THE BEST WAY To Wrap A Gift Card Plus Holiday Gift Hits & Misses

As I sit here, in the midst of an ice storm, during a week in which we really didn't do much, I'm thinking of the gifts my family gave each other for Christmas.  A mere four days later, some are being used and others are already being ignored.  In the spirit of education, let me share them with you. But first, drumroll, please: 

THE BEST WAY TO WRAP A GIFT CARD

The teen, as expected, wanted cash or at least gift cards so he could buy video games.  But how to wrap them?  Hmmmm?  After scrolling Pinterest, which I do anyway like some men scroll porn, I rejected all of the ideas on that site and came up with this nugget of brilliance. 

Behold - THE YARN BALL!

The challenge was to come up with something unique that wouldn't piss the kid off, but would still confuse him so that when he picked up the package, he wouldn't know what was inside.   I grabbed some old yarn (this happens to be fancy stuff I had lying around), bent the cards so they were small, and wrapped them up.  The ball was big enough that he had no clue why I was giving it to him, yet small enough where in less than a minute, he had the gift cards in his hand.  Yep, mom has at least one creative brain cell left!


On to our other gifts...for me, the best one was this purse, the Saygoer Sling Bag Pack Canvas Cross Body Bag with Adjustable Strap.  I needed something that would not only hold my essentials, but my Kindle as well.  This bag is canvas, and it's not sexy, but it is sturdy, ergonomically great, and has a little compartment on the inside, close to my body for ID.  My plan is to Scotchguard it so it's waterproof.  My daughter says it looks like a manpurse.  I told her, "Then don't carry it."  It's mine anyway. 

Philips Norelco Electric Shaver 2100 - We bought this for the teen who always seemed to have a whisker or two lingering after shaving with a disposable razor.  He didn't ask for this unit, but reluctantly admits that he likes it.  The razor shaves him close without ripping any zits off.  I'm hoping it'll last him through college.

And our last hit:  PopSockets: Expanding Stand and Grip for Smartphones and Tablets.  Now, when my daughter wanted this, I thought it was a waste of money.  It's small and sticks onto the back of her phone, allowing for a better grip and is a stand when she wants to use videos.  Yes, it does that, but it's also fun to just pop up and down.  Maybe it's the texture, because it doesn't make a sound.  The price point was about $10 on Amazon, which was cheaper than my local ripoff stores which sell it for $20.  So far, she's loving it. 

Which brings us to the duds of this year. 

Take a look at this piece of crap that was $60 on Amazon and for which  I paid $20 at my local Toys-R-Us.  It's called Fantastic Gymnastics.  It is definitely NOT fantastic.

You're supposed to manipulate the gymnast by pressing the red and yellow buttons.  Unfortunately, the gymnast (who has no face - REALLY DEVELOPERS?  You couldn't spare the money to put an ACTUAL FACE on the person??), rarely lands feet-up, resulting in a frustrated, ticked off kid.  My daughter is swearing she'll play this with her friends, but I know it'll be shoved into a pile in the basement before Spring. 

Now, the next items is a present I bought myself and in theory, it's great.  It's the XY3 3rd Gen Item Finder - Bluetooth Key Finder, Wallet Tracker, Phone Finder, and Lost Item Tracker.  Mom is ALWAYS losing her phone and the kids call it so I can find it.  But what if they're not around?  I mastered finding my keys with a simple Command hook by the door, but the phone is a problem.  XY3 is supposed to FIND YOUR STUFF and do it three-fold.  1.  You have an app on your phone that will tell you where your keys are.  2.  You can use the computer to find your phone and/or keys.  3.  There's a button on the key thingy which you press to find your phone.  Brilliant, right? 

EXCEPT, that while it may indicate where something is, it only shows your address.  It doesn't say, "Hey, Stupid.  Your key are, for some unknown reason,  between the couch cushions along with the Doritos you snuck last night."  I KNOW they're in the house!  I just don't know WHERE!  Nevertheless, finding my keys is easier with XY3 because you just follow the beep to the keys.

Now, finding the phone is where this device craps out.  To test it, I was standing with my keys in one hand and my phone in the other.  I pushed the handy-dandy button on the keys.  No sound.  I did this twice.  Dead.  I contacted customer service.  No reply.  Then I saw it advertised on Facebook and made a comment.  Comments get attention!  The tech magicians worked hard to find a solution, but could not.  They're in the process of replacing the XY3.  I really hope it works out, because I do lose my phone quite often and the techs, through Facebook, again, not via email, seemed really nice. 


If you disagree with any of my opinions, feel free to post.  And stay tuned for more reviews coming up within the next few days.  By the way, you can follow me on Instagram:  @momscrayon.

Thank you for reading!

9 Benefits To Gymnastics – Happy Gymnastics Day!

Today is National Gymnastics Day. Now I'm not sure who declared it “National” but it's being promoted by various gymnastics clubs, etc., and on social media to showcase the sport. 

And what a fantastic sport Gymnastics is!

 

My daughter has been participating in gymnastics for several years now and it's become an integral part of my family's life. 

Here are just 9 of the benefits (I'm sure there are more) of gymnastics:

• It elicits passion - My daughter loves and is PASSIONATE about it! That desire is something I hope she takes with her throughout her life because, as the saying goes, “if you're passionate about what you do, you'll never work a day in your life.”
  
  
• It promotes physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle – Participating in gymnastics keeps kids physically fit and promotes active living and healthy diets. In our gym, there are kids of all shapes and sizes and every one of them is physically fit.
  
  
• It encourages flexibility and coordination – Gymnasts do well with both static and dynamic balance and learn to fall, hopefully, without injury. Indeed, my daughter falls like a cat, relaxing as she loses control.
  
  
• It promotes self-esteem – The right gym can help an athlete with confidence and a positive attitude. In our gym, no matter how a girl does at a meet, she gets hugs and praise from her coaches (as well as constructive feedback).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• It teaches them how to deal with disappointment – It's not all rainbows and lollipops at meets. By that I mean, not everyone gets a medal. You have to EARN one. So a child who does not earn one, learns to deal with disappointment, an essential life skill.
  
  
• Teaches Them How To Follow Rules And Accept Criticism – Gymnastics enhances listening skills because if they don't listen, the kids WILL get hurt. They need to learn routines and accept criticism.
  
  
• Teaches them and increases social skills – Gymnastics is an individual and team sport. Kids learn from each other and bond as a team. They learn to work together even as they're being judged separately. It teaches fair play, not to brag, etc. 
  
  
• Encourages commitment, goal setting, and discipline – Gymnastics teaches kids to set goals, work toward those goals, and they get to see how their efforts pay off. 
  
  
• Shows them the importance of family support – Gymnastics is NOT cheap. I've had to go back to work to help pay for it and I'm on the road, driving her, four nights a week. The family attends day-long meets and sometimes we stay in hotels to make sure she's fresh for competition. Allowing her to take gymnastics is a family commitment. 
  
  
  
  
  
  

A few months ago, my husband asked where gymnastics could “take” Lily. Here's what I think:

• Organization, goal setting, discipline, etc. are skills that are important in business. And honestly, with the social skills she's developing, she'll have no problem with that all-important tool: networking.
  
  
• All of the benefits listed above will make her a well-rounded person and, hopefully, help her throughout her life
  
  
• She could parlay Gymnastics into the fields of Nutrition, Teaching, Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy, Counseling – anything she wants..
  
  
  
  

Gymnastics is not easy. It's a HUGE commitment! 

 If you're considering letting your child try it, here's my advice:

• Check out various local gyms. Some are hardcore, pushing kids and demanding attendance up to six days a week. Lily told me long ago she “doesn't want to go the Olympics.” Fine. Our gym doesn't push as hard as others.  It give her time to be a kid, yet challenges her and helps her grow.
  
  
• Ask for a sample class. Make sure your kid really enjoys it before you sign any contracts. Again, this is NOT a cheap sport! 
  
  
• Find out if the gym has a return or cancellation policy in case your athlete decides this isn't the right activity for her. If your daughter gets invited to join a team, pay by the month of at all possible, just in case she decides she doesn't want to to continue.
  
  
• Hold back on buying a lot of leotards and “cutsie” stuff like gym bags and clothes proclaiming “gymnast.” I don't want Lily labeling herself because I think that puts pressure on her. What if she decides to quit the sport? I don't want her to feel like a failure just because she's not a gymnast anymore.
  
  
• Look for leotards at Walmart. I've found bargains for $10, as opposed to buying them at Sports Authority for $40.
  
  
• Know that if you child competes in meets, there are meet fees and admission at the door. (For info on what to bring to competitions, click here.)

I'm happy my daughter does gymnastics. I see all the benefits and know that this is the right sport for her. Would I be disappointed if she quit? Honestly, maybe a little. But the skills she's learning are making her happy now and are positively shaping the woman she's becoming.  

Happy Gymnastics Day!

What To Bring To A Gymnastics Meet

As regular readers of this blog know, my daughter competes in gymnastics. It's been a WONDERFUL experience for her on SO many levels. She's made new friends, learned all about nutrition, it's great exercise, and has given her fantastic lessons in winning, losing, and how to handle competition in general. In fact, we're getting ready for a meet this weekend.

In looking at the various resources on the web, I noticed that no one had compiled a list of what to bring to a meet. Never fear, I am here!

There's LOTS of stuff to bring to a gymnastics meet!

Here's a list of what you might want to bring with you when your child is competing in gymnastics:

For Your Child:

Competition Leotard

Competition Warm-Ups

An extra set of clothes if your child likes to change afterwards

Elastics and/or competition scrunchie (we have one that matches the leotards)

Water bottle

Hair pins

Snacks (meets are LONG)

Anything else that helps your gymnast relax such as a stuffed animal or Ipod)

Flower are a great reward for competing in a gymnastics meet!

Miscelleneous: 

Hair spray (for your daughter)

Aspirin (for you – these things are nerve wracking)
Needle & thread
Safety Pins

Bandaids

Coaches gifts (if you give them)

Snacks for you and the rest of the family

Water for you and the rest of the family

Flowers (for the gymnast and/or her friends – sometimes I bring chocolate instead)

Your camera (fully charged)

An extra battery for your phone (because it WILL fail just when you need it)

A pencil & notebook (for jotting down notes, scores, etc.)

Extra money (because these things are EXPENSIVE)

I also carry lavender oil which helps me relax and, on one or two occasions, has helped HER relax

If you've been to these meets, you know they take many hours. You live for those few seconds when your daughter competes.

Make a copy of this checklist and use it as a guideline as you tweak it to meet your family's needs. Oh, and if I've forgotten something, please let me know.

Thanks for reading my blog!!!  Please recommend it to your friends!  

Yes, You CAN Throw A Gymnastics Party At Home!

Lily's school notebook - can you tell she loves gymnastics?!

 

 

Lily, my soon-to-be 9 year old, wants some big-ticket items for her birthday, but with our budget being limited, we agreed that she could have the electronic device ONLY if we celebrate at home.  With our house being tiny and her group of friends, plus gymnastics team, being large, we proposed two small parties.  My little girl readily agreed. Thus, began my brainstorming for how to hold a gymnastics-themed party at home, on a budget, without equipment. Here's how I did it:

Invitations: These were easy. Evite has some nice Olympic-ring-style invitations which were appropriate for her party.

Decorations: Some posters of famous gymnasts, plus a home-made banner which read “You know you're a gymnastic when your whole world is always turned upside down!.”

Snack foods: Onion rings, celery balance beams (celery sticks stuffed with cream cheese), pretzel rods (like uneven parallel bars), and carrot sticks.

Games:

1. Races – During training, the girls do a lot of races. Hubby had them do relay races, obstacle courses during which they had to do cartwheels.
2. Balance Beam - Lily placed two lines of duct tape across our patio which the kids used as a balance beam. They then took turns doing their beam routines.
3. Hula Hoop Competition – The girls competed to see who could keep the hoop up the longest.
4. Head Stand Competition – At meets, while the judges are tabulating the winners, they hold contests to see who can stand on their head the longest.
5. Ribbon Wands – I bought these wands fairly cheaply at Amazon and they were great for the girls to twirl as if they were doing their floor routines.

Ribbon wants - perfect for a gymnastics party!

I also had  my FAVORITE party game, Hullaballoo (read my review here), on the back burner just in case they got bored.

Favors: Goodie bags had a little candy, but also stuff they use at meets for their hair including elastics, brightly-colored bobby pins, hair clips, and mini-hair sprays. They also received a small trophy.

Yes, everyone received a trophy!

Cake: A simple sheet cake was decorated with 5 Twizzlers shaped in rings (like the Olympic rings). 

The girls had a blast and since Saturday, I've seen some of them sporting the clips and bobby pins in their hair. I think the team enjoyed being together, outside the gym, and my daughter had a blast. Sometimes the best parties are the ones you have at home that don't cost a lot. 

My simple sketch of Lily on the balance beam at gymnastics.  Clearly, I should not quit my day job to become an artist...

Lily is having a second party this weekend for a few school friends and I've come up with some BRILLIANT favors (even if I do say so myself). Stay tuned for more details! 

Thank you for reading!

Ebola? Enterovirus? How Can I Protect My Kids?

How CAN I protect my kids from enterovirus and ebola?!

 

Just as I was starting to get nervous about another bad winter here in the Northeast and getting my emergency supplies ready, now my area is getting hit with the enterovirus which has killed at least four children with a possible ebola epidemic lurking! HOW CAN I PROTECT MY KIDS?

Honestly, while ebola is so far only in Texas, my first concern is the enterovirus (EV-D68) which has, in fact, hit my state and which is causing our elementary school nurse to send kids home at the first sniffle. The enterovirus starts out like a common cold and can leave patients gasping for breath in a matter of hours (source: www.vanguardmedicalgroup.com). It's transmitted through bodily fluids when someone who is infected coughs, sneezes on, or touches another person or surface. There's no treatment for the virus itself and, according to my pediatrician, a doctor will treat the symptoms of the enterovirus which eventually clears up on its own. So what am I doing for my kids?

• They both have Purell on their backpacks which they use as soon as they get out of school and, in Lily's case, gymnastics.
• I'm reminding them to wash their hands constantly, especially my son, who is a nail biter.
• Obviously, they are to avoid hugging or sharing food with anyone who is sick.
• I'm constantly disinfecting frequently touched surfaces like light switches, door knobs, etc. Can you say Lysol?

The good news about EV-D68 is that according to the Centers For Disease Control (www.cdc.gov), enterovirus cases are expected to decrease as we get deeper into Fall. Here's a great graphic from the CDC on how you can keep your child from getting and spreading the enterovirus:

What a great graphic about the enterovirus!

Now, as for ebola, while the government is trying to avoid public panic, I'm less concerned about it until it hits my state. Still, I love this graphic which was posted on Twitter by Texas Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson who is the first registered nurse in Congress: 

Not sure I believe the bottom part, but here are the facts about ebola.

So how can I protect my kids from this stuff? By not panicking, taking whatever sensible measures I can (like reminding them to wash their hands and disinfecting common objects in the house), and praying. Sometimes, that's all a parent can do. 

~~

Thanks for reading!   Please follow me on Twitter.  

Have Your Child Sign A Contract When They Take A Time-Intensive Sport

 

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that my daughter not only takes gymnastics, but competes in meets as well. It's a huge time commitment for not only her, but me as I schlep her to and from the gym. Plus, it ain't cheap. Last year toward the end of the season, she decided on more than one occasion that she “didn't want to go.” Each of those time slots was a big waste of money, not to mention the emotional toil it took on me as I tried to get her to go. Diva's father and I decided that those fits are NOT going to happen this year!

The first thing we did, was review with her the pluses and minuses of gymnastics. I've mentioned the minuses, but the pluses are she thinks it's fun, great exercise, the coaches are loving, the sport demands that she respect her body with good nutrition and she's delighted that she's made some good friends as a result of her involvement with the team.  We asked if she really, deep in her heart, wanted to continue.  She assured us that she did.

Secondly, my husband and I thought about what behaviors we wanted to encourage and discourage. I considered what needed to be done before I even get in the car to take her to the gym. Then, I drew up this contract:

Diva's Contract For Being On The Gymnastics' Team

1. All playdates, whether you've played or not, must be over by (time specified) so that we're not late to practice.
2. All schoolwork must be done before leaving for the gym.
3. Dinner must have been eaten before leaving for the gym.
4. If you miss more 3 practices during the Season, for any other reason than illness as determined by Mom, you will be off the team.
5. If you have any fits/arguments about going, Mom will inform the Coach. YOU can then tell him why you're not there.
6. If you are late, you will still go because you have a commitment to the team and understand that showing up for practice is very important.
7. You must be in bed by (time specified) – no arguments, please.

I understand that taking gymnastics is a privilege, not a right. I agree to the conditions above.

________________________________                                                ________________________

Signed                                                                                                     Date

I presented the contract to Diva and she, on her own, reviewed each point, considering it carefully. She brought up her objections to several and I calmly explained why those points were being included. I told her that that if she did not agree to the contract, I would not pay for her gymnastics for the upcoming month. It was not a threat - it was a fact.  She read the contract meticulously, once more before finally signing it.

The contract now hangs on the refrigerator. The beauty of it is that it clearly states what Diva's commitment is and what happens if she doesn't follow through. Since she has signed it, she can't say later on, “No, I didn't agree to that.”  The proof is on the fridge.  

Is it guaranteed to eliminate any tantrums?  No, but it gives me an out if she does resist on any of the points made. There will be no yelling or manipulating, on my part, to get her to go. As in the real world, if the contract is broken, the privilege will be pulled. 

 

Helping Your Child Compete In Gymnastics (With Some Fabulous Resource Links)

After many years of taking gymnastics, Diva is now competing in meets. Sure, I'm used to having a child vie against others, but up to this point it's been in town rec sports like basketball and Little League which entailed an hour or two of practice a week. Gymnastics has been different because of the amount of work my daughter voluntarily puts into it; she spends 12 hours a week with her coaches.


So how can I, as a parent, help this 8-year old deal with the pressure inherent in any competition?

Well, first and foremost, I looked around and chose the right environment for Diva.


The gym we're working with emphasizes teamwork, nutrition, and personal self-improvement over everything else. This creates a nurturing atmosphere where members support each other. I've spent hours in the gym and haven't heard one child mock or berate another for not doing a move. The coach tells everyone before a meet to just do their best and that he will love them as long as they try. He instituted a program where he gave every younger child a “big sister” who acts as a mentor, making the older team members more conscious of their attitude and less likely to cop an attitude. The end result is that my daughter is even more in love with gymnastics than she was when she started on the team; she does what she needs to do (homework, chores, eat dinner, etc.) before joyfully sprinting to the car. She cannot wait to get to the gym!


The second measure I took to lessen the pressure has been to underplay the scoring aspect of the meets.


We've talked, nonchalantly, about how the scoring really doesn't mean much and how the numbers are just points used by the officials to compare one child's performance with anther’s. She and I have discussed that a number does not define you (whether it's a score on a test or in a meet, or a number on the scale). How you do one day will naturally differ from the next. The trick is to celebrate what you're doing well and problem-solve to figure out how you can improve on your weaknesses. Diva knows she is not competing with others, but rather, with her own previous performances. Thus, when she did not do well in one event, she was unshaken. “I'll have to work on that at practice,” she shrugged.


Lastly, before a meet, we casually talk about what we can do, at home, to help her prepare. 

Sometimes, she spends time on the Internet watching YouTube videos of Olympic gymnasts and her own team; she scrutinizes their performances, commenting on what they did particularly well. She tells me what she would like to eat before a competition and after (carbohydrates before and plenty of protein after are her personal preferences). We agree that her bedtime the night before should probably be a little earlier. And often, on the way home from a competition, she tells what she thought of her performance and what she thinks she needs to work on. I can almost see the gears working in her mind as she analyzes the different aspects of gymnastics. It's fascinating!

I think my approach has been a healthy one.  Whereas I understand others on her team have spent the week leading up to a meet crying, not eating, and exhibiting other signs of stress, the only symptom I've seen in Diva is a slight dip in her appetite just before a competition. Upon learning of the distress suffered by those other girls, the coach decided to just not enter them in the next meet.  They came as spectators, of their own free will, to support their peers.  "We don't have to compete, Mommy," Diva tells me.  Knowing that her coach is behind her, no matter what, takes a lot of the pressure off. 


Our family revels in her passion for and pleasure in the sport. Gymnastics is teaching her to love her body. It is teaching her discipline. She loves the team experience. As I write this, I am sitting in the gym where, a few minutes ago, I watched as the team watched each younger girl on the uneven parallel bars. After each athlete landed, the entire group clapped and shouted out compliments. My heart swelled as I watched my glowing daughter receive kudos.


Whether Diva chooses to stay with gymnastics (and it is HER choice) or quit tomorrow, the experience has been positive and is helping her grow.


 How grateful I am that she's having this opportunity and that we've found the right community in which to nurture her abilities.


Additional resources on this topic include:

• The article “Competing Views On Competition” found at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/garden/the-role-of-competitiveness-in-raising-healthy-children.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&
  
• This wonderful piece by Dr. Sylvia Rimm on “Teaching Healthy Competition” at http://www.sylviarimm.com/article_healthcomp.html#parentpointers.
  
• “Competitive Sports - Helping Kids Play It Cool” is a nice article that talks about healthy versus non-healthy stress; you can find it here: http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/sports_competition.html#. The KidsHealth website also contains a on good item on Sportsmanship.
  
• I LOVE this article by Wayne Goldsmith (http://www.sportscoachingbrain.com/help-child-achieve-sport) outlining 50 things you can do to help your child achieve in a sport. It includes ideas such as the warning that you not introduce your child as 'my daughter, Diva, the gymnast' because the sport is just something they do, not who they are (note: that is a paraphrase of one of Mr. Goldsmith's incredibly valuable suggestions). I wish every organization handed this list out at the beginning of a season!
  
• The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry offers a PDF version of their article “Children And Sports” here: http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/Facts_for_Families_Pages/Children_And_Sports_61.aspx. I didn't think it was a great article, but it was worth a look.
  

–


Gymnastics is an expensive sport, as anyone with a child in it can attest to. One leotard is required, but several mean you're not washing the same one out every night. The best deal I found, so far, was a $10 leo which I got at Wal-Mart; it came with a matching scrunchy. Had they had more in Diva's size, I would have loaded up. The next cheapest I found was on the website Discount Dance Supply (www.discountdance.com) listed several recently for $17.55 and Amazon had the exact same models at the exact same price. The site dancewearSolutions (www.dancewearsolutions.com) listed at least two leos for $18.95. And the website Jillybeans Leotards (www.jillybeansleotards.com) contains a huge inventory with leotards starting at $19.99.


Since Diva loves all things gymnastics, she is immediately drawn to any shirts that proclaim her love of the sport. A few months ago, on a trip to Pittsburgh, we found a lovely little shirt in a Justice store there, on clearance, for $5! Again, had they had more in her size, I would have scooped up several. But there are websites that have cutesy little gymnastics stuff; these include:

• Zazzle.com (www.zazzle.com)  – You can find keychains and buttons here for as little as $3.65 each. I really like the assortment of gymnastics posters here which would inspire any budding gymnast.
  
• Cafepress.com (www.cafepress.com) – This site has a ton of gymnastics-related merchandise and I can tell you that they have WONDERFUL customer service. When my son was unhappy with the quality of a iPad case we ordered, they quickly replaced it with another one and told us to keep the first one. I LOVE it when companies wisely make things easy for customers!
  
• Gymnasticsstuff.com (www.gymnasticsstuff.com) – Go there and you're likely to spend hours perusing their gymnastics stuff. Their prices are competitive, but they have a lot of links, so be prepared to do a good amount of mouse clicking.
  

–


As always, thank you for reading. Please check back in soon, won't you?