Rainy-Day Fun

If your children are like mine, they get bored and stir-crazy when rainy weather hits. They don't want to sit and do crafts all day, they need to move!

The size of our house limits the amount of running and jumping the kids can do indoors, but using up some of that pent-up energy is a necessity.

Enter the obstacle course. You don't need a lot of room, just a measure of creativity. My most recent one consisted of: a pad where they did a somersault, sofa cushions to crawl over, a Barbie pop-up tent to crawl through, a plastic storage tub to climb over, a table to run around and an office chair to spin on.

The object was to go through the course, spin around on the chair two times and return the same way. I timed them with an alarm clock. That was the best part. Sweet competition.

I had four children in my living room taking turns and being timed. They kept it up for about forty minutes until they were all panting. Afterward, all four of them sat nicely and watched a movie, their energy balance restored to its normal level.

There is no limit to the type of course you can create. It can be as complicated or simple as you like, as long as it incorporates different kinds of movement and sparks the children's interest. Just jumping around or dancing is fun, but the addition of household objects seems to add an element of adventure.

Socializing With Other Moms

If you are a stay at home mom, you might find yourself craving the company of other adults, especially if you live in a rural area. Playing with your child is fun and rewarding, but there is a marked lack of intellectual stimulation.

The easiest way to spend time with other adults is to find a local mom's club or a playgroup. That way you and your child both get to socialize.

You can find mom's clubs in most locations, but if you don't have one where you live, you might want to consider starting your own. Mothers of all different ages and interests join these clubs and you are almost sure to find someone you connect with. Within these clubs, there are often many sub-groups with different interests and often they have an organized 'mom's night out' which offers the opportunity to get away for an evening of fun.

Play groups can also be a lot of fun for you and your child. You might find one through your mom's club. If you have an older child in school, you will probably meet a number of mothers with younger children there. Parks, mall play areas and library story times are also good places to connect with other moms.

Getting involved in some of these groups will offer the opportunity to socialize and also give you a network of support. You can bounce around ideas when dealing with child-related problems and share information about schools, doctors and part-time work. Your child will make friends and play happily, knowing you are nearby.

Time-Management for Homemakers

Do you find that there aren't enough hours in the day? After trying to spend quality time with your children while chauffering them to school and activities, keeping the house clean, making nutritious meals, giving baths and doing homework, the day is done and you've run out of time. Perhaps you feel that you don't have any time left over for yourself. When do you work, study, read, exercise or just take a shower?

One thing to remember is that children grow up fast. Spend quality time with them every day. Sometimes the housework can wait. Read with your kids. Teach them songs. Play blocks and Barbie dolls with them. You will have happier kids that are not as clingy and more willing to help.

That being said, here are some little tricks that might give you a few extra minutes each day:

• Make a cleaning schedule. Perform one or more tasks each day to keep on top of things. For example, you could vaccum on Mondays and Thursdays, dust on Tuesdays and Fridays, wash the kitchen floor and pick things up every evening, etc.
• Clean the kitchen while you're cooking. Once you have everything simmering or baking, wash dishes, wipe the counter and wash the floor while you wait.
• Start a production line. Have one child shower while the other is doing homework then switch.
• Think ahead. Make lunches the night before and do evening meal prep in the afternoon.
• Use nap time wisely. If you have a napper, use that time to take your shower or get in a little reading.
• Get the kids to help. Make cleaning a game and get your children to help pick up the toys before bedtime. Make a sticker chart and reward them for making their beds. Let one vaccum and the other dust. It might not get done to your standards, but they will feel helpful and the house will look a little better.

Most of my personal work gets done either at night or on the fly. If I can't get it done in a few minutes here and there, I do it after the kids are in bed. Trips to the gym and work on my novel have to be scheduled in after 8 pm and yes, there are times I don't get enough sleep.

Choose your priorities. What is most important? What can't wait? What will cause your life to completely fall apart? Make sure these essential things get done and do the rest as time permits. Remember, all mothers go through the same thing and most have made it to the grandmother finish line!

Martial Arts for Children

Enrolling children in some form of martial arts has many benefits. First, it is very good exercise. It helps them stay fit and develop strength, balance and flexibility. Also, children will make friends and develop self-confidence as they progress through the ranks. Another major benefit is that children will learn to defend themselves.

Kung Fu, as well as many other martial arts, incorporates running, push-ups, sit-ups, stretching and many kinds of jumps and kicks. Children learn to push themselves and train to be able to reach farther. They attain a level of fitness that will serve them for a lifetime.

Upon entering the class, children are often shy and worried about looking foolish. Once they begin learning, however, and new students join, they begin to relax and enjoy themselves. Kung Fu begins without a belt and the children are able to earn a white belt as soon as they learn the basics. This is very encouraging and serves to give them a quick boost of confidence.

Martial arts teach discipline and respect. Children (and adults) are taught not to use their skills outside of the school, except in defense of themselves or others. Children who study martial arts are not taught to be bullies. They are taught the skills and confidence that enable them to defend themselves in dangerous situations.

If you are looking for an activity for your child, I would strongly encourage martial arts. I am partial to kung fu, as it seems to incorporate elements of sports, dance and gymnastics, creating a well-rounded experience. There are many different styles, however, and you should look into which would be most suitable for your individual child.

Fun New Recipe - Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is sometimes referred to as a Japanese pancake. Trust me on this, it tastes nothing like the pancakes we know. If you would like to make something fun and different for lunch or dinner, give this recipe a try.

Ingredients:
1 package of bacon, cooked and cut in pieces
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
4 eggs
1-1/2 cups water
1 head of cabbage, sliced thin

Optional Ingredients:
asparagus, cut in very small pieces
chopped green onion
Japanese ginger pickles
various seafood; shrimp, squid, crab, etc.

Toppings:
katsuoboshi (optional)
Bulldog, semi-sweet sauce or tonkatsu sauce (necessary)

Instructions:
Mix eggs and water together
Mix flour and salt together
Pour flour mixture into egg mixture and stir until smooth
Add bacon, vegetables, and seafood if desired
Use cooking spray or oil and heat frying pan on medium
Cook about 1/4 of mixture at a time, place in center of pan and make round like a pancake
Cook on one side for about 5 minutes or until edges are solid
Turn over and cook other side until center is firm

Serve with optional katsuoboshi fish flakes and Bulldog sauce.

My children love this. It is one of their favorite foods. Next week I'll give you the recipe for their very favorite - watch for Gyouza.