Being a Conscious Parent: This works for me! Ideas from moms to moms.

Being a Conscious Parent: This works for me! Ideas from moms to moms.: "Adapted from the Encouragement newsletter, here's a few tips from moms who've checked them out and found they work! Distract small child..."

This works for me! Ideas from moms to moms.

Adapted from the Encouragement newsletter, here's a few tips from moms who've checked them out and found they work! 

Distract small children when they are arguing or when they are "into" something they shouldn't be.  eg. Child is crying because big sister is playing with a friend.  Say, "Honey, I need your help in the kitchen to stir the cake I'm baking."  When a small child is touching the television, try, "Honey, I haven't seen the new book you got at the library. Can you bring it to me?"

Try Again! When children speak rudely or impolitely, say, "Let's try that again."  It gives them a chance to practice speaking politely and doesn't shame them.

Give a choice:   When there are chores to be done, ask the child, "Which would you rather do, sweep the floor or water the plants?"  To the next child, "Would you rather water the plants or vacuum the rug?" 

Focus:  When children are having a difficult time following your directions or listening to you, tell them, "Look at my face" or use "Focus" as a buzz word. 

Replace "Don't run" with "Walk.  Tell children what you want them to do rather than what you DON'T want them to do.  One is an action that children can follow.  How do you "not do" something?  "Sit quietly" replaces "Don't talk."  "Keep your hands at your sides." replaces "Don't touch that!"

Angela Di Cicco

Take care of yourself!

Have you ever heard a little voice inside your head saying, "What are you doing???? You know you're overreacting!"  Parents, we all get overwhelmed with the millions of things that need to be done. Here's the antidote:

Take time for yourself.  It will recharge you and make you a better parent.  Children need to see their parents taking care of themselves in a healthy way.  It sets a good example and gives them permission to take care of their own needs rather than push them down, ignore them or having them come out sideways!

Here's a few ideas to get you started on your path to a healthy, sane self:

When fatigue & stress have the best of you: 

- Turn off the phone, the TV, the stereo and listen to the quiet.  Enjoy it.  Embrace it.  Revel in it.  For just a    few moments....all is right with the world.
- Sit quietly for 10 minutes and breathe - deeply - from your belly.  It is so relaxing!
-  Take a bath with flowers or aromatic oils in it.  Or use the shower massage to relax tense muscles.
-  Put your feet up and take a quick nap.  20 minutes is ideal.
- Listen to your favorite music - and dance!
 
- Take a walk through a park.  Notice the butterflies, the new buds blooming.  Smell the fresh air, feel the breeze, listen to the sound of the birds, the squirrels. 

For comfort:

 - Eat a food you enjoyed as a child like soup the way your mom made it. 
 - Put clean fresh sheets on the bed!  I love going to sleep on a fresh pillowcase!
 - Enjoy a cup of peppermint tea and cozy up with a good book.  Use a cup that makes you feel special.
 - Cuddle with your pet, husband or children.  We all need touch and without it we shrivel.  So give yourself a hug and your family a hug and make sure you get one back! 
 - Fill your living space with a favorite aroma - vanilla or cinnamon.  I light candles and enjoy the scent wafting when I walk into a room. 
 - Dig in the dirt, knead dough or play with playdough.  It's soothing and the repetition quiets our mind.

Pamper yourself:

 - Buy yourself flowers and put them around the house! 
 - Arrange for a free day without children or obligations. Okay - can you arrange for one hour?
 - Treat yourself to a professional mani-pedi, facial or massage.  Mmmmmm the ultimate pampering! 
 - Buy your favorite ice cream and keep it all to yourself!  Decadent indulging!

We NEVER outgrow the need for comfort.  Taking care of yourself in small ways helps you be an energized and more effective parent and person! 

Angela Di Cicco


Adapted from ENCOURAGEMENT, a publication of Angela (Shorter) Di Cicco and Gail Signor.

Mommy Needs a Time Out!

Monday night after an hour and a half of Ryley screaming and crying, I gave myself a time out. I put Ryley in his crib with his music and mobile and went into my room for 10 minutes or so. At that point I called my mom. Feeling like the worst mother in the world, I was reminded that many mothers go through this and I did the right thing. After assessing that Ryley was not hurt, didn't want food, had a clean diaper, and needed nothing I had to put him down and calm myself down. For me, it is very hard to put my baby down when he is crying. I feel like I am the mother and I should always be able to calm my baby down, when in fact sometimes that doesn't happen. Ryley has a fussy time between 6-8pm. Sometimes I am able to calm him down with tools I have learned, other times (like Monday night) I am not. On the days where I am not, I find that sometimes I need a time out for a couple of minutes to calm myself down and that is ok! In fact removing myself from the situation is probably the healthies thing to do. Babies just get moe upset when they know that we are upset. It also removes the danger of parents loosing their cool. Some tools I have learn to calm Ryley down during his fussy times:

• -Music: I put on some soothing music right by his ear


• -Rocking: I rock him from left to right


• -Bounce: I bounce him up and down


• -Dance: I dance with him, usually the waltz to some music


• -Baby wearing: I put him in my Moby wrap and sway back and forth


• -Sway: While holding him, I sway back and forth


• -Singing: I sing to him soothing songs


• -Swaddle: I swaddle him in a blanket


• -Warm bath: Lastly I give him a warm bath. (worked monday)


• -Call some to help calm you down.


• -Ask a friend or family member to come over to give yourself a break.

Spring Fun!

Did you know that you can use cookie cutters for more than cookies? Use them to cut shapes into bologna and other cold cuts. Cut bread out for kids' lunches or toast for breakfast. Cut pancakes or waffles for something different. Use a heart shaped cutter in the center of slice of bread, brown bread, break egg into center and cook in pan. Use them as stencils on paper, but make sure to wash them before using them with food.

A simple Bunny Cake: Bake two 9" round cake pans. One is for the head, the other is cut into curved thirds () () to be used for ears and a bow tie. Frost and cover with coconut, if desired, for a "fuzzy effect". Use candies for the eyes and nose. Use licorice for the whiskers.

Baking cup Flowers: Glue the bottoms of muffin cups to paper, draw steams, and leaves. For added texture slit accordion pleats.

Make Baskets to give to an elderly aunt, grandma, or take to a nursing home. Full with love- flowers, poems, ets. Weave ribbons through the plastic pint baskets (the kind that strawberries come in), and add a handle.

Rabbit Hand Art- On a white piece of paper trace your hand keeping your fingers together and your thumb up. Cut out the hand and draw an eye, nose, and mouth under the thumb. Draw 3 lines for whiskers. Color the inside of the ear pink and glue on a cotton ball for the tail.


Ideas from Encouragement, a publication of Angela DiCicco and Gail Signor.

Finding Time to Exercise

So we all know that being a parent is a full time job, so when do we find time for ourselves, especially time to exercise and eat healthy.? With a little planning and flexibility, there is time in the day to eat healthy and exercise.


Do you remember as a child you used to play tag for what felt like hours? Or playing hide 'n go seek? Or playing on the playground till our parents dragged us off? At the time we didn't know that all that play was the best form of exercise or activity. At what point did exercise turn into something that has to be done in a gym or on a treadmill? Activity is what I like to call it! There are days where I am able to get on my stationary bike for 50 minutes and there are days where I only am able to walk the dogs. Both in my eyes are activity.


Who says that activity has to be in the form of 30 minutes at one time 5-6 days a week? I break up my activity throughout the day. I am able to get in a 15 minute workout (either walking or resistant band) during my morning break and then another 15 minute walk during my lunch. So before I get home from work I have 30 minutes of activity. This isn't the heart wrenching activiy, but it is getting myself moving instead of sitting on my butt.


Here are some suggestions of how to find time to exercise:

Don't be married to getting it all at once. If you can only do 15 minutes at a time it is better than nothing.

Get involved with your children. Have a hoola hop contest to see who can do it the longest. Play tag with them. Throw the baseball around with them.

Go for a walk/run. Instead of driving to the park, walk. Take your children with you and try to pick out different things while on your walk.

Put some music on and dance around the house.

Put music on and clean your house....make it a game with your children by seeing who can pick up their toys the fastest. The music will help motivate you to move more and get your heart rate up.


I know that somedays I will be able to get on my bike and do 45+ minutes, but that isn't everyday. For the days that I am not able, I make sure that I get activity in little spurts throughout the day.

Easter basket fun!

My daughter reminded me that I used to put fun things in their Easter baskets.  Who says they have to be filled with candy?  Who says it has to be a basket? 

Try something new this year when filling your child's Easter baskets.  It doesn't have to be a basket at all!  How about a dump truck filled with grass and goodies?  Or a new Easter hat brimming with jelly beans?  Or a little pocketbook stuffed with green grass and candy?

 I didn't want my children eating lots of sweets so along with the jelly beans and malted balls, I added goodies they could use and have fun with!  I also wrapped up the baskets in cellophane.  It was like opening a present and Here are some ideas*:

-coloring book and crayons (I never tire of a fresh box of crayons!)
- new white gloves to wear on Easter (little girls still look cute in them)
-small cars and trucks
-puzzles
- legos
-Polly Pockets
-markers
-a book of mazes
-beads and string to make a necklace
-a bracelet
-a fun pair of socks (holiday)
-gum (sugarless)
-books (can you ever have enough?)
-craft kit with small scissors, glue, construction paper, felt, glitter
-a rabbit or lamb puppet.  (Kids love puppets!)
-doll clothes
-a jump rope
-sidewalk chalk
-a yoyo
-baseball cards

Teens enjoy nail polish, magazines, gift cards to Starbucks or the movies!  

Have fun and share your ideas with us!  Let us know what you do for your Easter baskets!

Angela Di Cicco

* Please note the age-appropriateness of the items you are putting in the basket.