids: no jumping on furniture, take turns, and have fun.” Understanding the limitations from the beginning will save them from the humiliation of scoldings later.
• Keep kids busy and challenged. Start with a creative activity to involve the kids as soon as they arrive. Look for icebreakers that make shy kids comfortable. Guests won’t have time for self-consciousness or mischief.
• Guide the activities. Establish a “safety zone” and explain that the game stops at its borders and anyone who wants to opt out of an activity can step into this area at any time. When establishing pairs, buddies or teams, try to match the size and energy levels of participants so that small kids won’t be overwhelmed by bigger partners.
• If the children will be making a craft project, create a sample for them to see. This will help you gauge whether the project is age-appropriate and if you’ll need help.
• Opening presents is best left out of a party for very young children. It’s hard for young children to share brand-new toys, and it’s hard for those who are not getting presents to sit and watch.
• Let a child aged 6 or over open presents at the end of a party. Make sure you’ve rehearsed your child on gift acceptance speeches beforehand. If possible, ask another adult to record the gifts, so you can devote yourself to praising the gift, and the giver, coaxing the proper thank you’s from your child if necessary, and greeting parents arriving to collect their children.

Countdown to the Big Day!

4 Weeks Before

• Set the date.
• Book any entertainment. (You may have to book popular acts months in advance, so check before mentioning it to your child).
• Make or buy invitations. Fill out (including RSVP date) and mail or deliver. A month gives parents time to check schedules.

Three Weeks Before

• Read through your party plan and make a shopping list of all supplies and groceries.
• Shop for tabletop paper goods.
• Order any special supplies.

Two Weeks Before

• Start making or buying decorations. Figure out how you’ll rig any that need hanging or other support.
• Stock up on whatever supplies will be needed for craft projects.
• Shop for goody bags and prizes.

One Week Before

• Enlist the help of other parents or older siblings to chaperone the party.
• Call any parent who hasn’t responded.
• Check your cameras for film and flash. Do a test run with your camcorder.

The Day Before

• Purchase food. Bake or buy cake. Prepare any other food that can be safely made ahead.
• Childproof the party area.
• Run through each activity. Organize props.

Party Day

• Make the remaining food.
• Set up indoor decorations, blow up balloons, and step back to observe.
• Set up outdoor activities and decorations.
• Set up the party starters (the first arrival activities) or any necessary craft stations.
• Make a pot of coffee for any adults who linger.
• Chill extra juice, soda, and milk.

Super Summer Themes

Barnyard Bash. Age range: 3- to 6-years old.

A farm-themed party lets everyone make hay — rain or shine. Send out a barn-shaped invitation, decorate tables with gingham or burlap fabric, and gather up bales of hay, baskets, buckets and watering cans to set the mood. For activities, you can have hayrides in wagons, square dancing and relay races.

Wild and Wacky Field Day. Age range: 4 and up.

Everybody’s a champ here. Pick games that are silly or rely on luck so everyone’s on an even playing field. For safety monitoring, try to have a mature, responsible “coach” or “referee” for every four to six youngsters. Assign someone with a camcorder to be the “TV cameraperson.” Decorate your yard with colorful banners or flags and put paper and crayons on the table so the kids can play games of tic-tac-toe, finger football, or dots.

Beach Bonanza. Age range: 5- to 8-years old.

Bring the beach to you and have a fun day in the sun. Set up umbrellas, beach chairs and picnic coolers in your yard. Party goers can decorate sunglasses with spangles, buttons and beads, or make sandart projects. Volleyball played with a beach ball is sure to be a hit as well as beach blanket bingo.

Happy Trails
Pitch a daytime campout in your own backyard. If you don’t have a real tent, you can improvise with a blanket draped over a clothesline. Make a phony campfire from rocks, logs, and red and yellow cellophane wrap. Kids can decorate frames with items from nature and play a host of campside games such as sleeping bag races (using old pillowcases).

Used with permission. © Meredith Corporation. http://www.meredith.com. All rights reserved.

Staying in is the new going out, so gather the gang (and some good food and games) on Saturday, November 6, when Family Circle sponsors its first-ever Family Night In. We’ve got dozens of ideas to get the party started.

Between work, school, extracurricular activities, and growing to-do lists, it can feel impossible to score family downtime. Make bonding a priority by scheduling a Family Night In—ask everyone to keep the evening of November 6 free. And don’t worry that your teens will roll their eyes at your request. “Kids not only need to spend time with you—they really want to, regardless of what they may say,” says Meg Meeker, MD, author of 10 Habits of Happy Mothers. Meeker suggests the following to make the night a success.

• Let your teens know how much you miss quality family time.
• Choose games or activities that encourage teamwork, not just one-on-one competition.
• Let kids make suggestions—they’re more likely to be engaged when their input matters.
• Designate the night as uninterruptable. Turn off all cell phones, laptops, and iPods. (That means Mom and Dad, too!)

Be Crafty

Make your memories last by creating a scrapbook. With a few key materials from a craft store (a scrapbook or blank album, glue, and accessories like decorative-edge scissors, colorful paper, and glitter), you can share your family’s story and personality in a fun and easy way. Collaborate on the first two pages and then let each person decorate his own page with movie tickets, artwork, or other mementos. Add stickers, write captions, and let your inspiration rule. Don’t forget to dig out old family photos as well as newer ones, and include snaps of you and your husband as teens—the kids will get a kick out of Mom’s and Dad’s funny clothes and hair.

Additional Ideas:

1.       Movie Night

Find a great family flick and get the popcorn ready for a movie night together.

2.       Game Plan

Get together for an evening of video game fun.

3.       Get on Board

Unearth a few of your favorite board games and sit around the kitchen table together.

4.       Fiesta Time!

Create your own Mexican buffet.

Used with permission. © Meredith Corporation. http://www.meredith.com. All rights reserved.

Break out these fun and creative ideas when you’re cooped up indoors.

By Isadora Fox

When my family moved from snowy Massachusetts to sunny Austin, Texas, I breathed a sigh of relief. No more cold, wet days cooped up indoors with a restless toddler. I’d just open the back door, pour a Texas-sized glass of iced tea, and watch my daughter frolic in the sun. As luck would have it, we were hit with a freezing winter (yes, it actually snowed) and the rainiest summer in the history of Austin. Needless to say, it forced me to get pretty creative in terms of entertaining a young child. I can’t take full credit — some crafty moms and dads added their share of ideas too. Below is a roster of activities to delight toddlers and preschoolers. All you need are a few simple, inexpensive supplies.

Marshmallow Tinkertoys

A bag of marshmallows and some thin pretzel sticks are all you need to build the perfect puffy pal, a 3-D house, or tepee. Your child simply skewers the marshmallows with the sticks to create his own masterpiece. Add to the fun by placing toy pigs or other animals in the house and challenging your child to be the big bad wolf and blow it down.

Family-Photo Bingo

Improve your child’s memory and help him learn who’s who in your family tree with this photo game. Take nine family photos and arrange them into rows of three, then give your child nine playing cards or checkers pieces to serve as bingo chips. When someone calls out “Daddy” or “Grandma,” your toddler covers the photo with the card. Whoever gets three in a row wins.

Sugar-Cookie Pizzas

Even the most domestically challenged chef can pull off this sweet and simple project. Slice several thick cookies from a roll of refrigerated sugar-cookie dough. Gently flatten them a bit on a cookie sheet to widen them, bake, and cool for about 10 minutes. Next, your little Mario Batalis can decorate their pies with strawberry jam or red icing for sauce, shredded coconut for cheese, and red M&M’s for pepperoni.

Grandparent Greetings

Haul out the craft supplies and set up a home Hallmark business. First your toddler creates the card with stickers, glitter, cut-out magazine photos, or whatever else he likes. Then you ask him what he wants to say to the recipient, and you write it inside. (I once received one of these from my then 2-year-old nephew that said, “Dear Aunt Isadora, I like to bite my piggy toy. Love, Jared.” That was one card I never tossed.) The icing on the cake? When the weather clears up, let your child stamp the envelope and slide it into a nearby mailbox.

Signature Storytelling

This is a trick I use at bedtime to give new life to old stories. Start reading one of your child’s favorite books. When you get to a critical point in the action, challenge him to take charge of the tale and add his own twist. For example, if you’re reading Cinderella and the mean stepsisters have torn up her dress, ask your child, “What would you do if someone did that to you? Should Cinderella just run away and cry, or should she do something else?” It teaches kids to think on their toes.

Create a Sensory Table

Remember the slimy thrill of sifting your hands through a bucket of ersatz eyeballs (aka peeled grapes) at the local haunted house? This activity offers the same thrills without the nightmares. Fill a series of bowls or washing basins full of textured objects — peeled grapes are still a good choice, as is cold cooked spaghetti, steel-wool pads, cornstarch, or dry beans. Blindfold your child, have him sift his hands through, and describe what he feels. Then challenge him to guess the object.

Bowl-a-rama

Small, empty water bottles and a rubber ball are all you need to transform the family room into a bowling alley — sans silly shoes, of course. Six bottles should suffice for bowling pins; if the bottles fall over too easily, fill them up with a little water or dry pasta for some extra weight.

Disco Down

Disco has been dead and resurrected so many times, I’m not sure if it’s in or out anymore. But I do know that young kids love to dance to it, even if they think that “Bee Gees” is some sort of sugary snack you’ve been denying them. Dim the lights, close the blinds, hand each child a flashlight (for the full disco effect) and a small scarf to twirl around. Cue up some classic tunes like “Dancing Queen,” by ABBA, and “I Will Survive,” by Gloria Gaynor, and watch the disco magic unfold.

Barbie Beach Party

Grab a collection of bikini-clad Barbies, beach towels (wash cloths), sunscreen (baby lotion), and perhaps a yacht or two (some Tupperware), and head for some fun in the tub. Hint: most Barbies really dig the diving board (faucet). My daughter’s opinion: Sunglasses and a tropical beverage (iced juice in a sippy cup) make the experience tantamount to a holiday in St. Tropez.

Mini Car Wash

Gather up your child’s fleet of cars, trucks, and spaceships for a detailing job that’ll put your local garage to shame. Load them all into the tub and give them a cleaning with plant sprayers and empty squeeze bottles.

Pirate Play

Somehow, Pirates of the Caribbean fever has trickled its way down to the toddler set. Doing anything even remotely pirate-like sends many into paroxysms of joy, so give this treasure hunt a try. Wrap a bunch of wooden blocks in aluminum foil, and hide them around the house (don’t get too clever — remember whom you’re dealing with). Give each child a flashlight and a small paper bag, and challenge them to find the buried silver.

Masking-Tape Marvels

Who would have thought that a humble roll of masking tape could provide so much fun? Make a hopscotch pattern or mock balance beam on the living room floor. Or have your child color pieces of tape with markers and use them to “design” his own T-shirt. My personal favorite: the invisible dollhouse. Lay down a “floor plan” on the rug, and furnish the house with doll furniture.

Family-Room Picnic

Change things up by serving lunch outside of the kitchen. First, grab your basket (you don’t need a real picnic basket — a laundry basket will do) and assemble some picnicky foods that the kids can “pack” themselves — juice boxes, water bottles, packets of raisins, string cheese, paper plates, napkins. While the kids are busy filling the basket, spread a blanket in the family room and put together some sandwiches. Then unpack your picnic and watch the lunch disappear.

Movie Time!

At some point even the most creative parent is going to have to resort to some good old TV time. Keep a hidden stash of DVDs that you only pull out during cruddy weather so rainy-day television is truly a treat. The same old Wiggles story is doubly boring for a child whose play options are limited.

Build It Together!

I had long intended to build a doghouse using plans purchased on the Internet. I had the lumber waiting in my workshop. When a bad-weather day arrived, I got my son interested in the project and broke open the box. We built a doghouse in about three hours. 
– Josh Gonze, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Slow-Motion Tag

Chasing my 18-month-old around the house (especially if I do it in slow motion) and tickling her when she gets caught can keep my daughter endlessly amused. 
– Daniel Feld, Brooklyn, New York

Family Cozy Time
On a rainy day our 15-month-old son usually keeps himself occupied by bringing us lots of books to read to him. We also have two large dogs that go stir-crazy in the house and provide him with hours of entertainment!

Used with permission. © Meredith Corporation. http://www.meredith.com. All rights reserved.

Here’s one tradition you can afford to lose: the stressed-out feeling that comes from trying to do too much in too little time. Here’s how to lighten your holiday load and keep in mind what really counts.

By Naomi Rand

Sleigh bells are ringing, the candles are lit, everyone is awash in holiday cheer. But you’re not feeling at all like one of Santa’s little helpers. In fact, you’re starting to feel like the Grinch. Your life has become an endless round of obligations: cards to send, presents to buy, entertaining, decorating. . . . But don’t despair. Herein, some tips to help you simplify so you can get back to the spiritual heart of the holidays.

 1. Ask for your family’s input.

Everyone in the family has hopes and dreams for the holiday, but you can’t read minds. Carole Bodger, author of Smart Guide to Relieving Stress (John Wiley & Sons), suggests that you call a family meeting. “Once the whole family is gathered, ask each person to take a moment to list his or her three favorite holiday activities — story reading around the fireplace, attending a candlelit worship service, decorating cookies, helping out at a homeless shelter — whatever they think would make for a special time. Then ask for three things they could do without. This will help you create a holiday that’s guaranteed to contain at least one of everyone’s favorites, along with ideas for streamlining the celebration.

“Schedule the meeting before the pressure starts to build,” Bodger advises. “That way, you won’t find out that your daughter really wants to sing in the church Christmas pageant after it’s too late to sign her up.”

2. Spend the holidays at home this year.

You have a newborn. Or a job deadline. Right now, the last thing you can deal with is the pressure of making travel plans for the busiest time of the year. “Explain to your parents, ‘Mom, Dad, I would love to visit, but it would just be too much for me — the kids are too little to travel, and I have only a few days off,’ ” says Dorothy Cantor, Psy.D., former head of the American Psychological Association. “Be honest. Your relationship should be able to withstand the disappointment.” Then call the kids together for a family video or audiotape and get to the post office early to mail it. Phone your parents on the first night of Hanukkah or on Christmas morning and make plans to visit during the new year.

3. Limit the optional events.

There are the things you absolutely must do, such as attend your daughter’s holiday recital or the preschool class party. Add to those the adult-oriented festivities — office get-togethers, carol sing-alongs, New Year’s Day open houses — and you barely have a minute to breathe. To whittle down the list, set limits. Decide in advance just how many parties or other events you can handle, and give the green light to the first four invitations to arrive. Then politely but firmly refuse the rest. “If you decide to demur, do it gracefully,” says Parents etiquette expert Peggy Post. “Even if you don’t want to go, try to sound appreciative that you’ve been invited.”

4. Resist the urge to be Martha Stewart.

The transformation seems to take place overnight. Suddenly, every house on the block has gargantuan wreaths over the door, tapered candles twinkling in the windows, and a display of light-up choirboys on the lawn. Have your neighbors tapped into some network of indigent elves looking for preholiday employment? “These days, it seems we no longer have to be just Martha Stewart,” Bodger says. “We have to be Bob Vila too. We have to bake the cookies and nail together a little holiday dollhouse.”

If you feel that holiday décor is a must, make an impact simply. Buy a fake tree (the current crop is amazingly lifelike) with prestrung lights for yearly reuse. Choose wreaths made of pinecones for a longer shelf life. And if you’re committed to bringing home a six-foot spruce, drape it with a simple red ribbon and add tiny white lights and red Christmas balls. Voila — a design statement worthy of Martha herself, with half the fuss.

Above all, stop torturing yourself. My house would never pass the deck- the-halls test. Our 5-year-old is in charge of the tree, and when he finishes hanging the ornaments, they’re all two feet from the floor and huddled together for warmth. But who cares? His sense of pride in doing something for the family is palpable.

5. Get choosy about Christmas cards.

“No one has to send cards if she doesn’t wish to,” Post advises. “It’s a personal choice.” Check your greeting-card pulse. If you love sending cards, there are some ways to make it more manageable.

Start by asking yourself what holiday cards mean to you. Are they your way of keeping in touch when you’ve been out of contact? Then you can cut down by not sending to people you see all the time. Or you might want to reverse the process and send cards only to family and close friends. Don’t get caught in the reciprocity trap. “In my family, we don’t get a card back from every person we send one to,” Bodger points out, “and it certainly doesn’t make us hate them for life.”

The key to making your life easier is to cross guilt off your list. If you’ve got hundreds of cards to send, consider preprinted ones. Next, automate. Hire your own children or a neighborhood teen to help out. Have them address envelopes and stick on stamps. Time elapsed: one night.

6. Stress the spiritual.

What parents need to focus on, given that they can’t do it all, is activities that create meaning and memories. So read a book that discusses the religious aspects of the holidays. Attend a religious service designed for children. Buy an extra present for a children’s charity and bring the kids with you when you drop it off. Trim the tree or light the menorah and then toast the season with hot cider. And don’t forget to share your own precious holiday memories with your kids. Relive that first ride downhill on your brand-new Flexible Flyer. You remember, don’t you? The flash of terror, then sheer exhilaration. That hill always looked so much less imposing once you’d made it down. On January 2, you’ll look back and feel the same way about the holidays.

7. Winnow the Wish list.

It’s not the great American novel. It’s little Joshua’s letter to Santa, and he’s been scribbling since June. Is he getting everything he wants? No way. Generosity may be one of the hallmarks of the season, but that doesn’t mean giving free rein to materialism. Sit down with your better half and decide in advance how many presents are appropriate. If Josh is over 5, ask him to prioritize. If he still believes in Santa, explain that room on the sleigh is limited. “Kids are going to ask for everything they see on television or at their friends’ houses,” Cantor says. “So there has to be a reasonable limit.” Meaning that if Joshua’s first choice is that $2,000 motorized miniature Jaguar convertible that Cody’s dad bought for him, move on to door number two. You may also want to take a stand on violent or sexist toys. Don’t let the holiday spirit weaken your resolve. Be true to your principles — and your budget.

8. Don’t shop till you drop.

Start early. And invite a friend along. You’ll have more fun, and you can stop for a snack and a chat. “Give yourself frequent breaks while shopping,” suggests Jeff Davidson, author of The Joy of Simple Living (Rodale). “It’s not a marathon. Stop and enjoy the seasonal decor. There is absolutely no reason to make shopping for loved ones anything but a joyful experience.” Make things easy for yourself. If the gift wrapping is free and the lines aren’t too long, take advantage of the service. (In my house, Santa can be pretty bleary-eyed and grumpy on Christmas morning after staying up all night wrapping presents.) If you love that silk scarf, buy it in multiples. My aunt Sarah and my mom both adore the ones I gave them last Christmas. Luckily, they live at opposite ends of the country.

9. Hire some of Santa’s helpers.

“Ask your local supermarket about holiday platters, catering for dinner parties, and home deliveries,” Davidson says. And don’t be shy. “When guests ask what they can bring,” he advises, “tell them.” Pay a helpful teen to assist you in the kitchen, and consider hiring a cleaning service so you’re not left scrubbing the bathroom tiles the night before. That way, you can truly relax. It happens only once a year, and the extra expense will be well worth it. The bottom line here? Do whatever you can to make your life easier.

10. Give yourself a time-out.

Right now, before you have a nervous breakdown. Stop roasting those chestnuts. Stop burning that midnight menorah oil. And don’t even think about answering the phone. “Give a gift to yourself — and not just the kind that you wrap with a bow,” Bodger says. “Take an invigorating walk or spring for a sitter and take an afternoon off. You’ll appreciate it, and so will your kids. There’s a good reason why flight attendants advise us to place the oxygen mask on ourselves first, before we help others. If we’re not okay, there’s no way we can take care of anyone else.”

Used with permission. © Meredith Corporation. http://www.meredith.com. All rights reserved.

Oh yeah. I’m crazy.

Well, hopefully my lessons learned can make your move seamless and as pleasant as possible. First off, I would highly recommend recruiting all of the family and friends you can. You can always bribe them with free food! Just make sure that they have enough food and drinks throughout the move to make them feel as comfortable as possible. You want them to still like you when you’re done!

Next, if it’s possible, try to schedule a babysitter and pet sitter for all of your babies. Yes, I got a babysitter and dog sitter. They are both my children. That way, you can completely focus on packing, moving and unpacking without distractions.

At your old house, empty an entire room, making it childproofed for the baby. Of course, have someone in the room, making sure they’re not getting into trouble. At least they’ll have a safe place to play while heavy boxes are being moved.

At the new house, making a room or space, designated for the baby is crucial. We made the mistake of going two days without a place that was baby friendly and had to carry Liam everywhere. We were tired of holding him and he was ready to crawl and explore! Just make sure the new space is baby-proofed and filled with familiar toys to make it feel like home.

Lastly, make sure you have a carrier and/or a pack ‘n play ready for those times when baby needs a nap and you need two hands. You’ll both be in a better mood when the baby is rested and on somewhat of a normal schedule.

What did I miss?

Now, I need a sandwich. You surely work up an appetite while moving!

“Win a Schwinn”  Sweepstakes

Official Sweepstakes Rules

Entry: https://www.facebook.com/LandOFrost/app_428804893883040

1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY: Making a purchase will not increase your chances of winning a prize. Participation open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry, except employees of Land O’Frost, Inc., its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, advertising and promotion agencies, individuals engaged in the development, production or distribution of materials for this Sweepstakes, their immediate family members and persons living in the same households of each (whether related or not) are not eligible to participate. Void where prohibited by law.  The “Win a Schwinn” Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) sponsored by Land O’Frost, Inc. (the “Sponsor”) begins at 10:00:00 AM (ET) on May 1, 2013 and ends at 11:59:59 PM (ET) on June 6, 2013 (the “Sweepstakes Period”). During the Sweepstakes Period there will be five (5) Weekly Entry Periods (each a “Weekly Entry Period”), as described in Rule #3 below.

2. How To Enter: During the Sweepstakes Period, visit www.facebook.com/LandOFrost (the “Land O’Frost Page on the Facebook platform”). After “Liking” the page, click on the “Win a Schwinn” tab and you will be redirected to the Sweepstakes registration page. On the Sweepstakes registration page you will be required to submit certain registration information as a condition of entry. Limit one (1) Sweepstakes entry over the course of the Sweepstakes Period per person, Facebook account, email address or account. If it is discovered that a participant has attempted to enter with multiple e-mail addresses, Facebook accounts or under multiple identities, or uses any other method or device to enter multiple times, such participant will be disqualified.  Non-winning entries from each Weekly drawing will automatically roll over into subsequent Weekly drawings as well as the Grand Prize and First Prize Drawings described in Rule #3.

3. Random Drawings / Winner Selection / Prizes and Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): Random Drawings will be conducted by an independent sweepstakes administrator from among all valid entries received for the applicable entry period according to the schedule below. All decisions shall be final and binding in all respects. Odds of winning a prize in a prize depend upon the total number of eligible entries received during the applicable entry period.

Drawing                 Entry Period*        Drawing Date        # Prizes   Prize                                        MAX ARV

Week #1                 5/1 – 5/2/2013          5/3/2013                  2              (1) Schwinn Bike                   $   199.19

Week #2                 5/1 – 5/9/2013         5/10/2013                2              (1) Schwinn Bike                   $   199.19

Week #3                 5/1 – 5/16/2013       5/17/2013                2              (1) Schwinn Bike                   $   199.19

Week #4                 5/1 – 5/23/2013       5/24/2013                2              (1) Schwinn Bike                   $   199.19

Week #5                 5/1 – 6/6/2013         5/31/2013                2              (1) Schwinn Bike                   $   199.19

Grand Prize           5/1 – 6/6/2013         6/7/2013                  1              4 Schwinn Bikes & Access.  $1,132.60

Second Prize          5/1 – 6/6/2013         6/10/2013                200          Schwinn Water Bottle          $     15.00

*Entries accepted through 11:59:59 PM ET on last day of each entry period.

One (1) Grand Prize: Grand Prize is winner’s choice of four (4) Schwinn Bikes (adult or children’s bikes) from among Schwinn bike selection options provided by Sponsor each of which is not to exceed $199.19 in retail value; four (4) Schwinn bike helmets (adult or children’s helmets) from among Schwinn bike helmet selection options provided by Sponsor, each of which is not to exceed $19.99 in retail value; four (4) Schwinn “Let’s Go Ride” t-shirts; four (4) bicycle computers; four (4) bicycle bells; four (4) bicycle pumps. Maximum ARV of Grand Prize is $1,132.60.  Ten (10) Weekly Prizes – Two (2) Prizes To Be Awarded Each Week. Each Weekly Prize is winner’s choice of one (1) Schwinn bike (adult or children’s bike) from among Schwinn bike selection options provided by Sponsor, not to exceed $199.1 9in retail value. Maximum ARV of each Weekly prize is $199.19. Two-Hundred (200) Second Prizes: Each prize is one (1) Schwinn water bottle. ARV of each Second Prize is $15.00. Maximum Approximate Retail Value of all available prizes is $6,124.50.

1. 4.      Potential Winner Notification: Potential prize winners will be notified by email and/or phone call within five (5) days of the random drawing. Potential prize winners of certain prize will be required to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility/Release of Liability/Publicity and Advertising Consent and Release (except where prohibited by law) and such other documents reasonably required by Sponsor as part of the prize claim process. All such documents must be signed and returned within ten (10) days of notification or prize will be forfeited. Second Prize winners will be shipped their prize using the mailing address provided upon Sweepstakes registration. All potential winners are subject to verification before any prize will be awarded.  In the event that any potential prize winner is disqualified for any reason, an alternate winner will be selected in a random drawing from all eligible entries received during the Sweepstakes Period. Return of any prize notification or prize mailing as undeliverable for any reason will result in disqualification. Allow 6-8 weeks for prize delivery.

5. Conditions of Participation & Certain Restrictions: The participant is solely responsible for entering the Sweepstakes between May 1, 2013 and June 6, 2013, as well as properly claiming a prize within 10 days of prize notification if selected as a prize winner. Prize winner must agree to certain terms and conditions related to eligibility, release of liability, and Sponsor’s use of winner’s name, Photo submission and/or likeness for publicity, advertising and promotional purposes, without compensation (unless prohibited by law) as part of the prize claim process. Noncompliance may result in disqualification. Once the prize has been delivered to the winner’s residence via delivery-confirmed mail or courier, the prize is considered “awarded.” Taxes on any prize are the sole responsibility of the winner. No cash equivalents, prize substitutions or transfer of prize permitted except that Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value in the event that an offered prize is unavailable. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission to the Sponsor to use winner’s name, photo submission, and/or likeness for purposes of advertising and promotion without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law. All entries become the property of Land O’Frost, Inc. and will not be acknowledged or returned. By entering, entrants acknowledge compliance with these Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements. By participating, entrants agree to release Land O’Frost, Inc., Facebook, and each of their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, wholesalers, retailers or distributors or advertising and promotion agencies and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives (collectively, “Released Parties”) from and against any and all claims, demands, losses and liabilities of any nature whatsoever, which entrant may now or hereafter be entitled to assert, including but not limited to, any death, injury, loss of enjoyment, damage to computer equipment, or other harm or loss of any nature whatsoever caused or contributed to by participation in the Sweepstakes, any of the prizes awarded in the Sweepstakes and/or in connection with the awarding, receipt and use or misuse of prize, and/or claims based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy.

6. Internet: Released Parties are not responsible for lost, late, mutilated or illegible entries nor for electronic transmission errors resulting in omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions or limitations of any kind, or inaccurate transmissions of or failure to receive entry information by Sponsor or presenter on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website or any combination thereof. If for any reason the Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of the Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Sweepstakes, the Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes and to award the available prizes via a random drawing from among all valid eligible entries received up to the point of the action taken by the Sponsor provided a sufficient number of entries have been received. Caution: Any attempt by any person to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserve the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent of the law.

7. Eligibility: Employees, officers and directors of Land O’Frost, Inc., and its subsidiaries, parent companies, distributors, retailers, sales representatives, affiliates, divisions, advertising and promotion agencies, individuals engaged in the development, production or distribution of materials for this Sweepstakes, and the immediate families of each of the above, or persons living in the same household of such employees are NOT eligible to participate in this Sweepstakes.

8. Confidentiality:  For information about how the Sponsor uses your personal information, please see its privacy statement, located at http://www.landofrost.com/about/privacy.html.

9. Winner’s List: To receive name and city / state of residence of prize winners of prizes greater than $25 in retail value, mail a stamped, self-addressed envelope accompanied with a signed, hand-printed request to “Win a Schwinn Winner’s List”, PO Box 11508, Bozeman, MT 59719-1508. All requests must be received by July 31, 2013.

10. Sponsor: Land O’Frost Inc., 911 Hastings, Searcy, AR, 72143.

Note: This Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to Land O’Frost, Inc. and not to Facebook. The information you provide will be used in accordance with the privacy statement of Land O’Frost, Inc.  Any questions you have regarding this Sweepstakes should be directed to Land O’Frost, Inc. and not to Facebook.

“Mom, I just want to thank you so much for making me lunch every day. I know it’s a pain, but it means a lot.”

Whether it was my lack of sleep, morning coffee or a combination of both, tears started to well up in my eyes.

“In fact, I’ve been able to talk a lot about our family. You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve shared lunch with kids who didn’t have anything to eat. They always tell me they can’t believe I have a mom who gets up every morning and makes me lunch, since their mom would never do that, and I just want to thank you because I really appreciate it.

When our five children were tiny, I think back on the times I prayed I could get through the day with a joyful attitude, and a day of success meant that I just made it to the shower before dinner.  With multiple toddlers, I took life day by day, knowing my desire to be a good mom, but more importantly, wanting to instill positive character qualities in my little ones.

I certainly didn’t think a decade ahead to an early morning kitchen exchange with my 17 year old boy man that would bless and encourage me, yet also give me a small glimpse into how the day to day, mundane tasks of mothering could literally impact others’ lives and families.

“Really,” I inquired, “kids really take note of your lunch?”

“Yep, you wouldn’t believe it.”

I wiped the tears from my eyes, gave that huge gentle giant an extra big bear hug, and then proceeded to stuff a few more extras into his lunch for the day.

“A little more for you to share, honey. Make a difference.”

As he walked to his car, I peered out the window and saw his lunch bag swinging from the end of his backpack. I thought of all the times I went through the motions of lunch making, wishing I was any place but at the kitchen counter so early in the morning.

I never knew. I never knew, but now I do.

My outlook on those sandwiches has changed.

Sandwiches for him. Sandwiches to share. Sandwiches that make a difference to kids everywhere.