Baby, You can Drive My Car

For the month of September, the casa de phillips station wagon is getting a bit of an overhaul.

It is going from this (*):

Into this:

Yep, I am going to be driving a Chevy Malibu for the entire month of September. and will be taking each of you readers along for the ride

(Figuratively speaking, of course. Unless I know you in real life…then you are more than welcome to come along for the ride. You could even star in a video if you want.)

One might ask…what are you going to do for the entire month of September while driving around in a car free from sippy cup stains and goldfish crumbs?

My first answer is “Relish in all its glorious cleanliness while chatting with the On-Star representative“.

My second answer is “Continue my daily life as a mom/writer/casa de phillips CEO while I cruise around town in a sporty car completing some fun ‘mommy missions’”

The best thing: You all get to come along for the ride.

(Figuratively speaking, of course. Unless I know you in real life…then you are more than welcome to come along for the ride. You could even star in a video if you want.)

 
Want to know why you might want to come along for the ride?

Well, GottaLoveChevyDFW is hosting a few giveaways during the month of September.

• Girlfriend Getaway to Chicago: Who doesn’t love getting away with their girlfriends for a relaxing weekend?  Beginning September 2nd, you can register to win a Girlfriend Getaway  for two to Chicago, IL.  The package includes a $2,500 JNR Incorporated travel voucher.  The travel voucher is redeemable for travel services from JNR Incorporated and is valid from one year from the date it is received and has no value upon expiration.  The voucher is good for the winner and one guest. 

 

• Pick Your Purse Sweepstakes:  This giveaway involves free purses. Expensive free purses. Can I get an “Amen”?   Beginning September 2nd, you can register to win a $1,000 American Express gift certificate to purchase a designer purse of your choice by registering on the DFW Facebook Fan page, www.facebook.com/gottalovechevydfw. 

 

Be sure to visit GottaLoveChevyDFW to enter both of these amazing giveaways!

Check out my introduction video and follow along with my adventures as I experience a bit of “Malibu Mayhem” this month.

Lynley Phillips Intro Video for GottaLoveChevyDFW.com from Lynley Phillips on Vimeo.

The  Girlfriend Getaway is being sponsored by Chevy dealers who gave chosen bloggers a 2010 Chevy Malibu to test drive for one month and blog about experiences with the car. Girlfriend Getaway has given the bloggers fun projects to complete and gift cards with which to accomplish said projects.

Starting the school year off right

Pencils are sharpened.

Backpacks are packed.

Lunch boxes are full of healthy options.

Yet your child still seems a bit anxious about getting back into the school routine.

The excitement of the first day of school can fade quickly, leaving children (and parents) feeling stressed, anxious and longing for the laid back days of summer. The beginning of a new school year is a great time to embrace structure and routine, uniting the family in a common goal of having a peaceful academic year. Below are a few tips to ease those post-first day anxieties and establish a firm beginning to a new school year.

• Do prep work the night before. Getting kids out of bed, fed and dressed in the morning is stressful enough without having to run around searching for a pen to sign a homework assignment or attempting to make three different types of sandwiches. Take fifteen minutes each night to do some initial prep work. Lay out clothes (complete with shoes, socks, and accessories) the night before. Pack lunchboxes and set out non-perishable breakfast items on the table. Be sure that all paperwork is signed, completed and tucked into the appropriate place before heading to bed.

 

• Fuel up for the day. Before anyone heads out on a long car trip, they ensure their vehicle has a full tank of gas. Do the same thing for your children. Before sending them out the door for eight hours of learning, fill their stomachs with healthy and sustainable food. Avoid sugary cereals that will quickly digest and stick to lean proteins and complex carbohydrates. Have a picky eater on your hand? There are many websites that provide ideas for healthy and fun breakfast alternatives.

 

• Go to bed. The human brain needs rest and plenty of it, especially if it is expected to learn and process new information on a daily basis. Children need an average of 9-11 hours of sleep a night. Set a bedtime for school nights and stick with it. Be sure to enhance the mood of the house for sleep about thirty minutes before the arrival of bedtime. Turn off televisions, computers and cell phones. Dim the lights. Partake in quiet activities such a finishing up homework, reading a book or working a puzzle. A calm, quiet atmosphere signals the brain, letting it know that it is time to sleep.

 

• Communicate. The best way to have a successful school year is to keep the lines of communication open. With younger age groups, this can be done by sharing the highs and lows of ones day around the supper table.  Older children are less likely to want to sit down and have a chat with their parents. Consider talking via text message or during the course of a favorite family activity. Understand that most children are not going to spontaneously share their feelings about school, however they do want to talk about these feelings with their parents. Be creative in finding ways to talk to kids and then be consistent with the communication.

 

Use these tips to get the school year started off right for the entire family, making children’s’ academic experiences positive for everyone.

Our decision to redshirt Kindergarten

School started this week for the children of casa de phillips.

Not a moment too soon, in this mother’s opinion. The three of us were spending just a bit too much time together this summer and we all needed a bit of a break.

This year the children started at a new school. I spent months researching potential programs. I went so far as creating a spreadsheet with pros and cons of at least fifteen different preschool programs in the area. When my eyes began to cross and I started to think that perhaps just watching an hours worth of Sesame Street a day would be enough of an education, I finally made my decision.

The smiles on the kids’ faces when I arrived to pick them up this afternoon was proof that we found a fun place for them to learn this school year.

The exciting aspect of school for the children is that they are finally together. Yes, the “twins” who were born 21 months apart have been reunited at school. For the time being, they are rotating through the school in the same group (children rotate through rooms and areas: reading, science, creative arts, gym, math, geography, computer lab, etc.). Despite the fact that these two see each other every waking minute of the day, the thought of hanging out with each other at school is beyond thrilling to them.

The question with this school year has been, “Is Isaac going to Kindergarten?” Since he was born, we knew that most likely we would “red shirt” him the year he could officially begin kindergarten. The cut-off date for our state is September 1st, meaning a child must be five years of age by September 1st if he/she is going to attend public school. Isaac’s birthday is at the beginning of August. We knew that if we sent him this year he would most likely be the youngest in his class. Although being the youngest is not a terrible thing in itself, we knew it would mean that Isaac could potentially be smaller than the other kids (more of an issue for boys rather than girls) and not as emotionally mature as other children.

Remember the kid who cried all the time in first grade?

Well, I bet you he had a summer birthday.

Over the past five years, we have talked to many different people about our choice to redshirt kindergarten. I have talked to parents, children in the same predicament, educators and friends about this decision. In all my conversations, only one person encouraged me to send Isaac on to school this year (who happened to be a director of a Montessori program. If you are familar with Montessori, you know that grades are not even recognized. Therefore I felt her opinion was  a bit skewed.). There is a lot of talk and research about redshirting, both for and againstit. Some people worry that if a child is held back a year from school he/she is missing out on a chance to learn. This is not an issue for us because Isaac has attended formal preschool programs since he turned two. Other people worry that if too many children are redshirting, it skews the age range in a classroom. I see some validity with this point, but then look at such schools of thought as the Montessori method who deliberately put an array of ages in a program to enhance learning and do so successfully.

Those who support redshirting particularly do so when the child being held back is a male. Boys with late birthdays (June – September) seem to do better when given an extra year to grow both physically and emotionally. Research has found that boys who were redshirted in Kindergarten seemed to be advantaged academically down the road, especially reading.

The question that remains is “What about the fact that a child with a summer birthday might be ready academically? Will he/she be bored when he finally starts school?”

My answer is quite profound and goes along the lines of  “Uhh…we don’t know. Ask me next year.”

Currently Isaac has strong reading skills, math skills and writing skills. We attribute these things to a quality preschool, an intrinsic love for learning on his part, and my tendency to purchase every workbook I come across.  When he does enter the Kindergarten classroom is he going to be bored to tears when phonics are discussed? Possibly. Will he entertain himself to hold off the boredom by getting in trouble? Likely. He is a boy.

Now that I have been able to tuck away all my preschool spreadsheets, I am about to start creating school spreadsheets. Although we are quite comfortable with our decision to hold Isaac back and give him another year to develop, we also recognize that we need to find an educational program that will be fun and challenging to him.

And not cost the equivalent to what I paid for college.

So, yes, we are redshirting kinder this year.

Yes, we are not quite sure exactly what direction we will take with the children’s formal schooling.

Yes, I love spreadsheets a little too much.

Any questions?

Now the requisite “First Day of School” pictures:

Where’s the spinach?

I am not a big connoisseur of any type of leafy green vegetable.

Quite honestly, green beans and zucchini are about as far as I am willing to venture into the whole green veggie scene.

While in Kenya one summer, I was often invited into other’s homes to share a meal with them. The invitation was always welcome, the meal a bit feared. A traditional meal in Kenya for those without many pennies to pinch often consisted of chipati (like nan or tortillas…quite delicious), ugali (think rice and wall paper paste combined), and stewed greens. Lots and lots of stewed greens.

The minutes before these dinners often found me silently praying that I would be able to swallow the greens and ugali without displaying any outward appearance of repulsion. I knew my hosts most likely would not eat at the dinner, instead wanting all the food to go to their guests. I also knew food would be sparse the next few days for these lovely people, as they had used up their supplies to feed me.

The Lord indeed answers prayers as I was able to eat large mounds of greens on those occasions without having any serious stomach issues.

Here at casa de phillips I attempt to hide our leafy green veggies inside casseroles or other dishes, mainly so I can trick myself. Friday night is typically pizza night around here. Tonight we will be feasting on Spinach, Chicken, and Cheese Calzone and I thought I might share this easy recipe with you!

Dough:
2 1/2 c. flour
2 tbsp. oil
1 c. warm water
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 pkg. yeast

In large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water; add flour, oil, sugar and salt. Mix with wooden spoon until dough loses stickiness. Set aside for 15 minutes, then roll flat to about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thickness.

Filling:
1 cup cooked, shredded chicken
1/2 cup frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/2 cup provolone cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
a bit of minced garlic
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

Mix above ingredients together, spread on dough, and roll up. Place rolled calzone on greased cookie sheet or baking stone (my preference) and cook for 15 minutes in 400 degree oven until golden brown

GIVEAWAY from Borden Milk: Winner Announced!

The winner is: Smockity Frocks!

Thanks for participating!

****

Allow me to pull back the curtain here at casa de phillips….we have a picky eater.

Yes, despite my attempts to expose the children to a variety of food and to not fix special meals at dinnertime, somehow we have still managed to have a picky eater residing under our roof.

At least she is cute, so we think we’ll keep her.

Her pickiness is exacerbated by her stubbornness, which makes a force few want to reckon with at the dinner table. As I mentioned, I do not cook separate meals for dinner. Everyone eats the same thing or one simply does not eat. Guess who simply does not eat some nights?

Again, thank goodness she is a pretty funny individual.

In fact the other night the girl refused to sample a bite of dinner (the rule is to try something once before deciding if you like it or not). There were tears. There was whining. There were threats issued.

Then I took a deep breath, channeled my inner Jim Fey and said, “You can either eat some supper or go ahead and go to bed.”

Guess who chose bedtime at 6:00pm at night?

She is nothing if not consistent.

However, my saving grace in the nutrition department with this child is that she loves milk.

Pure, cold, white milk.

(Which is much better than her mama who has to put a “touch” of chocolate syrup in her glass of moo juice each morning.)

Milk is not merely a refreshing beverage, it is a nutrient-rich wellness drink packed with essential vitamins and minerals.

Borden, home of the famous Elise the Cow, was gracious enough to give BurbMom.net a prize package for one lucky reader containing the following items:

Did you happen to notice the FREE milk coupons?

Who doesn’t love free milk???

One might ask why Borden is just handing out free stuff. Well, they want to get the word out about healthy eating habits as families gear up for Back to School time.

Here are a few healthy eating tips from Borden:

Begin the day with breakfast. Studies show that children do better when they start off the day with a meal rich in vitamins, mineral and protein.

 

 Buy fresh, local products.

 

 Eat three meals a day.

 

 Make healthy choices when choosing snacks.

 

 Get three servings of dairy a day – keep single serve reduced or low fat milk available for kids to grab on the go.

 

 Exercise and get at least seven hours of sleep a night.

 

Why choose milk as a healthy beverage, one might ask. Well, Borden wants you to know all the benefits of a tall, cold glass of milk.

Benefits of drinking milk:

·         Milk is the #1 source of calcium, magnesium and potassium

·         With 38% less fat than regular milk, this 2% Reduced Fat milk is the perfect beverage for health conscious and fitness-focused families to keep in the fridge. In fact, Borden Lite Line is fat free milk with an extra vitamin boost that can help kids and parents who are on the go.

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·         All Borden Milk is fresh, local and free of added hormones.

·         Borden Hi Protein Milk Plus gives extra protein our bodies need to stay strong and build muscle.

For those who like to go the organic route when serving dairy to their family (we do!), Borden even has an organic line!

 

Giveaway Details:

 

Want to win the cool prize package from Borden that includes two months of FREE milk?

To enter all you have to do is visit Elise the Cow’s Facebook page and write on her wall that you are entering the contest at www.BurbMom.net. Then leave a comment letting us know about your wall posting and answer this question, “How old is Elise the Cow?”.

Want an extra entry??

Simply retweet the details of this giveaway to all your Twitter followers, then leave a comment letting us know.

Want a third entry???

Come to my house and convince my daughter that eating is fun.

  

*Okay…there is no third entry. But feel free to convince my daughter that healthy food is indeed tasty and fun!

Good Luck! The contest ends Saturday August 21st at 9pm!

Disclosure: Borden sent me the same prize package featured above as compensation for this post.

Surviving the first day of school

The first day of school is coming quickly for local students. In the hustle to acquire the required school supplies and gather a back to school wardrobe, many parents overlook preparing their children for that first day of school. Once the school supplies have been purchased, the class schedule secured and the bus route finalized, take a few moments to think about how your child will survive that first day of school.

• Be rested. Sleep is important to children and starting school with a full night’s rest under one’s belt is a great way to be prepared for that first day of school. Keep in mind that many children can experience a few jitters the night before school begins so be careful to avoid hyping the situation by blurting out such things as, “I can’t believe my baby is going to be in first grade tomorrow!!” repeatedly at the dinner table. Keep the mood mellow the night before school begins, getting children to bed early.

 

• Eat a healthy breakfast. Serve a healthy breakfast consisting of food that will power kids’ minds until lunch. Some great options include oatmeal topped with a blueberry smiley face, whole wheat toast and peanut butter, or a yogurt parfait made up of yogurt, fruit and granola. Use a special plate or draw a silly picture on your child’s napkin to show them that the first day of school is going to be great.

 

• Enter the building knowing what to expect. If possible, take a “test run” of the school before the first day. Many schools offer “Meet the Teacher” nights a few days before the start of school. Take advantage of these events so children can become familiar with their new classroom, know what their teacher looks like and be able to find their desk on that first day.

 

• Have a friend in the classroom. Sometimes kids are lucky and a close friend happens to be in their same classroom. However, it is more likely that children will be placed in a class where a lot of the other students happen to be new faces. Find fellow neighbors or acquaintances whose children will be going to the same school (and perhaps in the same class) and arrange a play date with them before the start of school. Again, take advantage of “Meet the Teacher” night and introduce your child to other students in her classroom.

 

• Takee a few pictures of the day. Parents want to have a photograph of their smiling child on that first day of school to cherish through the years. Taking one or two pictures of one’s child standing by his desk is great (unless that child is a junior in high school). Refrain from attempting to create a documentary of your child’s first day of school complete with a play-by-play commentary of his trip to the classroom and an interview with the teacher.

 

• Pack a reminder from home. Tuck a special note or a family picture inside your child’s lunch box or backpack to let him know that his family is thinking of him. Although older kids might not be too keen on a smiley face note from Mom in their lunch bag for the whole cafeteria to see, they likely would appreciate a little note placed in their car or taped to the bathroom mirror.

 

• Celebrate. Once that first day of school has been tackled, take a few moments to celebrate the beginning of a new school year. Consider making a favorite meal for supper or heading out for ice cream after the dinner dishes have been cleared. Take time to acknowledge how hard your child will work at school in the upcoming months and celebrate how they survived that first day of school.

What elementary school teachers want parents to know

School supply lists are popping up in all local retail stores as back-to-school time rapidly approaches. Parents are carefully checking off each item, ensuring that their child is prepared for the upcoming school year. Before sending children back to school this month, take time to contemplate what teachers really want parents to know before school begins this Fall. Bethany Brant, fourth grade teacher at Acton Elementary in Duncanville, was kind enough to offer some advice for parents of elementary school children.

How can parents ease first day nerves?

Discuss what a typical day looks like. Many schools offer tours and Open House nights. Take advantage of these. Also, I read the book First Day Jitters to bring a smile and a laugh from my students on the first day.

How can parents prepare their children for the upcoming school year?

Summer routines are hard to break, so start the new bedtime and wake-up routine before school starts.Get into the habit of picking out clothes and packing lunches at night. Let children pick out their own school supplies (color, character, etc) to give them ownership over the new school year and help them get excited about school

What is the “must-have” school supply for elementary-aged students?

Pencils! There must be a pencil monster in every classroom that eats the pencils when no one is looking! Send pencils the first day of school with your child and then check back monthly to see if/when they need more.

How can parents be of assistance to the elementary school teacher?

Read to your child! Reading to your child at night is the most beneficial activity a parent can do. Switch up the process: one night you read to them, the other night they read to you.  If parents want to come up to school to help the teacher, be sure to make plans beforehand to verify that there is a project or task that needs to be done.

 What is one thing teachers wished parents did not do?

We have a saying at school: “I will only believe half of what your child tells me about what happens at home if you only believe half of what your child tells you about what happens at school.”  Before judgments are made, let’s come together to discuss the issue. If you feel as if your child has been wronged, talk to me about it. The irate, yelling and demanding parent and the calm and collected parent both usually end up at the same resolution point. One just has her dignity and credibility in tact.

What advice do elementary school teachers have for parents?

Get to know your child’s teacher before you “need” to know them. If your child alerts you to issues arising at school (trouble at recess, P.E. woes, etc) let the teacher know. Sometimes teachers are unaware of this issues until there is trouble because the child let mom know but was too shy to say anything at school

All in a day’s work

I am a curious person.

I love to know the little details about a person, from how they organize their day to their favorite type of book. For whatever reason, life’s details are terribly interesting to me.

Below are the details of my day, from beginning to end.

***

4:45am: Alarm goes off for the first time. I hit snooze button for the first time.

4:52am: Alarm goes off for second time. I contemplate getting out of bed, then decide against such foolishness. I convince myself I can still sleep a few more minutes before rushing out the door to the gym. I hit the snooze button for the second time.

5:01am: Alarm sounds for the third time. Before I can hit the snooze button for the third time, the husband gives me a nudge. Apparently he does not appreciate the repetitive sounds of my alarm clock. I switch off the alarm, fall out of bed and stumble into the bathroom. Fortunately my eyes adjust quickly to pitch black. I manage to only walk into the wall and desk chair on my trek to retrieve my gym clothes. Perhaps my eyes do not adjust as quickly as I thought….

5:20am: I jump in the family station wagon. Gym clothes are on, mini peanut butter sandwich in hand, water bottle and weights sitting next to me in the passanger seat.

5:30am: Join the other crazy people in my suburb who believe getting up at the crack of dawn to exercise is a great idea. Participate in boot camp. Dream about the warmth and comforts of my bed as I run sprints while carting a 15 pound weighted ball. Question my sanity.

6:20 am: With post-exercise endorphins coursing through my body, I return home. Start the coffee maker, greet  the husband, and jump into the shower.

6:30 am: The door to the bathroom opens. A voice begins asking a million questions at an alarming rate of speed. “Mommy, what are we going to do today? Mommy, can I have some chocolate milk? Mommy, I was thinking about that new park in our neighborhood. Mommy…mommy…mommy…..” I remind the 4 year old that people need some privacy while in the shower and encourage him to find his father who can surely answer such questions (sorry, babe!).

7:00 am: Apply make-up, fix breakfast, answer question number 92 from Isaac and start getting into my “mommy groove.”

7:30 am: Retrieve Evelyn from her bed. Question how much longer she is willingly going to stay in a baby bed. She informs me of her chosen character name of the day. After a quick diaper change and choosing of the desired princess underwear, she flutters away to the breakfast table.

8:00 am: Breakfast is winding down. Dishes go into the dishwasher, children attempt to scamper off before I have the chance to tell them it is time to get dressed.

8:40 am: Everyone is dressed. Inevitably someone loses a shoe, a jacket, a prized animal, a small scrap of paper that is important to the earth’s ability to rotate on its axis, etc. I wrangle everyone out the door and into the car, instructing them to get buckled up while I search for lost item.

8:42 am: I peek out the door to see a light show going on inside the car (which is turned off with no keys in the ignition) as a certain four year old boy performs a light show for his sister using only the car’s interior lights.

8:45am: I jump in the car with lost item in hand. No one seems phased when I reveal the location where I discovered said item (master bedroom closet, bathroom trashcan, kitchen pantry are all good options).

9:00 am to 1:00pm: Someone goes to school while someone stays with Mommy. Errands are run, play dates occur and quality one-on-one time happens during these hours each week.

1:00 pm: I pull into the preschool pick-up line, silently wondering what time little Susie’s mom has to get there in order to be first in line. I vow to arrive thirty minutes early the next day just so I can beat her.

1:25 pm: We pull back into the driveway of casa de phillips. Backpacks, lunchboxes, coats, shoes and other random items are unloaded from the car. I send children inside to put up said items and to start getting ready for nap time. I contemplate taking a nap in the car, wondering how long it would be before they noticed that I had not followed them inside.

1:45 pm: Everyone is tucked into their beds for naptime. I sit down to enjoy a moment of silence before I get started on my afternoon duties.

1:47 pm: A certain little boy wonders from his room, letting me know he is done resting for the day. He is not too thrilled when I inform him that I am not done with him resting for the day and send him back to his room.

1:53 pm: Loud singing is coming from a certain little girl’s bedroom. When I go in and ask her sweetly to lay down and be quiet, Miss E. informs me that she is asleep. Hmmm…

2:00 pm: Silence fills the house. It is glorious.

3:30 pm: I start putting the finishing touches on my writing for the afternoon. Snack is laid out on the table (on days that I remember) and I check and see what is planned for dinner that evening. I realize I never thawed the chicken so immediately check the pantry to ensure I have the necessary ingredients for pancakes. Ingredients secured. Children began waking from their naps/quiet time.

4:00pm: I struggle to remember that glorious sound of silence that filled the house less than two hours ago as I listen to children talk/fight/sing/complain/just be children. Such sounds are glorious too, just in their own unique way.

5:oopm: The husband arrives home from work. The children greet him as if he had been gone for months. I smile as I watch the three of them catch up on their respective days.

5:30 pm: Chow time. One child asks skeptically if he has eaten such a meal before (By the way, the answer is always “yes”. I figure if he technically has never eaten the meal himself, he most likely has eaten it or some version of it while in utero.) while another child lets us know that she does not eat _______ (Yes, this is a fill-in-the-blank. Unless I have served yogurt, chicken nuggets, french fries or ice cream, Miss E. lets us know that she does not eat said dinner items. We then let her know “Oh well.”).

7:00 pm: Dinner is over, kitchen cleaned (thanks to the husband) and the family has spent some time playing together. Both kids pile into the bath. I again am impressed with those natural mommy skills the Lord bestows on us women that allow us to successfully (and quickly) bathe two wet and squirming children.

8:00 pm: Both children have been bathed, put in clean PJ’s, taken part in family devotional time and read their respective bedtime stories. Both children have also informed me and the husband (in no particular order) that: 1. They just cannot possibly sleep 2.They need more ice/water/blankets/kisses/hugs/etc 3. They wonder what we will do in the morning 4.They love us.

8:15 pm: Husband heads off for the gym. I finish tasks around the house.

9:15 pm: Husband and I catch up on the events of the day, read, listen to music, talk about how funny our children are, contemplate waking up said children to give them one more kiss good-nite, come to our senses about what a ridiculous idea that would be, watch the weather, etc.

10:00 pm: Crawl into bed, set the alarm clock and mentally prepare to do it all over again the next day.

*****

That is a day for me. What is a day like in your world

How to choose a preschool for your child

Allow me to be the bearer of bad news: the start of school is just around the corner.

Good-bye, Summer! I feel like I hardly knew you.

Hello, structured school days. My Type-A personality has been missing you.

For some parents, the start of a new school year means their child’s very first experience with the world of school via entering preschool. Starting preschool is a significant milestone in the life of a child (and the life of a parent…those apron strings are always hard to cut). Such a step can be an intimidating one for parents as well as for the child. Even after the decision has been made to send a child to preschool, parents are still faced with deciding upon the exact preschool where they will send their child. Living in a large area such as Dallas/Fort Worth gives parents a vast array of preschool options from which to make their selection. Just like with any decision, having to choose from a variety of options can make it difficult to decide on one particular preschool program. Equipping oneself with information and then forming a plan of action can make the difficult task of choosing a preschool a bit easier for parents.

Decide what the family wants and needs from a preschool.

All families have different needs and desires. Such individualities also impact the decisions one makes for their child. When attempting to decide upon a preschool, think about what the individual, specific needs of the family.

• Schedule. When is the best time for the child to attend school? Is a five day a week school schedule desirable or would a two day-a-week preschool work better? Preschools differ in their hours of operation and the number of days a week a child attends. Consider what type of preschool schedule works best for the family before choosing a particular school.
• Proximity to home. Some parents do not mind driving a long distance to take children to school while others need a preschool that is close to home. Take into consideration how long it will take to get to preschool for drop-off and pick-up and determine if that amount of driving time works with the family’s schedule.
• Fundamental approach to education. If a particular learning style is important to the family, only consider preschools that take that approach to education. If having a religious-based education is something that is desired, be sure to consider area churches and synagogue that provide such a preschool.
• Cost. In most cases, preschool costs money. Take a look at the family’s finances and decide how much of the annual budget is going to be allocated towards education. If the purse strings are tight, perhaps preschools with high tuition rates should be marked off the list. However, keep in mind that several preschools offer a limited amount of scholarships or tuition assistance for those in need.
• Discipline strategies. Once children have hit the preschool years, parents tend to have found their groove with a particular style of discipline. When deciding upon a preschool, be sure that the school’s discipline strategies are similar to those used at home. Take note if a school simply relies on the old standard of a “time-out corner” rather than helping students work through and resolve issues. If discipline strategies seem extreme or contradict the parenting put in place in the home, perhaps another preschool should be considered.

Compile a list of local schools.

After deciding upon the values and principals desired in a preschool, make a list of local schools that fit the bill. To find potential schools use local parenting websites to chat on-line with area parents and take time to scan the advertisements in free parenting magazines. Pay attention when driving around town running errands, making note of the preschools close to home. A tangible list of preschool names, location and contact information can help narrow down choices in an organized manner.

Visit, chat and visit some more.

Once a list is devised, start talking. Call potential preschools and ask if you can have an on-site visit. Inquire about any upcoming Open Houses for perspective parents. Most schools have an open-door policy and welcome the visits of potential students and their parents. Observe a class and see how things run at perspective schools. Ask the director if he/she would recommend a current student’s parent that would be willing to answer questions. Talk to friends and ask them where their children attend preschool. Question fellow mothers about what they like and dislike about their child’s preschool. A child’s education is extremely important. Never feel embarrassed for asking lots of questions and seeking out plenty of advice when attempting to decide upon a preschool.

Assess the basics.

Once a few schools show potential, assess some basic issues. Is the preschool certified and accredited (either through their particular certification board or through national accreditation programs)?  Texas has developed its own system for ensuring that preschools are not only teaching young children but also making sure students are equipped with the skills needed to perform successfully in the kindergarten classroom. Another basic issue to consider is student to teacher ratio, meaning how many students are assigned to one teacher (a good ratio is no more than 12 to 1). Consider teacher turnover rate as well. Are teachers constantly rotating in and out of the school or does the school keep the same staff year after year? Research shows that children who have had several preschool teachers have a harder time adjusting to school. A large staff turnover rate could mean a particular preschool is not a good choice. Parents must also look at the facility itself. Are classrooms clean, playgrounds fenced and safe and learning materials in good condition? The basic structure of a preschool, from quality of teacher to quality of playground equipment, can be a significant determining factor when deciding on a preschool.

Get started.

Preschool has been shown to be more than painting a picture and eating a few crackers with friends. It has dramatic, positive effects on the life of a child. It is not too early to begin thinking about preschool choices for a child. Getting started now with the preschool decision making process can help parents make a solid decision they feel comfortable with and that works best for their child.

The magic of pearls…and other mysteries of motherhood

Today has felt like one Parenting:FAIL after another.

Despite the need my children had to burn off some energy, I was hesitant to send them outdoors in case a passerby overheard all the crying and tantruming. Seriously, it was one fit after another. Someone was crying because we were playing Memory as opposed to Candy Land. Another was crying because we were playing Diego Memory as opposed to Strawberry Shortcake Memory. And a third (Can you guess who that might have been) was contemplating crying because we were playing a board game at all.

This was all before 8:30am.

The theme of the day has pretty much been that no one wants to do anything I have suggested.

No one wanted to get dressed.

No one wanted to stay in their pjs.

No one wanted to do an art project together.

No one wanted to do an art project alone.

No one wanted to participate in chore time.

No one wanted to sit out during chore time.

No one wanted to ride bikes outside.

No one wanted to sit inside and be bored.

You get the picture, right?

As moms, we all experience days like this…days in which the entire house seems plagued by grumpiness, where the best of intentions go awray and where nap time/bedtime cannot arrive fast enough.

On days such as these, I attempt to find the little things to make my world a bit calmer and a bit more serene. I channel my 1950′s housewife tucked deep inside and pull a few tricks out of my SAHM hat on days when I would much rather run out the door screaming than parent.

1. Toss on some jewels. Sure, June Cleaver had her pearls. I have a deep love for chunky jewelry as well. I find on rough days if I look a bit spunky, my attitude can find some spunk as well. Most likely, June wore those pearls to merely survive in a house with two boys and an overly-chipper husband.

2. I liven up my food. Casa de phillips is home to many a paper and plastic plate. However, I find that using our real (read: very breakable) dishes on a regular basis adds a bit of refinement to my day. Sure I may only be sipping water while unloading the dishwasher for the second time that morning, but at least I am doing it with a bit of style.

3. I take a look at the little faces around me.

Sure those faces might not have the most angelic of expressions on them…

And they might be tinged with a bit of mischievousness…

But they make me smile anyway.

What little things serve as your “pick-me-ups” on those less than stellar parenting days?

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