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How to To Honor Veterans With Your Child This Veteran’s Day

November 4, 2019 by Rachel 42 Comments

Ways to Teach Your Kids How and Why They Should Honor Veterans

Veterans have served us all. This is our chance to honor them. Photo courtesy of macleans.ca.

There are 18.2 million living American veterans. That is almost eight percent of our population. These men and women have sacrificed so much for us to be able to have the freedoms that we do. After all they have done for us, we dedicate one day a year to them. It is our duty to honor vets and their sacrifices, and to teach children to do the same. It can feel overwhelming, especially for kids to think about that kind of stuff. But it does not have to be that complicated. Often times, it’s the simplest gestures of kindness and gratitude, which help a veteran feel appreciated. Here are just a few ways to help your kids this Veteran’s Day.

Teaching kids about Veteran’s Day honors veterans. It lets them know their sacrifices will never be forgotten. Photo courtesy of liherald.com.

Teach Kids The History of Veteran’s Day

Often children look over Veteran’s Day as a day they get off of school. They really do not register what it means. It is important for kids to know why we celebrate when we do and who we are celebrating. You don’t need to take your child through all of American war history for them to be able to understand the holiday. You can teach your child in simple ways.

Start by telling them that we celebrate the holiday on November 11th every year. Then, explain to them why. WWI involved most of the countries in the world fighting on one side or another. They fought really hard and a lot of people died fighting and the war destroyed a lot of things. Then finally, on November 11th all of the countries signed a peace treaty. So they called this day Armistice Day. This war was thought to be the war that ended all wars and that was something to celebrate. Unfortunately, that was not the case and another war happened. So the name was changed to Veteran’s Day, to honor those who fought in the war.

Then, you can explain to your child what a veteran is. Many children confuse this often. Explain to them that a veteran is anyone who has honorably served in the military. You can use this chance to teach them about the five branches of the military. Kids love to be quizzed on this. Explain the difference between an active-duty soldier and a veteran. Remind them that on

Veteran’s Day, we celebrate those veterans who are still living. There is a separate day, Memorial Day, where we honor those who have died. It is important that you teach your children that a veteran or soldier does not mean a person with a gun shooting bad guys. There is a wide variety of military jobs and each of them is equally important.

Most children don’t know that a ton of people in their daily lives are actually veterans. Photo courtesy of military.com.

Show Children the Veteran’s Around Them

Part of teaching children about the holiday is telling them about the Veterans around them. Tell them of any family member or close friend that is a veteran. Children get excited and want to hear stories from them. If there are no veterans close to your family, tell them of one of their friend’s parents or siblings that is a veteran or active-duty service member. It can help kids realize that veterans are all around them. Teach them to wave and smile when they see someone in uniform. Teach them the importance of thanking them for their service.

Another very important topic to teach children is about the hardships that veterans go through. It can be hard to explain this aspect of things to a child, but it is very necessary. You may want to hold off on certain topics until they are a little older. Start by telling them the hardships veterans went through when they were in service. Explain that they were in really dangerous conditions. Tell them that they had to be away from their families for really long periods of time and couldn’t talk to them much. Older veterans didn’t even get to talk on the phone.

Slowly get into how that affects them after they finally come home. Explain that it can be really hard for many soldiers to adjust back to a normal lifestyle after so many years of service. This can be lightly touched on by explaining that it can be hard for many vets to get jobs because they are not very qualified for things outside of the military, meaning that many veterans end up homeless. You can explain PTSD to children by telling them that veterans often have really bad nightmares about the things that they went through while serving in war.

It is so important to teach children about these sacrifices that these men and women have made for our freedom. This will help your child be compassionate and appreciative of veterans.

Having your child send a Veteran’s Day care package to any veteran will let them know they are appreciated. Photo courtesy of newarkadvocate.com.

Send A Care Package

One way to teach children to be appreciative of veterans and their sacrifices is to teach them to serve themselves. No, this does not mean pressure your kid into enlisting when they turn eighteen. Just encourage them to be of service to those who are or who have. A great way for you and your child to do this is to send a care package to a veteran or someone who is still serving.

There are a few different ways you can get started with this. First, you have to decide who you are going to send a care package to. Think of anyone you know who is a veteran. It could be a family member, friend, someone at your child’s school, or even someone at your church. If you cannot think of anyone, you can get a veteran’s information from your local VA medical facility.

When thanking a veteran with a care package, it does not necessarily need to be American themed or anything or the sort. The contents are not as important as the action. Try sending a tin of Mrs.Fields Cookies with a note thanking them for their service. There are great online options for sending gourmet care packages that include personalized notes. If you do not want to send a premade package, opt to make one yourself. Pick up a few things to throw in a gift basket or even just bake a cake. Veterans just like to know that they are appreciated.

If you decide to send a care package to someone on active duty, the procedure is a little bit different. These men and women are in conflict areas and have real needs. The most requested item is $25 Visa gift cards. This is how soldiers pay for wifi to get on the satellite for personal communications to home. Other highly requested items are personal hygiene-related like wet wipes, disposable razors, chapstick, body wash, lotion, face wash, mouth wash, deodorant, Q-tips, shampoo, conditioner, etc. Posters and calendars are needed for “dressing the place up”. You can also send USB thumb drives with downloaded TV or movies. This is really the only way soldiers can view this stuff.

Packing these items is very important. Care goods that aren’t packed right ruins everything in the box. You must double-bag individual liquid and gel items. Soap has to be bagged or it ruins the taste of the food items. You can send packages to an organization like Support Our Troops, where they fulfill soldier requests or you can obviously send a package to someone you know. Whenever sending a care package to a veteran or someone on active duty, you always have to send a note or card thanking them for their service. This sentence may be simple, but it packs a punch. Have your children write their own note, it will put a smile on someone’s face. If you are sending overseas, include a photo of you and your child. Soldiers like to see the faces they are fighting for and the people behind the packages.

Fall Family Bucket List + Printable Checklist!

September 27, 2019 by Rachel 26 Comments

I’ve never been to keen on Summer. But Fall? Fall is my dream come true. It’s something that I’ve also passed on to my children. They love all things pumpkin, all things sweater, and all things

Instead of trying to meet impossible standards (thanks, Pinterest), try and focus on the simplicity of the season.

I’ve rounded up a small list of my favorite Fall Family Bucketlist Items for you to check out. Make sure to pin and save the printable below!

Visit a Pumpkin Patch

What could be more basic than a pumpkin patch?! Nothing! But that’s the beauty of the season. My husband and I bought our pumpkins from the store once. And, at the time, that was fine. But there’s just something about picking out your own pumpkin — flaws and all — that makes the carving and painting process that much more special.

Go on a Hayride

One of my favorite memories as a child is my families annual hayride. The hayride was actually a “haunted hayride” at our towns Century Village. Truth be told, it was always a bit spooky, but it was also incredibly fun.

Over the last several years, the little family of my own has done a more traditional hayride. And every year the kids love it more and more.

Does it matter that we’re only going through the pumpkin patch? Heck no! It’s amazing to them nonetheless.

Jump in a Leaf Pile

If I could name my top three most-despised adult chores they would rank the following: 1. Laundry. 2. Dishes. 3. Raking leaves.

Funny enough, until recently we’ve never had a large yard. But year after year we would spend countless hours raking (and blowing) the leaves in our yard. It felt like an impossible task, as there were always, always, more leaves to rake.

Now, with kids, I see things much differently. The idea of raking leaves actually brings me joy… because I know how much my kids love jumping into leaf piles.

Pumpkin Painting or Carving

I’m going to admit something to you right now — I am not great at carving pumpkins. And also? The whole process can be a bit exhausting.

The tracing, the gutting, the cutting… I’m not the best or most patient with this process. So there have been years where we opt for pumpkin painting instead. And guess what? The kids still adore it. That’s what I call a win-win, folks!

Trick-or-Treating

Okay, so maybe this one seems like a given. But when my kids were teeny I considered not taking them. And that would have been a huge mistake. There’s nothing cuter than a teeny tiny first-time trick-or-treater. It’s, like, a fact. Everyone will ooh and ahh over how cute your little pumpkin looks.

So suit them up, take them out for approximately 20-minutes, get a few pictures and a handful of candy, and call it a night.

Bake Cookies

I know that the holidays are generally the time for baking all of the things. But, for me, Christmas is just too busy of a season to truly enjoy baking. It feels more like a chore than a fun event.

Instead, my kids and I bake cookies and other treats in the Fall. We decorate cutout cookies to look like mummies and ghosts; throw together a Fall-themed trail mix; and snack on goodies like Chocolate-mummy-pretzel rods!

Apple Picking

I’m sure we’ve all recently seen the meme about buying apples from the store for $5 versus taking your family on a grand excursion to pick their own apples for $25, but there’s something to be said about seeing where our food comes from.

We are lucky to have several apple orchards within a few minutes of our house, so we’ll pick a nice day in early Fall (during honeycrisp season) and go to an orchard.

Drink Apple Cider

Is there anything better than warm, mulled, apple cider? The answer is no. Definitely not.

Grab a couple of mulled cider recipes from here and here and enjoy with the family on a cool, Fall evening.

Be sure to print this handy checklist to keep track of all of your Fall Family Fun!

Tell me — what’s your favorite Fall family activity?

Why Wait? Open an Ohio 529 Plan Today

September 19, 2019 by Rachel 50 Comments

September is already upon us and the school year is back in full swing! Moms everywhere are already tired of packing lunches, helping with homework, and scrambling for outfits every morning.

But the thing is is that the end of the school year will be here before we know it. And then another Summer will fly by. Then we’ll be starting another school year. And soon enough, those kids we were sending off to kindergarten will be graduating high school. It will all happen before we know it.

As a parent still struggling with their own student loan debt, I knew I wanted to set my own children up for success from the start. So Chad and I started a 529 Plan for Ari when he started school.

What is a 529 Plan?

A 529 Savings Plan is a lot like a 401k. It’s an easy, tax-friendly way to save for your children’s higher education. Ohio’s 529 Plan can be used across the country for 2-year and 4-year programs as well as technical schools.

Ohio’s 529 plan makes it incredibly easy to open and start saving for the future. They offer tools like the College Savings Planner to help you figure out how much your investment will impact your students’ future education. You can also check out this Cost Of Waiting Tool to see just how inaction can negatively impact your higher education finances.

Right now my first grader wants to be a YouTuber. But, heck, at his age I wanted to be a singer. Things change… quickly. In 5 years he may want to be a doctor or even a welder. Who knows.

But I do know that he will have options. He can decide whether a two or 4-year school is in his cards. He can decide if a trade school will be best for him.

It’s so easy to get started.

There are only a few things you truly need to start Ohio’s 529 plan.

Your ID, social security number, telephone number, address, your date of birth, and your mothers maiden name.
The telephone number, social security number, address, and date of birth of your successor (someone to take over the account should something happen to you).
And lastly, the date of birth, telephone number, address, and social security number of the person you’re saving for.

That’s it. Easy peasy, right? Exactly.

So why wait?

Don’t. Give your children the tools they need to be successful. Engage them in learning and nurture their passions. But also provide them with the financial support they will need in the future, now.

Click here to get started with your very own Ohio 529 Plan.

Back-to-School Must-Haves

September 4, 2019 by Rachel 15 Comments

With both of my big kids successfully transitioned back into the school-year routine, I’m taking a peek at what makes our days (and weeks!) run smoothly.

For the home.

Grocery delivery.

The great thing about raising a family during this digital age we live in is taking full advantage of the conveniences our own mothers didn’t have, such as grocery delivery.

I use two services — Shipt, which delivers from Target and Meijer; and Curbside Express, which delivers for Giant Eagle. Both are extremely convenient in their own way.

Shipt is a subscription service that I am billed for annually but allows me to have my items delivered in as little as an hour. As long as the order is over $35, my items are delivered by the driver for free. Curbside Express, on the other hand, charges a small delivery fee but is convenient because I can shop using my ad and coupons directly on the Giant Eagle site.

The Instant Pot.

I am terrible at meal-planning. Luckily, the Instant Pot allows me to throw together last-minute meals in a pinch.

If you’re looking for a few easy Instant Pot recipe ideas, check out my library of recipes.

Snack-and-go station.

My least favorite job as a parent (besides laundry) is playing snack-fetcher. I despise it. From the time my children come home from school and activities, they are full of ‘want.’ And I have zero desire to fetch their snacks for hours on end.

An easily accessible snack station is a must-have for every parent of school-aged children. Load the bin (or bins) up with snacks they are allowed to have and then let them be. I’ve found these bins to be super handy.

For the kids.

An easy-to-read after school schedule.

I am someone who thrives on a schedule, so it should come as no surprise that my children are as well. I’ve created a printable schedule/checklist to help them manage their time after school.

Having a set(ish) ‘schedule’ allows them to feel like they are in control of their afternoon. There are certain things that might not be fun (such as homework), but they also have time for lots of play once school work is completed!

This printable schedule checklist has been really helpful.

Headphones.

Most kids school supply lists include headphones to keep at school, but do yourself a favor and grab a second pair for home. Between tablet time and online homework, having a pair of headphones handy is the key to everyone’s sanity. This pair has been tried and tested by both my three-year-old and 7-year-old.

An Umbrella.

During my sons first year of school, I completely underestimated how many times he would need his own umbrella. The poor kid had to run home, half-soaked from being only half-under my umbrella.

These are a few of my favorite umbrellas. They are cute, stylish, and work very well!

For the mom.

I wish I could offer you sanity and a weekend of sleep. Alas, that is not possible. Instead, I offer you a few of my favorite back-to-school mommy must-haves.

A paper planner.

I know we all use our phones as a means to keep our lives organized. But there’s just something permanent about a paper planner and calendar. I use my Google Calendar, a paper planner, and I have a giant wall calendar in our kitchen so that the family schedule is displayed for my husband as well.

My favorite paper planner is the Day Designer. Not only is it visually appealing, but it has the perfect weekly set-up to keep our obligations organized. I also use the Day Designer Wall Calendar.

Just for fun — the wine lover edition.

A good bottle opener, a stemless wine glass, and a couple of bottle stoppers are all you need!

A Pair of Running shoes.

Whether or not you are a runner, you will be running… around — if nothing else! Truly, nothing prepares you for all of the running around you’re doing like sending your children off to various schools and activities.

My go-to running shoes are from Brooks Running. They offer a variety of styles and fits for every foot.

If you do happen to find yourself actually running, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that they’re quite helpful for that as well!

Travel Mug and Bottle.

Travel mugs that keep your hot coffee hot and your cold coffee cold are everything that is perfect about this world. Whether it’s a YETI or another brand, you will be happy when your hot coffee is still hot after school pickup!

What is your must-have back-to-school item?

Taking Control of our Back-to-School Routine with Guardian

August 27, 2019 by Rachel 30 Comments

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Okay, so maybe some of you think that should be the holidays, but for those of us with two or more kids, the most wonderful time of the year is Back-to-School season!

Our new school year only started a week ago, but we are already into a decent routine, thanks in large part to Guardian Alarm.

Living right next to the school has its benefits. Walking Ari to school each morning takes all of 1 minute. Traditionally, elementary school students in our district require an adult to pick them up at the end of the day. However, our proximity to the school means that Ari is allowed to walk home alone — even as a 1st Grader!

He has been able to maintain a bit of independence by letting himself in using our Guardian Alarm deadbolt with a passcode. He has his own passcode which not only allows him to enter but notifies me via the TotalConnect app when he does.

It has been incredibly helpful since school release is during the girls’ nap time. He has definitely taken charge with the home automation aspects, too!

And, of course, having the safety and security of knowing that he is home safe after a long school day is a huge relief. When I’m upstairs with the girls, I wait to hear that he is home, and then I check on him with our security camera. I can see him in the kitchen finding himself an afterschool snack. Then I watch him take it to the dining room, where he settles in for a few minutes of ‘chill’ time before homework.

Use this handy printable checklist to help the back-to-school transition:

As in all times of transition, we will find a good rhythm soon enough.

Latchkey Kids – A Safe Summer With Guardian Alarm

June 25, 2019 by Rachel 35 Comments

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY GUARDIAN ALARM BUT THE CONTENT AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN

It’s officially Summer! Can you believe it?! Since school let out, there’s been some chatter amongst a large group of work-at-home moms of which I am in a group on Facebook. We are… struggling. Our kids can be extra demanding without the structure of a school day, and we’re all just doing our best to make it through and (fingers crossed) get a little bit of work done throughout days.

Thankfully, our new home as a huge yard with lots of room to run and play, so I’m doing my best trying to balance our days between being outdoors and finding a time where at least I can be inside getting some work done.

In addition to the huge yard, we have a park and playground adjacent to our house! Approximately 90% of our outdoor moments are spent running on that playground, chasing one another around, and swinging from the monkey bars. How lucky are we, right!?

Well, I consider myself extra lucky because, thanks to Guardian Home Security, I’m able to quickly walk out my back door and with a swipe of my hand, my deadbolt is locked until I put my passcode in upon return. Easy peasy! There are no bulky keys needed to bring with me (or keep track of) on the playground. And I can use my phone and the Total Connect App to unlock the deadbolt as we approach upon our return (very convenient for when it’s starting to rain and I need to get my crew indoors ASAP).

But I also need to allow my oldest to go to the playground with friends (and their parents). And Guardian Alarm makes it incredibly convenient. Ari has his own 4-digit code to unlock the deadbolt; so I can be tending to the girls inside or working, and he can let himself in to get a snack or use the bathroom. I feel so much better about letting him be a pseudo-latchkey kid (which, let me tell you, does not come naturally to me, despite being free to roam the neighborhood myself as a kid).

I try to ease some of my helicopter-parenting-tendencies with the help of the Guardian Alarm camera (which I conveniently have pointed towards the area of the yard where our children play the most). So whilst I’m working in my office, I can glance at my phone and have a clear view of where they are (newsflash: these days it’s almost always on the trampoline).

Truthfully, I was really nervous about this Summer. I was afraid that I would need to be outdoors with my kids 24/7; but, in reality, Guardian Alarm has provided me with even more peace of mind than I imagined. Sure, it’s about keeping our family safe from intruders; but it’s also about giving myself a chance to breathe because I know they are okay.