image by ginnerobot

Here’s a fun way you can replicate that idea in a budget-friendly gift idea.  Put together a collection of your family’s own favorite things and items that represent the best parts of the past year.  These could be favorite foods you’ve discovered, a gift card to your favorite restaurant, photos of some of your family’s favorite memories for the year, a favorite CD or DVD or a product you’ve fallen in love with.

My own box of favorite things for this year will include:

• a box of Kodiak Cakes mix
• Patriotsby James Wesley Rawles
• photos of my kids on their swim team
• a gift card to Chipotle. On all our family travels this year, we ate plenty of Chipotle burritos and loved it!
• waterproof matches.  Sounds silly, but the kids and I tested them, and they really work!
• a pillowcase sewn by my daughter.  She learned how to sew this year and loves it.
• a gift card to a bowling alley (We re-discovered this fun sport just recently.)
• half-pound of See’s California Brittle
• a copy of The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.  Our family has loved the entire Percy Jackson series.
• recipes for two favorite main dishes I discovered this year

Get the idea?  This can be a whole family project with each person contributing and there’s no limit when it comes to creativity.  The gifts can be handmade or homemade and don’t have to cost a dime, and if you’ll be mailing this across the miles, it’s possible to put everything in a flat-rate envelope. Plus, deciding what to include brings back lots of fond memories.

There’s still time to put this together.  It might be the best gift your family has given!

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

Not everyone has the means or ability to decorate, however.  Is there a senior citizen in your neighborhood or a family struggling to make ends meet who would love a strand or two of lights scattered around their front yard?  An inexpensive wreath and window decals can add a touch of extra Christmas spirit to a hospital room or the smallest apartment.  You might even have an unwanted artificial tree sitting in the garage or attic that might be an appreciated gift to someone who won’t be able to afford a real one.

photo by krisdecurtis

And don’t forget families who celebrate Hanukkah.  Blue and white lights, a box of Hanukkah candles, and, of course, a plate of homebaked goodies spread the real meaning of the season.

Another way to enjoy the holiday lights is to give a homemade certificate to the “First Place Winner” among all the homes decorated in your neighborhood.  Last year we handed out two certificates, left them by the front doors, actually, to the two homes we thought had the best light displays.  It was fun biking around our neighborhood, and then having a family pow-wow in the freezing temperatures to make our final choices!

This season can be one of beauty, warm memories, and excitement, but this year, there are thousands of newly unemployed people, and more families than ever who won’t have money for gifts and all the other holiday traditions of the past.  This Christmas, more than ever, let’s all look for ways to light up someone’s holiday.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

The best way to manage an overwhelming emergency or crisis is to break it up into manageable parts.

This method of organized dissection improves rational thinking, stress  management and emotional response.

Recently I was asked for my thoughts on the management of a complex scenario that can be extremely overwhelming:  raising children in an increasingly chaotic world.  The question left

image by valentinapowers

me feeling doubtful as I considered some of the painful possibilities that could unfold in the life of my little boy and those of his generation.

This emotional issue deserves to be dissected into manageable parts, and the following is my attempt to do so.  Of course, each of these pieces is complex in its own right, but the process makes sense, and certainly is less overpowering than considering the problem as a vast unknown.  These manageable segments are somewhat in order of priority but also simultaneous and interchangeable.

1) Love and respect the children’s mother.  Many times I have heard the great Lou Holtz say that this habit effectively and powerfully instills security in a child’s mind.

2) Encourage a child to develop a personal Faith – not something borrowed, academic, or dogmatic, but a positive and practical belief system that will shape his or her reality.

image by Tony Tran

3) Choose to personally approach daily scenarios with a positive attitude and a broad, realistic perspective.  My little boy emulates my responses to almost everything, and I need to constantly analyze my own reactions.  This is especially true when choosing to show kindness rather than frustration in small, daily interactions.

4) Demonstrate personal responsibility for outcomes, without constantly blaming other people/organizations or relying on other people/organizations.  A parent’s demonstration of happy self-reliance teaches a child that self-reliance is possible and achievable.

5) Write down goals and objectives and teach children to do so.  It just works!

6) Perpetually focus on the fine things in life: family, friends, music, art, and Mother Nature are a few examples.

7) Seek out friends who share a positive outlook and positive goals.  This is tricky when considering a child’s education, as schools and peer-groups often present negativity.

These seven manageable tasks are certainly not conclusive, and I welcome suggested additions to the list.  Truthfully, my children and your children could create solutions to our world’s chaotic problems if raised in an environment that includes successful role models.  I pray that I can daily live up to the challenge.

Read more about John’s proven system of applying a survival template to goal setting and read his new book, The Medicine Symbol, here.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by B Tal

In times of stress, too often husbands and wives turn on each other.  Maybe it’s the, “If I’m miserable, I want everybody to be miserable,” mindset.  Whether the stress is caused by money problems or just a vacation gone bad, it’s easy to forget how important family relationships are to our survival.

Recently, our family had a brush with a very scary medical emergency that involved one of our children.  As we drove to the emergency room, my first thought was, “I have to call Stephen.”  If there was one person I wanted in that ER with me, it was my husband.  Yeah, he would help me remain calm, his being there would reassure the kids, but above all, he’s the only person on earth who has as big a stake as I do in the health, welfare, and happiness of our family.

So what’s my tip?  Recognize the ways stress affects  you and your relationships with your family members and other loved ones, especially your spouse.  Step away, physically, if you must in order to slow down and avoid saying words that will damage relationships.  I’ve taught my kids, “Just about anything you do in anger will be a mistake.”

If tougher times arrive for America, we are all going to need each other, but more importantly, we’ll need the love and support of our nearest and dearest.  Hold them close.  Hug them tight.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

In order to save money, we decided to eat out only once a day, if that.  I did some research on the internet and came up with a list of foods that travel well.  You can read about those here.

Who will survive The Family Road Trip???

My main concern wasn’t food, though.  It was the sanity of my two kids.  Their sanity directly impacts my own, and I searched for ways to keep them busy during the thirty-two hour round trip.  Here is what helped keep the kids occupied and happy.

Entertainment!  The Tahoe became a veritable Las Vegas for kids, and I’m only slightly joking. 

The most popular idea I came up with was four large envelopes marked, “Surprise!”  I planned on two of them being opened on the trip to Texas and the other two on the way home.  I hadn’t put anything fancy in the envelopes.  It wasn’t like a rabbit was going to pop out and perform a magic show for the kids, but they loved it anyway.  I’m willing to share these top secret ideas with you, but you have to promise to let me know what worked for you and what didn’t!

Surprise Envelope #1: 

Remember back in elementary school when you learned how to make all sorts of designs using just your fingers and a loop of string?  Well, directions for making all sorts of String Figures can be found on the web.  I printed directions for several different designs and put them in this first envelope, along with two loops of yarn.  Each loop was about 28″ long.  The kids LOVED this!  Although they had some difficulty following the directions, they ended up inventing their own designs off and on through the entire trip.

Surprise Envelope #2: 

My kids only knew two card games prior to this road trip: Go Fish and War.  I figured that another simple game or two might keep them busy for a while, and I was right.  I tracked down written directions for Crazy Eights and Old Maid and put them in the second envelope, along with a new deck of cards.  Ha!  I hit a second  home run with this one!  My son kept whipping out the deck of cards at the hotel, the rehearsal dinner, just about anywhere and asking, “Ya wanna play Crazy Eights??”

Surprise Envelope #3: 

By this time, the kids couldn’t wait for their third surprise.  This time it was Cootie Catchers!  They had seen these before but had never made their own.  I printed out a template, along with a list of suggested “fortunes”, and they got busy.  The only tools they needed were a pair of children’s scissors, which I had packed, and a pencil.  They had a lot of fun creating their Catchers and playing with them.  By this time, I felt like I had hit three home runs!  I was nearly SuperMom!

Surprise Envelope #4:  

A few months ago, out of the desperate need to keep my kids from arguing in the car, I started a “Family Favorites” game.  I began asking about their favorite board game, their favorite color, and their favorite pizza restaurant.  For this trip, I formalized the game a bit by creating a list of Family Favorites questions.  This list was their Surprise #4.  It took about an hour for us to get through all the questions, but it was time well spent.  Everyone has the chance to voice their opinion, and it opened up some fun discussions.  If you’d like to make your own Family Favorites, here are a few of the categories on my list to get you started.

What is your favorite…

Movie?   Superhero?   Book?   Water park?  Flower?   Season?   Pizza place?   Sports mascot?

Dessert?  Color?  Website?  Holiday?  Vacation?  Mammal?  Vegetable?  Wii game?   Sport to watch?

Sport?   Bird?   Soda?   School subject?   Home we’ve lived in?   Field trip?   Cartoon character?

In addition to these Surprise Envelopes, I created Activity Binders for each kid.  The binder contained coloring pages I printed from the internet, word searches and other puzzles, travel games, a map of our route, blank paper for drawing, notebook paper for journaling, math fact quizzes, workbook pages from various school workbooks, and a checklist in the front of, “Things To Do.” 

The checklist included the game, “Is there a town in Texas?”  Yet another invented game, it’s one of my kids’ favorites, and they beg to play it.  Did you know there are towns in Texas with names like Joy, Lawn, Earth, and Melissa?  Neither did my kids, and that’s how the game began.  Using the list of towns on a state road map, I find unusual town names and ask, “Is there a town in Texas named _____?”  Each person votes either ‘yes’ or ‘no’, and a point is given for each correct guess.  Every so often I make up a town name of my own to really keep them guessing.  This time around I had glo-sticks for the first and second place winners, and coincidentally, that’s exactly what we ended up with!  This game requires only a road map of any state and paper for keeping score.  Cheap, fun, and easy.  Just like their mother!

To fill in any possible empty hours, I checked out an audiobook from the library, and each kid brought two or three books to read.  Having a DVD system in the car also helped, although surprisingly, they watched only a total of five videos.   All of this, combined with their favorite pillow and blanket, made for a couple of happy and content kids.

The best thing about these car activities?  Everything was virtually free.  I used three-ring binders we already had around the house, loops of yarn from my knitting stash, and purchased only the deck of cards.  Six hours of my time prior to the trip bought over thirty hours with happy kids.  I’d say that’s a bargain, any way you look at it!

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

I suppose I could pitch in on a new iPad for his graduation gift, but the poor kid has The Survival Mom for an aunt!  He’s getting his own well-equipped survival kit, which is actually a pretty thoughtful gift for any graduate.

I started out with the Roll and Go Survival Kit on Wheels from Survival-Goods.com.  A pre-made survival kit is a good place to start, but I recommend customizing it for your own needs.  My nephew’s car isn’t always reliable, so I want to make sure his kit includes a high-quality tow rope, just in case.  In an emergency, he may not have money with him, so as a special treat, I’m including a wad of cash and a roll of quarters.  My motto, “Cash is King!”, is more true during a crisis than at any other time.  A kid stranded without the means to buy gas, a meal, or a night at a hotel could be in big trouble, fast.

Of course you can always make a survival kit from the ground up.  Take into consideration which type of container will suit your graduate best.  A rolling bag is a good choice, especially if it includes backpack straps.  For others, a backpack might be enough, and if the grad will be doing a lot of driving, a larger bin could hold the basic supplies along with a sleeping bag, a one-person tent, and a small campstove.

You can download lists of ideas for packing a survival kit here and here.

In a sense, this survival kit may become a replacement parent, ready with necessities and comfort items in an emergency.  You’ll feel a little better knowing your grad is equipped for survival.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

(Note from Lisa:  One of my most frequent guest writers, Liz Long, has recently completed a major writing project, We the People.  Currently, it’s available for download for only $4.99.)

I just wrote and e-published We the People: A Constitutional Primer for All Ages.  It is about our American history and the historical context, or the why, of our Constitution, not about politics. All of the examples I use are at least twenty years old to avoid having it become mired in current events and political arguments. I believe that understanding what was happening when our Constitution was written is more important for understanding it than knowing how it is used today is, although that is valuable to know as well.

For example, the 14^th Amendment says that if you are born here, you are a citizen. That is why babies born here are granted citizenship, regardless of their parents’ citizenship. It was written because the Dred Scott Decision of 1857 said that slaves and ex-slaves (i.e., anyone of African descent) were not and could not ever become US citizens.  The 14^th Amendment was specifically written to provide citizenship to people whose families had been here for generations, not hours or days, because a constitutional amendment is the only way for Congress to override a Supreme Court decision. Knowing the context makes it make sense.

image by Reenie-Just Reenie

It is my hope that adults will read my book and learn about our Constitution, but the book is also appropriate for middle and high school students. It is written at an early high school level (I think) and the examples use characters like SpongeBob and everyday situations to explain Constitutional concepts, including the importance of an impartial judiciary. (Don’t worry.  I explain enough that you can follow it even if you know nothing about SpongeBob!) It’s also a good resource for teaching and stimulating discussions for people of all ages because there are lots of questions to (hopefully) inspire critical thinking.

Here’s a sample question: Do you think changing Senatorial elections so citizens elect them instead of state legislatures was good, bad, or neutral? What do you think the Founding Fathers would have thought?

“We the People” is available for $4.99 on Amazon for the Kindle and on Barnes and Noble for the Nook. (It is not in print at this time, but hopefully I will sell enough copies digitally to get a publisher to pick it up.) You can download the Kindle app for PC or Mac for free for your desktop or mobile device, and there are links to that app on my website http://www.historicalconstitution.com.  Whether you buy my book or not, the free Kindle app download is great to get because there a lot of good prepping and general knowledge books you can download, some (including the Bible) for free.  (You don’t even need to own a Kindle!  Just download the app and read from your computer!)

Finally, I use a pen name when I post anywhere online to make identity theft harder.  We the People is published using my real name, so don’t think it’s the wrong book because the author isn’t Liz Long!   If you click on the link on my website, it will take you straight to the correct book.

I’d love to hear what you think of my book!  You can email me at author@ historicalconstitution.com.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

Guest post by Jennifer Anderl

image by StarMama

Anyone who has lived in a cold-weather climate in the throes of below zero weather has probably experienced some form of cabin fever. If you work with or have young children, this condition can be exasperated, often to the point of causing insanity among caregivers.

Follow these tips to entertain children during the dreaded winter months:

1.       Rotate Toys – Cabin fever can be especially bad in a small house. To stay organized (a must in her little space) keep a children’s toys in bins – big and little. Because those big bins of toys were not always available, bring them up, excitement ensued. Rotating toys this way, regardless of your space, helps keep them from being old and boring which, in turn, will keep children interested and busy.

2.       Watch a Movie – Instead of turning on the television so that you can have a break (as much you probably need one), we all know that studies have shown we shouldn’t employ an “electronic babysitter.” Instead, declare movie time, but go all out…Dim the lights and pop the popcorn. Then, sit with the children and enjoy the show.

3.       Do the Dough – Children love play dough. They love it even more if you make it with them, allowing them to be part of the process. Making homemade play dough is a wonderful way to teach concepts such as math (measuring ingredients) or colors (adding food coloring to experiment with making different colors). Play dough can be used to soothe angry children, elicit creativity, and entertain children of all ages.

4.       Rock Out – Music is known as a great soother for children. Many early childhood programs play classical or soft, quiet music at naptime or even during play time to help keep children calm. Save the quiet stuff, to aid in preventing cabin fever, and pump loud, happy music throughout your home—music that you can dance or rock out to. The key to not pulling your hair out from the resulting chaos this music may cause is to let your hair down – that’s right, join the children and show them your best moves.

5.       Arty Party – Pull out the art supplies without a set project in mind.  This is a great way to utilize all those scraps of construction paper or piles of yarn pieces that you’ve saved for a rainy day. (A below zero day is much more worthy.) Don’t give the children any ideas or guidelines, simply let them use scissors, glue, yarn, cotton balls, pipe cleaners, craft sticks, and if you’re brave enough glitter, to create to their heart’s content. This is “the process, not the product” at its most basic level, and I bet the children (and even their parents) will be happy with the final result!

6.       Let the Drama Queens (and Kings) Rule – Get out puppets or dress-up clothes and help the children put on a play or puppet show. For younger children, let them make it up as they go. With older children, brainstorm ideas and have them help you develop a simple script. Practice the show and invite in an audience for a performance – parents, other classrooms, neighbors, or even pets. In a pinch, create an audience with dolls and stuffed animals.

7.       Fort Fun – Making forts for fun is certainly not a new idea; however, it is an activity children rarely grow tired of. Let them help make it, blankets and sheets draped over sturdy furniture works great and if they collapse, no one gets hurt. The children can make the fort into a clubhouse, a tent, a quiet place to read, whatever they wish.  One way to make this activity even more memorable is to let the children keep the fort up for several days, or even weeks, depending on the length of the current cold spell.

8.       Snow, Science, and Smiles – If there is snow on the ground (fairly typical when the weather is below zero), use it. Letting children play in a bin of snow wearing mittens is wonderful sensory activity. There are also tons of science experiments you can do with snow, as well as with various common household items. Check out this link for more ideas: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments.html.

9.       Going on a Bear Hunt –Create a scavenger hunt to relieve boredom. This activity not only promotes fun, but also helps children in practicing reading and problem-solving skills. With a larger group of children, create a scavenger hunt where the children can work together, in pairs or small groups, following clues to discover a bear or other small toy. Use picture clues for younger children and simply written ones for children who are learning to read.

10.      Let ‘Em Run Wild – Many homes and early childhood care settings have strict rules about running inside…and rightly so. This is not a practice you want children to do regularly. However, there are days, when everyone has been cooped up far too long, that she designates a safe indoor spot and a specific time during which she allows the children to literally run wild! She attests that children as young as 15 months grasp the concept that these are special times and not a permanent relaxation of her rules. Even in a small space, the children can run in a circle or in place. The point is, let them run – getting out even a fraction of that cooped up energy will go a long way in helping you retain your sanity!

About the Author: Jennifer Anderl is an Early Childhood Education degree Program Coordinator, Brooklyn Park, MN college campus.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

It seems as though children are growing up faster today than ever before. In the past, children spent large amounts of free time outside playing with neighborhood friends. They would have arrived home messy and dirty; evidence of a hard day’s joyful work. Kindergarten was a child’s first school experience learning to read and enjoy learning.

image by AlaskaTeacher

Within the past several decades, the amount of free time children have has diminished, and hours of neighborhood games have diminished to a half-hour play date. The pressures at school have grown as well, with academic goals being achieved earlier and earlier in a child’s educational career.

Do not forget the challenges children face being members of their own families. Divorce, economic changes, world safety, television, friendships, deaths, illness, peer pressure, and lack of nutrition all can contribute to stress in a child’s world.  Additionally, a child may feel pressure to be the best—even while they are still learning a task—and the pressures and competition may be too much to handle.  Believe it or not, children are stressed and it seems to earlier in life. How can parents help bring childhood back to their children? Allow childhood to come back to the children through these steps.

1)      Remember what it was like to be a child. Parents can think back and remember when neighborhoods were friendly places and children played outdoors until the sky turned dark. Remember the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings experienced.  Write down memories and share them with children. Tell stories of games, friends, and joy.

2) Provide opportunities for uninterrupted play time. According to early childhood development theorist, Jean Piaget, children need time to interact with their environment and the people around them. Time should be uninterrupted and unplanned. This means parents should offer a safe place with materials and experiences which children can choose and manipulate by themselves or with friends. (Television and video games do not count as uninterrupted play as they are typically solitary events.)

By interacting with their environment through play, children learn how the world works, even being able to work through problems without judgment or fear of failure. When a child’s whole day is planned ahead and all activities are monitored or directed, children cannot work through everyday situations and try new roles freely.

3) Create “white space” in a child’s day. Parents may say that time for uninterrupted play is not possible.  After arriving home from their early childhood program or school, the nighttime routine includes homework, sports practice, dinner, bath time, and then bed time.  The play time is sometimes limited to weekends; but even still schedules are chock-full of sports games, errands to run, chores for finish and family events to attend. However; everyone needs downtime, or “white space” in their lives. White space gives children time to breathe, time to wonder and time to dream. It means nothing is scheduled or expected.

image by isla_yelo

Although everyone, including parents need “white space” to feel calm and collected, children need it even more than adults. Children have not yet established coping mechanisms for a stress. This time allows children to relax and work through their emotions.

4) Model appropriate stress management techniques. Providing appropriate stress management techniques provides a good model to follow as a child.  Parents are a child’s first and most important teacher. When children see parents stressed out, they often replicate that feeling. Parents may feel that they have shielded their children from the stress of family life, however; children are intuitive. They see, hear, and feel without being able to comprehend or constructively express their thoughts.

Challenging behaviors can emerge when children experience stress and do not know how to show it in any other way. Parents must place an importance on showing children how to express stress without anger, physical aggression, or yelling.  Problem solving techniques work well with preschool children who are able to share in the conversation and offer support.

5) Enjoy “real time”. Be authentic and present with children.  Whether as a parent or important adult, enjoying “real time” with a child shows respect and understanding of a child’s situation.  It is often said that quality time is more important than the quantity of time spent with children.

What is quality time? Is quality time a shopping trip to the grocery store? Is quality time watching a movie together? Either can be quality time, if the adult is completely present with the child. Listen, talk, ask questions, share stories, and show appreciation for the child.

image by Muffett

6) Follow the child’s lead. Finally, the most important thing to remember is to follow a child’s lead. This does not mean let the child make all the decisions and run the household.  It means letting a child say when they need a break or are taking on too much.  Look for cues from a child of stress and offer guidance.  Let them choose which activities to participate in and which ones that can wait until another time. Talk with children and help them understand time commitments, schedules and responsibilities. Follow the child to see where they want to go.

About the Author: Mary Muhs, M. Ed, is a program coordinator and instructor for the School of Education at Rasmussen College at the Blaine, MN college campus. In this role, she oversees the school’s Early Childhood Education degree program. She has worked in the field of early childhood education for over 19 years. Mary also has a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication from the University of Illinois. Additionally, Mary holds a Level 3 Illinois Director Credential and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Administration.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

Have you visited a National Park recently? We did. We went to Mt. Vernon for a Scouting day and found a book on Revolutionary War Medicine. A stop at a Civil War battlefield yielded a whole shelf full of cookbooks, including “Civil War Cookin’, Stories, ‘n Such”. Many of the recipes specify using a Dutch Oven and it has helpful information such as how to make lard and how to season cast iron. If things get really bad in the future, the recipes for wild animals including squirrel, alligator, and raccoon could come in handy! (I really hope we never, ever need those!)

I haven’t visited any sites related to Native Americans recently, but my recollection is that there are books on cooking, living off the land, and all sorts of other useful prepper skills. Military/battle sites have information on making and using antique weapons and the medicine used to treat wounds, or on ships and shipbuilding if they are Navy sites. They also sell toy versions of some things, including musical instruments from days gone by.

Native American, Colonial, Revolutionary and Civil War practices for keeping warm and staying cool, keeping food safe, and building all manner of things (including the actual tools to build those things) are also available at National Park Service sites. Of course, there are other historical sites also provide useful information, such as Colonial Williamsburg and a seemingly infinite number of local attractions such as mills and large estates, including George Washington’s home of Mount Vernon. It isn’t unusual for the estate to have great gardening resources as well since they many were really originally farms.

Even if you don’t live near a big National Park like the Grand Canyon or Independence Hall in Philadelphia, you probably have local historical sites that you can mine for reference books. Better yet, volunteer there and learn some re-enacting skills that could serve you well. I took an hour long class on vacation in Williamsburg and learned how to do very simple spinning of wool into yarn. Gettysburg Battlefield has a re-enactment every summer and I have no doubt the many thousands of re-enactors learn a lot doing it.

With summer vacations right around the corner, now would be a great time to start researching a family preparedness vacation!

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.